The Attorney General of Texas July 6, 1982 MARK WHITE Attorney General
WouorableMike Driacoll Opinion No.hW-406 supremscoull sulMiflg Esrrle CountyAttorney P. 0. Box 12949 Auslln. TX. 78711.2545 1001 Preston.Suite 634 Be: Temporary dispositionof 512/4752591 Rouston,Texan 77002 tenant'e personal property Telex 919/974-1387 vhen- tenant is subject to Telecqir 5t2l479.0299 -removalfrm premisespursuant ..% to court order 1697Mdll Sl.. suite 1409 LMlh& TX. 752014709 Dear Mr. Driscoll: 214l742.9944 _ Iu your letter to this office.you stated: 4924AlbertaAve.. suite 150 El Paw. TX. 799052793 . A,situation has come to a head 'in Barrio County 91- ..,qverthe authority of a constable to place personal property of a- tenant' in a public -,Lwarehouse when ~uecuting a Writ of Restitution 1220OallSSAve.. Suite 292 from a justice court or county court at law. A Nolmton.TX. 77o!xaQ55 -.spokesmanfor the juetices of .,ethe. peace has requestedus to ask you for your :opinionof this mett*r. 906 BrOwway, sate 312 Lubbock,TX. 79401-2479 8081747.52% Articles'3973 through 3994, :V.T.C.g.,provide for an action of forcibleentryand detainer.~.Rules~738 the Texas Rules of --Civll~ iProcadure govern the .procedurein such action. Rule 740 4399 N. Tenth. Suits B atetes that:'1 ,tL7r ~~ ~, YcAffelt,TX. 7B501-1995 .~,, .:: .,I 1 i " 512m92-4547 If ,the::judgment~or verdict'.be :in favor of the ~',, plai.utiff,the.justice ebell :,give *, judgment for 200 M*ln PIUL suite 4w ,..p,leiutiff for restitution-of the :premisea.coets. San Antonlo.TX. 792052797 .+nd.damages; end he 'shall award his writ of 512l2254191 vestitution. If the judgment or verdict be in favor of the defendant, the justice shall give .judgmeotfor defeudent against the .plaintifffor ,coataand any damages. No writ:of restitution abell~iesueuntil the expirationof five days from the time the judgmentia signed.
Rule 755 providesthat:
The writ of restitution.or execution, or both, shall be issued by the clerk of the county court according to the judgment rendered, and the snme shell be executedby the sheriff or constable,as
D. 1717 HonorableMike Driacoll- Page ,2 (NW-486)
in other cases;and such writ of restitutionshall not be suspended or superseded in any case by appeal fro-esuch final judgment in the county court.
In your letter,you advised that:
[iln the past few weeks two district judges and one county court at law judge have questioned.the constable'sauthorityto place a tenant'8peraoeal property in a public warehouse at the tenant's expensewhen executinga Writ of Restitution.-.
You did uot..however.ask us to considerany specific possible legal impedimentto this practice. Therefore,we will respond in general term3 to your question.
Perguaon v. Barnes, 274 S.W. 277 (Tex. Civ. App. - San Antonio 1925,writ dima'd).was a suit to recoverdamageswhich the plaintiffs claimedwere sustainedwhen the county sheriffevicted them from their home end ."dump[ed] [their].household goods, furniture, wearing apparel. and .otherproperty,and-belongings...'.intothe street." Id. at- 270. me: relevant background information, and the courz concluaiona,are!aet forthin this excerpt'fromthe court's opinion:
s. :: c. Pitagerald filed a suit for forcible ,detainerof ~certain premises.... :In connection with his suit he filed a bond..~..:CL B. Corley. the justice of the peace. took the complaint... and issued a citationthereon..:. Be placed this citation in the hands of... the sheriff;:.[who] served it upon.the~.defendaar...i;~.-The plaintiffin the forcibledetainer