Opinion No.

Honorable Frank Tejeda Chairman Committee on Judicial Affairs Texas House of Representatives P.O. Box 2910 Austin, Texas 78769

Re: Whether court costs and attorney fees may be excluded in determining the "amount in controversy" in justice and county courts

Dear Representative Tejeda:

The statutes which establish the amount in controversy for jurisdictional purposes in civil cases in county courts and justice courts, articles 1949 and 2385, V.T.C.S., respectively, presently fix a minimum and maximum dollar amount in controversy and specify that the amount shall be "exclusive of interest." You ask…