State, Parks & Wildlife Department v. Tidwell

The State of Texas, Barry Decker and Bruce Hill appeal a judgment obtained by Danny Tidwell in a negligence suit. We shall include Barry Decker and Bruce Hill within our references to the State unless otherwise specified.

Game Wardens Bruce Hill and Barry Decker took Tidwell into custody when he was caught hunting squirrels out of season in the Sabine River bottom. The wardens allowed him to break camp and secure his belongings before transporting him to a justice of the peace. Tidwell testified that he drank fourteen ounces or more of Old Charter at the camp and that one of the game wardens…