Nary Lieu v. Tommy Khong ( 2011 )

NO. 07-10-0270-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AMARILLO
PANEL D
SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
_____________________________
NARY SON LIEU,
Appellant
v.
TOMMY KHONG,
Appellee
_____________________________
FROM THE 153RD DISTRICT COURT OF TARRANT COUNTY;
NO. 153-236252-09; HONORABLE KEN CURRY, PRESIDING
_____________________________
Memorandum Opinion
_____________________________
Before QUINN, C.J., and CAMPBELL and PIRTLE, JJ.
This dispute was resolved by a judgment, after a bench trial, for money loaned by
appellee Tommy Khong (Khong) to appellant Nary Lieu (Lieu). Lieu contends that 1)
the trial court abused its discretion in failing to grant a new trial due to her translator
being unable to follow the court’s instructions, 2) the evidence was factually insufficient
to support the finding that the entire $50,000 was due plus interest at the rate of 18%
per annum, 3) the court abused its discretion in admitting Exhibit 1 into evidence, and 4)
the evidence is insufficient to support the court’s finding of no usury. We affirm the
judgment.
Background
Over the course of several years, Lieu obtained three separate loans from her
postman, Khong. The first two, for $10,000 and $50,000 respectively, eventually were
repaid. The third one, for another $50,000, was obtained before the second one was
satisfied. Lieu later defaulted on the third debt, and it formed the basis of Khong’s suit.
Both parties signed a writing manifesting or acknowledging the third obligation
and Lieu’s agreement to pay interest at the rate of 18%. So too did Lieu promise to
repay the debt upon being given a two-week notice to do so.
At trial, the debtor acknowledged her obligation but questioned the actual amount
allegedly due. Apparently, she thought that some of the payments made during the life
of both the second and third loans should have been credited against the principal due
under the third. So, the affirmative defense of payment was urged to defeat full
recovery. Also asserted was the defense of unconscionability.1 And though she did not
plead usury, Lieu nonetheless contends that the defense was tried by consent and that
the trial court erred in not finding the interest rate usurious.
Issue 1 – Motion for New Trial
Lieu argues that she was entitled to a new trial because the interpreter appointed
by the trial court failed to comply with court directives to simply interpret and otherwise
precluded Lieu from developing her defense of unconscionability. Yet, how she was so
precluded went unexplained. Indeed, we are left to simply guess at what evidence, if
1
Allegedly, Khong took advantage of Lieu, an older Cambodian female who could not read or
write and had only one year of formal education. Lieu, however, owned multiple liquor stores and had the
means to not only negotiate but also repay, within a rather short term, two other loans totaling $60,000.
2
any, she could have, or tried to, proffer on the subject of unconscionability but was
unable to do so because of the translator’s performance. Without such information, it
can hardly be said that the purported error of the trial court harmed her. Montoya v.
State, 811 S.W.2d 671, 673 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 1991, no pet.) (stating that the
purported error was not harmful because appellant failed to direct the court to any part
of the record where alleged errors in translation occurred which prevented him from
doing that about which he complained). Consequently, we overrule the issue.
Issue 2 – Factual Sufficiency of the Evidence
Next, Lieu challenges the trial court’s fact finding that the balance due on the
note as of May 1, 2009, was $50,000 and that she agreed to the accrual of interest at
18% per annum. We overrule the issue.
Khong provided testimony supporting the findings. And though Lieu disputed his
testimony, doing so simply created a fact issue for resolution by the factfinder, and the
latter was free to believe or discredit whomever it chose. Rich v. Olah, 274 S.W.3d 878,
884 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2008, no pet.) (stating that in a bench trial, the trial court is the
sole judge of the credibility of the witnesses, assigns the weight to be given their
testimony, may accept or reject all or any part of the evidence, and resolves conflicts
and inconsistencies in the evidence). And, Lieu’s suggestion that it would be irrational
for a trier of fact to conclude that a debtor would pay off loans with low interest rates
before those with high rates is of little import. Experience teaches that people are
sometimes prone to do the irrational. In sum, the evidence and circumstances of record
do not prove the final outcome to be manifestly unjust.
3
Issue 3 – Admission of Loan Agreement
Lieu next claims the trial court abused its discretion in admitting a copy of the
loan agreement because 1) it was a negotiable instrument as defined in §3.104 of the
Business and Commerce Code and 2) Khong failed to comply with §3.309 of the same
code, which pertains to the enforcement of lost, destroyed, or stolen negotiable
instruments. We overrule the issue.
Despite her mere conclusion that the contract was a negotiable instrument, it was
not. Nowhere did the document express that it was payable to bearer or the order of
anyone. Such “magic” words are required to be in the item if it is to be a negotiable
instrument. TEX. BUS. & COM. CODE ANN. §3.104(a)(1) (Vernon Supp. 2010); Cartwright
v. MBank Corpus Christi, N.A., 865 S.W.2d 546, 549 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 1993,
writ denied).
Issue 4 – Usury
Lieu finally contends that the trial court erred in failing to find the interest payable
usurious. We overrule the issue.
Usury is a defense that must be proffered through a verified plea. TEX. R. CIV. P.
93(11). Lieu did not so plead the matter. And while unpled claims may be tried by
consent, they are not so tried simply because someone said they were. Indeed, trial by
consent "’is intended to cover the exceptional case where it clearly appears from the
record as a whole that the parties tried the unmentioned issue.’” In re Little, No. 07-10-
0134-CV, 2011 Tex. App. Lexis 5858, at *4-5 (Tex. App.–Amarillo July 28, 2011, no pet.
h.). It 1) is not intended to establish a general rule of practice, 2) should be applied with
care, and 3) should not be accepted in a doubtful situation. Id.; Jay Fikes & Associates
4
v. Walton, 578 S.W.2d 885, 889 (Tex. Civ. App.–Amarillo 1979, writ ref'd n.r.e.).
Furthermore, the circumstances and evidence at trial must not only evince that the
parties understood the issue was part of the case but also the opponent failed to object
to its consideration. Johnson v. Oliver, 250 S.W.3d 182, 186 (Tex.App.–Dallas 2008, no
pet.). And, where evidence developing the omitted issue is also relevant to issues
actually averred in the pleadings, one cannot infer trial by consent without more.
Moneyhon v. Moneyhon, 278 S.W.3d 874, 879 n.6 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.]
2009, no pet.).
Lieu failed to explain why the claim of usury purportedly was tried by consent.
Instead, she merely concluded as much. That alone warrants the rejection of the
contention. See Limestone Group, Inc. v. Sai Thong, L.L.C., 107 S.W.3d 793, 798 n.4
(Tex. App.–Amarillo 2003, no pet.) (holding that the failure to develop an issue through
explanation and citation to pertinent authority renders the topic inadequately briefed
and, therefore, waived). Furthermore, the evidence on the matter pertained also to the
calculation of the outstanding interest due Khong. And, most telling is a comment from
the court itself. While cross-examining Khong’s attorney regarding her request for
attorney’s fees, Lieu’s attorney began to ask the witness about such things as the
amount of debt due from his client and their prior communications wherein he
mentioned that the rate may be usurious. At that point, the trial judge told him to “move
along,” told him he was being argumentative, and stated that “I know that there’s not
been a cross-claim filed regarding - - for debt collection and so forth. That’s not before
the Court.” The latter admonishment, coupled with the other circumstances mentioned,
negate the possibility that unpled claims, such as usury, were being tried by consent.
5
Accordingly, appellant’s issues are overruled, and the judgment is affirmed.
Per Curiam
6