Court Opinion

ID: 9678074
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 06:10:05.244569+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:01.718096
License: Public Domain

BLEIL, Justice,
dissenting.
I agree with the majority’s decision that Glass and Taylor should take nothing on the basis of the suit which they filed. And, I agree that it might be inequitable for Taylor to lose the $11,386.34 which the evidence shows he advanced. However, I would reverse and render a take nothing judgment rather than modify the judgment based upon an improper search of the record for inequities.
Taylor did not ask the court, based upon equitable grounds or otherwise, to return to him the money he advanced. He did not seek recovery of this money either as a primary part of his suit or on an alternative basis. No point of error or cross-point of error concerns this matter. Therefore, I believe the action of this Court in modifying the judgment to direct the return of the money to Taylor is erroneous.
Ordinarily we cannot consider points raised for the first time on appeal. Gray-Taylor, Inc. v. Tennessee, 587 S.W.2d 668 (Tex.1979); Socony-Vacuum Oil Co. v. Aderhold, 150 Tex. 292, 240 S.W.2d 751 (1951). Nor may we consider a point not properly presented by point of error. Tex. R.Civ.P. 418(d). Fundamental error is a rarity and our consideration of unassigned errors, absent jurisdictional defects, is amiss. Eagle Trucking Co. v. Guin, 640 S.W.2d 873 (Tex.1982); American Gen. Fire & Cas. Co. v. Weinberg, 639 S.W.2d 688 (Tex.1982). Fundamental error in civil cases has been labeled a discredited doctrine. Cox v. Johnson, 638 S.W.2d 867 (Tex.1982).
The lawsuit sought (1) recovery of an interest in land, (2) damages, and (3) an accounting and rentals. The trial court did not have authority to return money on a theory wholly unsupported by the pleadings. That suit was not tried. That case was not appealed.
The majority’s award of money not sought by the plaintiffs, on a theory not pled in the trial court or presented to this Court either by point of error or in argument, constitutes error of the most fundamental type.