Court Opinion

ID: 2721117
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-27 04:08:23.504102+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:43:12.647043
License: Public Domain

Opinion issued August 26, 2014.

                                    In The

                             Court of Appeals
                                   For The

                         First District of Texas
                           ————————————
                             NO. 01-12-00284-CV
                          ———————————
                    HAROLD EARL WILSON, Appellant
                                      V.
    DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS FORMERLY
    KNOWN AS BANKER’S TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE AND
           CUSTODIAN FOR IXIS 2006-HE2, Appellee

                  On Appeal from the 133rd District Court
                           Harris County, Texas
                      Trial Court Case No. 0771999A

               MEMORANDUM OPINION ON REHEARING

      We originally issued our memorandum opinion in this appeal on

April 17, 2014. Appellant, Harold Earl Wilson, has filed a motion for rehearing.
We grant the motion for rehearing and withdraw our previous opinion and

judgment, issuing this opinion and judgment in their place.

      This is the third appeal arising out of an ongoing dispute between Harold

Earl Wilson and his ex-wife, Veronica Wilson, regarding the division of their

marital estate. Harold asserts an ownership interest in the couple’s former

residence that Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas recently acquired. Harold

filed this suit to recover that property, alleging his wife had sold it without his

consent. A trial court granted Deutsche Bank summary judgment, finding res

judicata barred Harold from re-litigating his claim to property that was disposed of

in a final divorce decree. In three issues, Harold contends that the trial court erred

in granting summary judgment to Deutsche Bank. We affirm.

                                    Background

      For over 10 years, Harold has engaged in litigation challenging a trial court’s

division of the marital estate he shared with his ex-wife. In 2002, a trial court

granted Veronica’s petition for divorce and divided the marital estate. As part of

the division, the trial court granted Veronica the couple’s residential property

located at 5321 Indian Shores Lane in Houston, Texas. Harold appealed,

challenging the sufficiency of the evidence to support the trial court’s division of

their estate. This Court affirmed the final divorce decree, but reversed and

                                          2
remanded the division for a new trial because there was insufficient evidence to

support the trial court’s division of the estate.

      In 2006, a trial court entered a second divorce decree and again divided the

estate, disposing of all of the Wilsons’ assets. 1 The division did not explicitly

address the Indian Shores property, which Veronica had sold in February 2006,

almost four months before the trial court’s second judgment. At trial, Veronica

testified regarding the assets they owned and introduced an inventory and

appraisement into evidence. Wilson v. Wilson, No. 01-06-00908-CV, 2010 WL
2545579, at *5–6 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2010, pet. denied). The

inventory included her cash, bank accounts, and stock. Harold did not object to the

accuracy of the inventory or Veronica’s testimony. 2010 WL 2545579, at *2 n.1.

Nor did he controvert her evidence regarding the couple’s property. Id.

      When Harold initially appealed the 2006 division, he argued that the trial

court erred by (1) granting a new divorce effective in 2006 because the divorce

was final in 2002 and the only issue remanded after the first appeal was the

division of their property; (2) relying on Veronica’s testimony regarding the 2006

value of their marital estate; and (3) failing to require an “accounting” of their

estate for the period between the 2002 divorce and the 2006 trial. 2010 WL
1
      This Court later held that the trial court erred in granting a second divorce. See
      Wilson v. Wilson, No. 01-06-00908-CV, 2010 WL 2545579, at *1 (Tex. App.—
      Houston [1st Dist.] 2010, pet. denied).
                                            3
2545579, at *1. In 2010, this Court held that the trial court erred by granting a

second divorce because the 2002 divorce was final. But the Court held that there

was sufficient evidence supporting the trial court’s division of the estate and that

Harold waived any right to challenge the lack of an accounting by failing to object

to Veronica’s testimony or to offer any controverting evidence. 2010 WL 2545579,

at *2 n.1.

      One year later, Harold filed a lawsuit against Deutsche Bank to recover an

interest in the Indian Shores property. 2 In his petition, Harold stated that Veronica

had sold the property on February 28, 2006, to Joaquin and Rachel Barrera and that

the bank had obtained the property through a foreclosure sale and had recorded a

deed on November 13, 2006. Harold contended that he had never consented to the

deed conveying the property to the Barreras, the deed of trust securing the bank’s

financing for the Barreras’ purchase, or the foreclosure deed of trust. Deutsche

Bank moved for summary judgment, arguing that this Court’s 2010 decision

“conclusively determined” that Harold had no interest in the property and that res

judicata precluded his claims against the bank. The trial court granted Deutsche

Bank summary judgment and severed Harold’s claims against the bank.

      Harold timely appealed the judgment granted to Deutsche Bank.

2
      Harold also named Joaquin and Raquel Barrera as defendants, but the claims
      against Deutsche Bank were severed after it was granted summary judgment.
                                          4
                               Summary Judgment

      Harold contends that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment to

Deutsche Bank for three reasons: (1) res judicata does not bar him from bringing a

lawsuit to recover an interest in the Indian Shores property; (2) collateral estoppel

does not bar his claims because there is no evidence that “any factual issues

concerning title to the Indian Shores residence were actually litigated during the

second divorce proceeding”; and (3) the bank failed to “conclusively establish that

[he] was divested of title to the residence by a valid conveyance by [his ex-wife]

Veronica.”

A.    Standard of review

      We review a trial court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. TEX. R.

CIV. P. 166a; Mann Frankfort Stein & Lipp Advisors, Inc. v. Fielding, 289 S.W.3d
844, 848 (Tex. 2009). There are different standards for reviewing traditional and

no-evidence summary judgments. Parker v. Valerus Compression Servs., LP, 365
S.W.3d 61, 65–66 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2011, pet. denied). When, as is

the case here, the movant does not specify the type of summary judgment, does not

use the term “no-evidence,” does not reference Texas Rule of Civil Procedure

166a(i), and only raises affirmative defenses, we review the motion as a traditional

motion for summary judgment. TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(b)–(c), (i); see Young Ref.

Corp. v. Pennzoil Co., 46 S.W.3d 380, 385–86 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]

                                         5
2001, pet. denied); see also Weaver v. Highlands Ins. Co., 4 S.W.3d 826, 829 n.2

(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1999, no pet.).

      Summary judgment is proper if, having viewed all of the evidence in the

light most favorable to the non-movant, there are no genuine issues of material

fact. Ford Motor Co. v. Ridgway, 135 S.W.3d 598, 600 (Tex. 2004). In reviewing

the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-movant, “[a] genuine issue of

material fact exists if more than a scintilla of evidence establishing the existence of

the challenged element is produced.” Id. An issue of material fact may be

established by direct or circumstantial evidence. Id. at 601 (citing Lozano v.

Lozano, 52 S.W.3d 141, 149 (Tex. 2001)). If evidence transcends “mere

suspicion,” it raises a genuine issue of material fact, but evidence that is “so slight

as to make any inference a guess is in legal effect no evidence.” Id. When the order

granting summary judgment does not specify the grounds on which it was granted,

we must affirm the summary judgment if any of the asserted grounds are

meritorious. FM Props. Operating Co. v. City of Austin, 22 S.W.3d 868, 872–73

(Tex. 2000).

B.    Res judicata

      Harold contends that summary judgment based on res judicata from the 2006

judgment was improper because that judgment did not award the Indian Shores

property to Veronica. To prevail in raising res judicata as an affirmative defense,

                                          6
the following elements must be present: (1) a prior final judgment on the merits by

a court of competent jurisdiction, (2) the same parties from the previous litigation

or those in privity with them are now being sued, and (3) a second action based on

the same claims as were raised or could have been raised in the first action. Barnes

v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 395 S.W.3d 165, 173 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]

2012, pet. denied); see also Igal v. Brightstar Info. Tech. Grp., Inc., 250 S.W.3d
78, 86 (Tex. 2008). Harold argues that the third element is missing because the

2006 decree did not expressly mention the Indian Shores property and, therefore,

the property was not part of that judgment. He also contends that, because the

property was not conveyed, “it is impossible to apply” res judicata.

      1.     Waiver

      As a preliminary matter, we consider Deutsche Bank’s contention that

Harold waived his right to challenge the summary judgment granted in its favor

because he did not preserve error by first raising this argument in the trial court.

      To preserve a complaint for appellate review, a party must make a timely

request, objection, or motion with sufficient specificity to notify the trial court of

the complaint and to afford the trial court an opportunity to rule on the objection.

TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a)(1)(A). With the exception of challenging the legal

sufficiency of a summary judgment, a “non-movant must expressly present to the

trial court, by written answer or response, any issues defeating the movant’s

                                           7
entitlement” to summary judgment to preserve the right to appeal. McConnell v.

Southside Indep. Sch. Dist., 858 S.W.2d 337, 343 (Tex. 1993); see Oleksy v.

Farmers Ins. Exch., 410 S.W.3d 378, 384–85 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]

2013, pet. denied); City of Houston v. Clear Creek Basin Auth., 589 S.W.2d 671,

745–75 (Tex. 1979) (holding that failure to “expressly present to the trial court

those issues that would defeat the movant’s right to a summary judgment” waives

complaint); see also TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(c) (“Issues not expressly presented to the

trial court by written motion, answer or other response shall not be considered on

appeal as grounds for reversal.”).

      Deutsche Bank’s summary judgment motion argued that Harold’s claim that

he owned the Indian Shores property was precluded by res judicata because the

property was addressed in the trial court’s 2006 division of the marital estate.

Harold responded that the bank “failed to meet its burden to produce evidence or

facts to support a summary judgment on res judicata . . . [and, therefore, he had]

raised a genuine issue of material fact.” Specifically, Harold argued that the 2006

property division made “absolutely no mention of” the Indian Shores property and,

therefore, it did not dispose of his interest in the property. He did not argue, as he

does now, that Deutsche Bank failed to establish the third element of res judicata.

      In support of his appellate argument that this element is missing, Harold

argues that the Texas Family Code permits either former spouse to bring a post-

                                          8
divorce suit to divide community property that was not explicitly included in the

divorce decree. While Harold did not reference the Family Code in his summary

judgment response, he did contend that the 2006 judgment did not divest him of his

interest in the Indian Shores property and that the bank failed to explain why the

2002 decree addressed that property but the 2006 decree did not do so. Harold also

cited Schlueter v. Schlueter, 975 S.W.2d 584, 591 (Tex. 1998), for the proposition

that a trial court cannot prohibit a suit by a former spouse to recover his separate

property. We conclude that Harold’s arguments in response to the bank’s summary

judgment motion are sufficiently similar to his argument on appeal that the 2006

judgment did not bar his lawsuit against the bank because it did not dispose of his

interest in the Indian Shores property.

      Accordingly, we conclude that Harold did not waive his right to raise that

argument on appeal. TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1. We, therefore, turn to the merits of

Deutsche Bank’s res judicata defense.

      2.     Summary judgment was proper based on res judicata

      Deutsche Bank contends that the 2006 divorce decree, as interpreted in this

Court’s 2010 opinion, addressed all of the Wilson property, and, therefore, res

judicata applies. Specifically, the bank contends that the 2006 judgment accounted

for the sale of the Indian Shores property in making its property division and that

                                          9
the 2010 opinion rejected Harold’s argument that the trial court abused its

discretion in dividing the property.

      Res judicata is an affirmative defense that “prevents the re-litigation of a

claim or cause of action that has been finally adjudicated in a prior lawsuit.”

Barnes, 395 S.W.3d at 173 (citing Barr v. Resolution Trust Corp., 837 S.W.2d
627, 628 (Tex. 1992)); see also TEX. R. CIV. P. 94. Final divorce decrees, like all

other final judgments, are subject to res judicata. Baxter v. Ruddle, 794 S.W.2d
761, 762 (Tex. 1990).

      Harold’s arguments are premised on his contention that the 2006 judgment

did not dispose of the Indian Shores property and, therefore, he still retains his

interest—whether separate or community—in the property. Harold correctly

observes that “[e]ither former spouse may file a suit . . . to divide property not

divided or awarded to a spouse in a final decree of divorce or annulment.” TEX.

FAM. CODE ANN. § 9.201(a) (West 2011); see, e.g., Harrell v. Harrell, 692 S.W.2d
876 (Tex. 1985); Busby v. Busby, 457 S.W.2d 551, 554–55 (Tex. 1970). These

cases do not apply, however, when the final decree divides all of the marital

property. See, e.g., Wilde v. Murchie, 949 S.W.2d 331, 332–33 (Tex. 1997)

(reversing trial court finding of omitted property because decree divided all

contested property).

                                        10
      The 2006 judgment disposed of all the property owned by Veronica and

Harold at the time. The Indian Shores property already had been sold; therefore, it

could not have been divided or conveyed. Thus, it was not mentioned in the June

2006 division. But the trial court did consider any value the estate might have

gained from the sale of that property in dividing the estate. During the 2006 trial,

Veronica offered testimony regarding the total value of their estate and offered an

inventory and appraisal into evidence. Harold did not object to or controvert any of

Veronica’s testimony. But Harold later appealed the 2006 division, arguing that the

trial court should have “required an ‘accounting’ of marital assets from the time of

January 8, 2002, the date of the parties’ actual divorce through the date the

remanded marital division was tried on June 26, 2006.” See Wilson, 2010 WL
2545579, at *3 n.1. In overruling Harold’s assertion that an accounting was

necessary and upholding the 2006 division, this Court held that Harold waived any

right to challenge the lack of appraisal because he did not raise the issue in the trial

court. 2010 WL 2545579, at *11. Based on this record, we conclude that the trial

court’s 2006 decree divided the marital property, including any proceeds from the

sale of the Indian Shores property that could have been traced had Harold pursued

an accounting in the trial court. The 2006 decree, therefore, addressed the Indian

Shores property.

                                          11
      Accordingly, the third element of res judicata—a second action based on the

same claims that were raised or could have been raised in the first action—is

satisfied because Harold seeks to re-litigate “a claim or cause of action that has

been finally adjudicated.” Barr, 837 S.W.2d at 629; see Matter of Marriage of

Parr, 543 S.W.2d 433, 436 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1976, no writ) (upholding

judgment because res judicata barred “a subsequent suit between the same parties

or with another so identified in interest with such parties that he represents the

same particular issue previously tried”).

      We conclude that the trial court did not err by granting Deutsche Bank

summary judgment based on res judicata.3

C.    Conveyance of the Indian Shores property

      Harold next contends that Deutsche Bank’s “motion and evidence does not

conclusively establish that Harold was divested of title to the residence by a valid

conveyance by Veronica.” The bank responds that it did not rely on the

conveyance in its summary judgment motion. We agree.

3
      Because we hold that summary judgment was proper based on res judicata, we do
      not reach Harold’s alternative argument that summary judgment was improper on
      collateral estoppel grounds. See Barnes v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 395 S.W.3d
165, 174 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2012, pet. denied) (noting that “party
      asserting the [collateral estoppel] doctrine must prove that: (1) the facts sought to
      be litigated in the second action were fully and fairly litigated in the first action;
      (2) the facts were essential to the judgment in the first action, and (3) the party
      against whom collateral estoppel is sought was a party in the first action.”).
                                            12
      The bank’s summary judgment motion, and our reason for finding no error,

is that summary judgment was based on res judicata based upon the 2006 judgment

and this Court’s later affirmation of that judgment. See Wilson, 2010 WL 2545579,

at *5–6.

      Because summary judgment was properly granted on the basis of res

judicata, we overrule Wilson’s third issue.

                                    Conclusion

      Having overruled all of Wilson’s issues, we affirm.

                                              Harvey Brown
                                              Justice

Panel consists of Justices Keyes, Bland, and Brown.

                                         13