Court Opinion

ID: 3088009
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 03:20:34.14458+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:43:08.319299
License: Public Domain

Reverse and Remand; Opinion Filed December 13, 2013.

                                         S   In The
                               Court of Appeals
                        Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                      No. 05-12-01294-CV

             U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, TRUSTEE, Appellant
                                    V.
                          BONNEY, PAULA A., Appellee

                      On Appeal from the 116th Judicial District Court
                                   Dallas County, Texas
                           Trial Court Cause No. DC-12-04176

                             MEMORANDUM OPINION
                           Before Justices Moseley, Lang, and Brown
                                    Opinion by Justice Lang
       US Bank National Association, Trustee (“USBNA”) appeals from a default judgment

rendered by the trial court in favor of Paula A. Bonney (“Bonney”). USBNA raises two issues:

(1) whether it was amenable to service through the Secretary of State and whether such service

was accomplished in accordance with the applicable statutory requirements, and (2) whether the

default judgment extinguishing a deed of trust should be set aside given the facts admitted by the

default.

       Because all dispositive issues are settled in law, we issue this memorandum opinion.

TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(a), 47.4.     The background of the case is well known to the parties.

Therefore, we do not recite it here in detail. For the reasons set forth below, we reverse the
default judgment and remand this case to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with

this opinion.

                    I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       On April 16, 2012, Bonney filed suit against USBNA, alleging several claims including a

number of specific statutory violations. In her petition, Bonney states, inter alia,

       [USBNA’s] agent for service of process is not located within the state of Texas. The

       records of the Texas Secretary of State indicate that US Bank has directed that service of

       process by [sic] directed to its agent in Minnesota. Accordingly, service should be on the

       Secretary of State Citation Unit, who should then transmit the Citation and Petition to the

       agent for service of process:

                Elizabeth Becker

                350 N. Robert St.

                St. Paul, MN 55101

Bonney did not allege any statute or procedural rule to support this method of service.

       A citation was issued and served upon the Texas Secretary of State. The Secretary of

State sent correspondence that included a copy of the citation and original petition by certified

mail, return receipt requested, to the Minnesota address provided in Bonney’s petition. The

record includes a certificate from the Secretary of State indicating both that it forwarded process

to the Minnesota address and the process was returned to the Secretary of State’s office on May

2, 2012, bearing the notation “No Such Number.”

       Then, on May 31, 2012, Bonney filed a Certificate of Last Known Address and a Motion

for Default Judgment, alleging that service was made on the Secretary of State on April 23, 2012

and that the return of service had been on file in the trial court for at least 10 days. Bonney

further alleged in the motion that the answer date in this suit was May 14, 2012 and USBNA had

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not filed an answer or any other responsive pleading in this case. In support of her motion,

Bonney submitted as a “supplemental exhibit” a certified copy of a document titled “Amendment

to Agent Appointment” provided by the Secretary of State, stating the registered agent for “U.S.

Bank Trust National Association” was located at the Minnesota address Bonney had identified in

her petition.

        The court granted the motion and rendered a final default judgment dated June 23, 2012.

USBNA did not file any postjudgment motions, but filed a Notice of Restricted Appeal on

August 31, 2012.

                                  II. LEGAL AUTHORITIES

        Under the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure,

        [A] party who did not participate - either in person or through counsel - in the hearing

        that resulted in the judgment complained of and who did not timely file a postjudgment

        motion or request for findings of fact and conclusions of law, or a notice of appeal within

        the time permitted by Rule 26.1(a), may file a notice of appeal within the time permitted

        by Rule 26.1(c).

TEX. R. APP. P. 30.

        “A restricted appeal is a direct attack on a judgment.” Deutsche Bank Trust Co., N.A. v.

Hall, 400 S.W.3d 668, 669 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2013, pet. denied). “In a restricted appeal,

we are limited to considering only the face of the record, but our scope of review is otherwise the

same as that in an ordinary appeal; that is, we review the entire case.” Thomas v. Martinez, 217
S.W.3d 680, 683 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, pet. struck) (citing Norman Commc’ns v. Tex.

Eastman Co., 955 S.W.2d 269, 270 (Tex. 1997) (per curiam)).

        To prevail on a restricted appeal, an appellant must establish four things: “(1) it filed

notice of the restricted appeal within six months after the judgment was signed; (2) it was a party

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to the underlying lawsuit; (3) it did not participate in the hearing that resulted in the judgment

complained of and did not timely file any postjudgment motions or requests for findings of fact

and conclusions of law; and (4) error is apparent on the face of the record.”          Alexander v.

Lynda’s Boutique, 134 S.W.3d 845, 848 (Tex. 2004). In a restricted appeal, the face of the

record is comprised of all the papers in the file for the appeal. Lytle v. Cunningham, 261 S.W.3d
837, 839 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008, no pet.) (citing Norman Commc’ns, 955 S.W.2d at 270).

Where “the restricted appeal [is] filed within six months by a party that did not participate in the

default hearing, the only question [is] whether error [is] apparent on the face of the record.”

Wachovia Bank of Delaware, N.A. v. Gilliam, 215 S.W.3d 848, 849 (Tex. 2007))

        “In a restricted appeal, defective service of process constitutes error apparent on the face

of the record.” Dolly v. Aethos Commc’ns Sys., Inc., 10 S.W.3d 384, 388 (Tex. App.—Dallas

2000, no pet.). “There are no presumptions in favor of valid issuance, service, and return of

citation in the face of a [direct] attack on a default judgment.” Primate Const., Inc. v. Silver, 884
S.W.2d 151, 152 (Tex. 1994) (per curiam). For a default judgment to withstand direct attack, it

is essential that “strict compliance with the rules for service of citation affirmatively appear on

the record.” Id. Unless the defendant voluntarily appears before judgment, strict compliance

must be apparent on the record. Starbucks Corp., Inc. v. Smith, No. 05-06-01500-CV, 2007 WL
3317523, at *1 (Tex. App.—Dallas Nov. 9, 2007, no pet.) (citing McKanna v. Edgar, 388
S.W.2d 927, 929 (Tex. 1965)). “Virtually any deviation will be sufficient to set aside a default

judgment in a restricted appeal.” Dolly, 10 S.W.3d at 388; see also Uvalde Country Club v.

Martin Linen Supply Co., Inc., 690 S.W.2d 884, 885 (Tex. 1985) (failure to show strict

compliance with the rules relating to proper service renders attempted service “invalid and of no

effect”).

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                    III. APPLICATION OF THE LAW TO THE FACTS

       The certificate from the Secretary of State shows service was attempted by the Secretary

of State by certified mail, return receipt requested, sent to “Elizabeth Becker, 350 N. Robert St.,

St. Paul, MN 55101.” Further, that certificate states the mail was returned marked “No Such

Number.”

       The record indicates that USBNA filed notice of this restricted appeal within six months

after the judgment was signed. It further shows that USBNA was a party to this suit, it did not

participate in the hearing that resulted in the default judgment at issue, and USBNA did not file

any postjudgment motions or requests for findings of fact and conclusions of law. Consequently,

the only issue relevant in this case is whether there is error apparent on the face of the record.

See Alexander, 134 S.W.3d at 848 (laying out elements of a restricted appeal).

       USBNA asserts that the record shows service was not accomplished in strict compliance

with Texas law regarding service. Further, citing MobileVision Imaging Services, L.L.C. v.

LifeCare Hospitals of N. Texas, L.P., USBNA argues “[w]hen the plaintiff relies on service

through the secretary of state, the record must show that (1) the defendant was amenable to

service through the secretary of state and (2) the defendant was in fact served in the manner

required by the statute.” MobileVision Imaging Services, L.L.C. v. LifeCare Hospitals of N.

Texas, L.P., 260 S.W.3d 561, 564 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008, no pet.). Specifically, USBNA also

contends that it was not amenable to service through the Texas Business Organizations Code §

5.251, nor does the record show that it was served in compliance with either the Business

Organizations Code or the long-arm statute of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code.

       In response, Bonney contends on appeal that service was properly accomplished pursuant

to Texas Business Organizations Code § 5.251. She argues that service in this case met the

requirements of the Business Organizations Code because, in her petition, USBNA “is alleged to

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be a foreign filing entity that did not maintain a registered agent for service of process in this

State.” Bonney further contends that she did not need to allege that the address provided was

USBNA’s “home or home office” pursuant to the Long-Arm statute of the Civil Practice and

Remedies Code since “the documents were directed to the address designated by [USBNA] to

receive service of process.”

       However, Bonney has not addressed the critical proposition we must consider. That is,

whether the face of the record shows USBNA was served with strict compliance with the rules

for service of citation. See Starbucks Corp., Inc., 2007 WL 3317523, at *1-2. The record shows

the only proof of service is the Secretary of State’s return bearing the notation “No such

number.”    That return is prima facie evidence that USBNA was not served.             See GMR

Gymnastics Sales, Inc. v. Walz, 117 S.W.3d 57, 59 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2003, pet.

denied); see also Uvalde Country Club, 690 S.W.2d at 885; Wright Bros. Energy, Inc. v. Krough,

67 S.W.3d 271, 275 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2001, no pet.) (holding that where process

was returned with notation “no such number,” this was sufficient to put plaintiff on notice that

there was a “problem with the address”).

       We conclude there is error apparent on the face of the record. See id. The first issue is

decided in USBNA’s favor. This issue is dispositive, so we need not address USBNA’s second

issue. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1.

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                                      IV. CONCLUSION

       We reverse the default judgment of the trial court, and the case is remanded for

proceedings consistent with this opinion.

                                                  /Douglas S. Lang/
                                                  DOUGLAS S. LANG
                                                  JUSTICE

121294F.P05

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                                        S
                               Court of Appeals
                        Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                      JUDGMENT

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,                     On Appeal from the 116th Judicial District
Appellant                                           Court, Dallas County, Texas
                                                    Trial Court Cause No. DC-12-04176.
No. 05-12-01294-CV         V.                       Opinion delivered by Justice Lang. Justices
                                                    Moseley and Brown participating.
BONNEY, PAULA A., Appellee

        In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is
REVERSED, and this case is REMANDED to the trial court for proceedings consistent with
this opinion.
        It is ORDERED that appellant U.S. Bank National Association recover its costs of this
appeal from appellee Paula A. Bonney.

Judgment entered this 13th day of December, 2013.

                                                    /Douglas S. Lang/
                                                    DOUGLAS S. LANG
                                                    JUSTICE

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