Rule 137.In Assault and Battery, Etc.
Last verified June 28, 2026
Full Text of Rule 137
Plain-English Summary
Rule 137 carries an old cost rule for certain personal claims. In civil actions for assault and battery, slander, or defamation, if the plaintiff wins but recovers less than twenty dollars, the plaintiff does not recover costs. Instead, each party is taxed with the costs it incurred. The twenty-dollar figure remains as written in the rule's original text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a small recovery affect costs in a Texas defamation case?
Yes. Under Rule 137, a plaintiff who recovers less than twenty dollars in an assault, battery, slander, or defamation suit does not recover costs; each side bears its own.
Which claims does Rule 137 apply to?
Assault and battery, slander, and defamation of character suits. The rule does not reach other kinds of civil claims.
Why does Rule 137 use a twenty-dollar threshold?
That figure comes from the rule's original text and has not been updated. A verdict for the plaintiff below it in one of these suits still counts as a win, but not one that earns costs.