Court Opinion

ID: 2840051
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-03 00:19:38.852228+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:32:26.862096
License: Public Domain

<HTML> 

<HEAD> 

<META NAME="Generator" CONTENT="WordPerfect"> 

<TITLE></TITLE> 

</HEAD> 

<BODY TEXT="#000000" LINK="#0000ff" VLINK="#551a8b" ALINK="#ff0000" BGCOLOR="#c0c0c0"> 

 

<P><STRONG><SPAN STYLE="font-size: 14pt">Opinion issue October 18, 2007</STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2"> 

<P><IMG SRC="060527f\seal.gif" WIDTH="115" HEIGHT="115"></P> 

 

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2"> 

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2"> 

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2"> 

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2"> 

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2"> 

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2"> 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 13pt"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 13pt"><STRONG>In The</STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: EngrvrsOldEng Bd BT" STYLE="font-size: 18pt"><STRONG>Court of Appeals</STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: EngrvrsOldEng Bd BT" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 13pt"><STRONG>For The</STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: EngrvrsOldEng Bd BT" STYLE="font-size: 18pt"><STRONG>First District of Texas</STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: EngrvrsOldEng Bd BT" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"></SPAN></P> 

 

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2"> 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: EngrvrsOldEng Bd BT" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG><HR ALIGN="CENTER" WIDTH="15%"> 

</STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG>NO. 01-06-00527-CV</STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG> __________</STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2"> 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG>MICHAEL SCOTT,  Appellant</STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 13pt"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2"> 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG>V.</STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2"> 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG>WICHITA COUNTY AND </STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG>WICHITA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY </STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG>BARRY MACHA, Appellees</STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2"> 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG><HR> 

</STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG>On Appeal from 400th District Court </STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG> Fort Bend County, Texas </STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG>Trial Court Cause No. 05-CV-143400</STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2"> 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG><HR> 

</STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG>O P I N I O N</STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 13pt"></SPAN></P> 

 

<P><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">	Michael Scott appeals from the trial court's order granting Wichita County's 

and Wichita County District Attorney Barry Macha's (collectively "Wichita County") 

motion to dismiss with prejudice.</SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">  In his sole point of error, Scott contends that, 

because the trial court's venue was improper, its order is void and constitutes 

fundamental error.</SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">  We affirm the trial court's order.</SPAN></P> 

 

<P><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><CENTER><STRONG>Background </CENTER> 

</STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

<P><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG>	</STRONG>On June 22, 2005, Scott, an inmate within the Institutional Division of the 

Texas Department of Criminal Justice, brought an action pro se and <EM>in forma pauperis 

</EM>in Fort Bend County, alleging<STRONG> </STRONG>that Wichita County was liable for failing to file his 

criminal complaints, thus denying him access to the courts. <STRONG> </STRONG>Wichita County filed a 

motion to dismiss, claiming that the suit was barred by res judicata and collateral 

estoppel and should be dismissed as frivolous under Chapter 14 of the Civil Practice 

and Remedies Code.  Tex. Civ. Prac. &amp; Rem. Code Ann.  14.003 (Vernon 2002) 

(dismissal of inmate litigation).  The trial court granted the motion to dismiss without 

stating its specific reasons and dismissed Scott's case with prejudice.  Scott appeals 

the trial court's dismissal.<STRONG></STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG>Venue</STRONG></SPAN></P> 

 

<P><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">	Scott's sole issue is that, because his suit was against Wichita County, venue 

was mandatory in Wichita County, and, thus, the trial court committed fundamental 

error by dismissing his suit with a void order.  We disagree.</SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="COLOR: #0000ff"><STRONG><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="COLOR: #0000ff"><STRONG><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN><A HREF="/research/buttonTFLink?_m=4ef4f7576d51d0f58129ff6622463880&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b199%20S.W.3d%20462%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=3&_butStat=2&_butNum=31&_butInline=1&_butinfo=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b822%20"></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="COLOR: #0000ff"><STRONG></A></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="COLOR: #0000ff"><STRONG><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="COLOR: #0000ff"><STRONG><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="COLOR: #0000ff"><STRONG><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="COLOR: #0000ff"><STRONG><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="COLOR: #0000ff"><STRONG><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="COLOR: #0000ff"><STRONG><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="COLOR: #0000ff"><STRONG><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman"><STRONG><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="COLOR: #0000ff"><STRONG><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="COLOR: #0000ff"><STRONG><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="COLOR: #0000ff"><STRONG><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"></SPAN></P> 

 

<P><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">	It is well recognized that, by filing a lawsuit, the plaintiff is given the first 

choice regarding venue.<EM>  See In</EM> <EM>re Masonite Corp</EM>., 997 S.W.2d 194, 197 (Tex. 1999). 

 </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">Filing a lawsuit in a county of improper venue is not a jurisdictional defect that 

would render a trial court's actions void.</SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">  </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><EM>Scott v. Gallagher</EM>, 209 S.W.3d 262, 264 

(Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.).<A HREF="#N_1_"><SUP> (1)</SUP></A></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">  Unlike subject-matter jurisdiction, 

which may be challenged at any time, venue may be waived if not challenged in due 

order and on a timely basis</SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">.  <EM>Id.</EM>  </SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">This is true, even if venue was mandatory in another 

county.  <EM>See Jozwiak v. Jozwiak</EM>, 476 S.W.2d 857, 861 (Tex. Civ. App.--Houston 

[14th Dist.] 1972, no writ) ("</SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">The requirement that suit be brought in the county in 

which the land is located is one of venue or privilege and not of jurisdiction, and it 

may be waived.</SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">").</SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"></SPAN></P> 

 

<P><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">	When suit is filed against a Texas county, venue is mandatory in that county.  

Tex. Civ. Prac. &amp; Rem. Code Ann.  15.015 (Vernon 2002).  Here, Scott improperly 

brought suit against Wichita County in Fort Bend County.  However, because Wichita 

County never filed a motion to transfer venue, it waived mandatory venue.  <EM>See Scott</EM>, 

209 S.W.3d at 264<EM>.</EM>  Therefore, the Fort Bend County trial court had jurisdiction, and 

its motion to dismiss was not void.  <EM>See id.</EM>&nbsp;at 264-65.</SPAN></P> 

 

<P><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">	We note that Scott relies on <EM>Browning v. Placke</EM>.  698 S.W.2d 362 (Tex. 1985).  

Scott's reliance is misplaced, however,<EM> </EM>because <EM>Browning</EM> held that a judgment is 

void where the issuing court lacked jurisdiction, whereas the trial court here had 

jurisdiction<EM>.  See id.</EM> at 363.  Accordingly, because the trial court's order granting 

Wichita County's motion to dismiss is not void, we hold the trial court did not 

commit fundamental error.  Scott's sole issue is overruled</SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: " STYLE="font-size: 14pt"><STRONG>.</STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"></SPAN></P> 

 

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman"></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="COLOR: #0000ff"><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN><EM><SPAN STYLE="text-decoration: underline"></SPAN></EM></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman">Conclusion</STRONG></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"></SPAN></P> 

 

<P><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">	</SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">We affirm the trial court's order granting Wichita County's motion to dismiss.</SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"></SPAN></P> 

 

<BR WP="BR1"><BR WP="BR2"> 

<P><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman"></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt"></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">						</SPAN></P> 

 

<P><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">							George C. Hanks, Jr.</SPAN></P> 

 

<P><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">							Justice</SPAN></P> 

 

<P><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">				</SPAN></P> 

 

<P><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">Panel consists of Justices Taft, Hanks, and Higley.</SPAN></P> 

 

<P><A NAME="N_1_">1. </A> However, there are limited situations where jurisdiction is tied to venue.  "Texas courts hold that 

if a cause of action is a statutory cause of action, as opposed to a constitutional or common law cause 

of action, and the statute provides that suit must be prosecuted in the courts of a single county, such 

provisions are jurisdictional."  <EM>State v. Benavides</EM>, 772 S.W.2d 271, 273 (Tex. App.--Corpus 

Christi1989, writ denied).<BR> 

</SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman" STYLE="font-size: 14pt">. 

</BODY> 

</HTML>