Perry Bros. v. McNeill

BUCK, J. Appellant brought suit against appellee in tbe justice court upon a promissory note, and made affidavit and bond for writ of attachment, alleging in tbe affidavit that appellee was about to dispose of bis property for tbe purpose of placing it beyond tbe reach of bis creditors. Tbe writ of at [121] tachment was issued and an actual levy was made under the writ by the officer upon a certain peanut thresher belonging to appel-lee, but the officer made no return on the writ. The service of the writ caused a delay in the operating of the thresher of some four hours, until, the appellee having secured the money with which to pay off the alleged debt, the thresher was released. Whereupon appellee brought suit against appellant for damages for the alleged unlawful issuance and levy of the writ in the sum of $2,050, $250 alleged to be actual damages, and $1,800 exemplary. From a judgment for plaintiff in the sum of $15, the defendant, a corporation, appeals. Appellee has filed in this court an objection to the consideration of any of the six assignments in appellant’s brief, because said assignments are not briefed in compliance with the provisions of the rules laid down by the Supreme Court for the guidance of the Courts of Civil Appeals and the attorneys practicing therein, and especially does he urge a failure to comply with rules 29 and 31 (142 S. W. xii and xiii), for the guidance of the Courts of Civil Appeals, and rule 101a (159 S. W. xi), for the guidance of district and county courts. [1] While we are not inclined to require a strict observance of the rules as a prerequisite for consideration by us of the assignments presented by an appellant, yet we deem it our duty to require at least a substantial compliance with the rules made and provided for our guidance, as well as that of the profession generally. We have come to the conclusion that appellant has failed of a substantial compliance with' the rules mentioned in each of its six assignments. For instance, the fourth assignment of error, submitted as a proposition, is as follows: “The court erred in charging the jury that they should assess plaintiff’s damages in such a sum of money as they believed from the evidence would reasonably compensate him for the time lost by reason of said levy of the writ of attachment: First. There was no return upon the writ of attachment, showing that a levy had been made. Second. The compensation for time lost would be for profits that would be lost while the machine alleged to have been seized by virtue of the writ of attachment could not be used by virtue of said seizure, and profits are not recoverable as damages. “Statement. “Defendants’ fourth bill of exception, statement of facts, page 16.” Rule 24 (142 S. W. xii), for the Courts of Civil Appeals provides that: “The assignment of error must distinctly specify the grounds of error relied on and distinctly set forth in the motion for a new trial in the cause, and a ground of error not distinctly specified in reference to that which is shown in the record, or not specified at all, shall be considered as waived, unless it be so fundamental that the court would act upon it without an assignment of error as mentioned in rule 23.” Rule 25 (142 S. W. xii) provides what shall constitute a distinct specification of error; that it must point out that part of the proceedings contained in the record in which the error is'complained of, in the particular matter, so as to identify it, etc.— “with such reasonable certainty as may be practicable, in a succinct and clear statement considering the matter referred to, and must refer to that portion of the motion for a new trial in which the error is complained of.” . •Rule 31 provides: “To each of said propositions there shall be subjoined a brief statement, in substance, of such proceedings, or part thereof, contained in the record, as will be necessary and sufficient to explain and support the proposition, with a reference to the pages of the record. This statement must be made faithfully, in reference to the whole of that which is in the record having a bearing upon said proposition, upon the professional responsibility of the counsel who makes it, and without intermixing with it arguments, reasons, conclusions or inferences.” With these rules above quoted, in whole or in part, in mind, it will be noted that no reference is made in this assignment to the motion for new trial, or whether the assignment presented was contained in the motion for new trial or not, or whether any motion for new trial was ever filed, and, if so, whether it is contained in the record. The page of th'e transcript where the “fourth bill of exception” is to be found is not included in the statement. By reference to page 16 of the statement of facts, to which reference is made in the “statement,” it is found that the upper half of said page contains a portion of the testimony of T. J. McNeill and the lower half contains a portion of the testimony of W. T. McNeill, the plaintiff, and no reason is given in the statement under the assignment why either excerpt of testimony on page 16 is applicable or pertinent to the issue presented in the assignment, or supports the same. We are of the opinion that appellee’s objection .should be sustained. Texas Grain & Elevator Co. v. Dyer, 184 S. W. 1049. The other five assignments are practically in the same condition and subject to the same objections. We are inclined to believe that counsel for appellant did not exercise his customary care in preparing his brief, and that h'e has sacrificed clearness, fullness, and perspicuity in the effort at brevity. If the rights of his client affected by this $15 judgment were of sufficient moment to justify an appeal to this court, we think they also should be held worthy of more carefulness in the preparation of the brief. finding no fundamental error manifest of record, th'e judgment of the trial court is affirmed. 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