Court Opinion

ID: 9951476
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-17 07:17:20.895759+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:40:33.238596
License: Public Domain

Petition for Writ of Mandamus Conditionally Granted and Opinion filed
March 14, 2024.

                                In The

                 Fourteenth Court of Appeals

                           NO. 14-23-00753-CV

 IN RE JOSEPH JACKSON; BAYLOR ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC; RL
360 FUNDING LLC; JCLZ LEGACY LLC; DCT ENTITY MANAGEMENT
LLC; DVI OPPORTUNITIES UNLIMITED, INC,; KILGORE COMMONS,
                        LLC, Relators

                     ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
                       WRIT OF MANDAMUS
                          151st District Court
                         Harris County, Texas
                   Trial Court Cause No. 2022-68763

                     MEMORANDUM OPINION

     On Friday, October 13, 2023, relators Joseph Jackson; Baylor Asset
Management LLC; RL 360 Funding LLC; JCLZ Legacy LLC; DCT Entity
Management LLC; DVI Opportunities Unlimited, Inc.; Kilgore Commons, LLC
filed a petition for writ of mandamus in this Court. See Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. §
22.221; see also Tex. R. App. P. 52. In the petition, relators asks this Court to
compel the Honorable Judge Mike Engelhart, presiding judge of the 151st District
Court of Harris County, to: (1) to vacate its order denying relators’ motion to
expunge notices of lis pendens on 27 properties; and (2) direct the trial court to
expunge the notice of lis pendens on those properties. We conditionally grant the
petition for writ of mandamus.

                                    Background

      Houston Secured Development Partners, LLC (real party in interest) was
created to conduct real estate investments, including the acquisition of multi-family
and single-family residential properties, development through ground-up
construction or rehabilitation, and lease and/or the sale of the properties. Real party
in interest is an investment fund capitalized by the sale of membership units.
HDSP Management, LLC was formed for the express purpose of managing real
party in interest’s $4.2 million fund and is controlled by Joseph Jackson, a relator.
Real party in interest alleged that its “assets are missing, and it appears that fund
assets have been used to develop other properties owned by Jackson or his
affiliated companies.” Jackson’s affiliated companies are all named as relators in
this original proceeding. Jackson owns these companies in whole or in part.

      In October 2022, real party in interest filed an original petition against
Jackson for misrepresentation, breach of contract, unjust enrichment, breach of
fiduciary duty, and injunctive relief. In later petitions and supplements to petitions,
HSDP named all relators as defendants. According to relators’ petition, “during the
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course of the [t]rial [c]ourt case,” real party in interest filed 27 notices of lis
pendens and “encumbered property owned by [r]elators.” In March 2023, relators
filed a motion to expunge the notices of lis pendens and in and the following
month, the trial court signed the order denying relators’ motion to expunge notices
of lis pendens. Relators filed a writ of mandamus in this court on October 13, 2023
requesting this court vacate the trial court’s order denying relators’ motion to
expunge notices of lis pendens on the properties and direct the trial court to
expunge the notice of lis pendens on those properties. Real party in interest filed a
response November 29, 2023.

                                   Standard of Review
      Mandamus has been recognized as the appropriate remedy when issues have
arisen concerning the issuance of notices of lis pendens. First Nat. Petroleum
Corp. v. Lloyd, 908 S.W.2d 23, 24 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1995, no.
writ). To obtain mandamus relief, a relator generally must show both that the trial
court clearly abused its discretion and that relator has no adequate remedy by
appeal. In re Chong, No. 14-19-00368-CV, 2019 WL 2589968, at *2 (Tex. App.—
Houston [14th Dist.] June 25, 2019, orig. proceeding); see In re Prudential Ins. Co.
of Am., 148 S.W.3d 124, 135–36 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding). A trial court
clearly abuses its discretion if it reaches a decision so arbitrary and unreasonable as
to amount to a clear and prejudicial error of law or if it clearly fails to analyze the
law correctly or apply the law correctly to the facts. Id.; see In re Cerberus Capital
Mgmt. L.P., 164 S.W.3d 379, 382 (Tex. 2005) (orig. proceeding) (per curiam).
“Under an abuse of discretion standard, we defer to the trial court's factual

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determinations if they are supported by evidence, but we review the trial court's
legal determinations de novo.” Id. (quoting In re Labatt Food Serv., L.P., 279
S.W.3d 640, 643 (Tex. 2009) (orig. proceeding)). Relator must establish that the
trial court could reasonably have reached only one decision, but did not reach that
decision. Id. See Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 840 (Tex. 1992) (orig.
proceeding). As the party seeking relief, relator bears the burden of demonstrating
entitlement to mandamus relief. In re Moreno, No. 14-14-00929-CV, 2015 WL
225049, at *1 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Jan. 15, 2015, orig. proceeding).
                                       Lis pendens
      “Lis pendens provides a mechanism for putting the public on notice of
certain categories of litigation involving real property.” Id. at *2. (quoting Prappas
v. Meyerland Cmty. Improvement Ass'n, 795 S.W.2d 794, 795 (Tex. App.—
Houston [14th Dist.] 1990, writ denied)); see also In re Miller, 433 S.W.3d 82, 84
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2014, orig. proceeding) (“A lis pendens is a notice
of litigation, placed in the real property records, asserting an interest in the
property, and notifying third parties that ownership of the property is disputed.”).
By statute, a lis pendens may be filed with respect to a lawsuit “involving title to
real property, the establishment of an interest in real property, or the enforcement
of an encumbrance against real property.” In re Moreno, 2015 WL 225049, at *2;
Tex. Prop. Code Ann. §12.007(a).
      Once a lis pendens has been filed, the statute provides it can be removed
through expunction, pursuant to section 12.0071 of the Property Code. Moreno,
2015 WL 225049, at *2. Section 12.0071 identifies three circumstances in which

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the trial court “shall order the notice of lis pendens expunged.” Id. (quoting Tex.
Prop. Code Ann. § 12.0071(c)). One of those circumstances is when the trial court
“determines that [ ] the pleading on which the notice is based does not contain a
real property claim.” Id.

                               Real property claim
      A real property claim is “an action involving title to real property, the
establishment of an interest in real property, or the enforcement of an encumbrance
against real property. Chong, 2019 WL 2589968, at *2. (quoting Moreno, 2015
WL 225049, at *2). The suit on which the lis pendens is based must claim a direct
interest in real property rather than a collateral interest. Countrywide Home Loans,
Inc. v. Howard, 240 S.W.3d 1, 4 (Tex. App.—Austin 2007, pet. denied); See also
Tex. Prop. Code Ann. § 12.007. In other words, the property against which the lis
pendens is filed must be the subject matter of the underlying lawsuit. Id. Here, real
party in interest in its response alleges the lis pendens is proper and should not be
expunged because: (1) It alleges a real property claim through a constructive trust;
and (2) It alleges a real property claim through its company agreement. To
determine whether the lis pendens should be expunged, we analyze whether either
claim qualifies as a real property claim under section 12.0071 of the Property
Code. Tex. Prop. Code Ann. § 12.0071.

                                Analysis of Lis Pendens

      Constructive trust A real property claim does not lie in cases where claims
for equitable ownership through a constructive trust are “not seeking to restore real

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property that was misappropriated” but seek “an interest in real property to satisfy
a potential judgment.” Chong, 2019 WL 2589968, at *3. “[T]hey both are means
by which the plaintiff seeks to recover judgment against the defendant for fraud or
conversion.” Id. at *4. Further, a constructive trust is not sufficient to establish a
direct interest in the property, but only a collateral interest and does not support a
lis pendens. Flores v. Haberman, 915 S.W.2d 477, 478 (Tex. 1995) (orig.
proceeding) (“In the present case, the plaintiffs seek a constructive trust in the
purchased properties only to satisfy the judgment they seek. . . As such, the interest
is no more than a collateral interest in the property. Therefore the notices of lis
pendens are improper.”).
       In its response, real party in interest asserts a direct, real property claim
through a constructive trust on the properties. Here, real party in interest in its
response said the lis pendens “became necessary only because” relator Jackson
“violated the court’s temporary restraining order by selling the Natchez property to
another developer and using the proceeds from that sale to pay [relator Jackson’s]
‘business associate’ and to pay criminal restitution in a felony-theft case against
[relator Jackson.]” This indicates the lis pendens in this case was necessary to
satisfy a judgment and is a collateral interest in the property. Thus, it is not a direct
real property claim under Tex. Prop. Code Ann. § 12.0071.
       Further, real party in interest suggests that its claimed constructive trust is
an encumbrance on the property. See Marathon Mach. Tools, Inc. v. Davis-Lynch,
Inc., 400 S.W.3d 133, 137 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2013, pet denied.)
(“A person claiming equitable ownership under a constructive trust is a lien

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creditor with respect to the property covered by the trust.”) However, because a
constructive trust does not establish a direct property claim, this encumbrance
claimed through constructive trust does not establish a direct property claim. Thus,
the claimed constructive trust likely is not a real property claim.
      Company agreement Moreover, the suit on which the lis pendens is based
must claim a direct interest in real property rather than a collateral interest.
Countrywide Home Loans, 240 S.W.3d at 4; see also Tex. Prop. Code Ann. §
12.007. In other words, the property against which the lis pendens is filed must be
the subject matter of the underlying lawsuit. Id. If the suit seeks a property interest
only to secure the recovery of damages or other relief that the plaintiff may be
awarded, the interest is merely collateral and will not support a lis pendens. Id.
(citing Flores, 915 S.W.2d at 478.)
      Here, real party in interest argues it has a direct real property claim in the
land through its company agreement. The company agreement reads:
      The Company was formed to invest in multifamily triplexes and
      single-family residential properties in Houston, Texas (each a
      “Property” and collectively, the “Properties”) through ground-up
      construction, rehabilitation, lease, and/or sale of the Properties.

With this goal in mind, real party in interest states that its “sole purpose was to
acquire any and all real properties in which their money was utilized for
acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation.” It asserts that relators “misappropriated
and misused” its money “to acquire and improve real property.” Thus, it then
alleges it has a direct real property claim because its “real-estate investment money
was in fact invested in real property.”

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      However, this court has repeatedly rejected this logic. Like Moss and
Chong, this case involves “the use of funds obtained from the plaintiff to purchase
real property.” Chong, 2019 WL 2589968, at *3; Moss v. Tennant, 722 S.W.2d 762,
762-63 (Tex. App.— Houston [14th Dist.] 1986, orig. proceeding).

      In Moss, “[o]ur court noted that the plaintiff’s suit did ‘not seek recovery to
the title to relator’s property nor to establish an interest in the [property] except as
security for the recovery of . . . damages ... on his fraud allegation and only to the
extent he [could] trace the proceeds’ used to purchase of the property. Therefore,
our court held that the plaintiff's claim was “‘essentially a prayer for a judgment
lien, affects the property only collaterally, and does not come within the provisions
of §12.007.’” Id. (quoting Moss, 722 S.W.2d at 762-63.).

      In Chong, our court found that a party sought a property claim not “to
restore real property that was misappropriated from it,” but to seek “an interest in
real property to satisfy a potential judgment” as a “means by which the plaintiff
seeks to recover judgment against the defendant for fraud or conversion.” Chong,
2019 WL 2589968, at *3-4. Thus, the party did not allege a direct property claim
under section 12.0071 and the lis pendens was expunged. Id.

      The facts here mirror those cases. Real party in interest alleges in its
pleadings that its “assets are missing, and it appears that fund assets have been
used to develop other properties owned” by relator Jackson and his companies. But
real party in interest in its response said the lis pendens “became necessary only
because” relator Jackson “violated the court’s temporary restraining order by

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selling the Natchez property to another developer and using the proceeds from that
sale to pay [relator Jackson’s] ‘business associate’ and to pay criminal restitution
in a felony-theft case against [relator Jackson].” This indicates that real party in
interest asserted an interest in the properties as a “means by which. . . to recover
judgment against the defendant for fraud or conversion.” Id. And that is a collateral
claim. Because the real property interest alleged is collateral and not direct, real
party in interest does not allege a real property interest under section 12.0071 of
the property code. Tex. Prop. Code Ann. § 12.0071. Thus, the lis pendens should
be expunged.

      Real Party in Interest’s Response In its response, real party in interest
argues two relators lack standing. Further, real party in interest argues that relators
mandamus petition should be denied because of equitable doctrines of laches and
unclean hands. For the reasons detailed below, we reject these arguments.

                                       Standing

      The doctrine of standing exists to identify lawsuits that are appropriate for
judicial determination. Trojacek v. Est. of Kveton, No. 14-07-00911-CV, 2009 WL
909591, at *3 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 7, 2009, no pet.) (mem. op.)
Standing is implicit in the concept of subject matter jurisdiction and, as such, is never
presumed and cannot be waived. Id. Standing may be raised for the first time on
appeal. Id. The general test for standing asks whether a case presents a real
controversy between the parties that will be actually determined by the judicial
declaration sought. Id. Thus, we must determine whether the pleadings and

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evidence indicate that relators have a justiciable interest in the real estate that is the
subject of their issues on appeal. Id.

      Here, real party in interest alleges relators Kilgore Commons LLC and
Baylor Asset Management LLC lack standing because they do not own any
properties affected by the trial court’s denial to expunge the lis pendens. Lis
pendens was not served on either of these relators. Thus, these relators lack
standing. See Id. (“An appealing party lacks standing to complain about errors that
do not injuriously affect her, or that merely affect the rights of others.”) But the
remaining relators do have standing, as they were served lis pendens notices on
properties that are the subject of mandamus review.

                                         Equitable Relief

      Mandamus is a legal remedy, but it is governed to some extent by equitable
principles. Axelson, Inc. v. McIlhany, 798 S.W.2d 550, 552 n. 2 (Tex. 1990).

      Laches One such principle is that “[e]quity aids the diligent and not those
who slumber on their rights.” Rivercenter Assocs. v. Rivera, 858 S.W.2d 366, 367
(Tex. 1993). Here, real party in interest argues that the more than five-month gap
between the April 2023 order denying the motion to expunge notices of lis pendens
and relators’ October 2023 mandamus petition asking this court for relief from the
order justifies denial based on laches. However, the Texas Property Code requires
the trial court to expunge a notice of lis pendens if it does not contain a real
property claim. See Tex. Prop. Code Ann. §12.0071(c) (“The court shall order the
notice of lis pendens expunged if the court determines that: the pleading on which
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the notice is based does not contain a real property claim.”). Laches is generally
available as an affirmative defense solely in suits in equity and therefore does not
apply to statutory challenges. Phillips v. The Dow Chem. Co., 186 S.W.3d 121, 129
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2005, no pet.). Thus, laches does not bar the
mandamus relief.
      Unclean hands Further, the doctrine of unclean hands has been used to deny
issuance of the writ of mandamus. Axelson, 798 S.W.2d at 552 n. 2. The doctrine
will be applied only to “one whose own conduct in connection with the same
matter or transaction has been unconscientious, unjust, or marked by a want of
good faith, or one who has violated the principles of equity and righteous dealing.”
In re Jim Walter Homes, Inc., 207 S.W.3d 888, 899 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th
Dist.] 2006, orig. proceeding.) (quoting Thomas v. McNair, 882 S.W.2d 870, 880–
81 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1994, no writ). In addition, the complaining party
must show an injury to himself arising from the conduct. Id. “The clean hands
maxim should not be applied when the defendants have not been seriously harmed
and the wrong complained of can be corrected without applying the doctrine.” Id.
(quoting Thomas 882 S.W.2d at 880–81). Whether to apply the doctrine or not is
committed to a court's discretion. Id.
      Here, real party in interest makes two arguments for the doctrine of unclean
hands to bar mandamus relief. First, real party in interest claims the doctrine of
unclean hands bars mandamus relief because: (1) relator Jackson acted badly by
violating a temporary restraining order when he sold property owned by real party
in interest; and (2) this action harmed real party in interest because it never

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received the profits from the sale. Second, real party in interest claims the doctrine
of unclean hands bars mandamus relief because: (1) relator Jackson acted badly
when it forged its own release of lis pendens to sell property; and (2) real party in
interest was harmed because it could not “claim equitable title over that property.”
The doctrine of unclean hands does not apply in this case because the harm does
not appear so serious to require the defense. Therefore, the doctrine of unclean
hands does not bar the mandamus relief.
                                        Conclusion
      We conditionally grant the petition for writ of mandamus because relators
have shown that “the pleading on which the [lis pendens] notice is based does not
contain a real property claim.” See Tex. Prop. Code Ann. § 12.0071(c)(1). We
direct the trial court to vacate it order denying relator’s motion to expunge notices
of lis pendens on 27 properties; and expunge the notice of lis pendens on those
properties. Our writ of mandamus will only issue if the trial court fails to comply.

                                       PER CURIAM

Panel consists of Justices Wise, Poissant, and Bourliot.

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