Opinion ID: 2455879
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Interest/Attorney's Fees

Text: At trial, La Sara also obtained a judgment for interest and attorney's fees. In the court of appeals, the bank had points of error complaining of both. The court of appeals did not reach those points in light of its holding that La Sara could not recover any damages. Insofar as those points raised questions within our jurisdiction, we now address them to determine what judgment the court of appeals should have rendered. Knutson v. Morton Foods, Inc., 603 S.W.2d 805 (Tex.1980). The bank asserted that La Sara's claim was not one arising from a written contract ascertaining the sum payable, within the meaning of the prejudgment interest statute, Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat. Ann. art. 5069-1.03 (Vernon Supp.1984). Therefore, according to the bank, La Sara is not entitled to prejudgment interest. 578 S.W.2d 109, 116-117 (Tex.1979). The requirement that the contract set out a sum payable has always been liberally construed by this court. As was said in Federal Life Insurance Co. v. Kriton, 112 Tex. 532, 249 S.W. 193 (1923), [i]t is sufficient.... if the contract provides the conditions upon which liability depends and fixes a measure by which the sum payable can be ascertained with reasonable certainty, in the light of the attending circumstances. Id. 249 S.W. at 195. In this case, the depository contract provides the conditions upon which liability dependspayment of the depositor's funds except according to his instructions, and fixes a measure by which the sum payable can be ascertained the amount paid. Hence, this case falls within the prejudgment interest statute. Article 5069-1.03 was amended in 1979, after La Sara's cause of action arose but before La Sara filed suit. The change was to provide that interest would begin running thirty days after the sum became due. In this case, however, the trial court awarded interest on each check from the date that it was cashed. It has long been the rule in Texas that when the legislature repeals a statute creating a remedy, that repeal is effective immediately. Knight v. International Harvester Credit Corp., 627 S.W.2d at 384. It follows that if the legislature amends a remedy such as this one, the change will be effective retroactively. Hence, the trial court erred in calculating interest from the date that each check was cashed or loan made, rather than thirty days thereafter. Therefore, we remand the cause to the trial court to recalculate interest accordingly. The bank also argued to the court of appeals that La Sara was not entitled to attorney's fees. The basis of the bank's complaint was evidentiary. At trial, La Sara had a local attorney testify to what would be a reasonable fee for handling the case. We hold that this testimony was some evidence supporting the trial court's award of attorney's fees. The bank also argued to the court of appeals that there was factually insufficient evidence to support the trial court's award. That point of error is not within our jurisdiction. Therefore, we must remand the cause to the court of appeals to consider it. Biggs v. United States Fire Insurance Co., 611 S.W.2d 624 (Tex.1981). We affirm the court of appeals in reversing the award of additional damages under the DTPA. We reverse the judgment of the court of appeals and affirm the trial court's judgment for actual damages. We remand the cause to the court of appeals to consider the factual sufficiency of La Sara's evidence on attorney's fees. The court of appeals, after considering that point, is to remand the cause to the trial court to recalculate prejudgment interest in accordance with art. 5069-1.03 as amended. [6]