Court Opinion

ID: 9768740
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 13:46:40.46617+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:44.090734
License: Public Domain

CONCURRING OPINION
SMITH, Justice.
I concur in the result. The trial court rendered judgment for the plaintiff in the original case on October 19, 1965. Eight days later defendant Brown filed a motion for new trial. His motion was grounded upon his failure to receive notice of the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment. Defendant did not present his motion for new trial and it was overruled by operation of law. Defendant then on December 28 gave notice of appeal, but he did not timely perfect his appeal. On April 11, 1966, defendant filed this petition for an equitable bill of review, but does not state any reason for his failure to urge his motion for new *896trial or perfect his appeal. These facts defeat Brown’s right to an equitable bill of review, for the reason stated in Duncan v. Smith Bros. Grain Co., 113 Tex. 555, 260 S.W. 1027 (1924):
“Appellant failed to show that he was prevented from making his defense at the proper time without fault on his part. This was essential to the relief here sought. He knew this judgment was rendered in time to have applied for a new trial before the close of the term and has shown no excuse why this was not done. Coffee v. Ball, 49 Tex. 16, 25; Hamblin v. Knight, 81 Tex. 351, 355, 16 S.W. 1082, 26 Am.St.Rep. 818.”
The same principle is stated in 4 McDonald, Texas Civil Practice, § 18:27, where the elements of a bill of review are stated. One of those elements is:
“That the complainant exercised due diligence to avail himself of all adequate legal remedies against the former judgment, and that at the time he files the bill of review there remains no such adequate legal remedy still available. A bill of review is not a mere alternative of review on motion for new trial or upon appeal, and it may thereforé be successfully urged only when there remains no other method of assailing the judgment. A person is charged with knowledge of all facts which he could have discovered by due diligence, and one who claims ignorance of an adverse judgment for a period of time after its rendition must justify his lack of knowledge. From the date he learns of the decree, or by the exercise of due diligence would have learned of it, the complainant must seize upon all legal remedies still available, including motion for new trial, appeal, or writ of error. * *
Since the failure of Brown to perfect his appeal defeats his right to an equitable bill of review, why enter into a lengthy discussion as to the nature of a bill of review, etc?