STANDARDS OF REVIEW W. WENDELL HALL * O. REY RODRIGUEZ GRACE LEE HILL * Fulbright & Jaworski LLP Norton Rose Fulbright 2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 2800 Dallas, Texas 75201 State Bar of Texas CIVIL APPELLATE PRACTICE 101 September 11, 2013 Austin CHAPTER 2
Standards of Review Chapter 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION... 1 II. ABUSE OF DISCRETION STANDARD OF REVIEW... 1 A. Abuse of Discretion Generally... 1 B. Abuse of Discretion in Texas... 1 C. Texas Mandamus Proceedings... 2 1. Clear Abuse of Discretion... 2 2. Adequate Remedy at Law... 2 III. REVERSIBLE ERROR... 2 A. Preservation of Complaints or Waiver and the Issue of Harm... 2 B. Invited Error... 3 C. Reversible Error and Harmless Error... 3 D. Fundamental Error... 3 E. Cumulative Error... 3 IV. PRETRIAL RULINGS... 3 A. Standing... 3 B. Subject Matter Jurisdiction... 4 C. Special Appearance... 4 D. Plea in Abatement... 4 E. Venue... 4 F. Joinder... 5 G. Forum Non Conveniens... 5 H. Default Judgment... 5 1. Proper Default Judgment... 5 2. Defective Default Judgment... 6 I. Special Exceptions... 6 J. TROs, Temporary and Permanent Injunctions... 6 K. Severance and Consolidation of Causes... 7 L. Intervention and Joinder... 7 M. Joinder of Plaintiffs... 7 N. Interpleader... 7 O. Discovery Rulings... 7 1. Withdrawing Deemed Admissions... 7 2. Amending Admissions... 7 3. Supplementation of Discovery Responses... 8 4. Mandamus Review of Discovery Rulings... 8 5. Appellate Review of Discovery Rulings... 8 P. Discovery Sanctions... 8 Q. Inherent Power to Sanction... 9 1. Trial Court Power... 9 2. Appellate Court Power... 9 R. Frivolous Pleadings... 9 S. Chapter 74 Expert Reports... 9 T. Vexatious Litigation... 10 U. Summary Judgment: Rule 166a(c)... 10 V. No Evidence Summary Judgment: Rule 166a(i)... 11 W. Motion for Continuance... 11 X. Dismissal for Want of Prosecution... 11 Y. Jury Demand... 11 Z. Judicial Notice... 11 AA. Class Action Certification... 12 BB. Motion to Disqualify... 12 CC. Judicial Disqualification and Recusal... 12 i
Standards of Review Chapter 2 DD. Management of Docket... 12 EE. Gag Orders... 12 FF. Sealing Court Records... 12 GG. In Forma Pauperis Proceedings... 12 V. TRIAL RULINGS... 13 A. Conduct of Trial in General... 13 B. Invoking the Rule... 13 C. Motion in Limine... 13 D. Jury Shuffle... 13 E. Voir Dire and Challenges for Cause... 13 F. Alignment of Parties and Allocation of Peremptory Strikes... 14 G. Batson/Edmonson Challenges... 14 H. Opening Statements... 15 I. Trial, Postverdict, and Postjudgment Trial Amendments... 15 J. Evidence... 15 K. Expert Testimony... 15 1. Qualified.... 15 2. Demonstrative Evidence... 16 L. Bifurcation Generally of Trial on Punitive Damages... 16 M. Motion for Directed or Instructed Verdict... 16 1. Jury Trials... 16 2. Nonjury trials... 16 N. Charge of the Court... 16 1. Questions... 16 2. Instructions and Definitions... 17 O. Jury Arguments... 17 P. Jury Misconduct... 17 Q. Conflicting Jury Findings... 17 R. Motion for Mistrial... 17 VI. POST-TRIAL RULINGS... 18 A. Motion to Disregard Jury Findings... 18 B. Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict (JNOV)... 18 C. Receipt of Additional Evidence... 18 D. Newly Discovered Evidence... 18 E. Motion for New Trial, Generally... 18 F. Rule 324 Motion for New Trial... 19 G. Motion for Judgment Nunc Pro Tunc... 19 H. Remittitur... 19 I. Actual Damages... 19 1. Unliquidated Damages... 19 2. Zero Damages... 19 J. Punitive Damages... 19 K. Attorney s Fees... 20 1. Fees Based on Contract or Statutes Generally... 20 2. Fees Under the Commission on Human Rights Act... 20 L. Guardian Ad Litem Attorney s Fees... 20 M. Court Costs... 20 N. Exercise of Plenary Power... 20 O. Supersedeas Bond... 20 P. Turnover Orders... 21 VII. CHALLENGES TO THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE IN JURY TRIALS... 21 A. Legal Insufficiency... 21 B. Factual Insufficiency... 21 1. Insufficient Evidence... 22 ii
Standards of Review Chapter 2 2. Great Weight and Preponderance... 22 C. The Constitutional Conflict Between the Right to Trial by Jury, the Courts of Appeals Conclusive Jurisdiction over Issues of Fact, and the Supreme Court s Decision in City of Keller v. Wilson... 22 VIII. CHALLENGES TO THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE IN NONJURY TRIALS... 22 A. Findings of Fact Filed... 22 B. Findings of Fact Not Requested and Not Filed... 23 1. With Reporter s Record... 23 2. Without Reporter s Record... 23 C. Findings of Fact Properly Requested, but Not Filed... 23 1. With Reporter s Record... 23 2. Without Reporter s Record... 23 D. Mixed Questions of Law and Fact... 23 IX. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW... 23 X. OTHER EVIDENTIARY REVIEW STANDARDS... 24 A. Clear and Convincing Evidence... 24 B. Administrative Agency Rulings... 24 1. Trial De Novo Review... 24 2. Substantial Evidence Under the APA... 24 3. Arbitrary and Capricious Standard... 24 XI. PRESUMPTIONS FROM AN INCOMPLETE RECORD ON APPEAL... 25 XII. ARBITRATION AWARDS... 25 A. Texas General Arbitration Act... 25 B. Federal Arbitration Act... 25 XIII. CONCLUSION... 26 iii