Court Opinion

ID: 4068855
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-30 00:10:51.541241+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:32:52.404178
License: Public Domain

ACCEPTED
                                                                                      04-14-00734-CV
                                                                          FOURTH COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                               SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
                                                                                11/25/2015 2:45:51 PM
                                                                                       KEITH HOTTLE
                                                                                               CLERK

                                04-14-00734-CV

                      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR                    FILED IN
                                                              4th COURT OF APPEALS
                     THE FOURTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS              SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
                         SITTING AT SAN ANTONIO               11/25/2015 2:45:51 PM
                                                                  KEITH E. HOTTLE
                                                                       Clerk
                   SANDRA SAKS, LEE NICK MCFADIN, III
                      and MARGARET LANDEN SAKS,
                                                                     Appellants,
                                        v.

                     BROADWAY COFFEEHOUSE, LLC,
                                                                     Appellee.

    On appeal from District Court, 73rd Judicial District, Bexar County, Texas
                    Honorable Antonia Arteaga, presiding

           APPELLANTS' MOTION FOR REHEARING EN BANC

TO THE HONORABLE JUSTICES OF THE FOURTH COURT OF APPEALS:

     Now come, Sandra Saks (“Sandy”), Lee Nick McFadin, III ("McFadin") and

Margaret Landen Saks (“Landen”), collectively (“Movants”), and file this motion

for rehearing en banc pursuant to TRAP Rule 49, and in support of their motion

they would show:

1     On October 28, 2015, the Court entered a Memorandum Opinion and

Judgment affirming the Judgment of the trial court in Cause No. 2013-CI-17001.

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2       Movants respectfully submit that the Court erred in affirming the award of

attorney's fees to Broadway Coffeehouse and Marcus Rogers, as Trustee for the

Saks Children Trust.

3       Broadway Coffeehouse sought and was granted partial summary judgment

on its claims for: (1) determination of title to the property pursuant to TRCP Rule

760, (2) partition under Section 23.001 of the Texas Property Code, and (3)

winding up and termination of the partnership pursuant to Sections 11.051(4) and

11.057(c) of the Texas Business Organizations Code. (CR1 106-136). None of

these causes of action provided for an award of attorney's fees, and the summary

judgment did not grant any motion for declaratory relief or award any attorney's

fees.

4       On August 7, 2014, Judge Larry Noll signed an Order Granting Partial

Summary Judgment, which decreed that Coffeehouse owned 25% and Marcus

Rogers, as interim trustee of ATFL&L, owned 75% of the subject property

including real estate and partnership known as 5321 Broadway Partners. The

Order also decreed that the remaining Defendants did not own any interest in the

Property or the Partnership. Finally, the Order decreed that the Property be sold in

a manner to be determined by the Court. (CR2 369-372). The summary judgment

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was incorporated into the Judgment. (CR2 437-443).

5     All of the summary judgment relief was based on Broadway Coffeehouse's

suit to quiet title, suit for termination and winding up of the partnership, and suit

for partition. None of the summary judgment relief was based on any claim for

declaratory judgment, which was not requested.

6     Marcus Rogers, as Trustee for the Saks Children Trust, neither sought nor

was granted partial summary judgment. Marcus Rogers, as Trustee, filed his

cross-claim after partial summary judgment. (CR2 373-374).

7     Neither Broadway Coffeehouse nor Marcus Rogers, as Trustee for the Saks

Children Trust, sought or were granted damages. (CR2 437-443).

8     Neither Broadway Coffeehouse nor Marcus Rogers, as Trustee for the Saks

Children Trust, sought or were granted summary judgment relief under the

Uniform Declaratory Judgment Act (“UDJA”). (CR2 369-372).

9     The Movants did not file counterclaims or seek affirmative relief. (CR1 64-

67, 72-75).

10    The Judgment of the trial court expressly granted the partial summary

judgment relief and awarded attorney's fees to Broadway Coffeehouse and Marcus

Rogers, as Trustee for the Saks Children Trust, but it did not expressly grant relief

under the UDJA. The Judgment of the trial court denied all relief not expressly

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granted. (CR2 437-443).

                                        Argument

         Movants assert that the trial court Judgment, which was affirmed by this

Court, awarded attorney's fees in error without citing any legal authority for such

award. Neither the summary judgment nor the final judgment expressly granted a

declaratory judgment, which was the only arguable basis for an award of attorney's

fees.

        Generally, a party may not recover attorney's fees unless authorized by statute

or contract. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Murphy, 458 S.W.3d 912, 915 (Tex. 2015).

Broadway Coffeehouse's amended petition and Marcus Rogers, Trustee's cross-

claim claimed an award of attorney's fees pursuant to TCP&RC Section 37.009.

         Movants submit that this case is a suit to quiet title, partition real estate and

terminate and wind up a partnership, for which attorney's fees are not recoverable.

However, Coffeehouse and Marcus Rogers, Trustee, improperly asserted a

superfluous claim under the Declaratory Judgment Act solely as a vehicle for

claiming attorney's fees after Coffeehouse received a partial summary judgment,

not including its claim for declaratory judgment. The partial summary judgment

was not a final order. See gen. Lehmann v. Harbour Title Company, 39 S.W.3d 91

(Tex. 2001).

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      Neither Coffeehouse nor Marcus Rogers, Trustee, requested declaratory

relief in the motion for partial summary judgment or the final judgment. Then,

both parties claimed awards of attorney's fees without stating any basis. Likewise,

the final judgment awarded attorney's fees without stating a basis.

      The Declaratory Judgment Act “provides an efficient vehicle for parties to

seek a declaration of rights under certain instruments.” I-10 Colony, Inc. v. Lee,

393 S.W.3d 467, 475 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2013, pet filed). A party may

not artfully plead a title dispute as a declaratory judgment action. Id.

      In 2009, the Texas Supreme Court stated as follows: “Yet while declaratory

relief may be obtained under the Act in all these circumstances, that does not mean

attorney's fees can too. Texas has long followed the " American Rule" prohibiting

fee awards unless specifically provided by contract or statute. By contrast, the

Declaratory Judgments Act allows fee awards to either party in all cases. If

repleading a claim as a declaratory judgment could justify a fee award, attorney's

fees would be available for all parties in all cases. That would repeal not only the

American Rule but also the limits imposed on fee awards in other statutes.

Accordingly, the rule is that a party cannot use the Act as a vehicle to obtain

otherwise impermissible attorney's fees.” MBM Financial Corporation v. The

Woodlands Operating Company, L.P. 292 S.W.3d 660, 669 (Tex. 2009).

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      “The Act was originally " intended as a speedy and effective remedy" for

settling disputes before substantial damages were incurred. It is " intended to

provide a remedy that is simpler and less harsh than coercive relief, if it appears

that a declaration might terminate the potential controversy." But when a claim for

declaratory relief is merely tacked onto a standard suit based on a matured breach

of contract, allowing fees under Chapter 37 would frustrate the limits Chapter 38

imposes on such fee recoveries. And granting fees under Chapter 37 when they are

not permitted under the specific common-law or statutory claims involved would

violate the rule that specific provisions should prevail over general ones. While

the Legislature intended the Act to be remedial, it did not intend to supplant all

other statutes and remedies.” Id., at 670.

        In the instant case, as in the Woodlands case, the plaintiff recovered no

damages on its claims, so it could not recover attorney's fees under the American

Rule. Allowing it to recover the same fees under Chapter 37 would frustrate the

provisions and limitations of the American Rule. Accordingly, Broadway

Coffeehouse and Marcus Rogers, as Trustee for the Saks Children Trust, cannot

recover attorney's fees under the Declaratory Judgments Act. Id.

      Movants submit that Broadway Coffeehouse's amended motion for partial

summary judgment did not request a declaratory judgment, and neither the Order

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Granting Partial Summary Judgment nor the Judgment addressed the cause of

action for declaratory judgment. Summary judgment cannot be granted except on

the grounds expressly presented in the motion. Stephens and Johnson Operating

Co. v. Schroeder, No. 04-14-00167-CV (Civ.App. - San Antonio August 2015)

citing TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(c) ("The motion for summary judgment shall state the

specific grounds therefor."); Sci. Spectrum, Inc. v. Martinez, 941 S.W.2d 910, 912

(Tex. 1997); McConnell, 858 S.W.2d at 341 (Tex. 1993). In determining whether

grounds are expressly presented, reliance may not be placed on the briefs or

summary judgment evidence. Stephens and Johnson Operating Co. v. Schroeder,

supra, citing McConnell v. Southside Indep. Sch. Dist., 858 S.W.2d 337 at 341

(Tex. 1993); Torres v. Garcia, No. 04-11-00822-CV, 2012 WL 3808593, at *5

(Tex. App.—San Antonio 2012, no pet.) (mem. op.). Accordingly, "[s]pecific

grounds for summary judgment must be expressly stated in the motion for

summary judgment itself and not ... in the summary judgment evidence...."

McConnell, 858 S.W.2d, supra, at 344; Torres, 2012 WL 3808593, supra, at *5.

Therefore, a party's request for attorney fees and the grounds supporting this

request must be expressly statedin the motion before a court may award summary

judgment on the stated grounds. McConnell, 858 S.W.2d, supra, at 341; Torres,

2012 WL 3808593, supra, at *5.

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      Review of the Coffeehouse and Rogers, Trustee, parties' motion for

summary judgment and supplemental motion for summary judgment reveal there

is no request for, or statement of any ground for, declaratory judgment or the

recovery of attorneys' fees. The motions are completely silent on the issue and

address only the request to quiet title, terminate and wind up of the partnership,

and for partition relief. Therefore, Appellants submit that this Court erred in

finding a basis for awarding attorney's fees to Coffeehouse and Marcus Rogers,

Trustee. Stephens & Johnson Operating Co. v. Schroeder, supra at 13.

      Movants submit that the cause of action for declaratory judgment was not an

independent claim for affirmative relief because Broadway Coffeehouse and

Marcus Rogers, as Trustee's declaratory judgment claims did not include any

substantial relief that was not recoverable under the causes of action to quiet title,

for partition of real property, and for termination of the partnership. Instead,

Coffeehouse and Marcus Rogers, Trustee asserted their declaratory judgment

causes of action as a ploy to recover attorney's fees. It is improper to use the

Declaratory Judgment Act to settle a land title dispute and seek an award of

attorney's fees. Bardfield v. Holland, 844 S.W.2d 759, 771 (Tex.App.-Tyler 1992,

writ den.).

      The Declaratory Judgment Act cannot be coupled with another action for

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the sole purpose of seeking attorney's fees not otherwise available. Aaron Rents,

Inc. v. Travis Central Appraisal Dist., 212 S.W.3d 665 (Tex.App.-Austin 2006, no

pet.) (relief denied where the requested declaratory relief was redundant to the

relief sought under the tax code, with the exception of a request for attorney's

fees); Cytogenix, Inc., v. Waldroff, 213 S.W.3d 479, 490 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st

Dist.] 2006, no pet.) (finding that a trial court abuses its discretion in awarding

attorney's fees under the UDJA if the claim for declaratory relief is brought solely

for the purpose of obtaining attorney's fees).

      Additionally and alternatively, the Judgment did not expressly grant

Coffeehouse or Marcus Rogers, Trustee's requested declaratory judgment or any

relief pursuant to TCP&RC Section 37.009. To wit, the Judgment does not even

mention Coffeehouse and Marcus Rogers, Trustee's requests for a declaratory

judgment or make any express findings as to declaratory relief as an independent

cause of action. Movants submit that Coffeehouse and Marcus Rogers, Trustee

may not recover attorney's fees pursuant to TCP&RC Section 37.009 because they

did not claim an independent cause of action for declaratory judgment that was

granted. Morton v Timarron Owners Association, Inc., No. 02-13-00409-CV

(Civ.App. - Fort Worth [Second District] June 12, 2014).

      The Judgment of the trial court states that “[A]ll relief requested by any

                                          9
party and not expressly granted herein is hereby denied. This is intended to be a

final, appealable judgment which disposes of all claims and parties.” Therefore,

Movants submit that because the Judgment did not expressly grant a declaratory

judgment, and it stated that all relief requested by a party and not expressly

granted was denied, the Judgment denied Broadway Coffeehouse and Marcus

Rogers, as Trustee's requests for declaratory judgment. As a result, there was no

statutory basis for an award of attorney's fees, and the trial court awarded

attorney's fees to Coffeehouse and Marcus Rogers, Trustee, in error.

      Additionally and alternatively, Movants submit that Broadsay Coffeehouse

and Marcus Rogers, as Trustee, did not segregate their fees among the various

causes of action for suit to quiet title, declaratory judgment, permanent injunction,

suit for termination and winding-up of the partnership, and partition. To wit,

Broadway Coffeehouse's attorney testified that she did not attempt to segregate her

fees among the various causes of action or allocate the fees among the various

Defendants.    [RR1 24, lines 16-25, page 25, lines 1-5]        Therefore, Movants

respectfully submit that it was an abuse of discretion for the trial court to award of

attorney fees based on unsegregated fees under the facts and circumstances of this

case. Tony Gullo Motors I, L.P. v. Chapa, 212 S.W.3d 299, 314 (Tex. 2006).

      Furthermore, Broadway Coffeehouse did not allocate its fees among the

                                         10
various Defendants regarding fees that were not segregated by time spent on the

causes of action including suit to quiet title, declaratory judgment, permanent

injunction, suit for termination and winding-up of the partnership, and partition.

      Therefore, Movants respectfully submit that Coffeehouse and Marcus

Rogers, as Trustee, should not have been awarded attorney's fees because they

failed to plead an independent cause of action for declaratory judgment, and the

Judgment did not expressly grant a declaratory judgment.              Alternatively,

Broadway Coffeehouse and Marcus Rogers, as Trustee, failed to segregate or

allocate its fees among the various claims and parties. A trial court may not take

judicial notice of the attorney fees under section 37.009. Dickey v. McComb Dev.

Co., 115 S.W.3d 42, 46 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 2003, no pet.) (holding that when

a claim for fees does not fall under Section 38.001 of the Texas Civil Practice and

Remedies Codes, the trial court may not take judicial notice of attorney fees).

                         CONCLUSION AND PRAYER

      WHEREFORE, Movants respectfully request rehearing en banc on the issue

of attorney's fees pursuant to TRAP Rule 49. Movants request the Court to set

aside its Judgment and reverse the trial court Judgment awarding attorney's fees.

Movants also request such further relief to which they may be justly entitled.

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                                      Respectfully submitted,

                                      /s/ Philip M. Ross
                                      Philip M. Ross
                                      State Bar No. 17304200
                                      1006 Holbrook Road
                                      San Antonio, Texas 78218
                                      Phone: 210/326-2100
                                      Email: ross_law@hotmail.com
                                      ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANTS
                                      SANDY SAKS, LEE NICK MCFADIN, III
                                      AND MARGARET LANDEN SAKS

                          CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

      I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing document has
been e-filed and served on November 25, 2015 by email pursuant to agreement to
Paul T. Curl and Royal B. Lea, III.

                                      /s/ Philip M. Ross
                                      Philip M. Ross

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