Court Opinion

ID: 9773858
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 18:01:20.125303+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:31:58.529653
License: Public Domain

NYE, Justice
(concurring).
The only statutory ground for a new trial is “good cause”. The application proceeds upon equitable grounds. All of the authorities in Texas agree, however, that a trial court has an inherent power to grant a new trial. If a lower court thinks that the ends of justice have not been obtained by the jury, it is then clearly its duty to set aside the judgment rendered. Wichita Falls Traction Co. v. Cook, 122 Tex. 446, 60 S.W.2d 764 (Tex.Com.App.1933, opinion adopted).
All of the parties, the trial court and this Court, agree that the jury was wrong in answering “No” to the three special issues inquiring as to specific acts of negligence. Everyone agrees that the jury was wrong in failing to answer the three special issues inquiring as to proximate cause. I believe the evidence shows that the jury was equally motivated in assessing the damages (the only other issue submitted).
On appeal the jury’s answer must stand if there is evidence-to support it. Additui is not authorized by any statute or rule. In such a situation, in the interest of justice, only the trial court could have granted a new trial. Its power in this respect is unsurpassed. See Allan v. Materials Transportation Company, 372 S.W.2d 744 (Tex.Civ.App.—Corpus Christi 1963), at 747, and authorities cited therein.
We are not permitted to substitute our judgment for the discretion granted to the trial judge. I therefore concur in the result.