Court Opinion

ID: 9765560
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 04:06:56.33595+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:11.350521
License: Public Domain

On Motion for Rehearing
Appellant contracted for the services of her attorneys on the basis that in the event it was necessary to appeal from the decision of the District Court, the attorneys should receive a fee of one-third of the total recovery. In the event there was no appeal a lesser amount was provided, which sum was awarded by the trial court. Appellant has requested that this Court reform the judgment of the trial court to conform to the contract. There is no contention that the trial court erred in the award made, rather the contention is that additional fees have been earned and should be allowed by this Court. An award of attorney’s fees in the amount requested was permissible under the law in effect at the time the contract was made, but the trial court was not required to award the maximum amount permitted by law even though the parties had contracted for such amount. Postal Mutual Indemnity Co. v. Ellis, 140 Tex. 570, 169 S.W.2d 482; Fidelity Union Casualty Co. v. Dapperman, 53 S.W.2d 845, Tex.Civ.App., writ ref.; Texas Employers’ Ins. Ass’n v. Lane, Tex.Civ.App., 124 S.W.2d 893, writ ref., judg. correct; White & Yarborough v. Dailey, 5 Cir., 228 F.2d 836.
Since the amount of attorney’s fee to be allowed is not controlled by the parties’ contract, but must be determined by the trial court in the exercise of his judicial discretion, the fixing of such an attorney’s fee constitutes the exercise of original rather than appellate jurisdiction. Smith v. Texas Co., 53 S.W.2d 774, Tex.Com.App.; Volkmer v. Chase, 354 S.W.2d 611, Tex.Civ.App.
Appellant’s motion for rehearing is denied.