Patsy Gene Cook Braley v. Joseph David Cook, Jr., Shirley Cook as Next Friend for Michael Cook, Tony Cook, II, and Connie Moss ( 2004 )

In The

Court of Appeals

Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana

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No. 06-03-00084-CV

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PATSY GENE COOK BRALEY, Appellant

V.

JOSEPH DAVID COOK, JR., SHIRLEY COOK AS

NEXT FRIEND FOR MICHAEL COOK, TONY COOK, II,

AND CONNIE MOSS, Appellees

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On Appeal from the 402nd Judicial District Court

Wood County, Texas

Trial Court No. 2002-227

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Before Morriss, C.J., Ross and Carter, JJ.

Memorandum Opinion by Justice Carter

MEMORANDUM OPINION

            Patsy Gene Cook Braley appeals the trial court's imposition of a constructive trust and argues that, at any rate, the judgment is not appealable. We agree and dismiss this appeal for want of jurisdiction.

            A judgment that finally disposes of all remaining parties and claims, based on the record in the case, is final, regardless of its language. Lehmann v. Har-Con Corp., 39 S.W.3d 191, 200 (Tex. 2001). Texas courts recognize that a judgment which determines all the equities or the substantial merits of the case is final for purposes of appeal even though further proceedings may be necessary to execute the judgment, or some incidental matter may still remain to be settled. Ferguson v. Ferguson, 161 Tex. 184, 338 S.W.2d 945, 947 (1960) (quoting Hargrove v. Ins. Inv. Corp., 142 Tex. 111, 176 S.W.2d 744 (1944)). More specifically, when the merits of the case are decided and the equities of the parties are definitely settled, a judgment is not interlocutory simply because an account is directed to be taken to ascertain sums due as the result of the court's decision. Ferguson, 338 S.W.2d at 947.

            Here, Appellees' petition sought declaratory relief and imposition of a constructive trust. The trial court held a trial on the merits, after which it declared the 1975 will to be contractual, imposed a constructive trust on the property subject to that will, and ordered Braley to render an accounting of such property.

            Again, the trial court's order to file an accounting does not make the judgment interlocutory. Instead, we base our determination on the uncertainty which the judgment addresses the certificates of deposit at issue and its failure to describe the property which is subject to the constructive trust. So, while the judgment awards the declaratory and equitable relief sought in the petition, its language "clouds with uncertainty the rights and obligations it establishes." See Hinde v. Hinde, 701 S.W.2d 637, 639 (Tex. 1985).

            Without a final, appealable judgment, this Court is without jurisdiction to hear the appeal. See Lehmann, 39 S.W.3d at 195. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction.

                                                                        Jack Carter

                                                                        Justice

Date Submitted:          March 31, 2004

Date Decided:             April 8, 2004