Edwards v. Dallas County

232 S.W.2d 262, 1950 Tex. App. LEXIS 2307
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJuly 14, 1950
DocketNo. 14295
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 232 S.W.2d 262 (Edwards v. Dallas County) 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
Edwards v. Dallas County, 232 S.W.2d 262, 1950 Tex. App. LEXIS 2307 (Tex. Ct. App. 1950).

Opinion

CRAMER, Justice.

Appellant instituted this suit against the Officials of Dallas County and Drexel & Company et al., alleging in substance, after 'paragraph No. 1 which only names the parties and their status, that (par. 2) he brings the suit as a property-owning taxpayer within Dallas County, with all taxes paid, and for himself, and as a class suit for the benefit of all persons similarly situated; (par. 3) that the Commissioners’ Court of Dallas County entered its order on December 12, 1949, calling an election on the proposition of authorizing the issuance of $22,500,000 in bonds by Dallas County Road District No. 1; (par. 4) and thereafter, pursuant to such order, after due and legal notice (par. 5) the election on January 21, 1950, resulted in favor of the issuance of the bonds; and thereafter the Commissioners’ Court canvassed the returns and declared the result. (Par. 6) That the election order and notice itemized and specified the roads which were to be improved with the proceeds of the bonds; (par. 7) which constituted an enforceable covenant that the proceeds.of such bonds would be used as therein stated and- that they cannot be used for any other purpose; (par. 8) that such itemized projects contemplate the expenditure of approximately 40% of the proceeds from the sale of such bonds on streets located within the corporate limits of the City of Dallas, and (par. 9) that no provision of our statutes authorizes such expenditure and “such expenditure would be wholly unlawful and void”; therefore (par. 10) such election order and notice constituted a fraud upon the property owners and taxpayers of Road District No. 1; (par. 11) that the Commissioners’ Court will negotiate the sale of such bonds and levy a tax on all property in the District to pay the principal and interest on such bonds, which (par. 12) will irreparably damage him and cast a cloud on his property, for the relief of which he has no adequate remedy at law.

Appellant prayed that the election be set aside, held null and void, and for injunction, etc.

The Dallas County officials, by their answer, admitted the facts alleged by appellant in paragraphs 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7; denied the facts in paragraph 8, but alleged that approximately 25% of the proceeds of the bonds is for improvement within the limits of the City of Dallas and that such city has, through its City Council, duly given consent to the Road District to make such improvements within its limits; also that such improvements connect with County roads of Dallas County. The officials deny all of paragraphs 9, 10, 11; and affirmatively allege that all of the City of Dallas lies within the boundaries of Road District No. 1 and Dallas County; that the .City of Dallas constitutes more than 75% of the taxable values within Road District No. 1, and that all property in the Road District will be assessed equally; that $6,000,000, of such bonds have been sold to Drexel & Company, the low bidders, at an interest rate of 1.74% and an assessment has been levied (to pay the principal and interest on said bonds) on. all property within Road District No. 1.

The City of Dallas intervened and adopted the county’s pleadings.

On trial to a jury, at the- conclusion of appellant’s evidence, the trial court sustained Drexel & Company. et al.’s motion and rendered judgment in their favor. The court then sustained the city’s and county’s motions to discharge the jury and render judgment for them that plaintiff recover nothing by his suit. Appellant duly perfected this appeal from the judgment entered on the sustaining of such motion.

Appellant assigns five points of error. The first point complains of the trial court’s advancing the cause for hearing and a trial thereon before appearance day, over his objection.

The record shows that at the time the cause was advanced and set for trial, all parties were before the court, by proper pleadings, .and the attorney for ap[264]*264pellant was present. It also appears that no prejudice resulted to appellant. Under such showing he has no right to complain soley on the ground that he, as plaintiff, received a speedy trial. The burden is now on appellant to affirmatively show that the errors if any, resulted to his prejudice. Texas Power & Light Co. v. Hering, Tex.Sup., 224 S.W.2d, 191. Being of the opinion that the action of the trial court in advancing the cause for trial, on motion, did not result in prejudice to• appellant, or in the rendition of an improper judgment, we hold that no reversible error is shown by the assignment. Rule 434, Vernon’s Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. The assignment is overruled.

Points 2 to 5, inclusive, assert error in the trial court's holding in substance (point 2) that the Commissioners’ Court could lawfully issue the- authorized Road District Bonds for-the purposes set out in the election notice and order here involved; (point 3) that the trial court erred in holding that the Commissioners’ Court could assume control of and improve streets and highways; (point 4) lay out, open, construct, own, and control roads and highways; (point 5) and acquire right of way for State designated highways, all within the corporate limits of the City of Dallas. They will be considered together.

The record here shows that the parties agreed that a portion of the proceeds from the bonds will be spent within the limits of the City of Dallas, for the following purposes : “It is stipulated by and between plaintiff and the defendants and the inter-vener, and by and between the attorneys for the plaintiff, the defendants, and the intervener, that a portion of the proceeds to be derived from the $22,500,000 Road District No. 1 Bond Issue is to be expended upon streets located within the corporate limits of the City of Dallas, Texas; that a portion of the funds to be expended on the streets within the corporate limits of the City of Dallas, Texas, are to be expended: (2) for right-of-way on State Highways located within the corporate limits of the City of Dallas, Texas; (b) on right-of-ways and new construction on road projects wholly within the City of Dallas, Texas, and which are not State Highways; (c) on right-of-ways on road projects within the City of Dallas, Texas; (d) on construction on streets located within the corporate limits of the City of Dallas, Texas, which are not State Highways; that all of the projects on which it is contemplated to spend a portion of the funds derived from the bonds either join with or intersect so as to form a connection with County Roads of Dallas County, Texas. It is further agreed and stipulated that of the total amount of the authorized bond issue of $22,500,000, that approximately $5,679,000 thereof is to be spent upon road projects within the City Limits of the City of Dallas, Texas. It is further agreed and stipulated that there are in excess of 20 other incorporated cities and towns within the limits of Road District No. 1 in Dallas County, Texas, other than the City of Dallas, Texas. It is further agreed and stipulated that of the total of the assessed valuation of property for tax purposes within Dallas County, Texas, and within Road District No. 1 thereof, that at least 75 percent thereof is located within the corporate limits of the City of Dallas, Texas.”

The resolution duly adopted March 14, 1950, by the Council of the City of Dallas (omitting formal parts) was as follows: “ * * * Whereas on January 21, 1950 an election was held in Dallas County Road District No.

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Bluebook (online)
232 S.W.2d 262, 1950 Tex. App. LEXIS 2307, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/edwards-v-dallas-county-texapp-1950.