Walstad v. Dallas County Bail Bond Bd

In Walstad v. Dallas County Bail Bond Bd., 996 S.W.2d 314 (Tex. App.--Dallas 1999, no pet.), a bail bondsman filed suit, alleging that the bail bond board exceeded its authority by obtaining an independent appraisal of certain property that the bondsman had listed in support of her application to renew her license, even though the bondsman had complied with the Bail Bond Act requirement that she submit statements from taxing authorities that contained appraisals meeting certain standards. Id. at 315-16. The board argued that, because it had the authority to "regulate all phases of the bail bond business," it could require an independent appraisal. Id. at 316. The court disagreed, holding that "bail bond boards lack the authority to impose different or additional requirements for obtaining a bondsman's license." Id. at 317. Because the bondsman had submitted an appraisal that met the requirements listed in the Bail Bond Act, the board could not require that she obtain an independent appraisal. Id.