Court Opinion

ID: 9665512
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 00:50:17.012179+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:16.288278
License: Public Domain

BUTTS, Justice,
concurring.
I concur in the judgment. In fact, on this all the members of the panel agree. The debate between J. Hardberger, the author of the opinion, and J. Peeples is one that is quietly ongoing among the members of the bar. And while it is intellectually an interesting topic, and both proponents make telling arguments, it has no effect on the outcome of this case.
Rule 277 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure prohibits submission of inferential rebuttal issues to a jury, but it expressly directs that proper inferential rebuttal matters may be submitted. “Inferential rebuttal questions shall not be submitted in the charge. The placing of the burden of proof may be accomplished by instructions rather than by inclusion in the question.” Tex. R.Civ.P. 277. The obvious purpose of the present rule is to avoid conflicting jury answers but to permit affirmative presentation to the jury of negating factors.
It is noteworthy that several such rebuttal matters have gone by the wayside, dying a natural death. These include imminent peril, last clear chance, and open and obvious. I suspect that others will follow. However, this intermediate court has no power to abolish inferential rebuttal instructions in the face of the rule.
If inferential rebuttal instructions aid the jury to render a verdict, assuming no impermissible comment on the weight of the evidence which aims the jury to a certain result, then under the present Texas law, they may be submitted. Objections that an inferential instruction does not assist the jury, is confusing, is not relevant to the jury question submitted, has not been pleaded or proved, or is an improper comment on the evidence are often proper objections.
As pointed out by J. Hardberger, certain inferential rebuttal instructions are contained in the Texas Pattern Jury Charges. These are regularly submitted in jury charges as correct.
The supreme court considers amendments to the Texas rules of civil procedure on a regular basis. It may be assumed that the argument for abolition of inferential rebuttal instructions which would negate an element of the opposing party’s cause of action or defense has been, and will be, presented.
The argument is not without merit which emphasizes that the party with the burden of proof must prove the required elements, and the inferential rebuttal instructions are unnecessary to rebut or negate that burden. In other words, since plaintiff must prove “X” as an element of his cause of action, then defendant is not entitled to an instruction, in effect, that plaintiff has not proved “X” if “Y” has been proved. It is contended that the party with the burden must present proof, and if he fails, then jury voir dire, evidence at trial, and jury argument about “Y” will sufficiently permit the jury to find that plaintiff has not sustained his burden of proof.
With worthy advocates advancing abolitionist and retention positions to the supreme court when it comes time for consideration of amendments to the rules of procedure, it is that court’s task to pass on the matter. At this time, we must surmise the supreme court has declined to abolish inferential rebuttal instructions although the amendment of 1988 rewrote rule 277.
Therefore, I join the judgment with this concurrence.