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MEMORANDUM OPINION
No. 04-08-00760-CV
George KOEPP, Administrator of the Estate of Ursula Hoppe Koepp, Deceased,
Appellant
v.
Hans Erich KOEPP and Virginia M. Koepp,
Appellees
From the County Court at Law, Guadalupe County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2007-PC-0178
Honorable Linda Z. Jones, Judge Presiding
Opinion by: Steven C. Hilbig, Justice
Sitting: Catherine Stone, Chief Justice
Phylis J. Speedlin, Justice
Steven C. Hilbig, Justice
Delivered and Filed: June 24, 2009
AFFIRMED
This is an accelerated appeal from a trial court’s order granting a temporary injunction in
favor of Hans Erich Koepp and Virginia M. Koepp (“the Koepps”), restraining a non-judicial
foreclosure sale of real property. See TEX . CIV . PRAC. & REM . CODE ANN . § 51.014(a)(4) (Vernon
Supp. 2009). The trial court granted injunctive relief because it found collection on the note and
foreclosure were barred by the statute of limitations. George Koepp, as administrator of the estate
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of Ursula Hoppe Koepp (“the administrator”), perfected this appeal, claiming the trial court erred
in granting the injunction. We affirm.
BACKGROUND
On March 20, 1976, the Koepps purchased real property from Hans Koepp’s parents, Erich
and Ursula Koepp. They executed a $50,000 installment note secured by a deed of trust in favor of
Hans Koepp’s parents. Neither the note nor the deed of trust recite a specific maturity date. Rather,
the note recites an interest rate of five percent, specifies how interest accrues, and provides for
payments as follows:
[P]rincipal and interest shall be due and payable in monthly installments of Four
Hundred and No/100 dollars ($400.00), or more, each, payable on the 15th day of
each and every calendar month, beginning April 15, 1976, and continuing regularly
thereafter until the whole of said sum, with interest, has been duly paid, interest being
calculated on the unpaid principal to the date of each installment paid and the
payment credited first to the discharge of the interest accrued and the balance to the
reduction of the principal.
The deed of trust provided for optional acceleration by the note holder in the event of a default.
The Koepps made payments on the note in varying amounts from April 1976 until May 2005,
when Ursula Koepp, the last-surviving note holder, died. The parties kept a meticulous ledger of
payments over the years, showing how much of each payment was applied to principal and how
much was applied to accrued interest. As of the date of the last payment made in May 2005, the
ledger indicated a principal balance due of $41,826.36. Neither note holder had ever declared the
note in default, sought to accelerate the note, or instituted foreclosure proceedings under the deed
of trust.
After Ursula Koepp passed away, her grandson George Koepp was appointed administrator
of her estate. The only asset of the estate, and the sole purpose of the administration, was to collect
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on the note. When the parties failed to reach an agreement about how much was owed, the
administrator, on behalf of the estate, purported to accelerate the maturity of the note and began non-
judicial foreclosure proceedings. The Koepps filed an action for declaratory judgment seeking a
declaration that recovery on the note was barred by limitations. They also asked for injunctive relief
to enjoin the non-judicial foreclosure sale scheduled by the administrator.
The trial court granted the Koepps’ request for a temporary restraining order and, after a
subsequent hearing, granted the request for a temporary injunction. The trial court prepared findings
of fact and conclusions of law. The court found (1) the final payment under the terms of the note
was due December 15, 1990, (2) the note holders never demanded the Koepps perform under the
note, and never instituted collection or foreclosure proceedings, and (3) the note was never renewed
or extended in writing. Based on its findings, the court concluded (1) the right to collect on the note
was barred by limitations as of December 15, 1994, which was four years from the accrual date of
limitations, (2) the Koepps’ voluntary payments did not extend the accrual date or suspend the
running of the statute of limitations because an extension is only effective if included in a signed,
acknowledged written agreement, and (3) the Koepps had no adequate legal remedy, would likely
prevail on the merits on final hearing, and without the injunction would likely suffer imminent,
irreparable harm. The administrator perfected this appeal.
ANALYSIS
Issues
The administrator contends the trial court erred in finding the due date of the final installment
of the note was December 15, 1990, and in concluding the statute of limitations accrued on
December 15, 1990. The administrator argues that because the note lacks a stated maturity date, it
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is ambiguous as a matter of law, and the trial court was required to look to extrinsic evidence to
determine the parties’ intent with regard to payment of the note. He claims the extrinsic evidence
shows there was no intent for the note to mature in December 1990, and the Koepps believed
payments would have to continue until the note was paid in full. He argues the statute of limitations
did not accrue until the administrator actually declared the note in default and accelerated on behalf
of the estate.
Alternatively, the administrator argues that even if the note is not ambiguous, a maturity date
cannot be read into it. He contends the court should look at the circumstances surrounding the
execution of the note – it was between family members, contains no absolute amount for monthly
payments, states no fixed number of payments – and determine the note did not mature by its express
terms and the statute of limitations did not begin to run until the administrator actually accelerated
in June of 2008. He also argues the note is a demand note and limitations did not begin to run until
he made a demand for payment.
Standard of Review
The decision to grant or deny a temporary writ of injunction lies within the sound discretion
of the trial court, and the court’s decision is subject to reversal only for a clear abuse of that
discretion. Butnaru v. Ford Motor Co., 84 S.W.3d 198, 204 (Tex. 2002). The trial court abuses its
discretion when it misapplies the law to the “established facts or when the evidence does not
reasonably support the conclusion that the applicant has a probable right of recovery.” Khaledi v.
H.K. Global Trading, Ltd., 126 S.W.3d 273, 280 (Tex. App.–San Antonio 2003, no pet.) (citing
State v. Sw. Bell Tel. Co., 526 S.W.2d 526, 528 (Tex.1975)).
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Discussion
We first determine whether the note is ambiguous because it does not state a specific maturity
date. The rules of construction governing contracts are applicable to notes. Edlund v. Bounds, 842
S.W.2d 719, 726 (Tex. App.–Dallas 1992, writ denied). A contract is ambiguous only if it is subject
to “two or more reasonable interpretations after applying the pertinent rules of construction.” In re
D. Wilson Constr. Co., 196 S.W.3d 774, 781 (Tex. 2006) (quoting Columbia Gas Transmission
Corp. v. New Ulm Gas, Ltd., 940 S.W.2d 587, 589 (Tex. 1996)). Ambiguity does not exist merely
because the parties assert sharply conflicting interpretations. Wilson Constr., 196 S.W.3d at 781;
Columbia Gas Transmission, 940 S.W.2d at 589. When a contract is worded so that it has a certain
and definite legal meaning, it is unambiguous. Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Corp. v. Texaco, Inc.,
35 S.W.3d 658, 665 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2000, pet. denied). Only when a contract is
ambiguous may a court consider the parties’ interpretations and “admit extraneous evidence to
determine the true meaning of the instrument.” David J. Sacks, P.C. v. Haden, 266 S.W.3d 447,
450-51 (Tex. 2008) (quoting Nat’l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, Penn. v. CBI Indus., Inc., 907
S.W.2d 517, 520 (Tex. 1995) (per curiam)).
The note does not state a specific maturity date, but the absence of a maturity date does not
render the note ambiguous. See Columbia Gas Transmission, 940 S.W.2d at 591-92 (holding failure
to include more express language does not create ambiguity if there is only one reasonable
interpretation of document). Section 3.108 of the Texas Business and Commerce Code provides that
“[a] promise is ‘payable at a definite time,’ if it is payable . . . at a time or times readily ascertainable
at the time the promise . . . is issued.” TEX . BUS. & COMMERCE CODE ANN . § 3.108(b) (Vernon
2002). Here, the note contained all of the information necessary to calculate the final installment
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date, i.e., the maturity date: the total amount due on the note, the interest rate, the method of
calculating interest, the minimum monthly payment, and the date payments were to begin. With this
information, the maturity date could be determined through mathematical calculation. Performing
the calculations, the trial court found the note matured on December 15, 1990. Thus, the note was
“payable at a definite time,” because payment was “readily ascertainable” from the express terms
within it. Because the note is not ambiguous, the trial court could not consider the parties’
interpretations or admit extraneous evidence in an attempt to interpret the note. See Haden, 266
S.W.3d at 450-51.
Having determined the contract was not ambiguous and contained a maturity date of
December 15, 1990, we must now determine whether the trial court erred in concluding the statute
of limitations accrued on that date. The note is an installment note secured by a lien on real property.
In Texas, a suit for foreclosure of a real property lien or sale of real property under a power of sale
in a deed of trust must be filed not later than four years after the cause of action accrues. TEX . CIV .
PRAC. & REM . CODE ANN . § 16.035(a), (b) (Vernon 2002); Holy Cross Church of God in Christ v.
Wolf, 44 S.W.3d 562, 567 (Tex. 2001). When the four-year limitations period expires, the lien and
power of sale to enforce the lien become void. TEX . CIV . PRAC. & REM . CODE ANN . § 16.035(d).
Limitations on a note payable in installments and secured by a lien on real property begins to run on
the maturity date of the last installment.1 CA Partners v. Spears, 274 S.W.3d 51, 65 (Tex.
App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2008, pet. denied) (citing TEX . CIV . PRAC . & REM . CODE ANN .
§ 16.035(e); Holy Cross Church, 44 S.W.3d at 566). In this case, therefore, the statute of limitations
1
… Section 16.035 modifies the general rule that a claim accrues and the statute of limitations begins to run
on each installment when it becomes due. Holy Cross Church, 44 S.W .3d at 566.
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for causes of action based on the note began to run on December 15, 1990, as the trial court
concluded.
Citing Holy Cross Church, the administrator contends the general rule does not apply because
the note had an optional acceleration clause, which he exercised. We agree that if a note has an
optional acceleration clause, a cause of action on the note accrues only when the holder exercises
his option to accelerate. See id. However, this exception does not apply once the maturity date of
the last installment has passed. CA Partners, 274 S.W.3d at 65 (citing TEX . CIV . PRAC. & REM .
CODE ANN . § 16.035(e)). Assuming the acceleration clause in the Koepp note was an optional
acceleration clause subject to the exception, it would not apply in this case because the maturity date
of the last installment passed before the administrator accelerated the note. The supreme court’s
decision in Holy Cross Church does not require a different outcome. In that case, the note holder
accelerated the note before the final installment payment was due. 44 S.W.3d at 567, 570. The
question before the court was whether the note holder was required to take affirmative steps towards
foreclosure to establish acceleration, and held it did not. Id. at 564.
The administrator also contends the Koepps’ actions in continuing to make payments on the
note after the maturity date suspended the running of limitations. We disagree. Section 16.036 of
the Civil Practice and Remedies Code provides the four year limitations period can be suspended by
a “written extension agreement” that is signed, acknowledged, and filed for record in the county
clerk’s office of the county where the property is located. TEX . CIV . PRAC. & REM . CODE ANN .
§ 16.036(a), (b). Additionally, section 16.065 provides that evidence of an acknowledgment of a
claim that appears barred by limitations is not admissible to defeat limitations unless the
acknowledgment is in writing and signed by the party sought to be charged. Id. § 16.065 (Vernon
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2008). There is no written extension agreement between the Koepps and the note holders, nor is
there any written acknowledgment by them. Accordingly, the statute of limitations was not
suspended by the Koepps’ decision to continue to pay on the note after it matured.
Finally, the administrator contends the note is a demand note – a note with no fixed maturity
date – that did not mature until he made a demand for payment, at which time the statute of
limitations began to run. We disagree. Section 3.108 is entitled “Payable on Demand or at Definite
Time.” TEX . BUS. & COMMERCE CODE ANN . § 3.108. Subsection (a) describes notes payable on
demand as notes stating they are payable on demand, at sight, or that fail to state any time for
payment. Id. § 3.108(a). Subsection (b) describes notes payable at a definite time as those that are
payable on elapse of a definite period after sight or acceptance, payable on a fixed date, or payable
on a date readily ascertainable at the time the note is given. Id. § 3.108(b). The note in this case
does not state it is due on date certain, but it expressly states the $50,000 principal and interest were
due and payable in monthly installments of $400.00 or more each, payable on the 15th day of each
month, beginning April 15, 1976, and continuing regularly thereafter until the principal and interest
were paid in full. Given the information contained in the note, the note in this case was not a
demand note, but rather a note payable at a definite time. See id.
The administrator cites several cases in support of his contention that the note was a demand
note, but each is readily distinguishable. He principally relies on Martin v. Ford, 853 S.W.2d 680
(Tex. App.–Texarkana 1993, writ denied), Gill v. Commonwealth Nat’l Bank, 504 S.W.2d 521 (Tex.
Civ. App.–Dallas 1973, writ ref’d n.r.e.), and Davis v. Dennis, 448 S.W.2d 495 (Tex. Civ.
App.–Tyler 1969, no writ). In Martin, the note apparently contained only the total amount due and
the date the note was executed. 853 S.W.2d at 681. The court held the date of payment was
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completely missing from the note and allowed extrinsic evidence to supply the missing term. Id. at
682-83. The court also held the creditor’s testimony that the note was payable “when I would ask
for it” supported the trial court’s finding that it was a demand note. Id. In Gill and Davis, the notes
stated the number of payments and the amount of each installment payment, but did not contain a
maturity date or fix the date that the first or any other installment was due. Gill, 504 S.W.2d at 522;
Davis, 448 S.W.2d at 496. In each case, the court held that because no time for payment was stated,
the note was payable on demand. Gill, 504 S.W.2d at 523; Davis, 448 S.W.2d at 498.
CONCLUSION
We hold the trial court did not err in finding the note contained a definite maturity date and
that the date of maturity was December 15, 1990. Nor did the court err in concluding the statute of
limitations barred the administrator’s action, it having been brought more than four years after
December 15, 1990, and there being nothing to legally suspend the running of limitations.
Accordingly, we overrule the administrator’s issues and affirm the trial court’s order issuing the
temporary injunction.
Steven C. Hilbig, Justice
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