Court Opinion

ID: 5047372
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-10-01 07:29:56.096577+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:08:13.081807
License: Public Domain

I agree the trial court abused his discretion in not hearing the motion for new trial, but I have trouble with the majority opinion's conclusion that because of this to remand the case for a complete new trial. It seems to this writer the effect of this decision is to take as true the facts and circumstances set up in defendant's motion for new trial. These allegations are not evidence as to the matters alleged. Associated Employers Lloyds v. Wynn, 230 S.W.2d 838, 839 (Tex.Civ.App. Fort Worth 1950, no writ), and authorities cited therein. I would therefore remand this case with instructions to the trial court to hear the motion for new trial. Either party could then obtain a review of its contentions.
I admit I can find no authority for this suggestion, but neither can I find any authority for the majority's action; and at least to me to now require the trial judge to do what he should have done is more reasonable than in effect our granting a new trial on the basis of no evidence. I do not regard Plains Growers v. Jordan, supra, cited in the majority opinion as prohibiting such action. There a party filed a writ of mandamus to compel the trial court to grant a new trial contending it had no notice of the setting of the case for trial, a different matter altogether.