Opinion ID: 1494737
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Deficiency and Attorney's Fees Claims

Text: Finally, Brown contests the court of appeals' deficiency and attorney's fees awards. The court of appeals awarded the deficiency, holding that the evidence conclusively established the amount of the deficiency under the note, for which Brown was still personally liable regardless of how much of the debt was secured by the mechanic's lien. 930 S.W.2d at 145 (citing Ogden, 662 S.W.2d at 333). Brown protests that the parties hotly disputed the amount at trial. However, the record shows that the deficiency was not in dispute. Instead, the disputed issues at trial were the cost to finish the partially-completed home and the specifications for the completed home under the construction contract between Brown and Compean. Brown is still personally liable for the full amount due under the note. See Ogden, 662 S.W.2d at 333. Cost to complete is only relevant to determining how much debt the lien secures. Accordingly, we affirm the court of appeals' holding on the deficiency judgment. We also hold that the court of appeals properly awarded attorney's fees because the Bank established the amount. The Bank offered uncontradicted testimony on the amount of its attorney's fees. Brown had the means and opportunity of disproving the testimony and failed to do so. See Ragsdale v. Progressive Voters League, 801 S.W.2d 880, 882 (Tex.1990); Snoke v. Republic Underwriters Ins. Co., 770 S.W.2d 777 (Tex. 1989). Because there is no evidence that the alleged wrongful acts of the Bank were the producing cause of Brown's damages and certain acts of the Bank could not give rise to DTPA violations, the trial court correctly rendered judgment n.o.v. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the court of appeals.