Order entered February 22, 2013
In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-08-00615-CV
LEE C. RITCHIE, as Director of Rupe Investment Corporation and as Trustee for the Dallas Gordon Rupe Trust, PAULA RUPE DENNARD, as Director of Rupe Investment Corporation and as Trustee for the Dallas Gordon Rupe Trust and as Trustee for the Paula Dennard Management Trust, DENNIS LUTES, as Director of Rupe Investment Corporation and as Trustee for the Paula Dennard Management Trust, and RUPE INVESTMENT CORPORATION, Appellants
V.
ANN CALDWELL RUPE, As Trustee For The Dallas Gordon Rupe, III 1995 Family Trust, Appellee
On Appeal from the 44th Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 06-06944
ORDER Before the Court is appellants’ rule 24.4 motion to release supersedeas bond and cash
deposits, appellee’s response, and appellants’ reply. Appellants seek review of the trial court’s
January 15, 2013 order denying their renewed motion to release the supersedeas bond and cash
deposits suspending enforcement of the trial court’s judgment. We have jurisdiction to consider
motions under rule 24 even after our plenary power has expired. See Tex. R. APP. P. 19.3(d),
24.4(a). 1
1 Appellee argues we do not have jurisdiction over this motion under rule 24. However, appellants request us, in the alternative, to treat this motion as a petition for a writ of mandamus. On March 28, 2011, we rendered judgment affirming in part, reversing and rendering in
part, and reversing and remanding in part the trial court’s judgment. Our judgment awarded
appellants their costs on appeal and discharged the obligations of the surety on appellants’
supersedeas bond. See TEX. R. APP. P. 43.5; Edlund v. Bounds, 842 S.W.2d 719, 732 (Tex.
App.—Dallas 1992, writ denied) (discharging surety where judgment affirmed in part, modified
and rendered, and reversed and remanded for new trial on counterclaim). The Texas Supreme
Court granted appellants’ petition for review and the case remains pending in that court. See
Ritchie v. Rupe, No. 11-0447 (Tex. pet. granted Oct. 26, 2012). The mandate has not yet issued.
See TEX. R. APP. P. 18.1.
Appellants argue that because appellee has not filed a petition for review seeking review
of this Court’s reversal of the damage award, security for the amount of the damage award serves
no purpose and is an unjustified burden on appellants.
The condition of liability for a supersedeas bond or deposit in lieu of a bond under rule
24.1(d)(2) binds the surety or deposit to liability for all damages and costs that may be awarded
against the debtor if “the debtor does not perform an adverse judgment final on appeal.” TEX. R.
APP. P. 24.1(d)(2). The condition of liability in the trial court’s orders granting appellee’s
motions to increase security pending appeal mirrors the requirement of rule 24.1(d)(2), as does
the language of appellants’ supersedeas bond, which binds the surety to pay if “Rupe Investment
Corporation does not perform an adverse judgment of the court of appeals or, if a Petition for
Review is filed, of the Texas Supreme Court.”
While the supersedeas bond is not expressly conditioned on a judgment “final on appeal,”
it is conditioned on a failure to perform an adverse judgment of the Texas Supreme Court “if a
Petition for Review is filed.” A petition has been filed, but the supreme court has not yet
rendered a judgment. Thus, the conditions of the bond and the deposit have yet to be satisfied or
–2– extinguished.
Appellants’ argument is that security for the amount of the damage award serves no
purpose and should therefore be set aside. A similar argument was rejected by the supreme court
in In re Long, 984 S.W.2d 623, 626 (Tex. 1999) (orig. proceeding) (per curiam). In that case, the
trial court had enjoined the district clerk from collecting certain filing fees and that injunction
was modified by the court of appeals. Id. at 625. After writ of error was denied by the supreme
court, the trial court held the clerk in contempt for continuing to collect the filing fees during the
time after the court of appeals overruled the motion for rehearing in the court of appeals and
before the mandate issued. Id. The appellant argued that because the clerk did not appeal the
judgment of the court of appeals, he should have known the terms of the injunction would not
change and he should be held in contempt for violating the injunction from the time his motion
for rehearing was denied. Id. at 626. The supreme court disagreed: “Absent an order to the
contrary by the trial court or an appellate court, the Clerk could not be held in contempt for
violating the injunction until all appeals relating to the judgment were exhausted and a mandate
enforcing the injunction was issued.” Id. Additionally, one commentator has concluded there is
no authority to modify security on appeal based on the court of appeals’ judgment while review
is still pending in the supreme court. 5 ROY W. MCDONALD & ELAINE A. GRAFTON CARLSON,
TEXAS CIVIL PRACTICE § 30:20 (2nd ed. 1999 & Supp. 2012). 2
2 The authors reason as follows: However, there is no authority that empowers the trial court to order an increase or decrease in appellate security premised upon an appellate court judgment when that judgment is subject to further appellate review, and no mandate has issued. ... Until a final adverse judgment on appeal is rendered, the security continues to serve to supersede the trial court’s judgment. An appealable judgment, which by its nature may not be enforced until completion of the appellate process, is not a changed circumstance that would support trial court modification of appellate security. To hold to the contrary, would be inconsistent with not only one final judgment principles but also with the clear directive that an appellate judgment is not enforceable unless a mandate has issued and no further appellate review
–3– Similarly, this Court’s judgment is subject to further review because a petition for review
has been granted by the supreme court. Normally, the appellate court judgment is not subject to
enforcement until the mandate issues. See TEX. R. APP. P. 51.1(b) (“When the trial court clerk
receives the mandate, the appellate court’s judgment must be enforced.”); In re Long, 984
S.W.2d at 626; 5 MCDONALD & CARLSON, supra, § 30:51. The mandate is a formal command
requiring the lower court to comply with the appellate court’s judgment and the trial court has no
option but to observe and carry out the appellate court’s mandate. Cessna Aircraft Co. v. Aircraft
Network, LLC¸ 345 S.W.3d 139, 144 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2011, no pet.).
We recognize that “[w]hether, as a general matter, an appellate court’s decision takes
effect the moment the court issues its opinion, order, or judgment, or later when rehearing is
denied or the time for rehearing expires, or still later when the clerk issues the mandate, is a
difficult question under Texas law and procedure.” Edwards Aquifer Auth. v. Chem. Lime, Ltd.,
291 S.W.3d 392, 393 (Tex. 2009). However, we conclude the judgment is not “final on appeal”
until the mandate has issued. See TEX. R. APP. P.
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Order entered February 22, 2013
In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-08-00615-CV
LEE C. RITCHIE, as Director of Rupe Investment Corporation and as Trustee for the Dallas Gordon Rupe Trust, PAULA RUPE DENNARD, as Director of Rupe Investment Corporation and as Trustee for the Dallas Gordon Rupe Trust and as Trustee for the Paula Dennard Management Trust, DENNIS LUTES, as Director of Rupe Investment Corporation and as Trustee for the Paula Dennard Management Trust, and RUPE INVESTMENT CORPORATION, Appellants
V.
ANN CALDWELL RUPE, As Trustee For The Dallas Gordon Rupe, III 1995 Family Trust, Appellee
On Appeal from the 44th Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 06-06944
ORDER Before the Court is appellants’ rule 24.4 motion to release supersedeas bond and cash
deposits, appellee’s response, and appellants’ reply. Appellants seek review of the trial court’s
January 15, 2013 order denying their renewed motion to release the supersedeas bond and cash
deposits suspending enforcement of the trial court’s judgment. We have jurisdiction to consider
motions under rule 24 even after our plenary power has expired. See Tex. R. APP. P. 19.3(d),
24.4(a). 1
1 Appellee argues we do not have jurisdiction over this motion under rule 24. However, appellants request us, in the alternative, to treat this motion as a petition for a writ of mandamus. On March 28, 2011, we rendered judgment affirming in part, reversing and rendering in
part, and reversing and remanding in part the trial court’s judgment. Our judgment awarded
appellants their costs on appeal and discharged the obligations of the surety on appellants’
supersedeas bond. See TEX. R. APP. P. 43.5; Edlund v. Bounds, 842 S.W.2d 719, 732 (Tex.
App.—Dallas 1992, writ denied) (discharging surety where judgment affirmed in part, modified
and rendered, and reversed and remanded for new trial on counterclaim). The Texas Supreme
Court granted appellants’ petition for review and the case remains pending in that court. See
Ritchie v. Rupe, No. 11-0447 (Tex. pet. granted Oct. 26, 2012). The mandate has not yet issued.
See TEX. R. APP. P. 18.1.
Appellants argue that because appellee has not filed a petition for review seeking review
of this Court’s reversal of the damage award, security for the amount of the damage award serves
no purpose and is an unjustified burden on appellants.
The condition of liability for a supersedeas bond or deposit in lieu of a bond under rule
24.1(d)(2) binds the surety or deposit to liability for all damages and costs that may be awarded
against the debtor if “the debtor does not perform an adverse judgment final on appeal.” TEX. R.
APP. P. 24.1(d)(2). The condition of liability in the trial court’s orders granting appellee’s
motions to increase security pending appeal mirrors the requirement of rule 24.1(d)(2), as does
the language of appellants’ supersedeas bond, which binds the surety to pay if “Rupe Investment
Corporation does not perform an adverse judgment of the court of appeals or, if a Petition for
Review is filed, of the Texas Supreme Court.”
While the supersedeas bond is not expressly conditioned on a judgment “final on appeal,”
it is conditioned on a failure to perform an adverse judgment of the Texas Supreme Court “if a
Petition for Review is filed.” A petition has been filed, but the supreme court has not yet
rendered a judgment. Thus, the conditions of the bond and the deposit have yet to be satisfied or
–2– extinguished.
Appellants’ argument is that security for the amount of the damage award serves no
purpose and should therefore be set aside. A similar argument was rejected by the supreme court
in In re Long, 984 S.W.2d 623, 626 (Tex. 1999) (orig. proceeding) (per curiam). In that case, the
trial court had enjoined the district clerk from collecting certain filing fees and that injunction
was modified by the court of appeals. Id. at 625. After writ of error was denied by the supreme
court, the trial court held the clerk in contempt for continuing to collect the filing fees during the
time after the court of appeals overruled the motion for rehearing in the court of appeals and
before the mandate issued. Id. The appellant argued that because the clerk did not appeal the
judgment of the court of appeals, he should have known the terms of the injunction would not
change and he should be held in contempt for violating the injunction from the time his motion
for rehearing was denied. Id. at 626. The supreme court disagreed: “Absent an order to the
contrary by the trial court or an appellate court, the Clerk could not be held in contempt for
violating the injunction until all appeals relating to the judgment were exhausted and a mandate
enforcing the injunction was issued.” Id. Additionally, one commentator has concluded there is
no authority to modify security on appeal based on the court of appeals’ judgment while review
is still pending in the supreme court. 5 ROY W. MCDONALD & ELAINE A. GRAFTON CARLSON,
TEXAS CIVIL PRACTICE § 30:20 (2nd ed. 1999 & Supp. 2012). 2
2 The authors reason as follows: However, there is no authority that empowers the trial court to order an increase or decrease in appellate security premised upon an appellate court judgment when that judgment is subject to further appellate review, and no mandate has issued. ... Until a final adverse judgment on appeal is rendered, the security continues to serve to supersede the trial court’s judgment. An appealable judgment, which by its nature may not be enforced until completion of the appellate process, is not a changed circumstance that would support trial court modification of appellate security. To hold to the contrary, would be inconsistent with not only one final judgment principles but also with the clear directive that an appellate judgment is not enforceable unless a mandate has issued and no further appellate review
–3– Similarly, this Court’s judgment is subject to further review because a petition for review
has been granted by the supreme court. Normally, the appellate court judgment is not subject to
enforcement until the mandate issues. See TEX. R. APP. P. 51.1(b) (“When the trial court clerk
receives the mandate, the appellate court’s judgment must be enforced.”); In re Long, 984
S.W.2d at 626; 5 MCDONALD & CARLSON, supra, § 30:51. The mandate is a formal command
requiring the lower court to comply with the appellate court’s judgment and the trial court has no
option but to observe and carry out the appellate court’s mandate. Cessna Aircraft Co. v. Aircraft
Network, LLC¸ 345 S.W.3d 139, 144 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2011, no pet.).
We recognize that “[w]hether, as a general matter, an appellate court’s decision takes
effect the moment the court issues its opinion, order, or judgment, or later when rehearing is
denied or the time for rehearing expires, or still later when the clerk issues the mandate, is a
difficult question under Texas law and procedure.” Edwards Aquifer Auth. v. Chem. Lime, Ltd.,
291 S.W.3d 392, 393 (Tex. 2009). However, we conclude the judgment is not “final on appeal”
until the mandate has issued. See TEX. R. APP. P. 18.1, 51.1(b); In re Long, 984 S.W.2d at 626;
Cessna, 345 S.W.3d at 144. But even if the judgment is final when the time for filing a motion
for rehearing of the supreme court’s judgment has expired, that time has not yet come. The
judgment in this case cannot become final until the supreme court decides the case or takes
further action.
Finally, appellants ask us to issue a partial mandate over the portion of the judgment not
subject to a petition for review in the supreme court. Appellants cite rule 18.1(c), but do not
explain how that rule permits the clerk of the Court to issue a mandate that is not “in accordance
with the judgment” as required by rule 18.1. TEX. R. APP. P. 18.1. Rule 18.1(c) permits the
is sought. A trial court empowered to increase appellate security requirements when no court of appeals mandate has issued and Texas Supreme Court review is pending, would, in effect, have the ability to enforce the appealable judgment.
–4– mandate to issue earlier than specified in the rule by agreement of the parties or for good cause
shown, but it does not permit the clerk to issue a mandate for part of the judgment. Id. 18.1(c).
Appellants quotes from Cobb v. Robertson, 87 S.W. 1148, 1149 (Tex. 1905) that an appellate
court can “issue mandate upon all parts of its judgment not involved in this proceeding.” Cobb
was an opinion on rehearing in a complex trespass to try title case where the court had originally
determined to remand for a new trial. Id. On rehearing however, the court determined that it
would be appropriate to reverse and render judgment as to the parties to the writ of error. Id. The
court noted that some parties did not join in the writ of error and that portions of the trial court’s
and court of civil appeals’s judgment were not affected by the action of the supreme court. Id.
The Cobb opinion does not support the issuance of a partial mandate in this case.
While the supreme court mentioned early issuance of the mandate as one option in In re
Long, 984 S.W.2d at 626, it did not suggest that a mandate could issue for part of the judgment.
Given that the supreme court has granted a petition for review in this case, it would be
inappropriate to issue this Court’s mandate before the supreme court’s decision. See TEX. R.
APP. P. 18.1.
The motion is DENIED. 3
/s/Jim Moseley/ JIM MOSELEY JUSTICE
3 Were we to treat this motion as a petition for a writ of mandamus as requested in the alternative by appellants, we would conclude the record does not show the trial court clearly abused its discretion by denying the renewed motion. See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.8(a).
–5–