Gallegos v. Clegg

417 S.W.2d 347
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJune 22, 1967
Docket273
StatusPublished
Cited by39 cases

This text of 417 S.W.2d 347 (Gallegos v. Clegg) 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
Gallegos v. Clegg, 417 S.W.2d 347 (Tex. Ct. App. 1967).

Opinion

OPINION

SHARPE, Justice.

This suit was brought by Eduardo Gallegos, individually and as next friend of his six minor children, and by Nick Lamas, individually and as next friend for his minor son, plaintiffs, against Velsie Foster Clegg, defendant, for damages resulting from a collision which occurred in Victoria, Texas, on July 27, 1965, between the automobile driven by Nick Lamas in which all the minor plaintiffs were riding, and a school bus driven by the defendant. Eduardo Gallegos was not present or involved in the collision.

The findings of the jury material to this appeal are in substance as follows: That the defendant failed to keep a proper lookout on the occasion in question which wás a proximate cause of the collision; that the plaintiff, Nick Lamas, failed to keep a proper lookout and to make proper application of the brakes on the automobile he was driving, and each such failure was a proximate cause, but not the sole proximate cause of the collision. In answer to special issue No. 18, inquiring concerning damages for physical pain in the past and future suffered by the seven minor plaintiffs, the jury answered nothing in each instance. In answer to special issue No. 19, inquiring concerning compensation to Eduardo Gallegos and Nick Lamas for reasonable and necessary medical expenses in the past and future for “injuries, if any, suffered by the minor plaintiffs as a direct and proximate cause of the collision made the basis of this suit” the jury answered:

Eduardo Gallegos, Jr. $46.50

Geneva Gallegos $101.97

Joe Frank Gallegos $51.50

Lilo Gallegos $40.87

Lupe Gallegos $47.50

Minnie Gallegos $56.47

David Lamas $74.00

In answer to special issue No. 20, inquiring concerning damages to Nick Lamas for personal injuries allegedly suffered by him in the collision, the jury answered nothing. In answer to special issue No. 21, inquiring concerning compensation to Nick Lamas, individually, for medical expenses in the past or future on account of injuries, if .any, suffered by him as a proximate result of the collision, the jury answered $12.50.

The trial court rendered judgment on the verdict that Nick Lamas, individually, and *349 as father and next friend for his minor son take nothing; that Eduardo Gallegos as father and next friend for his six minor children take nothing; and that Eduardo Gallegos, individually, recover from the defendant the sum of $344.81, being the aggregate amount of the jury findings on special issue No. 19 for medical expenses in connection with the injuries suffered by the six Gallegos children.

Appellants, the plaintiffs below, assert by two points that the judgment should be reversed and the cause remanded for new trial because (1) the trial court erred in failing to appoint a guardian ad litem for the minor plaintiffs, and (2) the jury verdict, which failed to award damages for plaintiffs’ pain and suffering, is contrary to the overwhelming weight and preponderance of the evidence.

In connection with appellants’ first point, the record shows that plaintiffs’ original petition alleged that there was a possible conflict of interest between the adult plaintiffs (the fathers who filed the suit on behalf of the minor children) and said children, and prayed that a guardian ad litem be appointed to represent the interest of the minor plaintiffs. In addition, on March 14, 1966, the date the trial began, the adult plaintiffs joined by the attorney of record for all the plaintiffs filed a motion which recited that there was a possible conflict between the minor plaintiffs and their fathers as next friends and also alleged in effect that the next friends were not fully competent or qualified to act as next friends in the case. The motion particularly alleged the following:

“That Eduardo Gallegos can neither read nor write the English language and speaks English very little.
The next friend, Nick Lamas, who also brings the suit individually can neither read nor write the English language nor can he speak the English language with such a degree as to comprehend fully the nature of the proceedings herein.
WHEREFORE Plaintiffs, Eduardo Gallegos, Sr., and Nick Lamas, pray that a Guardian ad Litem be appointed to represent their respective suits herein.”

Although the record does not clearly reflect the action of the trial court on the said motion, counsel for appellee has stipulated that the motion was called to the attention of the trial judge and that he declined to appoint a guardian ad litem for the minor plaintiffs. The case went to trial, therefore, with the fathers continuing as next friends, and all the plaintiffs being represented by one attorney.

After judgment was entered on the verdict, as above-mentioned, the plaintiffs filed original and amended motion for new trial. One ground of the amended motion related to the failure of the trial court to appoint a guardian ad litem for the minor plaintiffs. It was alleged in substance that midway in the trial a settlement offer of the defendant in the amount of $3,500.00 was communicated to plaintiffs’ attorney covering both the claims of the adult plaintiffs, individually, and the claims of the minor plaintiffs; that this offer was recommended to the next friends by plaintiffs’ attorney and they refused to accept it because they wanted more than that sum for themselves. The motion asserted that the failure of the trial court to appoint a guardian ad litem who was qualified to act for the minors and free from conflicts of interest denied due process of law to the minor plaintiffs.

The trial court heard evidence on the Motion for New Trial which included the testimony of the attorney for the plaintiffs and the attorney for the defendant. That testimony substantially supported the allegations of the amended motion. However, it appeared that the alleged offer in settlement actually was a proposal by defendant’s counsel to the effect that if a firm offer were made to settle all of plaintiffs’ claims for $3,500,000, he would recommend acceptance of same by the defendant. Such a firm offer was not made by counsel for plaintiffs because the two fa *350 thers acting as next friends would not agree to settle all claims for the amount of $3,-500.00, despite the advice and strong recommendation of their own attorney to accept such sum. The trial court during the course of the trial was advised of the above negotiations and refusal of the tentative proposal of settlement by the next friends.

On the trial of the case both Eduardo Gallegos and Nick Lamas, the next friends, testified. Lamas had no formal education and could neither read, write, speak or understand the English language. He testified with the aid of an interpreter. Lamas testified concerning his own injuries allegedly suffered in the collision involved in this suit as well as injuries allegedly suffered by the minor plaintiffs.

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Bluebook (online)
417 S.W.2d 347, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gallegos-v-clegg-texapp-1967.