Elliott v. Dawson

473 S.W.2d 668, 1971 Tex. App. LEXIS 2369
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedNovember 11, 1971
Docket15798
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 473 S.W.2d 668 (Elliott v. Dawson) 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
Elliott v. Dawson, 473 S.W.2d 668, 1971 Tex. App. LEXIS 2369 (Tex. Ct. App. 1971).

Opinion

BELL, Chief Justice.

Raymond W. Dawson made application for an on-premises retail dealer’s license for beer and wine and County Judge Bill Elliott denied the application. He appealed to the district court and obtained a judgment granting his application for a beer and wine license. The main issue before us is whether the findings of the County Judge are reasonably supported by substantial evidence.

“The correctness of the order of the county judge, and consequently of the judgments of the district court and Court of Civil Appeals, is to be tested by the application of the substantial evidence rule.” Jones v. Marsh, 148 Tex. 362, 224 S.W.2d 198, 202 (1949).

When the courts sit in review of evidence before the county judge, the applicable standard requires a review of all the evidence, not merely that which supports the order of the county judge. Jones v. Marsh, supra; Trapp v. Shell Oil Co., Inc., 145 Tex. 323, 198 S.W.2d 424. If there be only a scintilla of evidence, the order of the county judge should be reversed. Hawkins v. Texas Co., 146 Tex. 511, 209 S.W.2d 338, 340. Because the preponderance of the evidence is against the finding of the county judge it is not grounds to reverse his judgment. Hawkins v. Texas Co., supra.

Linder the substantial evidence rule neither the district court nor this court may set aside the county judge’s order merely because the evidence is conflicting, if there is substantial evidence in reasonable support of that order. Jones v. Marsh, supra; Texas Liquor Control Board v. Redd, Tex.Civ.App., 285 S.W.2d 400.

It is the evidence introduced in the district court, not that which was introduced before the county judge or Liquor Control Board, to which we must look in determining whether appellants failed to discharge their burden. Our duty is to ascertain from the record made in the district court *670 whether there is sufficient evidence reasonably sufficient to support the challenged order. Jones v. Marsh, supra; Vrocher v. Texas Liquor Control Board, Tex.Civ.App., 350 S.W.2d 349. The reviewing court may not substitute its discretion for that committed by statute to the county judge. Ramos v. Austin, Tex.Civ.App., 220 S.W.2d 528. In determining the question of substantial evidence, the test has been announced in Railroad Commission v. Shell Oil Company, 139 Tex. 66, 161 S.W.2d 1022 (1942), and Trapp v. Shell Oil Co., supra:

“If the evidence as a whole is such that reasonable minds could not have reached the conclusion that the agency must have reached in order to justify its action, then the order must be set aside.”

The county judge in passing upon an application for a beer license may consider the several factors listed in Article 667~6(d), Texas Liquor Control Act, but he is not limited to those matters. Jones v. Marsh, supra; Ramos v. Austin, supra. The Act expressly and broadly empowers the judge to examine the place in which the permit will exist and also to inquire into the jeopardy to the peace, morals, health, or safety of the general public. The location and surroundings of a proposed retail beer business and the number of such licensed establishments in the community are proper considerations and may be the basis for the refusal of a license.

In the case at bar the main contention is based on the location of the proposed “on premises” lounge, and not to the character of the applicant as a licensee. The applicant had owned and operated three other places of business in which beer is sold, and there had been no complaints against him arising out of the operation of those businesses. The proposed lounge would be located on the opposite side of the street where an elementary school is located. The applicant gave testimony as to the location of other “on premises” and “off premises” businesses in the immediate area. It was shown that within a ten-block radius of the proposed lounge there were fourteen on-premises licenses, six off-premises licenses and three liquor stores. In the same block and on the same side of the street of the proposed lounge there was a liquor store, a drive-in with an off-premises license and a drive-in lounge with an on-premises permit. Immediately across the street from the proposed lounge and school and in the same block was a pizza place with an on-premises license, and two establishments with off-premises licenses.

Four witnesses testified for the contestants, one of whom was an apartment complex owner (Clayton Smith) whose apartments were located next to the proposed lounge and across from the school. He testified that some 156 children live in the apartment complex, and that the main reason people live in his apartments is because they are so close to the school. If the lounge is allowed to open, there would be an adverse effect as people would not want their children to have to walk in front of a lounge to get to school. Thus he felt it would be bad for his apartment business.

James R. Hibbits, parent and property owner in the area, testified that he had objections to the lounge and that he felt it would have an effect on property values in the neighborhood.

J. J. Conner, principal of the elementary school, said he opposed the location of the lounge, but that it would not affect attendance of the school.

W. L. Davis, member of the School Board, testified that they try to locate schools in residential areas, but he agreed that this area was highly commercial.

There was further testimony as to appellants’ main objection, that no other license issued in the area was as close to the school as the proposed lounge. Also the on-premisés permit across from the school was an eating place, which allegedly distinguished it from the proposed lounge.

The case of Clark v. Liquor Control Board, 357 S.W.2d 176 (Tex.Civ.App.—Beaumont 1962, n. w. h.), involved simi *671 lar facts to those presented here. There the Court of Civil Appeals in reversing the judgment of the district court which had affirmed denial of a license by the county judge, held in part as follows:

“Does the testimony justify the refusal to issue the license sought? We think not. The question whether the sale and purchase of beer is an immoral act, as presented in this case, is a political one decided by the voters under the Local Option sections of the Liquor Control Act. This Act provides if the sale of beer is permitted within an area that, upon the adoption of the provision of Art. 666-25a, by the Commissioners’ Court, or governing body of the city involved, no such sale may be conducted within 300 feet of a public school as defined in that Act.

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Bluebook (online)
473 S.W.2d 668, 1971 Tex. App. LEXIS 2369, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/elliott-v-dawson-texapp-1971.