Court Opinion

ID: 9838122
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-05 13:09:04.620679+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:34:20.511225
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                      San Antonio, Texas
                                 MEMORANDUM OPINION

                                         No. 04-22-00371-CV

                                   Jeanine BELL and Sheila Petsch,
                                             Appellants

                                                 v.

                                           Darrell PETSCH,
                                               Appellee

                   From the 216th Judicial District Court, Gillespie County, Texas
                                      Trial Court No. 16468
                         Honorable Albert D. Pattillo, III, Judge Presiding

Opinion by:       Lori I. Valenzuela, Justice

Sitting:          Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice
                  Liza A. Rodriguez, Justice
                  Lori I. Valenzuela, Justice

Delivered and Filed: August 30, 2023

AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, AND REMANDED

           This appeal concerns a real property dispute between siblings, appellants Jeanine Bell

(“Jeanine”) and Sheila Petsch and appellee Darrell Petsch (“Darrell”). In three issues, appellants

assert the trial court erred in granting summary judgment (1) based on adverse possession; (2) on

the basis that Jeanine’s claim was time-barred by limitations; and (3) denying Jeanine’s requests

for attorney’s fees. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings.
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                                            BACKGROUND

        This dispute concerns ownership of five tracts of land in Gillespie County, Texas,

originally owned by the parties’ grandfather, Emil Petsch (“Emil”). On July 1, 1970, Emil

conveyed an undivided one-half interest in certain tracts of land to his wife, Thekla Petsch

(“Thekla”). Thekla passed away on December 29, 1975. Thekla’s will devised to appellants her

undivided one-half interest in those certain tracts, subject to a life estate in Emil.

        On April 28, 1976, Emil conveyed by deed three of those certain tracts (being 160, 166,

and 11 acres) to Darrell (“Darrell’s Deed”). Emil reserved in Darrell’s Deed a 17-acre tract that

Darrell later acquired under Emil’s will. The 160-, 166-, 11- and 17-acre tracts described in

Darrell’s Deed are collectively referred to as the “Disputed Tracts.”

        A fifth tract of land in dispute (being 118 acres) involves a conveyance by appellants of

their undivided one-half interest to Darrell on May 1, 1976 (the “118 Acre Tract”). The 118 Acre

Tract involves different claims and defenses than those asserted with respect to the Disputed

Tracts—essentially owed to the fact that Jeanine was twelve years of age when she signed the deed

conveying her interest in it to appellee.

        In the trial court, the parties stipulated to a property survey depicting the Disputed Tracts

and the 118 Acre Tract. For illustration purposes, we have highlighted on the stipulated survey the

Disputed Tracts in red and the 118 Acre Tract in blue:

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Relevant Procedural History

       On November 10, 2020, appellants sued appellee seeking a declaratory judgment that the

118 Acre Tract deed is void and for attorney’s fees. In response, appellee asserted Jeanine did not

seek to set aside the 118 Acre Tract deed within a reasonable time after reaching the age of majority

and that he maintains the right to exclusive possession of the Disputed Tracts.

       Appellee thereafter filed a motion for summary judgment asserting (1) title to the Disputed

Tracts by adverse possession, (2) limitations bars Jeanine’s claim that the 118 Acre Tract deed is

void, and (3) declaratory judgment is an improper vehicle for adjudicating title. In response,

appellants argued (1) appellee cannot prevail on his adverse possession claim because he did not

exclusively possess the Disputed Tracts and never ousted his cotenant appellants; (2) fact issues

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preclude summary judgment on limitations with respect to the 118 Acre Tract; and (3) declaratory

judgment is the only method available to set aside the 118 Acre Tract deed. 1

        The trial court entered an order granting appellee’s motion for summary judgment “on each

of the grounds stated therein,” and subsequently entered a final judgment vesting appellee with

superior title in both the Disputed Tracts and the 118 Acre Tract. This appeal follows.

                                            STANDARD OF REVIEW

        We review a trial court’s ruling on a motion for summary judgment de novo. Tarr v.

Timberwood Park Owners Ass’n, Inc., 556 S.W.3d 274, 278 (Tex. 2018). “The standard of review

for a traditional motion for summary judgment is whether the successful movant at the trial level

carried its burden of showing that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that judgment

should be granted as a matter of law.” Hatton v. Grigar, No. 14-05-01053-CV, 2006 WL 3365494,

at *3 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 21, 2006, no pet.) (mem. op.).

        To be entitled to summary judgment, appellee, as the defendant, had to either “conclusively

negate[] at least one of the essential elements of each of [appellants’] causes of action or

conclusively establish[] all elements of an affirmative defense.” Id. “Evidence is conclusive only

if reasonable people could not differ in their conclusions.” Id. “[W]e take as true all evidence

favorable to the nonmovant, and we indulge every reasonable inference and resolve any doubts in

the nonmovant’s favor.” Valence Operating Co. v. Dorsett, 164 S.W.3d 656, 661 (Tex. 2005).

        “[T]he question of adverse possession normally is a question of fact, so only in rare

instances is a court justified in holding that adverse possession has been established as a matter of

law.” Bywaters v. Gannon, 686 S.W.2d 593, 595 (Tex. 1985). “In order to establish adverse

possession as a matter of law, the claimant must show by undisputed evidence his actual peaceable

1
 Appellants filed an untimely cross-motion for summary judgment, which the trial court treated as a response. Because
appellants did not appeal this issue, we likewise treat the cross-motion as a response.

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and adverse possession of the property continuously for [the statutory period]. Also, the claimant

must submit undisputed and conclusive evidence of probative force on each essential element of

adverse possession, and inferences are never indulged in his favor.” Id.

                                        ADVERSE POSSESSION

        In their first issue, appellants assert genuine issues of material fact preclude summary

judgment on appellee’s adverse possession claims to the Disputed Tracts.

                     Applicable Law—Adverse Possession/Title by Limitations

        Under Texas law, adverse possession requires “an actual and visible appropriation of real

property, commenced and continued under a claim of right that is inconsistent with and is hostile

to the claim of another person.” BP Am. Prod. Co. v. Marshall, 342 S.W.3d 59, 69 (Tex. 2011)

(quoting TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 16.021(1)). The adverse possession statutes are statutes

of limitations intended to settle land titles. Nat. Gas Pipeline Co. of Am. v. Pool, 124 S.W.3d 188,

198–99 (Tex. 2003). As applicable to this issue, Texas statutes authorize adverse possession under

five-, ten-, and twenty-five-year limitations periods. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE §§ 16.025–

.028.

        To prevail on a claim of adverse possession, a claimant must establish (1) the actual and

visible possession of the disputed property; (2) that is adverse and hostile to the claim of the owner

of record title; (3) that is open and notorious; (4) that is peaceable; (5) that is exclusive; and (6) that

involves continuous cultivation, use, or enjoyment throughout the statutory period. NAC Tex Hotel

Co., Inc. v. Greak, 481 S.W.3d 327, 331–32 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2015, no pet.). A party seeking to

establish title to land by virtue of the statute of limitations has the burden of proving every fact

essential to that claim by a preponderance of the evidence. Rhodes v. Cahill, 802 S.W.2d 643, 645

(Tex.1990) (op. on reh’g).

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                          Applicable Law—Cotenant Adverse Possession

       “A cotenancy is formed when two or more persons share the unity of exclusive use and

possession in property held in common.” Rancho Viejo Cattle Co., Ltd. v. ANB Cattle Co., Ltd.,

642 S.W.3d 850, 859 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2021, pet. denied). Upon a life tenant’s death, a

remainderman’s interest becomes possessory. See Enserch Expl., Inc. v. Wimmer, 718 S.W.2d 308,

310 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1986, writ ref’d n.r.e.); see also Sparks v. Robertson, 203 S.W.2d 622,

623–24 (Tex. Civ. App.—Austin 1947, writ ref’d) (“An essential element of cotenancy is the

present right of possession.”).

       “A cotenant’s use of the common property is presumed non-adverse unless the cotenant

repudiates the title of its cotenant.” Marshall, 342 S.W.3d at 71. Thus, a cotenant’s adverse

possession claim against the other cotenants cannot begin until he repudiates the contenancy and

“notice of such repudiation has been brought home to the other cotenants.” Toscano v. Delgado,

506 S.W.2d 317, 320 (Tex. Civ. App.—San Antonio 1974, no writ).

       “Cotenants must surmount a more stringent requirement because acts of ownership ‘which,

if done by a stranger, would per se be a disseizin’ are not necessarily such when cotenants share

an undivided interest.” Marshall, 342 S.W.3d at 70. The statutes providing for title by limitations

“are not designed to afford a method whereby one member of a family may appropriate property

belonging to his kinsman,” hence “[n]otice of repudiation of the common title should be clear,

unequivocal and unmistakable.” Todd v. Bruner, 365 S.W.2d 155, 159–60 (Tex. 1963).

Repudiation must be evidenced by actions or declarations that clearly manifest the intent to

repudiate the cotenancy. See id.; Killough v. Hinds, 338 S.W.2d 707, 711 (Tex. 1960).

       “Possession, coupled with payment of taxes, is not notice to a cotenant of a repudiation of

the common title.” Todd, 365 S.W.2d at 160. Neither is cutting timber; selling water; constructing

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a barn, pig pen, and chicken house; cattle grazing; or allowing an employee to construct a home

on the property. Id. at 160–61.

                                              Analysis

   A. Were appellants and appellee cotenants?

       Appellants assert that they became cotenants with appellee when Emil’s life estate

terminated upon his death. In response, appellee asserts he was never a cotenant with appellants

because he acquired the entirety of the Disputed Tracts under Darrell’s Deed.

       Upon Thekla’s death on December 29, 1975, appellants owned a remainder interest in the

Disputed Tracts, subject to Emil’s life estate. At that time, Emil owned an undivided one-half of

the Disputed Tracts in fee and held a life estate in the remaining one-half; appellants were

remaindermen of the life estate:

                                                          Emil
                                     Emil             50% life estate
                                    50% fee             Appellants
                                                      50% remainder

       On April 28, 1976, Emil conveyed to Darrell the Disputed Tracts (other than the reserved

17-acre tract that Darrell later acquired upon Emil’s death). According to appellee, Darrell’s Deed

passed the entire conveyance in fee to appellee (in effect, divesting the remaindermen of their

interest). However, as to the one-half interest to which Emil held a life estate, Darrell’s Deed was

incapable of conveying a fee interest. See Cockrell v. Tex. Gulf Sulphur Co., 299 S.W.2d 672, 675

(Tex. 1956) (“We take it that no authority need be cited for the proposition that a deed can pass no

greater estate than that owned by the grantor.”); see also Duhig v. Peavy-Moore Lumber Co., 144

S.W.2d 878, 879 (Tex. 1940) (“The deed, of course, does not actually convey what the grantor

does not own.”); Evans v. Graves, 166 S.W.2d 955, 958 (Tex. Civ. App.—Dallas 1942, writ ref’d

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w.o.m.) (conveyance by life tenant, even if “purportedly in fee simple,” only conveys a life estate

and does not “operate to defeat, impair, or in anywise affect” the remaindermen). Therefore,

ownership in the Disputed Tracts was as follows:

                                                        Darrell
                                   Darrell           50% life estate
                                   50% fee             Appellants
                                                     50% remainder

       Emil died on February 21, 1979. Upon his death, the life estate created under Thekla’s will

terminated, and appellants’ remainder interest became possessory:

                                   Darrell            Appellants
                                   50% fee             50% fee

See Enserch, 718 S.W.2d at 310. We conclude appellants and appellee became cotenants of the

Disputed Tracts when Emil died on February 21, 1979. Therefore, in assessing whether appellee’s

summary judgment evidence conclusively establishes adverse possession of the Disputed Tracts,

we review the evidence in light of the heightened standards applicable to cotenants.

   B. Did appellee conclusively establish adverse possession of the Disputed Tracts against
      his cotenants?

       Because it resolves this issue, we next address whether appellee’s summary judgment

evidence conclusively establishes notice of repudiation of ownership to appellants. Absent clear,

unequivocal, and unmistakable notice by appellee to appellants that he repudiates their ownership

interest in the Disputed Tracts, we must presume all of appellee’s use of the Disputed Tracts is

non-adverse to them. See Marshall, 342 S.W.3d at 70–71; Todd, 365 S.W.3d at 159–60.

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        Appellee points to only one piece of evidence applicable to the five-, ten-, or twenty-five

year limitations periods purportedly establishing notice of repudiation: 2 Darrell’s Deed. According

to appellee, Emil’s purported conveyance of the entirety of the described property in fee to Darrell

operated as a repudiation of the cotenancy. We disagree for at least two reasons.

        First, Emil was not a cotenant with appellants because their interest did not become

possessory until Emil’s death. See Rancho Viejo, 642 S.W.3d at 859; Enserch, 718 S.W.2d at 310;

Sparks, 203 S.W.2d at 623–24. Therefore, the deed cannot be construed as a repudiation of a

cotenancy that did not yet exist.

        Second, Darrell’s Deed was filed of record after appellants acquired their remainder

interest from Thekla; therefore, Darrell’s Deed could not impart constructive notice on appellants

of a purported repudiation. See Dyer v. Cotton, 333 S.W.3d 703, 712 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st

Dist.] 2010, no pet.) (“[A] deed puts co-tenants on constructive notice of an adverse claim only if

it is on record before they acquire their interests. The recordation of a deed after the other co-

tenants have already acquired their property interests does not put those co-tenants on constructive

notice that their co-tenant claimed an adverse interest.”); Spiller v. Woodard, 809 S.W.2d 624, 627

(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1991, no writ) (“The recordation of a deed, after plaintiffs

acquired an interest in the property, did not give them constructive notice that their cotenant

relatives claimed an interest adverse to theirs.”).

        Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to appellants, we hold appellee failed to

conclusively establish notice of repudiation of the cotenancy. Because the summary judgment

evidence fails to establish a clear, unequivocal, and unmistakable notice of repudiation, we must

presume the summary judgment evidence of appellee’s use of the Disputed Tracts is non-adverse

2
 Appellee testified the first time he told appellants they could no longer enter the property was in January 2021;
however, that testimony at best establishes a repudiation after appellants filed suit on November 10, 2020.

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to appellants. See Marshall, 342 S.W.3d at 70–71; Todd, 365 S.W.3d at 159–60. Therefore,

appellee failed to establish adverse possession of the Disputed Tracts. See Greak, 481 S.W.3d 331–

32 (claimant must establish adverse claim). We accordingly sustain appellants’ first issue.

                                  LIMITATIONS—VOIDABLE DEED

        In their second issue, appellants assert the trial court erred in granting summary judgment

regarding the 118 Acre Tract deed. This issue involves two discrete subparts. First, appellants

assert the trial court erred in determining trespass to try title, and not declaratory judgment,

governed their claims regarding voidability of the 118 Acre Tract deed. Second, appellants assert

appellee failed to conclusively prove Jeanine’s claims are barred by limitations.

    A. Trespass-to-try-Title Claim or Declaratory Judgment?

        Jeanine seeks to have the 118 Acre Tract deed declared void on the ground that she was

twelve years old when she signed it. The parties dispute whether this must be asserted as a trespass-

to-try-title action or whether declaratory judgment is an appropriate vehicle.

        Trespass to try title is the sole method of determining title to possessory interests in land.

TEX. PROP. CODE § 22.001; Lance v. Robinson, 543 S.W.3d 723, 735–37 (Tex. 2018)

(distinguishing use of trespass-to-try-title claim for possessory interests and declaratory judgment

for non-possessory interests, such as easements). “Although related claims exist to determine

narrower questions of possession, a cloud on a title, or a non-possessory interest, a trespass-to-try-

title action is the exclusive remedy for resolving overarching claims to legal title.” Brumley v.

McDuff, 616 S.W.3d 826, 832 (Tex. 2021).

        We examine the substance of a plaintiff’s allegations, not its form, to determine whether it

is a trespass-to-try-title action. Id. Here, Jeanine seeks to establish a possessory, fee interest in the

118 Acre Tract by having the deed she signed when she was twelve years old declared void. A

deed executed by a minor is voidable, not void. See Dairyland Cnty. Mut. Ins. Co. of Tex. v. Roman,

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498 S.W.2d 154, 158 (Tex. 1973). Although a voidable “deed is valid and represents prima facie

evidence of title until there has been a successful suit to set it aside,” Nobles v. Marcus, 533 S.W.2d

923, 926 (Tex. 1976), trespass-to-try-title claimants only need to plead entitlement to possession

of the subject interest. Notably, her allegations do not depend on the construction of the deed.

       Because Jeanine seeks resolution of a title dispute to a possessory interest in land, we hold

trespass to try title is the sole method for determining title to the 118 Acre Tract. We overrule

appellants’ arguments to the contrary and turn to the merits of appellee’s limitations defense.

   B. Title by Limitations Affirmative Defense

       As to the 118 Acre Tract, appellee asserts as an affirmative defense that Jeanine’s claims

are barred by the three-year statute of limitations. “A person must bring suit to recover real

property held by another in peaceable and adverse possession under title or color of title not later

than three years after the day the cause of action accrues.” TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 16.024.

To prevail on this defense, appellee must establish the same elements as required for an affirmative

adverse possession claim: (1) the actual and visible possession of the disputed property; (2) that is

adverse and hostile to the claim of the owner of record title; (3) that is open and notorious; (4) that

is peaceable; (5) that is exclusive; and (6) that involves continuous cultivation, use, or enjoyment

throughout the statutory period. See id.; Greak, 481 S.W.3d at 331–32.

       Appellee’s summary judgment arguments and evidence focus on what appellants knew

about the Disputed Tracts and 118 Acre Tract and when they purportedly knew it. However, the

limitations period asserted in appellee’s summary judgment motion is the three-year adverse

possession limitations period; therefore, to prevail on summary judgment motion, appellee was

required to prove each element of his adverse possession affirmative defense with respect to the

118 Acre Tract.

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       After reviewing the summary judgment motion and record, we conclude appellee failed to

meet this burden. Although appellee submits he met his burden by arguing that appellants knew,

no later than May 9, 2017, of the voidability issue regarding the 118 Acre Tract, the evidence

demonstrates appellants nevertheless continued to jointly use the 118 Acre Tract (along with the

Disputed Tracts) until at least September 2020. Reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable

to appellants, we cannot say appellee conclusively demonstrated an essential element of his

defense—exclusive use—for three years. See Greak, 481 S.W.3d at 331–32. We accordingly hold

appellee failed to satisfy his summary judgment burden to establish his limitations defense to the

118 Acre Tract. We sustain appellants’ second issue to the extent it asserts the trial court erred in

granting summary judgment based on appellee’s limitations defense.

                                         ATTORNEY’S FEES

       In their third issue, appellants assert the trial court erred in determining they are not entitled

to recovery of attorney’s fees. Appellee asserts appellants cannot recover under the declaratory

judgment act because trespass to try title is the appropriate cause of action and cannot recover

under the adverse possession statute because appellants “do not meet the requirements to recover

attorney’s fees under the statute, and because they admit to certain facts that show they are not

entitled to recover attorney’s fees.”

       Declaratory Judgment. As we have held, trespass to try title is the sole means by which

appellants can recover title under the 118 Acre Tract. Therefore, we agree with appellee that

appellants may not recover attorney’s fees under the declaratory judgment act. See TEX. CIV. PRAC.

& REM. CODE § 37.009; see also Boren v. Newport Operating, LLC, No. 02-19-00358-CV, 2020

WL 6325814, at *3 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Oct. 29, 2020, no pet.) (“[A]ttorney’s fees are not

recoverable under the [declaratory judgment act] when the only issues, aside from the fees in

question, concern trespass to try title claims.”).

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       Adverse Possession. Appellants further seek recovery of attorney’s fees under the adverse

possession statutes. The statutes provide:

               In a suit for the possession of real property between a person
               claiming under record title to the property and one claiming by
               adverse possession, if the prevailing party recovers possession of the
               property from a person unlawfully in actual possession, the court:
               (1) shall award costs and reasonable attorney’s fees to the prevailing
               party if the court finds that the person unlawfully in actual
               possession made a claim of adverse possession that was groundless
               and made in bad faith; and (2) may award costs and reasonable
               attorney’s fees to the prevailing party in the absence of a finding
               described by Subdivision (1).

TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 16.034(a).

       We note the importance of the procedural posture to our analysis: Appellee moved for

summary judgment, and appellants responded. We are not called on today to assess whether

appellants affirmatively proved their entitlement to fees under Section 16.034. The only issue

before us is whether appellee established as a matter of law that appellants cannot recover fees

under Section 16.034.

       The trial court determined appellants cannot recover attorney’s fees under their trespass-

to-try-title action; however, appellee’s motion does not establish as a matter of law that appellants’

cannot recover fees under Section 16.034. For example, appellee asserts appellants failed to

provide the demand letter that constitutes a condition precedent to recovery of fees. See id.

§ 16.034(b). However, the summary judgment record includes a demand letter; reviewing the letter

in the light most favorable to appellants, we cannot say appellee conclusively demonstrated

appellants were precluded from recovering because of inadequate notice.

       We overrule appellants’ third issue with respect to attorney’s fees under the declaratory

judgment act, and we sustain appellant’s third issue with respect to attorney’s fees under Section

16.034 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.

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                                          CONCLUSION

       We affirm in part the judgment of the trial court as follows: (1) trespass to try title is the

sole method for appellants to assert an interest in the 118 Acre Tract, and (2) appellants may not

recover attorney’s fees under the Texas Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act. We otherwise

reverse the judgment of the trial court, and we remand for further proceedings consistent with this

opinion.

                                                  Lori I. Valenzuela, Justice

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