Court Opinion

ID: 9777458
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 20:11:34.587465+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:13:00.658049
License: Public Domain

ON MOTION FOR REHEARING
Appellant’s motion for rehearing contains seventeen points of error and a request for additional findings of fact in connection with the following matters: (1) Our conclusion that an ordinary partnership existed between Nolen and Campbell, (2) our conclusion that Campbell was an agent for Nolen in contracting for the services performed by appellee, and (3) our conclusion that Nolen exercised judgment in connection with the venture.
In our original opinion we pointed out that appellant did not assign a point of error in this court concerning the existence of an ordinary partnership between Nolen and Campbell and that appellee expressly refused to waive such failure. By his point IV appellant now contends that since this case was tried without a jury it was not necessary to assign points of error. Such contention is not well taken. Neither the Supreme Court nor a Court of Civil Appeals is authorized to reverse a trial court’s judgment in the absence of a properly assigned error or one which can properly be classed as fundamental. Rule 418, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure; Texas Power & Light Co. v. Cole, 158 Tex. 495, 313 S.W.2d 524, 529 (1958). In City of Deer Park v. State, 154 Tex. 174, 275 S.W.2d 77, 85 (1955) the Supreme Court quoted with approval the opinion of the San Antonio Court of Civil Appeals in Kendall v. Johnson, 212 S.W.2d 232, 235, wherein it was said: “It is the purpose of an assignment of error to point out, segregate and identify the particular ruling or action of the court which it is contended constitutes reversible error and the effect of the segregation and identification is to waive all other complaints as to all other rulings and actions of the court, unless they are also assigned as error.” The case now before this court is an appeal from a trial on the merits by the court sitting without a jury. There is no question of fundamental error here. Appellant was required to assign a point of error and to brief the same in this court with reference to the actions of the trial court about which he desired to complain and seek relief.
Under such circumstances we are required to affirm the judgment of the trial court on the basis that it is supported by the findings and conclusions of the lower court to the effect that an ordinary partnership existed between Nolen and Campbell. Such partnership resulted from an express agreement entered into by them to combine their property, labor or skill, as principals, in an enterprise or business for the purpose of joint profit. Because of such ordinary partnership, liability attached against Nolen in connection with appellee’s cause of action asserted here; and, in view of this, it is not necessary to predicate Nolen’s liability on a mining partnership which arises by operation of law when co-owners work a mine, that is, where both joint ownership and joint operation are present. However, if there had been no such ordinary partnership, the evidence herein is sufficient to support the existence of a mining partnership, and the judgment, if necessary would be supported on such basis. Neither is it necessary to predicate affirmance of the judgment on the theory of Campbell’s agency for Nolen. However, if there had been neither an ordinary partnership or a mining partnership, the evidence herein is sufficient to support the finding of the trial court as to such agency, i. e. that Nolen authorized Campbell to represent him in business relations with other persons in connection with the operations here involved; so that, if necessary, liability would attach against Nolen on the theory of agency.
In view of appellant’s failure to assert a point of error in this court complaining *759of the judgment on the premise that it is not supported on the basis of an ordinary-partnership between Nolen and Campbell, we doubt that supplemental findings are required to be made by us under Rule 455, T.R.C.P. However, if such findings are required we believe it sufficient in connection with the matters referred to by appellant to adopt the findings and conclusions of the trial court, those made by us in the original opinion and those made in this opinion.
After consideration of Appellant’s motion for rehearing and each ground thereof, we adhere to our original disposition of the case and said motion is overruled.