Court Opinion

ID: 9640335
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 17:03:18.627646+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:10:29.132677
License: Public Domain

Concurring and dissenting opinion by:
SANDEE BRYAN MARION, Justice.
Concurring and dissenting opinion by: SANDEE BRYAN MARION, Justice.
I agree with the denial of Zapata County’s motion for rehearing. I withdraw my concurring and dissenting opinion of July 31, 2002 and substitute this opinion in its place.
I concur with the majority on all issues except on the issue of attorney’s fees. Notwithstanding the dicta in the Bocquet case, I believe the language in Tax Code section 42.29, which provides that a property owner who prevails in an appeal of an excessive appraisal may be awarded reasonable attorney’s fees, affords the trial court a measure of discretion in deciding whether to award them or not. Tex. Tax Code Ann. § 42.29(a) (Vernon 2001); see also Tex-Air Helicopters, Inc. v. Appraisal Review Bd. of Galveston, 940 S.W.2d 299, 308 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1997) (award of fees under section 42.29 is discretionary), aff'd, 970 S.W.2d 530 (Tex.1998); Tex-Air Helicopters, Inc. v. Harris County Appraisal District, 15 S.W.3d 173, 177 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2000, pet. denied) (same).
Even Coastal acknowledges that the award of fees is discretionary, but argues the trial court abused its discretion by failing to award any fees. The test for abuse of discretion is not whether, in the opinion of the reviewing court, the facts present an appropriate case for the trial court’s action. Downer v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238, 241 (Tex.1985); Smithson v. Cessna Aircraft Co., 665 S.W.2d 439, 443 (Tex.1984). Rather, a trial court abuses its discretion when it reaches a decision so arbitrary and unreasonable that it amounts to a clear and prejudicial error of the law. Downer, 701 S.W.2d at 241-42; Cessna Aircraft, 665 S.W.2d at 443. To ascertain whether the trial court abused its discretion, the reviewing court must determine if the trial court acted without reference to any guiding rules and principles. Morrow v. H.E.B., Inc., 714 S.W.2d 297, 298 (Tex.1986).
*855Here, by agreement of the parties, the trial court held a bench trial on the issue of attorney’s fees after the jury returned its verdict. Coastal presented evidence to the court on the fees it incurred and the court ruled that no fees would be granted. Because, in my opinion, the award of attorney’s fees is within the trial court’s discretion and is not mandatory, I believe the court had the option of awarding the entire request for attorney’s fees, a portion of the fees requested, or no fees at all. Accordingly, I respectfully dissent on the attorney’s fees issue.