1963695.3/SPSA/34092/0101/100215

CAUSE NO. 2014–PC–0056

IN THE ESTATE OF

MARJORIE A. CHILDS, 

DECEASED.

§

§

§

§

§

IN THE PROBATE COURT

NO. 2

BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS

PETITION TO PERMIT AGREED INTERLOCUTORY APPEAL 

STRASBURGER & PRICE, L.L.P.

Judith R. Blakeway

State Bar No. 02434400

Judith.Blakeway@strasburger.com

James Maverick McNeel

State Bar No. 24035491

James.McNeel@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

2301 Broadway

San Antonio, Texas 78215

Telephone: (210) 250-6000

Facsimile: (210) 250-6100

ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT 

PAMELA ANN CHILDS 

MCCASKILL

BEN A. WALLIS LAW PC 

Ben A. Wallis, III

State Bar No. 24060793

8200 IH 10 West #101

San Antonio, Texas 78230

Telephone: (210) 525–1500

Facsimile: (210) 525–9323

baw3@wallislawsa.com

ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT 

SUSAN C. ADDISON

04-15-00623-CV

ACCEPTED

04-15-00623-CV

FOURTH COURT OF APPEALS

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

10/2/2015 11:18:15 AM

KEITH HOTTLE

CLERK

 FILED IN 4th COURT OF APPEALS SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 10/2/2015 11:18:15 AM KEITH E. HOTTLE Clerk
ii

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
iii

1963695.3/SPSA/34092/0101/100215

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
1963695.3/SPSA/34092/0101/100215

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 
2

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 

Childs: 

Rudy A. Garza

rugar@hfgtx.com 

Charles M. Hornberger

boxy@hfgtx.com 

David Jed Williams

jwilliams@hfgtx.com 

Stephanie L. Curette

scurette@hfgtx.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

Attorneys for Defendant 

Susan Kaye Childs Addison:

Ben A. Wallis, III

State Bar No. 24060793

BEN A. WALLIS LAW PC

8200 IH 10 West #101

San Antonio, Texas 78230

Telephone: (210) 525–1500

Facsimile: (210) 525–9323

baw3@wallislawsa.com
3

1963695.3/SPSA/34092/0101/100215

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 
4

1963695.3/SPSA/34092/0101/100215

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.
5

1963695.3/SPSA/34092/0101/100215

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. 
6

1963695.3/SPSA/34092/0101/100215

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.
7

1963695.3/SPSA/34092/0101/100215

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

STRASBURGER & PRICE, L.L.P.

By: /s/ Judith R. Blakeway 

Judith R. Blakeway

State Bar No. 02434400

Judith.Blakeway@strasburger.com

James Maverick McNeel

State Bar No. 24035491

James.McNeel@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

2301 Broadway

San Antonio, Texas 78215

Telephone: (210) 250-6000

Facsimile: (210) 250-6100

ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT 

PAMELA ANN CHILDS 

MCCASKILL

BEN A. WALLIS LAW PC 

By: Ben A. Wallis, III

Ben A. Wallis, III

State Bar No. 24060793

8200 IH 10 West #101

San Antonio, Texas 78230

Telephone: (210) 525–1500

Facsimile: (210) 525–9323

baw3@wallislawsa.com

ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT 

SUSAN C. ADDISON
8

1963695.3/SPSA/34092/0101/100215

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

rugar@hfgtx.com

Charles M. Hornberger

boxy@hfgtx.com

David Jed Williams

jwilliams@hfgtx.com

Stephanie L. Curette

scurette@hfgtx.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

Attorneys for Plaintiff 

Mollie Allen Childs

Ben A. Wallis, III

BEN A. WALLIS LAW PC

8200 IH 10 West #101

San Antonio, Texas 78230

baw3@wallislawsa.com 

Attorneys for Defendant 

Susan Kaye Childs Addison

 /s/ Judith R. Blakeway 

JUDITH R. BLAKEWAY