Opinion ID: 2443943
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the bond question

Text: In addition to ordering the case remanded to the trial court with instructions to issue an injunction against construction until the plans were approved, on October 5, 1977 the court of civil appeals also entered its own injunction pendente lite for the stated purpose of protecting its jurisdiction, ordering the Davises to cease all construction work on the dwelling and not to resume work so long as the cause remained within its jurisdiction. 556 S.W.2d 860 at 865. This injunction pendente lite was not conditioned upon the posting of a bond by the Hueys to protect the Davises against loss for delay of construction should the Davises eventually prevail. On October 6, 1977 the Davises filed a Motion to Set Aside Order or, in the Alternative, to Set Bond wherein the Davises complained of the court of civil appeals' failure to set bond on its own injunction. The motion was overruled on the day it was filed. The Davises maintain that the court of civil appeals' failure to condition its injunction pendente lite upon a bond is error. In support of this argument the Davises rely upon the recent decisions of two courts of civil appeals requiring a bond upon the issuance of injunctions to preserve their jurisdiction. Riverdrive Mall, Inc. v. Larwin Mortgage Investors, 515 S.W.2d 2 (Tex.Civ. App.San Antonio 1974, writ ref'd n. r. e.); Pendleton Green Associates v. Anchor Savings Bank, 520 S.W.2d 579 (Tex.Civ.App. Corpus Christi 1975, no writ). The Davises also concede that the issue may be moot. The jurisdiction of the court of civil appeals terminated and the supreme court acquired exclusive jurisdiction of the case when the application for writ of error was filed. Ammex Warehouse Company v. Archer, 381 S.W.2d 478 (Tex.1964); Johnson v. Sovereign Camp, W. O. W., 125 Tex. 329, 83 S.W.2d 605 (1935). Therefore, by its terms the order of the court of civil appeals has expired. Petitioners and all respondents agree that the issue is rendered moot by the expiration of the injunction pendente lite. It would appear that this court can grant no relief from an injunction pendente lite which is no longer in existence. Therefore, we decline to comment upon the necessity of a bond in an injunction pendente lite issued by a court of civil appeals to protect its jurisdiction.