Court Opinion

ID: 9834358
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 23:31:12.756635+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:44:14.166088
License: Public Domain

On Motion for Rehearing.
In his motion for rehearing, calling attention to authorities no^ theretofore cited, appellant challenges the holding in the original opinion that he had waived his plea of privilege by not calling it to the attention of the trial court during the term at which it was filed, and by permitting it to be continued without reserving the right to present. it at subsequent terms of the court.
Upon further consideration,' we have concluded that in deference to the decisions now cited by appellant the motion for rehearing should be granted, and the judgment of the court below reversed. The theory advanced in those decisions is that as the plea of privilege statute as amended provides that the “plea of privilege when filed shall be prima facie proof of the defendant’s right to change of venue,” the court in which the plea is filed loses jurisdiction of the person of the defendant upon the filing of the plea, and that such jurisdiction can be restored only by the filing of a controverting affidavit; that until such affidavit is filed the court has no power to enter any order in the cause except to transfer it to the proper county, and *418that in the absence of such affidavit a judgment on the merits of the case is void. Brooks v. Wichita Go. (Tex. Civ. App., 7th Dist.) 211 S. W. 288; Bennett v. Rose Co. (Tex. Civ. App., 5th Dist.) 226 S. W. 143; Craig v. Pittman (Tex. Civ. App., 5th Dist.) 234 S. W. 1112; Galewsky v. Kyser (Tex. Civ. App., 2d Dist.) 244 S. W. 159; Wallace v. Adams (Tex. Civ. App., 1st Dist.) 243 S. W. 572. While still doubtful of the justice or'wisdom of the doctrine announced in these cases, we yield to the apparent weight of authority.
The motion for rehearing will be granted, the judgment of the court dismissing the motion to set aside judgment will be reversed, and the cause remanded, with instructions to the court below to proceed to transfer the cause to the district court of Bexar county, unless the plaintiff shall in the meantime file a proper affidavit controverting the plea of privilege filed by defendant, in which event the court shall proceed to hear and determine the plea on its merits.
Motion granted, .judgment reversed, and cause remanded, with, instructions.