Court Opinion

ID: 9771598
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 16:48:24.274543+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:31:33.413740
License: Public Domain

DUNN, Justice,
dissenting.
I concur with the majority that this judgment should be affirmed; however, I respectfully dissent with regard to the majority’s award of damages to the appellee pursuant to rule 84 of Tex.R.App.P.
Appellee has filed a motion for costs based on a frivolous appeal. See Tex.R. App.P. 84. Ineptitude in the presentation of an appeal is not sufficient ground for assessment of a frivolous appeal penalty. International Security Life Insurance Co. v. Robichau, 510 S.W.2d 132 (Tex.Civ.App.—Beaumont 1974, no writ). Even if an appellate court finds that the appeal is without merit, in the absence of a showing *310that the appeal was taken for delay and there was no sufficient cause for taking such appeal, the penalty authorized by the rule should not be assessed. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. v. Curlee, 416 S.W.2d 890 (Tex.Civ.App.—Fort Worth 1967, no writ). It is because of the state of the record that we are unable to address appellant’s points of error. We cannot say, without doubt, that the appeal was taken for delay.
I would overrule appellee’s cross-point for cost based on frivolous appeal.