Case Name: Joe R. STRINGER; Desiree H. Stringer, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. CENDANT MORTGAGE CORPORATION, doing business as PHH Mortgage Services Corporation, Defendant-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2000-09-27
Citations: 229 F.3d 466
Docket Number: No. 99-40100
Parties: Joe R. STRINGER; Desiree H. Stringer, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. CENDANT MORTGAGE CORPORATION, doing business as PHH Mortgage Services Corporation, Defendant-Appellee.
Judges: Before HIGGINBOTHAM and SMITH, Circuit Judges, and DUPLANTIER , District Judge.
Reporter: Federal Reporter 3d Series
Volume: 229
Pages: 466–467

Head Matter:
Joe R. STRINGER; Desiree H. Stringer, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. CENDANT MORTGAGE CORPORATION, doing business as PHH Mortgage Services Corporation, Defendant-Appellee.
No. 99-40100.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Sept. 27, 2000.
Rehearing Denied Nov. 9, 2000.
Ralph E. Allen (argued), Tyler, TX, for Plaintiffs-Appellants.
Elizabeth Grace Smith (argued), Davis & Opper, San Antonio, TX, for DefendanL-Appellee.
Before HIGGINBOTHAM and SMITH, Circuit Judges, and DUPLANTIER , District Judge.
District Judge of the Eastern District of Louisiana, sitting by designation.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
On December 22, 1999, we certified the controlling question in this case to the Texas Supreme Court. 199 F.3d 190 (5th Cir.1999). The question certified was:
Under the Texas Constitution, may a home equity lender require the borrower to pay off third-party debt that is not secured by the homestead with the proceeds of the loan?
The Texas Supreme Court answered the question in the affirmative in a unanimous opinion filed June 8, 2000, in turn filed with this court on June 12, 2000. The Texas Supreme Court by order of August 24, 2000, denied a motion for rehearing. That order was filed in this court on August 28, 2000. The posed question having been answered by a final decision of the Texas Supreme Court, the judgment of the United States District Court dismissing the case is AFFIRMED.