Case Name: BRYSON v. CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE INS. CO. et al.
Court: Texas Courts of Civil Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1948-03-03
Citations: 211 S.W.2d 304
Docket Number: No. 9699
Parties: BRYSON v. CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE INS. CO. et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter Second Series
Volume: 211
Pages: 304–314

Head Matter:
BRYSON v. CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE INS. CO. et al.
No. 9699.
Court of Civil Appeals of Texas. Austin.
March 3, 1948.
Rehearing Denied April 14, 1948.
Holloway, Crowley & Hudson, of Fort Worth, and Scott Snodgrass, of San Anr gelo, for appellant.
Hamilton, Dyer ,& Shults and Adair Dyer, all of Dallas, Sedberry & Williams, L. B. Harris, Upton, Upton & Baker, and Lee Upton, all of San Angelo, and De-Lange & Hudspeth, H. A. Berry, and Bar-net B. Skelton, all of Houston, for ap-pellees.

Opinion:
HUGHES, Justice.
The decision on the former appeal of this case is found in Tex.Civ.App., 196 S.W.2d, at page 532, in which case application for writ of error was refused by the Supreme Court.
We, therefore, accept as the law of this case all holdings made by this court upon the former appeal which are unaffected by the evidence introduced upon this trial. Rule 483, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure; Lone Star Gas Co. v. State, 137 Texas 279, 153 S.W.2d 681; Ohler v. Trinity Portland Cement Co., Tex.Civ.App. Galveston, 181 S.W.2d 120.
We will not make a complete restatement of the facts, but refer to the opinion on the first appeal which should be read for a full understanding of the nature of the case and our decision herein. We will make such statements as may be required for this opinion to be intelligible and for the purpose of disposing of issues which were not involved on the former appeal.
The first trial was upon exceptions, aided by a stipulation (which stipulation is also in the present record) as to uncon-troverted facts. The exceptions were sustained, the suit dismissed, and upon appeal the judgment was reversed and the cause remanded for trial. A full trial ensued. The evidence, documentary and otherwise, covers 794 pages. More than 90 special issues were submitted to the jury, all of which were answered favorably to appel-lees.
• The parties are the same as before, except that Grace Bryson, former wife of John Bryan Bryson, Sr., and mother of appellant, was made a party to appellees', cross action against appellant.
The judgment is the same as before, differing only in form. On the first trial appellant's suit was dismissed by the trial court in such manner as to constitute an adverse adjudication of his claim. On this trial appellees have recovered by affirmative judgment the "absolute title" to the lands involved.
Appellees by their first group of points (1-9) seek to sustain the judgment by urging (1) that this court erred in its former opinion in holding that when the father of appellant reacquired the lands by deed from his mother, the remainder in appellant was revested, and that we are at liberty to consider and decide the question anew; and (2) that in the light of evidence now before the court, not heretofore present or considered, we can and should reexamine such holding.
In support of (1) appellees cite Kempner v. Huddleston, 90 Tex. 182, 37 S.W. 1066, where the court, in answering certified questions, advised the Court of Civil Appeals that their opinion upon a former appeal of the same case was no bar to further consideration of the same questions upon the second appeal. That case differs from the present situation in that the Supreme Court had not approved the holding of the Court of Civil Appeals on the first appeal. No writ of error was applied for. We have no doubt but that we can reconsider our own -opinions and, if found to be clearly wrong, overrule them. We have no such power over the opinions of the Supreme Court.
Appellees cite Clem v. Fulghum, Tex.Com.App., 58 S.W.2d 15, which holds that a Court of Civil Appeals is not bound on a second appeal by an opinion of the Commission of Appeals on the first appeal, there being a material change in the facts. Applying such rule we will consider the effect of additional evidence now before the court upon the holding ( (1) above) made in the first appeal.
It has been established by jury findings or by undisputed evidence that: (1) The 1910 deed was cancelled by Ellen E. Bry-son in good faith, for her own benefit and pursuant to the provisions made, in and accepted by the parties to such instrument and not for the purpose of enlarging the life estate of John Bryan Bryson, Sr.; (2) Ellen E. Bryson, after the cancellation of the 1910 deed, and before she reconveyed the premises to her son (who assumed payment of the note to be described), executed a deed of trust on the lands in suit, to the Nelson Loan Company, to secure the payment of her note in the sum of $30,000; and that most of this money was used for the purpose of paying notes owed by the son (father of appellant), on which his mother was liable as endorser.
These additional facts are material and are of importance in determining the question raised by appellant on this and Ithe former appeal as to the character and extent of the title acquired or reacquired by Ellen E. Bryson, upon the cancellation of the 1910 deed, in that they negative any collusion between the mother and son with respect to such cancellation and show that they construed the transaction as vesting in the mother a full, complete, unencumbered and unrestricted fee simple title. This effect was assumed by the court upon the first appeal and is assumed here for the reasons stated in former opinion. This holding was and is to the advantage of appellees.
We are wholly unable to understand how these new facts affect the former decision as to the title acquired by the son upon the reconveyance by his mother.
Nor do we agree with appellees' further argument made under this group of points, that the interpretation of the pleadings and judgment in the Runnels County suit and the various, deeds is affected by their unlimited introduction in evidence by appellant, for the reason that their construction is a matter of law for the court, and because the parties stipulated against admitting the legal effect of such instruments.
We, therefore, overrule appellees' points under consideration and adhere to the former holding that John B. Bryson, Sr., received only a life estate under the second deed from his mother.
Before the court for the first time are the following: (1) Appellees' pleas that they are good faith purchasers, for value and without notice; (2) that they have acquired title to the lands in suit by limitation ; (3) that they are subrogated to the $30,000 Nelson loan; and (4) that they are entitled to compensation for improve-, ments made in good 'faith.
We will dispose of these matters in the order stated.
Bona Fide Purchasers.
We are of the opinion that this defense was adjudicated adversely to appellees upon the former appeal of this case, and that we are without authority to reconsider such decision.
The following count was sustained by this court: *
"Second Count: The 1910 deed, its acceptance and possession thereunder by J. B. B., Sr., imposed upon him the legal duty to the remaindermen to pay the taxes and prevent any forfeiture of the remainder. Therefore, even though there was an effective forfeiture and revesting of the fee simple title in Ellen Bryson, the re-conveyance in fee by her to him inured to the benefit of the remaindermen and had the legal effect of vesting in him only a life estate, and 'the remainder estate immediately revested and reattached thereto as fully as though said conveyance had specifically so provided.' "
The court thereafter concluded:
"We have reached the conclusion that the contention presented by the second count should be sustained; which conclusion renders unnecessary a consideration of the several contentions and countercoij-tentions of the respective parties relating to the first and third counts. For our purposes in this regard it is assumed that the' entire fee simple title vested in Ellen Bry-son by virtue of the default of J. B. B., Sr., and the Runnels County judgment."
One of the "several contentions" made by appellees in the first appeal was:
"The Second Count alleges • no actual knowledge of the trust which plaintiff claims attached to the fee simple title when acquired by John Bryan Bryson, except the allegation that purchasers had notice from the record, and since, as to subsequent purchasers of the property subject to trust the person asserting the trust has the burden of establishing knowledge of such trust, and the public records were not sufficient to convey such notice, the Second Count of plaintiff's amended petition states no cause of action or basis for recovery."
Appellees in their application for writ of error to the Supreme Court made these assignments:
"The Court of Civil Appeals erred in holding that -even though there was an effective forfeiture of the estates or titles granted or created by the deed of May 4, 1910, and a revesting of the entire fee simple title in one of the Grantors therein, the reconveyance in fee by the owner of fee simple title to John Bryan Bryson, Sr., had the legal effect of vesting in him only a life estate and the remainder estate immediately revested and reattached in those who had a contingent remainder under the 1910 deed as fully as though the latter conveyance specifically so stated." (Par. 6, Appellees' Motion for Rehearing filed in Austin Court of Civil Appeals.)
"The Court of Civil Appeals erred in holding that a subsequent purchaser of land from a former life tenant under a deed with condition of reverter if life tenant fails to pay taxes is charged as a matter of law with notice' that the life tenant could not acquire fee simple title to the land from his Grantor after fee simple title had reverted to and revested in the Grantor for failure of - life tenant to pay taxes." (Par. 17, Appellees' motion for Rehearing filed in Austin Court of Civil Appeals.)
"Notwithstanding this clause and the holding on Page 8 of the opinion that the entire fee simple, title vested in Ellen E. Bryson by virtue of the default and the Runnels County judgment, nevertheless the Court sustained and upheld the contention that the warranty deed from Ellen E. Bry-son to John Bryan Bryson in 1921 vested in him only a life estate and vested 'the legal title in remainder in his children, as a matter of law, so that subsequent purchasers were charged with notice thereof."
In refusing a writ of error the Supreme Court necessarily overruled these assignments, and .we are bound thereby.
The only new evidence as to this defense is that appellees had no actual notice of appellant's claim and that they relied upon title opinions of reputable attorneys. These facts are immaterial if they were charged with notice as a matter of law.
Lwdtaticm.
The trial court submitted to the jury issues based upon the 3, S, 10 and 25-year statutes of limitation, Arts. 5507, 5509, 5510 and 5519, Vernon's Ann.Civ.St, respectively, all of which were answered for ap-pellees.
The 1910 deed from Ellen E. Bryson and husband to John Bryan Bryson conveyed a life estate in 5,000 acres of land, with remainder to his children and to other contingent remaindermen.
This deed was cancelled by judgment of the District Court of Runnels County on March 15, 1921, at the instance of Ellen E. Bryson (recorded in the Deed Records of Concho County, March 21, 1921). On May 2, 1921, she executed a deed of trust on the property to secure a $30,000 loan (recorded in Concho County May 27, 1921); and on July 15, 1921, she again conveyed the property to John Bryan Bry-son, but this time by general warranty deed which purported to convey the full fee simple title. (Recorded in Concho County Deed Records, -August 13, 1921.)
Appellant, the only child of John Bryan-Bryson, was born October 12, 1923.
John Bryan Bryson, the life tenant under the 1910 deed, was alive at the time of this trial.
All appellees claim under John Bryan Bryson.
Appellees take the position that by reason of the above mentioned proceedings and instruments the various statutes of limitation were set in motion not later than March 15, 1921. If so, limitation title has been perfected under one or more of the statutes noted.
Appellant contends that since he is a re-mainderman after a life estate, which has not yet terminated, he has never had a possessory estate from the life tenant, and that such possession has never been adverse nor hostile to him, and hence a cause of action against appellees has never accrued to him. Appellant also urges his minority which did not expire until October 12, 1944.
If, as the court has previously held, John Bryan Bryson acquired only a life estate under the 1921 or second deed, then he could not lawfully convey more than he owned, but the deed was effective to this extent. Art. 1290, V.A.C.S. This Article expressly provides that: "Nor shall the alienation of any particular estate on which any remainder may depend so operate as to defeat, .impair or in anywise affect such remainder." •
It follows that when John Bryan Bry-son conveyed by general warranty deeds to the various appellees, they acquired only the life estate owned by grantor, and the remainder to appellant was unaffected thereby.
Statutes of limitation only begin to run from the time the right of action accrues. Warnecke v. Broad, 138 Tex. 631, 161 S.W.2d 453. Although questionable for a time, it is now settled that this rule applies to Art. 5519, V.A.C.S., 25-year statute of limitation. Evans v. Graves, Tex.Civ.App. Dallas, 166 S.W.2d 955, Writ Ref. W.O.M.; Pool v. Sneed, Tex.Civ.App. Amarillo, 173 S.W.2d 768, Writ Ref. W.O.M.
Equally well settled is the doctrine that possession of one who holds the life estate is not adverse to one who holds title to the remainder. 2 Tex.Jur., p. 117; Rancho Oil Co. v. Powell, 142 Tex. 63, 175 S.W.2d 960. Such possession can only become adverse after the death of the life tenant. Rae v. Baker, Tex.Civ.App., 38 S.W.2d 366, 367 (Austin CCA. Writ Ref.); Olsen v. Grelle, Tex.Com.App., 228 S.W. 927, Opinion by Presiding Judge McClendon, present Chief Justice of this court.
Appellees all claim their titles under and through the life tenant, and even though the deeds from the life tenant purported to convey the fee and appellees took possession and claimed the full title thereunder, such claim and possession was not adverse to the remaindermen, and could not be until the death of the life tenant. Griffin v. Reynolds, Tex.Civ.App. Texarkana, 107 S W.2d 634 Writ Dis.; Cleav er v. Knighton, Tex.Civ.App. Beaumont, 127 S.W.2d 958, and authorities there cited.
Appellees cite several cases in support of the validity of their limitation title which they concede are not directly in point. We have examined these authorities and do not find that they are inconsistent with the principles above stated.
We, therefore, hold that appellees have not acquired limitation title.
Subrogation.
On the first appeal it was assumed by this court that Ellen E. Bryson became revested with a fee simple title to these lands following the forfeiture which was adjudicated by the District Court of Runnels County. This assumption was correct as a matter of law. The proceedings in that suit have on this trial been found to be free from fraud. The judgment there rendered decreed a forfeiture of the rights conveyed by the 1910 deed, the cancellation of such deed and recovery of title and possession of the lands by Ellen E. Bry-son. The necessary legal effect of this un-impekched judgment was to vest in her a fee simple title (the title owned by her and her husband before the execution of such deed; and she having succeeded to the title of her husband) and placing her in the situation which she (and her hus.-band) would have been in if the 1910 deed had not been made. 36 Tex.Jur., pp. 875, 876.
The deed of trust executed by Ellen E. Bryson to secure the Nelson $30,000 loan, when she owned the fee simple title to these lands, was a valid and binding instrument and the lien created thereby covers both the possessory and remainder estates. The payment of this debt was assumed by the life tenant in the 1921 deed from his mother. From this fact appellant argues that the debt became that of the life tenant and his assignees, and in paying the same they only paid their own debt, and that the doctrine of subrogation is applicable.
The life tenant and all of his assignees were charged, as a matter of law, with knowledge that they were acquiring only a life estate; The consideration paid or agreed to be paid by each of them was for the .estate so acquired. McDonald v. Quick, 139 Mo. 484, 41 S.W. 208. In Melms v. Pabst Brewing Co., 93 Wis. 140, 66 N.W. 244, 246 where subrogation was sought under .circumstances somewhat similar to those here presented, the court said;
" 1 * It is therefore certain that Pabst and Schandein cannot use this deed to cut off the title of the remaindermen, but that, if they are entitled to make any use of the title, it must be simply to compel the remaindermen to contribute their .proportion of the incumberance paid. Phelan v. Boylan, supra, [25 Wis. 679]; 2 Pom.Eq.Jur., § 799. But we think they are precluded from doing this, and for a plain reason. They bought the title of Frey and Mrs. Melms for the agreed price of $95,000. It is true they apparently thought that they would secure a fee in the homestead, but that was a matter of their own lookout. The public records showed what Mrs. Melms' title was, and that it was a life estate only. Therefore, they were charged with knowledge when they bought that they were buying a fee in the brewery property and a life estate in the homestead. For these they contracted to pay, and did pay, $95,000. Part of this $95,000 they agreed to pay, and did pay, in a particular way; that is, by pacing off an incumbrance. Now, they say: 'True, this was a part of the consideration; true, we agreed to pay .and discharge it for the benefit of Mrs. Melms, and incidentally for our own benefit; but Mrs. Melms did not give us title to the fee, as we expected she would (though we had no right to expect it) ; hence we will recoup from the heirs the damages which we have suffered by reason of our bad bargain with Mrs. Melms. We will make them pay back to us a part, at least, of the consideration money which by our agreement we paid to Mrs. Melms.' Stripped to its 'ultimate conclusion, this is simply an attempt to recover from the remaindermen a part of the consideration paid to the life tenant for the life estate. Hád they purchased the life estate, paid the consideration therefor, and gone into possession; and afterwards paid the mortgage to protect their estate, they might invoke the rule laid down in Phelan v. Boylan; but, when they paid the mortgage simply as a part of the consideration for the life estate which" they purchased, it is wiped out as to all parties. They cannot revive it as a claim against their remaindermen any more than they can claim that the remaindermen should reimburse them for any other part of the consideration which they paid Mrs. Melms, and which they now think they ought not to have paid her because she did not give them title to the fee."
All of appellees seeking subrogation, except the Federal Land Bank which is a lienholder, were personally liable for all payments made on the Nelson loan. In McDermott v. Steck, Tex.Civ.App., 138 S.W.2d 1106, 1109 (writ ref.), this court pointed out the distinction between a grantee paying an encumbrance for which he was not liable and paying one for which he was liable, and quoted these rules:
"There are numerous decisions to the effect that where a purchaser buys land and takes a deed thereto, and subsequently pays a prior lien on the property which he is not primarily bound to pay, but which if not paid might cause him to lose his interest therein, he is subrogated to the rights and remedies of such prior lien, as against a lien which is superior to his title."
"When a grantee as part of the consideration for land assumes the payment of a mortgage or other lien against it, the payment of the indebtedness which the lien represents completely extinguishes the lien, and the grantee cannot be subrogated to the rights of the lienholder, nor keep the lien alive for any purpose."
The first quotation being from 25 R.C.L., p. 1353, and the latter from the syllabus in Harrison v. First Natl. Bank, Tex.Com. App., 238 S.W. 209.
The Federal Land Bank has the personal obligation of appellee Middleton to pay its debt. If this debt is paid the Bank would have no need for subrogation. Under these circumstances the Bank is not now in position to claim subrogation. 60 C.J., p. 719.
No right of subrogation exists.
Good Faith Improvements.
This is not a trespass to try title case. Appellant concedes that he is not now entitled to possession of the lands in suit and that he will have no right of possession until the expiration of the life estate. This is undoubtedly correct.
The right to sue for improvements made in good faith does not arise until there has been an eviction. There will be no eviction in this case before the termination of the life estate. It would be impossible to presently fix the value of such improvements as of the uncertain date of eviction. The improvements may not be in existence at such time.
Appellees' claim for improvements alleged to have been made in good faith has been prematurely brought and will be dismissed wi'' out prejudice.
We, therefore, conclude that the trial court erred in awarding appellees title to' the lands in controversy and in denying appellant's several motions for judgment in accordance with his prayer, for which reasons we reverse the judgment of the trial court and render judgment for appellant, establishing in him a remainder in all the lands in paragraph 3 of his second amended original petition filed in this cause, and being the same lands described in deed from John H. Bryson and wife, Ellen E. Bryson, to John Bryan Bryson,, dated May 4, 1910, subject only to the life estate of his father, John Bryan Bryson, and the conditional, contingent, or subsequent remainders as provided for in said deed.
Appellees' claim for good faith improvements is dismissed without prejudice.
Reversed and rendered.