Winn v. Warner

199 S.W.2d 560, 1947 Tex. App. LEXIS 1089
Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided January 23, 1947·No. No. 2665.·Published·Cited by 6 cases

Opinion

TIREY, Justice.

This is the same case decided by this court and reported in 193 S.W.2d 867. The judgment of this court was reversed and the cause remanded to this court by our Supreme Court (see 197 S.W.2d 338), with instructions to pass upon the points of error Nos. 10 to 20 inclusive, in appellant’s brief.

Owing to the fact that these assignments assail in part the charge of the court and the verdict of the jury, we quote the pertinent parts of the charge and verdict:

“Question No. 1: Do you find from a preponderance of the evidence that the execution of the affidavit by defendant on January 31st, 1940, and causing the same to be recorded, was the proximate cause of plaintiff being prevented from commencing the drilling or causing to be commenced the drilling of a well for gas on share four prior to June 15th, 1940, or *562 from drilling and completing or causing to be drilled and completed on share four a well productive of gas in commercial quantities prior to June 15th, 1940? Answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ We, the jury, answer: ‘Yes.’
“Question No. 2: Do you find from a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant in executing and causing to be recorded in the Zapata County Deed Records the affidavit of January 31st, 1940, was actuated by actual malice? Answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. We, the jury, answer ‘Yes.’
“By the term ‘actual malice’ as used in the foregoing question is meant ill will, bad-or evil motive, or such gross indiference to or reckless disregard of the rights of others as will amount to a willful or wanton act.
“Question No. 3: When Mr. Winn filed the affidavit dated January 31st, 1940, did he do so in a good faith effort to protect rights which Mr. Winn, in good faith and probable cause believed he had in Share 4? Answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. We, the jury, answer ‘no.’
“Question No. 4: Do you find from a preponderance of the evidence that on January 31, 1940 a 7/16th overriding gas royalty interest in the Quinlan Lease on Share 4, Porción 19, did have a market value? Answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ We, the jury, answer ‘No.’
“By the term ‘Market Value’ as used in this charge is meant the amount of money that a person desiring to sell, but not bound to do so, could, within a reasonable time, procure in cash for such property from a person who desires to buy, but is not bound to purchase, the property. If you answer Question No. 4. ‘Yes’, then answer Question No. 5, but if you answer Question No. 4 ‘No’ you need not answer Question No. 5.
“Question No. 5: What do you find from a preponderance of the evidence was such market value on January 31, 1940 ? Answer by stating amount. We, the jury, answer $3-.
“Question No. 6: What sum of money, if any, do you find from a preponderance of the evidence would be the intrinsic value, if any, of a 7/16th overriding gas royalty interest in the Quinlan lease on Share 4, Porción 19, on or about February, 1940. Answer by stating amount. We, the jury, answer $23,000.00.
“By the term ‘intrinsic value’ as used in the foregoing question, is meant the true, inherent and essential value, independent of accident, place or person, which value is the same everywhere and to everyone.
“In arriving at the amount, if any, inquired about in the foregoing question, you may take into consideration such net amount, if any, which you may find from a preponderance of the evidence that Thor Warner would have received from the proceeds of the sale of gas from Share 4, Porción 19, up to the present time, and in addition thereto you may take into consideration such net amount, if any, you may. find from a preponderance of the evidence that Thor Warner would have received from the proceeds of the sale of gas from Share 4, Porción 19, in the future.
“You are further instructed that in determining from a preponderance of the evidence such net amounts, if any, you will deduct from the gross proceeds, if any, which you may find from a preponderance of the evidence would have been received by Thor Warner up to the present time, and likewise deduct from the gross proceeds, if any, which you may find from a preponderance of the evidence would have been received by Thor Warner in the future the sum or sums which you may find from a preponderance of the evidence it would have been necessary for Thor Warner to pay. And you will further deduct from the gross proceeds, if any, you find would have been so received by Thor Warner in the future, such amount of discount as you may find necessary to cause such gross future proceeds, if any, to represent the present ca.sh value thereof.
“Question No. 7: What amount of money, if any, do you find from a preponderance of the evidence, should- be assessed against the defendant as punitive or exemplary damages? Answer by stating amount, if any. We, the jury, answer ‘$11,500.00.’
*563 “By the words ‘punitive or exemplary damages^ as used in the foregoing question, is meant such damages as are assessed by way of punishment and do not include any element of compensatory or actual damages.”

The 10th point assigns error substantially on the ground that the court erroneously placed the burden of proof on the defendant instead of on the plaintiff in Issue No. 4. We overrule this contention.

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Winn v. Warner, 199 S.W.2d 560, 1947 Tex. App. LEXIS 1089 (Tex. Ct. App. 1947).

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