Adriene Sibley v. Port Freeport ( 2024 )

Opinion issued February 27, 2024
In The
Court of Appeals
For The
First District of Texas
————————————
NO. 01-22-00860-CV
———————————
ADRIENE SIBLEY, Appellant
V.
PORT FREEPORT, Appellee
On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 3 & Probate Court
Brazoria County, Texas
Trial Court Case No. CI61616
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Appellee Port Freeport initiated an eminent domain proceeding to acquire
fee simple title to a tract of land in Brazoria County, Texas to be used for
expansion of its facilities. A panel of three court-appointed special commissioners
adjudicated the case administratively, awarding $14,000.00 for the property.
Appellant Adriene Sibley filed objections to the commissioners’ award, converting
the case into a judicial proceeding to be heard by the trial court de novo. The trial
court set the case for trial. Sibley did not appear for trial and the trial court
rendered a post-answer default judgment.
Sibley now appeals from the trial court’s judgment in favor of Port Freeport.
She argues (1) the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction because the special
commissioners did not issue notice of the condemnation hearing as required by
Section 21.016 of the Property Code and she was not served with the notice of
hearing, (2) the special commissioners lacked jurisdiction to condemn the mineral
estate of the property because the mineral estate was excluded in Port Freeport’s
petition for condemnation, (3) the trial court abused its discretion by concluding
that the sole issue before the court was compensation due the landowners for the
condemned property, and (4) the trial court lacked jurisdiction because of an “issue
of title.”
We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
Background
Port Freeport (“Port”) filed an original statement and petition for
condemnation against the known and unknown heirs of Anna Laura Rossaw
seeking to acquire fee simple title to a tract of land in Brazoria County, Texas
2
(“Property”) for expansion of the Port’s facilities.1 The Property consisted of a
vacant lot in Freeport, Texas identified in the petition as:
Lot Thirteen (13) in Block Seven (7), Freeport Townsite in the
City of Freeport, Brazoria County, Texas, according to the map or
plat thereof recorded in Volume 2, Page 95 of the Plat Records of
Brazoria County, Texas.
The Port “excluded from the estate to be condemned all the oil, gas and sulfur
which can be removed from beneath the Property . . . .” The Port did not name
Sibley in the original petition as a person with an interest in the Property.
Pursuant to Section 21.014 of the Texas Property Code, the trial court
appointed three special commissioners “to assess damages occasioned by the
condemnation of Defendants’ property[.]”2 Sibley filed a petition in intervention
alleging she had an ownership interest in the Property. In an amended petition in
intervention, Sibley alleged she had an undivided two-fifths interest in the
Property. In both her original and amended petitions in intervention, Sibley
1
See TEX. PROP. CODE § 21.012(a) (“If an entity with eminent domain authority
wants to acquire real property for public use but is unable to agree with the owner
of the property on the amount of damages, the entity may begin a condemnation
proceeding by filing a petition in the proper court.”).
2
Section 21.014 of the Texas Property Code provides in part:
The judge of a court in which a condemnation petition is filed or to
which an eminent domain case is assigned shall, not later than the 30th
calendar day after the petition is filed, appoint three disinterested real
property owners who reside in the county as special commissioners to
assess the damages of the owner of the property being condemned . . . .
TEX. PROP. CODE § 21.014(a).
3
identified her address as 4808 Fairmont Pkwy #101, Pasadena, Texas 77505, and
her email address as Adrienesibley77@gmail.com. The physical address is a post
office box.
The Port filed its first amended statement and petition for condemnation
identifying Sibley, nineteen other individuals and taxing authorities, and an
attorney ad litem for the unknown owners of the Property as potentially having an
interest in the Property. Like the original petition, the amended petition
specifically excluded the mineral estate from the Property being acquired.3
The special commissioners set a hearing for July 30, 2021. The Port sent
notice of the hearing to Sibley by certified mail at the post office box Sibley
identified as her address in her petitions for intervention. The Port also attempted
personal service on Sibley by sending a process server to the residential address
Sibley identified in her filings in the case. In addition, the Port electronically
served Sibley at the email address she used for her court filings and for
communications with the Port’s counsel. Finally, the Port served Sibley through
citation by publication.
The special commissioners held a hearing on July 31, 2021, as scheduled.
Sibley did not attend. Following the hearing, the special commissioners issued a
3
The description of the Property is the same in the Port’s original and first amended
statement and petition for condemnation.
4
Decision and Award (“Award”) awarding the defendant landowners $14,000 in
damages for the Property as identified in the Port’s petition. The Award states:
(1) We assess the damages to be paid by Plaintiff for the
condemnation in the total amount of $14000.00 and we do award
these damages to Defendants. (2) We award to Plaintiff all rights
described and prayed for in Plaintiff’s First Amended Statement and
Petition for Condemnation.
The Award of the special commissioners was filed with the trial court with notice
to the clerk of the court. The clerk was directed to “send notice of the Decision
and Award as provided in Section 21.040 of the Texas Property Code” to the
parties including “Adrienne Sibley [at] 4808 Fairmont Parkway #101, Pasadena,
Texas, 77505.”
One month later, on August 21, 2021, Sibley filed written objections and
exceptions to the Award, arguing, among other things, that she had “not been
properly served with the Notice of Commissioners Hearing” and that she had not
entered an appearance in the case. Sibley acknowledged in her objections that her
interest in the Property included the interests of two individuals, Eddie Lewis and
Dushay Lewis, who she stated had been “properly served.” She argued that the
special commissioners had not applied “the correct measure of damages” to
determine the compensation to which she was entitled for the Property and the “oil,
gas and sulfur beneath the surface.” Sibley requested a jury trial to determine “just
and adequate compensation.”
5
The Port deposited the $14,000 award amount into the registry of the court.
Several of the named defendants moved to withdraw portions of the award
proportionate to their undivided interest in the Property. Sibley did not join in their
motions or separately move to withdraw funds. The trial court set the motions for
hearing. No response or objections were made to any of the motions to withdraw,
which the trial court subsequently granted.
The Port served written discovery on Sibley on December 16, 2021. The
Port served Sibley with requests for admissions, including a request that Sibley
admit the “Special Commissioners issued a Notice of Hearing to defendants stating
the time, date, and place of the hearing.” (Emphasis in original.) The record lacks
any indicia that Sibley responded to the requests for admission.4
4
The Port asserts in its brief that Sibley did not respond to the discovery and the
trial court’s findings of fact state the same. Sibley claims in her reply brief that
she was not served with requests for admissions, but according to the certificate of
service on the request for admissions, she was served via electronic service and
certified mail, return receipt requested at the physical and email addresses
provided on Sibley’s petition in intervention. Sibley says she “did not open the
email the [sic] contained the Request for Admissions therefore Sibley never
received the admissions and had no duty to respond therefore the admissions
cannot be the support that Sibley admitted that the Commissioners issued the
notice of hearing.” To the extent Sibley argues that she received but did not open
the request for admissions, she was effectively served with them when they
arrived electronically, regardless of whether she opened the email. See Stettner v.
Lewis & Maese Auction, LLC, 611 S.W.3d 102, 106 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th
Dist.] 2020, no pet.) (holding attorney’s month-long delay in opening email sent
on June 29 “does not show that he did not receive notice” of summary judgment
motions on June 29). See also TEX. R. CIV. P. 21a(b)(3) (“Electronic service is
6
On September 2, 2022, the trial court mailed a notice to all parties of record,
including Sibley, stating the case was set for trial on October 17, 2022.5 Sibley
emailed the court on October 13, 2022, stating she had filed timely objections to
the Award, but that “no citation was requested, served or waived by the Port.” She
claimed the trial court judge had “recused from the case” and that the
“Administrative stage ha[d] not ended.” The trial court responded via email that
same day, explaining that “[n]o voluntary recusal was made and no Motion to
Recuse was filed” and further that the “Objection to the Award end[ed] the
administrative phase of the condemnation case” and no citation was required. The
court concluded by stating the case was set for trial on October 17, 2022.
Sibley did not appear for trial and the trial court entered a post-answer
default judgment.6 The trial court entered findings of fact and conclusions of law.
In its findings of fact, the trial court found Sibley had filed a petition in
intervention, lawful notice of the special commissioners’ hearing had been
provided to the named defendants, and Sibley had “timely filed objections to the
[A]ward, converting th[e] proceeding into a judicial case.” In its conclusions of
complete on transmission of the document to the serving party’s electronic filing
service provider.”).
5
The trial court also emailed Sibley on October 11, 2023, stating the case was set
for trial on October 17, 2022 at 9 a.m.
6
Sibley states in her supplemental reply brief that she did not attend trial because
“the trial court lacked jurisdiction over the proceedings.”
7
law, the trial court concluded that Sibley had “invoked th[e] Court’s jurisdiction by
filing objections to the award, and the matter [was] properly before [the court].” It
further concluded that by failing to object to withdrawal of the funds from the
court’s registry, the “Defendants [had] waived any objection to the Court’s
jurisdiction,” and that “the sole issue [before the court] in th[e] condemnation case
[was] compensation due to the landowners.”7
The trial court entered its final judgment on October 24, 2022. The trial
court awarded the Property to the Port, reserved to the defendants “all the oil, gas
and sulfur which can be removed from beneath the Property,” and awarded
$14,000 to the defendants.
Sibley now appeals from the final judgment.
Applicable Law
A. Condemnation Proceedings
Texas condemnation proceedings consist of two separate phases: one
administrative phase and one judicial phase. In re Lazy W Dist. No. 1, 493 S.W.3d
538, 542 (Tex. 2016); Harris Cnty. Fresh Water Supply Dist. No. 61 v. Magellan
Pipeline Co., L.P., 649 S.W.3d 630, 633 n.2 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2022,
pet. denied) (“In Texas, condemnation proceedings are conducted in two phases—
an administrative phase, and, if necessary, a judicial phase.”) (citing City of Tyler
7
The appellate record does not contain a reporter’s record from the trial.
8
v. Beck, 196 S.W.3d 784, 786 (Tex. 2006)). During the administrative phase, the
trial court appoints special commissioners to conduct a hearing, gather evidence,
and determine “just compensation for the landowner.” In re Lazy W Dist. No. 1.,
493 S.W.3d at 541. The special commissioners then submit their award to the
court. This process “is essentially an official, compulsory mediation of the value
dispute with the goal of avoiding a trial.” 8 Id. at 542.
The second phase, the judicial portion, commences “following a proper
objection to the commissioners’ award.” Id. at 543. The filing of “timely
objections invokes the jurisdiction of the trial court and transforms the
administrative proceeding into a pending cause.” John v. State, 826 S.W.2d 138,
141 n.5 (Tex. 1992) (citing Pearson v. State, 315 S.W.2d 935, 937 (Tex. 1958));
see also Magellan Pipeline, 649 S.W.3d at 633 n.2 (“Any party dissatisfied with
[the special commissioners’] award may file an objection, which begins the
judicial phase of the proceeding.”). During the judicial part of a condemnation
proceeding, the special commissioners’ award is vacated and the trial court
conducts a trial de novo “in which the entire case is presented as if there had been
no previous trial.” TEX. R. CIV. P. 506.3; see also In re State, 85 S.W.3d 871, 876
8
Sibley’s petition in intervention was filed during the administrative phase of the
proceeding. In that respect, it appears her filing was improper. See Patrick Media
Grp., Inc. v. Dall. Area Rapid Transit, 879 S.W.2d 375, 377 (Tex. App.—Eastland
1994, writ denied) (observing that Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 60, which
governs interventions, does not apply to administrative phase of condemnation
proceedings).
9
(Tex. App.—Tyler 2002, no pet.) (citing Elliott v. Joseph, 351 S.W.2d 879, 880
(Tex. 1961)). Objections “wip[e] out entirely the award of the commissioners and
preven[t] any judgment from being entered based upon such an award.” Enbridge
Pipelines (E. Tex.) L.P. v. Saratoga Timber Co., Ltd., No. 13-14-00381-CV, 2017
WL 2807382, at *2 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg June 29, 2017, no pet.)
(mem. op.) (quoting In re State, 85 S.W.3d at 877).
It is well-settled that in condemnation proceedings, “the right to appeal by
trial de novo affords a party an adequate remedy for any error occurring in the
administrative phase of the proceeding.” In re State, 85 S.W.3d at 876. “The
Texas Supreme Court has long held that the right of appeal and trial de novo
affords a party adequate relief for any errors occurring in the proceedings before
the special commissioners ‘up to and including the award of the special
commissioners.’” City of Dall. v. Martin, 711 S.W.2d 285, 287 (Tex. App.—Dallas
1986, writ ref’d n.r.e.) (citing Tonahill v. Gulf States Utils. Co., 446 S.W.2d 301,
302 (Tex. 1969)).
B. Service of Notice of the Hearing
Section 21.016(d) of the Property Code governs the provision of notice of a
special commissioners’ hearing. It provides that notice may be served:
(1) by delivering a copy of the notice to the party or to the party’s
agent or attorney;
10
(2) if the property being condemned belongs to a deceased’s estate
or to a minor or other legally disabled person and the person or
estate has a legal representative, by delivering a copy of the
notice to the legal representative; or
(3) if the property being condemned belongs to a nonresident of
this state and there has been no personal service on the owner,
if the identity or the residence of the property owner is
unknown, or if the property owner avoids service of notice by
hiding, by publication in the same manner as service of citation
by publication in other civil cases in the district courts or
county courts at law.
TEX. PROP. CODE § 21.016(d).
Discussion
A. Special Commissioners’ Hearing
In her first issue, Sibley argues the special commissioners lacked jurisdiction
over her and her two-fifths interest in the Property because the commissioners did
not issue the notice of hearing as required by Texas Property Code Section
21.016(a), she was not served with the notice of hearing as required by Section
21.016(b), and she “did not intentionally waive the notice of the hearing.”
Consequently, she argues, the Award is void. And because the Award is void,
there was no condemnation to appeal to the trial court and thus her (own filed)
objections to the special commissioners’ Award were “invalid and did not invoke
the . . . jurisdiction of the trial court.”
We do not have jurisdiction to decide moot issues. See Heckman v.
Williamson Cty., 369 S.W.3d 137, 162 (Tex. 2012). When Sibley filed her
11
objections to the special commissioners’ Award, the Award was vacated and
annulled, and the trial court acquired jurisdiction to hear the case de novo “as if
there had been no previous trial.” Id. At that moment, any error that occurred
during the administrative phase became moot. See In re State, 85 S.W.3d at 876(“In the judicial phase, the trial court’s actions relating to the administrative phase,
as a general rule, become moot. Moreover, any error occurring during the
administrative phase that affects the judicial phase typically can be reviewed in the
trial de novo.”) (citations omitted); see also PR Invs. & Specialty Retailers, Inc. v.
State, 251 S.W.3d 472, 476 (Tex. 2008) (observing that after objections are filed
and proceeding becomes judicial, “the proceedings that occurred before the special
commissioners are not considered, and the case is tried to the [trial] court de
novo.”).
Thus, to the extent Sibley complains on appeal about any non-jurisdictional
procedural defect pertaining to the special commissioners’ hearing, we hold those
issues are moot and not properly before this Court. See City of Hous. v. Bankers
Mortg. Co., 514 S.W.2d 326, 328 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1974, writ ref’d
n.r.e.) (holding that after objections to special commissioners’ award are filed,
county court’s jurisdiction “could not be defeated by the showing of [a non-
12
jurisdictional] irregularity in the proceedings before the Special Commissioners”);9
cf. Gioffredi v. Retreat at Riverstone, No. 01-21-00627-CV, 2022 WL 17981570,
at *6 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Dec. 29, 2022, pet. denied) (mem. op.)
(holding after county court’s de novo review of justice court’s judgment, “[a]ny
non-jurisdictional errors or irregularities in the Justice Court became a nullity, and
any challenge based on such errors or irregularities is moot”).
B. Trial de Novo
1. Sibley’s Objections are Valid
Sibley timely filed objections to the commissioners’ Award. Thus, the
condemnation proceeding entered the judicial phase, the Award was set aside, and
subject matter jurisdiction was conferred on the trial court to conduct a trial de
novo. See In re State, 85 S.W.3d at 876. In addition, when Sibley filed her
objections, the trial court acquired personal jurisdiction over her. See Beck, 196
S.W.3d at 787 (noting parties who filed objections to special commissioners’
award invoked judicial process “and the court acquired in personam jurisdiction
over them”); Hubenak v. San Jacinto Gas Transmission Co., 141 S.W.3d 172, 179
(Tex. 2004) (“Any party may object to the special commissioners’ findings, and if
9
A previous version of the condemnation statute was in effect when City of Hous. v.
Bankers Mortg. Co., 514 S.W.2d 326, 328 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1974,
writ ref’d n.r.e.) was decided, but its holding is pertinent here.
13
there are objections, ‘the court shall cite the adverse party and try the case in the
same manner as other civil causes.’”) (citing TEX. PROP. CODE § 21.018).
Sibley argues that her objections were invalid and did not invoke the trial
court’s jurisdiction because the Property was not condemned in the administrative
proceeding and thus, she had no “statutory authority” to file objections to the
special commissioners’ award. Sibley’s argument is premised on her contention
that the special commissioners did not issue the notice of hearing or serve Sibley
with notice of the hearing, as required. She argues that as a result of these
deficiencies, the trial court lacked jurisdiction over the dispute and its judgment is
void.
We are not aware of any exceptions to the rule that properly filed objections
to a special commissioners’ award ends the administrative phase and confers both
subject matter and personal jurisdiction on the trial court. Nor has Sibley cited any
authority that refutes this rule.10 On the contrary, at least one appellate court has
held that once objections are filed, they cannot be withdrawn. See State v. Carlton,
901 S.W.2d 736, 738 (Tex. App.—Austin 1995, no writ) (“[O]nce objections are
filed and citation is served on the condemnor, ‘the Special Commissioners’ award
cannot be reinstated.’”) (quoting Amason v. Nat. Gas Pipeline Co., 682 S.W.2d
10The only authorities Sibley cites in support concern proper notice or service of a
condemnation suit.
14
240, 242 (Tex. 1985)).11, 12 Moreover, as discussed below, we reject Sibley’s
contentions that she was not properly served. We thus reject Sibley’s arguments
that her filed objections were invalid. We hold the trial court had jurisdiction over
Sibley and over the proceeding.
2. Lack of Service
Sibley argued in her objections that she was “not properly served with
notice” of the special commissioners’ hearing. Assuming without deciding that
Sibley’s service arguments are properly before this Court, Sibley’s arguments are
not meritorious.
According to Sibley, it is “undisputed and the evidence in the Clerk’s
Record shows . . . that Sibley was not served with proper notice of hearing[.]” The
Port argues it served Sibley with the notice of the hearing electronically and via
11
In State v. Carlton, 901 S.W.2d 736 (Tex. App.—Austin 1995, no writ), the
condemnee moved the trial court to withdraw the objections to the special
commissioners’ award he filed two and a half years earlier. Id. at 737. The trial
court dismissed the objections and rendered judgment on the special
commissioners’ award. Id. The court of appeals reversed and remanded, holding
that “a condemnee who contests the special commissioners’ award by filing
objections may not withdraw such objections and unilaterally cause the award to
be reinstated after service of citation on the condemnor.” Id. at 740.
12
However, if the objecting party does not serve the opposing party with citation of
the objections within a reasonable time, “the trial court should dismiss the
objections for want of prosecution and reinstate the special commissioners’
award.” City of Tyler v. Beck, 196 S.W.3d 784, 786 (Tex. 2006). There is no
allegation here that Sibley’s objections were not properly or timely served on the
Port.
15
certified mail, return receipt requested at the email address and physical address
Sibley used when she appeared in the case by filing a petition in intervention.13, 14
The Port also attempted twice to deliver service through a process server. On May
27, 2021, the process server was sent to the Fairmont Parkway address in Sibley’s
petition in intervention, only to learn the address was at a mailbox store. The
process server stated in his affidavit that he “[s]poke to employee who stated
[Sibley] has an active box but does not come here very often.” And on June 2,
2021, a process server was sent to an address that Sibley later used in her
objections to the special commissioners’ determination. There, the process server
spoke to a male “who refused to identify himself and stated [Sibley does not] live
here. He refused to answer my questions and closed the door on me.” Finally, the
Port asserts it served Sibley through citation by publication.
Sibley does not cite any portion of the record to support her argument that
she was not properly served via publication. Indeed, the record supports the Port’s
argument that Sibley was served through publication. Sibley argues in her reply
brief that
13
See TEX. R. CIV. P. 57 (“A party not represented by an attorney shall sign his
pleadings, state his address, telephone number, email address, and, if available, fax
number.” ).
14
Although the certificates of service state Sibley was served electronically and/or
by certified mail, return receipt requested, the Port states in its brief that Sibley
was served in both manners.
16
Sibley disputed that Sibley was served with notice of hearing via
publication and the record shows that the unknown heirs were served
by publication and Sibley is a named defendant therefore Sibley was
not served by publication.
This argument lacks merit.
Service by publication is appropriate in four alternative circumstances. It
applies when (1) the property being condemned belongs to a nonresident of this
state and there has been no personal service on the owner, (2) the identity of the
property owner is unknown, (3) the residence of the property owner is unknown, or
(4) the property owner avoids service of notice by hiding. TEX. PROP. CODE
§ 21.016(d)(3). While options (1) and (2) are not applicable here, options (3) and
(4) were implicated. Sibley states in her reply brief that she “did not receive notice
of hearing by certified mail and [she] did not open or refused to sign for any
certified mail sent to a mail service that was an incorrect address.” After
attempting service on the address Sibley identified in her petition in intervention,
the process server attempted to deliver the notice of hearing at the address Sibley
identified in subsequent pleadings. He was told at the door of the second address
that Sibley did not live there. Thus, either Sibley avoided service of notice at the
correct address, or her residence was unknown. Either way, service by publication
was appropriate. Id.
17
We conclude Sibley was properly served by publication with the special
commissioners’ hearing.15
3. Improper Notice
Sibley argues that the notice of hearing was defective because the statute
requires the commissioners to issue the notice. Because the notice was issued by
the Port and not the commissioners, Sibley argues the notice was deficient.
Sibley’s argument is based on Section 21.016(a) of the Texas Property Code,
which provides:
Each party in an eminent domain proceeding is entitled to written
notice issued by the special commissioners informing the party of the
time and place of the hearing.
TEX. PROP. CODE § 21.016(a).
Sibley did not complain in the trial court, as she does on appeal, that the
notice of the commissioners’ hearing was flawed because it was issued by the Port
15
We disagree with the Port’s contention that service of the notice of hearing was
deemed admitted by Sibley’s failure to respond to requests for admissions. The
Port served Sibley with requestions for admissions. In one request, the Port
requested Sibley admit that the “Notice of Hearing was served on [Sibley] through
the email address listed on [Sibley’s] pleadings filed in this case,
Adrienesibley77@gmail.com.” Section 21.016 of the Property Code does not
identify service via email as a proper method of service of notice of a special
commissioners hearing, so the request cannot result in a deemed admission that
service was properly effected. See TEX. PROP. CODE § 21.016(d); cf. Boyter v.
MCR Constr. Co., 673 S.W.2d 938, 941 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1984, writ ref’d
n.r.e.) (holding request for admission of inadmissible opinion may not be deemed
admitted); Powell v. City of McKinney, 711 S.W.2d 69, 70 (Tex. App.—Dallas
1986, writ ref’d n.r.e.) (holding request for admission that is not relevant to
material issues of fact cannot support summary judgment).
18
and not “by the special commissioners.”16 The issue was thus not preserved for
our review. See Seiler v. Intrastate Gathering Corp., 730 S.W.2d 133, 137–38
(Tex. App.—San Antonio 1987, no writ) (noting that when objections to special
commissioners’ award are filed, “[i]t is at this point that a condemnee must assert
challenges to the condemnor’s authority to condemn, and jurisdictional
irregularities in the procedure as well as contesting the amount of damages
awarded.”), overruled on other grounds by Schumann v. City of Schertz, 100
S.W.3d 361 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2002, no pet.).
Any error that occurs during the administrative phase that affects the judicial
phase “typically can be reviewed in the trial de novo.” In re State, 85 S.W.3d at
876 (“Texas courts have routinely held that the right to appeal by trial de novo
affords a party an adequate remedy for any error occurring in the administrative
phase of the proceeding.”). But any perceived defect in the administrative phase
must be objected to in the trial court, or it is waived. Anderson v. Clajon Gas Co.,
677 S.W.2d 702, 704 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1984, no writ) (“Procedural
irregularities in proceedings before the commissioners must be challenged on
direct appeal at the trial court level. They are waived if not properly preserved for
appellate review.”) (citing PGP Gas Products v. Fariss, 620 S.W.2d 559 (Tex.
16
Sibley stated in her objections, “The Special Commissioners had no authority to
adjudicate the interest of the Defendant that was not properly served with notice of
hearing and the proceeding is ineffectual as to the interest of the Defendant.”
19
1981)); see also Holloway v. Matagorda Cnty., 686 S.W.2d 100, 101 (Tex. 1985)
(“Complaints as to procedural irregularities in a condemnation case ‘must be
preserved at the trial court level by motion, exception, objection, plea in
abatement, or some other vehicle.’”) (citing PGP Gas Products, 620 S.W.2d at
560).
Because Sibley did not object in the trial court to the manner of issuance of
the hearing notice, she waived her issue. See PGP Gas Products, Inc., 620 S.W.2d
at 561 (holding objections to procedural irregularities in administrative
proceedings may be waived).
We overrule Sibley’s first issue.
C. The Description of the Property
In her second issue, Sibley argues the Award “did not assess damages or
condemn the property interest that was described in the Port’s Amended Statement
and Petition for Condemnation,” and that the Port has ‘“taken’ unlawful possession
of fee simple title to the property including the mineral estate[.]”17 Sibley’s
complaint apparently stems from the background section of the Award, which
17
Sibley objected in the trial court that the commissioners “failed to determine
adequate compensation to which the Defendant is entitled for the Defendant’s oil,
gas and sulfur beneath the surface that the Plaintiff specifically condemn[s] in the
petition . . . because the appraisal evidence specifically state[s] that the valuation
of any mineral estate is excluded from the valuation of the real property[.]”
20
states the Port “sought to condemn fee simple title to a tract of land” and described
the Property as
Lot Thirteen (13) in Block Seven (7), Freeport Townsite in the City of
Freeport, Brazoria County, Texas, according to the map or plat thereof
recorded in Volume 2, Page 95 of the Plat Records of Brazoria
County, Texas.
We do not believe the background section of the Award, which describes the
appointment of the special commissioners and the hearing, reflects the special
commissioners’ ruling. Rather, the special commissioners’ ruling in the Award
states:
We hereby state in writing as required by law the amount of damages
due to Defendants by reason of Plaintiff’s condemnation as follows:
(1) We assess the damages to be paid by Plaintiff for the
condemnation in the total amount of $14000.00 and we do award
these damages to Defendants. (2) We award to Plaintiff all rights
described and prayed for in Plaintiff’s First Amended Statement and
Petition for Condemnation.
(Emphasis added.) The Port’s first amended statement and petition for
condemnation described the property and expressly
. . . excluded from the estate to be condemned all the oil, gas and
sulfur which can be removed from beneath the Property without any
right whatsoever remaining to the owner of such oil, gas and sulfur of
ingress or egress to or from the surface of the Property for the purpose
of exploring, developing, drilling, or mining of the same.
Thus, contrary to Sibley’s argument, the Property’s mineral estate was excluded
from the special commissioners’ Award.
21
More to the point, when Sibley filed her objections to the Award, the
objections “wip[ed] out entirely the award of the commissioners and preven[ted]
any judgment from being entered based upon such an award.” Enbridge Pipelines,
2017 WL 2807382, at *2 (quoting In re State, 85 S.W.3d at 877). Thus, even had
the Award improperly disposed of the Property’s mineral estate, the Award was
vacated and there is thus nothing for us to review as it concerns the Award.
We overrule Sibley’s second issue.
D. The Trial Court’s Determination of Compensation
In its Conclusion of Law No. 13, the trial court concluded:
As there is no challenge to the powers and rights of [Port] to acquire
the property being taken, the sole issue in this condemnation case is
compensation due to the landowners.
In her third issue, Sibley argues the trial court abused its discretion in determining
the sole issue in the case was compensation.18
In support of her argument, Sibley argues the Port cannot prove that notice
of the special commissioners’ hearing was properly issued and served on her, that
the condemnation proceeding was lawful or that the trial court had jurisdiction
over her and her two-fifths interest in the Property. Sibley states that the clerk’s
record supports her argument, but she cites only to the special commissioners’
decision, the trial court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law, the notice of the
18
Sibley does not complain on appeal about the amount of the compensation
awarded by the trial court.
22
special commissioners’ hearing, and the affidavit of the process server, none of
which supports her argument. We have already disposed of Sibley’s arguments
regarding notice, service, and jurisdiction, so we need not revisit them.
Sibley also complains about the trial court’s Conclusion of Law No. 11,
which states in part:
[B]y withdrawing the award proceeds from the Registry of the Court,
or having notice of the motions to withdraw, by allowing these
withdrawals, Defendants have waived any objection to the Court’s
jurisdiction in this matter.
Sibley argues that because the condemnation of her interest in the Property was
void, she had no reason to object to the withdrawal of funds from the court’s
registry.19 She further argues that she was not served with the motions to withdraw
funds. Because the clerk’s record does not include the motions, we cannot
ascertain whether Sibley was served with them. However, we presume she was.
“[A]bsent a complete record on appeal, [the court of appeals] must presume the
omitted [items] supported the trial court’s judgment.” See Gallagher v. Fire Ins.
Exch., 950 S.W.2d 370, 371 (Tex. 1997) (quoting Crown Life Ins. Co. v. Estate of
Gonzalez, 820 S.W.2d 121, 122 (Tex. 1991)); Bennett v. Cochran, 96 S.W.3d 227,
230 (Tex. 2002) (same).
19
Sibley argues she had “no justiciable interest” in the funds deposited in the court
registry because the commissioners’ condemnation of the Property was void.
23
Regardless, Sibley did not request amended or additional findings of fact or
conclusions of law in the trial court. She thus waived the right to complain about
the trial court’s findings and conclusions on appeal. Chatterjee v. Banerjea, No.
05-18-01035-CV, 2019 WL 3886655, at *4 (Tex. App.—Dallas Aug. 19, 2019, no
pet.) (mem. op.) (citing Dall. Morning News Co. v. Bd. of Trustees of Dall. Indep.
Sch. Dist., 861 S.W.2d 532, 538 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1993, writ denied)); see also
Smith v. Smith, 22 S.W.3d 140, 150 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, no
pet.) (“By failing to request additional findings and conclusions, Mr. Smith waived
his right to complain on appeal about any error he assumes the court made.”); cf.
Williams v. Gillespie, 346 S.W.3d 727, 732 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2011, no pet.)
(“When findings of fact are obtained, they define and limit the issues upon which
[an appellate] court can affirm.”); Univex Int’l, Inc. v. Morrow, No. 05-91-00008-
CV, 1992 WL 5634, at *1 (Tex. App.—Dallas Jan. 10, 1992, no writ) (not
designated for publication) (“The parties’ failure to timely request additional
findings of fact and conclusions of law that will support their theory of recovery
constitutes waiver and presents nothing for the appellate court to review on
appeal.”).20
20
See also Occidental Chem. Corp. v. ETC NGL Transp., LLC, 425 S.W.3d 354, 367
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2011, pet. dism’d) (“[W]here a party fails to
request additional or amended findings after the court files its original findings,
the party waives the right to complain on appeal that the findings were not full and
24
We note there is no reporter’s record from the trial in the appellate record.
Thus, we presume it would have supported the trial court’s judgment. See In re
Guardianship of Berry, 105 S.W.3d 665, 667 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2003, no
pet.) (“Absent a reporter’s record of the trial . . . we must presume that the missing
record supports the trial court’s ruling.”); Sanadco Inc. v. Hegar, No. 03-14-
00771-CV, 2015 WL 4072091, at *2 (Tex. App.—Austin July 3, 2015, no pet.)
(mem. op.) (“Without a reporter’s record, we have no way to determine what
evidence, if any, was adduced at the hearing and, therefore, whether the trial court
abused its discretion. . . . We therefore assume the underlying proceeding was
properly conducted and that sufficient evidence supported the trial court’s
decision.”); cf. In re United Prod. & Const. Services, Inc., No. 14-10-00023-CV,
2010 WL 454948, at *1 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Feb. 11, 2010, no pet.
(mem. op.) (“Absent a reporter’s record of the hearing, we must presume the
evidence before the trial court was adequate to support its denial of relator’s
motion to dismiss for forum non conveniens.”).
We overrule Sibley’s third issue.
E. Issue of Title
Sibley argues for the first time in her supplemental reply brief that the trial
court lacked subject matter jurisdiction because of an “issue of title.” While issues
complete or that the court failed to enter additional findings of fact.”) (citation
omitted).
25
generally must be raised in an opening brief, jurisdictional challenges cannot be
waived and may be raised for the first time in a reply brief. See Rusk State Hosp.
v. Black, 379 S.W.3d 283, 287 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2010) (considering trial court’s
jurisdiction, which appellant challenged for first time in reply brief), aff’d, 392
S.W.3d 88 (Tex. 2012); City of Hous. v. Hous. Firefighters’ Relief & Ret. Fund,
196 S.W.3d 271, 276 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.) (same). We
thus consider Sibley’s jurisdictional argument.21
Sibley argues the trial court lacked jurisdiction over the condemnation
proceeding because the trial court adjudicated an “issue of title,” which Brazoria
County’s county courts at law lack jurisdiction to consider and must transfer to a
district court. See TEX. PROP. CODE § 21.002 (“If an eminent domain case is
pending in a county court at law and the court determines that the case involves an
issue of title or any other matter that cannot be fully adjudicated in that court, the
judge shall transfer the case to a district court.”).
The record does not indicate that the trial court adjudicated an issue of title
in its trial de novo. Neither Sibley’s objections to the Award nor her petition in
intervention referred to an issue of title. Indeed, in its Conclusion of Law No. 13,
the trial court concluded that compensation for the Property was the only issue
before the trial court:
21
We grant Sibley’s motion for leave to file a supplemental reply brief.
26
As there is no challenge to the powers and rights of [Port] to acquire
the property being taken, the sole issue in this condemnation case is
compensation due to the landowners.
We thus conclude an “issue of title” was not before the trial court.22
We overrule Sibley’s fourth issue.
Conclusion
We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
Veronica Rivas-Molloy
Justice
Panel consists of Chief Justice Adams and Justices Landau and Rivas-Molloy.
22
Sibley appears to rely on a docket entry in support of her argument. But the
docket entry to which she refers does not indicate that an issue of title was
resolved in the trial court. And because do not have a reporter’s record, we cannot
ascertain whether an issue of title was addressed during trial.
27