Rex Smith v. Kelly Davis and Amber Davis

ACCEPTED 12-14-00007-CV TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS TYLER, TEXAS 4/7/2015 3:33:25 PM CATHY LUSK CLERK No. 12-14-00007-CV In the Court of Appeals Twelfth Court of Appeals District Tyler, Texas REX SMITH and NANCY SMITH, Appellants v. KELLY DAVIS AND AMBER DAVIS Appellees Appealed from the 294th Judicial District Court Van Zandt County, Texas APPELLEES’ REPLY TO APPELLANT’S RESPONSE TO MOTION FOR REHEARING OF OPINION RENDERED FEBRUARY 18, 2015 ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEES: S. Gary Werley Law Office of S. Gary Werley Texas State Bar No. 21187000 1840 Acton Highway, Suite 102 Granbury, Texas 76049 817-573-7700 817-573-7710 - fax sgwerley@werleylaw.com Appellees’ Motion for Rehearing Page 1 TO THE HONORABLE JUSTICES OF SAID COURT: NOW COMES, Kelly Davis and Amber Davis, Appellees, and files this Reply to Appellant’s Response to Motion for Rehearing of the Court’s Opinion Rendered on February 18, 2015, and for same would show unto the Court the following: I. In Reply to the Response to the Rehearing as filed by the Smiths, the Davis’ herein state as follows: 1. As to the issue of overcompensation to the Davis’. In the original motion for rehearing the Defendant did not object to the amount of actual damages. Notwithstanding same the Court modified same in its opinion and judgment. Appellee’s Motion for Rehearing pointed out the failure to object. The Response does not address same. Mr. Davis testified that the agreement between the parties was that all monies paid on Tract 9 would be applied to Tract 7. (RR P. 74). Rex Smith never called and said that they were late or missed a payment. (RR P. 30). The lawsuit was filed in February of 2008, and Davis was paid up at that time. (RR P.29). The jury believed Mr. Davis. The Response makes the statement that “when the parties agreed to a deal on Lot 7, Smith agreed to accept a return of Lot 9, that the Davis’ account accrued equity on that Lot – the $3,700.00 – as a down-payment on Lot 7. There is no evidence to support this statement. There is no testimony concerning equity. The jury did not believe Smith. 2. As stated in the Motion for Rehearing filed by the Davis’, the pleadings filed by Plaintiff stated that violations of the sections of the Texas Property Code, in several instances, allowed for attorney’s fees under the DTPA. For instance, §5.069 provides that the Seller shall provide the Purchaser a survey. §5.070, not addressed by Appellant, provides that the Seller shall provide the Purchaser tax certificates. These items were not provided as found by the jury in response to Jury Questions. Both Sections state that the “failure to provide the information required by this Section is a false, misleading or deceptive act or practice within the Deceptive Trade Practice Act, and entitles the Purchaser to cancel and rescind the Executory Contract and receive full refund of all payments made to the Seller. Either one of these disclosures would have disclosed that the property described as Lot 7 of the Tall Oaks Estates Subdivision, Van Zandt County, did not exist. (Pl’s Exh. 3, Def’s Exh 7A, RR 94). The jury found that as a result of the failure to provide a survey and/or tax certificates for the property that did not exist, the Davis’ relied upon these misrepresentations, and subsequently suffered damages in excess of $33,000.00. As a result the actions of Mr. Smith, attorney’s fees are due. WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Appellee requests that this Court grant the damages as found by the jury for violation §5.077 of the Property Code, the actual damages found by the jury, as well as attorney’s fees. LAW OFFICES OF S. GARY WERLEY BY:___/s/ S. Gary Werley_____ S. GARY WERLEY State Bar No. 21187000 sgwerley@werleylaw.com 1840 Acton Highway, Suite 102 Granbury, Texas 76049 (Telephone) 817-573-7700 (Facsimile) 817-573-7710 ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEES CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I do hereby certify that a true and correct copy of Appellees’ Reply to Appellant’s Response to Motion for Rehearing has been forwarded to the following attorneys of record on this day of e-filing: Via email or efiling Jeffrey C. Irion P. O. Box 5527 Gun Barrel City, TX 75147-5012 Jirionattorney@aol.com Greg Smith Ramey & Flock, PC 100 E. Ferguson, Suite 500 Tyler, Texas 75202 GregS@rameyflock.com By:__/s/ S. Gary Werley_________ S. GARY WERLEY