Country Title , L.L.C. v. Morenike Jaiyeoba ( 2014 )

ACCEPTED
01-14-00931-cv
FIRST COURT OF APPEALS
HOUSTON, TEXAS
12/31/2014 2:18:49 PM
CHRISTOPHER PRINE
CLERK
01-14-00931-CV
FILED IN
1st COURT OF APPEALS
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS HOUSTON, TEXAS
12/31/2014 2:18:49 PM
FOR THE FIRST DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
HOUSTON, TEXAS Clerk
COUNTRY TITLE, L.L.C.
Appellant
V.
MORENIKE JAIYEOBA
Appellee
APPELLANT’S RESPONSE TO
APPELLEE’S MOTION TO DISMISS APPEAL
TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS:
Appellant Country Title, L.L.C. (“Country Title”) files this Response to
Appellee Morenike Jaiyeoba’s (“Jaiyeoba”) Motion to Dismiss Appeal and would
respectfully show this Court as follows:
I.
Summary of the Argument
The Texas Supreme Court and multiple intermediate appellate courts have
consistently held that a corporation that has ceased to exist can pursue an appeal of
a judgment. Jaiyeoba seeks a dismissal of Country Title’s appeal based solely on
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the erroneous contention that Country Title cannot pursue this appeal because it
had its right to transact business forfeited pursuant to the Texas Tax Code
§171.252. Appellee’s motion is utterly without merit and contrary to well
established case law.
II.
Argument & Authorities
In Vanscot Concrete Co. v. Bailey, the Texas Supreme Court held that
Vanscot, irrespective of its existence, had the right to appeal the trial court’s
judgment against it after the corporation’s charter had been forfeited. 853 S.W.2d
525, 1993 Tex. LEXIS 67, 36 Tex. Sup. J. 928 (Tex. 1993). The Texas Supreme
Court held that extinguished corporations have a right to appeal a judgment against
them and explained that "the reasoning for allowing a corporation which has
ceased to exist to prosecute an appeal is applicable in any circumstance." Id. at 526
(emphasis added).
Relying upon Vanscot, the Fourteenth Court of Appeals confirmed that the
forfeiture of a corporate charter under the Tax Code does not prevent a corporation
from pursuing an appeal. Cruse v. O'Quinn, 273 S.W.3d 766, 2008 Tex. App.
LEXIS 8990 (Tex. App. Houston 14th Dist. 2008, pet. denied). Quoting the Texas
Supreme Court, the Fourteenth Court of Appeals explained that "corporations have
the same right to have judgments against them revised by the appellate courts as
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have persons, and that even extinguished corporations are entitled to a hearing
before the appellate courts." Id. (citing Vanscot, 853 S.W.2d at 526).
Likewise, the Thirteenth Court of Appeals reached the same conclusion and
held that the forfeiture of a corporate charter under the tax code does not prevent a
corporation from appealing an adverse judgment against it. Suntide Sandpit, Inc. v.
H & H Sand & Gravel, Inc., 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 5870, 2012 WL 2929605, at
*12 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2012, pet. denied). The Corpus Christi Court of
Appeals noted that case law plainly established that a corporation has the right to
appeal a judgment against it. Id. The Court further noted that the law is well
established that defunct corporations still have the right to defend claims brought
against them which includes an appeal. Id
Appellee cites no authority to the contrary. As such, Appellant Country
Title, LLC respectfully requests that this Court deny Appellee’s Motion to
Dismiss.
III.
Request for Attorney’s Fees
Appellant Country Title, LLC requests that this Court award Country Title,
LLC its attorney’s fees incurred in preparing a response to Appellee’s baseless
Motion to Dismiss. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 9.002, et. seq.
Appellee filed the Motion to Dismiss on December 23, 2014. A few hours after
filing, Appellant provided Appellee’s counsel with the case law establishing
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Country Title, LLC’s right to appeal and requested that the motion be withdrawn.
Appellee provided no response and as such, has chosen to proceed with its
meritless motion. As such, Country Title requests that this court award it $750 in
attorney’s fees incurred as a result of preparing a response to the Motion to
Dismiss.
PRAYER
WHEREFORE PREMISES CONSIDERED, Appellant, Country Title,
L.L.C., prays that this Court deny Appellee’s Motion to Dismiss Appeal, award it
$750 in attorney’s fees incurred in preparing a response to the Motion to Dismiss,
and for any such further relief to which it may be entitled.
Respectfully submitted,
LeClairRyan
By: /s/ James J. McConn_________________
Brianne W. Richardson
State Bar No. 24056500
Email: brianne.richardson@leclairryan.com
James J. McConn
State Bar No. 13439700
Email: james.mcconn@leclairryan.com
Leslee N. Haas
State Bar No. 24041031
E-Mail: leslee.haas@leclairryan.com
1233 West Loop South, Suite 1000
Houston, Texas 77027
Telephone: 713-654-1111
Facsimile: 713-650-0027
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT,
COUNTRY TITLE, L.L.C.
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
As required by Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 6.3 and 9.5(b), (d), (e), I certify
that I have served this document on all other parties which are listed below on
December 31, 2014 as follows:
L. T. “Butch” Bradt
Betsy L. Grubbs
Teltschik-Grubbs, P.L.L.C.
14014 Southwest Freeway, Suite 4
Sugar Land, Texas 77478
/s/ James J. McConn______________
James J. McConn, Jr.
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