in the Estate of Steven Stavron ( 2021 )

In the
Court of Appeals
Second Appellate District of Texas
at Fort Worth
___________________________
No. 02-20-00404-CV
___________________________
IN THE ESTATE OF STEVEN STAVRON, DECEASED
On Appeal from Probate Court No. 1
Tarrant County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2013-PR00606-1-C
Before Sudderth, C.J.; Womack and Walker, JJ.
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Womack
MEMORANDUM OPINION
I. INTRODUCTION
This is an appeal from a probate court judgment against Appellant Serafim
Stavron awarding Appellee Louis Papaliodis attorney’s fees. We will affirm.
II. BACKGROUND
In March 2013, Stavron was appointed the temporary administrator of the
estate of his deceased father. According to attorney Papaliodis, that same month, he
and Stavron also “entered into a valid and enforceable contract,” and Papaliodis
thereafter “fully performed his contractual obligations by representing Stavron and by
representing the estate until Stavron ultimately located counsel to assist with his
contesting of the 2013 will” of the decedent.
Stavron entered into a mediated settlement agreement in August 2014 with the
proponents of the 2013 will, whereby the parties agreed to admit the 2013 will to
probate and to take certain other actions with regard to the estate. However, the
attorney’s fees of Papaliodis were not mentioned in the settlement agreement.
Also in August 2014, Papaliodis filed a claim—the “Account for Final
Settlement”—against the estate in the amount of $76,917.47 for his attorney’s fees.
Ultimately, Greg Shannon, the successor temporary administrator of the estate,
rejected Papaliodis’s claim. In his “Memorandum of Rejection and Objections to
Claim,” Shannon set out several reasons for rejecting the claim, including that the
2
attorney’s fees which were sought “reflect a prolonged legal battle, and only a portion
of the fees at issue relate to the administration of the estate.”
Papaliodis ultimately filed suit against Shannon as successor temporary
administrator and against Stavron “individually and as Prior Temporary
Administrator,” contending that “Stavron never paid for the services he received on
behalf of the estate.” Papaliodis contended that his services “were reasonable and
necessary for the management, preservation, and safekeeping of the Estate, and a
benefit to the Estate and to [ ] Stavron individually.” With regard to the suit against
Stavron individually, Papaliodis explained that “Stavron represented to [ ] Papaliodis
that if there was any problem with the estate paying for his services, that he (Stavron)
would take care of it.” He alleged causes of action for his rejected claim and for
quantum meruit, breach of contract, fraud, and declaratory relief. With regard to the
declaratory judgment claim, Papaliodis sought “a declaration of his rights to determine
his classification as a creditor of the estate.” In addition, he sought a declaration of
“what effect, if any[,] the August 29, 2014 Settlement Agreement, entered into by [ ]
Stavron and the proponent of the 2013 Will[,] have on his status as a creditor, and on
his contractual and other claims against the estate, and against Stavron individually
and against his sureties.”
Prior to trial, Papaliodis settled his claim against Shannon by entering into a
compromise settlement agreement wherein Shannon agreed to approve Papaliodis’s
claim in the amount of $27,000.00 in attorney’s fees and $459.97 in expenses as a class
3
2 claim and the amount of $23,000.00 as a class 8 claim, subject to the approval of the
probate court.1 As a result of this settlement, Papaliodis filed a nonsuit as to
Shannon, which the probate court later memorialized in a judgment.
The claims against Stavron then proceeded to a bench trial.2 At trial, Papaliodis
and Stavron testified, and fourteen documents were offered into evidence. Ultimately,
the trial court entered judgment for Papaliodis against Stavron individually in the
amount of $37,712.50. No findings of fact or conclusions of law were requested or
filed. Stavron appealed from the judgment, and Papaliodis filed a cross-appeal.
III. DISCUSSION
On appeal, Stavron raises three issues complaining that the probate court
(1) did not have subject-matter jurisdiction over Papaliodis’s claims, (2) abused its
discretion by overruling his hearsay objection to Papaliodis’s attorney billing records,
and (3) without the improperly admitted billing records, had insufficient evidence to
support its judgment. In his cross-appeal, Papaliodis raises four issues complaining
that the probate court erred by (1) awarding an amount for attorney’s fees less than
1
See Tex. Est. Code Ann. § 355.102 (setting out claims classification and priority
of payment); Hope v. Baumgartner, 111 S.W.3d 775, 778 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2003,
no pet.) (explaining that attorney’s fees of an unsuccessful will contestant should be
classified as a class 8 claim, which includes all claims not described as class 1–7 claims,
as opposed to a class 2 claim, which is limited to expenses of administration and
expenses incurred in the preservation, safekeeping, and management of the estate).
Although Papaliodis’s attorney began trial by telling the trial court that he was
2
proceeding on all claims, by the end he had abandoned quantum meruit.
4
$76,917.47, (2) not awarding prejudgment interest on the principal amount in
controversy, (3) not awarding attorney’s fees on his efforts to collect his damages, and
(4) failing to dispose of all parties and causes of action because the judgment did not
address his request for declaratory relief.
A. Stavron’s Issues
1. Jurisdiction
In his first issue, Stavron contends that the probate court lacked subject-matter
jurisdiction over Papaliodis’s lawsuit because it was not a probate proceeding or a
matter related to a probate proceeding. We disagree.
As we have stated before, “Texas probate jurisdiction is, to say the least,
somewhat complex.” Shell Cortez Pipeline Co. v. Shores, 127 S.W.3d 286, 292 (Tex.
App.—Fort Worth 2004, no pet.) (citing Palmer v. Coble Wall Tr. Co., 851 S.W.2d 178,
180 n.3 (Tex. 1992)). However, in a county in which there is a statutory probate
court, the statutory probate court has original jurisdiction of probate proceedings, and
all “probate proceedings” must be filed and heard there. Tex. Est. Code Ann.
§§ 32.001(a), .002(c). The term “probate proceeding,” as used in the Texas Estates
Code, includes “an application, petition, motion, or action regarding the probate of a
will or an estate administration, including a claim for money owed by the decedent.”
Id. § 31.001(4); see id. § 22.029 (“The terms ‘probate matter,’ ‘probate proceedings,’
‘proceeding in probate,’ and ‘proceedings for probate’ are synonymous and include a
matter or proceeding relating to a decedent’s estate.”).
5
At the time Papaliodis filed his claim, the probate of Stavron’s father’s estate
was pending in a statutory probate court, Probate Court No. 1 of Tarrant County. See
Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 25.2221(c)(1); see also Narvaez v. Powell, 564 S.W.3d 49, 57
(Tex. App.—El Paso 2018, no pet.) (“In order for a probate court to assert
jurisdiction over matters incident to an estate, a probate proceeding must be pending
in the court.”). Papaliodis filed suit not only against Stavron but also against Shannon
as successor temporary administrator. His first cause of action involved a suit on a
rejected claim, which must be brought in the probate court. See Tex. Est. Code Ann.
§ 355.064(a) (“A claim or part of a claim that has been rejected by the personal
representative is barred unless not later than the 90th day after the date of rejection
the claimant commences suit on the claim in the court of original probate jurisdiction
in which the estate is pending.”).
Even after the claims against Shannon were nonsuited, claims for what
Papaliodis described as “valuable legal services and advanced costs and fees on behalf
of the estate” remained pending against Stavron. Even if these claims were not
expressly a “probate proceeding,” they were certainly ancillary to it and within the
jurisdiction of the probate court.
The Estates Code gives a probate court pendent and ancillary jurisdiction “as
necessary to promote judicial efficiency and economy.” Id. § 32.001(b). “Typically,
probate courts exercise ancillary or pendent jurisdiction when a close relationship
exists between the nonprobate claims and the claims against the estate.” Shell Cortez
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Pipeline Co., 127 S.W.3d at 294 (citing Sabine Gas Transmission Co. v. Winnie Pipeline Co.,
15 S.W.3d 199, 202 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, no pet.)). In reviewing a
probate court’s exercise of pendent and ancillary jurisdiction, “the fundamental
question [a court must ask] is whether there was a close relationship between [the
non-probate claims and the probate proceeding] such that the probate court’s exercise
of jurisdiction will aid it in the efficient administration of the [estate].” Schuchmann v.
Schuchmann, 193 S.W.3d 598, 603 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006, pet. denied).
However, a probate court has jurisdiction “to resolve ancillary claims against third
parties only to the extent that such claims were necessary to resolve claims within its
original jurisdiction.” Goodman v. Summit at W. Rim, Ltd., 952 S.W.2d 930, 934 (Tex.
App.—Austin 1997, no pet.).
Here, the probate court clearly had jurisdiction to consider Papaliodis’s claim
against Stavron because it was premised on what Papaliodis described as Stavron’s
“duties as Temporary Administrator, and in managing, preserving, and collecting the
assets of the Estate.” Even as to the individual claims against Stavron, there was a
close relationship between the claim for attorney’s fees and the claims against the
estate. See Shell Cortez Pipeline Co., 127 S.W.3d at 294. There was evidence that all of
the legal fees, in Papaliodis’s words, were performed “on behalf of the estate.”
Stavron filed a sworn claim that stated that, at the time, attorney’s fees and court costs
advanced by Papaliodis in the amount of $76,917.47 “are presently due and owed by
the Estate.” Stavron even states in his brief that Papaliodis “represented Stavron in
7
connection with Decedent’s estate.” While Stavron now contends that Papaliodis’s
lawsuit “was unrelated to the collection, partition, and distribution of Decedent’s
estate,” his own words belie that contention. Accordingly, we overrule Stavron’s first
issue.
2. Attorney’s Fees
In his second issue, Stavron complains that the probate court overruled his
hearsay objection to Papaliodis’s attorney billing records. In his third issue, he
contends that without the erroneously admitted billing records, there is insufficient
evidence to support a finding that the fees sought were reasonable and necessary.
a. Hearsay objection
His hearsay argument centers on two exhibits that contained detailed time
entries for Papaliodis’s legal services from March 1, 2013, through March 11, 2014,
and August 28, 2014, through September 13, 2019. Stavron contends that the exhibits
were hearsay and inadmissible under the business-record exception to the hearsay rule
because “Papaliodis conceded that the billing records offered were not the original
billing records” and that they were “copied from information on notes, [as] separate
records, five or six months after the recorded events occurred.”
We review a trial court’s decision to admit evidence under an abuse-of-
discretion standard. See In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256, 285 (Tex. 2002); Nat’l Liab. & Fire
Ins. Co. v. Allen, 15 S.W.3d 525, 527–28 (Tex. 2000). A trial court abuses its discretion
when it rules without regard for any guiding rules or principles. Owens-Corning Fiberglas
8
Corp. v. Malone, 972 S.W.2d 35, 43 (Tex. 1998). We must uphold a trial court’s
evidentiary ruling if there is any legitimate basis for the ruling. Id.“Hearsay” is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying
at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted.
Tex. R. Evid. 801(d). The business-records exception provides that evidence meeting
certain criteria should not be excluded under the hearsay rule. Tex. R. Evid. 803(6).
The foundation for the business-records exception has four requirements: (1) the
records were made and kept in the course of a regularly conducted business activity;
(2) it was the regular practice of the business activity to make the records; (3) the
records were made at or near the time of the event that they record; and (4) the
records were made by a person with knowledge who was acting in the regular course
of business. Powell v. Vavro, McDonald, & Assocs., L.L.C., 136 S.W.3d 762, 765 (Tex.
App.—Dallas 2004, no pet.).
In order to admit the two exhibits under the business-records exception to the
hearsay rule, Papaliodis testified that the exhibits were (1) invoices “kept in the
ordinary course of business”; (2) a “compilation of contemporaneous time sheets”
with “[e]very invoice in my office [being] based on a time sheet, just like any other law
firm”; (3) “made at or near the time of the record”; and (4) made by “myself” and
“kept in the ordinary course of business.” “Business records of an attorney are
admissible pursuant to Rule 803(6) to support attorney’s fees.” Lesikar v. Moon,
No. 14-11-01016-CV, 2012 WL 3776365, at *7 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]
9
Aug. 30, 2012, pet. denied) (mem. op.) (citing Connor v. Wright, 737 S.W.2d 42, 44
(Tex. App.—San Antonio 1987, no writ)). On this record, we hold that the trial court
did not abuse its discretion by finding that Papaliodis’s testimony coupled with the
documents themselves met the requirements of Texas Rule of Evidence 803(6). We
overrule Stavron’s second issue.
b. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Stavron next argues that, “[a]part from his billing records, Papaliodis provided
no information as to the amount of time spent on discr[ete] tasks,” and, therefore, the
probate court had insufficient evidence to support its award of $37,712.50. Again, we
disagree.
(1) Standard of Review and Applicable Law
We review a trial court’s award of attorney’s fees for an abuse of discretion. El
Apple I, Ltd. v. Olivas, 370 S.W.3d 757, 761 (Tex. 2012). Such awards must be
supported by sufficient evidence. Yowell v. Granite Operating Co., 620 S.W.3d 335, 354
(Tex. 2020). In reviewing the evidence, we first note that findings of fact and
conclusions of law were neither requested nor filed. In a bench trial in which no
findings of fact or conclusions of law are filed, the trial court’s judgment implies all
findings of fact necessary to support it. Shields Ltd. P’ship v. Bradberry, 526 S.W.3d 471,
480 (Tex. 2017). When a reporter’s record is filed, these implied findings are not
conclusive, and an appellant may challenge them by raising issues challenging the legal
and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support the judgment. Id. We apply the
10
same standard when reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support implied
findings that we use to review the evidentiary sufficiency of jury findings or a trial
court’s express findings of fact. Id.; Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. v. Burk, 295 S.W.3d 771, 777
(Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2009, no pet.). We must affirm the judgment if we can
uphold it on any legal theory supported by the record. Rosemond v. Al-Lahiq,
331 S.W.3d 764, 766–67 (Tex. 2011); Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 295 S.W.3d at 777.
We may sustain a legal-sufficiency challenge—that is, a no-evidence
challenge—only when (1) the record bears no evidence of a vital fact, (2) the rules of
law or of evidence bar the court 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 mere
scintilla, or (4) the evidence establishes conclusively the opposite of a vital fact. Shields
Ltd. P’ship, 526 S.W.3d at 480; see also Ford Motor Co. v. Castillo, 444 S.W.3d 616, 620
(Tex. 2014) (op. on reh’g); Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Co. v. Martinez, 977 S.W.2d 328, 334
(Tex. 1998) (op. on reh’g). In determining whether legally sufficient evidence
supports the finding under review, we must consider evidence favorable to the finding
if a reasonable factfinder could and must disregard contrary evidence unless a
reasonable factfinder could not. Cent. Ready Mix Concrete Co. v. Islas, 228 S.W.3d 649,
651 (Tex. 2007); City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 807, 827 (Tex. 2005).
When reviewing an assertion that the evidence is factually insufficient to
support a finding, we set aside the finding only if, after considering and weighing all
the pertinent record evidence, we determine that the credible evidence supporting the
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finding is so weak, or so contrary to the overwhelming weight of all the evidence, that
the finding should be set aside and a new trial ordered. Pool v. Ford Motor Co.,
715 S.W.2d 629, 635 (Tex. 1986) (op. on reh’g); Cain v. Bain, 709 S.W.2d 175, 176
(Tex. 1986); Garza v. Alviar, 395 S.W.2d 821, 823 (Tex. 1965).
When seeking to recover attorney’s fees, it is the fee claimant’s burden to
provide sufficient evidence of both the reasonable hours worked and the reasonable
hourly rate. Rohrmoos Venture v. UTSW DVA Healthcare, LLP, 578 S.W.3d 469, 498
(Tex. 2019). “Sufficient evidence includes, at a minimum, evidence of (1) particular
services performed, (2) who performed those services, (3) approximately when the
services were performed, (4) the reasonable amount of time required to perform the
services, and (5) the reasonable hourly rate for each person performing such services.”
Id. While contemporaneous billing records are not required to prove that requested
fees are reasonable and necessary, they are valuable as a basis for testifying as to the
reasonableness and necessity of the requested fees. Id. at 502. This lodestar method
of proof is the “starting point” for an attorney’s fee calculation. Id. at 498. This base
can be adjusted up or down in a “second step” based on consideration of the relevant
Arthur Andersen factors, to the extent those factors are not already taken into account
for purposes of the “first step” or base calculation. Id. at 502 (citing Arthur Andersen
& Co. v. Perry Equip. Corp., 945 S.W.2d 812, 818 (Tex. 1997)).
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(2) Evidence Presented
Papaliodis testified that he attended Texas Wesleyan University School of Law,
graduated in July 2003, and passed the bar in May 2004. Papaliodis explained that he
had a general civil law practice specializing in probate and that Stavron, whom
Papaliodis had known since childhood, contacted him shortly after Stavron’s father’s
death because Stavron needed “help” dealing with “a whole number of highly
irregular things” involving his father’s death. According to Papaliodis, it was his
understanding that Stavron was going to pay him individually “because [when he was
first hired] there was no Estate, there was no envisioning that he was going to be an
administrator.” Papaliodis testified that, after he got Stavron appointed as
administrator, “all Hell broke loose” and that he and Stavron “were fought tooth and
nail every time [they] made a move.”
Papaliodis also testified that he never had a written agreement with Stavron,
and although he initially was going to charge $250 per hour, he “re-rated the bill to
$175.” Regarding his time, rate, and amount of attorney’s fees and costs, Papaliodis
stated, “I spent 436.9 hours of attorney time at $175 an hour - - became $76,457.50. I
had client costs advanced, $459.97. And the total amount due was $76,917.47.” In
addition, he testified that his rate of $175 per hour was “well below the market,” and
he “charge[d] paralegal rates for attorney work.” He also testified that “$175 [was] a
reasonable paralegal rate.”
13
He explained that he ultimately settled his suit with Shannon. While he could
not remember the exact numbers, he thought “there was $27,000 as a Class 2B Claim,
to be paid after [other attorneys’] bills [were] paid. And portions of, . . . another $25-
or $28,000 as a Class 8 Claim.” By the time of trial, he had not been paid by the
estate, although the estate had not been “fully disbursed yet.”
Papaliodis offered, and the probate court admitted, fifteen pages of billing
records with 296 entries detailing the particular services that Papaliodis rendered from
March 1, 2013, through March 11, 2014, and from August 28, 2014, through
September 13, 2019. The billing records included (1) a detailed description of the
legal services he provided, (2) a column identifying Papaliodis as the attorney who
performed the services, (3) the dates on which the services were performed, (4) the
amount of time he spent performing the services, and (5) the hourly rate charged for
the services. According to his testimony, Papaliodis kept the records of his time in
increments of one tenth of an hour.
Stavron’s attorney cross-examined Papaliodis. He pointed out that Papaliodis
had represented Stavron in other matters in which he had charged Stavron different
rates. In addition, Papaliodis did not send an invoice to Stavron for approximately
the first six months of his work. Stavron’s attorney questioned Papaliodis about the
details of his bills, including the fact that he billed 7.4 hours to the case one day,
another 7.7 hours the next day, and 9.6 hours the following day. Papaliodis devoted
this much time because, according to him, “This case basically shut my firm down for
14
awhile. I was turning away paying business to help [Stavron].” He testified that he
segregated the entries on his bill “by that bucket of work.” However, Papaliodis
ultimately expected Stavron to pay him only what was reasonable and necessary for
the work that he did. Finally, Papaliodis confirmed that his attorney’s fees, according
to the “Account for Final Settlement,” represented the largest claim in the estate to
that date.
(3) Analysis
As set forth above, Papaliodis’s testimony coupled with the billing records that
were admitted into evidence show (1) the particular services performed, (2) who
performed the services, (3) approximately when the services were performed, (4) the
reasonable amount of time required to perform the services, and (5) the reasonable
hourly rate for the attorney who performed the services. See Rohrmoos, 578 S.W.3d at
502. The evidence presented thus informed the trial court of the time spent on
specific tasks and enabled the trial court to meaningfully review the requested fees.
Taken together, the billing records and Papaliodis’s testimony supply sufficient proof
of the lodestar essentials described in Rohrmoos. See id. at 498; see also Stavron v. SureTec
Ins. Co., No. 02-19-00125-CV, 2019 WL 6768125, at *7 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth
Dec. 12, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.) (concluding that attorney affidavit and billing
records provided sufficient evidence to support attorney’s fees in related matter
between Stavron and SureTec Insurance Company). We conclude that there is legally
15
and factually sufficient evidence to support the award of attorney’s fees.3 Thus, we
overrule Stavron’s third issue.
B. Papaliodis’s Cross-Appeal Issues
1. Award of Less Than Requested Attorney’s Fees
In the first of his cross-appeal issues,4 Papaliodis complains that the trial court
erred by awarding less than $76,917.47, which is the full amount of attorney’s fees that
he requested. We disagree.
While Papaliodis testified regarding his attorney’s fees and admitted billing
records of his fees, Stavron disputed both the reasonableness and the necessity of the
fees. Further, Stavron testified at trial that he never agreed to personally pay for any
of Papaliodis’s attorney’s fees: “[Papaliodis] repeatedly told me, over and over, on
multiple occasions, that all fees incurred on behalf of the temporary administrator
would be paid for by the Estate, and that I would never be personally liable for any of
those fees.” Stavron also testified that, in addition to having “absolutely no written
fee agreement, ever, at all, related to this case,” the fee was “too much” and
“absolutely asinine.”
Papaliodis argues that the “Account for Final Settlement” that was signed by
Stavron “conclusively established [Stavron’s] liability and the amount of that liability.”
3
Stavron challenges only the award of any amount as attorney’s fees. He does
not challenge the total awarded as excessive.
4
Stavron did not file a brief in response to the issues raised in the cross-appeal.
16
Therefore, Papaliodis contends that any contrary evidence is barred under the
doctrines of judicial admission and judicial estoppel.
A judicial admission is “a formal waiver of proof usually found in pleadings or
the stipulations of the parties.” Mendoza v. Fid. & Guar. Ins. Underwriters, Inc.,
606 S.W.2d 692, 694 (Tex. 1980). “A judicial admission is conclusive upon the party
making it, and it relieves the opposing party’s burden of proving the admitted fact,
and bars the admitting party from disputing it.” Id. (citing Gevinson v. Manhattan Constr.
Co. of Okla., 449 S.W.2d 458, 467 (Tex. 1969)). For a judicial admission to exist and
be conclusive against a party, it must be shown (1) that the declaration relied on was
made during the course of a judicial proceeding; (2) that the statement is contrary to
an essential fact embraced in the theory of recovery or defense asserted by the person
giving the testimony; (3) that the statement was deliberate, clear, and unequivocal;
(4) that giving conclusive effect to the declaration will be consistent with public
policy; and (5) that the testimony must be such as relates to a fact upon which a
judgment for the opposing party may be based. Griffin v. Superior Ins. Co., 338 S.W.2d
415, 419 (Tex. 1960).
Judicial estoppel is based on inconsistency in judicial proceedings. Balaban v.
Balaban, 712 S.W.2d 775, 777 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1986, writ ref’d n.r.e.).
Under the doctrine, a party is estopped from taking a position contrary to one alleged
or admitted in his pleadings in a former proceeding under oath. Id. (citing Long v.
Knox, 291 S.W.2d 292, 295 (Tex. 1956)).
17
Central to both judicial admission and judicial estoppel is a statement contrary
to a party’s current position. Here, there is none. While Stavron did sign the
“Account for Final Settlement,” the document did not state that Stavron individually
owed the money, which was one of the points in dispute at trial. Rather, it said, “The
following debts and expenses of the estate have not been paid and are presently due
and owed by the Estate: Attorney’s fees and court costs advanced by Louis
Pap[a]liodis (fee application to be filed) $76,917.47.” At trial, Papaliodis disputed that
he would look only to the Estate for payment of his fees: “[T]he proposition that I
would agree to be paid by the Estate is laughable. Because in a contested probate it’s
hard to believe that the judge would say these fees are all reasonable and necessary;
they’re for the broader management, preservation and safekeeping of the Estate. . . .”
It was ultimately up to the trial court to decide who was responsible for the
attorney’s fees. And since the “Account for Final Settlement” was not contrary to the
position Stavron took at trial, we hold that it fails to establish the requisite elements of
either judicial estoppel or judicial admission.
In addition to determining who was responsible for the attorney’s fees, the trial
court was charged with determining the reasonable amount of fees to award. A trial
court is not “a mere rubber stamp or bean-counter; even when evidence of attorney’s
fees is uncontroverted, a trial court is not obligated to award the requested amount.”
Mogged v. Lindamood, No. 02-18-00126-CV, 2020 WL 7074390, at *18 (Tex. App.—
Fort Worth Dec. 3, 2020, pet. denied) (en banc op. on reh’g). The trial court, in its
18
role as factfinder, was entitled to evaluate the complexity and necessity of the legal
services in light of the $76,917.47 requested. See Pro-Care Med. Ctr. and Injury Med. Grp.
v. Quality Carriers, Inc., No. 14-18-01062-CV, 2020 WL 1617116, at *3 (Tex. App.—
Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 2, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.). And as part of its exercise of
discretion, the court could “consider the entire record and common knowledge of the
participants as lawyers and judges in making its determination.” Mogged, 2020 WL
7074390, at *18 (citing In re A.M., No. 02-18-00412-CV, 2020 WL 3987578, at *4
(Tex. App.—Fort Worth June 4, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.)).
Consideration of the entire record includes the settlement entered into with
Shannon. Prior to trial, Papaliodis settled his claim against Shannon by entering into a
compromise settlement agreement wherein Shannon agreed to approve Papaliodis’s
claim in the amount of $27,000.00 in attorney’s fees and $459.97 in expenses as a class
2 claim and his claim in the amount of $23,000.00 as a class 8 claim, subject to the
approval of the probate court. As stated above, Papaliodis also testified about this
settlement.
In his closing argument, Stavron’s attorney requested the probate court to
make an award close to what was granted: “And I think that $35,000 dollars is more
than reasonable, and more than enough. I’d ask the Court to render judgment against
[Stavron], as former temporary administrator, in the amount of no more than $35,000
dollars.” Papaliodis never attempted to segregate the attorney’s fees recoverable
against the estate from those recoverable against Stavron individually.
19
Ultimately, because findings of fact and conclusions of law were neither filed
nor requested in this case, we have no way to ascertain the trial court’s reasoning. See
Protect Env’t Servs., Inc. v. Norco Corp., 403 S.W.3d 532, 543 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2013,
pet. denied) (finding that, in the absence of findings of fact and conclusions of law,
the trial court did not abuse its discretion by reducing the amount of requested
attorney’s fees despite uncontroverted testimony). And, as noted above, if findings of
fact and conclusions of law are neither filed nor requested, the judgment of the trial
court implies all necessary findings to support it. See id. Therefore, the judgment in
this case implies that the trial court found the total attorney’s fees testified by
Papaliodis in some way to be unreasonable or not assessable against Stavron
individually. See id. Given the scope of the evidence, we conclude that the trial court
did not abuse its discretion by awarding $37,712.50 in attorney’s fees because
Papaliodis did not conclusively prove he was entitled to recover the entire $76,917.47
from Stavron individually. We overrule Papaliodis’s first cross-issue.
2. Prejudgment Interest
In his second cross-issue, Papaliodis argues that the probate court erred by not
awarding prejudgment interest on the principal amount in controversy. He asserts
that he has been deprived of the use of the money that he is owed and, therefore, is
entitled to prejudgment interest. However, Papaliodis failed to raise this issue with
the probate court, and he cites no controlling authority to support his argument.
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A party should file a motion to modify the judgment or complain in the trial
court of the failure to award prejudgment interest. Larrumbide v. Doctors Health
Facilities, 734 S.W.2d 685, 693 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1987, writ denied) (“[W]e hold that,
by failing to request an award of prejudgment interest in their motion for judgment,
or to complain in the trial court of the failure to award prejudgment interest, the
Larrumbides waived any error.”); see Allright, Inc. v. Pearson, 735 S.W.2d 240, 240 (Tex.
1987) (holding that plaintiff, who did not complain to the trial court of its failure to
award prejudgment interest nor assign a point of error or crosspoint in the court of
appeals, waived any claim for prejudgment interest). By failing to complain to the
probate court of its failure to award prejudgment interest, Papaliodis waived this
cross-issue.5 We overrule Papaliodis’s second cross-issue.
3. Attorney’s Fees for Collection Efforts
In his third cross-issue, Papaliodis contends that the probate court erred by not
awarding attorney’s fees for his “having to file suit to collect his contractual damages.”
While Papaliodis asserts that he was not awarded attorney’s fees for “costs of
collection,” the judgment did not segregate or allocate the fees in any manner; it
simply awarded $37,712.50. Without findings of fact, we are unable to ascertain
5
In any event, prejudgment interest is generally not allowed on an award of
attorney’s fees. See C & H Nationwide, Inc. v. Thompson, 903 S.W.2d 315, 325 (Tex.
1994), abrogated in part on other grounds by Battaglia v. Alexander, 177 S.W.3d 893 (Tex.
2005); Alma Invs. v. Bahia Mar Co-Owners Ass’n, 497 S.W.3d 137, 146 (Tex. App.—
Corpus Christi 2016, pet. denied); Williams v. Colthurst, 253 S.W.3d 353, 362 (Tex.
App.—Eastland 2008, no pet.).
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whether or not the probate court awarded attorney’s fees for “costs of collection.”
See Pharo v. Chambers Cnty., 922 S.W.2d 945, 948 (Tex. 1996) (“Because the trial court
did not render findings of fact or conclusions of law, we must assume that it made all
findings in support of its judgment . . . .”). We overrule Papaliodis’s third cross-issue.
4. Finality of Judgment
In his fourth cross-issue, Papaliodis asserts that the probate court failed to
dispose of all parties and all causes of action because it did not address his request for
declaratory relief. In five sentences under his final cross-issue, he contends that he
remains “befuddled” as to “what effect, if any, the August 29, 2014 Settlement
Agreement, entered into by [ ] Stavron, the [ ] Estate and the proponent of the 2013
Will, have on his contractual and other claims against Stavron individually.” We
disagree.
The judgment followed a conventional trial on the merits and recited that it
“finally disposes of all claims and all parties, and is appealable.” Under the Aldridge
presumption, any judgment following a conventional trial on the merits creates a
presumption that the judgment is final for purposes of appeal. Vaughn v. Drennon,
324 S.W.3d 560, 561 (Tex. 2010) (citing Ne. Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Aldridge, 400 S.W.2d
893, 897–98 (Tex. 1966)). Such a judgment need not dispose of every party and claim
for the presumption to apply. Id. We overrule Papaliodis’s fourth cross-issue.6
6
We also note that Papaliodis failed to raise his concern regarding his claim for
declaratory relief with the probate court by filing a post-judgment motion. And to the
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IV. CONCLUSION
Having overruled all of the issues raised by Stavron and the cross-issues raised
by Papaliodis, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
/s/ Dana Womack
Dana Womack
Justice
Delivered: November 10, 2021
extent he is complaining about the denial of declaratory relief, Papaliodis’s appellate
brief fails to offer any legal analysis or to cite any authorities. As such, he presents
nothing for us to review. See Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(h); Huey v. Huey, 200 S.W.3d 851,
854 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2006, no pet.) (“Our appellate rules require an appellant’s
brief to contain a clear and concise argument for the contentions made with
appropriate citations to authorities and the record.”); Long v. Sw. Funding, L.P., No. 03-
15-00020-CV; 2017 WL 672445, at *3 n.5 (Tex. App.—Austin Feb. 16, 2017, no pet.)
(mem. op.) (“In his petition, Long also sought declaratory relief. . . . On appeal, Long
does not address his declaratory-judgment claims in any way and has therefore waived
appellate review of the trial court’s resolution of these claims.”).
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