Court Opinion

ID: 9666370
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 01:12:06.755196+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:27.004213
License: Public Domain

BUTTS, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully disagree as to attorney fees.
First, it is well settled that attorney fees may not be awarded in conversion suits, and this was a suit for conversion. Therefore the basis of the award against the appellees/cross appellants cannot be conversion. In addition, section 242 of the Texas Probate Code speaks to an award of attorney fees as a claim against the estate under special circumstances. It is not authority for the award of attorney fees against the appellees in this case. There may be a claim against the estate in this case, but this court cannot render that decision as suggested by appellant (Guzman) in the event the appellees cannot be held liable. And even though the objection concerning liability for attorney fees was raised for the first time on appeal, where there is no basis in law for the award as made, that would not operate as a waiver of the argument. Therefore, the award of attorney fees should be reversed and re*112manded for the trial court to entertain as a claim against the estate. I would sustain the point of error. As to disposition of the merits of the case, I agree.