Bowles v. Reed

OPINION

CUMMINGS, Justice.

Appellants, Dallas County and Jim Bowles, Sheriff of Dallas County, appeal the trial court’s award of actual and punitive damages in favor of appellee, Diane Reed, trustee. We affirm in part, reverse and render in part, and reverse and remand in part.

I. Procedural and Factual Background

Reed, the trustee in bankruptcy for Craig Black d/b/a Allied Bonding Agency, a bail bondsman, filed suit against Bowles and Dallas County challenging two different bail bond processing fees levied by the Dallas County Commissioner’s Court, and sought four times that sum as a penalty…