Court Opinion

ID: 4067477
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-29 23:20:47.100478+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:32:39.577082
License: Public Domain

ACCEPTED
                                                                                                                              01-15-00192-CV
                                                                                                                   FIRST COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                                                           HOUSTON, TEXAS
                                                                                                                          9/3/2015 1:52:05 PM
                                                                                                                        CHRISTOPHER PRINE
                                                                                                                                       CLERK

                                                  NO.	
  01-­‐15-­‐00192-­‐CV	
  
                                                                 	
  
                                                                 	
                            FILED IN
                                                                                       1st COURT OF APPEALS
                                           IN	
  THE	
  COURT	
  OF	
  APPEALS	
           HOUSTON, TEXAS
                           FOR	
  THE	
  FIRST	
  DISTRICT	
  OF	
  TEXAS	
  AT	
  HOUSTON	
  
                                                                                       9/3/2015 1:52:05 PM
                                                                 	
                    CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
                                                                                                        Clerk
	
  	
  
                                               DANIEL	
  MANDARINO,	
  et	
  al.,	
  
                         	
          	
          	
        	
              	
        	
        Appellants,	
  
                                                                      	
  
                                                                     v.	
  
                                                                      	
  
                                   SHERWOOD	
  LANE	
  INVESTMENTS,	
  LLC,	
  
                              	
          	
          	
        	
              	
        	
    Appellee.	
  
                                                                      	
  
                                                                      	
  
           APPELLEE’S	
  UNOPPOSED	
  FIRST	
  MOTION	
  FOR	
  EXTENSION	
  OF	
  TIME	
  TO	
  
                                                FILE	
  APPELLEE’S	
  BRIEF	
  
                                                                      	
  
	
  
TO	
  THE	
  HONORABLE	
  COURT	
  OF	
  APPEALS:	
  

                Pursuant	
   to	
   Texas	
   Rules	
   of	
   Appellate	
   Procedure	
   10.5(b)	
   and	
   38.6(b),	
  

Appellee,	
   SHERWOOD	
   LANE	
   INVESTMENTS,	
   LLC	
   files	
   this	
   Unopposed	
   First	
  

Motion	
  for	
  Extension	
  of	
  Time	
  to	
  File	
  Appellee’s	
  Brief,	
  and	
  shows	
  the	
  following:	
  

                1.      On	
   August	
   6,	
   2015,	
   Daniel	
   Mandarino,	
   Carrie	
   Mandarino,	
   Laura	
  

Doyle,	
   Robert	
   Church,	
   Bret	
   Beals	
   and	
   Linda	
   Beals	
   as	
   Trustees	
   of	
   the	
   Beals	
  

Family	
   Revocable	
   Trust,	
   Robert	
   A.	
   Schalbe,	
   William	
   H.	
   Gay,	
   Jr.,	
   Riccardio	
   D.	
  

Gay,	
   Eric	
   Johnstone,	
   Rafal	
   Zielinski	
   and	
   Vally	
   Mestroni	
   (collectively,	
  

“Appellants”)	
  filed	
  Appellants’	
  Brief.	
  	
  
          2.        On	
  February	
  25,	
  2015,	
  Appellants	
  filed	
  their	
  Designation	
  of	
  Clerk’s	
  

Record.	
  	
  See	
  Appendix	
  1	
  -­‐	
  Designation	
  of	
  Clerk’s	
  Record.	
  

          3.        Appellants’	
   Designation	
   included	
   the	
   following	
   four	
   items:	
  	
  

1)	
  Plaintiff’s	
  Reply	
  to	
  Defendants	
  Daniel	
  Mandarino,	
  Carrie	
  Mandarino,	
  Laura	
  

Doyle,	
  Brett	
  Beals	
  and	
  Linda	
  Beals	
  as	
  Trustees	
  of	
  the	
  Beals	
  Family	
  Revocable	
  

Trust,	
  Robert	
  Church,	
  Robert	
  Schalbe,	
  William	
  H.	
  Gay,	
  Jr.,	
  Riccardio	
  D.	
  Gay,	
  Eric	
  

Johnstone,	
  Rafal	
  Zielinski,	
  and	
  Vally	
  Mestroni’s	
  Response	
  to	
  Plaintiff’s	
  Motion	
  

for	
  Summary	
  Judgment—filed	
  September	
  25,	
  2014;	
  2)	
  Exhibit	
  F	
  to	
  Plaintiff’s	
  

Reply;	
  3)	
  Exhibit	
  F-­‐A	
  to	
  Plaintiff’s	
  Reply;	
  and	
  4)	
  Plaintiff’s	
  Proposed	
  Order	
  to	
  

Plaintiff’s	
   Objections	
   and	
   Motion	
   to	
   Strike	
   Defendants	
   Daniel	
   Mandarino,	
  

Carrie	
   Mandarino,	
   Laura	
   Doyle,	
   Brett	
   Beals	
   and	
   Linda	
   Beals	
   as	
   Trustees	
   of	
   the	
  

Beals	
   Family	
   Revocable	
   Trust,	
   Robert	
   Church,	
   Robert	
   Schalbe,	
   William	
   H.	
   Gay,	
  

Jr.,	
   Riccardio	
   D.	
   Gay,	
   Eric	
   Johnstone,	
   Rafal	
   Zielinski,	
   and	
   Vally	
   Mestroni’s	
  

Summary	
  Judgment	
  Evidence—filed	
  September	
  25,	
  2014.	
  	
  Id.	
  at	
  page	
  3.	
  	
  

          4.        These	
   four	
   items	
   are	
   not	
   present	
   in	
   the	
   clerk’s	
   record—but	
   they	
  

are	
  pertinent	
  to	
  and	
  necessary	
  for	
  the	
  arguments	
  Appellee	
  makes	
  in	
  its	
  Brief.	
  	
  

          5.        On	
  September	
  2,	
  2015,	
  Appellee	
  filed	
  a	
  supplemental	
  request	
  with	
  

the	
  clerk	
  to	
  include	
  the	
  four	
  missing	
  items.	
  	
  A	
  copy	
  of	
  the	
  letter	
  is	
  attached	
  to	
  

this	
  motion	
  as	
  Appendix	
  2.	
  

	
                                                               2	
  
                                                      6.                                                     Appellee’s	
  Brief	
  is	
  due	
  on	
  Tuesday,	
  September	
  8,	
  2015.1	
  

                                                      7.                                                     Appellee	
   requests	
   an	
   additional	
   30	
   days	
   to	
   file	
   its	
   Brief,	
   extending	
  

the	
  time	
  to	
  file	
  to	
  October	
  8,	
  2015.	
  	
  

                                                      8.                                                     No	
   prior	
   extensions	
   have	
   been	
   granted	
   to	
   extend	
   time	
   to	
   file	
  

Appellee’s	
  Brief.	
  

                                                      9.                                                     This	
   request	
   is	
   not	
   sought	
   for	
   delay	
   but	
   so	
   that	
   justice	
   may	
   be	
  

done.	
  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   PRAYER	
  FOR	
  RELIEF	
  

                                                      For	
   these	
   reasons,	
   Appellee	
   Sherwood	
   Lane	
   Investments,	
   LLC	
   asks	
   the	
  

Court	
  to	
  grant	
  an	
  extension	
  of	
  time	
  to	
  file	
  its	
  brief	
  until	
  October	
  8,	
  2015.	
  	
  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Respectfully	
  submitted,	
  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     	
  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     DANIELS	
  &	
  GENTLE,	
  LLP	
  
	
  
	
                                                    	
                                                     	
                                                     	
                                                     	
        By:	
  	
     /s/	
  Douglas	
  A.	
  Daniels	
   	
    	
   	
     	
  
	
                                                    	
                                                     	
                                                     	
                                                     	
        	
            Douglas	
  A.	
  Daniels	
  
	
                                                    	
                                                     	
                                                     	
                                                     	
        	
            State	
  Bar	
  No.	
  00793579	
  
	
                                                    	
                                                     	
                                                     	
                                                     	
        	
            Jeremy	
  A.	
  Williams	
  
	
                                                    	
                                                     	
                                                     	
                                                     	
        	
            State	
  Bar	
  No.	
  24090467	
  	
  
	
                                                    	
                                                     	
                                                     	
                                                     	
        	
            douglas.daniels@danielsgentle.com	
  
	
                                                    	
                                                     	
                                                     	
                                                     	
        	
            jeremy.williams@danielsgentle.com	
  
	
                                                    	
                                                     	
                                                     	
                                                     	
        	
            6363	
  Woodway	
  Dr.,	
  Suite	
  980	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
1	
  30	
  days	
  after	
  August	
  6,	
  2015	
  is	
  Saturday,	
  September	
  5,	
  2015—which	
  extends	
  

Appellee’s	
   deadline	
   to	
   file	
   to	
   Monday,	
   September	
   7,	
   2015.	
   	
   See	
   TEX.	
   R.	
   APP.	
   P.	
  
4.1(a)	
   (extending	
   the	
   period	
   to	
   file	
   on	
   the	
   next	
   day	
   that	
   is	
   not	
   a	
   Saturday,	
  
Sunday,	
  or	
  legal	
  holiday).	
  	
  Furthermore,	
  September	
  7,	
  2015	
  is	
  a	
  legal	
  holiday	
  
extending	
  Appellee’s	
  deadline	
  to	
  file	
  its	
  Brief	
  to	
  Tuesday,	
  September	
  8,	
  2015.	
  

	
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3	
  
	
         	
      	
       	
        	
          	
      Houston,	
  Texas	
  77057-­‐1759	
  
	
         	
      	
       	
        	
          	
      (713)	
  979-­‐4279	
  Telephone	
  
	
         	
      	
       	
        	
          	
      (713)	
  979-­‐4270	
  Facsimile	
  
	
  
	
         	
      	
       	
        	
          	
      Attorneys	
  for	
  Appellee	
  
	
  
           	
  

	
  	
  
                                             CERTIFICATE	
  OF	
  SERVICE	
  

	
       I	
  certify	
  that	
  I	
  have	
  complied	
  with	
  Texas	
  Rules	
  of	
  Civil	
  Procedure	
  21	
  and	
  
21a	
  and	
  that	
  a	
  true	
  and	
  correct	
  copy	
  of	
  the	
  above	
  and	
  foregoing	
  document	
  has	
  
been	
  served	
  on	
  the	
  following	
  counsel	
  of	
  record	
  by	
  the	
  means	
  indicated	
  below	
  
this	
  3rd	
  day	
  of	
  September,	
  2015.	
  	
  

	
  
                   Teri	
  A.	
  Walter	
  
                   Glen	
  Nordt	
  
                   Walter	
  Law	
  Firm,	
  P.C.	
  
                   1111	
  North	
  Loop	
  West	
  115	
  
                   Houston,	
  Texas	
  	
  77056	
  
                   (713)	
  529-­‐2020	
  Office	
  
                   (713)	
  529-­‐2266	
  Facsimile	
  
                   Attorneys	
  for	
  Appellants	
  
                   twalter@prevaillawyers.com	
  
                   gnordt@prevaillawyers.com	
  
                   By	
  e-­‐service	
  and/or	
  e-­‐mail	
  and/or	
  certified	
  mail,	
  return	
  receipt	
  
                   requested	
  

	
         	
  

	
         	
      	
       	
        	
          	
   /s/	
  Douglas	
  A.	
  Daniels	
   	
            	
  
	
         	
      	
       	
        	
          Douglas	
  A.	
  Daniels	
  
	
  

	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  

	
                                                            4	
  
                                                                                                        2/25/2015 12:53:11 PM
                                                                                     Chris Daniel - District Clerk Harris County
                                                                                                         Envelope No. 4278320
                                                                                                        By: Phyllis Washington
                                                                                                 Filed: 2/25/201512:53:11 PM

                                       WALTER LAW FIRM, P. C.
                                      1111 North Loop West Suite 1115
                                           Houston, Texas 77008

TERI   A. WALTER                                                                    Phone 713 529-2020
BOARD CERTIFIED- CIVIL TRIAL LAW                                                     Direct 832 8319810
TEXAS BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION                                                    Fax 713 529-2266
                                                                                twalter@prevalllawyers.com

                                             February 25, 2015

Chandra Williams
Marcella Henderson
Clerk, 1641h District Court
201 Caroline 12th Floor
Houston, TX 77002

Re:       Cause No. 2014-32347, Sherwood Lane Investments, LLC v. Cal State Investment Limited
          Partnership, Eugene E. Volluci, Daniel Mandarino, Carrie Mandarino, Armando La Fontaine,
          Jennifer La Fontaine, Laura Doyle, Robert Church, Bret Beals and Linda Beals as Trustees
          of the Beals Family Revocable Trust, Robert A. Schalbe, William H. Gay, Jr., Riccardio D. Gay,
          Eric Johnstone, Rafal Zielinski and Vally Mestroni; In the 1641h Judicial District Court; Harris
          County, Texas

Dear Ms. Williams & Ms. Henderson:

Please included the following documents in the clerk's record for the appeal of this matter:

1.        06/05/14          SHERWOOD's Original Petition and Jury Demand

2.         07/07/14         Defendants' Original Answer

3.        07/28/14          SHERWOOD's Motion for Summary Judgment
                            Exhibit A Affidavit of John Gilmore
                            Exhibit B Affidavit of James Hale
                            Exhibit B-1 Assignment of Promissory Note
                            Exhibit B-2 Email from Jim Hale to Laura Doyle August 26, 2009
                            Exhibit C Affidavit of Herbert B. Richardson
                            Exhibit C-1 Wraparound Promissory Note
                            Exhibit D Affidavit of Jeffrey Compton
                            Exhibit E Affidavit of Douglas A. Daniels
                            Proposed Order

                                                Appendix 1
WALTER LAW FIRM, PC
February 25, 2015
Page 2

4.     08/15/14       Defendants' Motion for Continuance of Motion for Summary Judgment
                      Exhibit A- Commercial Contract- Improved Property
                      Proposed Order

5.     08/20/14       SHERWOOD Response to Motion for Continuance of MSJ
                      Proposed Order

6.     08/22/14       Amended Notice of Oral Hearing 9/26/14 @ 10:00 AM

7.     09/10/14       Agreed Motion for Substitution of Counsel (TAW for Defendants
                      Mandarino et. al.)

8.     09/11/14       Order for Substitution of Counsel for (TAW for Defendants Mandarino
                      et. al.)

9.     09/18/14       Defendants' (Mandarino et. al.) Amended Answer

10.    09/19/14       Defendants' (Mandarino et. al.) Objections to Summary Judgment Evidence
                      Proposed Order

11.    09/19/14       Defendants' (Mandarino et. al.) Response to Motion for Summary Judgment
                      Exhibit A     Commercial Contract-Improved Property
                      Exhibit B     Deed of Trust and Security Agreement (securing First Lien
                                    Note) to Morgan Guaranty Trust Company, dated June 27,
                                    2001
                      Exhibit C     Assignment of Deed of Trust and Security Agreement
                                    (securing First Lien Note) to Wells Fargo Bank, dated January
                                    2, 2002
                      Exhibit D     Deed of Trust (Wraparound Financing) dated October 16,
                                    2006
                      Exhibit E     Assignment of Mortgage (securing First Lien Note) to Nueva
                                    Villa Apartment, LLC, dated March 31, 2010
                      Exhibit F     Substitute Trustee's Deed (foreclosing First Lien Note) dated
                                    April12, 2010, {foreclosure of the property on Aprll6, 2010)
                      Exhibit G     Records of the Texas Secretary of State regarding Sherwood
                                    Pines, Ltd

                                         Appendix 1
WALTER LA IV Flllllf, PC
February 25, 2015
Page 3

                           Exhibit H         Records of the Texas Secretary of State, Certificate of
                                             Formation of Plaintiff, SHERWOOD LANE INVESTMENTS, LLC.
                           Exhibit I         Letter dated March 10, 2008 from Sherwood Pines, ltd.
                                             signed by Herbert B. Richardson and John Gilmore,
                                             addressed to James Hale, President of Lee Wallis, Inc.
                           Exhibit J         Commission Agreement for the property located at 4211
                                             Sherwood Lane, Houston, TX
                           Exhibit   K       letter from the selling broker
                           Exhibit   L       Affidavit of Daniel Mandarino
                           Exhibit   M       Affidavit of Carrie Mandarino
                           Exhibit   N       Affidavit of Laura Doyle
                           Exhibit   0       Affidavit of Robert Church
                           Exhibit   P       Affidavit of Brett Beals as Trustee of the Beals Family
                                             Revocable Trust
                           Exhibit Q         Affidavit of linda Beals as Trustee of the Beals Family
                                             Revocable Trust
                           Exhibit R         Affidavit of Robert A. Schalbe
                           ExhibitS          Affidavit of William H. Gay, Jr.
                           Exhibit T         Affidavit of Riccardio D. Gay
                           Exhibit U         Affidavit of Eric Johnstone
                           Exhibit V         Affidavit of Rafal Zielinski
                           Exhibit W         Affidavit of Vally Mestroni
                           Exhibit X         Tlmeline Summary of Summary Judgment Evidence
                           Proposed      Order

12.     09/25/14           SHERWOOD's Objections and Motion to Strike Defendants' Daniel
                           Mandarino, et al. Summary Judgment Evidence
                           Proposed Order

13.     09/25/14           SHERWOOD's Reply to Defendants' (Daniel Mandarino, et al.) Response to
                           SHERWOOD's Motion for Summary Judgment
                           Exhibit F   Affidavit of Jeffrey Compton
                           Exhibit F-A Second Lien Amount Unpaid Calculation

14.     09/30/14           SHERWOOD's       2nd   Amended Notice of Oral Hearing- SF 11/14/14@ 10

                                                   Appendix 1
WALTER LAW FIRM, PC
February 25, 2015
Page 4

15.    10/20/14       Defendants' (Mandarino et. al.) Supplemental Response to SHERWOOD's
                      Motion for    Summary Judgment and Cross Motion for Interlocutory
                      Summary Judgment Regarding Acceleration and/or Maturity ofWraparound
                      Note
                      Exhibit A     Email Jim Hale to Laura Doyle, August 29, 2009
                      Exhibit B     Email Jim Hale to Laura Doyle, November 3, 2009
                      Exhibit c     Plaintiff's Original Petition (Lee Wallis Inc v Laura Doyle,
                                    unfiled)
                      Exhibit D     Affidavit of James Hale
                      Proposed Order
                      Notice of Hearing- SF 11.14.14 @10

16.    10/20/14       Defendants' (Mandarino et. al) Supplemental Response to SHERWOOD's
                      Motion for Summary Judgment and Cross Motion for Summary Judgment
                      Regarding Two Year Statute of Limitations
                      Exhibit A     Deed of Trust securing Original Fixed Rate Note (first lien)
                      Exhibit B     Deed of Trust securing Wraparound Note
                      Exhibit C     Substitute Trustee's Deed
                      Proposed Order
                      Notice of Hearing- SF 11.14.14@ 10

17.    10/21/14       Defendants' (Mandarino et. al.) Second Amended Answer
                      Affidavit of Glen Nordt's

18.    10/22/14       SHERWOOD's Notice of Hearing on Motion to Strike Defendants (Daniel
                      Mandarino, et al.) Summary Judgment Evidence- SF 11.14.14@ 10

19.    10/22/14       Defendants' (Mandarino et. al.) Notice of Hearing on Objections to
                      Summary Judgment Evidence- SF 11.14.14@ 10

20.    11/7/14        SHERWOOD'S Response to Defendants' Cross-Motions for Summary
                      Judgment and Reply to Defendants' Supplemental Responses to Plaintiff's
                      Motion for Summary Judgment.

21.    12/19/14       Final Judgment

22.    01/15/15       Defendants' (Mandarino et. al.) Motion for New Trial, Motion for Specific
                      Rulings on Defendants' objections to Plaintiff's Summary Judgment
                      Evidence, and Objection to the Court's Failure or Refusal to Specifically Rule

                                          Appendix 1
WALTERLAWFIRM,PC
February 25, 2015
Page 5

                      on Defendants' Objections to Plaintiff's Summary Judgment Evidence w/
                      Proposed Order
                      Notice of Hearing SF 1/30/15 @ 11

Please let me know the cost of the record as soon as It has been prepared.

Thank you very much for your assistance.

                                            Terl A. Walter

                                           Appendix 1
                                                                                                    9/2/2015 1:41:45 PM
                                                                              Chris Daniel - District Clerk Harris County
                                                                                                 Envelope No. 6764363
                                                                                                      By: Michelle Wojcik
                                                                                             Filed: 9/2/2015 1:41:45 PM

                DANIELS &GENTLE
                T    R        A   L       LAWYERS

                                                                                      jeremy A. Williams
                                                                              6363 Woodway, Suite 980
                                                                                      Houston, TX 77057
                                                                                   (713) 979-4279 Office
                                                                                     (713) 979-4270 Fax
                                                             ill l' ni.Y.,'!Yilllam a danl lsgcnllc.com

                                  September 2, 2015

Chandra Williams
Marcella Henderson
Clerk, 164th District Court
201 Caroline, 12th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002

       Re:    Cause No. 2014-32347; Sherwood Lane Investments, LLC. v. Cal State
              Investment Limited Partnership, et al.; In the 164th Judicial District
              Court of Harris County, Texas.

              Case No. 01-15-00192-CV, Daniel Mandarino, eta/. v. Sherwood Lane
              Investments, LLC, In the Texas First Court of Appeals, Houston, Texas.

Dear Ms. Williams and Ms. Henderson:

       Please supplement the clerk's record to include the following:

       1. Plaintiff's Reply to Defendants Daniel Mandarino, Carrie Mandarino,
          Laura Doyle, Brett Beals and Linda Beals as Trustees of the Beals Family
          Revocable Trust, Robert Church, Robert Schalbe, William H. Gay, Jr.,
          Riccardio D. Gay, Eric Johnstone, Rafal Zielinski, and Vally Mestroni's
          Response to Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment-filed 09/25/14.
              • Exhibit F
              • Exhibit F-A

       2. ProRosed 0rd ~ to Plaintiff's Objections and Motion to Strike Defendants
          Daniel Mandarino, Carrie Mandarino, Laura Doyle, Brett Beals and Linda
          Beals as Trustees of the Beals Family Revocable Trust, Robert Church,
          Robert Schalbe, William H. Gay, Jr., Riccardio D. Gay, Eric Johnstone, Rafal
          Zielinski, and Vally Mestroni's Summary Judgment Evidence-filed
          09/25/14.

                                      Appendix 2
          [Ki
DANIELS &GENTLE
TRIAL       LAWYERS

September 2, 2015
Page 2
       Thank you for your assistance. Please contact me at (713) 979-4279 if you
have any questions.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        DANIELS   & GENTLE, LLP

/jw

                                  Appendix 2