Murray v. Devco, Ltd.

731 S.W.2d 555, 30 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 394, 98 Oil & Gas Rep. 185, 1987 Tex. LEXIS 330
CourtTexas Supreme Court
DecidedApril 29, 1987
DocketC-5278
StatusPublished
Cited by73 cases

This text of 731 S.W.2d 555 (Murray v. Devco, Ltd.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Murray v. Devco, Ltd., 731 S.W.2d 555, 30 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 394, 98 Oil & Gas Rep. 185, 1987 Tex. LEXIS 330 (Tex. 1987).

Opinion

OPINION

GONZALEZ, Justice.

This is a condemnation suit. Devco originally filed two condemnation suits to acquire an easement for a pipeline through two contiguous tracts of land owned by Murray and others. Devco later discovered that not all of the gas line was located on the described easements. Devco filed two more suits with the correct legal descriptions and moved to dismiss the first set. The trial court denied the motion to dismiss but granted Devco’s motion to consolidate the proceedings. The jury awarded damages on the four suits and the trial court rendered judgment for Murray based on the jury findings. The court of appeals reversed as to the first set of condemnations. 705 S.W.2d 836. ' We granted writ of error to primarily consider the propriety of the court of appeals reversal in the absence of a statement of facts of the dismissal hearing. We affirm the judgment of the court of appeals.

Devco owns an oil and gas lease that allows for the installation of gas gathering lines for production of gas from the tracts in question. In 1981, in order to transport off unit gas from the tracts, Devco filed two condemnation proceedings: 81-749 on a 45-acre tract and 81-750 on a 95-acre tract. The Commissioners awarded $2,800.00 for the land condemned in 81-749 and $1,500.00 for the land condemned in 81-750. Devco deposited the money awards into the registry of the court. Murray objected to the Commissioner’s awards as being inadequate and withdrew the money pending litigation. In 1982, during preparation for trial, Devco discovered that the pipeline easements were not correctly described in the condemnation proceedings and that the pipeline was only partially located on the described easements. To correct the error, Devco filed new condemnation proceedings which correctly described the easements sought: 82-545 on the 45-acre tract and 82-544 on the 95-acre tract. The Commissioners awarded $2,800.00 and $1,500.00, respectively. Devco did not deposit these amounts into the registry of the court but filed a motion to dismiss the 1981 proceedings alleging “the right-of-way condemned in such original condemnation proceeding is not the actual situs of the pipeline as it exists on the ground and therefore condemnor has no need for such condemnations.” After a hearing, the trial judge overruled the motion, and the four cases proceeded to trial.

The court of appeals affirmed the judgment of the trial court as to the 1982 *557 takings. It also reversed and remanded as to the 1981 proceedings with instructions to dismiss them after a hearing to determine Murray’s expenses and fees in connection with the 1981 proceedings. Tex.Prop.Code Ann. § 21.019 (Vernon 1984). 1 It is the court of appeals reversal despite the lack of a record of the dismissal hearing that piqued our curiosity when writ was granted.

Missing Record

Murray first complains that the court of appeals erred in reversing the trial court’s ruling on the motion to dismiss because there was no statement of facts or findings of fact and conclusions of law from the motion to dismiss hearing.

Generally, in the absence of a statement of facts, it must be presumed that sufficient evidence was introduced to support the findings of the jury and the judgment of the court. Lane v. Fair Stores, Inc., 150 Tex. 566, 243 S.W.2d 683, 685 (1951). Also, the burden is on a party appealing from a trial court judgment to show that the judgment is erroneous in order to obtain a reversal. Englander Co. v. Kennedy, 428 S.W.2d 806, 807 (Tex.1968). However, here we do have a complete record of the jury trial. This enables us to evaluate whether the court of appeals correctly applied sections 21.019 and 21.020 of the Property Code to the facts of this cause.

The record before us supports Devco’s position that Devco took only one strip of land, cleared one path and laid one pipeline. Furthermore, during oral arguments, counsel for Murray admitted that only one path was cut and one pipeline was laid. He also admitted that there was no physical possession by Devco of the property in the 1981 proceedings except to the extent of the overlap with the 1982 proceedings where there was no error in the description.

Possession — Waiver of Right to Dismiss

After the Commissioners have made an award in a condemnation proceeding, a condemnor may take possession of the condemned property pending litigation if the condemnor pays the award to the property owner or the court and executes a bond. Tex.Prop.Code Ann. § 21.021 (Vernon 1984). Also, a condemnor has a right to refuse to take the property sought to be condemned and move to dismiss the condemnation proceeding. Lower Nueces River Water Supply Dist. v. Cartwright, 160 Tex. 239, 328 S.W.2d 752, 757 (1959). See Tex.Prop.Code Ann. § 21.019 (Vernon 1984).

However, a condemnor may lose the right to dismiss “by taking possession of the property.” Brazos River Conservation & Reclamation Dist. v. Allen, 141 Tex. 208, 171 S.W.2d 842, 845 (Tex.Comm’n App.1943, opinion adopted). See State v. Able, 369 S.W.2d 520, 523 (Tex.Civ.App.—Texarkana 1963, writ ref’d n.r.e.). A “taking” is an actual physical invasion or an appropriation of the property. Brunson v. State, 444 S.W.2d 598, 601 (Tex.1969) (citing Tex. Const, art. I, § 17). A taking is complete when the owner is prejudiced and the status quo cannot be restored. Id. A landowner is prejudiced where the land is physically possessed and used by the con-demnor. See, e.g., Fort Worth Concrete Co. v. State, 400 S.W.2d 314, 316 (Tex.1966); City of Rockwall v. Mitchell, 497 S.W.2d 378, 380-81 (Tex.Civ.App.—Waco 1973, writ ref’d n.r.e.).

A condition precedent to the con-demnor’s right to dismissal is to restore the status quo by surrendering possession of the land to the condemnee. Thompson v. *558 Janes, 151 Tex. 495, 251 S.W.2d 953, 955 (1952).

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

Related

Billy Stearns v. Billy Stewart
Court of Appeals of Texas, 2025
Carlye Jones Miller v. Michelle Watkins
Court of Appeals of Texas, 2021
in the Interest of A. J. P., a Child
Court of Appeals of Texas, 2020
Miles v. Lee Anderson Co.
339 S.W.3d 738 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2011)
$585.00 U.S. Currency v. State
Court of Appeals of Texas, 2009
City of Dallas v. VSC, LLC
242 S.W.3d 584 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2008)
Leo B. Montgomery v. CBI Interiors
Court of Appeals of Texas, 2005
Cass v. Stephens
156 S.W.3d 38 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2004)
Ramirez v. Texas State Board of Medical Examiners
99 S.W.3d 860 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2003)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
731 S.W.2d 555, 30 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 394, 98 Oil & Gas Rep. 185, 1987 Tex. LEXIS 330, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/murray-v-devco-ltd-tex-1987.