Atascosa County Appraisal District v. Tymrak

815 S.W.2d 364, 1991 Tex. App. LEXIS 2422, 1991 WL 195293
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedAugust 30, 1991
Docket04-91-00136-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 815 S.W.2d 364 (Atascosa County Appraisal District v. Tymrak) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Atascosa County Appraisal District v. Tymrak, 815 S.W.2d 364, 1991 Tex. App. LEXIS 2422, 1991 WL 195293 (Tex. Ct. App. 1991).

Opinions

OPINION

CHAPA, Justice.

In this property tax case, the taxing authorities in Atascosa County (“the district”) appeal a judgment awarding attorney’s fees of $20,000 to the taxpayers (referred to collectively as “the Tymraks”). The suit involves the valuation of six adjoining tracts of land for the years 1987 through 1990. After extended pretrial proceedings, the parties settled the valuation issue for a lower evaluation than the district had originally set, but they expressly left the issue of attorney’s fees for resolution by the court. We affirm.

In its first two points, the district argues that the trial court did not have jurisdiction to render the judgment before us because an earlier summary judgment in its favor had become final before the court set it aside. The court signed the summary judgment on February 19, 1990. The Tym-raks filed a timely motion for new trial on March 19, 1990. They then filed an amended motion for new trial on May 3, 1990, which was not timely under TEX.R.CIV.P. 329b(b). The motion for new trial was overruled by operation of law on May 5, the 75th day after the judgment was signed. The court then signed an order granting a new trial on May 16, 1990.

The district claims that the court had no jurisdiction to grant a new trial at that time because the amended motion somehow caused the court to lose jurisdiction. We disagree.

After the motion was overruled by operation of law on the 75th day, the trial court had plenary jurisdiction over the case for 30 more days. Philbrook v. Berry, 683 S.W.2d 378, 379 (Tex.1985); Clark & Co. v. Giles, 639 S.W.2d 449, 450 (Tex.1982); TEX.R.CIV.P. 329b(e). We are aware of no reason why the filing of an untimely amended motion would destroy the court’s plenary power.

The district suggests that the court granted the new trial for reasons stated in the untimely amended motion. But that makes no difference because a court can grant a new trial within its period of plenary power for any reason or for no reason at all, except in limited circumstances not present here. See Johnson v. Fourth Court of Appeals, 700 S.W.2d 916, 918 (Tex.1985); Garza v. Serrato, 671 S.W.2d 713, 714 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1984, no writ). Points one and two are overruled.

In point three, the district argues that the Tymraks cannot recover attorney’s fees because the case was settled and there is no proof that they “prevailed.” Section 42.29 of the tax code states the following:

A taxpayer who prevails in an appeal to the court under Section 42.25 [excessive appraisal] or Section 42.26 [unequal appraisal] of this code may be awarded reasonable attorney’s fees not to exceed the greater of $5,000 or 20 percent of the total amount of taxes in dispute.

TEX.TAX CODE ANN. § 42.29 (Vernon Supp.1991). We do not agree with the district that attorney’s fees are recoverable under § 42.29 only when there was a trial. The statute specifically requires an appeal but not a trial.

Initially, appellants have failed to challenge, by point of error, the trial court’s express finding that the Tymraks prevailed on each of the four appeals, and the findings are, therefore, binding on this court. Wade v. Anderson, 602 S.W.2d 347, 349 (Tex.Civ.App.—Beaumont 1980, writ ref’d n.r.e.). Moreover, even if we were to [367]*367consider that appellants’ general complaint sufficiently preserves error, the evidence supports the court’s express finding that the Tymraks prevailed.

The district valued the property at $100,-110. The settlement judgment valued it at $56,000 in 1987, $61,000 in 1988, and $65,-000 in 1989 and 1990. Thus, the Tymraks prevailed because they won a judgment lowering their property’s valuation on the tax rolls. See Katz & Muller, Procedural Rights and Remedies Under the Texas Property Tax Code, 18 ST. MARY’S L.J. 1209, 1225 (1987). The tax saving to the Tymraks is about $1000 each year, but the 558-page transcript reflects the extensive effort required of the appellees in order to finally prevail by obtaining the taxing agency’s concession to the overvaluation. We overrule point of error three.

The district contends, in point four, that the trial court erred in awarding attorney’s fees exceeding the maximum amount allowed by statute. Section 42.29 limits the taxpayer’s attorney’s fees to 20 percent of the taxes in controversy or $5000 per appeal, whichever is greater. The trial court accepted the Tymraks’ argument that they can recover $5000 per year because each tax year constitutes a separate appeal under § 42.29. Findings of fact and conclusions of law were filed and are before this court. The issue, therefore, is whether the trial court abused its discretion in granting the attorney’s fees. Patterson v. Patterson, 679 S.W.2d 621, 627 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1984, no writ), citing Rick Furniture Distributing Co., Inc. v. Kirlin, 634 S.W.2d 738, 742 (Tex.App.—Dallas 1982, writ ref'd n.r.e.).

The test for abuse of discretion is not whether, in the opinion of the reviewing court, the facts present an appropriate case for the trial court’s action. Downer v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238, 241-43 (Tex.1985), cert. denied, 476 U.S. 1159, 106 S.Ct. 2279, 90 L.Ed.2d 721 (1986); Smithson v. Cessna Aircraft Co., 665 S.W.2d 439, 443 (Tex.1984). Rather, a trial court abuses its discretion when it reaches a decision so arbitrary and unreasonable as to amount to a clear and prejudicial error of law. Downer, 701 S.W.2d at 241-43; Cessna Aircraft, 665 S.W.2d at 443; Bush v. Vela, 535 S.W.2d 803, 805 (Tex.Civ.App.—Corpus Christi 1976, no writ); King v. Guerra, 1 S.W.2d 373, 376 (Tex.Civ.App.—San Antonio 1927, writ ref’d). In ascertaining whether the trial court abused its discretion, the reviewing court must determine if the trial court acted without reference to any guiding rules and principles. Morrow v. H.E.B., Inc., 714 S.W.2d 297, 298 (Tex.1986). The trial court is free, however, to consider the entire record of the case up to and including the motion to be considered. Id. at 241. We emphasize, moreover, that the burden is on appellant to see that a sufficient record is presented to show error requiring reversal. TEX.R.APP.P. 50(d). Unless the judgment or order limits or explicitly states the basis on which the order is given, this court must look to all the arguments before the court to determine if the court acted without justification. Brasher v. Carr, 743 S.W.2d 674, 683 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1987), rev’d on other grounds, 776 S.W.2d 567 (Tex.1989).

Unless the trial court’s findings are challenged by a point of error on appeal, they are binding upon the appellate court. Wade, 602 S.W.2d at 349, citing Zelios v. City of Dallas, 568 S.W.2d 173

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Anderson v. Teco Pipeline Co.
985 S.W.2d 559 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1999)
Thomas v. Casale
924 S.W.2d 433 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1996)
D.R. v. J.A.R.
894 S.W.2d 91 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1995)
Atascosa County Appraisal District v. Tymrak
858 S.W.2d 335 (Texas Supreme Court, 1993)
Atascosa County Appraisal District v. Tymrak
815 S.W.2d 364 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1991)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
815 S.W.2d 364, 1991 Tex. App. LEXIS 2422, 1991 WL 195293, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/atascosa-county-appraisal-district-v-tymrak-texapp-1991.