Frank Garcia v. Lydia Gomez ( 2008 )

NO. 07-06-0403-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AMARILLO
PANEL E
NOVEMBER 26, 2008
______________________________
FRANK GARCIA, APPELLANT
v.
LYDIA GOMEZ, APPELLEE
_________________________________
FROM THE 72ND DISTRICT COURT OF LUBBOCK COUNTY;
NO. 2003-523,605; HON. RUBEN REYES, PRESIDING
_______________________________
Before QUINN, C.J., CAMPBELL, J., and BOYD, S.J.1
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Appellant Frank Garcia appeals from the trial court’s judgment finding appellee
Lydia Gomez to be the owner of a tract of land and ordering Garcia to vacate the land. We
affirm.
1
John T. Boyd, Chief Justice (Ret.), Seventh Court of Appeals, sitting by assignment.
Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. §75.002(a)(1) (Vernon 2005).
Factual and Procedural Background
Gomez and Barnabe Trevino were divorced in 1990. As part of their divorce,
Gomez conveyed her interest in a tract of land in Lubbock County to Trevino. Later, by a
2001 deed, Trevino conveyed that property to Gomez in forgiveness of back child support
he owed her.
Garcia, an associate of Trevino, has resided on the property since 2001. In
September 2003, Gomez filed suit against Garcia alleging conversion, interference and
trespass claims. Garcia filed a general denial. Thereafter, Gomez amended her petition
to include a request for a declaratory judgment that she be adjudicated the true owner of
the real property in question. Trevino was not made a party to the suit.
The case was tried to the bench.2 Gomez, Garcia and Trevino testified. Testimony
showed that Garcia had provided funds by which Trevino had redeemed the property in
1997 after tax authorities had sold it for back taxes, and had since provided funds for
improvements and for the payment of taxes on the property. The trial court’s judgment
declared Gomez to be the owner of the land and ordered Garcia to vacate the property.
This appeal followed.
2
Although earlier represented by counsel, Garcia appeared pro se at trial. He is
again represented by counsel on appeal.
2
Issue
Garcia’s appellate issue reads: “After being tried by consent, the Trial Court erred
in not considering Promissory Estoppel as a defense to the Statute [of] Frauds claim by
[Gomez].” We interpret the issue as challenging the legal sufficiency of the evidence
supporting the trial court’s failure to find in favor of Garcia on a promissory estoppel
theory.3
Analysis
Garcia contends Trevino had promised to convey two acres from the tract to him in
consideration of his provision of funds for redemption of the property and for payment of
taxes. Garcia’s only pleading was his general denial. Gomez contends Garcia’s failure to
plead his affirmative defense of promissory estoppel bars the defense. Garcia responds
it was tried by consent. For purposes of this opinion, we assume, without deciding, that
Garcia is correct that his promissory estoppel defense was tried by consent.
In a bench trial, it is the role of the trial court to resolve inconsistencies in the
evidence. Ponce v. Sandoval, 68 S.W.3d 799, 806 (Tex. App.–Amarillo 2001, no pet.).
The trial court, as fact finder, is the sole judge of the credibility of the witnesses and the
weight to be given their testimony. Sterquell v. Scott, 140 S.W.3d 453, 461 (Tex.
App.–Amarillo 2004, no pet.). The finder of fact may accept or reject any part or all of a
3
Our interpretation is supported by appellant’s prayer for relief, which asks that we
reverse the trial court’s judgment and render judgment in his favor.
3
witness’s testimony. Vickery v. Commission for Lawyer Discipline, 5 S.W.3d 241, 255 n.5
(Tex.App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, pet. denied). It may believe one witness and
disbelieve others. Id.
Here, no findings of fact or conclusions of law were made. The record contains no
request for findings or conclusions. Tex. R. Civ. P. 296. On appeal, this court therefore
must presume the trial court made all fact findings necessary to support its judgment. Zac
Smith & Co., Inc. v. Otis Elevator Co., 734 S.W.2d 662, 667 (Tex. 1987). Because the
record contains a reporter’s record of the trial, however, the sufficiency of the evidence
supporting the implied findings of fact may be challenged. BMC Software Belgium, N.V.
v. Marchand, 83 S.W.3d 789, 795 (Tex. 2002); Roberson v. Robinson, 768 S.W.2d 280,
281 (Tex. 1989).
It was Garcia’s burden at trial to prove all the essential elements of his promissory
estoppel defense. See Boy Scouts of America v. Responsive Terminal Sys., Inc., 790
S.W.2d 738, 743 (Tex.App.–Dallas 1990, writ denied) (holding burden of proving
promissory estoppel is on party asserting the doctrine). Garcia cites “Moore” Burger, Inc.
v. Phillips Petroleum Co., 492 S.W.2d 934 (Tex. 1972), in which the Supreme Court held
courts will enforce an oral promise to sign an instrument complying with the Statute of
Frauds if: (1) the promisor should have expected the promise would lead the promisee to
some definite and substantial injury; (2) such injury occurred; and (3) the court must
enforce the promise to avoid injustice. Id. at 934; see Nagle v. Nagle, 633 S.W.2d 796,
800 (Tex. 1982) (applying “Moore” Burger).
4
An appellant attacking the legal sufficiency of evidence supporting an adverse
finding on an issue on which he had the burden of proof must show on appeal that the
evidence establishes, as a matter of law, all vital facts in support of the issue. Dow Chem.
Co. v. Francis, 46 S.W.3d 237, 241 (Tex. 2001) (per curiam). Because Garcia had the
burden of proof on his promissory estoppel defense, his challenge to the evidence must
fail if the trial court’s finding is supported by more than a scintilla of evidence. See id.
Further, even if no evidence appears to support the finding, we must examine the entire
record to determine whether the contrary proposition is established as a matter of law. Id.
A proposition is established as a matter of law when a reasonable fact finder could draw
only one conclusion from the evidence presented. See City of Keller v. Wilson, 168
S.W.3d 802, 814-16 (Tex. 2005). Garcia’s appellate challenge may be sustained only if the
contrary proposition is conclusively established. Dow Chem. Co., 46 S.W.3d at 241, citing
Croucher v. Croucher, 660 S.W.2d 55, 58 (Tex. 1983); Raw Hide Oil & Gas, Inc. v. Maxus
Exploration Co., 766 S.W.2d 264, 276 (Tex.App.–Amarillo 1988, writ denied).
Even assuming, arguendo, that no evidence supported the trial court’s implied
finding, after examining the entire record, we could not conclude that Garcia established
his promissory estoppel defense as a matter of law. We need look no further than the
evidence supporting his contention Trevino made a promise to convey him two acres from
the property deeded to Gomez. In support of that vital fact, Garcia points to the following
testimony:
5
Q. (By Mr. Garcia) The roof on the house and the improvements that I
have done to the place there, the road, who provided
the funds for that?
A. (By Mr. Trevino) You did.
Q. Besides the 10,500 [dollars] I helped as much–Mr.
Trevino, after you go into the pen, what happened to
the two acres?
You deeded the land to Ms. Gomez and can you tell the
Court here with the intention of the two acres coming
back to Frank Garcia?
A. Well, I thought she was going to do the right thing and
give you the two acres, but, I mean, she don’t want to
now. And I told her a bunch of times that, “Just do what
is right, and you could have lost the whole thing, you
know, and could have ended up with nothing, but”--
Q. Do you recall a statement from Ms. Gomez that she
was not interested in the land no more?
A. Yeah.
Q. That she was willing to give up the land? Particularly
this summer–or the past summer, not this summer, but
the summer before, she had a–she was in a bind . . . .
And how much money did she take away from me, or
borrowed, or got it for the taxes, with the understanding
that the land was going to be conveyed to–the two
acres?
A. I don’t remember. About three hundred, one time, and
maybe seven hundred, another time.
Garcia also refers to Gomez’s testimony, in which she agreed that, when Trevino
conveyed the land to her, he told her “about the two acres that were supposed to be
deeded to [Garcia].” Elsewhere, Gomez agreed with her counsel that Garcia “alleges to
have loaned money to [Trevino] in order for [Trevino] to redeem the property from the
individual who bought it,” and “alleges that [Trevino] promised to deed Frank Garcia two
of the eight subject acres to this lawsuit in exchange for Mr. Garcia giving him money to
6
redeem that property[.]” During his testimony, Garcia also testified to the fact that Gomez
was “supposed to deed me the two acres.”4 We note also that Trevino acknowledged
during his testimony that he understood the need for “something in writing” to convey the
two acres to Garcia.
Based on this testimony, reasonable minds could differ on the question whether
Trevino promised to execute a deed to Garcia for two acres from the tract. While it seems
clear that Garcia expected to receive the two acres, and believed Trevino or Gomez was
“supposed” to convey them, the evidence of a promise by Trevino to do so is less than
conclusive. See Nagle, 633 S.W.2d at 800. Garcia has not shown that his promissory
estoppel defense to Gomez’s claims was established as a matter of law.5 Accordingly, we
overrule his appellate point and affirm the trial court’s judgment.
James T. Campbell
Justice
4
Garcia also points to testimony concerning a letter written him by Gomez’s attorney
during the pendency of the litigation. The letter lends no support to Garcia’s claim that
Trevino promised to convey to him two acres of the land deeded to Gomez.
5
We express no opinion whether success on Garcia’s promissory estoppel defense
would entitle him to any affirmative relief he may have sought.
7