Court Opinion

ID: 9829191
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 19:03:48.682132+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:42:58.121942
License: Public Domain

On Motion for Rehearing.
This being a case in which a motion for new trial is required as a prerequisite to the appeal, we held that an assignment of error in the motion for new trial merely stating that “the court erred in that part of the main charge designated as special issue No. 1,” without specifying any ground on which it is claimed the charge is erroneous or in any way identifying any point of objection to the charge so that it could be understood by the trial court, was insufficient to authorize us to consider (over appellee’s objection) points raised by appellant in this court alleging grounds of error (not fundamental) against the rulings of the trial court in overruling appellant’s objections and exceptions made to the charge during trial of the case. In its motion for rehearing in this court, appellant insists that our holding is erroneous. It will be noted that the assignment of error in the motion for new trial here under consideration makes no reference to the ruling of the court overruling appellant’s objections and exceptions to the special issue referred to, which is the particular ruling complained of in this court, The language in which it is framed does not indicate to the trial court whether complaint was intended to be made to the act or ruling of the court in submitting the special issue to the jury at a wrong time or place (as before the evidence closed, or before being read to the jury, or not in open court, or without giving appellant an opportunity to object to it), or whether complaint was intended to be made to the act or ruling of the court in overruling appellant’s objections and exceptions made during trial of the case to the form and contents of the issue referred co. It does not point out any particular ruling of the court made with reference to the particular issue referred to. It does not specify, or direct the trial court’s attention to, the particular grounds of error alleged in this court. Its general terms do not direct the trial court’s attention to any point of objection to the charge.
After again reviewing the rules and authorities, keeping in mind the purpose of requiring the motion for new trial to be filed in the trial court and the important function it is intended to perform in that court, we do not think that any other interpretation can reasonably be placed upon the plain language of the rules than to say that they require an assignment of error in the motion for new trial shall not merely point out the particular charge complained of, but shall briefly refer to it in such a way as that the point of objection thereto may be understood by the court upon hearing the motion. This is true regardless of whether the case was tried under the rules declared in Stillman v. Hirsch, 128 Tex. 359, 99 S.W.2d 270, effective March 1, 1937, which we referred to as the old rules, or under the Rules of Civil Procedure adopted by the Supreme Court October 29, 1940, amended March 31 and December 31, 1941, which we refer-ed to as the new rules, because they are not materially different with respect to the particular question here under consideration. The useful purpose of a motion for new trial, the decisions, statutes and rules governing the filing of same and what it shall contain, are fully set forth by the Supreme Court in the above-mentioned case, and it is not deemed necessary or proper to consume the space in here copying them. Some of the decisions noted in that case held that it was not necessary to assign error in the motion for new trial to the rulings of the trial court in overruling objections and exceptions made on trial of the case to the charge, reasoning that the court having once ruled would not change his ruling if the point of objection were again presented to him' a second time. The court impliedly rejected such reasoning and reached the conclusion that a motion for new trial should be filed in all cases (except in instances described in Rule 71a — now Rule 324), embodying each ground of error complained of (including the grounds complaining of the rulings of the trial court overruling the obj ections and exceptions to the charge) and that any ground of error not distinctly specified in the motion for new trial is waived. There is no question but that (other than in the excepted instances not here involved) the rules announced in the Stillman case, as well as the new rules, require that grounds of error complaining of the rulings of the court overruling objections and exceptions to the charge must be assigned in the motion for new trial. Since it is required that such an assignment be made in a *178motion for new trial, should it be framed in such language or form as to direct the trial court’s attention to the point of objection? The question presented: Is an assignment of error in a motion for new trial sufficient in form which is couched in general terms merely referring to the particular charge complained of, without referring to any ruling made with reference thereto or in any manner identifying the point of objection so it could be understood by the court on hearing the motion ? Rule 321, Tex.Civ.Procedure (Rule 67 for District and County Courts unchanged), as to form of an assignment of error in the motion for new trial, provides : “Each ground of a motion for a new trial * * * shall briefly refer to that part of the ruling of the court, charge given to the jury * * * which are designated to be complained of, in such a way as that the point of objection can be clearly identified and understood by the court.” In Thompson v. Caldwell, Tex.Com.App., 36 S.W.2d 999, 1000, it is said: “It is the rule that, unless the error is fundamental, it must be assigned in a motion for a new trial in the district court. This means that the ruling, act, or conduct complained of must be pointed out or stated in the motion for a new trial in such a manner as to apprise the trial court of the error complained of.” The case was one in which the assignment of error in the motion for new trial pointed out the particular charge complained of, and specified four grounds of error charged against it. Two additional grounds were attempted to be raised in the appellate court. The court refused to consider such two additional grounds, because not contained in the assignment of error in the motion for new trial. Clearly the case is authority for our holding that an assignment of error in the motion for new trial in this case, which merely points out the particular charge complained of, without specifying any ground on which it is claimed the charge is erroneous or otherwise identifying any point of objection thereto, would' not authorize consideration of grounds of error alleged in this court. See San Antonio Traction Co. v. Emerson, Tex.Civ.App., 152 S.W. 468, writ refused.
We agree that an assignment of error in the court of civil appeals, as distinguishable from an assignment of error in a motion for new trial in the trial'court, is sufficient and proper which merely “points out the particular charge complained of,” without identifying any point of objection thereto. Clarendon Land, Investment & Agency Co. v. McClelland, 86 Tex. 179, 23 S.W. 576, 1100, 22 L.R.A. 105; Lang v. Harwood, Tex.Civ.App., 145 S.W.2d 945, and authorities there cited. In referring to assignments of error in the courts of civil appeals, in the McClelland case, supra, Judge Gaines said [86 Tex. 179, 23 S.W. 1103] : “It is to be borne in mind that the statute and rules which require errors to be assigned were intended primarily for the relief of the appellate courts * * *.” Such assignments of error are followed by propositions or statement of the points on whiih the appeal is predicated, etc., clearly specifying the grounds on which it is claimed the charge pointed out is erroneous. With equal emphasis it may be said that a primary purpose of an assignment of error in the motion for new trial is for the relief of the trial court. It is not followed by any proposition or other matter showing the ground on which it is claimed the charge is erroneous, therefore it should not only refer to the particular charge complained of, but should briefly refer to it in such a way as to identify the point of objection. It is intended that the motion for new trial shall perform the important function of not merely laying a predicate for an appeal, but of presenting to the trial court each ruling or part of the proceedings objected to by the losing party, “in such way as that the point of objection can be clearly identified and understood by the trial court,” in order that he may have an opportunity to review them under circumstances affording more deliberate consideration, not afforded or practicable during progress of the trial, so that they may be corrected or the new trial granted if need be. If the motion for new trial does not perform such office, it serves no useful purpose. To merely tell the trial court that he erred in a certain special issue does no more than to put him to sea on an unlimited search for unidentified points of objection to the charge which could easily have been stated but were not stated in the motion for new trial. We adhere to our original ruling, but it was thought that the question involved was of such importance as to call for further discussion of the reasons.
The motion for rehearing is overruled.