Court Opinion

ID: 9678078
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 06:10:08.922725+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:01.732592
License: Public Domain

OPINION ON REHEARING
Texas Commerce has filed a motion for rehearing. In its second point, it argues that our opinion and judgment in this case awards attorneys’ fees without a properly presented issue.
The record in this case shows that both Eastman and Texas Commerce moved for summary judgment. (This was specifically noted by the trial court in its September 11, 1999, order.) In an order signed June 10, 1999, the trial court granted Eastman’s motion for summary judgment in the amount of $250,000.00, plus reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses “to be determined by later submission.” Texas Commerce filed a motion to reconsider on or about August 18, 1999. A hearing was held September 2, 1999, which included oral argument on the motion to reconsider, and also on attorneys’ fees. At that hearing, the trial court announced orally that the court was denying the motion to reconsider. The court then, without taking formal evidence, discussed the amount of attorneys’ fees. Counsel for Eastman asked for $108,000.00. After some discussion, *87the trial court determined that $85,000.00 was an appropriate amount. At that same hearing, Texas Commerce advised the trial court that its own attorneys’ fees were $60,000.00. Neither side put on sworn testimony regarding attorneys’ fees, nor sought to examine the other party’s attorney as to the amount claimed. Counsel for Texas Commerce did argue that $108,000.00 was excessive, but made no farther objection or attempt to examine Eastman’s attorney regarding the trial court’s determination that $85,000.00 was appropriate. The trial court, on September 2, 1999, in the written final judgment, awarded judgment to Eastman, which included an award of $85,000.00 attorneys’ fees, along with the amount of the judgment. The trial court then, sua sponte, in an order dated September 11, 1999, withdrew the original judgment and awarded summary judgment to Texas Commerce, plus attorneys’ fees of $60,000.00.
In Casa Ford, Inc. v. Ford Motor Co., 951 S.W.2d 865, 876-77 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 1997, pet. denied), we held, citing Jones v. Strauss, 745 S.W.2d 898 (Tex.1988), that when both parties move for summary judgment in the trial court, with one motion being granted and the other denied, the appellate court is authorized to reverse the trial court judgment and render such judgment as the trial court should have rendered, including rendering judgment for the other movant.
We find the record contains no objections raised to the trial court’s determination of either side’s attorneys’ fees. Both parties had the opportunity to make a record of objections and to present evidence, including calling the attorney for the opposing side as a witness to justify, under oath, their claimed fees. Neither side chose to do so and cannot be heard to complain now for the first time on appeal.
At the conclusion of oral argument before this Court, counsel for Texas Commerce were asked specifically whether they had any objection to the amount of attorneys’ fees awarded to Eastman in the original judgment of the trial court. Counsel indicated they had no such objection. They are now estopped from doing so.
The motion for rehearing is overruled.