Court Opinion

ID: 9662716
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 23:16:10.10585+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:41.614865
License: Public Domain

SUPPLEMENTAL OPINION ON APPELLANTS’ MOTION FOR REHEARING
Appellants assert in their motion for rehearing that, “Even if the Court adheres to its holding that Appellants are estopped by the 1911 deed from asserting title to the minerals underlying the eastern portion of Survey" 16 on the grounds that G.C. Earwood impliedly conveyed those rights to Walker in a compromise and settlement of conflicting claims, Appellants cannot be estopped from asserting superior title to the minerals underlying Survey 15 ... since someone other than Earwood held the title to Survey 15 at that time.” We issue this supplemental opinion to clarify our opinion in response to this contention.
Appellants’ contention is contrary to the Texas Supreme Court’s holding in Waco Bridge Co. v. City of Waco, 85 Tex. 320, 20 S.W. 137, 140 (1892). Appellants sought to acquire the title claimed by Walker to both Survey 15 and Survey 16 for purposes of quieting title or removing clouds or conflicting claims. The appellants were not *7simply seeking to acquire Walker’s title to Survey 16 as evidenced by Earwood’s subsequent fencing of the relocated boundaries of both Survey 15 and Survey 16. In addition, the Texas Supreme Court held that when a deed is acquired for purposes of quieting title or removing a cloud or conflicting claim, the person acquiring the deed “must be held to have taken it with and become bound by its reservations.” Id. (emphasis added). Earwood is es-topped by all the reservations and recitals in the 1911 deed not just the reservations and recitals relating to Survey 16. In applying the estoppel theory, the Texas Supreme Court stated the theory is applicable if the deed in question is “one of the sources under which the plaintiff claimed the land.” Id. When Earwood fenced the Survey 15 land and in the subsequent transaction with Whitehead, the 1911 deed was a source of title under which Earwood claimed the land. In fact, the contract between Earwood and Whitehead specifically references the 1911 deed.
Appellants’ motion for rehearing is denied.