Texas Water Code - WATER § 56.310. Contesting Claim

(a) If any district taxpayer files with the trustee a protest against any claim which was allowed by the former drainage commissioners before the district was dissolved and which was unpaid at the time the district was dissolved, the trustee shall refuse to pay the claim. The protest shall be accompanied by a bond in double the amount of the claim with sufficient sureties to be approved by the trustee and payable to the trustee, conditioned on payment by the contestant of all costs of suit if the claimant establishes his claim.

(b) After the trustee rejects the claim, the claimant may bring suit against the trustee to recover the claim as in other suits of a civil nature, and the contestant and his bondsman shall be parties to the suit. The trustee shall make all defenses urged against the claim by the contestant. If the claimant recovers, judgment shall be rendered against the contestant and his bondsman for costs incurred in the suit, and the claimant shall file the judgment with the trustee who shall pay the claim as other claims are paid under this subchapter.