NUMBER 13-06-113-CV
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG
SELECT PORTFOLIO SERVICING, INC.
f/k/a FAIRBANKS CAPITAL CORP. as
SERVICING AGENT FOR CREDIT
SUISSE FIRST BOSTON MORTGAGE
CAPITOL LLC, Appellant,
v.
MARY MARTINEZ AND JUAN
MARTINEZ, a/k/a JUAN JOSE
MARTINEZ, Appellees.
On appeal from the 93rd District Court
of Hidalgo County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Yañez, Rodriguez and Vela
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Vela
In this restricted appeal, appellant, Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc. f/k/a Fairbanks Capital Corporation, seeks to reverse a two million dollar default judgment entered against it. By three issues, appellant urges that: 1) the return of citation is defective and cannot support a default judgment; 2) appellees cannot recover as a matter of law and, 3) the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support the award of damages and attorney's fees. We hold that because the return of citation on file on the date of the hearing was defective, it will not support a default judgment. Accordingly, we reverse and remand.
BACKGROUND
Mary and Juan Martinez filed suit against Select Portfolio, urging causes of action for fraud, misrepresentation, negligence and breach of contract. They did not request either exemplary damages or attorney's fees. The Martinezes' pleadings state that they were in bankruptcy for failing to make their mortgage payments to appellant and withdrew their petition because appellant agreed to work with them to get them "back on track" with their mortgage. They claim that they were wrongfully induced to sign a reinstatement agreement which contained a balloon note that was renewable
quarterly. They further assert that had they remained in bankruptcy, they may have "been halfway done in making up the arrearage of the home." Because the Martinezes again fell behind on the mortgage, they filed bankruptcy a second time.
The original petition was filed on April 4, 2005, and citation issued on the same date. Appellant did not answer and the Martinezes moved for default judgment. At the time of the hearing and entry of the default judgment, the blanks in the certificate of return attached to the citation in the clerk's file had not been completed. The certificate had also not been signed at the time of the hearing and judgment. The certificate contained a certified mailing slip that was not postmarked. The evidence was undisputed that the deputy clerk did not fill in the blanks on the certificate of return until she began assembling the clerk's record for the appeal in 2006.
Mary Martinez was the only person to testify at the default judgment hearing. Her testimony consisted of approximately five pages of testimony and no accompanying exhibits. There was no evidence presented showing proper service of citation. Martinez stated she and her husband had to file bankruptcy twice. They still owe $60,000 on the house. According to Martinez, appellant raised the interest on the note. Her husband was not in court because he suffers from anxiety and panic attacks which have affected his ability to work. Her husband had previously suffered from depression which was aggravated because the couple was not able to make the mortgage payments. According to Martinez, her husband cannot sleep because he thinks appellant is going to take the house away. Their credit has been affected because of the bankruptcies.
Mary Martinez asked for $50,000 in damages to her credit standing and $300,000 in lost wages. She testified that "this" has affected the way they live. Counsel for the Martinezes then asked the court to award "1.8-1.89 [million] something like that."
The judgment awarded $1,898,000 in damages, $300.00 in court costs, $5,000 in attorney's fees and post-judgment interest.
DISCUSSION
To successfully attack a default judgment by restricted appeal, the appellant must: 1) file the restricted appeal within six months after the final judgment is signed; 2) be a party to the lawsuit; 3) have not participated at trial; and 4) demonstrate error apparent from the face of the record. Quaestor Invs. Inc. v. Chiapas, 997 S.W.2d 226, 227 (Tex. 1999); Autozone, Inc. v. Duenes, 108 S.W.3d 917, 919 (Tex. App-Corpus Christi 2003, no pet.). A restricted appeal affords an appellant the same scope of review as an ordinary appeal, that is, a review of the entire case. Duenes, 108 S.W.3d at 919. This includes error resulting from a lack of evidence or insufficient evidence to support the judgment. Castanon v. Monsevais, 703 S.W.2d 295, 297 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 1985, no writ). Error on the face of the record is the only element at issue in this appeal.
In a restricted appeal, there are no presumptions of valid issuance, service, and return of citation. Webb v. Oberkampf Supply of Lubbock, Inc. 831 S.W.2d 61, 64 (Tex. App.-Amarillo 1992, no writ). Before a default judgment is entered, the record must reflect that the trial court has jurisdiction and that the case is ripe for judgment. Autozone, Inc. v. Duenes, 108 S.W.3d at 920. The trial court has a mandatory duty to determine that the defendant was duly served with citation and that no answer is on file. Id. Unless the record affirmatively shows at the time the default was entered either an appearance by the defendant, proper service of citation on the defendant, or a written memorandum of waiver, the trial court does not have in personam jurisdiction to enter a default judgment. Id. The failure of the record to affirmatively show strict compliance with the rules of civil procedure will render the attempted service of process invalid. Id. Virtually any deviation from the statutory requisites for service of process will destroy a default judgment. Id.
The return of service under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 107 is not a trivial or formulaic event. AAA Navi Corp. v. Parrot-Ice Drink Prod. of Am., 119 S.W.3d 401, 402 (Tex. App.-Tyler 2003, no pet.). The courts require strict compliance with the rules for service of citation to affirmatively appear in the record in order for a default judgment to withstand a direct attack. Id. at 403. Review is limited to the record at the time the default was rendered. Id.
By its first issue, appellant contends that the return of citation cannot support the default judgment because it is defective. (1) Service in this case was by certified mail. The reporter's record is totally devoid of evidence suggesting that the Martinezes presented the trial court with proof of service at the default judgment hearing. The clerk's affidavit, part of the clerk's record in this case, confirms that until at least April 20, 2006, the certificate of return under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 103 was not filled out or signed. The clerk averred that she filled in the information after April 20, 2006, which was well after the rendition of the default judgment.
Evidence not before the trial court prior to final judgment may not be considered. Laas v. Williamson, 156 S.W.3d 854, 857 (Tex. App.-Beaumont 2005, no pet.). In Laas, the plaintiff claimed that there was no error on the face of the record because she corrected the return of service. Id. The court said that the amendment could not be considered because it was corrected after the default judgment had been rendered. Id.
The Martinezes do not refute that the return of citation was not before the trial court when it ruled. The clerk's action in correcting the service documents well after the hearing and judgment in this case does not correct the failure of the Martinezes to demonstrate proper service prior to the default. The Martinezes suggest only the docket sheet as proof of service. The docket sheet in this case was generated on April 26, 2006. It cannot be used to support a September 27, 2005 judgment. See Duenes, 108 S.W.3d at 920.
Because the record in this case does not affirmatively show strict compliance with the procedural rules for service of citation, there is error apparent on the face of the record. Issue one is sustained. We do not address appellant's second and third issues because they are not required for final disposition of the appeal. Tex. R. App. P. 47.1.
CONCLUSION
Because there was error apparent on the face of the record as to service of citation, we reverse and remand the case to the trial court.
ROSE VELA
Justice
Memorandum Opinion delivered and
filed this 29th day of March, 2007.
1.