Court Opinion

ID: 9771124
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 16:33:11.793654+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:31:25.606914
License: Public Domain

OSBORN, Chief Justice,
dissenting.
I agree with Justice Woodard’s opinion that “[t]here was no evidence offered in respect to attorney’s fees.” Likewise, I agree with his statement that an appellate court is not authorized to reverse the judgment of a trial court on the grounds that the case has not been fully developed. I *160also agree with Justice Koehler’s concurring opinion that “[a]n appellate court should not remand a case just to give an appellee another bite of the apple.” Therefore, I respectfully dissent to a remand for a new trial on attorney’s fees.
Perhaps the real issue is: Does the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act § 17.-50(d), which provides that each consumer who prevails shall be awarded reasonable and necessary attorney’s fees, void the application of the “no evidence” rule? I conclude that it does not.
In Bolton v. Alvarado, 762 S.W.2d 215 (Tex.App. — Houston [1st Dist.] 1988, writ denied), the Court reversed and rendered a trial court’s award of $30,000.00 in attorney’s fees after a jury finding of “$0” for such services. The net result was that there was no award of attorney’s fees for a party who was successful in a suit under the DTP A.
If an award is mandatory, what should be the action of the trial court where after the evidence is presented without any evidence on attorney's fees and plaintiff's counsel announces to the court that “the plaintiff rests”. Does the trial judge say “I can not accept that announcement. The plaintiff can only rest after proper evidence is presented on attorney’s fees.” I believe most trial judges would be shocked by such a rule but that is basically the result we reach today. Or if plaintiff’s counsel says “[r]ather than delay the trial while I obtain an expert witness, plaintiff will waive attorney’s fees,” does the “shall be awarded” clause cause the trial judge to say “[n]o waiver will be permitted.” I do not believe so. The statute was written for the protection of the consumer. Those consumers who do not seek the benefits of the statute should be treated like all other litigants who come to court without evidence of some element of their case. They face the burden of having the “no evidence” rule applied to their case. Appellant seeks a rendition on this phase of the case. I would grant that relief.