Court Opinion

ID: 9777814
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 20:25:04.617776+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:33:01.794830
License: Public Domain

CANTU, Justice,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I agree with appellant that the jury finding on total and permanent incapacity is against the great weight of the evidence as to be clearly wrong and unjust.
Contrary to the conclusions of the majority, the record does not establish that ap-pellee was disabled to such an extent that he cannot obtain and keep employment.
While the testimony undoubtedly established that appellee has suffered some permanent partial incapacity, and that he cannot now perform heavy lifting and constant stooping such as he was performing when he was injured, the overwhelming evidence shows that appellee’s condition does not and has not prevented him from obtaining and retaining permanent and gainful employment calling for lighter duties which lighter duties he is more comfortably able to perform on a full time basis.
The instant case is in fact not much different from the following cases, all of which called for a result contrary to that reached by the majority. See Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Co. v. Applewhite, 612 S.W.2d 281 (Tex.Civ.App.—El Paso 1981, writ ref’d n.r.e.); Texas Employers’ Insurance Association v. Flores, 603 S.W.2d 330 (Tex.Civ.App.—El Paso 1980, no writ); Texas Employers’ Insurance Association v. Ontiveros, 570 S.W.2d 98 (Tex. Civ.App. — El Paso 1978, no writ); Commercial Insurance Co. of Newark, N.J. v. Puente, 535 S.W.2d 948 (Tex.Civ.App.—Corpus Christi 1976, writ ref’d n.r.e.); Travelers Insurance Co. v. DeLeon, 456 S.W.2d 544 (Tex.Civ.App.—Amarillo 1970, writ ref’d n.r.e.); Texas Employers’ Insurance Association v. Hawkins, 387 S.W.2d 469 (Tex.Civ.App.—Amarillo 1965, writ ref’d n.r.e.); Indemnity Insurance Company of North America v. Cady, 356 S.W.2d 323 (Tex.Civ.App.—San Antonio 1962, no writ).
I would sustain appellant’s great weight challenge and reverse and remand for a new trial. In all other particulars I agree with the results reached by the majority.