Title: Moore v. Mauldin
Citation: 428 S.W.2d 808
Docket Number: B-674
State: Texas
Issuer: Texas Supreme Court
Date: February 28, 1968

428 S.W.2d 808 (1968) James M. MOORE, Petitioner, v. Henry J. MAULDIN, Respondent. No. B-674. Supreme Court of Texas. February 28, 1968. Kenley, Boyland &amp; Hawthorn, Longview, Gallagher, Wilson, Berry &amp; Jorgenson, Bob Roberts, Dallas, for petitioner. Ramey, Brelsford, Flock &amp; Devereux, Donald Carroll and Michael A. Hatchell, Tyler, R. L. Whitehead, Longview, for respondent. PER CURIAM. This is a suit for personal injuries arising from a collision of three automobiles. James M. Moore, plaintiff-petitioner, sued Henry J. Mauldin and Donald W. McCollum. Each defendant filed a cross-action against the other and a counter-claim against the plaintiff. Mauldin's counter-claim was withdrawn by settlement between the parties. In the trial court, the jury found all three drivers negligent in the operation of their respective vehicles. Consequently, a take nothing judgment was *809 rendered by the trial court on the claim of each party. On appeal the court of civil appeals affirmed the judgment. 421 S.W.2d 699. The court of civil appeals initially concluded that Moore, plaintiff-petitioner, had waived all of his points of error for failure to "present" his amended motion for new trial to the trial judge. The provisions of Rule 329b, § 4, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, relevant to this case state: The court of civil appeals held that points of error raised in an original or amended motion for new trial are waived unless they are actually presented to the trial judge. We expressly disapprove of the intermediate court's construction of Rule 329b, § 4. The court of civil appeals has ignored the emphasized portion of Rule 329b, § 4 that provides for overruling a motion for new trial by operation of law. In University of Texas v. Morris, 163 Tex. 130, 352 S.W.2d 947, 949 (1962), we construed the term "present the same to the court" to mean that a formal presentation and hearing are not required. We said: Thus, the court of civil appeals was incorrect in its interpretation of Rule 329b, § 4. The intermediate court, however, apparently did not consider that holding determinative of the controversy. The remainder of the opinion discussed and ruled upon each point of error and the merits of the case. The petitioner has not properly preserved points of error for review by this court attacking the holdings of the court of civil appeals on the merits. Accordingly, the application for writ of error is refused, no reversible error.