Lola Padgett and Michael Dunn v. City of Madisonville, Texas

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: February 11, 2004
• Docket: 10-02-00199-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

Lola Padgett etal v. City of Madisonville TX

IN THE

TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

No. 10-02-199-CV

     LOLA PADGETT AND MICHAEL DUNN,

                                                                              Appellants

     v.

     CITY OF MADISONVILLE, TEXAS,

                                                                              Appellee

From the 278th District Court

Madison County, Texas

Trial Court # 01-95910278-10

CONCURRING OPINION

      I agree with the result but would sever the claims being remanded for further consideration from those being affirmed. See Aero Energy, Inc. v. Circle C Drilling Co., 699 S.W.2d 821, 823 (Tex. 1985); Hofer v. Lavender, 679 S.W.2d 470, 471 (Tex. 1984). The desirability of a severance appears to stem from the requirement that there be one final judgment in a case. Tex. R. Civ. P. 301; see Hamilton v. Prescott, 73 Tex. 565, 11 S.W. 548, 549 (1889). Authority to sever may be found in Rules of Appellate Procedure 43.6 and 44.1(b). Tex. R. App. P. 43.6, 44.1(b); see also Washington v. Reliable Life Ins. Co., 581 S.W.2d 153, 161 (Tex. 1979) (citing former rule of civil procedure 503 which used language similar to current Rule 44.1(b)).

      We have been inconsistent in our opinions about severance when an error affects only part of a judgment. Compare Ash v. Hack Branch Dist. Co., 54 S.W.3d 401, 419 (Tex. App.—Waco 2001, pet. denied) (severance), with Cozby v. City of Waco, 110 S.W.3d 32, 41 (Tex. App.—Waco 2002, no pet.) (no severance). But that is no reason not to sever claims that are being remanded from those on which the judgment is affirmed so as to make the latter unquestionably final.

                                                                       BILL VANCE

                                                                       Justice

Concurring opinion delivered and filed February 11, 2004