of mediated settlement agreements,as as describedintheTexasADRAct,providesthatthesettlementagreementisenforceable described in the Texas ADR Act, provides that the settlementagreement is enforceableas as any othercontract, andthe incorporate the termsooffthesettlement may incorporate theterms any other contract, and the court may the settlementagreement agreement intothecourt's decree. Tex.Civ.Prac.& Rem.Code § 154.071.Although into the court's final decree. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 154.071. Although the settlementagreementarisesfromthe suit,enforcement of a mediationagreement, the settlement agreement arises from the suit, enforcement of a mediation agreement, if reachedthroughcourt-ordered mediation,mustbe determined in breach - of- even if reached through court-ordered mediation,must even be determined inaa breach-of-
Silverado Appx. 0440 No. 1-15-567-CV 1443 cause ofaction contract cause of action uunder ndernnormal ormalrules rulesofpleading of pleadingandevidence. and evidence.SeeCadle See CadleC 0.v.v. Co.
Castle, 913S.W.2d 913 S.W.2d 6 27(Tex. 627 (Tex. A pp. - App. Dallas11995, - Dallas 995,writdenied). writ denied).Thus, nymediated Thus,aany mediated
settlementis settlement as a contract. See is enforceableasa v.D See Hardmanv. ault, Dault, 2S.W.2d 2 S.W.2d378, 378,380
(Tex. App. - (Tex. App. - SanAntonio San Antonio 1999, opet.)(citing 1999,nno pet.) (citingC.P.&R.C.§ C.P. & R.C. §154.07l(a)). 154.071(a)).AA wrinkleisis added added in in to this provision ooffthe to thisprovision TexasADRActwhenreconciling the TexasADR Act when reconcilingwithRule11ofthe with Rule 11 of the
Texas Rules Texas Rules ofCivilProcedure, of Civil Procedure,which states,""Unless whichstates, Unlessotherwiseprovided providedintheserules, in these rules,
agreement between no agreement no orparties between attorneysor partiestouching anysuitpending touchingany will beenforced suit pendingwillbe enforced
CJ unless iittbeinwriting, unless be in writing, signed signedaand ndfiled filedwith withthe thepapers papersaas partoftherecord, spart orunless of the record,or unlessitit bemade be made in court aand open court in open ndentered enteredofrecord." of record."TTex. ex.RR..Civ.P. Civ. P.11. 11. Contract Contract law governs agreementsmade law governs pursuanttotorule agreements madepursuant rule11.Ronin 11. Roninv.v. Lerner, 77 S.W.3d S.W.3d 883,886(Tex. 883, 886 (Tex. A pp. - Houston App. - Houston[lst [1stDist.]1999, opet.).A Dist.] 1999,nno contractisislegally pet.). Acontract legally binding bindingonlyif only if its its terms terms are sufficientlydefinitetotoenable are sufficiently to understand enableaa court to understandtthe he parties' parties' o bligations. obligations. SeeFortWorth Indep.SSch. See Fort WorthIndep. ch.Dist. v.CityofFortWorth, Dist.v. City of Fort Worth,222 2S.W.3d S.W.3d 831,846(Tex.2000)." 831, 846 (Tex. 2000)." Each contract sshould Each contract houldbe be considered consideredsseparately eparatelytotodetermine determineits its
material tenns." terms." T.O.Stanley StanleyBootCo.,Inc. v.BankofElPaso,847S.W.2d Boot Co., Inc.v. Bank of El Paso, 847 S.W.2d218,221 218, 221 (Tex.1992). (Tex. 1992). T The parties' iintent heparties' ntenttto o bebound, be bound, ggenerally enerallyiis s aaquestion questionoffact.SeeHerring of fact. See Herring
v. H v. erron Herron Lakes Lakes Estates Owners Ass'n, Estates Owners Ass'n, Inc.,No. 14-09-00772-CV, Inc.,No. 14-09-00772-CV,2011 2011WL WL22739517, 739517, atat *3(Tex. App. - Houston [14thDist.] an.4,2011, *3 (Tex. App. - Houston [14th Dist.]JJan. opet.)(mem. 4, 2011,nno pet.) (mem.oop.) p.)(citing Foreca,758 (citingForeca, 758 at S.W.2d at 746. Courtsin Texaswillnotcreate Courts in Texas will not create third-party beneficiary contracts contractsby by Giventhat Silveradoneitherattendedmediation, implication. Given that Silverado neither attended mediation,nnor was aparty or wasa partyor or third party to the agreement,they cannottake third party beneficiary to the agreement, theycannot advantageof an take advantage ofan agreementthat is nothing morethan agreement that is nothingmore settlementbetweenotherpartiesfor which than aa settlement between other parties for which
Silverado Appx. 0441