Court Opinion

ID: 9774273
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 18:13:42.717341+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:04.998316
License: Public Domain

CHADICK, Justice,
dissenting.
I am compelled to dissent. The Public Utility Regulatory Act, Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat. Ann. art. 1446c, § 69, provides: “Any party to a proceeding before the commission is entitled to judicial review under the substantial evidence rule. The issue of confiscation shall be determined by a preponderance of the evidence.” (emphasis added) The majority has no warrant in precedent for holding that the Legislature violated the State Constitution by according the Telephone Company a jury trial, if requested, for determination of ultimate facts underlying the issue of confiscation. It may be that if any person or entity is to be deprived of their or its constitutional rights the Legislature and the Telephone Company would be a good place to start, but I am not agreeable to doing so. I think the Legislature can prescribe a jury trial on the confiscation issue and the Telephone Com*517pany can claim a right to a jury trial. I would affirm the Court of Civil Appeals.