Court Opinion

ID: 9647976
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 13:57:37.009115+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:11:54.998471
License: Public Domain

On Motion for Rehearing
PER CURIAM.
Appellant, in his motion for rehearing urgently requests that this court grant him the right to *rfile in the County Court at *742JLaw -of Lubbock County his appeal from ■the action of the Department of Public Safety in attempting to declare an automatic suspension of his Commercial Operator’s License. He cites as authority for his contention Article 5539a, V.T.C.S. and Buford v. Sun Oil Company, Tex.Civ.App., 186 S.W.2d 306.
We are in complete sympathy with appellant’s right to “have his day in court” and we regret that he did not originally file his appeal in the County Court at Law of Lubbock County from the action of the Department of Public Safety. Under the authority of the two Department of Public Safety cases cited in our original opinion, he could have done so. Additionally, we are certain that his failure to do so was not in intentional disregard of jurisdiction but because of an honest mistake of his counsel made before the announcement of the case of Department of Public Safety v. Hamilton, supra, interpreting Sec. 31 Art. 6687b.
If this court had authority to transfer this case to the County Court at Law of Lubbock County we would not hesitate to do so, but when we do not have jurisdiction, as in this case, the only authority we have is to dismiss.
If appellant files his appeal in the County Court at Law of Lubbock County within sixty days from the time our judgment of dismissal for want of jurisdiction becomes final, it will be the prerogative of the County Court at Law to pass on the question as to whether, under the authority of Article 5539a and Buford v. Sun Oil Company, supra, he is entitled to file appeal at that time from the action of the Department of Public Safety for the reason that his failure to file in that court originally was not in intentional disregard of jurisdiction. We are not passing on that question here.
Appellant’s motion for rehearing is overruled and as stated in our original opinion, the judgment of the court below in holding it did not have jurisdiction is affirmed and the appeal is dismissed.