Court Opinion

ID: 9661500
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 22:40:26.43087+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:29.239862
License: Public Domain

CRAMER, Justice
(on motion to dismiss).
Appellees in a separate motion insist that we have not acquired jurisdiction of this appeal, and pray that the appeal be dismissed.
The facts material to show our jurisdiction are: Final judgment was signed by the trial court March 3, 1953. Appellant’s affidavit for costs was filed March 13, 1953, clearly within the 20 days allowed under Rule 356(b). The affidavit was duly contested and thereafter the contest was sustained by the trial court to the extent that appellant was able to make a $250 deposit, *609under Rule 355(f). Appellant then filed in this Court an application for mandamus to require the trial court to overrule the contest without the $250 deposit requirement; in other words, overrule the contest unconditionally. This Court after hearing granted the writ as prayed for on May 5, 1953. Appellees’ first motion was overruled June 26, whereupon they filed second motion for rehearing which this Court entertained and overruled July 17. See Wright v. Peurifoy, Tex.Civ.App., 260 S.W.2d 234. The trial court complied with our writ by entering an order setting aside its former order and sustaining the affidavit for costs unconditionally on August 3, 1953. On August 3, 1953 the original transcript was filed in this Court, having been tendered May 28, 1953. A statement of facts was filed Sept. 28, and a supplemental transcript on Nov. 18th.
Appellees in their motion to dismiss cite and rely on Rules 354, 356, and 363, V.R. C.P.; Hugle v. Fritz Motor Co., 117 Tex. 411, 6 S.W.2d 84; Brandon v. Tartt, Tex. Civ.App., 220 S.W.2d 672; Garvin v. Hufft, Tex.Civ.App., 243 S.W.2d 391; Maples v. Service Mutual, etc., Tex.Civ.App., 169 S.W.2d 500, error dis.; 4 C.J.S., Appeal and Error, § 521, page 981; City of Waco v. Roberts, 121 Tex. 217, 48 S.W.2d 577, 580; Vinson v. McPherson, Tex.Civ.App., 54 S.W.2d 829; 3 C.J. 1183; 4 C.J.S., Appeal and Error, § 565; McAfee v. Shirley, Tex.Civ.App., 140 S.W.2d 932; Equitable Life, etc., v. Murdock, Tex.Civ.App., 219 S.W.2d 159; and Plummer v. Van Arsdell, 117 Tex. 200, 299 S.W. 869. We have reviewed each of appellees’ cited authorities and have reached the conclusion that they are not in point here. Most of them involve only the question of extension of time for filing an appeal bond after a contest of an affidavit for costs has been sustained too late to file the appeal bond. They are each correct under the situation there involved and the applicable rules then in force, but have no application here.
Rule 355, V.R.C.P., in connection with the situation here has been twice construed by the Subcommittee on Interpretation of the Texas Rules of Practice and Procedure. Such opinions being reported in 7 Texas Bar Journal 118 and in 8 Texas Bar Journal 45. Material here, the Committee was asked the question: “ * * * (2) When a contest is filed under Rule 355 can the court set and hear the contest immediately, or is it necessary to wait ten full days from the filing of the contest or from the date of notice?” The Committee answered the question: “In regard to the second question it is the opinion of the Subcommittee that the hearing upon a contest may be had after reasonable notice of the setting, without waiting for a ten-day period to elapse. The rule provides that a court officer or a party to the suit may contest the affidavit within ten days after the giving of such notice ‘whereupon the court * * * shall set the contest for hearing.’ The ten-day period applies to the time allowed for filing a contest, but- after a contest is filed the court can hear same at any time upon reasonable notice.” And in tjie opinion in 8 Texas Bar Journal, at page 45, the question was: “2. When a contest is filed under Rule 355 can the court set and hear the contest immediately, or is it necessary to wait ten full days from the filing of the contest or from the date of notice?” To which the Subcommittee answered: “2. In regard to the second question it is the opinion of the Subcommittee that the hearing upon a contest may be had after reasonable notice of the setting, without waiting for a ten-day period to elapse. The rule provides that a court’ officer or a party to the suit may contest the affidavit within ten days after the giving of such notice ‘whereupon the court * * * shall set the contest for hearing.’ The ten-day period applies to the time allowed for filing a contest, but after a contest is filed the .court can, hear same at any time upon reasonable notice.”
The opinions of the Subcommittee are in our opinion correct interpretations of Rules 355 and 363, and applying the rule there laid down, the affidavit for costs having been finally overruled by the trial court (in compliance with our mandate) on August 3, 1953, the record was filed in his court within the time required by Rule 386, since our orders extending the time until *610after the contest was overruled were based upon good cause why it could not be sooner filed, as the term good cause is used in Rule 386.
In my opinion there is no error shown by the motion to dismiss and it should therefore be overruled.
DIXON, C. J., concurs in the result.
YOUNG, J., dissents.