David Young v. Trails End Homeowners Association, Inc. TLS Properties, Ltd. TLS Operating Company, LLC Van Keene And Rick Durapau ( 2015 )


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  •                                                                                      ACCEPTED
    03-14-00535-CV
    4610939
    THIRD COURT OF APPEALS
    AUSTIN, TEXAS
    3/23/2015 7:17:44 PM
    JEFFREY D. KYLE
    CLERK
    NO. 03-14-00535-CV
    FILED IN
    In the Third Court of Appeals   3rd COURT OF APPEALS
    AUSTIN, TEXAS
    3/23/2015 7:17:44 PM
    Austin, Texas
    JEFFREY D. KYLE
    Clerk
    DAVID YOUNG, APPELLANT
    v.
    TRAILS END HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.; TLS PROPERTIES, LTD.; TLS
    OPERATING COMPANY, LLC.; VAN KEENE; AND RICK DURAPAU, APPELLEES
    APPEAL FROM CAUSE NO. D-1-GN-10-003864
    200TH DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS
    HON. SCOTT H. JENKINS PRESIDING
    APPELLANT’S BRIEF
    Stephen Casey
    Texas Bar No. 24065015
    ORAL
    CASEY LAW OFFICE, P.C.                              ARGUMENT
    595 Round Rock West Drive                           REQUESTED
    Suite 102
    Round Rock, Texas 78681
    Telephone: 512-257-1324
    Fax: 512-853-4098
    stephen@caseylawoffice.us
    Counsel for Appellant
    David Young
    i
    STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT
    Appellant believes this Court can reverse and remand this case based on the
    record. Should the Court desire oral argument, Appellant is ready to participate.
    ii
    IDENTIFICATION OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL
    Appellant                                   Appellate Counsel for Appellant
    T. David Young                              Stephen Casey
    (Pro se at trial)                           CASEY LAW OFFICE, P.C.
    595 Round Rock West Drive
    Suite 102
    Round Rock, Texas 78681
    Phone: 512-257-1324
    Appellees                                   Trial and Appellate Counsel for Appellees
    Trails End Homeowner’s Association,         Christopher R. Mugica
    Inc., and Van Keene                         JACKSON WALKER LLP
    1000 Congress Avenue, Suite 1100
    Austin, TX 78701-4042
    Phone: 512-236-2000
    Jeff Tippens
    SCANLAN, BUCKLEY & YOUNG
    602 West 11th Street
    Austin, TX 78701
    Phone: 512-478-4651
    TLS Properties, Ltd., and TLS               Jonathan Quick
    Operating Company, LLC.                     720 Brazos St., Ste. 700
    Austin, TX 78701-2974
    Phone: 512-499-3644
    Rick Durapau                                Pro se
    11907 Misty Brook Drive
    Austin, TX 78727
    Phone: 512-346-4359
    iii
    TABLE OF CONTENTS
    INDEX OF AUTHORITIES ................................................................................ 1
    ISSUES PRESENTED .......................................................................................... 3
    1. Texas re-platting statutes in place in 1962 statutorily bars
    re-plat of land if a lot has been sold unless the subsequent lot
    owners approve. Here, without any re-plat showing approval
    of Appellant’s predecessor’s-in-interest, should the trial
    court’s judgment be reversed for legal insufficiency? ........................... 3
    2. Because one cannot sell what one does not own – nemo dat
    quod no habet, the 1962 re-plat of the disputed property, as
    well as any successors-in-interest, transferred nothing.
    Should the trial court’s judgment be reversed for legal
    insufficiency? .................................................................................................... 3
    3. The trial evidence by both parties did not show actual and
    visible possession as an element of adverse possession.
    Should the trial judgment be reversed for both legal and
    factual insufficiency? ...................................................................................... 4
    4. The trial court made multiple erroneous findings of fact
    and conclusions of law (1) without any evidence in the record
    to support the conclusion, or (2) based on legally incompetent
    evidence. Should those be set aside due to legal or factual
    insufficiency? .................................................................................................... 4
    STATEMENT OF FACTS .................................................................................... 4
    The Original Subdivision by the Rittenhouses and Reed: ................................... 4
    T.L. Smith conveys a lot within TES “to the center of Big Sandy Creek”
    as platted in 1947: ................................................................................................. 5
    iv
    T.L. Smith erroneously re-plats land around Lot 52 and “re-” conveys
    that land without the signature of Lot 52’s owner, subdividing land over
    existing Lot 52, without putting Lot 52 on the new plat: ..................................... 5
    Young purchases Lot 52 from the Trundle line (based on the 1947 plat)
    in 1996: ................................................................................................................. 6
    The TLS Defendants receive deeds in 1997, one year after Young
    purchased his land. ............................................................................................... 7
    Several HOA members came together to defend their properties against
    a common opponent on claims of adverse possession. ......................................... 7
    The HOA Defendant leased the property in 2004, with a purchase
    option, exercised in 2008. ..................................................................................... 8
    Defendant’s expert, Herman Crichton, and Plaintiff too, testified that
    the lot lines of Lot 52, if extended, conflict with Lot 140 per the 1962 re-
    plat. ....................................................................................................................... 9
    Young testified as to his ownership, his chain of title, his objection to use
    of the land, and his blockage of travel across his land. ......................................... 9
    SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT ................................................................. 11
    The parties’ common predecessor-in-interest, T.L. Smith, attempted to
    sell the same property twice. The second sale should be found void ab
    initio. .................................................................................................................... 11
    -The 1947 plat expressly defined Appellant’s lot 52. ...................................... 11
    -Absent actual and visible possession, no adverse possession claim can
    issue. ................................................................................................................ 12
    -The trial court’s findings of fact identify issues that never appear with
    the entire record.............................................................................................. 13
    -The trial court made erroneous conclusions of law without legal or
    factual sufficiency. ........................................................................................... 13
    v
    STANDARD OF REVIEW ................................................................................. 13
    Legal Sufficiency Review ................................................................................ 13
    Factual Sufficiency Review ............................................................................. 14
    ARGUMENT ........................................................................................................ 15
    1.        The trial court was barred as a matter of law from recognizing the
    botched 1962 re-plat for multiple independent reasons. It is void. .......... 15
    a.      The re-platting laws for a statutory bar from accepting the
    1962 botched re-plat as valid sans notice to the Trundle
    chain of owners. ............................................................................... 15
    b.      The chain of deeds, exemplified by the Smith/Trundle
    conveyance, unambiguously conveys the land between the
    sideline extension of Lot 52 “to the center of Big Sandy
    Creek”; thus, no court may rewrite those deeds as they are
    construed against Smith, the grantor, and his successors. ............... 17
    c.      Young prevails because even if the deed were ambiguous, it
    is construed against Smith, the grantor, and it does not
    reserve the water, which must be made by express
    reservation. ...................................................................................... 19
    2.        No defendant satisfied the elements of adverse possession; thus, as
    a matter of legal and factualy sufficiency the judgment should be
    reversed. ................................................................................................... 20
    a.      No evidence supported adverse possession by the TLS
    Defendants ....................................................................................... 21
    b.      No evidence supported adverse possession by the HOA
    Defendants ....................................................................................... 22
    3.        The trial court’s Findings of Fact are legally insufficient as the
    evidence from the trial, while sparse, is conclusive regarding the
    validity of Young’s claims to title. ............................................................. 23
    vi
    a.     Young offered conclusive evidence of his ownership to the
    middle of Big Sandy Creek, regardless of all the post-hoc
    conjecture about T.L. Smith’s intentions, which contradict
    the Findings of Fact. ........................................................................ 23
    b.     The trial court’s conclusions of law have no support in the
    facts, nor are they proper legal conclusions given the
    questions of law posed to the court; this Court should reverse
    the decision of the trial court. .......................................................... 27
    CONCLUSION .................................................................................................... 29
    CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ................................................................ 29
    CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE .......................................................................... 30
    vii
    INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
    Cases
    Bywaters v. Gannon
    
    686 S.W.2d 593
    (Tex. 1985). ........................................................................ 20
    Cain v. Bain
    
    709 S.W.2d 175
    , 176 (Tex. 1986) ................................................................. 13
    Cherokee Water Co. v. Freeman
    
    33 S.W.3d 349
    (Tex. 2000) ........................................................................... 16
    City of Keller v. Wilson
    
    68 S.W.3d 802
    (Tex. 2005) ..................................................................... 12, 22
    Coastal Indus. Water Auth. v. York
    
    532 S.W.2d 949
    (Tex. 1976) ......................................................................... 19
    Coastal Transp. Co. v. Crown Cent. Petroleum Corp.
    
    136 S.W.3d 227
    (Tex. 2004) ................................................................... 14, 20
    Herbert v. Herbert
    
    754 S.W.2d 141
    (Tex. 1988). ........................................................................ 13
    Hotchkiss v. Nat'l City Bank
    
    200 F. 287
    (S.D.N.Y. 1911) .......................................................................... 22
    Kothe v. Harris County Flood Control Dist.,
    
    306 S.W.2d 390
    (Tex. Civ. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1957, no writ) ........ 16
    Lazarides v. Farris
    1
    
    367 S.W.3d 788
    (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, no pet.) ............... 3
    Luckel v. White
    
    819 S.W.2d 459
    (Tex. 1991). ........................................................................ 16
    Office of Pub. Util. Counsel v. Public Util. Comm’n.
    
    878 S.W.2d 598
    (Tex. 1994) ................................................................... 3, 6, 7
    Plainsman Trading Co. v. Crews
    
    898 S.W.2d 786
    (Tex. 1995) ......................................................................... 15
    Ulbricht v. Friedsam
    
    325 S.W.2d 669
    (Tex. 1959) ................................................................... 16, 18
    Statutes
    Acts 1975, 64th Leg., ch. 482 (H.B. 305), § 1 ......................................................... 
    14 Tex. Civ
    . Prac. & Rem. Code § 16 ................................................................... 19, 21
    Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 974a, § 5 ................................................................. 14
    Rules
    TEX. R. EVID. 201 ............................................................................................ 3, 6, 7
    Law Review Articles
    W. Wendell Hall
    Standards of Review in Texas, 38 St. Mary’s L.J. 47 (2006). .............................. 12
    Movies
    2
    Back to the Future, Universal Pictures (1985) ............................................................. 18
    STATEMENT OF THE CASE
    Nature of the Case:                             This suit involves divergent claims over real
    property, and ancillary causes of action
    stemming from the disputed property. CR.5-
    11.
    Course of Proceedings:                          The lower court granted a trial motion to
    exclude pro se Appellant’s expert witness, and
    then conducted a bench trial on the merits of
    the case. The trial court awarded judgment to
    Appellees’ on their counterclaims, CR.91-109,
    issuing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of
    Law (“FOF/COL”). CR.181-93. Appellant
    moved for amendments to the FOF/COL.
    CR.194-205. The trial court denied the
    motion. CR.206-07.
    Trial Court’s Disposition:                      The district court signed a final order on May
    30, 2014. CR.91-109. Appellant timely filed a
    motion for new trial. CR.112-180, and a
    notice of appeal. CR.208.
    ISSUES PRESENTED
    1.     Texas re-platting statutes in place in 1962 statutorily bars re-plat
    of land if a lot has been sold unless the subsequent lot owners
    approve. Here, without any re-plat showing approval of
    Appellant’s predecessor’s-in-interest, should the trial court’s
    judgment be reversed for legal insufficiency?
    2.      Because one cannot sell what one does not own – nemo dat quod
    no habet, the 1962 re-plat of the disputed property, as well as any
    3
    successors-in-interest, transferred nothing. Should the trial
    court’s judgment be reversed for legal insufficiency?
    3.    The trial evidence by both parties did not show actual and visible
    possession as an element of adverse possession. Should the trial
    judgment be reversed for both legal and factual insufficiency?
    4.    The trial court made multiple erroneous findings of fact and
    conclusions of law (1) without any evidence in the record to
    support the conclusion, or (2) based on legally incompetent
    evidence. Should those be set aside due to legal or factual
    insufficiency?
    STATEMENT OF FACTS
    The Original Subdivision by the Rittenhouses and Reed:
    In 1947, O.A. Rittenhouse, his wife Carrie, and their mortgagee, D.C. Reed,
    submitted and received approval to subdivide a parcel of land, hereinafter known
    as Trails End Subdivision (“TES”). See 2RR.29, ll. 7-15; PX 2. The subdivision was
    recorded in Book 4 of the Travis County property records, Page 331.
    The plat conspicuously depicts multiple lots starting along both East Darlene
    and West Darlene Drive, the latter street affecting this case. PX 2. Lot numbers
    peak on West Darlene at Lot 56 and run down through Appellant’s lot, Lot 52, to a
    low of Lot 40 on West Darlene Drive. PX 2.
    4
    Each lot on West Darlene Drive derives its western edge along Lake Travis.
    PX 2. This scheme is consistent with the lots at that time, judicial notice of which is
    hereby requested.1
    T.L. Smith conveys a lot within TES “to the center of Big Sandy Creek”
    as platted in 1947:
    By 1955, T.L. Smith owned lot 52, as platted in the 1947 plat in record in
    Travis County, and conveyed that deed to Sylvia Trundle. 2 RR 20-24; PX 4. The
    conveyance is recorded in Book 6068, Page 1948 of the Travis County Property
    Records. The wording of the deed expressly states that the property conveyed
    includes not just Lot 52, but the rest of the land between an extension of the
    sidelines of Lot 52 to the center of Big Sandy Creek:
    Lot No. 52, in “Trail’s End”, Lake Travis Subdivision in Travis
    County, Texas, according to a map or plat of same of record in Plat
    Book No. 4, page 331, Plat Records of travis County, Texas, together
    with that parcel of land included between the extension of side lines of
    said lot to the center line of Big Sandy Creek.
    PX 4.
    T.L. Smith erroneously re-plats land around Lot 52 and “re-” conveys
    that land without the signature of Lot 52’s owner, subdividing
    land over existing Lot 52, without putting Lot 52 on the new plat:
    1 See TEX. R. EVID. 201(b),(c),(f); see, e.g., Office of Pub. Util. Counsel v. Public Util. Comm’n., 
    878 S.W.2d 598
    , 600 (Tex. 1994) (appellate court has power to take judicial notice for first time on
    appeal); Lazarides v. Farris, 
    367 S.W.3d 788
    , 799 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, no pet.)
    (taking judicial notice of matters of public record sua sponte for first time on appeal).
    5
    Despite the 1947 Rittenhouse plat, in 1962, T.L. Smith submitted a re-plat
    to Travis County Commissioner’s Court. RR2,3 passim; DX 6. The new plat
    contained a new road, West Darlene Extension, and new subdivisions. DX 6. The
    new plat is limited in scope. Uniquely, the southernmost property described on the
    new plat is Lot 57, which as compared to the 1947 plat, borders Lot 56 directly to
    the north and does not touch Lot 52. DX 6.
    The new plat also, geographically, includes lots that appear directly to the
    west and south of Lot 55. DX 6. Again, Lot 52 does not appear on the new plat.
    DX 6. No signatures or approval from Trundle or any other owner of Lot 52 exists
    in the record evidence.
    Young purchases Lot 52 from the Trundle line (based on the 1947 plat)
    in 1996:
    Without objection or challenge, Young testified that he purchased Lot 52 in
    1996. Without objection or challenge, Young testified that he tried with varying
    levels of success to block access to his property, that land being Lot 52 through to
    the center of Big Sandy Creek. 2RR.113 ln.9 - 2RR.115 ln.2. Young testified that
    neither Appellees nor any other party had ever been able to use the property in
    question. 2RR.15 ll.7-24. It is covered in “briars.” 2RR.15 ln. 13.
    This testimony was corroborated by Appellees’ local fact witness, June
    Roberts, who testified that for “three, four years” there had been no access to Lots
    139 or 140, situated north and west of Young’s Lot 52. 2RR.236 ll.3-17. This is
    the only testimony of use regarding that property in the record.
    6
    The TLS Defendants receive deeds in 1997, one year after Young
    purchased his land.
    In 1997, the TLS Properties, Ltd. (“TLSPL”), and TLS Operating
    Company, LLC (“TLSOC”) (collectively, the “TLS Defendants”) obtained Special
    Warranty Deeds from three heirs of the Smith family to Lots 139 and 140.2 DX 11.
    That same day, TLSOC deeded its 1% stake in Lots 139 and 140 to TLSPL. DX
    12. None of the deeds in question warrant the title as clear. DX 11, 12.
    Bruce Smith, the TLS Defendants’ representative, testified about the origin
    of the properties, and that at times all of the disputed properties were subject to
    being underwater. 2RR.216 ln. 5 - 2RR.217 ln. 2. Smith testified that he would
    consider “Big Sandy Creek” to be synonymous with “Big Sandy Arm” or “gully.”
    2RR.220-222. Smith also testified that he did not know the “gully” boundaries
    with respect to the property lines of Lot 52. 2RR.226 ll. 18-21.
    Several HOA members came together to defend their properties
    against a common opponent on claims of adverse possession.
    Both Plaintiff’s witness James Griffith and Defendants’ witness June Roberts
    identified that the HOA had been in a prior lawsuit, one both defending a claim of
    adverse possession and judicially asserting that the property lines in that part of
    TES went from West Darlene Drive to the center of Big Sandy Creek (Lake
    2 The deeds gave a 99% interest to TLS Properties, Ltd., and a 1% interest TLS Operating
    Company, LLC.
    3 See TEX. R. EVID. 201(b),(c),(f); See, e.g., Office of Pub. Util. Counsel v. Public Util. Comm’n., 
    878 S.W.2d 598
    , 600 (Tex. 1994) (appellate court has power to take judicial notice for first time on
    7
    Travis). 2RR.81 ln. 17 - 2RR.82 ln. 2; 3RR.94 ln. 25 – 3RR.96 ln. 16. PX 2.
    Judicial notice is requested at this time regarding the claims and legal positions
    asserted in those suits.3
    The HOA Defendant leased the property in 2004, with a purchase
    option, exercised in 2008.
    June Roberts, the TES HOA Defendant representative (“HOA” or “HOA
    Defendant”), testified that the HOA purchased Lots 139 and 140 from TLSPL in
    November 2008. The suit began in 2010, a fact to which this Court is asked to take
    judicial notice as part of the record.4 Roberts testified that at no time had the HOA
    been able to use the land. 2RR.231 ll. 16-20. Roberts further testified that access to
    Young’s property had been blocked for “three, four years,” a time which predates
    the HOA purchase and extends back into the TLSPL ownership. 2RR.236 ll. 3-7;
    3RR.34 ll. 35-35.
    Roberts admitted that Young publicly opposed use of his land and defended
    his claim to the land, agreeing that Young “brought a surveyor and an engineer
    with [himself] and other people to try to substantiate that [the HOA’s attempt to
    3 See TEX. R. EVID. 201(b),(c),(f); See, e.g., Office of Pub. Util. Counsel v. Public Util. Comm’n., 
    878 S.W.2d 598
    , 600 (Tex. 1994) (appellate court has power to take judicial notice for first time on
    appeal). The cause number, in which the HOA was a defendant, is in Travis County, D-1-GN-
    01-004002, Sandy Creek Investors, Ltd., et al., v. Sharon Thompson, et al.
    4 See TEX. R. EVID. 201(b),(c),(f); see, e.g., Office of Pub. Util. Counsel v. Public Util. Comm’n., 
    878 S.W.2d 598
    , 600 (Tex. 1994) (appellate court has power to take judicial notice for first time on
    appeal).
    8
    use his land] [was] not right and we need to not do this.” 3 RR.22 ll 6-14. Roberts
    admitted that Young had blocked access to his lot. 3RR.34 ll. 35-35.
    Defendant’s expert, Herman Crichton, and Plaintiff too, testified that
    the lot lines of Lot 52, if extended, conflict with Lot 140 per the
    1962 re-plat.
    Herman Crichton surveyed the disputed area, and produced a map, DX 21,
    that shows how Lot 140 cuts across Lot 52. DX 21. To do so, Crichton had to
    assume that the deed chain from Smith to Young does not truly extend the
    sidelines of Lot 52 to the “center of Big Sandy Creek.” 2RR.152 ln. 22 - 2RR.153
    ln. 5. Crichton references a “pin 13” in finding the supposed northwest corner of
    Lot 52, but at no point on any plat or prior survey is pin 13 identified. 
    Id. Young testified
    as to his ownership, his chain of title, his objection to
    use of the land, and his blockage of travel across his land.
    Young appeared pro se, and despite difficulty, provided the necessary
    evidence to refute Defendants’ counterclaims and to establish his claims. He
    testified:
    • He went to the HOA to ask them not to buy land that was already his.
    2RR.87 ll. 5-8; 2RR.87 ll. 17-21.
    • He told the HOA that one cannot deed the same piece of property
    twice. 2RR.87 ll. 17-21.
    9
    • His chain of title (testified over objection) arose from the 1955
    conveyance and encompassed land from the extension of the sidelines
    of his lot “to the center of Sandy Creek.” 2RR.89 ll. 2-18.
    • The HOA had taken a legally inconsistent position and was subject to
    judicial estoppel from claiming that his lot lines did not go to the
    center of Big Sandy Creek. 2RR.93 ll. 12-17. This was admitted as a
    statement by a party opponent. Id.; PX 3.
    • Lot 52 sideline extensions (used by Crichton in his survey) clearly
    show Lot 140 conflicts with the deed of Lot 52, and should
    demonstrate his prior title to the center of Sandy Creek. 2RR.103 ll.
    4-7.
    • Lot 139 was an illegal plat. 2RR.105. ll. 23-24.
    • The 1.477 acres encroaches onto Lot 52. 2RR. 107 ll. 7-9.
    • The pavement on West Darlene Extension was moved from the
    northern position until the edge of his land. 2RR.110 ll. 9-10.
    • He blocked access to his property. 2RR.113 ln. 9 - 2RR.114 ln. 22.
    • TES HOA has never used Lot 139 as it was covered with briars.
    2RR.115 ll. 7-24.
    • The Extension on the 1962 plat (over objection) looks nothing like the
    current extension of the road on the property. 2RR.116 ln. 12 -
    2RR.118 ln. 5.
    10
    SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
    The parties’ common predecessor-in-interest, T.L. Smith, attempted
    to sell the same property twice. The second sale should be found
    void ab initio.
    -The 1947 plat expressly defined Appellant’s lot 52.
    The 1947 is legally unambiguous. Given the name of the body of water, Big
    Sandy Creek, and its appearance on the 1947 plat is definitive. Lot 52 includes
    land between its sidelines “to the center line of Big Sandy Creek.” Redefining Lot
    52:
    ∅ Rewrites the 1947 plat to include the end of lot 52 instead of the
    unambiguous language of the deed that extends the land to the “center of
    Big Sandy Creek”;
    ∅ Ignores this conveyance and the rights that proceeded to it from the
    Trundle line of conveyances;
    ∅ Ignores the legal rule of construing deeds against the grantor, Smith;
    ∅ Permits the 1962 botched re-plat to convey the same land twice, a legally
    void act for two reasons:
    o No one can give what he does not own—nemo dat quod no habet, a
    centuries-old legal canon;
    o Neither Trundle nor her successors-in-interest signed off on the 1962
    plat.
    11
    ∅ No notice to Trundle or her successors-in-interest is proper because Lot 52
    was neither mapped nor referenced on the 1962 re-plat.
    -Absent actual and visible possession, no adverse possession claim can
    issue.
    Adverse possession under any of the limitations periods in Texas Civil
    Practices & Remedies Code § 16 has not been met by any legally sufficient or
    factually standard. No party with personal knowledge testified as essential elements
    of any of the periods.
    - 25-year period. No party with personal knowledge testified as to
    peaceable and adverse possession (visible and actual possession) by
    another who cultivates, uses, or enjoys the property; this was Appellees’
    burden to prove and they offered zero evidence.
    - 10-year period. No party with personal knowledge testified as to
    peaceable and adverse possession (visible and actual possession) by
    another who cultivates, uses, or enjoys the property;
    - 5-year period. No party with personal knowledge testified as to peaceable
    and adverse possession (visible and actual possession) by another who:
    o cultivates, uses, or enjoys the property;
    o pays applicable taxes on the property; and
    o claims the property under a duly registered deed.
    12
    - 3-year period. No party with personal knowledge testified as to peaceable
    and adverse possession (visible and actual possession) under title or color
    of title because of the intrinsic unfairness to Trundle and her successors-
    in-interest.
    -The trial court’s findings of fact identify issues that never appear with
    the entire record.
    The trial court made sweeping findings of fact that do not appear in the
    record. In no less than sixteen (16) instances, the trial court made findings
    unsupported by any facts in the record.
    -The trial court made erroneous conclusions of law without legal or
    factual sufficiency.
    The trial court’s conclusions of law suffer similar problems. Seven (7)
    separate conclusions of law have no support under either legal sufficiency or factual
    sufficiency standards.
    STANDARD OF REVIEW
    Two standards govern this Court’s evaluation of the judgment and the
    FOF/COL reached by the trier of fact.
    -Legal Sufficiency Review
    The test for legal sufficiency is “[w]hether the evidence at trial would enable
    reasonable and fair-minded people to reach the verdict under review.” City of Keller
    13
    v. Wilson, 1
    68 S.W.3d 802
    , 827 (Tex. 2005). The reviewing court considers the
    evidence in the light most favorable to the judgment, crediting favorable evidence if
    a reasonable fact-finder could, and disregarding contrary evidence unless a
    reasonable fact-finder could not. 
    Id. at 807.
    A challenge to the legal sufficiency of
    the evidence may only be sustained when (1) the record discloses a complete
    absence of evidence to support a vital fact, (2) the court is barred by rules of law or
    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 mere scintilla, or (4) the
    evidence conclusively establishes the opposite of a vital fact. 
    Id. at 810;
    W. Wendell
    Hall, Standards of Review in Texas, 38 St. Mary’s L.J. 47, 234-35 (2006).
    -Factual Sufficiency Review
    When reviewing a finding for factual sufficiency, the appellate court
    considers all of the evidence. Cain v. Bain, 
    709 S.W.2d 175
    , 176 (Tex. 1986) (per
    curiam). The reviewing court will set aside the findings only if the appellant has
    demonstrated that the evidence is so weak or the finding is so contrary to the
    overwhelming weight of the evidence as to be clearly wrong and unjust.              
    Id. Because the
    fact-finder is the sole judge of the witnesses’ credibility and the weight
    to be given their testimony, an appellate court may not substitute its opinion
    merely because it might have resolved the facts differently. Herbert v. Herbert, 
    754 S.W.2d 141
    , 144 (Tex. 1988).
    14
    ARGUMENT
    The evidence below was legally and factually insufficient to support the final
    judgment by the trier of fact. First, the trial court was barred by as a matter of law
    from finding ownership of any portion of Lot 52 that diverged from the 1947 plat
    because no evidence in the record demonstrated joined approval in the re-plat by
    Sylvia Trundle or any of her successors-in-interest. Second, the deed, as a matter of
    law, is unambiguous and cannot be “reinterpreted” by a later court. Third, any
    later evulsion that is anachronistic in nature and wholly not probative of the 1947
    plat, which shows what could be the gully (based on both the Crichtons and
    Steger/Bizzell surveys) and clearly depicts Young’s land extending past that
    boundary. No defendant satisfied the elements of adverse possession because no
    one testified as to actual and visible possession. Lastly, the trial court made
    numerous errors in its Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law. The issues will be
    examined in that order.
    1.    The trial court was barred as a matter of law from recognizing
    the botched 1962 re-plat for multiple independent reasons. It is
    void.
    a.     The re-platting laws for a statutory bar from accepting the
    1962 botched re-plat as valid sans notice to the Trundle
    chain of owners.
    Prior to 1949, re-plats in Texas were prohibited from recordation by
    estoppel if, i.a., estoppel created by sale of lots to persons relying on such plats. See
    15
    TEX. REV. CIV. STAT. ANN. art. 974a, § 5, as amended by 1949 Tex. Sess. Law
    Serv. 51st Leg. Thus, re-plats, as a matter of statutory law, may not be authorized
    unless permission is obtained from all affected land-owners.
    At the time of the re-plat, the law did not provide (and still does not provide)
    for a re-plat where one of the lots has been sold to a new party and that new party
    has not joined in the re-plat. The statute was not changed until 1975. See Acts
    1975, 64th Leg., ch. 482 (H.B. 305), § 1, effective 1, 1975. And even if admitted
    without objection, legally incompetent evidence may not support a judgment. See
    Coastal Transp. Co. v. Crown Cent. Petroleum Corp., 
    136 S.W.3d 227
    , 232 n. 1 (Tex.
    2004).
    Here, as shown on PX 2, the original 1947 plat, includes multiple properties.
    First, No lot 57 exists on PX 2. Second, DX 6, the botched 1962 re-plat, purports
    to be out of Lot 57. See DX 6 (top of language over map, 1st sentence). This can’t
    be. Second, no signature or permission is evident from DX 6 that Sylvia Trundle
    agreed to the re-plat. Trundle’s ownership preceded DX 6. See PX 4. Thus, DX 6,
    the 1962 plat, is void as a matter of law. It is legally incompetent to support the
    judgment.
    Further, when a person has no title to give, none can be received. This legal
    principle, known in Latin as nemo dat quod non habet (no one can give what he does
    not have), shows that when T.L. Smith attempted to re-plat land already sold and
    16
    conveyed to Sylvia Trundle, he lost all title to the lands conveyed and could not re-
    convey any land already conveyed in the 1952 deed.
    The Defendants’ claim and chain of title to land already conveyed in 1955
    (Lot 52 and the extension of its sidelines through to the “center of Big Sandy
    Creek,”) is void.
    b.     The chain of deeds, exemplified by the Smith/Trundle
    conveyance, unambiguously conveys the land between the
    sideline extension of Lot 52 “to the center of Big Sandy
    Creek”; thus, no court may rewrite those deeds as they are
    construed against Smith, the grantor, and his successors.
    Well-settled property law within the State of Texas requires deeds to be
    construed as a whole. Plainsman Trading Co. v. Crews, 
    898 S.W.2d 786
    , 789 (Tex.
    1995). The deed’s four corners are the bounds of interpretation. Luckel v. White,
    
    819 S.W.2d 459
    , 461 (Tex. 1991).          Review is de novo.    
    Id. “Each clause
    or
    paragraph must be construed with reference to every other paragraph,” not in
    isolation or separate hearings. Kothe v. Harris County Flood Control Dist., 
    306 S.W.2d 390
    , 393 (Tex. Civ. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1957, no writ).
    “It is elementary that unless the deed be ambiguous, it is the duty of all
    courts to construe the deed within its four corners.” Ulbricht v. Friedsam, 
    325 S.W.2d 669
    , 673 (Tex. 1959). Further, courts “are required to give effect to all words used
    in the instrument, and [] are not permitted to assume that the drafter of the
    instrument intended for some of the words to have no effect. The language will be
    17
    construed strictly against the party who drafted the deed because the drafter is
    responsible for the language used.” Cherokee Water Co. v. Freeman, 
    33 S.W.3d 349
    ,
    354 (Tex. 2000) “[A] reviewing court [is] not called on to determine what the
    grantors meant to say, but the meaning of what they did say.” 
    Id. In the
    instances of land conveyances abutting bodies of water, “the
    presumption that the grantor intends to convey all the land he owns under the
    water is very strong and expressions substantially to the effect that nothing short of
    an express reservation of the bed will overcome the force of the presumption are
    not uncommon in the cases.” 
    Ulbricht, 325 S.W.2d at 673
    .
    Here, the subject property deeds to the Trundle-Scot-Young chain of title
    are unambiguous. Judicial notice of that chain is hereby requested.5 The deeds
    unquestionably grant the grantee ownership of Lot 52 as defined in Book 4, Page
    331, “together with that parcel of land between the extension of the side lines of
    said lot to the center of Big Sandy Creek.” At no point do the deeds ever reference
    the botched 1962 re-plat. It cannot stand, as a matter of law, that the deeds
    conveyed any less than that land all the way to the center of Big Sandy Creek.
    Further, as Big Sandy Creek abutted the land and was owned by Smith, absent an
    5 The Young deed, which is separate from the Trundle deed, can be publicly found in the Travis
    County Deed Records. Smith to Trundle (PX 4); Trundle (who had become married to
    “Gregory”) to Scott (Instrument No. 5209709); and Scott to Young (Instrument No. 2006238983
    (correction deed), 5753296 (original deed)).
    18
    express reservation in the deed (for which there is no record evidence), the deed
    conveyed all the land that it unambiguously and expressly did convey.
    Defendants’ witness Crichton attempts to insert ambiguity into the language
    of the deeds based on an assumption that T.L. Smith didn’t intend to convey what
    is expressly conveyed within the Young chain of deeds. 2RR.152 ln. 22 - 2RR.153
    ln. 5 (suggesting T.L. Smith only intended to convey to a “gully.”). The four
    corners of the deeds rule rejects this 67-year-old anachronism. The deeds in
    Young’s chain of title are clear. See 
    Ulbricht, 325 S.W.2d at 669
    (when the deed on
    its face is unambiguous, interpretation is limited to its four corners).
    c.      Young prevails because even if the deed were ambiguous, it
    is construed against Smith, the grantor, and it does not
    reserve the water, which must be made by express
    reservation.
    In addition, T.L. Smith’s 1962 chain from the botched re-plat, the grantor of
    the Defendants’ chain, suffers another setback because the deeds in Young’s chain
    are construed against him. Absent a Flux Capacitor and a DeLorean6, which the
    law does not provide,7 T.L. Smith cannot undo his sale to Trundle, the illegal re-
    plat, and mess with the Young chain of title.
    6The “Flux Capacitor” and DeLorean were used for time travel in the 1980’s movie Back to the
    Future, Universal Pictures (1985).
    7See generally Gov’t Personnel Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Wear, 
    251 S.W.2d 525
    , 529 (Tex. 1952) (“the duty
    of courts [is] to construe a law as written . . . and not look for extraneous reasons to be used as a
    basis for reading into a law an intention not expressed nor intended to be expressed therein.”)
    19
    Given that no express reservation of the bed is present in the Young chain of
    deeds from T.L. Smith, Lot 52 extends to the center of Big Sandy Creek. See
    
    Ulbricht, 325 S.W.2d at 673
    ; PX 4. Further, no easement was ever identified in the
    1947 plat. The property from the 1947 plat, deeded through to Young, runs “to
    the center of Big Sandy Creek.” Plain and simple.
    Even if the development of a “gully” took place between the period of 1947,
    when the legal plat was formed, the botched 1962 re-plat, and the surveys
    performed in preparation for the case at bar, “the title to land is not changed by its
    being submerged beneath a lake [or gully or creek], even though the public has
    rights in and upon the navigable waters of the lake.” Coastal Indus. Water Auth. v.
    York, 
    532 S.W.2d 949
    , 953 (Tex. 1976). “Submergence does not necessarily destroy
    the title of the owner.” 
    Id. at 954.
    In 1962 a gully appears on the re-plat; however,
    this does not affect Young as the 1962 attempt at re-plat was illegal.
    2.    No defendant satisfied the elements of adverse possession; thus,
    as a matter of legal and factualy sufficiency the judgment should
    be reversed.
    No evidence satisfied the well-settled elements of adverse possession for
    either the TLS Defendants or the HOA Defendant. The elements of adverse
    possession are clear:
    “Adverse possession” means an actual and visible appropriation of
    real property, commenced and continued under a claim of right that is
    inconsistent with and is hostile to the claim of another person (Tex.
    20
    Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.021(1) (emphasis added)).
    “Peaceable possession” means possession of real property that is
    continuous and is not interrupted by an adverse suit to recover the
    property (Id. § 16.021(3)).
    “Title” means a regular chain of transfers of real property from or
    under the sovereignty of the soil (Id. § 16.021(4)).
    “Color of title” means a consecutive chain of transfers to the person
    in possession that . . . is not regular because of a muniment that is not
    properly recorded or is only in writing or because of a similar defect
    that does not want of intrinsic fairness or honesty . . . . (Id. § 16.021(2)).
    “Since adverse possession is statutorily defined as "an actual and visible
    appropriation of the land, commenced and continued under a claim of right
    inconsistent with and hostile to the claim of another," . . . parties are “required to
    prove . . . that they satisfied all the requirements of this definition.” Bywaters v.
    Gannon, 
    686 S.W.2d 593
    , 595 (Tex. 1985). Here, the Defendants could not prove
    adverse possession whatsoever.
    a.     No evidence supported adverse possession by the TLS
    Defendants
    All of the limitations period within Texas Civil Practices & Remedies Code §
    16 require adverse possession, which is 
    defined supra
    . The only years of claims that
    can apply to the TLS Defendants are the 10-, 5-, and 3-year statutes as they did
    21
    not acquire the property until 1998.8 No party testified with any personal
    knowledge as to visible and actual possession prior to 1998.
    Even if admitted without objection, legally incompetent evidence may not
    support a judgment. See Coastal Transp. Co. v. Crown Cent. Petroleum Corp., 
    136 S.W.3d 227
    , 232 n. 1 (Tex. 2004). Here, the TLS Defendants’ witness, Bruce Smith, was
    legally incompetent to testify about personal knowledge of his predecessors
    observations or actions. Further, he had no personal knowledge and offered zero
    evidence of any actual and visible appropriation of real property. This is an
    essential element for which Defendants bore the burden of proof. There is zero
    evidence to support this judgment. Absent any personal knowledge and testimony
    about actual and visible appropriation, no knowledge is attributable to Young or
    his predecessors-in-title, and thus no evidence supports any adverse possession
    claim on the element of actual and visible appropriation.
    b.     No evidence supported adverse possession by the HOA
    Defendants
    The HOA Defendant, having acquired the property in 2008 and this suit
    being filed in 2010, cannot claim any adverse possession by itself; the only means
    would be by tacking. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 16.023 (permitting
    8Even if one were to permit tacking from the TLS Defendants into the heirs of T.L. Smith, their
    predecessors-in-interest, to achieve the 25-year limitations period, absolutely zero evidence
    existed in the record to support the elements of actual and visible appropriation.
    22
    tacking of periods if there is privity between adverse possession claimants).
    Because the TLS Defendants’ cannot satisfy the larger limitations periods,
    the HOA by definition cannot meet its own burden of proof for adverse possession.
    3.    The trial court’s Findings of Fact are legally insufficient as the
    evidence from the trial, while sparse, is conclusive regarding the
    validity of Young’s claims to title.
    a.     Young offered conclusive evidence of his ownership to the
    middle of Big Sandy Creek, regardless of all the post-hoc
    conjecture about T.L. Smith’s intentions, which contradict
    the Findings of Fact.
    Both parties challenged the construction of the chain of Young’s
    conveyances. That fact alone does not render the 1955 Trundle chain invalid. In
    fact, as Texas law has long held, conclusive evidence may very well be disputed at
    trial. It is the effect of conclusive evidence under legal rules of application. “Texas
    courts conducting a no-evidence review traditionally do not disregard contrary
    evidence that conclusively establishes the opposite of a vital fact.” City of 
    Keller, 168 S.W.3d at 814
    .
    Conclusive evidence is so binding that when it regards written instruments,
    that if “it were proved by twenty bishops that either party, when he used the words
    [in a contract], intended something else than the usual meaning which the law
    imposes upon them, he would still be held” to those words. 
    Id. (quoting Judge
    Learned Hand in Hotchkiss v. Nat'l City Bank, 
    200 F. 287
    , 293 (S.D.N.Y. 1911)).
    The Findings of Fact were legally insufficient because the record showed “a
    23
    complete absence of evidence to support a vital fact, (2) the court [was] barred by
    rules of law or evidence from giving weight to the only evidence offered to prove a
    vital fact, (3) the evidence offered to prove a vital fact [was] no more than a mere
    scintilla, or (4) the evidence conclusively establishe[d] the opposite of a vital fact.
    City of 
    Keller, 168 S.W.3d at 810
    .
    The trial court erred in its Findings of Fact as follows:
    • Item 2e: No evidence at all was presented to the court that Lot 139 adjoins
    the 1.4777 acre tract. The Crichton survey does not make a call to Lot 139
    when describing the 1.4777 acres (the first time that tract is referred to by
    that acreage). See DX 21.
    • Item 2f: No evidence showed that West Darleen Drive was properly depicted
    in the 2014 survey; it does not match the 1962 plat nor does it show the
    entirety of the extension. See DX 6, 21.
    • Item 3: No evidence shows how T.L. Smith, Jr., could record the 1962 plat
    which reconveyed existing land to other people, and for which he could not
    show a clear chain of title. PX 4; DX 6.
    • Item 7: No evidence in the entire record showed that the TLS Defendants
    every used the properties as preserved lands or parklands.
    • Item 8: No evidence in the entire record showed that any of the Defendants
    had ever used Lot 140 as a boat launch or other point of access to Lake
    24
    Travis, as a preserved land, or a parkland. While one Defense witness
    speculated it could be used as such, no personal testimony ever showed this
    use actually occurred.
    • Item 14: Sufficient objective evidence in both the public record of Travis
    county (and as noted in Item 2.d. of the Findings of Fact) show that all deeds
    in the chain from T.L. Smith, Jr., to Trundle, to her successors, to Young
    include the parcel of land lying between the extension of the side lot lines to
    the center of Big Sandy Creek. No competent deed evidence contradicts this
    unambiguous chain of title and the trial court was bound by rules of law and
    evidence from changing the construction of this unambiguous chain of
    deeds.
    • Item 16: The evidence clearly shows a conflict between Young’s property,
    from the Trundle line, and Lot 140. Further, T.L. Smith, who mapped both
    the gully and Big Sandy Creek, identified the difference but conveniently did
    not include Lot 52 on his botched attempt at reconveyance of Trundle’s
    land. Absent a reconveyance with Trundle’s permission, the trial court was
    bound to disregard the botched 1962 re-plat.
    • Item 18: The TLS Defendants could never have owned property that T.L.
    Smith deeded to Trundle in 1955; thus, because Lot 140 could never have
    been owned by Smith under the legal canon of nemo dat quod non habet, Smith
    25
    could not have given Lot 140 to any party.
    • Item 20: Young had no knowledge of the 1962 plat extension of West
    Darlene Drive, the unpaved portion, as the botched 1962 plat has no ties to
    Lot 52, and the paved section of the extension never conflicted with Lot 52.
    Young blocked access to his land instantly and challenged the HOA even
    prior to its acquisition of alleged title. 2RR.87 ll. 5-8; 2RR.87 ll. 17-21;
    2RR.87 ll. 17-21. Thus, he never had constructive notice of any conflict and
    defended any notice vigorously. 3 RR.22 ll 6-14; 3RR.34 ll. 35-35.
    • Item 21: No evidence ever identified continual use of West Darlene Drive
    across Lot 140. Both Plaintiff and Defense witnesses testified as to Plaintiff’s
    prohibition of its use and to the blockage which caused this lawsuit. 2RR.236
    ll. 3-7; 3RR.34 ll. 35-35.
    • Item 22: Plaintiff testified, and Defense witness Roberts admitted that
    Plaintiff told the HOA they were wrong prior to their purchase of Lot 140. 3
    RR.22 ll 6-14; 3RR.34 ll. 35-35.
    • Item 23: No evidence showed an effort to block access to Lot 140. The
    evidence showed an effort to block access to Lot 52. 2RR.113 ln. 9 -
    2RR.114 ln. 22.
    • Item 24: The evidence showed Plaintiff blocked access to the unpaved
    portion of the extension, which stops at his property line;
    26
    • Item 26: The evidence does not show a blockade on Lots 139 and the
    1.4777-acre tract. The blockade was on the unpaved boundary preventing
    entrance to Lot 52. 2RR.113 ln. 9 - 2RR.114 ln. 22
    • Item 27: The blockade was never described as blocking entrance to Lots 139
    and the 1.4777-acre tract. 2RR.113 ln. 9 - 2RR.114 ln. 22.
    Item 28: As identified Item 8, the TLS Defendants and their successors could
    not have owned Lot 140 (having been previously conveyed), and thus Plaintiff’s
    actions could not deny them access to anything they owned.
    Each of these flawed factual findings in the trial court, despite Young’s pro se
    endeavor, demand reversal.
    b.    The trial court’s conclusions of law have no support in the
    facts, nor are they proper legal conclusions given the
    questions of law posed to the court; this Court should
    reverse the decision of the trial court.
    The trial court’s Conclusions of Law have no support in the record.
    • Item 40: No constructive notice could have been made by Young or his
    predecessors that Lot 52 was affected in 1962. The plat does not show its
    relationship with Lot 52 or the extended property. The botched 1962 plat
    calls to be out of Lot 57. There is no Lot 57 on the 1947 plat, so this is a
    legal impossibility. See PX 2; DX 6.
    • Item 41: The reasoning of Item 40 applies here as well. No record evidence
    showed T.L. Smith subsequently regaining rights to Lot 52. It is a botched
    27
    re-plat without notice. See PX 2; DX 6.
    • Item 43: As a result of the botched 1962 re-plat, no notice flowed to Young
    from the 1998 conveyances of the TLS Defendants as he could not have
    known about the botched 1962 re-plat. See PX 2; DX 6.
    • Item 44. As a result of the botched 1962 re-plat, no notice flowed to Young
    from the 2008 conveyances to the HOA Defendant of the 1.4777-acre tract.
    See PX 2; DX 6.
    • Item 52: No competent evidence supports the legal conclusion that the
    extension has an easement over Lot 52. See PX 2; DX 6.
    • Item 55: No competent evidence by either party showed any trespass over
    Lots 139 or the 1.4777-acre tract. Defense witnesses testified that the actions
    occurred over the unpaved roadway, and Lots 139 and the tract do not
    include any portion of the easement. 2RR.113 ln. 9 - 2RR.114 ln. 22;
    2RR.236 ll. 3-7; 3RR.34 ll. 35-35; PX 4; DX 6.
    • Item 56: The court legally concluded, in error, that Young is permanently
    enjoined from his own property, property that under chain of title extends to
    the “center of Big Sandy Creek.” Young’s chain of title clearly gives him that
    right. PX 4; see n. 
    5, supra
    .
    28
    CONCLUSION
    For the foregoing reasons, Appellants ask the Court to:
    Ø Reverse this case and render judgment in favor of Young because the
    1962 re-plat was illegal;
    Ø Reverse the award of attorney’s fees as to the declaratory judgment as
    Young prevailed on the validity of his chain of title.
    Ø Award Young any and all relief to which he is entitled in law or
    equity.
    Respectfully submitted,
    /s/ Stephen Casey
    Stephen Casey
    Texas Bar No. 24065015
    595 Round Rock West Drive, Suite 102
    Round Rock, Texas 78681
    Telephone: 512-257-1324
    Fax: 512-853-4098
    stephen@caseylawoffice.us
    CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
    The preceding brief contains 6,311 words within the sections identified
    under Tex. R. App. P. 9.4, typed upon Microsoft Word for Mac 2011, Baskerville
    14 point font.
    /s/ Stephen Casey
    Stephen Casey
    29
    CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
    I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing brief and
    accompanying Appendix has been served on all parties to the trial court judgment
    on Monday, March 23, 2015, efile and/or facsimile transmission:
    /s/ Stephen Casey
    Stephen Casey
    Appellees                                   Trial and Appellate Counsel for Appellees
    Trails End Homeowner's Association,         Christopher R. Mugica
    Inc., and Van Keene                         JACKSON WALKER LLP
    1000 Congress Avenue, Suite 1100
    Austin, TX 78701-4042
    Phone: 512-236-2000
    cmugica@jw.com
    Jeff Tippens
    SCANLAN, BUCKLEY & YOUNG
    602 West 11th Street
    Austin, TX 78701
    Phone: 512-478-4651
    TLS Properties, Ltd., and TLS               Jonathan Quick
    Operating Company, LLC.                     720 Brazos St., Ste. 700
    Austin, TX 78701-2974
    Phone: 512-499-3644
    derekquick@strasburger.com
    Rick Durapau                                Pro se
    11907 Misty Brook Drive                     first class certified mail
    Austin, TX 78727                            return receipt requested
    Phone: 512-346-4359
    30
    NO. 03-14-00304-CV
    In the Third Court of Appeals
    Austin, Texas
    MIKAEL AND LAURA JUDAH, APPELLANTS
    v.
    EMC MORTGAGE CORPORATION, APPELLEE
    APPEAL FROM CAUSE NO. D-1-GN-11-003275
    345TH DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS
    HON. JON WISSER PRESIDING
    APPELLANT’S APPENDIX
    Stephen Casey
    Texas Bar No. 24065015
    ORAL
    CASEY LAW OFFICE, P.C.                              ARGUMENT
    595 Round Rock West Drive                           REQUESTED
    Suite 102
    Round Rock, Texas 78681
    Telephone: 512-257-1324
    Fax: 512-853-4098
    stephen@caseylawoffice.us
    Counsel for Appellants
    Mikael and Laura Judah
    i
    TABLE OF CONTENTS
    1. Copy of Final trial Order ...............................................................................Tab 1
    2. Copy of Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law ........................................Tab 2
    3. Text of 1945 Texas Re-platting Law .............................................................Tab 3
    4. 1947 Plat ........................................................................................................Tab 4
    5. 1955 Deed from Smith to Trundle ................................................................Tab 5
    6. 1962 Re-Plat ..................................................................................................Tab 6
    7. 1993 Deed from Trundle to Scott .................................................................Tab 7
    8. 1997 Deed from Scott to Young ....................................................................Tab 8
    ii
    TAB 1
    DC          BK14162 PG6
    CUTORY NONE                                                  Filed in The District Court
    of Travis County, Texas
    MAY 3 0 2014 BD
    At              3 :4s      e.  M.
    Amalia Rodriguez-Mendoza, Cieri<
    DAVID YOUNG,                                        §                   IN THE DISTRICT COURT
    §
    Plaintiff,                 §
    §
    v.                                                  §               200™ JUDICIAL DISTRICT
    §
    TRAILS END HOMEOWNERS                               §
    ASSOCIATION, INC., TLS PROPERTIES,                  §
    LTD., TLS OPERATING COMPANY,                        §
    LLC, VAN KEENE, and RICK DURAPAU,                   §
    §
    Defendants.                §                   TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS
    FINAL JUDGMENT
    BE IT REMEMBERED on this day that this Final Judgment was presented to the Court
    after the above-styled lawsuit was called for trial on May 27, 2014, after Plaintiff/Counter-
    Defendant David Young ("Plaintiff'), Defendant/Counter-Plaintiff Trails End Homeowners
    Association, Inc. (the "Association"), Defendant TLS Properties, Ltd. ("TLS Properties"),
    Defendant TLS Operating Company, LLC ("TLS Operating Company"), Defendant Van Keene
    ("Keene"), and Defendant Rick DuRapau ("DuRapau") (the Association, TLS Properties, TLS
    Operating Company, Keene, and DuRapau are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the
    "Defendants") appeared and announced ready for trial, and after the Court conducted a two-day
    bench trial in which it heard the evidence and arguments of the parties and announced its
    decision in favor of the aforementioned defendants and counter-plaintiff, the Court hereby enters
    this Final Judgment to memorialize said decision.           The Court finds for Defendants on all
    requested relief, and:
    IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that Plaintiff take
    nothing by his suit against the Association, TLS Properties, TLS Operating Company, Keene and
    DuRapau.
    1
    91
    DC             BK14162 PG7
    IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the legal
    description for Lot 139 of the Trails End Subdivision in Travis County, Texas ("Lot 139"), as
    currently owned by the Association, is depicted in the 2008 "Deed" between TLS Properties and
    the Association attached hereto as Exhibit I, and the 2014 land survey prepared by Crichton &
    Associates, Inc. attached hereto as Exhibit 3.
    IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the legal
    description for the 1.4777-acre tract of land adjoining Lot 139 (the "1.4777-acre tract"), as
    currently owned by the Association, is depicted in the 2008 "Quitclaim" between TLS Properties
    and the Association attached hereto as Exhibit 2, and the 2014 land survey prepared by Crichton
    & Associates, Inc. attached hereto as Exhibit 3.
    IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that West Darleen
    Drive, including the portion known as West Darleen Drive Extension (collectively, "West
    Darleen Drive"), as platted and recorded in the 1962 map or plat recorded in Volume 16, Page 36
    of the Plat Records of Travis County, Texas, and attached hereto as Exhibit 4, is a public right-
    of-way over which the Association and its members have the right to travel fully and freely.
    IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that Plaintiff 1s
    permanently enjoined from: (1) obstructing or interfering with the Association's ingress and
    egress over any portion of West Darleen Drive (including both the paved portion and the
    unpaved portions of the public right-of-way); and (2) trespassing onto, obstructing, or interfering
    with the Association's access to - or possession, use, and enjoyment of- Lot 139 and the
    1.4 777 -acre tract.
    2
    92
    DC          BK14162 PGS
    IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that this Final
    Judgment shall serve and operate as a muniment of title concerning the Association's ownership
    of Lot 139 and the 1.4777-acre tract.
    IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the Association
    shall have and recover from Plaintiff the reasonable and necessary attorney fees incurred by the
    Association in connection with this lawsuit in the sum total amount of FIFTY THOUSAND
    DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($50,000.00), together with post-judgment interest thereon at the
    statutory rate of FIVE PERCENT (5%) per annum from the date of entry of this Final Judgment
    until paid.
    IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that, in the event of an
    unsuccessful appeal by Plaintiff to the Third Court of Appeals for the State of Texas, the
    Association shall have and recover from Plaintiff the reasonable and necessary attorney fees
    incurred by the Association in connection with said appeal not to exceed TWENTY
    THOUSAND DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($20,000.00), together with post-judgment interest
    thereon at the then-applicable statutory rate.
    IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that, in the event
    Plaintiff files a petition for review with the Supreme Court of Texas and said petition is not
    granted after a response is filed, the Association shall have and recover from Plaintiff the
    reasonable and necessary attorney fees incurred by the Association in connection with said
    petition not to exceed FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($5,000.00), together
    with post-judgment interest thereon at the then-applicable statutory rate.
    IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that, in the event the
    Supreme Court of Texas grants Plaintiffs petition for review, but denies Plaintiff relief, the
    3
    93
    DC            BK14162 PG9
    Association shall have and recover from Plaintiff the reasonable and necessary attorney fees
    incurred by the Association in connection with said appeal not to exceed TEN THOUSAND
    DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($1 0,000.00), together with post-judgment interest thereon at the
    then-applicable statutory rate.
    IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that this Final
    Judgment is a final judgment that disposes of all claims, issues and parties.
    IT IS SO ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED.
    SIGNEDthis'~dayof 11~                         ,2014
    4
    94
    DC     BK14162 PG10
    APPROVED AS TO FORM AND SUBSTANCE AND ENTRY REQUESTED BY:
    JACKSON WALKER L.L.P.                                STRAUSBURGER & PRICE, LLP
    By:````~-------------­                               By``~Q-.Akk c~f . "j. w{-:rc.4....,.~:~
    gica (TSBN 24027554)                     Derek Quick (TSBN 24072471)
    10          s (TSBN 24058022)                          720 Brazos Street, Suite 700
    100 Congress Avenue, Suite 11 00                           Austin, Texas 78701
    Austin, Texas 78701                                        Telephone: (512) 499-3600
    Telephone: (512) 236-2000                                  Facsimile: (512) 499-3660
    Facsimile: (512) 236-2002
    ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANTS TRAILS                      ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANTS
    END HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.                     TLS PROPERTIES, LTD.
    AND VAN KEENE                                        AND TLS OPERATING COMPANY, LLC
    SCANLAN, BUCKLE & YOUNG, P.C.                        RICK DURAPAU
    By:     .J~       (   ~      r: ,..).. vi. •
    W. Thomas B ckle ( S N 03299000)
    By:~J:b.~(.y-£``~-'"'':;
    11907 Misty Brook Dnve
    JeffTippens (TSBN 24009121)                       Austin, Texas 78727
    602 West 11 111 Street                            Telephone: (512) 346-4359
    Austin, Texas 78701                               Facsimile: n!a
    Telephone: (512) 478-4651                     PROSE I DEFENDANT RICK DURAPAU
    Facsimile: (512) 478-7750
    ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT TRAILS
    END HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
    DAVID YOUNG
    By:
    10336 W. Darleen Drive
    Leander, Texas 78641
    Telephone: (512) 487-5701
    Facsimile: nla
    PRO SE I PLAINTIFF DAVID YOUNG
    5
    95
    DC   BK14162 PG11
    96
    DC        BK14162 PG12
    I                                                          DEED
    2008187492
    2 PGS
    DEED
    DATE: Effective the /rJ/.A,.     day of   IJ/'~                           , 2008.
    GRANTOR: TLS PROPERTIES, LID.
    GRANTOR'S MAll..ING ADDRESS:              P.O. Box 19572
    Houston, Texas 77224
    GRANTEE:       Trails End Homeowners Association, Inc.
    GRANTEE'S MAILING ADDRESS:                P.O. Box 1191
    Cedar Park, Texas 78630
    CONSIDERATION:
    Cash and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is
    hereby acknowledged.
    PROPERTY:
    Lot 139, Re-Subdivision No. 5, Trails End Subdivision, according to the map or
    plat thereof recorded. in volume 16, Page 36 of the Plat Records ofTravis County
    T~                                                                                   •
    Grantor, for the consideration pan~ sells, and conveys to Grantee the property, together with all
    and singular the rights and appurtenances thereto in any wise belonging, to have and hold the
    property to Grantee, Grantee's heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns
    f~.                                 .           .                                       .
    GRANTOR HAS NOT MADE AND IS NOT MAKING ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR
    WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OR ARISING BY OPERATION OF LAW,
    WITH RESPECf TO 'tHE PROPERTY OR ANY IMPROVEMENTS THEREON,
    INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES
    AS TO (A) HABITABDXIY, MERCHANTABILITY OR SUITABILITY, OR FITNESS
    FOR A PARTICULAR PlJRPOSE OR USE; (B) THE NATURE AND CONDmON OF
    THE PROPERTY, OR ANY IMPltOVEMENTS THEREON, INCLUDING, WITHOUT.
    LIMITATION, STRUC11JRAL.CONDmON, SOIL, GEOLOGY OR 'l'HKPI'fNESS OF
    'I'HE PROPERTY li'OR USE BY 'tHE GRANTEE; AND (C) THE SUITABIUTY OF
    'I'BE . PROPERTY AND ALL IMPROVEMENTS THEREON FOR 'I'BE USE OR
    PURPOSE INTENDED BY THE GRANTEE. THE SALE OF 'I'HE PROPERTY AND
    ALL IMPROVEMENTS THEREON IS MADJ IN AN "AS IS," "WHERE IS" AND
    "WITH ALL FAULTS" CONDITION. GRANTEE, BY ·ACCEPTING THIS DEED,
    ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT GRANTEE IS PURCHASING l'HE
    PROPERTY AND ALL IMPROVEMENTS THEREON IN AN "AS IS," "WHERE IS"
    TEHOA00062
    DEFENDANT'S EXHIBIT 17
    97
    DC           BK14162 PG13
    AND "WITH ALL FAULTS" CONDmON, AND THAT GRANTEE IS NOT RELYING
    UPON ANY REPRESENTATIONS
    .      OR STATEMENTS OF 'fBE GRANTOR OR. 'fHE
    GRANTOR'S AGENTS IN PURCHASING 'I'HE PROPERTY.
    When the context requires, singular nouns and pronouns include the plural.
    TLS PROPERTIES, LTD., acting by and
    through its General Partner TLS Operaling
    Co., ILC
    ACKNOWLEDGMENT
    STATE OF TEXAS               §
    §
    COUNTY OF HARRIS             §.
    This instrument was aclmowledged before me on the            !:/!!:.day
    of J.}~ ll't ~f'L     ,
    2008 by Bruce Smith as                      ns
    Operating Co, u C, General Partner of TLS
    PROPERTIES, LID.
    AFI'ER RECORDING RETURN TO:
    Scanlan, Buckle & Young, P.C.
    602 West 11th Street
    Austin, Texas 78701
    FILED AND RECORDED
    OFFICIAL PUBLIC R&CORDS
    ...
    2118 Nov 17 84: 4a PM     2008187492
    BARTHOD $21. 81
    !UlNA DEBEAUVOIR COUNTY CLERK
    TEHOA 00063
    TRAVIS COUNTY TEXAS
    98
    oc
    w   • .,
    •
    •
    .. ...
    ~
    99
    DC   BK14162 PG15
    100
    DC           BK14162 PG16
    •
    ClUED    2108197491
    15PGS
    •
    QUITCLAIM
    DATE:     Effective the ltJ~     day of-4``/pc~..,.,="Wz~<'-------'' 2008.
    GRANTOR:        TLS PROPERTIES, LID.
    GRANTOR'S MAILING ADDRESS:                 P.O. Box 19572
    Houston, Texas 77224
    GRANTEE:        Trails End Homeowners Association, Inc.
    GRANTEE'S MAILING ADDRESS:                 P.O. Box 1191
    Cedar Park, Texas 78630
    CONSIDERATION:
    Cash and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is
    hereby acknowledged.
    PROPERTY:
    A portion of the underwater land identified in Volume 16, Page 36 of the Plat
    Records of Travis County, Texas, out of the Samuel Hayford Survey No. 53 in
    Travis County, Texas, being more particularly described by the metes and bounds
    description and survey map in Addendwn ''A", attached hereto and incmporated
    in herein for all purposes.
    For the Consideration, Grantor quitclaims to Orantce all of Grantor's right, title, and
    interest in and to the Property, to have and to hold it to Grantee, Grantee's heirs, executors,
    administrators, successors, and assigns forever. Neither Grantor nor Grantor's heirs, executors,
    administrators, successors, or assigns shall have. claim, or demand any right or .title to the
    Property or any part of it.
    When the context requires, singular nouns and pronouns include the plural.
    1LS PROPERTIES, LTD., acting by and
    through its General Partner TLS Operating
    fu,!L~-7                  f7~
    By=,``-
    Bruce Smith, President
    Young 000207
    DEFENDANT'S EXHIBIT 18                                           20120623-20120623
    101
    DC         BK14162 PG17
    •
    ACKNQWLEDGMENI
    STATE OF TEXAS             §
    I
    COUNTY OF HARRIS           I
    This instrument was acknowledged before me on tbc Jfi!:day of J.2rhttm'e9A.. ,
    2008 by Bruce Smith as               1LS Operating Co., LLC, General Partner of TI..S
    PROPERTIES, LTD.
    of Texas
    AFTER RECORDING RETURN TO:
    W. Thomas Buckle
    Scanlan, Buclde & Young, P.C.
    602 West 11th Street
    Austin, Texas 78701
    J. S. WILLIAMS
    Young 000208
    20120623-20120623
    102
    DC            BK14162 PG18
    •
    •
    ADDENDUM "A"
    Description of a portion of the underwater land identified in Volume 16, Page 36 of the Plat
    Records of Travis County, Texas:
    1.     Beginning at the western most point of Lot 139 as shown on Plat Map in Vol. 16, Page
    36, being Subdivision No. 5 of Original Lot 57 of Trails End Subdivision shown on Page
    331 of Vol. 4 in deed records of Travis County and being a part of Samuel Hayford
    Survey Abstract #53; follow the western line of Lot 139 N 58 degrees 53 minutes E to a
    point 122.81 feet from point of beginning. Said point is also the intersection of the
    extension of the southern lot line of Lot 134 and the western lot line of Lot 139.
    2     Follow the extended southern lot line of Lot 134 N 74 degrees 08 minutes IS seconds W
    to the southern most point of Lot 134 being designated "PK Nail Found" on Steger &
    Bizzel Survey Number 20762- Trails End- 139-140, a copy of which is attached hereto
    and incorporated herein as Exhibit l. Follow the southern lot line of Lot 134 N 74
    degrees 08 minutes 15 seconds W for 343 plus or minus feet, said point being the western
    most comer of Lot 134 as platted in said plat and said point being tbc center line of Big
    Sandy Creek (the natural boundary of this part ofTrails End Subdivision).
    3.    Follow the center line of Big Sandy Creek bed as shown on said plat map (Vol. 16, Page
    36) in a southwesterly direction around said Darlecn's Landing until tbc creek bed
    intersects an extension of the northern lot line of Lot 52 as shown on said Steger & Bizze1
    Survey 20762.
    4.    Follow extended northern boundary line of Lot 52 S 80 degrees 20 minutes E to the point
    where it intersects the northern lot line of Lot 140 as shown on said plat map and said
    Steger and Bizzel Survey 20762.
    5.    Follow the northern lot line of Lot 140 N 58 degrees 53 minutes E to the point of
    beginning.
    6.     Subject to the 60-foot roadway easement shown in plat recorded in Vol. 16, Page 36.
    ····``··'·····
    ·.' ·.iln~ ).. ·•·· ..•. . Y· ...
    j    lij.         ~-       '   ...-   .. -
    .         J.   S. WILLIAMS
    Young 000209
    20120623-20120623
    103
    DC        BK14162 PG19
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    104
    DC            BK14162 PG20
    •
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    FilED AND RECORDED
    OFFICIAL PUBLIC RECORUS
    ~"Adea'·f'l t.»i.21118187491
    2tt1 Nav l7 14:41 Pit
    BllltTHOD $32. H
    DANA DDDUVOJI'I COUITY CLiJIK
    TRAVIS COUNTY TIXAS
    Young 000211
    20120623-20120623
    105
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    SURVEY SHOWING RELATIONSHIP OF THE WESTERN
    EXTENSION OF' THE NORTH LINE OF' LOT 52 OF' TRAILS END
    LAKE TRAVIS SUBDIVISION RECORDED IN VOL 4 PG. 331 OF'
    THE TRAVIS COUNTY PLAT RECORDS WITH THE CENTER OF'
    SANDY CREEK.                                                                                                                                                                                                              L[C£HO
    t' ,,. .... - ,.._
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    ·'···--- -..... ____      ---.                                                                             ·-· ...- ......... .. --.....·J·-· ..... ,........
    Tra,.. ~'· leUI
    W.ff? -                                 36
    ..
    ntt STAt! OF TIXAS J
    CaJtrn "' 'l'IAVIS I                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             '1-
    l.- NJSS ENILll LIMBERG. COYnty Clert or TraYia CoaatyL Taaa. da herebJ cart1f~ that                                                                                                 MAP of :JlS!iiVJ,;]Cil maber 5 of 10,5 acre• of ORlGICH.J. u.rr ~u 57, of TRAILS END
    oa the .&1-dl.y of O&bbfr. A.D •• l!Hi2 the C~Ju1oa•r• 1:011rl a 1 Trub County, T.xu                                                                                                      st!BDJVISIOIIf •• Mown p~qe J,l, b. boolt f. of tt:a dlted .r..c:orde' of 2'X&Th Cgoqtr. T•.&ll••
    p&'aad an o~r #:f:orla hQ t~a tlliaq tor r•c~d of thia Plat, and that .. td ord.r ~·                                                                                                      bt111Q • pctrt of U:a S..S•l Hft7ford aunoy. ebatnct nuaber u. h &&ld Countr.
    . . ·-                       ...
    b.en Gtah' e~\e.r~ t;_-,tha •l ..~tu of Mid Cout 111 Boat ..:.1..• ,age ili&.•
    .,     -
    FIELD Wt.'l'tS of the c:•ntar lin. ot 60 fnt -roed frca th• t~lltr... Jorth aad ot WE:rr twi:WJf
    -··.
    : ~--~ • : '
    . . ...
    Vln;iS!3" MY twrlf~ SE.\1. OF OFPJCI thb tM .,&!_dly or
    , -~, ~
    1
    ::                                          -
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    )4100 D!ILl£ LD49ERG
    llRIVE ( See •A• 011 Ult• .ap)to t.he h•t Uae of lot aursJ.r 121. and dOJtJ U.e Wa.t Une
    of uld ra~;d hoa lh•r• to the ce-ntu of Dia- BAndy Creek. at the BlAT t..\HDIJ!CJ I Lot nuaber
    14101                                                                                     0
    ;.f:~j-              ,_.-:;J . . ;.                                                           Clert ot the Co~uaty Court                                                              • &.;inain; lit lh• oenhr of lh• uh-a lortk end H \la•t D..rleea Drl.Mo •• ahllo thorCNahfar. .
    clr•• "
    thia , at .. and all lla brhb. . and culnrt. Met~eHrf to be con•
    ahdl at appcoxbaatelr          1100 Ft     ceater of .-...
    1!1          nncted or ~lac.-:11 1ft nch ..ll'eeh rot.cl.l or otber pu.blla lhorcM~Ghfare•. or n t::OMK't:Jon                                                                                                                                     'f!,"-
    .......       tbu-Jtl\. •hall be the n•pcmelbthty of the O'lfrwr and for tha dnelope~r of U.• hact or
    land. coweu4 br tllif plat ,,. accoret.nc:• vlth plaaa ud ``peelft.a~;Uou pr..crlbed by tb•
    ec-ta•loaer•a COU Dl T'r&Yb CcntUJ 'te••• ancl til. C...J••Joner"a Court of ,.,..,.1. Countr.
    /.;J.
    t'.ua •••.,..• no oa.uvauoa to bdld l:ha atr-ta. roada aad atht~r pu:blla thor~rif•r•• ehuVi
    oa tb• ~)lat. Ol' or COIIatraatlag &aJ b1l..loe• or C\Llnrt• Ia naoection therwllh.
    -s:
    SEPTIC rJ.l« Hor£1 E.tt.cll                                hou••
    conriructed Jn this SabcUYblnn •Mll br                                                              ao~U~ecte4        to   &        '• ~ t::Cl:.l.
    ..puo tank ot a. :.,)• ... ·
    ''•,               •
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    1'nwh ..!...unt,.,         t::!:.
    o,.~& .. : ~<'fY
    ri
    ..J                                       ''"                                            .~  .
    ./c,hu-
    ...oi'   THE St'r\TE OF 'l'E.XA5 )
    canrrr or BARRIS )
    OJ
    ...~
    ~                 l, T. L. SCJ'Df, JJl, • llcens•d Chll F::nni.nee.r of U.arri• County Te.x:u, and the
    eo•ownet of' th• odain.al 'TRAIL"9 EllD'" :N:tdhla ... ~n in T.revi• Cou.aty, fau•L •• ilbDWft aa th•
    ~      . . P of .. td S.bdt .. t•1o& whic~ 1• reco1rded i• BbOL 4, paae ~Sl of the Pl-t Keeord• of ••l~
    Trod• eo.nt,., do harebJ c&rtlh' th.tt tlds asp co••ectlJ repnHnh re .. au.bdhhlon Do. $,
    coat !lA nl1'19 U.S &cr••• "loh IMhd.& park and l'oftCO au•ent. belnt & p&rt of orioJf'&l
    "'"'-u
    Gl
    Block 157, of tha Pid "ft-\II..'S END'" 8\lbd!lvldoa, b th• O..u•l Hayford Son•J. Abatract UJ,
    ... ••dtl   oa the Ctrauncl by ••1 and. tlta
    harebJ dedicated to the uM ot the Public: ..
    •tr••h
    and rQAdil and. part, •• aheftiA oa thl• .. p, an                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ..."'
    5ubKI'lbad e.ftd ~r• to bJ me on thi• tha :W..dA7 ot                                          ~·                  •,?rf••
    109
    .f.Y:. ·-c'Jn ~t.-•
    
    e~:pr•asitd.
    Gl``.J!KDU: NT IWID tUIID 3E.U. tJl' (.FFICE this Wb..ddiY of ~. 196:1,
    ...... ;·\
    ........   '
    r.:._-u_,     ``..,._/,
    I:Ot.iiY7'iltill c b ud r etr
    Ja..rrt• County. T • .:: • •
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    I                                                                                                                                                          v                                               T£HOA OOI'Hl
    DEFENDANrs EXHIBIT 6
    TAB 2
    TAB 3
    Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. art. 974a
    Sec. 1 as amended Acts 1949, 51st Legislature:
    "That hereafter every owner of any tract of land situated within the corporate
    limits of any city in the State of Texas, who may hereafter divide the same in two
    or more parts for the purpose of laying out any subdivision of any tract of land,
    shall cause a plat to be made thereof which shall accurately describe all of said
    subdivision or addition by metes and bounds * * *, and dimensions of all streets,
    alleys, or other portions of same intended to be dedicated to public use * * *."
    Sec. 2:
    "That every such plat shall be duly acknowledged by owners or proprietors of the
    land, or by some duly authorized agent of said owners or proprietors, in the
    manner required for the acknowledgment of deeds; and the said plat, subject to the
    provisions contained in this Act, shall be filed for record and be recorded in the
    office of the County Clerk of the County in which the land lies."
    Sec. 3: "That it shall be unlawful for the County Clerk of any county in which such
    land lies to receive or record any such plan, plat or replat, unless and until the same
    shall have been approved by the City Planning Commission of any city affected by
    this Act,
    Sec. 4: "If such plan or plat, or replat shall conform to the general plan of said city
    and its streets, alleys, parks, playgrounds and public utility facilities and if same
    shall conform to such general rules and regulations, if any, governing plats and
    subdivisions of land falling within its jurisdiction as the governing body of such city
    may adopt and promulgate then it shall be the duty of said City Planning
    Commission or of the governing body of such city, as the case may be, to endorse
    approval upon the plan, plat or replat submitted to it."
    Sec. 5: "That any such plan, plat or replat may be vacated by the proprietors of the
    land covered thereby at any time before the sale of any lot therein by a written
    instrument declaring the same to be vacated, duly executed, acknowledged and
    recorded in the same office as the plat to be vacated, provided the approval of the
    City Planning Commission or governing body of such city, as the case may be,
    shall have been obtained as above provided, and the execution and recordation of
    such shall operate to destroy the force and effect of the recording of the plan, plat
    or replat so vacated.
    Sec. 6: "The approval of any such plan, plat, or replat shall not be deemed an
    acceptance of the proposed dedication and shall not impose any duty upon such
    city concerning the maintenance or improvement of any such dedicated parts until
    the proper authorities of said city shall have made actual appropriation of the same
    by entry, use or improvement."
    TAB 4
    TAB 5
    TAB 6
    TAB 7
    (Page 1 of 2)
    (Page 2 of 2)
    TAB 8
    (Page 1 of 2)
    (Page 2 of 2)