03-15-00399-CV & 03-15-00400-CV IN THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS AT AUSTIN, TEXAS

Brian Dierschke and Marvin Dierschke

v. Cheryl Lynn Dierschke, Dana Joy Dierschke Nezwek,

and Grant Steven Dierschke

__________________________ 

## APPELLEES’ BRIEF

JAMES DAVID WALKER P. O. Box 41 Milano, Texas 76556 SBOT 20706000 Phone: (512) 636-9520 Email: walker@2appeal.com ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEES, CHERYL LYNN DIERSCHKE, DANA JOY DIERSCHKE NEZWEK, AND GRANT STEVEN DIERSCHKE ACCEPTED 03-15-00400-CV 8021813 THIRD COURT OF APPEALS

AUSTIN, TEXAS 11/30/2015 5:17:58 PM JEFFREY D. KYLE

CLERKI DENTI TY OF PARTI ES AND COUNSEL

Ap p el l an t s fai l t o n o te th atAp p el l ees Ch ery l Ly n n Di ers ch k e, Dan a J o y Di ers ch k e Nezwek , an dGran tSt ev en Di ers ch k e are rep res en t ed i n th e tri al co u rt b y : Larry W . Bal e Hay , W i t t en b u rg , Dav is , Cal dwel l & Bal e, L.L.P. P. O. Bo x 7 1 San An g el o , Tex as 7 6 9 0 2 -0 2 7 1 Ph o n e: (3 2 5 ) 6 5 8-2 72 8 Fax : (3 2 5) 6 5 5-2 2 7 8 Em ai l: l w b @ h w d cb .co m Ap p el l ees Ch ery l Ly n n Di ers ch k e, Dan a J o yDi ers ch k e Nezwek , an d Gran t St ev en Di ers ch k e are rep res en t ed i n th i s Co urtb y : J ames Dav id W al k er P. O. Bo x 4 1 M i l an o , Tex as 7 6 5 56 Ph o n e: (5 1 2 ) 6 3 6-9 52 0 Em ai l: wal ker@ 2 ap p eal
. co m

1TABLE OF CONTENTS

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 INDEX OF AUTHORITIES.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Cas es . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 St atu t es an dRu l es . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 STATEM ENT OF THE CASE.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 ISSUES PRESENTED.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Ap p el l ees ’ Cro s s -Po i n t . Ap p el l ees s h ou l db e award ed d am ag es fo r fri v o l o u s ap p eal u n d er au th o ri t yo f Tex as Ru l es o f Ap p el l at e Pro ced u re, Ru l e 4 5..
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 STATEM ENT OF FACTS.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 SUM M ARY OF THE ARGUM ENT.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 ARGUM ENT.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 J u ri s d i ct i o n al Co ns i derat i o n s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 Ap p el l an t s ’ Is s u e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 Ap p el l ees ’ Cro s s -Po i n t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 PRAYER.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5 APPENDIX.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 7 Ex h i b i tA. Affi d av i ti n Su p p o rto f TRAP 4 5 Dam ag es fo r Fri v ol o u s Ap p eal

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 7

2INDEX OF AUTHORI TI ES Ca s es As s o ci a ted

Tel . Di rect o r

y Pu b l i s h ers , In c. v. Fi ve D's Pu bl i s h i ng Co
. , 8 4 9 S.W .2 d 8 9 4 (Tex .Ap p .– A u st i n 1 9 9 3 , n o p et .).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 Bi g g ar v. Pa lmer , 2 0 0 3 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 8 8 9 2 , 2 0 03 WL 2 2 36 1 0 6 8 (Tex .Ap p .– El Pas o 2 00 3 , n o p et .).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 Br a zo s Ri ver

Au tho r i t y v. Gr ah a m , 3 5 4 S.W .2 d 9 9 (Tex . 1 9 6 1 ).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 Cra n b er g v. W i l s o n , 2 0 0 4 Tex
. Ap p . LEXIS 6 5 6 (Tex .Ap p . – Au s t i n 2 0 0 4 , n o p et .)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 Dea ner v. Ma rch es e , 2 0 0 4 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 9 1 5 , 2 00 4 WL 1 7 7 4 80 (Tex .Ap p .– Fo rtW o rth 2 0 0 4 , n o p et .).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 Devj i v. Kel l er , 2 0 0 3 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 6 32 2 , 2 0 0 3 WL 2 1 7 05 8 2 9 (Tex .Ap p .– Au st i n 2 0 0 3 , n o p et .).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 6 Do wn er v. Aq u a m a ri n e Op era to r s , In c. , 7 0 1 S.W .2 d2 3 8 (Tex . 1 9 8 5 ).
. . . . . . . . 2 3 Ha g en v. Ha g en , 2 82 S.W .3 d8 9 9 (Tex . 2 00 9 ).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 Ha mi l ton v. Bel l , 2 01 3 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 1 53 6 9 , 2 0 1 3 WL 6 8 0 5 6 6 3 (Tex .Ap p .– Au st i n 2 0 1 3 , p et . d en .).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 In th e In t eres t

o f J.M. , 3 9 6 S.W .3 d5 2 8 (Tex . 2 01 3 ).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 In th e In t eres t

o f M.S
. , 1 1 5 S.W .3 d5 3 4 (Tex . 2 0 0 3 ).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 Ji mmi e Lu ecke Ch il d ren Pa r tn ers h i p , Ltd. v. Pr u n cu t

z , 2 01 3 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 1 0 3 6 2 , 2 0 1 3 WL4 4 8 7 5 4 1 (Tex .Ap p .– Au st in 2 0 1 3 , n o p et .).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 JNS En t er., In c. v. Di

xi e Demo l i t i o n , LLC, 4 3 0 S.W .3 d4 4 4 (Tex .Ap p .– A u s t i n 2 0 1 3 , n o p et .).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3
3Jo y v. Jo y , 1 5 6 S.W .2 d5 4 7 (Tex .Ci v .Ap p .– Eas t lan d1 9 4 1, wri tref’ dw.o .m .).
. . 2 5

Ma r s h a llv. Ma ha

f f ey , 9 7 4 S.W .2 d9 4 2 (Tex .Ap p .– Beau m o n t 1 9 9 8, p et . d en .)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 , 2 2 McCu l l o u g h v. S ca rb ro ug h , Med l i n & As s o cs ., 4 3 5 S.W .3 d8 7 1 (Tex .Ap p .– Dal l as 2 0 1 4 , p et . d en .).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 Mi l l er v. Ar mo g i d a , 8 7 7 S.W .2 d3 6 1 (Tex .Ap p . – Ho u . [1 s tDi st .] 1 9 9 4 , wri td en .)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 Mi n us v. Doyl e , 1 7 0 S.W .2 d 2 2 0 (Tex . 1 9 4 3 ).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 Mo n s a nt o Co . v. Da vi s , 2 5 S.W .3 d7 7 3 (Tex .Ap p .–W aco 2 0 00 , p et . d i s m ’ d ).
. . 2 7 No r ton v. Deer

Creek Pro

p . Own ers As s 'n , 2 0 1 0 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 5 8 9 5 , 2 0 1 0 WL 2 8 6 7 3 7 5 (Tex .Ap p . – Au s t i n 2 0 1 0 , n o p et .).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 Oi l wel lDi v., Un i ted

S ta t es S t eelCo r

p . v. Fr yer , 4 9 3 S.W .2 d 4 8 7 (Tex . 1 9 7 3 ).
. 2 2 Owen v. Ji m Al l ee Imp s ., In c. , 3 8 0 S.W .3 d2 7 6 (Tex .Ap p .– D al l as 2 0 1 2 , n o p et .)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 Pet ro . S o l u t i o n s , In c. v. Hea d , 4 5 4 S.W .3 d 4 8 2 (Tex . 2 0 1 4 ).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 PNS S to res , In c. v. Ri vera , 3 7 9 S.W .3 d2 6 7 (Tex . 2 0 12 ).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 Raymo n d v. Aq u a r i u s Co n do mi n i u m Own ers As s n . , 6 6 2 S.W .2 d8 2 (Tex .Ap p .– Co rp u s Ch ri s t i 1 9 8 3 , n o wri t ).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 Sa d l er v. Du va l l , 8 15 S.W .2 d2 8 5 (Tex .Ap p . – Tex ark an a 1 99 1 , p et . d en .).
. . . . . 2 0 Sa l a s v. S ta t e Fa rm Mu t. Au to . In s . Co
. , 2 2 6 S.W .3 d6 9 2 (Tex .Ap p .– El Pas o 2 0 0 7 , n o p et . ).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 S i n cer el y Y o u r s , L.P. v. NCI Bl d

g . S ys ., L.P. , 2 0 11 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 9 3 1 , 2 0 1 1 WL 4 4 6 1 8 8 (Tex .Ap p . – Am ari l l o 2 0 1 1 , p et . d en .).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 5
4S t ei n b rech er v. S t ei n b rech er , 2 0 0 3 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 4 7 1 2, 2 0 0 3 WL 2 1 2 8 2 7 6 7 (Tex .Ap p .– Au st i n 2 0 0 3 , p et . d en .), cer t. den ., 5 4 1 U.S. 9 5 9 (2 0 04 ).
. . . . . . . . . . 2 9 Texa s Dep 't

o f Pu b . Sa f et y v. Th o ma s , 1 9 99 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 2 5 0 0 (Tex .Ap p .– Ho u. [1 4 th Di s t.] 1 9 9 9 , n o p et .).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 Twen t y Fi r s t Cen t u r y Ho ld in g s , In c. v. Preci s i o n Geo th er ma lDr i l l i n g , In c. , 2 0 1 5 Tex
. Ap p . LEXIS 4 0 4 6 (Tex .Ap p .– Au s ti n ), j u dg men t va ca t ed by a g reemen t

- o p i n i o n n o t

wi th d r a wn , 2 0 1 5 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 9 1 5 4 (Tex .Ap p .– Au s t i n 2 0 1 5 )

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 W a n g v. Hs u , 8 9 9 S.W .2 d 4 0 9 (Tex .Ap p.– Ho u . [1 4 th Di s t .] 1 9 9 5 , p et . d en .).
. . . 1 7 W i l l ia ms v. W

al ker , 2 0 0 4 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 3 0 3 4 , 2 00 4 WL 6 91 6 37 (Tex .Ap p .–W aco 2 0 04 , p et . d en .).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2

5S ta t u t es a n d Ru l es Tex as Ru l es o f Ap p el l at e Pro ced u re, Ru l e 3 3 .1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 Tex as Ru l es o f Ap p el l at e Pro ced u re, Ru l e 3 8 .1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 , 1 3, 2 7 , 3 0 Tex as Ru l es o f Ap p el l at e Pro ced u re, Ru l e 4 4 .1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 Tex as Ru l es o f Ap p el l at e Pro ced u re, Ru l e 4 5
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 Tex as Ru l es o f Ev i den ce, Ru le 1 0 3
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 , 2 5

6STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Ap p el l ees p l ead ed an u n d i v i d ed o wn ers h i p i n t eres t i n, an ds o u g htp art i t i o n
o f, s ev eral tract s o f l an dl ocat edi n To m Green Co u n t y , Tex as . (CR: 5 ) 1 Ap p el l ees al s o s o u g h tan acco u n t i ng fro m , an dm o ney ju d g men tag ai n s t , Ap p el lan t s fo r Ap p el l ees ’ s h are o f th e i n co me Ap p el l an ts recei v edfro m s u ch p ro p ert i es . (CR: 5 ) Th e tri al co u rts tru ckAp p el l an t s ’ p l ead i n gs an do rd ered ju d g men t b yd efau l t ag ai n s tAp p el l an t s o n al l cl ai m s an dcau s es o f act i o n as s ert edb yAp p el l ees . (CR: 1 1 6 ,2 1 0 ; RR2 : 5 1 -5 2 , 5 8 ) Aft er a b en ch tri al , th e 3 4 0 th J u d i ci al Di s tri ctCo u rto n J u n e 1 , 2 0 1 5 s i g n ed a Decree wh ich d et ermi n ed o wn ers h i p o f th e tract s , d et ermin edtract s wh i ch are
s u s cep t i b l e t o p art i t i o n, ap p o i n t ed co mmi s s i o n ers t o m ak e th e p art i t i o n , an d award ed Ap p el l ees a m o n ey ju d g men t ag ai n s tAp p el l an t s . (CR: 5 0 ) On J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 Ap p el l an t s fi l ed a d ocu men t cap t i o n ed “ M o t io n t o Ap p eal Du e t o Frau d ” (CR: 5 5 ) wh i ch m ot i o n ap p aren t l yh as b een treat ed as a n ot i ce o f ap p eal an d d o ck et ed i n thi s Co u rtas Cas e No . 0 3 -1 5 -0 03 9 9 -CV. On J u ne 1 6 , 2 01 5 th e 3 40 th J u d ici al Di s tri ct Co u rts i g ned a Fi rs t Amen d ed Decree wh ich p ro vi d es th atth e J u n e 1 s tDecree i s " s etas i d e an d h el dt o b e o f n o

1 This brief addresses both Case No. 03-15-00399-CV & Case No. 03-15-00400. The cases share a common reporter’s record. Althoug h each case has its own clerk’s record, these clerk’s records are identical except for the clerk certification dates listed on page 211 of each. 7fu rther fo rce o r effect ." (CR: 1 1 6 ) By th e Fi rs tAmen d ed Decree t h e tri al co u rt

ag ai n d et ermin ed o wn ers h i p o f th e tract s , d et ermi n edtract s wh ich are s u scep t i b l e t o p art it i o n , ap po i n t ed co mmi s s i o n ers t o m ak e th e p art i t i o n , an daward ed Ap p el l ees a m on ey ju d g men t ag ai ns t Ap p el l an t s . (CR: 11 6 ) On J u ne 2 5 , 2 01 5 Ap p el l an t s fi l ed a d o cu men t cap t i o n ed “ M o t i o n t o Ap p eal the J u n e 1 6 th J u d g e’ s Ord ers Du e t o Frau d” (CR: 12 0 ) wh i ch m o t i o n ap p aren t lyh as b een treat ed as a
n o t i ce o f ap p eal an dd o ck et ed i n th i s Co urtas Cas e No . 0 3 -1 5-0 0 4 0 0 -CV. Ap p el l ees o b

jectt o Ap p el l an ts ’ “ St at emen t o f th e Cas e” o n th e g ro u n dthat Ap p el l an t s ’ St at emen to f th e Cas e co nt ai n s a reci t at i o n o f fact s - wh i ch fact s are
s u p p ort ed b yn ei th er reco rd referen ces n o r ev i d en ce. S ee Tex as Ru l es o f Ap p el lat e Pro ced ure, Ru le 3 8
. 1 (d ) (s t at emen to f th e cas e s h o u l dd i scu s s n ature o f cas e,
co u rs e o f p ro ceed i n g s , an d tri al co u rt ’ s d i sp o s i t i o n - s h o u ld b e s u p p o rt ed b y
reco rd referen ces - s h o u l dn o td i s cu ss th e fact s ). Th es e u n s up p o rt ed fact s are d i s p u t ed an dwi l l b e fu rth er ad dres s ed i n Ap p el l ees ’ St at emen to f Fact s an di n Ap p el l ees ’ Arg u men t.

8I SSUES PRESENTED

Appel l ees ’ Cro s s -Po i nt. Ap pel l ees s h ou l d b e award ed d am ag es fo r fri v o l o u s ap p eal u nd er au th o ri t yo f Tex as Ru l es o f Ap p el l at e Pro ced u re, Ru l e 4 5
.

9STATEMENT OF FACTS

Ap p el l an t /Defen d an tM arv i n Di ers ch ke (M arv i n ) an d M arv i n ’ s fo rmer wi fe, th e l at e Carm el it a Sch wert n er Di ers ch k e (Carm el i t a), h ad fi v e ch i l d ren : Ap p el l ee/ Pl ai nt iff Ch ery l Ly n n Di ers ch k e Ap p el l ee/ Pl ai nt iff Dan a J o yDi ers ch k e Nezwek Ap p el l ee/ Pl ai nt iff Gran tSt ev en Di ers ch k e Ap p el l an t /Defen d an tBri an Di ers ch k e an d Defen d an tCh ri st yAn n Di ers ch k e (d i dn o tap p eal ). (RR3 : Pl Ex h ; Pl Ex h 6) In 1 9 7 9 M arv i n an dCarm el i t a en tered i n t o a tru stag reem en t (th e Tru s t Ag reem en t ) wh ereb yCarm el i t a (as tru st o r) tran s ferred t o M arv i n (as tru st ee) cert ai n real p ro p ert yt o b e h el dan d u s ed fo r the b en efi to f Carm el i t a an dth ei r ch i l d ren . (RR2 : 4 0; RR3 :Pl E x h 3 ; Pl Ex h 4 ) Th i s tran s fer o f real p ro pert ywas effect u at ed b ya d eed wh ereb yCarm el it a co n v ey ed th e real p ro p ert yt o tru s t ee M arv i n (th e Carm el i t a Deed ). (RR2 : 4 2 ; RR3 : Pl Ex h4 ) Th ereaft er, a g u ard i an sh i p was i n i t i at ed o n Carm el i t a’ s b eh al f (b ecau s e s h e
s u ffered fro m sch izo p h ren i a). (RR2 : 3 6 ,4 2 -4 3 ; RR3 :Pl Ex h 5 ,Pl Ex h 6 ) Carm el i t a (act in g th ro u g h h er g uard i an ) an dM arv i n were d i v orced b yd ecree d at edJ u n e 3 0 , 1 9 8 1 (th e Di v o rce Decree). (RR2 : 4 4 ; RR3 : Pl Ex h6 ) Th e Di v orce Decree ap p ro v ed
an d i n co rp o rat edan ag reem en ti n ci d en tt o d iv o rce (t he Ag reem en tIn ci d en tt o

10Di v orce) –b ywh i ch ag reem en tCarm el i t a acq u i red o wn ers h i p o f real an d p ers o n al

p ro p ert yh el di n th e Tru st , s u ch p ro p ert yt o rem ai n i n tru sti n acco rd an ce wi th th e Tru s tAg reemen t . (RR2 : 4 4 ; RR3 : Pl E x h 5 ; Pl Ex h 6 ) Ats o me p o i n t M arv i n was rem o v edo r res i g n ed fro m h i s p os i t i o n as tru s t ee. (Ap pel lan t s’ Bri ef,p .6 ; RR2 : 4 6 ; RR3 : Pl Ex h 1 ) Th e Tru s tAg reem en td es i g n at ed Cen tral Nat i on al Ban kt o s erv e as s u cces so r tru s t ee i n th e ev en tth at M arv i n
res i gn ed o r b ecam e u n ab l e t o s erv e as tru s t ee. (RR3 : Pl Ex h 3 ,p .1 0 ) Cen tral Nat i o n al Ban k was ap p o i n ted s u cces s o r tru s t ee an di tev en tual l yb ecam e W el l s Farg o Ban k
. (RR2 : 4 6 ; RR3 : Pl Ex h 1 ) Carm el i ta d i edi n M arch o f 2 0 0 9 . (RR2 :3 9 ) As a co n s eq u en ce o f h er d eat h , th e Tru s tAg reem en t req u i red th e tru s t ee t o g i v e each o f Carm el it a’ s an dM arv in ’ s fi ve ch i l d ren an eq u al s h are o f th e tru s t es t at e –th e y o u n g es tch i l d h av i n g b yth en at t ai n ed th e ag e o f 2 1 . (RR3 : Pl Ex h 3 ,Pl E x h 6 ) By a d eed wi th o u twarran t y(th e W el l s Farg o Deed ), s u cces s o r tru s t ee W el l s Farg o Ban ki n J u l y o f 2 0 0 9 co nv ey edt o each o f th e ch i l d ren an u n d i v i d ed 1 / 5 i n t eres ti n real p ro p ert yh el di n th e Tru s t . (RR2 :4 5 -5 0; RR3 : Pl E x h 1 ,Pl E x h 7 ) At l eas t so me p o rt i o n o f th is real p ro p ert ycam e i n to the Tru s taft er t h e d i v orce. (RR2 : 4 4 -4 9) In th e p ro ceed i n g b el o w, Ap p el l ees s o u g h tp art i ti o n o f th ei r u n d i v i d ed
11i n t eres t s co n v ey ed b yth e W el l s Farg o Deed . (CR: 5 ; RR2 :5 0 ;

RR3 : Pl Ex h 1 ,Pl Ex h 7 ) Th e tri al co u rtd et ermi n ed the l an d s wh i ch are s u s cep t i b l e t o p art i ti o n an dl i k ewi s e d et ermi n ed th e i n t eres ts o wn edb yAp p el l ees , b yAp p el l ees ’
s i bl i n gs (i n cl u d i n g Ap p el l an tBri an ), an db ythei r fat h er (Ap p el l an tM arv i n ). (CR: 1 1 6 ) Th e tri al co u rtap p oi n t ed co mmi s s i o n ers t o m ak e th e p art i t i o n . (CR: 1 1 6 ) In th e p art i t i on p ro ceed i n g b el o w, Ap p el l ees al s o s o u g h tan acco un t i n g t o
reco v er t hei r s h are o f th e i n co me wh i ch Ap p el l an t s h ad recei v edfro m cro p s g ro wn b yAp p el l an t s o n th e l an d s co n v ey ed b ythe W el l s Farg o Deed
. (CR: 9 ) Ap p el l an t s refu sed t o an s wer d i s co v eryreq u es t s ab o u tth e i n co me they h ad recei v ed s o th e tri al co u rts tru ckAp p el l an t s’ p l ead i n g s an do rd ered ju d g men tb y d efau ltag ai n s t Ap p el l an t s o n al l cl ai m s an d cau s es o f act io n as s ert ed b yAp pel l ees . (CR: 11 6 ,2 1 0 ; RR2 : 5 1 -5 2 ,5 8 ) In o rd er t o d et ermi ne t h e i n co me recei v ed b yAp p el l an t s fro m cro p s g ro wn b yAp p el l an t s o n th e l an d s , Ap p el l ees s u b p o en aed reco rd s fro m v ari o u s en t i t i es . (RR2 : 5 2 -5 7; RR3 : Pl Ex h 8 -1 5 ) Ap p el lees u s ed th es e reco rd s al o n g wi th es t im at es t o p rep are s p read s heet s wh i ch s u mm ari ze b o th cro p p ro ceed s an d p ro d u ct i o n
ex p en s es . (RR2 : 5 7 -7 9 ; RR3 : Pl Ex h 1 6 -2 0 ) Th e fi n an ci al es t i m at es were p ro vi d ed b yAp p el l ee Gran tSt ev en Di ers ch k e - wh o h ad farm ed th e l an ds i n th e l at e 1 9 9 0 ' s wh il e h i s fat h er an d
12b ro th er (Ap p el l an t s M arv in an d Bri an ) s erv ed p ri so n s en t en ces fo r b an kru p t cy

frau d. (RR2 : 3 5-3 8,5 8 ) Aft er Ap p el l an t s were rel eas ed fro m p ri so n , th ey p rev en t ed Ap p el l ees ’ u s e o f th e l an d s . (RR2 : 3 8 -3 9 ) Th e t o tal m o n ey s wh i ch s h o u l dh av e b een p ai db yAp p el l an t s t o Ap p el l ees t o t al ed $ 2 6 4 ,7 2 4 .1 3 . (RR2 : 7 8 -7 9 ) Th e tri al co u rto rd ered th at Ap p el l ees reco v er th ats u m fro m Ap p el lan t s . (CR: 1 1 6 ) Ap p el l ees o b

jectt o Ap p el l an ts ' “ St at emen to f Fact s ,” Ap p el l an t s’

" St at emen to f th e Cas e," an d Ap p el l an t s ’ en t i re b ri ef o n th e g ro u nd th at s uch
co n tai n s a reci t at i o n o f fact s s u p p o rt ed b yn ei th er reco rdreferen ces n o r ev i d en ce. S ee e.g . Tex as Ru l es o f Ap p el l at e Pro ced u re, Ru le 3 8.1 (d ) (s t at emen t o f th e cas e
m u stb e s u p p o rt ed b yreco rd referen ces ), Ru l e 3 8 .1 (g ) (s t at emen to f fact s m u s tb e
s u p p ort ed b yreco rd referen ces ), an dRu l e 3 8 .1 (i ) (arg u men t m u s t i ncl u d e ci t at i o n s t o the reco rd ). Ap p el l an t s ’ Bri ef co n t ai n s a ram bl i ng n arrat i v e wh ich b l en d s as s ert i o n s o f fact an das sert i o n s o f l aw an d, as a co n seq u en ce, s peci fi c d en i al s wo u ld es s en t i al l y req u i re a v erb at i m

reci t at io n o f a l arg e p o rt i o n o f s u ch b ri ef. Ex cep tt o th e ex t en t th ata facti s h erei n ex pres s lyad mi t t ed , Ap p el l ees d i s p u t e ev ery “ fact ” as s ert ed b y Ap p el l an t s . So me o f Ap p el lan t s ’ u n s up p o rt ed as s ert i o ns o f factwi l l b e fu rth er ad d res s ed i n th e Arg umen ts ect i o n o f th i s b ri ef.
13Si mi l arl y , Ap p el l ees o b j ectt o Ap p el l an t s ’ Bri ef o n th e g ro u n dth ati tm ak es referen ce t o d o cu men ts wh i ch were n ei th er o ffered n o r ad mit t ed i nt o ev i d en ce. So me s u ch d o cu men t s m ayb e th e d o cu men t s at tach ed t o Ap pel l an t s ’ " M o t i o n t o Ap p eal Du e t o Frau d " (CR: 5 5) o r th e d o cu men t s at t ach ed t o Ap p el l an ts ’ " M o t i o n t o Ap peal th e J u n e 1 6 th J u d g e's Ord ers Du e t o Frau d " (CR: 1 2 0 ) b u t, i n an yev en t , th e d o cu men t s were n o tad mit t ed i nt o ev i den ce (RR3 : Ex h i b i t sIn d ex ). So me o f th es e d o cu men t s wi l l b e fu rth er ad d res sed i n th e Arg u men ts ect i o n o f th is b ri ef.

14SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

Ap p el l an t s h av e as s ert edfact s an dreferen ced d o cu men t s wh ich are
s u p p ort ed b yn ei th er reco rd referen ces n o r ev i d en ce - fo r th e p u rp os e o f as s i g n i n g
erro r wh i ch i s n o tp res erv ed , wh i ch i s n o t es tab l is h ed b yth e reco rd , wh i ch i s n o t
s u p p ort ed b yrel ev an tau th o ri t y , an dwh i ch i s n o t s ho wn t o h av e cau sed h arm . M o reo v er, Ap pel l ees ’ cl ai m s were es t ab l i sh ed b y d efau l t . An award o f d am ag es fo r fri v o l o us ap p eal wo u l d b e es p eci al l y ap pro p ri at e i n thi s cas e b ecau se Ap p el lan t s are p ro ceed i n g p ro s e wh i le Ap p el l ees n eces s ari l y ret ai n ed an d ag reed t o co m p en sat e co u n sel t o co u n t er Ap p el l an t s ’ fri v o l o us
co m p l ai n t s . Itwo u l db e ap p ro p ri at e t o s h iftt o Ap p el l an t s th e co sto f res p o n d i n g t o Ap p el l an t s ’ fri v o l o u s ap p eal
.

15A RGUMENT J uris d icti o na l Co ns id er a ti o ns Th ere are ju ri s di ct i o nal co n s i d erat i on s . Th i s cas e h as b een d o ck et ed u n d er t wo cas e n u m

b ers , b ei n g Cas e No . 0 3 -1 5 -0 0 39 9 -CV (h erei n Cas e 3 9 9 ) an dCas e No . 0 3 -1 5 -0 0 4 0 0-CV (h erei n Cas e 4 00 ). Ap p aren t l yo n e cas e co ncern s th e d ecree
s i gn ed J u n e 1 , 2 01 5 an dthe o ther cas e co n cern s th e d ecree s i g ned o n J u n e 1 6 , 2 0 1 5 . Ap p el l an t s’ Bri ef b ears b o th cas e n u m b ers s o Ap p el l ees h av e as si gn ed b o th
cas e n u m b ers t o th i s b ri ef. Th e tri al co u rt ’ s o ri g i n al d ecree was s i gn ed o n J u n e 1 , 2 0 1 5 . (CR: 5 0 ) On J u n e 1 0, 2 0 1 5 Ap p el l an t s fi l ed a d o cu men t cap ti o ned " M o t i o n t o Ap peal Du e t o Frau d " (CR: 5 5 ) wh ich m o t i o n ap p aren t l ywas treat ed as a n o ti ce o f ap p eal . Th e
m o ti o n , ad d res s ed t o th e tri al co u rtan ds eek i n g rev ers al o f th e ju d g men t , en d s as fo l l o w s : “ W e p ray th aty o u wi l l rev i ew th es e d ocu men t s an d p os s i b l yrev ers e y o u r d eci s i o n o r g ran t u s an ap p eal wh ere we can s h o w th i s frau dt o th e ci rcu i t co u rt .” (CR: 5 6 ) On J u ne 1 6 , 2 01 5 th e tri al co u rts ig n ed a Fi rs tAmen d ed Decree wh i ch p ro v id es th atth e J u n e 1 s tDecree i s " s etas i d e an dh el d t o b e o f n o fu rth er fo rce o r effect ." (CR: 11 6 ) On J u n e 2 5 , 2 0 1 5 Ap p el l an t s fi l ed a d o cu men tcap t i o n ed

" M o t i o n t o Ap p eal th e J u n e 1 6 th J u d g e's Ord ers Du e t o Frau d " (CR: 1 2 0 ) wh i ch
16m o ti o n ap p aren t l ywas treat ed as a n ew, d i s t i n ctn o t i ce o f ap peal . Th e m o t i o n ,

ad d res s ed t o th e tri al co u rtan ds eek i ng rev ers al o f th e ju d gmen t , en d s as fo l l o ws :

“ W e p ray thatwe wi ll b e ab l e t o ap p eal thes e p o i nt s t o a h i g h er l ev el i f n o t
rev ers ed .” (CR: 1 2 2 ) Ap p aren t l y , each o f Ap p el lan t s ’ t wo m o t i on s (t o ap peal ) were tran s mi t t ed t o th e Co u rto f Ap p eal s wi th i t s o wn cl erk ’ s reco rd - th e reco rd fo r each b ei n g i d en t i cal b u tfo r the reco rd ’ s cert ifi cat i o n d at e. Ap p aren t l y , each s u ch m o t i o n was
as s i g n ed a u n i q u e ap p el lat e cas e n u m b er (Cas e 3 9 9 an dCas e 4 00 ). Th e cas es
s h are a co mm o n rep o rt er’ s reco rd
. Ho wev er, a ju dg men twh i ch i s s etas i de can n otb e ap p eal ed
. If a ju d g men ti s m o di fi ed , co rrect ed , o r refo rmed i n an yres p ect , th e t i me fo r ap p eal ru n s fro m th e co rrect i o n d at e. A s eco nd ju d gmen t b eco mes " the ju d gmen t " i n a cas e; i ti s as i f th e fi rs t ju d gmen twas n ev er en t ered
. * * * Th e p l en ary p o wer t o " v acat e" i n cl u d es s et t i ng as i d e a ju dg men t . Wh en a ju d g men th as b een s etas i d e, i ti s as i f th ere was n o ju d g men t . On ce t h e s eco n dju dg men ti s s ig n ed , th e fi rs tju d g men ti s " d ead ," an d i s n o t a fi n al ju d g men tfro m wh i ch an ap p eal can b e t ak en . W a n g v. Hs u , 8 9 9 S.W .2 d 4 0 9 , 4 1 1 (Tex .Ap p.– Ho u. [1 4 th Di st .] 1 9 9 5 , p et . d en .) (au th o ri tyo mit t ed ). Co n seq u en t l y , atl eas t o n e o f th e cas es (Cas e 3 9 9 o r Cas e 4 0 0 ) s ho u ld b e 17d i s mi s s ed fo r l acko f ju ri s d ict i o n . Becau s e Cas e 3 99 was d o ck et ed b efo re Cas e

4 0 0 (th e fo rmer b eari n g a l o wer cas e n u m b er), i ts eem s l i k el yth atCas e 3 9 9
co n cern s th e m o t i o n ch al len g i n g th e d ecree wh i ch was s etas i d e - b ei n g the J u n e 1 s td ecree. In an yev en t, an yap p eal o f th e J u n e 1 s td ecree s h o u l db e d i s mi s s ed fo r l acko f ju ri s d i ct i o n . Ad d it i on al l y , u n l es s Ap pel l an t s ’ m ot i o n s can b e d eem ed fi l ed i n a b o n a fi de at t em p tt o i n v ok e the ap p el l at e co u rt ’ s ju ri s d i ct i on , th en b o th cas es (Cas e 3 9 9 an d Cas e 4 0 0 ) s h o u l d b e d i s mi s s ed fo r l acko f ju ri s di ct i o n . S ee In th e In t eres t o f J.M. , 3 9 6 S.W .3 d5 2 8 , 5 3 0 (Tex . 2 0 1 3 ) (h y b ri dd o cu men ttreat ed as n o t i ce o f ap p eal b ecau s e mot i on s t at es th atap p el l an twan t ed t o ap p eal th e cas e t o th e co u rto f ap p eal s ); Ha mi l to n v. Bel l , 2 0 13 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 1 53 6 9 , * 3 , 2 0 1 3 W L 6 8 0 5 6 6 3 (Tex .Ap p .– Au st i n 2 0 1 3 , p et . d en .) (l ack o f ap p el l at e ju ri sd i ct i o n can n o tb e wai v ed ); Sa l a s v. S ta t e Fa r mMu t. Au to . In s . Co
. , 2 2 6 S.W .3 d6 9 2 , 6 9 5 (Tex .Ap p .– El Pas o 2 00 7 , n o p et .) (ap pel l at e co u rt wi l l i n q u i re i nt o i t s o wn ju ri s d i ct i o n ). Ap pel l a nt s ’ I s s ue As a p red i cat e t o th i s arg u men t, s ome at ten t i o n s h o ul db e g iv en t o th e
s p eci al n atu re o f a p art i t i o n act i o n . Th e J u n e 1 6 th Decree i s a fi n al , ap p eal ab l e ju d g men t- b ecau s e th e tri al co u rtth ereb yd et ermi n ed o wn ers h i p o f th e tract s , 18d et ermi n ed tract s wh ich are s u scep t i b l e t o p art i ti o n , ap p oi n ted co mmi s s i o n ers t o

m ak e th e p art i t i o n , an daward ed Ap p el l ees a m o n ey ju d g men tag ai n s tAp p el l an t s (an acco u n t i ng fo r p ro fi t s ). (CR: 1 1 6 )

Two ju d g men ts are ren d ered i n a p art i t i o n s u i t . Gr i f f i n v. W o l fe , 6 1 0 S.W .2 d4 6 6 , 4 6 6 (Tex . 1 9 8 0 ) (p er cu ri am ). Th e fi rs tju d gmen t , s o met i mes referred t o as an i n t erl o cu t ory d ecree, d et ermi n es th e i n t eres to f each o f th e jo i n to wn ers an d wh eth er t h e p ro p ert yi s s u s cep t i b le t o p art i t i o n. Tex . R. Ci v . P. 7 60 , 7 61 ; s ee a l s o Sn ow v. Do n el s o n , 2 4 2 S.W .3 d 5 7 0 , 5 7 2 (Tex . Ap p .—W aco 2 0 0 7 , n o p et .); Ca r s o n v. Ha g a ma n , 8 8 4 S.W .2 d 1 9 4 , 1 9 5 n . 1 (Tex
. Ap p.— Eas tl an d 1 9 9 4 , n o wri t ). If th e p ro p ert yi s s u s cep t i b le t o p art i t i o n, the tri al co u rtwi l l ap po i n tco mmi s s io n ers t o p art i t i o n the p ro pert yi n acco rd an ce wi th the res p ect i v e i n t eres ts o f th e jo i n to wn ers . Tex . R. Ci v . P. 7 6 1
. Th e co mmi ss i o n ers th en wi ll i s s u e a rep o rtp art i t i o n i n g th e l an d i n acco rd an ce wi th th e i n t erl o cu t o ryd ecree an dth e req u irem en ts o f Tex as Ru l e o f Ci v i l Pro ced u re 7 6 9
. Tex . R. Ci v . P. 7 6 9 . W i th i n th i rtyd ay s o f th e d at e th e co mmi s s io n ers ' rep orti s fi l ed , ei th er p art yt o th e s u i tm ay fi l e o b j ect i o n s t o th e rep ort . Tex . R. Ci v . P. 7 7 1 . Th e p art y o b

ject i n g t o th e co mmi s s io ners ' rep o rth as the b u rd en o f p ro vi ng th atth e rep o rt i s m at eri al l yerro n eo u s o r th ati t u n eq u al l yan d u n

j u s t l yp art i t i o n s th e p ro p ert y . Id.; El l i s v. Fi rs t Ci t y Na t 'lBa n k , 8 64 S.W .2 d 5 5 5 , 5 5 7 (Tex . Ap p .– Ty ler 1 99 3 , n o wri t). Th e s eco n dju d g men t , s o met i mes referred t o as th e fi n al d ecree, ap p ro v es th e rep o rt o f th e co mmi s si o n ers an dp art i t io n s th e p ro p ert y . Sn o w , 2 4 2 S.W .3 dat 5 7 2 ; Ma r mi o n v. W

el l s , 2 46 S.W .2 d7 0 4 , 7 0 5 (Tex . Ci v. Ap p .— San An t o n i o 1 9 5 2, wri tref'd ). If th e tri al co u rtfi n d s th e rep o rtt o b e " erro n eo u s i n an ym at eri al res p ect , o r u n eq u al an d u n ju st ," the tri al co u rtm

u s trejectth e rep o rtan d ap p o i n to th er co mmi s s i o n ers t o p art i t i o n th e l an d . Tex . R. Ci v . P. 7 7 1 ; s ee a l s o Sn o w , 2 4 2 S.W .3 dat 5 7 2 . Al th ou g h the fi rs tju dg men t i s o ft en ch aract eri zed as p rel i mi n ary o r i nt erl o cu t o ry , b o th ju d g men t s are fi n al fo r p u rp o s es o f ap p eal
. Ma r mi o n , 2 4 6 S.W .2 dat7 0 5
. M at t ers d eci d ed i n th e i n t erl o cu t ory d ecree can n o tb e rev i ewed i n an ap peal fro m th e 19fi nal d ecree. Id
.

Ji mmi e Lu ecke Ch il d ren Pa r tn ers h i p , Ltd. v. Pr u n cu t

z , 2 01 3 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 1 0 3 6 2 , * 6 -8 , 2 0 1 3 WL 4 4 8 75 4 1 (Tex .Ap p .– Au s t i n 2 0 1 3, n o p et .); s ee Mi n u s v. Doyl e , 1 7 0 S.W .2 d 2 2 0 , 2 2 4 (Tex . 1 9 4 3 ) (h o l d i n g th ata co t en an t's act i o n fo r
acco u n t in g i s i n cl u d ed i n th e eq u i t i es wh i ch s h o u l db e tri ed wi th th e p art it i o n act i on ); Sa d l er

v. Du va ll , 8 1 5 S.W .2 d2 8 5 , 2 8 9 (Tex .Ap p . – T ex ark an a 1 99 1 , p et . d en . ) (an acco u n t i n g i s an i n ci d en to f a p art i t io n s u i t ). Ap p el l an t s ’ o n l yi s s u e rai s es ev i d en t i ary co m p l ai n t s, t o -wi t : “ Di d th e tri al
co u rterr b yal l o wi n g fo rg ery , p erju ryan dfal s e d ocu men t s i nt o th e tri al ? ” (Ap pel lan t s’ Bri ef,p .8 ) Ap p el l an t s s p eci fi cal l y co m p l ai n (Ap p el l an t s ’ Bri ef,p .9 ) th atth e fo l l o wi n g “ are fal s e o r fo rg ed ”: th e Bees l ey Affi dav i t(RR3 : Pl Ex h 1); the Carm el i t a Deed (RR3 : Pl Ex h 4 ); th e Ag reemen tIn ci d en tt o Di v o rce (RR3 :Pl Ex h 5 ); th e Di v o rce Decree (RR3 :Pl Ex h 6 ); an d , th e W el l s Farg o Deed (RR3 : Pl Ex h 7 ). Ho wev er, Ap p el l an t s fai l ed t o p res erv e thei r ev i d en ti ary co m p l ai n t s. In d eed , Ap p el l an t s wai v ed co m

pl ai n t- b ecau s e th eyfai led t o o b jectwh en th e d ocu men t s
were o ffered i nt o ev i d en ce. Ap p el l an t s were p res en t d u ri n g th e tri al . (RR2 : 2 ). Ho wev er, th ey d i dn o t
o b jectwh en th e d o cu men ts were o ffered i nt o ev i d en ce. (RR2 : 6 , 4 2 -4 4,5 0 ). In fact , d u ri n g th e co u rs e o f th e tri al Ap p el l an t s n ev er s p o k e. (RR2 )
20A p art ym ay cl ai m erro r i n a ru li n g t o ad mi t ev i d en ce o nl yi f th e p art y t i mel y an d s peci fi cal lyo b ject s o r m o v es t o s tri k e. (a) Pres erv in g a Cl ai m

o f Erro r. --A p art ym ay cl ai m erro r i n a ru l i n g t o ad mi to r ex cl ud e ev i d en ce o n l yi f th e erro r affect s a s u b s t an ti al ri gh t o f th e p art yan d : (1 ) i f th e ru l i n g ad mit s ev i d en ce, a p art y , o n th e reco rd :

(A) t i mel yo bject s o r mo v es t o s tri k e; an d (B) s t at es th e s p eci fi c g ro un d , u n l es s i twas ap p aren tfro m

th e co n t ex t. . . . * * * Tex as Ru l es o f Ev i den ce, Ru le 1 0 3 (a); s ee a l s o Tex as Ru l es o f Ap p el l at e Pro ced ure, Ru le 3 3
. 1 (as p rereq u i s i t e t o p res en ti n g co m pl ai ntfo r ap p el l at e
rev i ew, th e reco rd m

u sts h ow th atth e co m

p l ai n twas m ad e b ya t i mel ym o t i o n req u es t , o b

ject i o n , o r m o t i o n th ats t at es g ro u n d s fo r ru li n g wi th s u ffi ci en t
s p eci fi ci t yan dwh i ch co m p l i es wi th the req u irem en t o f th e Tex as Ru l es o f Ev i d en ce an d, ad d i t i o n al l y , th e reco rd m us ts h ow th atth e co u rtru l ed o r refu s ed t o
ru l e o n s ame). A p art yo p p o s in g the ad mi s s i o n o f ev i d en ce mu s ts p eci fi cal l y o b jectatthe t i me i ti s o ffered t o l ay a p red i cat e fo r ap p el l at e rev i ew o f th e tri al co u rt 's act i o n . Ma r s h a llv. Ma ha

f f ey , 9 7 4 S.W .2 d9 4 2 , 9 50 (Tex .Ap p .– Beau mo n t1 9 9 8 , p et . d en . ). An o b

ject i o n t o th e i n tro d u ct io n o f th e ev i den ce i f n o tt i mel ym ad e i s

21wai v ed
. Id
. ; s ee Texa s Dep 't o f Pu b . Sa f et y v. Th o ma s , 1 9 9 9 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 2 5 0 0 , * 7 (Tex .Ap p .– Ho u . [1 4 th Di s t .] 1 9 99 , n o p et .) (an o b ject i on i s g en eral l yn ot t i mel y if m ad e aft er t h e ev i den ce h as b een ad mi tt ed ). Ap p el l an t s ’ ev i d en t i aryco m p lai n t s were wai v ed b ecau s e th e ch al l en g ed
ev i d en ce was ad mi t t edwi th o uto b j ect i on . S ee Ma rs h al l , 9 7 4 S.W .2 dat9 5 0 (an
o b ject i on m ad e aft er t h e ev id en ce h as b een ad mi t t ed i s t o o l at e); cf . Bi g ga r v. Pa lmer , 2 0 0 3 Tex . Ap p. LEXIS 8 8 9 2 , * 27 , 2 0 0 3 WL2 23 6 1 0 6 8 (Tex .Ap p .– El Pas o 20 0 3 , n o p et .) (th ere i s n o ju d i ci al l yeffi ci en t wayt o cu re a co m p l ai n t reg ard i n g th e ad mi s s io n o f ev i d en ce, wh en th e co m p l ai n ti s rai s ed fo r th e fi rs tt i me aft er ju d g men th as b een ren d ered ). Fu rtherm o re, Ap p el l an t s’ cl ai m s o f fo rg ery , p erju ryan dfal s e d o cu men t s
co n st i tu t e affi rm at i v e d efen s es wh i ch are n o ts u p po rt ed b yth e p l ead i n g s . Affi rm at i v e d efen s es are wai v ed i f n o tp l ead ed
. S ee Tex . R. Ci v . P. 9 4 (i n p l ead i n g t o a p reced i n g p l ead i ng , a p art ys h al l s etfo rth affi rm at iv el yfrau d , i l l eg al i ty , an d
an yo th er m at t er co n s t itu t i n g an av o i d an ce o r affi rm at i v e d efen s e); Br a z o s Ri ver Au th or i t y v. Gra h a m , 3 5 4 S.W .2 d9 9 , 1 11 (Tex . 1 9 6 1 ) (affi rm at i v e d efen s e i s wai v ed i f n o tp l ead ed ); Oi l wel lDi v., Un i t ed S ta t es S t eelCo r

p . v. Fr yer , 4 9 3 S.W .2 d 4 8 7 , 4 9 0 (Tex . 1 9 7 3) (frau di s an affi rm at i v e d efen se); W i ll i a ms v. W

a l ker , 2 0 0 4 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 3 0 3 4 , * 1 1 , 2 0 0 4 W L6 9 1 6 3 7 (Tex .Ap p.–W aco 2 0 0 4 , p et . 22d en . ) (fo rg eryi s an affi rm at i v e d efen s e).

In th i s reg ard , th e tri al co u rts tru ckAp p el lan t s’ p l ead i n gs an d g ran t ed ju d g men tb yd efau ltag ai n s tth em o n al l o f th e cl ai m s an dcau s es o f act i o n as s ert ed b yAp p el l ees . (CR1 1 6 ) Ap p el l an t s h av e n o t as si g n ederro r t o ei th er t h e s tri k i n g o f p l ead i n g s o r th e en tryo f d efau l t . Th ei r b ri ef m ak es n o referen ce t o ei th er t h e
s tri k i n g o f p l ead i n g s o r th e en try o f d efau lt
. Becau s e Ap p el l an t s’ p l ead i n g s were s tru ck , Ap p el l an t s h adn o p l ead i n g an d
co n seq u en t l ycan n o ti n th i s Co u rtrel yo n affi rm at i v e d efen ses . S ee Pet ro . S o l u t i o n s , In c. v. Hea d , 4 5 4 S.W .3 d4 8 2 , 4 9 0 n .7 (Tex . 2 01 4 ) (b ecau s e th e tri al
co u rts tru ck th e d efen s e b efo re tri al , ev en i f th e co u rtd i ds o erro n eo u sl y , i two ul d b e i m p ro p er t o ren d er ju d g men to n l i mi t at i o ns g ro un d s o n ap p eal o f th e fi n al ju d g men t ); Do wn er

v. Aq u a ma r i n e Op era tors , In c. , 7 0 1 S.W .2 d 2 3 8, 2 4 3 (Tex
. 1 9 8 5 ) (an s wer h ad b een s tru ckan dd efau l tju d g men tren d ered as t o l i ab i l it y- th u s d efen d an th ad n o p l ead i n g t o s u p p ortth e affi rm at iv e d efen s e o f co n tri b u t o ry
n eg li g en ce); cf

. As s o ci a t ed Tel . Di rect o r y Pu b l i sh ers , In c. v. Fi ve D's Pu bl i s h i n g Co
. , 8 4 9 S.W .2 d8 9 4 , 8 9 9 (Tex .Ap p.– Au s ti n 1 9 9 3 , n o p et .) (b ecau se ATD fai l ed t o p l ead th e affi rm at i v e d efen s e o f frau d , i tm ay n o t rai s e th e d efen s e o n ap p eal ). M o reo v er, Ap pel l an ts ’ co m p l ai n t s ab o u t the Di v o rce Decree, t h e Ag reem en t In ci d en tt o Di v o rce, an dth e Carm el i t a Deed co n st i tu t e an i m p ermi s s i b le co l l at eral
23at t acko n a ju d g men t . As wi th o th er fi n al , u n ap p eal ed ju d g men t s wh ich are reg u l ar o n th ei r face, d i v o rce d ecrees an dju d g men t s are n o tv ul nerab l e t o co l l at eral at t ack . Th e d ecree mu s tb e v o i d , n o t v oi d ab l e, fo r a co l l at eral at t ackt o b e p ermi t ted . Erro rs o th er t h an l ack o f ju ri s di ct i o n o v er t he p art ies o r th e s u b jectm att er ren d er the ju d g men t v o i d ab l e an dm ay b e co rrect ed o n l yth ro u g h a d irectap p eal
. Ha g en v. Ha g en , 2 82 S.W .3 d8 9 9 , 9 0 2 (Tex . 2 0 0 9 ) (au th o ri tyo mi tt ed ). Ap p el l an t s fai l ed t o reb utth e p res u m p t i o n o f the Di v o rce Decree’ s v al i d i ty . S ee PNSS to res , In c. v. Ri vera , 3 7 9 S.W
. 3 d 2 6 7 , 2 7 3 (Tex . 2 0 1 2 ) (wh en at t ack ed
co l l at eral l y , a ju dg men t i s p res u med v al i d ). Th e Di v o rce Decree ap pro v ed an d i n co rp o rat edthe Ag reemen t In ci d en tt o Di v o rce, wh i ch ag reem en taward ed Carm el i t a as s et s h el di n th e Tru s t - s u ch as s et s h av i n g b een p l aced i n tru s tb yth e Carm el i t a Deed . (RR2 : 4 4 ; RR3 : Pl Ex h 5 ; Pl Ex h 6 ) Th u s , n ei th er t h e Di v o rce Decree
n o r th es e d o cu men t s u po n wh ich i trel i es can b e co l lat eral l y at t ack ed
. Ap p el l an t s co m

pl ai n th atthe Ag reem en tIn ci d en t t o Di v o rce was s i g n ed b y J o h n Sch wart z as Carm el i t a’ s g u ard i an . Th ey arg u e th atSch w art z can ’ ts i g n fo r Carm el i t a b ecau s e (i ti s fu rth er arg u ed ) Carm el i t a was n ev er ad ju dg ed i n cap aci t at ed . Ap p el l an t s co n cl u d e th atSch w art z as a co n s eq u en ce fo rg edth e Ag reem en tIn ci d en t t o Di vo rce. Ho wev er, th i s arg u men tat b es trai s es an i s s u e ab o u tSch wart z’ cap aci t y-

24wh i ch i s su e h ad t o b e ch al l en g edd u ri n g th e d i v o rce p ro ceed i n g . See Jo y v. Jo y ,

1 5 6 S.W .2 d5 4 7 , 5 5 0 (Tex .Ci v .Ap p.– Eas t l an d1 9 41 , wri tref’ d w.o .m .) (i n th e ab s en ce o f a p l ead i n g ch al len g i n g cap aci t y , th ere was n o i s s ue b efo re t h e co u rtas t o the g u ard i an 's l eg al cap aci t yt o s u e an d reco v er i n h er cap aci t yas g u ard ian ). M o reo v er, th e co m

pl ai n tab o u t Sch wart z’ cap aci t ywas wai v ed i n the
u n d erl y i n g p art i t i o n p ro ceed in g b ecau se Ap p el l an t s fai l ed t o o b jectt o t es t i m o n y ab o utth e g u ard ian s h i p . S ee Tex as Ru l es o f Ev i d en ce, Ru le 1 0 3 (a). Th e ev id en ce
es t ab l i s h edth atth e g u ard i an sh i p was i n i t i at ed o n Carm el i t a’ s b eh al f b ecau s e s h e
s u ffered fro m sch izo p h ren i a. (RR2 : 3 6 ,4 2 -4 3; RR3 : Pl Ex h 5 ,Pl Ex h 6 ) In d eed , ato n e p o i n ti n th ei r b ri ef Ap pel l an t s ad mi tthata g u ard i an s h i p was “ p uti n p l ace” fo r Carm el i t a. (Ap p el l an t s ’ Bri ef,p .5 ) As i d e fro m

th e co l l at eral n atu re o f th e at t ack , Ap pel l an tM arv i n i n v it ed th e tri al co u rtt o en t er t he Di vo rce Decree an das a co n seq u en ce h e can no t n o w at t ack ei th er t h e d ecree o r th e d o cu men t s u p o n wh i ch i t rel i es . In thi s reg ard , M arv i n ’ s
co u ns el s i g n ed th e d ecree b el o w th e n o t at i o n “ Ap p ro v ed ,” s u ch ap p ro v al n o tb ei n g l i mi ted i n s co p e. (CR: 6 0 -6 1) Si mi l arl y , M arv i n h i m s el f s i gn ed th e Ag reem en t In ci d en tt o Di v o rce - wh i ch ag reem en tas k ed th e tri al co u rtt o ap p ro v e an d i n co rp o rat e th e ag reem en ti n to a d i v o rce d ecree. (CR: 4 5 ) Th us , M arv in can n o t
n o w at t ackth e d ecree an dth e rel at ed d ocu men t s . S ee S i n cer el y Y o u rs , L.P. v. NCI
25Bl d

g . S ys ., L.P. , 2 0 11 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 9 3 1 , * 4 -5 , 2 0 1 1 WL 4 4 6 1 8 8 (Tex .Ap p .– Am ari l l o 2 0 11 , p et . d en .) (h av i n g i n v i ted en tryo f ju d g men t b y ap p ro v i n g s u ch as t o fo rm an ds u b st an ce, ap p el l an t m ay n o tat t ackth e ju d g men t ). M arv i n ’ s s o n , Ap p el l an tBri an , h as n o t s ho wn thatBri an h ad an yi n teres ti n th e p ro p ert yaward ed b ythe Di v o rce Decree an d th u s h as n ots h own th at h e h as
s t an d i n g t o at t acks u ch d ecree’ s award o f p ro p ert yt o Carm el it a. Cf . Devj i v. Kel l er , 2 0 0 3 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 6 3 2 2 , * 11 , 2 00 3 WL 2 17 0 5 8 2 9 (Tex .Ap p .– Au s ti n 2 0 0 3 , n o p et .) (b ecau s e ap p el l an ti s a g u aran to r o f th e d eb tan d h as n o tp ai d th at d eb t, h e l ack ed s t an d i n g t o s u e fo r an yrel i ef co n cern i ng th at d eb t ). M o reo v er, th ere i s n o ev i d en ce th atBri an wo u l d h av e acq u i red an yi n t eres ti n th e l an d s wh i ch are t h e s u b

jecto f th e p art i t i o n act i o n - were i tn o tfo r h is i n t eres ti n th e Tru s t . Ap p el l an t s d i s cu s s a n u m b er o f d o cu men t s wh i ch were n ei th er o ffered n o r ad mi t t ed i n t o ev i d en ce. So me s u ch d o cu men t s m ay b e th e d o cu men t s at t ach ed t o Ap p el l an t s ’ " M o t io n t o Ap p eal Du e t o Frau d " (CR: 5 5 ) o r th e d o cu men ts at t ach ed t o the " M o t i on t o Ap p eal the J un e 1 6 th J u d g e's Ord ers Du e t o Frau d" (CR: 1 2 0 ) b u t- i n an yev en t - th e d o cu men t s were n o tad mi t ted i n t o ev i d en ce (RR3 : Ex h i bi ts In d ex ) As a g en eral ru l e, d ocu men t s n o tad mi tt ed i n t o ev i d en ce are n otco n s i d ered
26b yan ap p el l at e co u rt . M o n s a n to Co . v. Da vi s , 2 5 S.W .3 d7 7 3 , 7 8 1 (Tex .Ap p .–W aco 2 0 00 , p et . d i s m ’ d ). Th e d o cu men t s wh i ch are d is cu s s ed b y Ap p el l an t s b u t n o tad mi t ted i n t o ev i d en ce ap p ear t o b e real p ro p ert y co nv ey an ces - s u ch as d eed s an dd eed s o f tru s t . S ee e.g . Ap p el l an t s ’ Bri ef, p p .4 -7 ,1 0 . Ho wev er, th e Carm el i t a Deed an d th e W el l s Farg o Deed are t h e o n lyco n v ey an ces ad mi t t ed i n t o ev i d en ce. (RR3 : E x h ib it s In d ex ) Ap p el l an t s ’ Bri ef co n t ai n s rep eat ed referen ces t o th e t erm “ Su peri o r Ti t l e.” Th e mean i ng an drel ev an ce o f th e referen ces are n o tcl ear. Th e referen ces s eem t o d ep en do n d o cu men t s n o tad mit t ed i n t o ev i d en ce. S ee Ap p el l an t s ’ Bri ef,p p . 1 0 -1 1
. Ap p el l an t s ’ Bri ef co n t ai n s a reci t at i o n o f fact s wh i ch are s u p p ort ed b y
n ei th er reco rd referen ces n o r ev i d en ce - wi th n o effo rtt o d em on s trat e rel ev an ce. Fo r ex am p le, al l eg at i o n s ab o u ta d eed m ad e i n 2 0 0 3 b yGran t Di ers ch k e. Oth er
ex am p l es i n cl u d e ram

bl in g al l eg at i o n s ab o u t Ott o Di ers ch k e, An n ie Di ers ch k e, Cu rtSt ei b , Geo rg e Fi n l ey , J ames Cart er, Geral dRat l i ff, J o h n Su t t o n , St ev e Ho l t , Les t er Ock er, J o h n Hay , J r., Ch arl es W i t ten b u rg , Cy n th i a Cal d wel l , Larry Bal e,
an d Larry Bal e’ s rel at i v es . Th es e u n s u p p o rt ed al l eg at i o n s d o n o t es t ab l i sh erro r. S ee e.g . Tex as Ru l es o f Ap p el l at e Pro ced u re, Ru le 3 8.1 (d ) (s t at emen t o f th e cas e
m u stb e s u p p o rt ed b yreco rd referen ces ), Ru l e 3 8 .1 (g ) (s t at emen to f fact s m u s tb e
s u p p ort ed b yreco rd referen ces ), an dRu l e 3 8 .1 (i ) (arg u men t m u s t i ncl u d e ci t at i o n s 27t o the reco rd ).

Fo r ex am pl e, Ap p el l an t s al l eg e wi th o u treco rd referen ce t h at Cart er t al k ed M arv i n i n t o p u t ti n g a tracto f l an di n t o a tru st“ s o i two u l db e b uri ed an d n ot fo u n d.” (Ap p el l an t s ’ Bri ef,p .9 ) Th ere i s n o ev i d en ce t o s u p p ortth i s al l eg at io n . Ad d it i on al l y , Ap p el l an t s h av e n o td em o ns trat edth atth ey were h arm ed b y
an yad mi s s i o n o f ev id en ce. An ap p el l an th as th e b u rd en t o p ro ve t hatth e ap p el l an t
was h armed b yan erro n eo u s ad mis s io n o f ev i d en ce. S ee T ex as Ru les o f Ap p el l at e Pro ced ure, Ru le 4 4
. 1 (a) (n o ju d g men ts hal l b e rev ers ed o n ap p eal u n les s erro r p ro b ab l ycau s ed the ren d it i on o f an i m p ro p er ju d g men to r p ro bab l yp rev en t ed p ro p er p res en t at i o n o f cas e o n ap p eal ); In th e In ter es t o f M.S
. , 1 1 5 S.W .3 d5 3 4 , 5 3 8 (Tex . 2 0 03 ) (i t was ap p el l an t ’ s b u rd en t o s h o w th ats h e was p reju d i ced b yth e
erro neo u s l yad mi t t edo rd ers ). Ev en i f s o me o f th e co m

p l ai n ed -o f ev i d en ce h ad b een erro n eo u s l yad mi t t ed , i t w o u ld b e p res u med th atth e tri al co u rtd i sreg ard ed s u ch ev i d en ce. Iti s a ru l e o f l o n g s t an d i n g th attri al ju dg es are p res u med t o d i s reg ard ev i d en ce wh i ch i s
n o n p ro b at i v e, p reju d i ci al o r o th erwi s e u n fi t . Raymo n d v. Aq ua r i u s Co n domi n i u m Own ers As s n ., 6 6 2 S.W .2 d 8 2 , 9 2 (Tex .Ap p .– Co rp u s Ch ri st i 1 9 83 , n o wri t ). Th erefo re, ev en i f th ere was erro r, i twas h arml es s . S ee i d
. M o reo v er, Ap pel l an ts h av e n o ti d en t ifi ed an i s su e o n wh i ch Ap p el l an t s 28were ad vers el yaffect ed b y an i m p ro p er ad mi s si on o f ev id en ce. Ap p el l an t s h av e
n o tas s i g n ed erro r t o th e m o n ey ju d g men t . Ap p el l an t s l i k ewi s e h av e n o tas s i g n ed
erro r t o th e d et ermi nat i o n th at l an d s are s u bjectt o p art i t i o n . Th u s , an yerro r i n th e ad mi s s i o n o f ev i d en ce o n thes e i s s u es wo u l d b e h arml es s. Si mi l arl y , Ap p el l an t s h av e n o tas s i g n ed erro r t o th e tri al co u rt ’ s d et ermi n at i o n o f o wn ers h i p i n th e l an d s . See Tex . R. Ci v . P. 7 6 0 (u p o n th e h eari n g
o f th e cau s e, the co urt s hal l d et ermi n e th e s hare o r i n teres to f each o f th e jo i n t
o wn ers o r cl ai m an ts i n th e real es t at e s o u g h tt o b e d i v i d ed ). Ap pel l an t s m ak e n o effo rtt o d em o n s trat e h o w th e o wn ers hi p wo u l dh av e d i ffered - h ad th e co m p l ai n ed
o f ev i d en ce b een d is reg ard ed
. Ev en m ore s ig ni fi can t l y , o w n ers h i p o f s u ch l an d s was n o ta co n t es t ed i s s u e. As was n o t ed , th e tri al co u rts tru ckAp p el l an t s ' p lead i ng s an dg ran t edju d gmen tb y d efau l tag ai n s t th em o n al l o f th e cl ai m s an dcau s es o f act i o n as s ert edb y Ap p el l ees . (CR1 1 6 ) Ap p el l an t s h av e n o tas s i g n ed erro r t o th e s tri k i n g o f p l ead i n g s
o r t o th e en tryo f d efau l t . As a co n s eq u en ce o f th e d efau l t , th e o wn ers h i p i nt eres t s p l ead ed b y Ap p el l ees were es t ab l i s hed as a m at t er o f l aw. Cf . S t ei n b rech er v. S tei n brech er , 2 0 0 3 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 4 7 1 2 , * 6 , 2 0 0 3 WL 2 1 2 8 2 7 6 7 (Tex .Ap p .– Au s t i n 2 0 0 3 , p et . d en . ) (b ecau s e d efau l t ju d g men twas ren d ered i n p art i t i o n act i o n, the p l ead ed
29fact s an dl i ab i l i t yare d eem edad mi t t ed ), cer t. den . , 5 4 1 U.S. 9 5 9 (2 0 0 4).

Th e o wn ers h i p wh i ch was p l ead ed i s th e s ame o wn ers h i p wh i ch was ad ju d i cat ed . (CR: 7-8 ,1 1 6 -1 1 7 ; RR3 : Pl Ex h .1 ) Becau se s u ch o wn ers h i p was
es t ab l i s h edas a m at t er o f l aw, an yerro r i n th e ad mi s s i o n o f ev i d en ce o n s u ch i s s u e
wo u l db e h arml es s. Si mi l arl y , as a co n s eq uen ce o f th e d efau lt- l i ab i l i tyo n th e acco u nt i n g (fai l u re t o p ay Ap p el l ees th ei r s h are o f i n co me) was es t ab li s hed as a m at t er o f l aw. (CR: 9 -1 0 ) Fo r th i s ad di ti o n al reas o n , an yerro r i n th e ad mi ss i o n o f ev i d en ce o n
s u ch is s u e wo u l db e h arml es s . Ap p el l an t s fai l ed t o ci t e au th o ri t y rel ev an t t o ei ther o v erco mi n g en tryo f d efau l to r o th erwi s e es t ab l i s h i n g h armfu l erro r. As a co n s eq uen ce, co m p lai n ti s wai v ed
. Th e fai lu re t o ad eq u at el yb ri ef an i s s u e b yfai l i ng t o s p eci fi cal l yarg u e an d
an al y ze o n e's p o s i t io n wai v es an yerro r o n ap peal
. McCu l lo u g h v. S ca rb ro u g h , Med l i n & As s o cs ., 4 3 5 S.W .3 d8 7 1 , 9 1 1 -9 12 (Tex .Ap p . – Dal l as 2 0 14 , p et . d en .);
s ee TRAP 3 8.1 (i ) (b ri ef mu stco n tai n arg u men tfo r co n t en t i on s m ad e, wi th ci t at i o n t o au th o ri t i es ). Ap p el l ees ’ Cro s s -Po int By cro s s -p o i nt , Ap pel l ees s eek an award o f d am ag es fo r fri vo l ou s ap p eal
. Th e ap p l icab l e ru l e p ro v i d es as fo l l o ws : 30If th e co u rto f ap p eal s d et ermi nes th atan ap p eal i s fri vo l ou s , i t

m ay - o n m o t i o n o f an yp art y o r o n i ts o wn i n i ti at i v e, aft er n o t i ce an d a reas o n ab l e o p p ort u n it yfo r res p on s e - award each p rev ai l i n g p art y ju s td am ag es . In d et ermi n i n g wh eth er t o award d am ag es , th e co u rt m u s tn otco n s id er an y m at t er th atd o es n o tap pear i n th e reco rd , b ri efs , o r o th er p ap ers fi l ed i n th e co u rto f ap p eal s . Tex as Ru l es o f Ap p el l at e Pro ced u re, Ru l e 4 5
. Im p o s i t i o n o f Ru le 4 5 s an ct i o n s i s wi th i n th e co u rt 's d i s cret i o n . Cra n b er g v. W i l s o n , 2 0 04 Tex . Ap p. LEXIS 6 5 6 , * 8, 2 0 0 4 WL 1 0 1 7 9 4 (Tex .Ap p .– A u s t i n 2 0 0 4 , n o p et .). An ap p el l an t pro ceed i n g p ro s e i s h el dt o th e s ame s t an d ard s as l i cen sed at t o rn ey s . Id
. To d et ermi n e i f an ap p eal i s fri v o l o u s , th e co u rtap p li es an o b ject i v e t es t , rev i ews th e reco rd fro m

the ap p el l an t ' s p o i nto f v i ew, an dd eci d es wh eth er th e ap p el l an th ad reas o nab l e g ro u n d s t o b el i ev e th e ju dg men t co u l db e rev ers ed
. Twen t y Fi r s t Cen t u r y Ho ld in g s , In c. v. Preci s i o n Geo th er ma lDr i l l i n g , In c. , 2 0 1 5 Tex
. Ap p . LEXIS 4 0 4 6 , * 2 0 (Tex
. Ap p .– Au s ti n ), j u dg men t va ca t ed by a g reemen t - o p i n i o n n o t

wi th d r a wn , 2 0 1 5 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 9 1 5 4 (Tex .Ap p .– Au s t i n 2 0 1 5 ). A s h o wi n g o f b adfai th i s n o tn eces s ary t o i m p o s e s an ct i o ns u n d er ru l e 4 5
. Cra n b er g , 2 0 0 4 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 6 5 6 , * 7
. Here, Ap p el l an t s h ad n o reas o nab l e g ro u nd s t o b el i ev e th e ju d g men tco u l d b e rev ers ed . As was d em o n s trat ed , Ap p el l an t s h av e fi led a b ri ef wh ich

31d em o n s trat es n ei th er p res erv at i o n , n o r erro r, n o r h arm . Ap p el l an ts rel yo n

as s ert i o n s o f factwh ich are s u pp o rt ed b yn ei ther reco rd referen ces n o r ev i den ce. Ap p el l an t s rel yo n d o cu men t s wh i ch were n otad mi t t ed i n to ev i d en ce. Ap pel l an t s d o n ’ tev en men t i o n th e fact th atth e tri al ju d g e h ads tru ckth ei r p l ead i n g s an d
o rd ered ju d g men tb yd efau l t . Ap p el l an t s’ ap p eal i s fri v ol o u s . S ee No r ton v. Deer Cr eek Pro

p . Own ers As s 'n , 2 0 10 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 5 8 9 5 , * 2 8 , 2 0 1 0 WL 2 8 6 7 3 7 5 (Tex .Ap p .– Au st i n 2 0 1 0 , n o p et .) (a p o o rl ywri t t en b ri ef rai s i n g n o arg u ab l e p o i n t s
o f erro r i s a ci rcu m s t an ce t h att en d s t o i n d i cat e th atan ap p eal i s fri vo l o u s ). In d et ermin i n g wh eth er t o award d am ag es fo r a fri v o lo u s ap p eal , the Co u rt
can co n s i d er t h e fact th atAp p el l an t s d is reg ard edco u rtru l es an dco u rto rd ers i n th e tri al co urt . S ee Dea n er v. Ma rch es e , 2 00 4 Tex . Ap p . LEXIS 9 1 5, * 5 , 2 0 0 4 WL 1 7 7 4 8 0 (Tex .Ap p .– Fo rt W ort h 2 0 0 4 , n o p et .) (i n award i n g Ru l e 4 5 d am ag es , co urt
co n si d ered ap p el l an t ’ s p at t ern o f v ex at i o us l i t i gat i o n i n b o th th e ap p el lat e p ro ceed in g an dp ri or act i o n s ). As was n o ted , Ap p el l an t s h ad refu s ed t o an s wer d i s co v ery req u es t s ab o u tth e i n co me th ey h ad recei v ed(rel ev an t t o th e acco u n t i ng cl ai m) s o th e tri al co urts tru ckAp p el l an t s' p l ead in g s an d o rd ered ju d g men tb y d efau l tag ai n s t Ap p el l an t s o n al l cl ai m s an dcau s es o f act i o n as s ert ed b y Ap p el l ees . (CR: 1 1 6 ,2 1 0 ; RR2 : 5 1 -5 2 ,5 8 ) In d et ermin i n g wh eth er t o award d am ag es fo r a fri v o lo u s ap p eal , the Co u rt
32can al s o co n s i d er t h e factth atAp p el l an t s are p ro ceed i n g p ro s e wh il e Ap p el l ees

n eces s ari l yh ad t o ret ai n co un s el . Itt ak es l i t t l e effo rtt o s h o t g u n a m u l t i tu d e o f
co m p l ai n t s n ots u p p o rt ed b y th e reco rd . Ho wev er, fo rm u l at i n g a mean i ng fu l
res p o n s e req u i res t ime an d ex p ert i s e. Th u s , i t wo u l db e ap p ro pri at e t o s h iftth e co s t o f Ap p el l ees ’ res p o n s e (ap p el l at e at to rn ey fees ) t o Ap p el l an t s . As o n e co u rto b s erv ed :

W e wi l l n o tp ermits p u ri o u s ap p eal s, wh i ch u n n eces s ari l y b u rd en p art i es an do ur al read ycro wd ed d o ck et , t o g o u np u n i s h ed
. Su ch ap p eal s t ak e th e co u rt 's at t en t i o n fro m ap p eal s fi l edi n g o o d fai th , was t i n g co u rtt i me th atco ul dan d s ho u l db e d ev o t ed t o th o se ap p eal s . No l i t ig a n t

h a s th e r i gh t

to p u t a p a r t y to n eed l es s b u r

den a n d exp en s e o r t o was t e a co urt 's t i me thatwo u ld o th erwi s e b e s p en t o n th e s acred t as ko f ad

ju d i cat i n g th e v al i d d i s p u t es o f Tex as ci t i zen s . Owen v. Ji m Al l ee Imp s ., In c. , 3 8 0 S.W .3 d2 7 6 , 2 9 1 (Tex .Ap p .– Dal l as 2 0 1 2 , n o p et .) (em p h as i s ad d ed ). In res p o n d i ng t o Ap p el l an t s ’ ap p eal , Ap p el lees i n cu rred at t orn ey ’ s fees i n th e am o un to f $ 6,0 1 2 . Th i s i s a reas o n ab l e fee fo r s erv ices n eces s ari l y ren d ered
. ( See Affi d av i ti n Su p p o rto f Trap 4 5 Dam ag es fo r Fri vo l ou s Ap p eal , at tach ed h eret o as Ex h i b i tA). M o reo v er, " [w] h en at t orn ey 's fees are as s es s ed as s an ct i o n s , n o p ro of o f n eces si t yo r reas o n ab l en es s i s req u i red ." Mi l l er v. Ar mo g i d a , 8 7 7 S.W .2 d 3 6 1 , 3 6 5 (Tex .Ap p .– Ho u . [1 s tDi s t.] 1 9 9 4 , wri td en . ); s ee JNSEn t er., In c. v. Di xi e Demo l i t i o n , LLC, 4 3 0 S.W
. 3 d4 4 4 , 4 5 9 (Tex
. Ap p .– Au s t i n 2 0 1 3 , n o p et .)
33(the g en eral ru l es fo r reco v ery o f an award o f at t o rn ey ' s fees d o n o tap p lyt o

at t o rn ey fees award ed as s an ct io n s ).

34PRAYER

Ap p el l ees p ray : 1 . Th at th e ap p eal b e d i smi s s ed o r, al t ern at i v el y , th at the ju d g men t b e i n al l
m at t ers affi rmed
. 2 . Th at Ap p el l ees b e award ed ju s td am ag es fo r Ap p el l an t s ’ fri vo l o u s ap p eal
. 3 . Th at Ap p el l ees reco v er th ei r co s ts . 4 . Th at Ap p el l ees h av e s u ch o th er rel i ef as t o wh i ch th ey h av e s h o wn th em s el v es
en t i t l ed
. Res p ect fu l lys u b mi t t ed ,

J AM ES DAVID WALKER P. O. Bo x 4 1 M il an o , Tex as 7 65 5 6 SBOT 2 0 7 0 6 0 00 Ph o n e: (5 1 2) 6 3 6 -9 5 2 0 Em ai l : wal k er@ 2 ap p eal .co m COUNSEL FOR APPELLEES, CHERYL LYNN DIERSCHKE, DANA J OY DIERSCHKE NEZWEK, AND GRANT STEVEN DIERSCHKE

35CERTI FI CATE OF W ORD COUNT

I cert i fy th atth i s d o cu men tco n t ai n s 5 ,0 8 4 wo rd s (p er W o rd Perfect X6 ).

CERTI FI CATE OF SERVI CE I cert i fy th ato n No v em

b er 3 0 , 2 0 1 5 , th is d o cu men twas fo rward ed t o th e fo l l o w i n g v i a m ai l : Ap p el l an tBri an W . Di ers ch k e (ap peari n g p ro s e) 8 4 9 4 HawkAv e San An g el o , TX 7 6 9 0 4 Ap p el l an tM arv i n Di ers ch k e (ap p eari n g p ro s e) 8 4 9 4 HawkAv e San An g el o , TX 7 6 9 0 4

36APPENDI X

Ex h ib i tA. Affi d av i ti n Su p p o rto f TRAP 4 5 Dam ag es fo r Fri v ol o u s Ap p eal

37EXHI BI T A

Affi da v it i n Suppo rt o f TRAP 4 5 Da m a ges fo r Fri vo l o us Appea l------- - ------------------ - -- ~~ - ~ - - -.--~- - ~~

03-1S-00399-CV & 03-1S-00400-CV IN THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS AT AUSTIN

, TEXAS Brian Dierschke and Marvin Dierschke

v. Cheryl Lynn Dierschke, Dana Joy Dierschke Nezwek,

and Grant Steven Dierschke 

## AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF TRAP 45 DAMAGES FOR FRIVOLOUS APPEAL STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF ROBERTSON BEFORE ME the undersigned Notary Public, on this day personally appeared James David Walker, who being by me duly sworn on his oath deposed and said:

My name is James David Walker. I am of sound mind and capable of making this affidavit , and I am personally acquainted with the facts stated in this affidavit. I am an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Texas. I
am a sole practitioner. I am lead attorney for Appellees Cheryl Lynn Dierschke, Dana
Page 1 of 3Joy Dierschke Nezwek, and Grant Steven Dierschke in the abovereferenced case (herein "this case"). I have been licensed to practice law in the State of Texas since 1983. I have been certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1992. I am familiar with the standards for appellate practice in the Third Court of Appeals at Austin, Texas and with the usual, customary and reasonable attorney's fees charged for legal representation in cases filed in such Court. The usual, customary and reasonable hourly rate for attorney's services rendered in the Third Court of Appeals in appeals similar to that involved in this case is $180 per hour. Appellees agreed to pay me, and I agreed to charge, an hourly rate of$180. In this case I performed 33.4 hours of necessary work in responding to the appeal filed in this case by Appellants Marvin Dierschke and Brian Dierschke, as follows: -preparing a notice of appearance (0.5 hr); -preparing a response to Appellants' motion to extend time to file an appellants' brief (1.0 hr); and, Page 2 of 3-preparing an appellees' brief (31.9 hr). Consequently, Appellees have incurred attorney's fees in the amount of$6,012. I will bill Appellees $6,012 for the abovereferenced necessary legal services. This is a reasonable fee for services necessarily rendered. Further, affiant sayeth not.

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO BEFORE ME by the said James David Walker thi~ L' 3ay of November, 2015, to certify which witness my hand and seal of office.

Printed Name of Notary OS My Commission E x pires ~ d o O 

# , '7

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