Court Opinion

ID: 9773325
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 17:42:11.887558+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:31:52.105877
License: Public Domain

OPINION ON THE MERITS
This is an appeal from the granting of a summary judgment which had the effect of denying appellants’ petition for bill of review. The appellants, Victor Hildyard, acting individually and on behalf of Rio Ray Citrus, Inc., sought by bill of review to set aside a default judgment taken against them by appellee Fannel Studio, Inc.
The original suit was brought in the nature of a sworn account by Fannel to recover some $6,775.54 for services rendered in providing certain advertising materials to Rio Ray Citrus, Inc. plus $2,250.00 in attorneys’ fees. Fannel’s petition alleged that Rio Ray’s corporate charter was forfeited on or about March 10, 1975 for failure to pay its franchise tax. It alleged that service of citation could be had by serving the Secretary of State by virtue of Article 2031b Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat.Ann. (1964).1 The *337petition further alleged that the corporation was a resident of Weslaco, Hidalgo County, Texas and that Hildyard was the principal stockholder of the corporation which is no longer in existence. The petition stated that Hildyard does not maintain a place of regular business in the state nor has he designated an agent upon which service of process could be made. Fannel alleged that service could be had upon the Secretary of State as agent for defendants. Fannel further stated that Hildyard’s last known address was at 1666 South University Boulevard, Denver, Colorado.
A default judgment against Rio Ray and Victor Hildyard was rendered on September 22,1975. On October 3,1975, the appellants Rio Ray and Hildyard, filed a motion to set aside the default judgment. Four days later the appellants filed a general denial and a special answer alleging as a defense to plaintiff’s claims, the two year statute of limitations. In addition, the appellants filed an amended motion to set aside the default judgment. The appellee, Fannel, filed its answer to appellants’ motions for new trial. On October 23, 1975, the trial court entered an order setting aside the default judgment, but on December 8, 1975, the trial court, apparently realizing it no longer had jurisdiction and control over its original judgment, vacated that order and reinstated the original default judgment. On December 12, 1975, the appellants filed their petition for bill of review to set aside the default judgment rendered contending that proper service upon the defendants was not made since Rio Ray had a duly registered agent upon which service could be had and that proper service had never been attempted upon either Rio Ray or Hildyard. Fannel, the appellee, filed an original answer and a motion for summary judgment. The trial court granted the summary judgment. It is from this judgment that appellants have perfected their appeal to this Court.
Appellants second point of error presents the controlling question of whether the trial court erred in granting appellee Fannel’s motion for summary judgment. Where a motion for summary judgment has been filed the trial court must determine if there are any issues of material fact to be tried. In determining this, all doubts as to the existence of a genuine issue of material fact must be resolved against the party moving for summary judgment. Gulbenkian v. Penn, 151 Tex. 412, 252 S.W.2d 939 (1952); Lyons v. Paul, 321 S.W.2d 944 (Tex.Civ.App.—Waco 1958, writ ref’d n. r. e.). Together with the rule of summary judgment, we must also consider the rules which pertain to a bill of review which is the relief sought by the appellants.
A bill of review will not be granted unless the petitioner clearly satisfies the requirements of pleading and proof. The petitioner must allege under oath and prove: 1) a meritorious defense; 2) which he was prevented from making by fraud, accident or wrongful act of the opposite party; 3) unmixed with any fault or negligence of his own. Petro-Chemical Transport, Inc. v. Carroll, 514 S.W.2d 240 (Tex.Sup.1974); Texas Machinery & Equipment Company, Inc. v. Gordon Knox Oil & Exploration Company, 442 S.W.2d 315 (Tex.Sup.1969); Gracey v. West, 422 S.W.2d 913 (Tex.Sup.1968).
The question, therefore, is whether or not the appellants’ petition in the bill of review and their summary judgment answer proof was sufficient to resist the granting of ap-pellee’s motion for summary judgment. The record before us contains only the appellants’ original petition in the bill of review. There is nothing in the record to show the type of notice used on the defendants in the default judgment case. We do not have the notice of citation, the sheriff’s return of service or any matter showing substituted service by the Secretary of State. Even if the appellants had standing in the courts of Texas2 they did not file any *338affidavits showing who the proper agent for service would be. The default judgment recited proper service of citation.
In addition, the appellants’ bill of review was insufficient. Although the appellants allege they had a good defense to the former judgment, they do not allege that they were prevented from making such defense due to the fraud, accident, or wrongful act of the opposite party. Since the record is void of proof and lacking in pleadings of one of the essential elements necessary to present a proper bill of review, the trial court was correct in granting ap-pellee’s motion for summary judgment. We might add that there is one additional reason for refusing to consider appellants’ bill of review. Although the appellants’ pleadings were verified by their attorney, they were not sworn to by the appellants, Rio Ray and/or Hildyard. See McCann v. Ward County, 423 S.W.2d 339 (Tex.Civ.App.—El Paso 1967, writ ref’d, n. r. e.); Warne v. Jackson, 273 S.W. 315 (Tex.Civ.App.—San Antonio 1925, writ dism’d); Patrucio v. Selkirk, 160 S.W. 635 (Tex.Civ.App.—Austin 1913, writ ref’d). See also Barnard v. Kuldell, 349 S.W.2d 313 (Tex.Civ.App.— Houston 1961, no writ).
The appellants, in their remaining points of error, attempt to attack the validity of the original judgment rendered by the trial court. The bill of review was the proper vehicle to attack this judgment. See McEwen v. Harrison, 162 Tex. 125, 345 S.W.2d 706 (1961). Since the appellants did not satisfy the requirements of pleading and proof when they sought their bill of review, their remaining points of error have no merit here. See Griffith v. Conard, 536 S.W.2d 658 (Tex.Civ.App.—Corpus Christi 1976, no writ).
The judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.

. Sec. 6 When any corporation, association, joint stock company, partnership or natural person becomes a non-resident of Texas, as that term is commonly used, after a cause of action shall arise in this State, but prior to the time the cause of action is matured by suit in a court of competent jurisdiction in this State, when such corporation, association, joint stock company, partnership or natural person is not required to appoint a service agent in this State, such corporation, association, joint stock company, partnership or natural person may be served with citation by serving a copy of the process upon the Secretary of State of Texas, who shall be conclusively presumed to be the true and lawful attorney to receive service of process; provided that the Secretary of State shall forward a copy of such service to the person in charge of such business or an officer of such company, or to such natural person by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.

. See Tex.Gen.Ann. Art. 12.14 (1964) which states that [A]ny corporation whose right to do business shall be thus forfeited shall be denied the right to sue or defend in any court of this State, except in a suit to forfeit the charter or certificate of authority of such corporation. *338The article further states that “[E]ach director and officer of any corporation whose right to do business within this State shall be so forfeited shall, as to any and all debts of such corporation, ... be deemed and held liable thereon in the same manner and in the same extent as if such directors and officers of such corporation were partners.”