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Rule 504.4.Jury Verdict for Specific Articles

Last verified June 28, 2026

In one sentenceRule 504.4 requires a justice-court jury that finds for the plaintiff in a suit to recover specific articles of personal property to assess the value of each article, so the judgment can offer their return or that value.

Full Text of Rule 504.4

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When the suit is for the recovery of specific articles and the jury finds for the plaintiff, the jury must assess the value of each article separately, according to the evidence presented at trial.
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Plain-English Summary

Rule 504.4 handles suits over specific items of personal property. When the suit is for the recovery of specific articles and the jury finds for the plaintiff, the jury must assess the value of each article separately. That lets the judgment award the return of the property or, in the alternative, its assessed value.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a jury decide in a Texas suit to recover specific property?

Under Rule 504.4, if the jury finds for the plaintiff it must assess the value of each specific article.

What happens to specific property that can't be found after judgment?

Rule 505.1(e) lets the judgment award its assessed value instead, plus post-judgment interest — the reason Rule 504.4 has the jury put a dollar value on each article.

Does the jury assess one combined value or a separate value for each item?

A separate value for each item. Rule 504.4 requires the jury to assess the value of each article separately, based on the evidence presented at trial.

Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 504.4), published by the Texas Judicial Branch (txcourts.gov). Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Texas. The plain-English summary is original and draws on official sources. Last verified June 28, 2026. · Official source
Also known as: jury verdict for specific articlesvalue of specific articlesrecover specific property juryseparate value each itemTRCP 504.4