Opinion ID: 894792
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Elwell's Bill of Exceptions Testimony

Text: Mack argues that the court of appeals erred by considering testimony admitted only for the bill when it reviewed the trial court's exclusion of Elwell's causation testimony. The Tamezes claim that whether Elwell's bill of exceptions testimony is considered is not relevant because his bill testimony added nothing to his Robinson hearing testimony. Further, in their brief and at oral argument the Tamezes disclaim having urged in the court of appeals that the trial court erred in (1) holding a Robinson hearing, (2) the manner in which the hearing was conducted, (3) the timing of the hearing, or (4) denying their motion for reconsideration. Our review of their briefs in the court of appeals confirms the Tamezes' position. They do not contend here either that the bill of exceptions testimony was improperly excluded or that the trial court erred in denying their motion to reconsider. The purpose of a bill of exceptions is to allow a party to make a record for appellate review of matters that do not otherwise appear in the record, such as evidence that was excluded. TEX. R. APP. P. 33.2; TEX. R. EVID. 103(a)(2); see also In re Ford Motor Co., 988 S.W.2d 714, 721 (Tex.1998). The court of appeals' opinion indicates that it considered Elwell's bill of exceptions testimony in evaluating the admissibility of his opinions even though the trial court did not. See 100 S.W.3d at 556, 559. As one example, the court of appeals referenced Elwell's opinion that at least one of the tractor's side fuel tanks became displaced during the rollover and separated the balance line connecting the two fuel tanks. Id. at 557. The court pointed to Elwell's testimony interpreting photographic evidence of steel straps which held the tanks as support for his opinion. Id. The referenced testimony as to Elwell's opinion and interpretation of photographic evidence was given as part of his bill of exceptions testimony, but he did not give similar testimony during the Robinson hearing. Except for fundamental error, appellate courts are not authorized to consider issues not properly raised by the parties. See In the Interest of B.L.D., 113 S.W.3d 340, 350-52 (Tex.2003). We have described fundamental error as those instances in which error directly and adversely affects the interest of the public generally, as that interest is declared by the statutes or Constitution of our State, or instances in which the record affirmatively and conclusively shows that the court rendering the judgment was without jurisdiction of the subject matter. See McCauley v. Consol. Underwriters, 157 Tex. 475, 304 S.W.2d 265, 266 (1957). The court of appeals did not classify the trial court's refusal to allow the Tamezes to present further evidence and to then reconsider its ruling to exclude Elwell's causation testimony as fundamental error, and neither do we. The court of appeals erred in considering Elwell's causation testimony from the bill of exceptions without having first determined, pursuant to properly assigned error, that the trial court erred in refusing to admit the testimony and reconsider its decision to exclude Elwell's causation opinions. Under the record and issues presented to us, we may not consider Elwell's testimony from the bill of exceptions in determining whether the trial court erred in excluding Elwell's causation testimony. See Exito Elecs. Co. v. Trejo, 142 S.W.3d 302, 304 n. 1 (Tex.2004).