RULE 505.1. JUDGMENT
(a) Judgment Upon Jury Verdict. Where a jury has returned a verdict, the judge must announce the verdict in open court, note it in the court’s docket, and render judgment accordingly. The judge may render judgment on the verdict or, if the verdict is contrary to the law or the evidence, judgment notwithstanding the verdict.
(b) Case Tried by Judge. When a case has been tried before the judge without a jury, the judge must announce the decision in open court, note the decision in the court’s docket, and render judgment accordingly.
(c) Form. A judgment must:
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(1) clearly state the determination of the rights of the parties in the case;
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(2) state who must pay the costs;
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(3) be signed by the judge;
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(4) be dated the date of the judge’s signature;
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(5) state:
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- (A) in a repair and remedy case: “You may appeal this judgment by filing a notice of appeal within 21 days after this judgment was signed. See Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 509.8.”; or
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- (B) in a case other than a repair and remedy case: “You may appeal this judgment by filing a bond, making a cash deposit, or filing a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs within 21 days after this judgment was signed. See Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 506.”; and
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(6) if it awards monetary damages, state: “If you are an individual (not a company), your money or property may be protected from being taken to pay this judgment. Find out more by visiting www.texaslawhelp.org/exempt-property. / Si usted es una persona física (y no una compañía), su dinero o propiedad pudieran estar protegidos de ser embargados como pago de esta deuda decretada en juicio en contra suya. Obtenga mayor información visitando el sitio www.texaslawhelp.org/exempt-property.”
(d) Costs. The judge must award costs allowed by law to the successful party.
(e) Judgment for Specific Articles. Where the judgment is for the recovery of specific articles, the judgment must order that the plaintiff recover such specific articles, if they can be found, and if not, then their value as assessed by the judge or jury with interest at the prevailing post-judgment interest rate.
RULE 505.2. ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENT
Justice court judgments are enforceable in the same method as in county and district court, except as provided by law. When the judgment is for personal property, the court may award a special writ for the seizure and delivery of such property to the plaintiff, and may, in addition to the other relief granted in such cases, enforce its judgment by attachment or fine.
RULE 505.3. MOTION TO SET ASIDE; MOTION TO REINSTATE; MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL
(a) Motion to Reinstate after Dismissal. A plaintiff whose case is dismissed may file a motion to reinstate the case no later than 14 days after the dismissal order is signed. The plaintiff must serve the defendant with a copy of the motion no later than the next business day using a method approved under Rule 501.4. The court may reinstate the case for good cause shown.
(b) Motion to Set Aside Default. A defendant against whom a default judgment is granted may file a motion to set aside the judgment no later than 14 days after the judgment is signed. The defendant must serve the plaintiff with a copy of the motion no later than the next business day using a method approved under Rule 501.4. The court may set aside the judgment and set the case for trial for good cause shown.
(c) Motion for New Trial. A party may file a motion for a new trial no later than 14 days after the judgment is signed. The party must serve all other parties with a copy of the motion no later than the next business day using a method approved under Rule 501.4. The judge may grant a new trial upon a showing that justice was not done in the trial of the case. Only one new trial may be granted to either party.
(d) Motion Not Required. Failure to file a motion under this rule does not affect a party’s right to appeal the underlying judgment.
(e) Motion Denied as a Matter of Law. If the judge has not ruled on a motion to set aside, motion to reinstate, or motion for new trial, the motion is automatically denied at 5:00 p.m. on the 21st day after the day the judgment was signed.