Tradelogic Corporation v. Victor Castillo D/B/A Cast Communications ( 2019 )

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN
NO. 03-18-00651-CV
Tradelogic Corporation, Appellant
v.
Victor Castillo d/b/a Cast Communications, Appellee
FROM COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 2 OF TRAVIS COUNTY
NO. C-1-CV-17-011263, THE HONORABLE J. DAVID PHILLIPS, JUDGE PRESIDING
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This is an appeal from a summary judgment rendered by the county court at law of
Travis County denying a petition for bill of review. Appellant is Tradelogic Corporation and
appellee is Victor Castillo d/b/a Cast Communications. We will affirm the judgment.
This case originated as a suit filed by Castillo in the justice court of Travis County
to recover $8,242.62 in unpaid invoices for audio/visual and cabling works performed at
Tradelogic’s request. Tradelogic’s counsel filed an answer, counterclaim, and a jury demand.
Upon trial, the jury returned a verdict denying Tradelogic’s counterclaim and awarding Castillo
$8,242.62 in damages and $11,712.90 in attorney’s fees. On May 17, 2016, the justice court
rendered judgment for Castillo in the total sum of $20,395.89.1
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A justice court’s jurisdiction is statutorily limited to cases “in which the amount in
controversy is not more than $10,000, exclusive of interest.” Tex. Gov’t Code § 27.031(a)(1).
Jurisdiction is determined by the amount in controversy at the time of the filing of the pleadings.
See United Servs. Auto Ass’n v. Brite, 215 S.W.3d 400, 401 (Tex. 2007). Once jurisdiction is
lawfully and properly acquired, no subsequent fact or event in the particular case serves to defeat
It is undisputed that Tradelogic and its counsel had notice of the judgment;
however, it filed no motion for new trial. Although Tradelogic notified Castillo that it intended to
appeal from the judgment, it did not file an appeal bond, a cash deposit or a sworn statement of
inability to pay.
More than a year subsequent to the rendition of the underlying judgment,
Tradelogic filed a petition for review in justice court. After the justice court denied its petition,
Tradelogic perfected an appeal to the county court at law of Travis County. Castillo filed an
answer along with no-evidence and traditional motions for summary judgment. Upon hearing, the
county court at law rendered summary judgment denying the petition for bill of review.
In this Court, Tradelogic devotes most of its brief to attacking the constitutionality
of Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 506.1, which governs appeals from justice courts to county
courts. To take an appeal, the rule requires a defendant to file a bond, or cash in lieu of a bond, in
an amount equal to twice the amount of judgment. Tradelogic asserts that Rule 506.1 violates its
rights under the Open Courts provision of the Texas Constitution and the Equal Protection and
Due Process clauses of the United States Constitution. We do not decide these issues since the
appeal may be resolved on non-constitutional grounds. See In re B.L.D., 113 S.W.3d 340, 349
(Tex. 2003).
A bill of review is an equitable proceeding brought by a party seeking to set aside
a prior judgment that is no longer subject to challenge by a motion for new trial or appeal. Baker
v. Goldsmith, 582 S.W.2d 404, 406 (Tex. 1979). The grounds upon which a bill of review may be
obtained are narrow because the procedure conflicts with the fundamental policy that judgments
the jurisdiction. See Continental Coffee Prods. Co. v. Cazarez, 937 S.W.2d 444, 449 (Tex. 1996);
Haginas v. Malbis Mem’l Found., 354 S.W.2d 368, 371 (Tex. 1962).
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must become final at some point. King Ranch, Inc. v. Chapman, 118 S.W.3d 742, 751 (Tex. 2003);
Transworld Fin. Servs. Corp. v. Briscoe, 722 S.W.2d 407, 407 (Tex. 1987). Accordingly, a bill-
of-review plaintiff must ordinarily plead and prove (1) a meritorious defense to the underlying
cause of action; (2) which the bill-of-review plaintiff was prevented from making by the fraud,
accident, or wrongful act of the opposing party or official mistake; (3) unmixed with any fault or
negligence on the part of the bill-of-review plaintiff. Caldwell v. Barnes, 154 S.W.3d 93, 96 (Tex.
2004) (per curiam).
A bill-of-review plaintiff has the burden of showing that his failure to file an appeal
or a motion for new trial was not the result of his fault or negligence. Petro-Chem. Transp., Inc.
v. Carroll, 514 S.W.2d 240, 246 (Tex. 1974). If a direct appeal or motion for new trial is available,
it is difficult to imagine any case in which failure to pursue one or the other would not be
negligence. See Gold v. Gold, 145 S.W.3d 212, 214 (Tex. 2004) (per curiam).
Tradelogic’s summary-judgment response and supporting proof did not assert that
it was unable to file an appeal bond or cash deposit or that it was prevented from doing so. Instead,
Tradelogic admitted that it could have filed the bond or cash deposit, but decided not to do so,
given its belief that the purchase of the bond or the raising of the cash deposit would not be
“practical” or “reasonable” or “realistic” in that such an expense would have consumed about
two-thirds of its monthly revenue, leaving it cash-strapped. Under these circumstances, Tradelogic
claims that requiring it to file a bond or a cash deposit in an amount equal to twice the amount of
the judgment is “absurd.” Tradelogic’s argument, in sum, is that a party should be excused from
filing a bond or cash deposit as required by Rule 506.1 if it decides that purchase of the bond or
raising the cash deposit is “not practical” or “reasonable” or “realistic.” Tradelogic shows the
Court no authority in support of its argument.
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Although notified of the rendition of the underlying judgment, Tradelogic chose
not to file a motion for new trial. Tradelogic now asserts, without citing supporting authority, that
it was excused from filing a motion for new trial given its belief that a new trial in justice court
would not “provide meaningful relief,” and that any new trial would again have “involved a jury
with no jury charge.”
This Court has concluded that, as a matter of law, Tradelogic did not discharge
its burden to show its lack of fault or negligence in failing to file a bond or cash deposit and in
failing to file a motion for new trial before the underlying judgment became final. See Petro-Chem.,
514 S.W.2d at 240.
The judgment is affirmed.
________________________________________
Bob E. Shannon, Justice
Before Justices Kelly, Smith, and Shannon*
Affirmed
Filed: December 4, 2019
* Before Bob E. Shannon, Chief Justice (retired), Third Court of Appeals, sitting by assignment. See
Tex. Gov’t Code § 74.003(b).
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