Court Opinion

ID: 3068457
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-15 23:53:53.276409+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:49:56.073238
License: Public Domain

In The
                                 Court of Appeals
                        Seventh District of Texas at Amarillo

                                        No. 07-14-00442-CV

                                 FERMIN LOPEZ, APPELLANT

                                                 V.

                                 NORMA BAILON, APPELLEE

                            On Appeal from the 68th District Court
                                    Dallas County, Texas
             Trial Court No. DC-13-01584, Honorable Martin J. Hoffman, Presiding

                                          May 20, 2015

                              ABATEMENT AND REMAND
                     Before CAMPBELL and HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.

       Appellant, Fermin Lopez, appeals the trial court’s judgment in favor of Appellee,

Norma Bailon, on a breach of contract claim.1 Among the issues raised in Appellant’s

brief is the assertion that the evidence is insufficient to prove the elements necessary to

establish Appellee’s breach of contract claim, damages, reasonableness and necessity

of repairs, as well as the entitlement to and amount of reasonable attorney’s fees.

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          This case was transferred to this Court from the Fifth Court of Appeals pursuant to a docket
equalization order entered by the Texas Supreme Court. See TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 73.001 (West
2005). We have applied precedent from that court where applicable. See TEX. R. APP. P. 41.3.
      The dispute in this case centers around a Commercial Lease Agreement entered

into by Appellant, as lessor, and Appellee, as lessee, concerning certain real property

situated in Dallas County. On February 7, 2013, Appellee filed suit against Appellant

alleging she had paid rent during a period in which the premises were unsuitable for the

purpose for which the premises were leased.         She also contended she had paid

“unauthorized” charges under the terms of the lease and that she had been required to

make certain repairs to the leased premises which should have been Appellant’s

obligation. On March 15, 2013, through his attorney, T. Rick Frazier, Appellant filed a

general denial, special exceptions, special denials, and affirmative defenses.

      On September 9, 2014, a non-jury trial was conducted before the Honorable

Martin Hoffman. Appellee appeared in person and by attorney. Appellant appeared pro

se. The record does not explain the absence of Appellant’s attorney, nor does it reflect

a motion to withdraw or an order granting withdrawal. At the conclusion of the hearing,

the trial court entered a judgment in favor of Appellee for $71,460.34, as damages, plus

$9,075.00 as attorney’s fees.

      On September 24, 2014, Appellant’s attorney, T. Rick Frazier, filed Defendant’s

Request for Findings of Fact & Conclusions of Law. No findings or conclusions were

filed, and on November 12, 2014, Appellant’s attorney filed Appellant’s Notice of Past

Due Findings of Fact & Conclusions of Law. Again, no findings or conclusions were

filed. Appellant subsequently appealed the judgment.

      When properly requested, the trial court has a mandatory duty to file findings of

fact. TEX. R. CIV. P. 296, 297; Nevada Gold & Silver, Inc. v. Andrews Indep. Sch. Dist.,

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225 S.W.3d 68, 77 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2005, no pet.). The purpose of Rule 296 is to

give a party the right to findings of fact and conclusions of law following a conventional

bench trial on the merits. Willms v. Ams. Tire Co., 190 S.W.3d 796, 801 (Tex. App.—

Dallas 2006, pet. denied). If a trial court does not file findings, it is presumed harmful

unless the record affirmatively shows the appellant suffered no harm. See, e.g., Tenery

v. Tenery, 932 S.W.2d 29, 30 (Tex. 1996); Cherne Indus., Inc. v. Magallanes, 763
S.W.2d 768, 722 (Tex. 1989).      When the trial court's reasons for its judgment are

apparent from the record, the presumption of harm is rebutted. See Landbase, Inc. v.

Texas Employment Com'n, 885 S.W.2d 499, 502 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1994, writ

denied).

      Furthermore, “fact findings are not necessary when the matters in question are

not disputed.” Barker v. Eckman, 213 S.W.3d 306, 310 (Tex. 2006).            Accordingly,

“where the facts are undisputed and the only matters presented on appeal are legal

issues to be reviewed de novo, the failure to file findings of fact and conclusions of law

is harmless error.” Rollins v. Am. Exp. Travel Related Servs. Co., 219 S.W.3d 1, 5-6

(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.). See Lubbock County Central Appraisal

District v. Contrarez, 102 S.W.3d 424, 426 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2003, no pet.) (noting

no need for abatement when record shows no factual dispute and reasons for ruling are

clear from record). The test for harm looks to whether the reasons for the trial court’s

ruling are obvious from the record.     Sheldon Pollack Corp. v. Pioneer Concrete of

Texas, Inc., 765 S.W.2d 843, 845 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1989, writ denied). If harm exists

from the court's failure to issue findings of fact and conclusions of law, the appropriate

remedy is to abate the appeal and direct the trial court to correct its error pursuant to

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appellate rule 44.4. TEX. R. APP. P. 44.4. Acad. Corp. v. Interior Buildout & Turnkey

Constr., Inc., 21 S.W.3d 732, 739 n.1 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, no pet.).

      On review of the record, we find the matters in question are not undisputed, and

the reasons for the court’s ruling against Appellant and for Appellee on the breach of

contract claim are not obvious from the record. Barker, 213 S.W.3d at 310; Sheldon

Pollack Corp., 765 S.W.2d at 845.       Furthermore, it is unclear to this Court why

Appellant’s attorney was not present during the non-jury bench trial. Accordingly, we

cannot conclude the record affirmatively shows Appellant suffered no harm. Tenery, 932
S.W.2d at 30.

      The appeal is abated and the cause is remanded to the trial court for the

execution of findings of fact and conclusions of law. See McLaughlin, Inc. v. Northstar

Drilling Techs., No. 04-02-00511-CV, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 6305, at *2 (Tex. App.—

San Antonio July 23, 2003, no pet.) (mem. op.) (abating under similar circumstances).

      The trial court’s findings and conclusions shall be filed with the Clerk of this

Court, via a supplemental clerk's record, on or before July 6, 2015. On the filing of the

supplemental clerk's record containing the findings and conclusions, this appeal will

proceed forthwith.

      It is so ordered.

                                                      Per Curiam

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