Tankersley v. Martin-Reo Sales Co.
Tankersley v. Martin-Reo Sales Co.
Opinion of the Court
Martin-Reo Sales Company, .a private corporation, brought this suit in the county court of Tom Green county against Mrs. R. P. Tankersley and E. A. Thompson. The plaintiff recovered a judgment by default, jointly and severally against both of the defendants, and Mrs. Tankersley alone has appealed.
By the first assignment of error, appellant contends that the record shows that the court had no jurisdiction because she was not properly ¡Served with citation. The point made under that assignment is that the plaintiff’s petition described appellant as Mrs. R. P. Tankersley, whereas the citation directed -the sheriff to “deliver to said defendant, Mrs. R. P. Sankersley, in person, a true copy of this citation, together with the accompanying certified copy of the plaintiff’s petition”; and the sheriff’s return states that he executed the citation “by delivering to the within named defendant, in person, a true copy of this citation, together with the accompanying certified copy of the plaintiff’s petition, at the following time and place: R. P. Tankersley; December 23, 1920. 3:30 p. m.; Central Hotel, San Angelo.”
The second assignment complains of the action of the trial court in refusing to set aside the judgment by default, upon appellant’s sworn application, stating that she did not owe any part of the account sued on, and had a good defense to the plaintiff’s cause of action, and undertaking to excuse herself for not having filed answer sooner. We hold that the facts stated in the application failed to show proper diligence, and indicate that, if appellant had been as diligent before as she became immediately after the judgment was rendered against her, she could have filed an answer and avoided a judgment by default.
Under the third assignment, appellant submits the proposition that when a defendant files a motion to set aside a judgment by default the next day after it was rendered, and presents a sufficient excuse for not filing an answer, and shows a meritorious defense, it is the duty of the court to set aside such *330 •judgment, it may be conceded that this proposition of law is correct, Irat as we hold that appellant failed to present a sufficient excuse for not filing an answer, it is unnecessary to consider this assignment any further.
‘‘One item, two trips, $6; July 6, trip to Tankersley, $5„ labor $1.50; September 21, 2 trips $9, 13 hours’ labor $9.75; ¡September 28, trip $5; October 5, 20 hours’ labor, $19.50. and labor by Joiner $39.50; October 3, trip $6.50-; December 4, S hours’ labor $8; December 12, repair of jack, $1, 22 hours’ labor $22; March 1, testing, $1.25, labor $2.”
See article 3712, Sayles’ Civil Statutes; Wall & Carr v. J. M. Radford Grocery Co. (Tex. Civ. App.) 176 S. W. 785, and authorities there cited.
In Hess & Skinner Engineering Co. v. Turney, 109 Tex. 208, 203 S. W. 593, the Supreme Court held that, though a case was tried before a court without a jury, and a motion for new trial filed, the appellant had the right, in addition thereto, to file and have considered assignments of error.
In the case at bar, appellant filed a motion for a now trial, which did not present the question now under consideration, but that question is presented by her fourth assignment of error herein. Under the decision made by oar Supreme Court in Hess & Skinner Engineering Co. v. Turney, supra, we hold that the question is properly presented by assignment of error; and therefore it is unnecessary to determine whether it comes within the scope of fundamental error.
“While the admission of this testimony was not objected to by counsel for defendants, that fact would be important only in the event its admission was afterwards complained of as violative of a right reserved to defendants. Such incompetent testimony can never form the basis of a finding of facts in an appellate court, notwithstanding its presence in the record without objection. When the appellate court comes to apply the law to testimony constituting the facts of the case, it can only base its conclusion upon such testimony as is under the law competent. That which is not competent testimony should be given no probatiye force. The admission of such testimony is no talisman to give effect to that which is irrelevant and incompetent to sustain or deny a material issue in a ease.”
While in other jurisdictions and among some text-writers, and Courts of Civil Appeals of this state, there may be conflict upon that question, we think the case just cited and quoted from settles the law in this state, to the effect that when incompetent testimony is heard, whether it be objected to or not, it cannot properly form the basis of judgment; and therefore, as to the items above sot out, we hold that the judgment complained of is not supported by any testimony. The record show's that the only testimony offered and considered by the court was the verified account, which was attached to the plaintiff’s petition, and, while we hold that it was sufficient to entitle the plaintiff to judgment as to the other items which come within the purview of the statute, we also hold that the judgment for the items heretofore set out is not supported by any evidence.
If it were not for the statute which prescribes that only one final judgment shall be rendered by a trial court, we would affirm, this judgment in part, and reverse and remand it in part. But, in view of that statute, we have concluded that the judgment appealed from should be reversed with instructions to the trial court to allow the plaintiff, if it so desires, to submit proof concerning the items as to which we have held there was no proof, and then render judgment for the plaintiff for the items proved by the verified account, and either for or against the plaintiff as to the other items as the testimony may warrant; and it is so ordered.
Reversed and remanded, with instructions.
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Addendum
On Motion'for Rehearing.
PER CURIAM. Rehearing denied.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). I am of the opinion that a rehearing should be granted in this case, and that the judgment in this cause affirming the judgment of the trial court in part should be set aside, and that this cause should be reversed and remanded, for the reason that it appears from the record, that the judgment of the court below was rendered without any evidence to support the same in this: •
1. No evidence was offered by the appellee, plaintiff in the court below, except the verified account referred to in the opinion herein.
2. This verified account was not offered in court, and was not in court when the judgment by default was taken.
3. It was afterwards exhibited to the judge in his office.
A judge in his office, though in the same building where the court was held, is no more the court than he would- be on the street or elsewhere.
A judgment rendered without any evidence to support it is void.
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