Case Name: Thomas A. Smith et al. v. Pablo Huizar et al.
Court: Supreme Court of Texas
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1860-10
Citations: 25 Supp. Tex. 205
Docket Number: 
Parties: Thomas A. Smith et al. v. Pablo Huizar et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Texas Reports
Volume: 25 Supp.
Pages: 205–206

Head Matter:
Thomas A. Smith et al. v. Pablo Huizar et al.
Where the plaintiff sued for trespass upon land, and failed to prove any actual damage or value of rents, he was only entitled to nominal damages.
Appeal from Bexar. The case was tried before Hon. Thomas J. Devine, one of the district judges.
Pablo Huizar and others sued Thomas A. Smith and others for trespass, with force and arms, upon land, and prayed for damages. The defendants plead the general denial, and the limitation of five and ten years.
The plaintiffs amended, “ and claim $500 additional damages, and rents of land detained and forcibly held; and pray, as in the original petition, and for additional damages and rents here claimed.” The jury found a part of the land for the plaintiffs and part for the defendants, and also $650 damages against the defendants, for all of which there was found judgment, from which the defendants appealed.
The plaintiffs proved their title and long possession; the defendants relied upon a tax title and acts of possession; but there was no proof about damages.
8. G. Newton, for appellants.
—There being no proof of actual damage or force, the finding of the jury was contrary to the evidence. (Adams’ Eject., 379, 390, and 391; 20 Tex., 712; 21 Tex., 203; 22 Tex.., 114 and 641; 23 Tex., 532.)
I. A. Geo. W. Paschal, for appellees.

Opinion:
Roberts, J.
—The jury assessed damages in the sum of $650. The statement of facts does not contain a particle of evidence relating either to the value of rents and profits, use and occupation, or to the amount of damages done by any trespass upon,the land, or to any aggravating circumstances, malicious or oppressive acts, connected with any trespass. There is, therefore, no foundation laid or data furnished for the assessment of damages, other than nominal. Eor this reason the verdict must be set aside, and the judgment reversed, and the cause remanded.
The state of the case, as exhibited in the transcript, will not require a decision upon any other question.
Reversed and remanded.