Court Opinion

ID: 3085278
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 02:39:26.850736+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:50:03.626496
License: Public Domain

In The
                  Court of Appeals
    Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana
            ______________________________

                  No. 06-11-00077-CV
            ______________________________

SILBIANO M. GONZALES AND JOSE M. GONZALES AND THE
    ESTATE OF FELIPE GONZALES BY AND THROUGH
     ESTATE REPRESENTATIVE SILBIANO GONZALES
      AND ESTATE OF MARCOS GONZALES BY AND
         THROUGH ESTATE REPRESENTATIVE
            SILBIANO GONZALES, Appellants

                              V.

            CLEMENTE GONZALES, Appellee

       On Appeal from the 201st Judicial District Court
                   Travis County, Texas
            Trial Court No. D-1-GN-10-002580

         Before Morriss, C.J., Carter and Moseley, JJ.
           Memorandum Opinion by Justice Carter
                                        MEMORANDUM OPINION

         A residential lot containing a home with the street address of 917 Jewell, Austin, Texas

787041 (the property) was purchased by Felipe and Marcos Gonzales in 1970. Marcos died in

1987 and Felipe died intestate in 2008. They had six living children at the time of Felipe‘s death

including Clemente, Silbiano, Candelario, Jose, Juan, and Francisco. Clemente claims that his

parents purchased the property for him and transferred the property orally. In support, Clemente

swore that his parents never lived on the property, that he moved onto the property in 1970, lived

there continuously, paid the mortgage, and paid all property taxes.

         In June 2010, Silbiano and Jose filed applications for letters of administration in Travis

County probate court, along with an application to determine heirship.                          By virtue of the

determination of heirship, awarding each living child a 1/6 interest in Felipe‘s estate, Silbiano and

Jose began to assert an interest in the property. The other children executed a quitclaim deed to

the property in favor of Clemente.

         In July 2010, Clemente filed a declaratory judgment action seeking to quiet title to property

against Silbiano; Jose; the Estate of Felipe Gonzales by and through Silbiano, the Estate

Representative; and the Estate of Marcos Gonzales by and through Silbiano, the Estate

1
 Originally appealed to the Third Court of Appeals, this case was transferred to this Court by the Texas Supreme Court
pursuant to its docket equalization efforts. See TEX. GOV‘T CODE ANN. § 73.001 (West 2005). We are unaware of
any conflict between precedent of the Third Court of Appeals and that of this Court on any relevant issue. See TEX. R.
APP. P. 41.3.

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Representative. 2      Clemente asserted title by gift, parol sale, adverse possession, and by

―circumstantial evidence.‖ Silbiano and Jose generally denied the allegations in Clemente‘s

petition.

        Clemente filed a motion for partial summary judgment on the claims of parol sale of land

and adverse possession against all defendants. There was no response to the motion for summary

judgment. The trial court granted summary judgment in Clemente‘s favor. Also, because no

answer was filed by the Estate of Felipe Gonzales, the trial court entered a default judgment in

Clemente‘s favor against the estate.

        Silbiano and Jose appeal 3 the trial court‘s grant of the partial motion for summary

judgment. They contend that the ―trial court erred when it allowed a collateral attack on a probate

judgment,‖ that the court erred in entering a final judgment because ―there is no judgment in the

record disposing of the Estate of Marcos Gonzales,‖ and erred in granting summary judgment

because there were issues of material fact precluding recovery on the parol sale of land and adverse

possession claims. We find the issue of collateral attack inadequately briefed and conclude no

judgment against the estate of Marcos was necessary to make the court‘s summary judgment an

appealable order. However, because we find that fact issues were created by deposition excerpts

2
 The probate court decided that an appointment of an administrator was not necessary for the Estate of Marcos, who
had died intestate in 1987 and had predeceased her husband.
3
 In this appeal, no challenge was brought to the default judgment entered against Felipe‘s estate. Silbiano and Jose
only list themselves as appellants in this cause.

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attached by Clemente to his summary judgment motion, we reverse the trial court‘s summary

judgment and remand the case for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion.

I.      Issue Complaining of Alleged Collateral Attack Is Inadequately Briefed

        Silbiano and Jose contend the trial court erred in allowing a collateral attack upon the

probate judgment, which was merely a determination of heirship. Their entire argument is

included below:

        There was a judgment in the probate court, the same parties were parties to the
        probate action, and the issue of ownership of the real property in question could
        have been raised in the first suit. Appellees [sic] in the trial court seek to attack the
        issue of ownership so the property they claim ownership of falls out of the purview
        of the probate judgment after the judgment was rendered. The Court should
        reverse and render a judgment of dismissal with prejudice as to all issues and all
        parties.

        Rule 38.1(i) requires that a brief contain ―a clear and concise argument for the contentions

made, with appropriate citations to authorities and to the record.‖ TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(i). Bare

assertions of error, without argument or authority, waive error. Enbridge Pipeline (East Tex.)

L.P. v. Avinger Timber, L.L.C., 326 S.W.3d 390, 414 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2010, pet. filed); see

Fredonia State Bank v. Gen. Am. Life Ins. Co., 881 S.W.2d 279, 284–85 (Tex. 1994) (discussing

―long-standing rule‖ that point may be waived due to inadequate briefing).

        Silbiano and Jose‘s argument wholly fails to comply with the requirements of Texas Rule

of Appellate Procedure 38.1(i). They have waived this point, and we decline to address it. We

overrule their first point of error.

                                                   4
II.     The Trial Court’s Judgment Was Final

        Silbiano and Jose complain that no final judgment can be entered since ―[t]here is still one

defendant outstanding, The Estate of Marcos Gonzales.‖ We have previously stated, ―It has long

been settled that the ‗estate‘ of a decedent is not a legal entity and may not sue or be sued as such.‖

Miller v. Estate of Self, 113 S.W.3d 554, 556 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2003, no pet.) (citing Price

v. Estate of Anderson, 522 S.W.2d 690, 691 (Tex. 1975)). ―A suit seeking to establish the liability

of an estate should be filed against the personal representative or, in certain circumstances, the

heirs or beneficiaries.‖ Id.

        Suit against Marcos‘ estate was brought through Silbiano as the personal representative of

the estate. However, the probate court decided no administration of this estate was necessary, and

service on behalf of the estate could not be accomplished through Silbiano. As Silbiano and Jose

were only served on behalf of the estate of Felipe and in their individual capacity, the estate of

Marcos was not properly served with the suit, and Clemente did not choose to sue the heirs of

Marcos‘ estate or otherwise exhibit an intent4 to do so.5               Thus, the estate of Marcos was not

properly before the court.

        In these circumstances, a judgment which disposes of all named parties except one who

had never been served and did not answer is final for purposes of appeal and ―stands as if there had

4
 Clemente‘s counsel clarified, in a hearing before the court ―there are three Defendants. Essentially—technically
there were four at one point.‖
5
 Moreover, Marcos and Jose were both listed on the deed to the property, Marcos passed intestate, and her community
property would have passed to Felipe. TEX. PROBATE CODE ANN. § 45 (West 2003).

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been a discontinuance as to‖ that party. M.O. Dental Lab v. Rape, 139 S.W.3d 671, 674 (Tex.

2004) (quoting Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Penn, 363 S.W.2d 230, 232 (Tex. 1962)). We

find the trial court‘s judgments finally disposed of all parties and issues properly before the court.

This point of error is overruled.

III.   Genuine Issues of Material Fact Were Created by Summary Judgment Evidence

       Silbiano and Jose failed to file a response to the motion for summary judgment and failed

to plead any defense that would preclude summary judgment. Thus, the trial court granted

Clemente‘s motion, specifying that Silbiano and Jose were ―precluded from asserting any claim or

right of title to the‖ property. Silbiano and Jose assert that material fact issues were created by the

evidence Clemente attached to his motion. We agree.

       We review de novo a trial court‘s summary judgment. Valence Operating Co. v. Dorsett,

164 S.W.3d 656, 661 (Tex. 2005). In a traditional motion for summary judgment, the movant has

the burden to show there is no genuine issue of material fact and it is entitled to judgment as a

matter of law. Nixon v. Mr. Prop. Mgmt. Co., 690 S.W.2d 546, 548 (Tex. 1985). Thus, a

nonmovant has no burden to respond to a traditional motion for summary judgment unless the

movant conclusively establishes each element of its cause of action as a matter of law.

Rhone–Poulenc, Inc. v. Steel, 997 S.W.2d 217, 222–23 (Tex. 1999). The trial court may not grant

summary judgment by default because the nonmovant did not respond to the summary judgment

motion when the movant‘s summary judgment proof is legally insufficient. Id. at 223.

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       During our analysis of Clemente‘s traditional motion for summary judgment, and in

deciding whether there is a disputed material fact issue which precludes summary judgment, proof

favorable to Silbiano and Jose will be taken as true and every reasonable inference will be indulged

in their favor. Limestone Prods. Distrib., Inc. v. McNamara, 71 S.W.3d 308, 311 (Tex. 2002);

Nixon, 690 S.W.2d at 548–49 (Tex. 1985).

       Attached to the motion was an affidavit filed by Clemente averring:

       my parents . . . told me that the house was mine and they were giving it to me. At
       no time did Felipe Gonzales or Marcos Gonzales ever reside in the residence. On
       or about the 30th day of May, 1970, I moved into the home and I have resided there
       continuously, openly, and obviously since that date and I have paid my parents
       back all of the initial down payment, paid the mortgage payments, property taxes,
       and I have made valuable improvements on the property, such as replacing the roof
       twice, since 1970.

       Clemente‘s motion for summary judgment also included ―Deposition Excerpts from

Silbiano Gonzales . . . as Exhibit D.‖ The deposition pages contained brackets around certain

portions of testimony. In these bracketed excerpts, Silbiano stated that he had no evidence that

the property was not given to Clemente by his parents, admitted his knowledge that Clemente had

paid the entire purchase price for the property, and had made valuable improvements thereon. He

continued:

       A.    If—because I think what he wanted to do was to give Clemente the house.

       Q.    Okay.

       A.    But he didn‘t—you know, he had never really paid for it because it wasn‘t his.

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       Q.   Okay.
       A.   He didn‘t have to pay for it.

       Q. Okay. So you believe that it was your dad‘s intention to give him the house.
       Correct?

       A.   He—let‘s say he wanted to, if he paid him for it.

       Q. Okay. So if Clemente paid for the house, you believe that your dad‘s
       intention was to give him the house. Correct?

       A. Well, yes.
       .
       But Clemente did not redact portions of the attached deposition pages which were excluded

from the bracketed excerpts. As a result, the reader was able to view the following excerpts of

Silbiano‘s testimony:

       Q. Okay. Now, so the Jewell property, there‘s a down payment made, and then
       Mr. Clemente Gonzales pay for the property—pays the down payment back on the
       property. Is that correct?

       A.   No.

       Q.   Okay. You said Mr. Clemente Gonzales paid for the property. Right?

       A.   Yes.

       Q.   All right. So how did he pay for the property?

       A. The remainder of the mortgage, my dad said they could pay the rent—pay it as
       rent. But he never paid the down payment.

              ....

       A. I didn‘t say he was going to give him the house; he was going to pay the
       mortgage.

                                               8
        Q. Okay.
        A. That was his rent.

Silbiano also testified that Felipe would help Clemente on some payments related to the home.

        There was no indication that the court‘s review should be limited only to the portions of the

deposition in brackets. Rather, at the beginning of his summary judgment motion, Clemente

generally referenced the entirety of Exhibit D. He also included one deposition page which did

not contain any bracketed portions. In other portions of the motion for summary judgment,

references were made to the deposition of Silbiano, such as ―page/line 22:8; and attached as

exhibit D.‖ If such a reference were taken to mean only the testimony on page 22 line 8 was

submitted it is: ―6All right. And is it true that Clemente . . .‖ The fact that parts of the deposition

were marked with brackets does not necessarily mean that only those portions are offered;

conceivably the brackets were added to call an emphasis to that portion of the testimony.                     We

consider all of Exhibit D in examining whether the evidence was sufficient to entitle Clemente to

summary judgment as a matter of law.

        The partial summary judgment motion and the trial court‘s summary judgment focused on

the claims for parol sale of land and adverse possession.

        ―Under the doctrine of partial performance as applied to the statute of frauds, an oral

contract for the purchase of real property is enforceable if the purchaser: (1) pays the

6
 Other similar references were to ―page/line 24:7, and attached as Exhibit D.‖ If page 24 line 7 only was to be the
offer it would read: Q. ―The same thing applies to the Jewell . . .‖

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consideration; (2) takes possession of the property; and (3) makes permanent and valuable

improvements on the property with the consent of the seller, or, without such improvements, other

facts are shown that would make the transaction a fraud on the purchaser if the oral contract was

not enforced.‖ Boyert v. Tauber, 834 S.W.2d 60, 63 (Tex. 1992) (citing Hooks v. Bridgewater,

229 S.W. 1114, 1116 (Tex. 1921)). ―These steps are seen as sufficient evidence of the agreement

because they provide affirmative corroboration of the agreement by both parties to the agreement.‖

Id. (citing Hooks, 229 S.W. at 1116).

       Silbiano was never a party to any conversation between Clemente and his parents about the

Jewell property. He admitted initially that Clemente paid the full purchase price of the property.

Later, Silbiano testified that ―he never paid the down payment‖ and only ―paid rent.‖ Looking at

this evidence in the light most favorable to Silbiano, the testimony suggests that although the

amount of payments could have totaled the full purchase price of the property, the payments could

be classified as rental payments. Also, Clemente was

       required to do more than give evidence of the three elements required by Hooks v.
       Bridgewater to relieve a parol sale of land from the Statute of Frauds. The
       conveyance itself must be proven, and its existence may not be inferred solely from
       the existence of the three elements, especially since appellant denies that any oral
       conveyance occurred and asserts that only a tenancy existed.

Hines v. Taylor, 476 S.W.2d 81, 83 (Tex. Civ. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1971, no writ).

Silbiano testified (in a bracketed portion of the testimony) that he ―just kn[e]w [the property]

wasn‘t given to [Clemente].‖ We find that the summary judgment evidence created fact issues

                                               10
with regard to the parol sale of land.

       Next, adverse possession is the ―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.‖ TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 16.021(a) (West 2002). To

prove adverse possession, a claimant must establish six elements: (1) actual possession of the

disputed property (2) that is open and notorious, (3) that is peaceable, (4) under a claim of right, (5)

that is adverse or hostile to the claim of the owner, and (6) consistent and continuous for the

duration of the statutory period.        Glover v. Union Pac. R.R., 187 S.W.3d 201, 213 (Tex.

App.—Texarkana 2006, pet. denied).

       In this case, the dispute centers upon the elements of open, notorious possession, and

hostility. ―Manifestation of adverse possession under circumstances ‗must be so notorious that it

is not susceptible of explanation consistent with the existence of the landlord-tenant relationship‘‖

Dyer v. Cotton, 333 S.W.3d 703, 713 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2010, no pet.) (quoting

Radford v. Garza, 586 S.W.2d 656, 661 (Tex. Civ. App.—Corpus Christi 1979, no writ)).

Silbiano testified Clemente was making rental payments. This created a fact issue as to whether

Clemente and his parents had a landlord-tenant relationship. In this summary judgment context,

once the possibility of ―landlord-tenant relationship is established, possession by the tenant will

not be considered adverse to the owner . . . unless and until (1) there is a repudiation of the

relationship and the assertion of a claim of right adverse to the owner, and (2) notice of such

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repudiation and adverse claim is given to the owner.‖   Radford, 586 S.W.2d at 661. ―If the rule

were otherwise, it would be extremely hazardous for an owner to enter into any landlord-tenant

relationship.‖ Id.; Cleveland v. Hensley, 548 S.W.2d 473, 475 (Tex. Civ. App.—Texarkana

1977, no writ).     These requirements were not addressed by the summary judgment evidence.

We find that the evidence does not indisputably show a claim of exclusive title.

        Because fact issues precluded the entry of summary judgment, we sustain Silbiano and

Jose‘s last point of error.

IV.     Conclusion

        We reverse the trial court‘s entry of summary judgment against Silbiano and Jose and

remand for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion.

                                                    Jack Carter
                                                    Justice

Date Submitted:         December 5, 2011
Date Decided:           January 13, 2012

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