Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. v. Boyce Iron Works, Inc.

SHANNON, Chief Justice.

Appellee Boyce Iron Works sued appellant Southwestern Bell Telephone and others 1 in the district court of Travis County for property damages resulting from a fire. After a trial to a jury, the district court rendered judgment for Boyce for $229,-596.88 in actual damages, $110,937.99 for prejudgment interest, $500,000 in “additional” damages, and attorney’s fees. This Court will reverse the judgment and here render judgment that Boyce take nothing from the telephone company.

The Boyce Iron Works offices burned during the early morning hours of October 10, 1981. The fire…