Strickland v. Payne

PELPHRET, C. J. I. E. Payne sued G. N. Strickland in the county court of Reagan county for damages alleged to have been occasioned by a collision between the automobiles of the parties on the highway between Texon in Reagan county and Rankin in Upton county. In due time appellant filed his plea of privilege to be sued in Eastland county. Appellee filed a controverting affidavit on November 14, 1927. The certificate of the clerk in the caption of the transcript shows that the term of court began on November 7, 1927, and it therefore appears that the controverting affidavit was filed more than five days after appearance day, as provided for in article 2007, Revised Statutes 1925. This statute is mandatory, and the failure to file within the time prescribed leaves the cause before the court as if no affidavit had been filed. McKittrick v. McDaniel (Tex. Civ. App.) 300 S. W. 97. This being true, then the court, under article - 2019, should have transferred the cause to East-land county. Believing as we do that the court was in error in refusing to sustain the motion of appellant to strike out the controverting affidavit for the reason that same was filed too late, we reverse the judgment, and remand ■the cause, with instructions to the trial court to transfer said cause to the county court of Eastland county. Reversed and remanded, with instructions.