Court Opinion

ID: 9829111
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 19:00:09.038787+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:42:57.447950
License: Public Domain

On Motion for Rehearing.
We have considered carefully appellant’s motion for a rehearing, and it is contended that fundamental error is shown.
First, the contention is made that, the verdict of the jury having been returned showing all findings in favor of appellant, judgment should have been rendered in her favor on the verdict, and, second, that it was likewise fundamental error to grant appellee’s motion for judgment, notwithstanding the verdict.
The trial court was warranted in disregarding the verdict, if (a) there is no evidence to support the findings made, and (b) if the findings are contrary to the undisputed and uncontradicted evidence.
The judgment of the’ trial court expressly recites that the undisputed and un-contradicted evidence shows that appellant is not entitled to recover, and that the answers of the jury made to the three issues submitted have no support in the evidence. Thus it will be seen that, for appellant to show error on the part of the trial court, in rendering such a judgment, resort must be had to the statement of facts in order to make profert of sufficient evidence to warrant the submission of the issues and to support the answers thereto.
*778'[5] The assignments of error which require us to search the statement of facts to ascertain whether or not they are well taken are not fundamental errors. Blackmon v. Trail, Tex.Com.App., 12 S.W.2d 967; 3 Tex.Jur., para. 574, page 817, and authorities cited under notes 8 to 14, inclusive.
Rule 71a, cited in the original opinion, which requires the filing of a motion for a new trial as a predicate for the assigning of errors in a jury case, is quoted in part by' appellant to show certain exceptions to the rule, namely: “Unless the error complained of is fundamental * * * or a peremptory instruction is given in the case.”
The very reason for the rule, as it relates to the giving of a peremptory charge, is based upon the fact that resort must be.had to the statement of facts in order to ascertain whether or not the ■evidence warranted and required the submission of the cause to a jury. Had the Supreme Court felt that error should be assigned upon the granting of a motion non obstante veredicto, without the necessity of making a motion for a new trial, it would have so declared, as was done with respect to a peremptory instruction.
The motion for rehearing is overruled.