Saddle Brook West Apartments v. Sung Joon Jang and Sunmi A. Jang ( 2013 )

WITHDRAWN 7/11/13
REISSUED 7/11/13
IN THE
TENTH COURT OF APPEALS
No. 10-11-00450-CV
SADDLE BROOK WEST APARTMENTS,
Appellant
v.
SUNG JOON JANG AND SUNMI A. JANG,
Appellees
From the County Court at Law No. 2
McLennan County, Texas
Trial Court No. 20091196 CV2
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Saddle Brook West Apartments sued Sung Joon Jang and his wife, Sunmi A. Jang
for breach of a lease agreement and for damages to the apartment the Jangs rented. A
judgment was entered for the Jangs in the justice court. Saddle Brook appealed, and a
trial de novo was held in the county court at law. The jury found the Jangs breached the
lease agreement but also that the breach was excused. Saddle Brook again appealed.
Because the evidence is sufficient to support the affirmative defense of equitable
estoppel, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
BACKGROUND
Sung Joon Jang had accepted a position as a professor with Baylor University.
He and his family were moving from Louisiana and had to find temporary housing in
the Waco area while they looked for a house to buy. They settled on an apartment at
the Saddle Brook West Apartments. A year later, when they gave their notice to move
out because they had found a house, the Jangs opted not to conduct a move-out walk-
through with the apartment manager. To their surprise, the Jangs were then charged
for damages to the apartment they said they did not cause.
SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
In its sole issue, Saddle Brook argues the trial court erred by entering judgment
for the Jangs because the evidence was legally insufficient to support the Jangs’
affirmative defenses of estoppel, fraud, prevention of performance, and impossibility.
In conducting a legal sufficiency review, we view the evidence in the light most
favorable to the verdict, credit favorable evidence if a reasonable juror could, and
disregard contrary evidence unless a reasonable juror could not. See Kroger Tex. Ltd.
P'ship v. Suberu, 216 S.W.3d 788, 793 (Tex. 2006); City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802,
822, 827 (Tex. 2005). A legal sufficiency issue will be sustained only if the record reveals
one of the following: (1) the complete absence of evidence of a vital fact, (2) the court is
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barred by rules of law or of evidence from giving weight to the only evidence offered to
prove a vital fact, (3) the evidence offered to prove a vital fact is no more than a scintilla,
or (4) the evidence established conclusively the opposite of the vital fact. City of Keller,
168 S.W.3d at 827.
Equitable Estoppel
In response to Question No. 3 of the Charge of the Court, the jury found Saddle
Brook was estopped from claiming a breach of the lease agreement because of Saddle
Brook’s words or conduct. Equitable estoppel is based on the principle that "one who
by his conduct has induced another to act in a particular manner should not be
permitted to adopt an inconsistent position and thereby cause loss or injury to the
other." Maguire Oil Co. v. City of Houston, 69 S.W.3d 350, 367 (Tex. App.—Texarkana
2002, pet. denied). Equitable estoppel is established when "(1) a false representation or
concealment of material facts; (2) is made with knowledge, actual or constructive, of
those facts; (3) with the intention that it should be acted on; (4) to a party without
knowledge or means of obtaining knowledge of the facts; (5) who detrimentally relies
on the representations." Johnson & Higgins of Tex., Inc. v. Kenneco Energy, Inc., 962
S.W.2d 507, 515-16 (Tex. 1998). Saddle Brook argues that there is no evidence of a false
representation or concealment of material facts or of detrimental reliance.
False Representation or Concealment of Material Facts
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The Jangs each testified that when they were sent the lease agreement, they had
concerns about language stamped on the lease which read, “If resident does not walk
apt. with manager upon move out, resident will pay all damage charges assessed by the
manager.” They assumed that this meant they would be charged for any damage done
by them. They signed the lease, initialed the stamped language, and sent the lease back
to Saddle Brook. When they arrived at Saddle Brook to move in, they asked Tammy
Williams, the only staff member of Saddle Brook at the office, whether this language
meant that they would be charged only for damage they caused. Ms. Williams agreed
that was what the language meant. Williams did not testify at trial.
When they entered their apartment for the first time, they noticed that the carpet
was old and stained. They also noticed that a new cutting board had been glued or
caulked to the counter top, next to the stove. They affirmed that they did not cause the
stains on the carpet or glue the cutting board to the countertop. Shortly after move-in,
Sung Joon twice asked the Saddle Brook management to replace the carpet. His request
was denied. Church friends, Dr. Yung Lho and Min Lho, visited the Jangs’ apartment
soon after they moved in. The Lhos each testified that they noticed the carpet was old,
dirty, and stained in various spots. Dr. Lho also noticed a cutting board glued to the
countertop. He asked Sunmi if she placed it there. She replied to him that she did not.
The Jangs each testified that at the time they moved out of their apartment, they
inquired about the walk-through. Sung Joon stated that he initially gave notice of
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moving out in April of 2008. He asked Tysh Haigood about the walk-through. She told
him just to make sure the apartment was clean and to replace the non-working light
bulbs. On July 11, 2008 when Sung Joon emailed Haigood about move-out issues, Sung
Joon received a response from Haigood indicating she would be happy to conduct a
walk-through at Sung Joon’s convenience and all he would have to do was contact the
front office. He called the front office to schedule a walk-through and spoke to Amanda
Hines. Hines questioned Sung Joon whether he really wanted to conduct the walk-
through. When Sung Joon said he did not unless he had to, Hines told Sung Joon he
did not have to do the walk-through. Hines told Sung Joon all he had to do was turn in
the keys and “we’ll take care of it.” On July 30, 2008, Sunmi returned the keys to the
apartment. Because the manager was busy, she returned the keys to Hines and asked
Hines about the walk-through. Hines asked Sunmi if she really wanted to do that.
Sunmi replied that she did not, but had to. Hines told Sunmi that she did not have to
do the walk-through and to just return the key. Hines did not testify at trial.
The Jangs testified that they did not do any of the damage to the carpet and
countertop claimed by Saddle Brook and were not aware that they would be charged
for damages done by others.
At the very least, the statement by Tammy Williams to the Jangs that they would
only be charged for damage they had done to the apartment if they did not participate
in a walk-through at move-out was a false misrepresentation or concealment of material
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fact. Further, Amanda Hines concealed a material fact when she did not warn the Jangs
that they would be charged with any damage to the apartment, even if they did not
cause the damage, when she told the Jangs they did not have to do the walk-through.
The Jangs testified they did not participate in a walk-through, did not cause the damage
to the carpet and countertop, and were charged for the damage. Saddle Brook did not
dispute the Jangs’ testimony as to what Williams and Hines told them or as to whether
the Jangs caused the damage to the apartment.
After reviewing the evidence under the appropriate standard, we find the
evidence is legally sufficient to support this prong of equitable estoppel.
Detrimental Reliance
As to this prong of equitable estoppel, Saddle Brook argues that any reliance by
the Jangs on the representations of Saddle Brook’s staff was unreasonable because, it
argues, reliance on an oral representation that contradicts the unambiguous written
terms of a contract is not reasonable and reliance on representations by a person who
has no authority is not reasonable. See DRC Parts & Accessories, L.L.C. v. VM Motori,
S.P.A., 112 S.W.3d 854, 858 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. denied),
Chambless v. Barry Robinson Farm Supply, Inc., 667 S.W.2d 598, 603 (Tex. App.—Dallas
1984, writ ref’d n.r.e.). Thus, the argument continues, the Jangs could not have relied on
any representations by Saddle Brook staff to their detriment. We disagree with Saddle
Brook’s arguments.
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The stamped language on the lease, “[i]f resident does not walk apt. with
manager upon move out, resident will pay all damage charges assessed by the
manager,” was less than clear. The Jangs could not believe that it meant the manager
could assess charges for damages not caused by them; but the Jangs were not sure.
They asked Saddle Brook staff for clarification and were told that they would not be
assessed charges for damages they did not cause. But the Saddle Brook manager
assessed charges for damages the Jangs testified they did not cause. Saddle Brook did
not dispute the Jangs’ testimony. If anything, the oral representation made by staff
clarified the language of the lease; it did not contradict it. Thus, the Jangs’ reliance on
the representations by Saddle Brook staff were reasonable.
Further, the Texas Supreme Court has held that, as a matter of law, a lease
agreement which provides that "neither Landlord nor Landlord's agents, employees or
contractors have made any representations or promises with respect to the Site, the
Shopping Center or this Lease except as expressly set forth herein," and that "this lease
constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject
matter hereof" does not defeat the reliance element of a claim of fraudulent inducement.
Italian Cowboy Partners, Ltd. v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 341 S.W.3d 323, 331, 336 (Tex.
2011). The Jangs’ apartment lease contained similar language as the lease in Italian
Cowboy:
This Lease Contract is the entire agreement between you and us. Our
representatives (including management personnel, employees, and
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agents) have no authority to waive, amend, or terminate this Lease
Contract or any part of it, unless in writing, and no authority to make
promises, representations, or agreements, that impose … other obligations
on us or our representative unless in writing.
Saddle Brook claims the Jangs were charged with knowledge of this provision and
therefore, the Jangs’ reliance on representations by staff was unreasonable. However,
like Italian Cowboy, this language does not evidence an intent by both parties to disclaim
any reliance on oral statements made by Saddle Brook staff. See id. at 336. Thus, the
Jangs’ claim of detrimental reliance is not vitiated by this part of the lease agreement.
Accordingly, after reviewing the evidence under the appropriate standard, we
find the evidence is legally sufficient to support this prong of equitable estoppel as well.
CONCLUSION
Saddle Brook only challenged two of the five prongs of equitable estoppel, and
we have found the evidence legally sufficient to support those prongs. Thus, the
evidence is legally sufficient to establish the Jangs’ affirmative defense of equitable
estoppel. Because the evidence is legally sufficient to support one of the Jangs’
affirmative defenses, we need not determine whether the evidence is legally sufficient
to support each of the Jangs’ other affirmative defenses. Saddle Brook’s sole issue is
overruled, and the trial court’s judgment is affirmed.
TOM GRAY
Chief Justice
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Before Chief Justice Gray,
Justice Davis, and
Justice Scoggins
Affirmed
Opinion delivered and filed April 25, 2013
[CV06]
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