ACCEPTED
04-15-00623-CV
FOURTH COURT OF APPEALS
04-15-00623-CV SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
10/2/2015 11:18:15 AM
KEITH HOTTLE
CLERK
CAUSE NO. 2014–PC–0056
IN THE ESTATE OF § IN THE PROBATEFILED
COURT
IN
4th COURT OF APPEALS
§ SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
MARJORIE A. CHILDS, § NO. 2 10/2/2015 11:18:15 AM
§ KEITH E. HOTTLE
DECEASED. § BEXAR Clerk
COUNTY, TEXAS
PETITION TO PERMIT AGREED INTERLOCUTORY APPEAL
STRASBURGER & PRICE, L.L.P. BEN A. WALLIS LAW PC
Judith R. Blakeway Ben A. Wallis, III
State Bar No. 02434400 State Bar No. 24060793
Judith.Blakeway@strasburger.com 8200 IH 10 West #101
James Maverick McNeel San Antonio, Texas 78230
State Bar No. 24035491 Telephone: (210) 525–1500
James.McNeel@strasburger.com Facsimile: (210) 525–9323
David P. Stanush baw3@wallislawsa.com
State Bar No.19056300
David.Stanush@strasburger.com ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT
Andrew L. Kerr SUSAN C. ADDISON
State Bar No. 11339500
Andy.Kerr@strasburger.com
Zachary C. Zurek
State Bar No. 24079668
Zach.Zurek@strasburger.com
2301 Broadway
San Antonio, Texas 78215
Telephone: (210) 250-6000
Facsimile: (210) 250-6100
ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT
PAMELA ANN CHILDS
MCCASKILL
1963695.3/SPSA/34092/0101/100215
Table of Contents
Table of Contents ...................................................................................................... ii
Table of Authorities ................................................................................................. iii
Parties ......................................................................................................................... 2
Statement of Facts ...................................................................................................... 3
Statement of Issues..................................................................................................... 5
Certificate of Service ................................................................................................. 8
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Table of Authorities
Page(s)
STATUTES
TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 51.014(d) ............................................................... 5
TEX. CIV. PRAC & REM. CODE § 51.014(d)(2) ........................................................... 5
TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 51.014(e) ............................................................... 1
RULES
TEX. R. APP. P. 25.1(d)(6) .......................................................................................... 1
TEX. R. APP. P. 28.2(c)(7) .......................................................................................... 5
TEX. R. APP. P. 28.2(c)(2) .......................................................................................... 1
TEX. R. APP. P. 28.2(c)(3) .......................................................................................... 1
TEX. R. APP. P. 28.2(e)(2) .......................................................................................... 1
TEX. R. APP. P. 28.2(f)................................................................................................ 1
TEX. R. APP. P. 28.3(c) ............................................................................................... 1
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PETITION TO PERMIT AGREED INTERLOCUTORY APPEAL
TO THE HONORABLE COURT:
1. Defendants Pamela Ann Childs McCaskill and Susan Childs Addison
desire to appeal from the interlocutory order signed by the Court on September 18,
2015.
2. The Court signed a written order granting permission to file this
agreed interlocutory appeal on September 18, 2015.
3. The parties have agreed to the Court’s entering an agreed order
granting permission for an interlocutory appeal.
4. Defendants appeal to the Fourth Court of Appeals.
5. The appeal of this case is an accelerated appeal. TEX. R. APP. P.
25.1(d)(6).
6. This petition to permit agreed interlocutory appeal is filed within
15 days of the date the trial court signed the order granting permission to file this
appeal. TEX. R. APP. P. 28.3(c).
7. A copy of this petition to permit agreed interlocutory appeal has been
served on all parties to the trial court proceeding, and a docketing statement will be
filed in the court of appeals.
8. A copy of the order signed on September 18, 2015 from which appeal
is taken, granting permission to appeal and staying the trial court proceedings
1963695.3/SPSA/34092/0101/100215
pending resolution of this agreed interlocutory appeal, is attached as Exhibit A.
TEX. R. APP. P. 28.2(c)(2), (c)(3), (e)(2), (f); TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE
§51.014(e).
Parties
9. The parties to the trial-court proceeding and their trial and appellate
attorneys are the following:
Attorneys for Plaintiff Mollie Allen Attorneys for Defendant
Childs: Susan Kaye Childs Addison:
Rudy A. Garza Ben A. Wallis, III
rugar@hfgtx.com State Bar No. 24060793
Charles M. Hornberger BEN A. WALLIS LAW PC
boxy@hfgtx.com 8200 IH 10 West #101
David Jed Williams San Antonio, Texas 78230
jwilliams@hfgtx.com Telephone: (210) 525–1500
Stephanie L. Curette Facsimile: (210) 525–9323
scurette@hfgtx.com baw3@wallislawsa.com
HORNBERGER SHEEHAN
FULLER & GARZA, INC.
The Quarry Heights Building
7373 Broadway, Suite 300
San Antonio, Texas 78209
Telephone: (210) 271–1700
Facsimile: (210) 271–1730
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Attorneys for Defendant
Pamela Ann Childs McCaskill:
James Maverick McNeel
State Bar No. 24035491
James.McNeel@strasburger.com
Judith R. Blakeway
State Bar No. 02434400
Judith.Blakeway@strasburger.com
David P. Stanush
State Bar No.19056300
David.Stanush@strasburger.com
Andrew L. Kerr
State Bar No. 11339500
Andy.Kerr@strasburger.com
Zachary C. Zurek
State Bar No. 24079668
Zach.Zurek@strasburger.com
STRASBURGER & PRICE, LLP
2301 Broadway
San Antonio, Texas 78215
Telephone: (210) 250-6000
Facsimile: (210) 250-6100
10. The parties have agreed that the appeal involves controlling questions
of law on which there is substantial ground for difference of opinion and that an
immediate appeal may materially advance the ultimate termination of this
litigation.
Statement of Facts
11. Specifically, this case involves the enforcement of a contract between
the parties, entered into by them as heirs of the estate of their mother (Marjorie
Childs), in an effort to equalize assets they expected to receive as beneficiaries of
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her estate. The case also involves claims against Mollie Childs in her various
fiduciary roles as power of attorney, trustee and executrix.
12. The parties (three sisters) are the only beneficiaries of their mother’s
estate. Prior to their mother’s death, they entered into a contract dividing up
accounts created as a result of the sale of stock inherited by their mother from their
grandmother. At the time the accounts were set up, they were titled as life estate
accounts in hopes that the funds would be treated as part of a valid life estate, so
they would not be taxable as part of Marjorie’s estate. There was considerable
doubt as to the validity of the life estate, but there was an attempt to treat the funds
that way, based on the intent in their grandmother’s Will and because of the tax
benefits that would inure to the parties. However, the contract is not contingent on
any finding that a life estate exists or not, as argued by Mollie. Rather, the material
terms are a division of two accounts in a way that is different than an equal split as
they might expect as heirs of the estate.
13. Mollie claims that there is insufficient consideration for the
agreement—which she, as an attorney, helped draft. As shown by the evidence,
Appellants disagree because the consideration is (1) forbearance from suit against
Mollie; and (2) giving up certain expectancy rights as heirs of their mother’s estate
in the two accounts.
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14. Secondly, Mollie claims that the contract should be rescinded because
the parties were all under a mutual mistake of fact as to the existence of a life
estate. Appellants disagree because there is considerable evidence to reflect that
(1) if any mistake occurred, it was not mutual; (2) if there was a mistake, it was not
material—not even a term of the agreement; and (3) the mistake—if there was
one—is a mistake of law (the interpretation of language in a Will), not a mistake of
fact.
15. Initially, the trial court denied Mollie’s motion for summary
judgment. Mollie then filed a motion for reconsideration. Upon rehearing, the trial
court granted Mollie Childs’ motion for summary judgment and denied Pamela
Ann McCaskill Childs’ motion for summary judgment.
Statement of Issues
16. The controlling questions of law presented in this appeal are
(1) whether a mistake that a will created a life estate is a mistake of law or a
mistake of fact, and if there is a mistake of fact, whether a contract between the
parties can be rescinded by summary judgment, (2) whether there was sufficient
consideration to support the validity of a contract where there was a threat of
litigation and the parties negotiated away their expectancy interest as heirs of an
estate, or (3) whether a fact issue exists that precludes summary judgment.
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17. An immediate appeal may materially advance the ultimate termination
of this litigation because the contract is the primary issue determining the parties'
inheritance rights as beneficiaries of the estate. In addition, determination of
(1) the validity of the contract and (2) whether a contract between the parties can
be rescinded by summary judgment, will likely result in limiting or eliminating
litigation on the remaining issues between the parties, as the funds subject to the
contract are the only remaining “estate” funds in dispute. So, resolution of the
contract validity could very well resolve the other pending issues in the case. TEX.
R. APP. P. 28.2(c)(7); see TEX. CIV. PRAC & REM. CODE §51.014(d)(2).
WHEREFORE, Defendants pray that the Court pursuant to the Civil Practice
& Remedies Code §51.014(d) enter an order permitting appeal from the court’s
order on the cross-motions for summary judgment.
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RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
STRASBURGER & PRICE, L.L.P. BEN A. WALLIS LAW PC
By: /s/ Judith R. Blakeway By: Ben A. Wallis, III
Judith R. Blakeway Ben A. Wallis, III
State Bar No. 02434400 State Bar No. 24060793
Judith.Blakeway@strasburger.com 8200 IH 10 West #101
James Maverick McNeel San Antonio, Texas 78230
State Bar No. 24035491 Telephone: (210) 525–1500
James.McNeel@strasburger.com Facsimile: (210) 525–9323
David P. Stanush baw3@wallislawsa.com
State Bar No.19056300
David.Stanush@strasburger.com ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT
Andrew L. Kerr SUSAN C. ADDISON
State Bar No. 11339500
Andy.Kerr@strasburger.com
Zachary C. Zurek
State Bar No. 24079668
Zach.Zurek@strasburger.com
2301 Broadway
San Antonio, Texas 78215
Telephone: (210) 250-6000
Facsimile: (210) 250-6100
ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT
PAMELA ANN CHILDS
MCCASKILL
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on the 2d day of October, 2015, a true and correct copy
of the above and foregoing Petition to Permit Agreed Interlocutory Appeal has
been transmitted in accordance with the requirement of the Texas Rules of Civil
Procedure, addressed as follows:
Rudy A. Garza Ben A. Wallis, III
rugar@hfgtx.com BEN A. WALLIS LAW PC
Charles M. Hornberger 8200 IH 10 West #101
boxy@hfgtx.com San Antonio, Texas 78230
David Jed Williams baw3@wallislawsa.com
jwilliams@hfgtx.com
Stephanie L. Curette Attorneys for Defendant
scurette@hfgtx.com Susan Kaye Childs Addison
HORNBERGER SHEEHAN
FULLER & GARZA, INC.
The Quarry Heights Building
7373 Broadway, Suite 300
San Antonio, Texas 78209
Telephone: (210) 271–1700
Facsimile: (210) 271–1730
Attorneys for Plaintiff
Mollie Allen Childs
/s/ Judith R. Blakeway
JUDITH R. BLAKEWAY
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