B & Sons Construction, LLC v. Rood Holdings, LLC ( 2015 )

ACCEPTED
01-13-01005-DV
FIRST COURT OF APPEALS
HOUSTON, TEXAS
9/30/2015 3:11:13 PM
CHRISTOPHER PRINE
CLERK
NO. 01-13-01005-CV
FILED IN
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS 1st COURT OF APPEALS
HOUSTON, TEXAS
FOR THE FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT
9/30/2015 3:11:13 PM
HOUSTON, TEXAS CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
Clerk
B & SONS CONSTRUCTION LLC
Appellant
V.
ROOD HOLDINGS, LLC
Appellee
On Appeal from the 164th Judicial District Court
of Harris County, Texas
The Honorable Alexandra Smoots-Hogan, presiding.
Trial Court Cause No. 2013-60986
BRIEF OF APPELLEE
Christina R. Johnson
State Bar No. 24050638
Gregory T. Brewer
State Bar No. 00792370
Attorneys at Law
5151 Beltline Road
Suite 410
Dallas, Texas 75254
(972) 812-6412 Telephone
(972) 812-9408 Fax
Email:
christina.johnson@fnf.com
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents...............................................................................................................................ii
Index of Authorities...........................................................................................................................iii
Statement of the Case.........................................................................................................................v
Appellee’s Brief..................................................................................................................................1
Statement on Oral Argument..............................................................................................................2
Issue Responded To............................................................................................................................2
Statement of Facts..............................................................................................................................2
Summary of the Argument.................................................................................................................6
Argument............................................................................................................................................7
Response to Issue Presented...............................................................................................................7
1a. Standard of Review for Issue Presented…………….......................................................7
1b. B & Sons Was Properly Served…………........................................................................8
1c. Application of Law to Facts …………………….…………………………………...…9
1d. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Costley.………………………………………...……...11
1e. B & Sons Failed to Meet Craddock, No Abuse of Discretion ……….………………..13
Conclusion….………………………………………………...……………………………...…….16
Prayer…………………………………………………………...………………………...………..16
Certificate of Service………………………………………………………………………...…….17
Certificate of Compliance…………………………………………………………...……………..18
ii
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
CASES
Cliff v Huggins,
724 S.W.2d 778, 778 (Tex. 1987) ........................................................................................................ 7
Costley v. State Farm Fire and Cas. Co.,
844 S.W.2d 939 (Tex. App.-Amarill 1994, writ granted) …………………………………...…11, 12
Craddock v Sunshine Bus Lines, Inc.,
134 Tex. 388, 393, 133 S.W.2d 124, 126 (1939) ........................................................... 6, 7, 13, 14, 15
Dolly v. Aethos Communications Sys., Inc.,
10 S.W.3d 384, 388 (Tex. App.-Dallas 2000, no pet.) ........................................................................ 9
Goode v Shoukfeh,
934 S.W.2d 441, 446 (Tex. 1997) ........................................................................................................ 8
Ivy v. Carrell,
407 S.W.2d 212, 214 (Tex. 1966) ……………………………………………………………14, 15
Lopez v. Lopez,
757 S.W.2d 721, 723 (Tex. 1988) ...................................................................................................... 14
Mathis v. Lockwood,
166 S.W.3d 743, 744 (2005).…………………………………………………………………….…14
Peralta v. Heights Med. Ctr., Inc.,
485 U.S. 80, 84-86, 108 S. Ct. 896, 898-900, 99 L. Ed. 2d 75 (1988) ................................................ 14
Primate Constr., Inc. v. Silver,
884 S.W.2d 151, 152 (Tex. 1994) ........................................................................................................ 8
State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Costley,
868 S.W.2d 298, 298-299 (Tex. 1993) .................................................................................. 11, 12, 13
Strackbein v. Prewitt,
671 S.W.2d 37, 38 (Tex.1984)……………………..………………………………………………7,8
Union Pacific Corp. v. Legg,
49 S.W.3d 72, 78 citing Susan Jean Miller, Misnomer: Default Judgments and Strict Compliance
with Service of Process Rules, 46 Baylor L. Rev. 633, 634 (1994) .......................................... 12,13
iii
Vespa v. Nat’l Health Ins. Co., 98 S.W.3d 749, 751 (Tex. App.-Fort Worth 2003, no pet.) .......... 8, 9
RULES
TRAP Rule 39.7 ……………………………………………………………………………………..2
Tex. R. Civ. P. 106 ……………………….………………………………….…..9, 11, 12,13, 15, 16
Tex. R. Civ. P. 107………………………….………………………………………………………..9
iv
STATEMENT OF CASE
Trial Court Proceeding: This case began on October 10, 2013 as an action for
breach of contract and related claims by United Rentals (North America), Inc.
(“United”) against various parties, including Rood Holdings, LLC (“Rood”),
Appellee. (CR 3- 12). On April 28, 2014, Rood countersued United to quiet title
and for declaratory judgment. (CR 26- 69). On that same day, Rood filed a Third
Party Petition against B & Sons Construction LLC (“B & Sons”). (SCR 69- 80).
On October 13, 2014, B & Sons was served through its registered agent. (SCR
121- 122). On November 17, 2014, Rood filed a Motion for Default Judgment
against B & Sons. (SCR 61- 131). On December 10, 2014, the Trial Judge signed
the Order of Default Judgment against B & Sons. (CR 105- 107). On January 22,
2015, the Trial Judge signed an Order dismissing the remaining defendants and
making the December 10, 2014 Interlocutory Default Judgment against B & Sons
“final and appealable.” (CR 108- 109). On February 10, 2015, B & Sons filed a
motion for new trial which the trial judge denied on March 11, 2015. (SCR 132-
150, CR 126).
Trial Court’s Disposition: Trial Court, 164th Judicial District Court, Harris
County, Texas, denied B & Sons’ motion for new trial and ordered that Rood’s
default judgment against B & Sons remain in full force and effect. (CR 126). B &
Sons timely filed their Notice of Appeal on April 18, 2015. (CR 127).
v
NO. 01-13-01005-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT
HOUSTON, TEXAS
B & SONS CONSTRUCTION LLC
Appellant
V.
ROOD HOLDINGS, LLC
Appellee
On Appeal from the 164th Judicial District Court
of Harris County, Texas
The Honorable Alexandra Smoots-Hogan, presiding.
Trial Court Cause No. 2013-60986
BRIEF OF APPELLEE
COMES NOW, Rood Holdings, LLC, defendant in the trial court and
Appellee in this Court, and file this brief in response to Appellant’s brief filed in
this appeal. Throughout Appellee’s brief the clerk’s record is referenced as “CR”
followed by the relevant page numbers and the supplemental clerk’s record is
referenced as “SCR” followed by the relevant page numbers.
1
APPELLEES’ STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT
This appeal concerns the denial of Appellant’s motion for new trial.
Therefore, Appellee believes that the Court’s decisional process would not be
significantly aided by oral argument. However, pursuant to TRAP Rule 39.7,
Appellee, Rood Holdings, LLC does not waive its right to be heard, should the
Court determine that oral arguments are in order.
ISSUE RESPONDED TO
Response to Issue Presented:
The trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied B & Sons’
motion for new trial and thus refusing to set aside the default
judgment in favor of Rood.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
The Underlying Suit:
Defendant Wood and Defendant Nguyen:
This action was originally filed on October 10, 2013, by United against VR
Wood (“Wood”), Huong Kim Nguyen (“Nguyen”), and Rood. (CR 3- 12). United
claimed it sold, rented, or delivered to Wood goods and equipment for which
Wood did not pay and remained delinquent as of the time the suit was filed. (CR 3-
12). United further claimed that the goods and equipment it sold to Wood had been
used by Wood to build an industrial park at 11810 Messa Drive in Houston, Texas
2
(“property”). (CR 3- 12). United further alleged that it filed a Mechanic’s and
Materialman’s Lien(s) against the property. Id. United sued Wood for suit on
sworn account, breach of contract and for quantum meruit. Id. United sued Nguyen
for suit on guaranty. Id. United also included a claim to foreclosure its M&M
Lien(s). Id. Subsequently, United obtained an interlocutory default judgment
against Defendants Wood and Nguyen granted on May 29, 2014. (CR 70- 72).
United and Rood then dismissed the claims it had against one another, which the
trial court granted on August 8, 2014. (CR 73- 74).
Third Party Defendant B & Sons:
Rood purchased the property in question on or about January 15, 2013.
(SCR 69- 119). On February 14, 2013, B & Sons filed a Mechanic and
Materialman’s Lien Affidavit claiming $430,329.00 was due to it for materials and
labor furnished by B & Sons to the Property. (SCR 69- 119). On April 28, 2014,
Rood filed its Original Third-Party Petition and Request for Disclosure against
various defendants including B & Sons. (SCR 69- 119). As to B & Sons, Rood
brought a quite title claim and also sought a declaratory judgment. (SCR 69- 119).
Specifically, Rood sought to have title to the property quieted in its name by
removing any and all clouds on Rood’s title by virtue of any claims made or
actions brought by B & Sons. (SCR 69- 119). Rood also sought the trial court to
declare it the legal owner of the property. (SCR 69- 119). On September 10,
3
2014, Rood filed its First Amended Third-Party Petition and Request for
Disclosure. (CR 75- 85, SCR 10- 60). This pleading did not add claims or
increased the damages sought against B & Sons. (CR 75-85, SCR 69- 119). The
only things amended were with respect to service on the parties including exhibits
regarding service and renaming the exhibits. (CR 75- 85, SCR 69- 119).
Service of Process on B & Sons:
On September 10, 2014, Rood filed a Motion for Substituted Service as it
had been unable to personally serve B & Sons’ registered agent, Larry Pham. (CR
86-89, SCR 3-9). Rood asked the trial court to authorize service on B & Sons by
one of the following methods: (a) leaving a true copy of the citation, along with the
petition with anyone more than sixteen years of age at 600 Shane Street, Houston,
Texas 77037; (b) securely attaching a copy of the citation, along with the petition
on the front door or on the front gate of the property at 600 Shane Street, Houston,
Texas 77037; (c) by mailing a copy of the citation along with the petition, by
certified mail (return receipt requested) and/ or by regular mail to the registered
agent’s office at 600 Shane Street, Houston, Texas 77037; or (d) by any alternative
method which the court deemed as reasonably effective to give B & Sons notice of
the suit. (CR 86- 89, SCR 3- 9). In support of its Motion for Substituted Service,
Rood attached the Affidavit of Joseph C. Rodriguez. (SCR 8- 9). While the process
server was told that Larry Pham, the registered agent for B & Sons, lived at 522
4
Shane Street, there was no verification of this information. (SCR 151- 176). What
was certain was that B & Sons had its registered agent information on file with the
Texas Secretary of State and that the proper service on B & Sons was through its
registered agent, Larry Pham, at 600 Shane Street, Houston, Texas 77037. (SCR
167). In fact by B & Sons’ own admission, it was at that address, 600 Shane
Street, Houston, Texas 77037, that B & Sons received notice from the trial court
about the default judgment taken against it. (CR 112- 119, SCR 132- 150).
On September 24, 2014, the trial court granted Rood’s Motion for
Substituted Service allowing Rood to serve B & Sons by one of the following
methods: (a) leaving a true copy of the citation, along with the petition with anyone
more than sixteen years of age at 600 Shane Street, Houston, Texas 77037; (b)
securely attaching a copy of the citation, along with the petition on the front door
or on the front gate of the property at 600 Shane Street, Houston, Texas 77037; (c)
by mailing a copy of the citation along with the petition, by certified mail (return
receipt requested) and/ or by regular mail to the registered agent’s office at 600
Shane Street, Houston, Texas 77037; or (d) by any alternative method which the
court deems as reasonably effective to give B & Sons notice of the suit. (SCR 123-
124, 161- 162). Rood served B & Sons in strict compliance with the order. (SCR
121- 124).
5
On October 13, 2014, Rood properly served B & Sons though its registered
agent, Larry Pham, by posting a copy of the citation with Rood Holdings Original
Third-Party Petition and Requests for Disclosures, Exhibits 1 through 8, Order
Granting Third-Party Plaintiff Rood Holdings, LLC’s Motion for Substitute
Service on Third-Party Defendant B & Sons Construction, LLC to the front door at
600 Shane Street, Houston, Harris County, Texas 77037. (SCR 121-124, 164-165).
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT
There are three questions that need to be answered in order to determine
whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying B & Sons’ motion for new
trial. First, the court will need to determine whether B & Sons was served in
accordance with the rules. Second, the court will need to determine if the three
elements identified in Craddock v. Sunshine Bus Lines, Inc. apply to B & Sons.
134 Tex. 388, 393, 133 S.W.2d 124, 126 (1939). Third, the court will need to
determine if B & Sons’ motion for new trial met those three elements.
B & Sons’ entire argument is based on the allegation that it was never served
with Rood’s Original Third Party Petition because it claims to have never received
notice of the lawsuit. However, Rood is only required to show that B & Sons was
served in strict compliance under the rules. Rood does not have to show that B &
Sons actually received notice of the lawsuit. When Rood was unable to serve B &
Sons’ personally, it requested substituted service which was granted by the trial
6
court. Rood served B & Sons exactly as prescribed in the order granting
substituted service, thus perfecting service on B & Sons.
Having been served with the lawsuit, B & Sons had to meet all three
elements described in Craddock in order to be granted its motion for new trial. B
& Sons’ motion for new trial failed to address two of those elements: (1) that it had
a meritorious defense and (2) that its request for new trial would occasion no delay
or otherwise work an injury to Rood. Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its
discretion when denying B & Sons’ motion for new trial.
ARGUMENT
I. Argument and Authorities for Issue:
Response to Issue Presented:
The trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied B & Sons’
motion for new trial and refused to set aside the default judgment in
favor of Rood.
1a. Standard of Review for Issue Presented:
Rood agrees with B & Sons that the law is well settled that there are certain
prerequisites that must be met in order to set aside a default judgment and obtain a
new trial. Cliff v Huggins, 724 S.W.2d 778, 778 (Tex. 1987). Rood also agrees
with B & Sons that a motion for new trial is addressed to the trial court’s discretion
and the court’s ruling will not be disturbed on appeal in the absence of a showing
of an abuse of discretion. Id. at 779. See also, Strackbein v. Prewitt, 671 S.W.2d
7
37, 38 (Tex.1984). Rood also agrees with B & Sons that an abuse of discretion
occurs when the trial court acts without reference to any guiding rules or
principles. Goode v Shoukfeh, 934 S.W.2d 441, 446 (Tex. 1997). However, Rood
disagrees with B & Sons as to what is the guiding rule or principle for the trial
court to consider in determining a motion for new trial.
1b. B & Sons Was Properly Served:
B & Sons attempts to frame its issue on appeal as that it was not properly
served and therefore the trial court abused its discretion when it failed to grant its
motion for new trial. If B & Sons was not served, then it would be correct and the
trial court should have granted its motion for new trial. However, the record does
not support its position of lack of service.
On December 10, 2014, the trial court entered a default judgment against B
& Sons. (CR 105-107). B & Sons’ appeal is a direct attack on the trial court’s
judgment. To sustain a default judgment under direct attack, the plaintiff in the
trial court must show that it strictly complied with the rules relating to the issuance
of citation, the manner and mode of service, and the return of process. Vespa v.
Nat’l Health Ins. Co., 98 S.W.3d 749, 751 (Tex. App.-Fort Worth 2003, no pet.).
The plaintiff must show such compliance on the face of the record. Id. The normal
presumptions favoring valid issuance, service, and return of citation do not apply.
Id.; See Primate Constr., Inc. v. Silver, 884 S.W.2d 151, 152 (Tex. 1994).
8
Texas law prefers personal service over substitute service. Vespa, 98
S.W.3d at 751. When the plaintiff uses substituted service, Texas law places a
burden on the plaintiff to prove that he or she served the defendant in the manner
required by the applicable statute. Id.
Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 106 authorizes a court to order a substitute
method of service. TEX. R. CIV. P. 106(b). Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 107
states that “Where citation is executed by an alternative method as authorized by
Rule 106, proof of service shall be made in the manner ordered by the court.”
TEX. R. CIV. P. 107(f). When a trial court orders substituted service pursuant to
Rule 106, the only authority for the substituted service is the order itself. Dolly v.
Aethos Communications Sys., Inc., 10 S.W.3d 384, 388 (Tex. App.-Dallas 2000, no
pet.). Because the trial court’s order is the sole basis of authority authorizing
substituted service, any deviation from the trial court’s order necessitates a reversal
of the default judgment based on service. Vespa, 98 S.W.3d at 751.
1c. Application of Law to Facts:
Rood attempted to personally serve B & Sons’ registered agent at its address
listed for service of process with the Texas Secretary of State on seven separate
occasions. (SCR 8- 9). Therefore as allowed by the Rules of Civil Procedure,
Rood filed a Motion for Substitute Service. (SCR 3- 9). On September 24, 2014,
9
the trial court granted Rood’s Motion for Substituted Service allowing Rood to
serve B & Sons by one of the following methods:
(a) leaving a true copy of the citation, along with the petition with anyone
more than sixteen years of age at 600 Shane Street, Houston, Texas 77037;
(b) securely attaching a copy of the citation, along with the petition on the
front door or on the front gate of the property at 600 Shane Street, Houston, Texas
77037;
(c) by mailing a copy of the citation along with the petition, by certified mail
(return receipt requested) and/ or by regular mail to the registered agent’s office at
600 Shane Street, Houston, Texas 77037; or
(d) by any alternative method which the court deems as reasonably effective
to give B & Sons notice of the suit. (SCR 123-124, 161-162).
On October 13, 2014, in compliance with the trial court’s order allowing
substitute service, Rood served B & Sons though its registered agent, Larry Pham,
by posting a copy of the citation with Rood Holdings Original Third-Party Petition
and Requests for Disclosures, Exhibits 1 through 8, Order Granting Third-Party
Plaintiff Rood Holdings, LLC’s Motion for Substitute Service on Third-Party
Defendant B & Sons Construction, LLC to the front door at 600 Shane Street,
Houston, Harris County, Texas 77037. (SCR 121-124). As the above cited
authorities state, substitute service is effective when a plaintiff strictly complies
10
with the trial court’s order allowing the substitute service. The record on appeal
establishes that Rood strictly complied with the trial court’s order granting
substitute service.
1d. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Costley:
As stated in the proceeding paragraphs, B & Sons attempts to assert that the
trial court abused its discretion when it failed to grant its motion for new trial based
on Larry Pham’s affidavit stating that he never actually received a copy of the
citation and petition. However, failure to actually receive the citation when service
is affected by Tex. R. Civ. P. 106 is not the correct standard. In State Farm Fire &
Cas. Co. v. Costley, 868 S.W.2d 298, 298 (Tex. 1993) the Texas Supreme Court
addressed a similar set of facts as is now before this Court.
State Farm attempted to serve Andy Costley ten times by personal service
without success. Id. It filed a motion seeking substitute service pursuant to Rule
106. Id. The trial court entered an order authorizing substitute service by mailing a
copy of the petition and citation by certified mail, return receipt requested, and by
first-class mail, postage prepaid to Costley’s mailing address. Id. State Farm
complied with the trial court’s order and when Costley failed to answer the trial
court granted a default judgment against Costley. Id. Costley appealed the default
judgment to the Amarillo Court of Appeals. See Costley v. State Farm Fire and
Cas. Co., 844 S.W.2d 939 (Tex. App.-Amarillo 1994, writ granted). The Court of
11
Appeals reversed the trial court’s default judgment concluding that service by first-
class mail did not satisfy the Rule 106(b) requirement that substitute service “be
reasonably effective to give defendant notice” because the service by U.S. mail did
not show when Costley actually received notice. Id. at 941-42. State Farm
appealed to the Texas Supreme Court.
The Texas Supreme Court reversed the appellate court’s decision stating:
“Substitute service exists to allow plaintiffs to effect service where
proof of actual notice under Rule 106(a) is impractical…..Thus, to
require proof of actual notice upon substituted service would frustrate
Rule 106(b)’s purpose of providing alternate methods for plaintiffs in
the position of State Farm. In fact the rule itself contemplates other
procedures which will not necessarily furnish evidence in the record
of when defendant received actual notice .....” State Farm, 868
S.W.2d at 299.
Rood, like State Farm attempted to personally serve B & Sons’ registered
agent, Mr. Pham on seven separate occasions without success. (SCR 8-9). The
trial court, like the trial court in State Farm allowed Rood to serve B & Sons’ agent
by a substitute method. (SCR 3-9, CR 90-91). Rood served Mr. Pham in strict
compliance with the trial court’s order. (CR 90-93). Therefore, like Mr. Costley in
State Farm, B & Sons was properly served.
The doctrine of strict compliance considers whether the record shows that
exact procedural requirements are met, not whether the intended party received
notice of the lawsuit. Union Pacific Corp. v. Legg, 49 S.W.3d 72, 78 citing Susan
12
Jean Miller, Misnomer: Default Judgments and Strict Compliance with Service of
Process Rules, 46 Baylor L. Rev. 633, 634 (1994). According to the Texas
Supreme Court, to require proof of actual notice upon substituted service, would
frustrate Rule 106(b)’s purpose of providing alternative methods for plaintiffs. See
State Farm, 868 S.W.2d at 299.
1e. B & Sons Failed to Meet Craddock, No Abuse of Discretion:
The Texas Supreme Court in Craddock v Sunshine Bus Lines, Inc., set forth
the guiding rule or principle for trial courts to follow in determining whether to
grant a motion for a new trial:
“A default judgment should be set aside and a new trial ordered in any
case in which the failure of defendant to answer before judgment was
not intentional, or the result of conscious indifference on his part, but
was due to a mistake or accident; provided the motion for a new trial
sets up a meritorious defense and is filed at a time when the granting
thereof will occasion no delay or otherwise work an injury to the
plaintiff.” 134 Tex. 388, 393, 133 S.W.2d 124, 126 (1939)
Since B & Sons was served in strict compliance with Tex. R. Civ. P. 106 and
the order granting substituted service, B & Sons was required to address all three
of the Craddock elements in its motion for new trial. See Craddock, 134 Tex. at
393; Peralta v. Heights Med. Ctr., Inc., 485 U.S. 80, 84-86, 108 S. Ct. 896, 898-
900, 99 L. Ed. 2d 75 (1988); Lopez v. Lopez, 757 S.W.2d 721, 723 (Tex. 1988);
Mathis v. Lockwood, 166 S.W.3d 743, 744 (2005).
13
B & Sons’ main evidence supporting its motion for new trial was the
Affidavit of Larry Pham. (SCR 132 - 150). In that affidavit, Larry Pham states that
he was unaware of the pending litigation against B & Sons and that is why it failed
to timely answer. (SCR 148-150). This affidavit was sufficient to support the first
element in Craddock (that its failure to appear was not intentional nor the result of
conscious indifference). Craddock, 134 Tex. at 393.
However to comply with Craddock, B & Sons has to set up a meritorious
defense as well as show that it had filed its motion for new trial at a time when the
granting would not delay or otherwise work an injury to Rood. Id. The rule in
Craddock does not require proof of a meritorious defense in the accepted sense to
entitle one to a new trial after default; the motion should be granted if it ‘sets up a
meritorious defense.’ Ivy v. Carrell, 407 S.W.2d 212, 214 (Tex. 1966). This does
not mean that the motion should be granted if it merely alleged that the defendant
‘has a meritorious defense.’ Id. The motion must allege facts which in law would
constitute a defense to the cause of action asserted by the plaintiff, and must be
supported by affidavits or other evidence proving prima facie that the defendant
has such meritorious defense. Id.
In Ivy, the trial court entered a default judgment in favor of the plaintiff
(Carrell) declaring the deed in question to be a mortgage on the plaintiff’s
homestead and therefore void, cancelling the deed and removing the cloud cast
14
thereby on plaintiff’s title, and awarding plaintiff title to and possession on the
premises. Id. at 213. The trial court entered default judgment only after the trial
court heard testimony from plaintiff, his wife, and a third person. Id. at 215.
Defendant (Ivy) filed a motion for new trial. Id. at 213. The only allegations
contained in the motion for new trial relating to a defense to the cause of action
asserted by the plaintiff are that (1) ‘he (defendant) has a good and valid deed to
said land;’ (2) ‘he has a valid and meritorious defense to said case;’ and (3) ‘he is a
fee simple owner having acquired the land by deed.’ Id. at 215. The Texas
Supreme Court held that these are but allegations of conclusions. Id. The Court
further held that since the motion for new trial does not contain allegations of facts
which in law constitute a meritorious defense to the plaintiff’s cause of action and
the testimony given at the hearing does not prove such a defense prima facie, the
trial court did not err in overruling the motion. Id.
The defendant in Ivy at least mentioned that it had a meritorious defense
even if it was just an allegation of conclusion. Here, B & Sons did not even
mention let alone attempt to set up a meritorious defense in its motion for new
trial. (SCR 132-150). The only thing mentioned in Larry Pham’s affidavit is that
B & Sons intended to “fully litigate this suit” and defend against the claims against
it. (SCR 148-150). Neither this affidavit nor any other evidence attached to B &
Sons’ motion for new trial set up a meritorious defense. B & Sons also fails to
15
address or provide any evidence to support the final Craddock element that a new
trial would not cause delay or prejudice to Rood. (SCR 132-150). Since B & Sons
failed to meet the Craddock elements, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in
denying B & Sons’ motion for new trial.
CONCLUSION
Craddock clearly establishes the guidelines for a trial court to follow when
considering a motion for new trial. Since Rood showed that B & Sons was served
in strict compliance with Tex. R. Civ. P. 106 and the order granting the substitution
of service, B & Sons had to address and meet all three elements of Craddock.
Since B & Sons failed to meet two of the three elements established in Craddock,
the Trial Court properly acted within its discretion in denying B & Sons’ motion
for new trial. Accordingly, this Court should affirm the trial court’s denial of B &
Sons’ motion for new trial.
PRAYER
Appellee, Rood Holdings, LLC respectfully request that this Court affirm
the trial court’s denial of B & Sons’ motion for new trial and that the default
judgment in favor or Rood Holdings, LLC remains unaffected, and grant such
further relief to which Appellee is entitled.
Respectfully Submitted,
Christina R. Johnson
State Bar No. 24050638
16
Gregory T. Brewer
State Bar No. 00792370
christina.johnson@fnf.com
5151 Beltline Road Suite 410
Dallas, Texas 75254
(972) 812-6412
(972) 812-9408 Fax
By: /s/Christina R. Johnson
Christina R. Johnson
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
ROOD HOLDINGS, LLC
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that on September 30, 2015, a true and correct copy
of the foregoing instrument was served via email and filed electronically with
Texas E-File system who will in turn provide a copy of the same to the following:
Mr. Peter Costea, Three Riverway, Suite 1800, Houston, Texas 77056,
peter@costealaw.com ; and Ms. Tracey L. Cloutier, Matthews, Shiels, Pearce,
Knott, Eden & Davis L.L.P., 8131 LBJ Freeway, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75251,
tcloutier@mssattorneys.com.
/s/ Christina R. Johnson
Christina R. Johnson
17
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
I certify that this document was produced on a computer Microsoft Word
2010 and contains 3,824 words, as determined by the computer software's word-
count function, excluding the sections of the document listed in Texas Rule of
Appellate Procedure 9.4(i)(1).
/s/ Christina R. Johnson
Christina R. Johnson
18