Appeals Court Denies Metabolife's Petition for Writ of Mandamus to Protect Documents

HOUSTON - A Texas appellate court rejected Metabolife's petition for a writ of mandamus that would force a state judge to vacate an order requiring the supplement maker to produce documents it claimed were privileged. In re: Metabolife International, Inc., No. 01-03-00810-CV (Texas Ct. Appeal, First Dist.).

In its Nov. 26 opinion, the First District Court of Appeal unanimously decided to affirm Harris County District Judge Tracy Christopher's July 24 order, which instructed the company to produce documents missing from its privilege log for in camera inspection.

'The review of Metabolife's privilege documents has been a slow and tortuous one,' …