The Texas Supreme Court on Friday paused a pre-suit oral deposition of a representative of Texas "Transgender" Student Union LLC, the company named on printed student mailers. The October 30 order said the justices acted without regard to the merits. The company's petition and request for temporary relief remain pending. The Transgender Education Network of Texas, or TENT, must respond by 10 a.m. Monday, November 2.
TENT filed a Rule 202 petition on October 22 to obtain testimony before an anticipated lawsuit. It alleges the communications improperly used its name and materials and led to threats, security expenses and canceled programming. TENT has denied that it authorized the brochures. The LLC was formed September 2 in Wyoming, according to business records reviewed by CBS News Texas.
A U.S. Postal Service spokesperson told The Texas Newsroom that Three Z Printing holds the bulk-mail permit used for the brochures. The Texas Tribune reported that a postal identifier on two brochures led to the tracking company SnailWorks, which said it does not create, sell or rent mailing lists. The order does not halt a separate criminal investigation.