Earl Anderson, Carrie Bell Scott, Sharon Anderson, Evance Anderson, Bill Burton, Willie Mae Anderson, and Jerry J. Anderson (Smith) v. Robert Louis Durham

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ACCEPTED 12-15-00169-CV TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS TYLER, TEXAS 10/20/2015 8:06:36 PM Pam Estes CLERK NO. 12-15-00169-CV IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FILED IN 12th COURT OF APPEALS TYLER, TEXAS TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF TEXAS 10/20/2015 8:06:36 PM AT TYLER PAM ESTES Clerk EARL ANDERSON, CARRIE BELL SCOTT, SHARON ANDERSON, EVANCE ANDERSON, BILL BURTON, WILLIE MAE ANDERSON AND JERRY J. ANDERSON (SMITH), Appellants, V. ROBERT LOUIS DURHAM AND FRANK L. ZELLERS, III, Appellees _____________________________________________________ On appeal from the 173rd District Court Henderson County, Texas Trial Court No. 2012A-0662 _____________________________________________________ REPLY BRIEF OF APPELLANTS ______________________________________________________________ LANA JOHNSON State Bar number 10763650 P. O. Box 816325 Dallas, TX 75381-6325 ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANTS TABLE OF CONTENTS Page TABLE OF CONTENTS ................... ii INDEX OF AUTHORITIES ................ iii I. SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT ......... 1 II. REPLY _________________ 2 A. Appellee has Failed to address the issue 2 that Durham’s summary judgment was not the proper vehicle to address Appellants’ failure to state a cause of action. B. Fact questions exist regarding the Warranty 3 Deed from B. A. Anderson due to alterations. C. Appellants were denied the opportunity to 4 discover the nature of Durham’s claim that actually established the controversy. D. Appellants were denied the opportunity to 5 prove the elements of trespass to try title. E. Durham failed to verify his challenge to 5 his alleged defect of parties. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE .................... 6 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE _................ 6 -ii- INDEX OF AUTHORITIES CASES Page Horizon v. Auld, 34 S.W.3d 887 (Tex. 2000)..... 3 Perry v. Cohen, 285 S.W.3d 137 ............... 3 (Tex.App.-Austin 2009) Spivy v. March, 151 S. W. 1037 (Tex. 1912) 4 TEXAS CONSTITUTION, STATUTES, AND RULES Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure 38.1(f) and 38.3 1 T.R.C.P, Rule 90, 91 & 93 ........................ 3 -iii- TO THE HONORABLE TWELFTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS: Appellants submit this Reply Brief praying that this Court reverse the trial court’s order granting summary judgment dismissing Appellants’ claims. I. SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT Appellee attempts to mislead this Court by asserting that the trial court imposed a deadline for Appellants to amend their petition. The record does not support his assertion. Appellee improperly attacked Appellant’s petition with a no evidence motion for summary judgment rather than properly filing special exceptions. (CR 32) The trial court erred by allowing amendment of Appellants’ petition rather than requiring Appellee to properly file special exceptions, conducting a hearing with a proper order so that Appellants could cure any defects in their petition. The Texas Rules of Civil Procedure provide for pleading amendments during the pendency of summary judgment hearings. The trial court thereby denied Appellants due process of law and Appellants’ rights were fatally violated. Appellants 1 are entitled to a new trial. Further, Appellants were denied the opportunity to cure any defects in their affidavits and to conduct discovery on Appellee’s amended answer and counterclaim. The trial court abused its discretion by striking Appellants’ evidence. Because the trial court abused its discretion, this Court should reverse the order granting summary and dismissal of Appellants’ claims. II. REPLY A. Appellee has failed to address the issue that Durham’s summary judgment was not the proper vehicle to address Appellants’ failure to state a cause of action. Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure 38.1(f) and 38.3 provide for statement of issues in Appellants’ brief and reply brief. Appellants raised the issue in their brief and Durham simply failed to adequately address the issue. Appellants raised the issue of Durham’s failure to file special exceptions to raise the defect of Appellants’ standing as Plaintiffs in this suit. Tex. Rules of Civ. Pro., Rule 91 provides that special 2 exceptions are required to raise the issue. The Court stated in Perry v. Cohen, 285 S.W.3d 137 (Tex.App.- Austin 2009) in footnote 4 “[4] Special exceptions inform the opposing party of defects in its pleadings, so the party may have an opportunity to cure the defect. See Horizon v. Auld, 34 S.W.3d 887, 897 (Tex.2000).” Further, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 90 waives defect of parties unless objection by special exceptions is filed. T.R.C.P Rule 93 requires verification of pleadings asserting defect of parties and Durham failed to verify his operative pleading. Therefore, the trial court erred by granting summary judgment based upon the lack of evidence on the defect of parties concerning standing, by striking Appellants’ evidence, concerning limitations and concerning the sufficiency of allegations of title to real property. Durham waived any defects and the issues were not ripe for determination by summary judgment. B. Fact questions exist regarding the Warranty Deed from B. A. Anderson due to alterations. The alterations in the deed are substantial and not 3 technical defects. Durham failed to address the alterations and strike outs on the deed that distinguishes this case from the result in Spivy v. March, 151 S.W. 1037 (Tex. 1912) Further, Spivy involved a well developed record allowing the Texas Supreme Court to properly analyze the issue. The instant case involves denial of due process to properly develop the issues concerning laches and limitations. None of the cases that Durham cited involve strike outs on a deed and therefore fail to address the issue. C. Appellants were denied the opportunity to discover the nature of Durham’s claim that actually established the controversy. Durham’s Answer and Counterclaim placed title to the property Appellants claim. Appellant’s had outstanding discovery to clarify the chain of title. Durham’s deed was outside the chain of title and Appellants were prejudiced by the trial court refusal to grant a continuance to allow sufficient time for discovery of facts Durham alleged within six months prior to rendition of summary judgment. 4 D. Appellants were denied the opportunity to prove the elements of trespass to try title. Appellants alleged title from a purported common source relating back to B. A. Anderson. A short delay for adequate discovery would not prejudice Durham. The Zeller’s deed from Durham’s predecessor traces back to an unpublished instrument and Appellants had outstanding discovery to determine Durham’s claim and substantiate Appellants’ claim. E. Durham failed to verify his challenge to his alleged defect of parties. Appellants had standing to challenge the deed from B. A. Anderson and Durham waived any defect. Durham failed to address the exception to hearsay concerning family history. The trial court erred by striking Appellants’ recitation of family history. WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Appellants respectfully pray that this court grant review in this case and vacate the trial court's summary judgment. The Andersons also request any other relief to which he may be entitled. 5 Respectfully submitted, Lana Johnson _____________________________ LANA JOHNSON Texas Bar No. 10763650 P. O. Box 816325 Dallas, TX 75381-6325 Tel. (903) 646-0672 Fax. (866) 447-7148 Attorney for Appellants CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I certify that on October 20, 2015 a true and correct copy of the foregoing document was served to Appellee’s Attorney of Record, by e-mail. Lana Johnson ____________________________ LANA JOHNSON CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE Pursuant to TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4, I hereby certify that this Reply Brief contains 1,170 words. This computer-generated document created in Word Perfect using 14-point typeface for all text. In making this certificate of compliance, I am relying on the word count provided by the software used to prepare the document. Lana Johnson ________________________ LANA JOHNSON 6 Texas Rules TEXAS RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE Part II. RULES OF PRACTICE IN DISTRICT AND COUNTY COURTS § 4. Pleading. C. Pleadings of Defendant As amended through June 10, 2014 Rule 90. WAIVER OF DEFECTS IN PLEADING General demurrers shall not be used. Every defect, omission or fault in a pleading either of form or of substance, which is not specifically pointed out by exception in writing and brought to the attention of the judge in the trial court before the instruction or charge to the jury or, in a non-jury case, before the judgment is signed, shall be deemed to have been waived by the party seeking reversal on such account; provided that this rule shall not apply as to any party against whom default judgment is rendered. Texas Rules TEXAS RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE Part II. RULES OF PRACTICE IN DISTRICT AND COUNTY COURTS § 4. Pleading. C. Pleadings of Defendant As amended through June 10, 2014 Rule 91. SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS A special exception shall not only point out the particular pleading excepted to, but it shall also point out intelligibly and with particularity the defect, omission, obscurity, duplicity, generality, or other insufficiency in the allegations in the pleading excepted to. Texas Rules consideration of the same has failed in whole or in part. TEXAS RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE 10. A denial of an account which is the foundation of the plaintiffs action, and supported by affidavit. Part II. RULES OF PRACTICE IN DISTRICT AND COUNTY COURTS 11. That a contract sued upon is usurious. Unless such plea is filed, no evidence of usurious interest as a defense § 4. Pleading. shall be received. C. Pleadings of Defendant 12. That notice and proof of loss or claim for damage has not been given as alleged. Unless such plea is filed such As amended through June 10, 2014 notice and proof shall be presumed and no evidence to the contrary shall be admitted. A denial of such notice or Rule 93. CERTAIN PLEAS TO BE VERIFIED such proof shall be made specifically and with A pleading setting up any of the following matters, unless particularity. the truth of such matters appear of record, shall be 13. In the trial of any case appealed to the court from the verified by affidavit. Industrial Accident Board the following, if pleaded, shall 1. That the plaintiff has not legal capacity to sue or that be presumed to be true as pleaded and have been done the defendant has not legal capacity to be sued. and filed in legal time and manner, unless denied by verified pleadings: 2. That the plaintiff is not entitled to recover in the capacity in which he sues, or that the defendant is not (a) Notice of injury. liable in the capacity in which he is sued. (b) Claim for Compensation. 3. That there is another suit pending in this State between (c) Award of the Board. the same parties involving the same claim. (d) Notice of intention not to abide by the award of the 4. That there is a defect of parties, plaintiff or defendant. Board. 5. A denial of partnership as alleged in any pleading as to (e) Filing of suit to set aside the award. any party to the suit. (f) That the insurance company alleged to have been the 6. That any party alleged in any pleading to be a carrier of the workers' compensation insurance at the corporation is not incorporated as alleged. time of the alleged injury was in fact the carrier thereof. 7. Denial of the execution by himself or by his authority (g) That there was good cause for not filing claim with of any instrument in writing, upon which any pleading is the Industrial Accident Board within the one year period founded, in whole or in part and charged to have been provided by statute. executed by him or by his authority, and not alleged to be lost or destroyed. Where such instrument in writing is (h) Wage rate. charged to have been executed by a person then deceased, the affidavit shall be sufficient if it states that A denial of any of the matters set forth in subdivisions (a) the affiant has reason to believe and does believe that or (g) of paragraph 13 may be made on information and such instrument was not executed by the decedent or by belief. his authority. In the absence of such a sworn plea, the instrument shall be received in evidence as fully proved. Any such denial may be made in original or amended pleadings; but if in amended pleadings the same must be 8. A denial of the genuineness of the indorsement or filed not less than seven days before the case proceeds to assignment of a written instrument upon which suit is trial. In case of such denial the things so denied shall not brought by an indorsee or assignee and in the absence of be presumed to be true, and if essential to the case of the such a sworn plea, the indorsement or assignment thereof party alleging them, must be proved. shall be held as fully proved. The denial required by this subdivision of the rule may be made upon information 14. That a party plaintiff or defendant is not doing and belief. business under an assumed name or trade name as alleged. 9. That a written instrument upon which a pleading is founded is without consideration, or that the 15. In the trial of any case brought against an automobile insurance company by an insured under the provisions of an insurance policy in force providing protection against uninsured motorists, an allegation that the insured has complied with all the terms of the policy as a condition precedent to bringing the suit shall be presumed to be true unless denied by verified pleadings which may be upon information and belief. 16. Any other matter required by statute to be pleaded under oath.