John W. Hankins v. Sarah T. Harris

ACCEPTED
01-15-00396-CV
FIRST COURT OF APPEALS
HOUSTON, TEXAS
12/7/2015 10:21:52 PM
CHRISTOPHER PRINE
CLERK
CASE NO. 01-15-00396-CV
FILED IN
1st COURT OF APPEALS
HOUSTON, TEXAS
IN THE FIRST COURT OF APPEALS
12/7/2015 10:21:52 PM
HOUSTON, TEXAS CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
___________________________________________
Clerk
John W. Hankins
v.
Sarah T. Harris
_______________________________________
On Appeal from the 333rd Judicial District Court
of Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Case No. 2014–01360
________________________________________
APPELLANT’S REPLY BRIEF
**ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED**
LEYH, PAYNE & MALLIA, HUGHES ELLZEY, LLP WILSON, CRIBBS &
PLLC Jarrett L. Ellzey GOREN, P.C.
Sean M. Reagan jarrett@hughesellzey.com Brian B. Kilpatrick
(Lead Counsel) Texas Bar No. 24040864 Texas Bar No. 24074533
sreagan@lpmfirm.com W. Craft Hughes bkilpatrick@wcglaw.net
Texas Bar No. 24046689 craft@hughesellzey.com H. Fred Cook
9545 Katy Freeway, Texas Bar No. 24046123 Texas Bar No. 02742500
Suite 200 Galleria Tower I hfcook@wcglaw.net
Houston, Texas 77024 2700 Post Oak Blvd., 2500 Fannin Street
(713) 785–0881 Suite 1120 Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 784–0338 (Fax) Houston, Texas 77056 (713) 222–9000
(713) 554–2377 (713) 229–8824 (Fax)
(888) 995–3335 (Fax)
Counsel for Appellant, John W. Hankins
Table of Contents
Table of Contents .......................................................................................... 2
Index of Authorities ...................................................................................... 5
Reply Brief ..................................................................................................... 8
A. Reply Point No. 1: Sarah’s brief contains numerous
representations that are either designed to construe
matters out of context or outright misrepresentations. ............. 8
B. Reply Point No. 2: Sarah’s claim that the entirety of the
Property was protected from a forced sale because it
was a “family” homestead has a fatal flaw: Norma and
Roy were no longer a “family” after their divorce...................... 11
C. Reply Point No. 3: Hankins’ judgment lien and
execution lien validly attached to Norma’s interest in
the Property after she divorced Roy and abandoned the
Property. Sarah’s claim that Hankins cited no evidence
to demonstrate that Norma abandoned the Property is
flat out wrong. ...........................................................................13
D. Reply Point No. 4: Sarah’s claim that Roy’s undivided
one–half interest in the Property protected the entire
Property from a forced sale would grant him a greater
right, title, or interest in the Property than what he
actually owned, which is contrary to Texas law. ........................16
E. Reply Point No. 5: Sarah’s bold claim the Austin court
of appeals’ decision in Synnott “is the law” is wrong. ...............16
F. Reply Point No. 6: Sarah’s claim that a party’s
homestead protection “would be all but ephemeral” if a
creditor could force a partition ignores well–
established Texas law that permits the partition of
homestead property. ................................................................ 18
2
G. Reply Point No. 7: If the automatic stay created by
Roy’s bankruptcy filing results in the execution sale
being voided, the Court should restore the parties to
the status quo, including reviving Hankins’ liens, if
necessary. Sarah’s arguments in opposition are
unavailing. .................................................................................19
H. Reply Point No. 8: Sarah’s claim that Hankins acquired
nothing at the execution sale because Norma allegedly
owned no interest in the Property at the time lacks
merit and would turn well–established Texas law in its
head. ......................................................................................... 23
I. Reply Point No. 9: Sarah’s continued insistence that
her parents’ Marriage Settlement Agreement
constituted an executory contract vesting Roy with
equitable title on the day of the divorce is puzzling. ................ 25
J. Reply Point No. 10: Sarah’s claim that Hankins was
required to execute on his lien within four years
misconstrues and misrepresents the plain text of
Section 16.035 of the Civil Practice & Remedies Code. ............ 28
K. Reply Point No. 11: Sarah’s claim that she wasn’t
required to prove repudiation and ouster of her co–
tenant is incredible. This is the very basis on which
Sarah based on her motion for summary judgment. ................ 30
L. Reply Point No. 12: Sarah claims she repudiated
Hankins’ title by accepting a deed from Roy that
purported to convey the fee simple estate to her.
Despite Hankins directing her to binding authority
from this Court holding otherwise, Sarah ignores this
adverse authority. ......................................................................31
M. Reply Point No. 13: Sarah’s claim that she can rely on
her parents’ alleged repudiation of Hankins’ title when
they were not Hankins’ co–tenants lacks merit. ...................... 33
3
N. Reply Point No. 14: Sarah wants to eat her cake and
have it too. On one hand, Sarah claims she is a stranger
to this dispute. On the other hand, Sarah claims that
the dispute was between Hankins and the Harris
family, including her. Sarah cannot have it both ways. ............ 34
O. Reply Point N0. 15: Despite Sarah’s claim to the
contrary, Sarah must establish title from the sovereign
to prevail on her three–year adverse possession claim. ...............
P. Reply Point No. 16: Sarah’s claim that there is
“voluminous evidence” to support her adverse
possession claim misses the mark. The evidence cited
by Sarah to support her claim for adverse possession is
nothing more than actions taken by the Harris family
that is consistent with a co–tenancy......................................... 37
Conclusion and Prayer ................................................................................ 39
Certificate of Service.................................................................................... 40
Certificate of Compliance .............................................................................41
4
Index of Authorities
Cases
Almanza v. Salas,
No. 14–12–01114–CV, 2014 WL 554807
(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Feb. 11, 2014, no pet.)................... 18
Borden v. McRae,
46 Tex. 396 (1877)...............................................................................21
BP Am. Prod. Co. v. Marshall,
342 S.W.3d 59 (Tex. 2011) ................................................................. 33
Cleveland v. Milner,
170 S.W.2d 472 (Tex. 1943) ................................................................19
Drake Interiors, LLC v. Thomas,
433 S.W.3d 841
(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2014, pet. denied).......................... 17
Dyer v. Cotton,
333 S.W.3d 703 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2010, no pet.) ....... 32
Fairfield Fin. Group, Inc. v. Synnott,
300 S.W.3d 316 (Tex. App.—Austin 2009, no pet.) ................ 13, 16–18
Flag–Redfern Oil Co. v. Humble Exploration Co.,
744 S.W.2d 6 (Tex. 1987) ................................................................... 27
Gordon v. West Houston Trees, Ltd.,
352 S.W.3d 32
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2011, no pet.) ............................ 21–23
Grant v. Clouser,
287 S.W.3d 914
(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2009, no pet.) ......................... 18–19
Humphrey v. C.G. Jung Educ. Ctr. of Houston,
624 F.2d 637 (5th Cir. 1980) .............................................................. 36
5
Laster v. First Huntsville Props. Co.,
826 S.W.2d 125 (Tex. 1991)........................................................... 12, 14
Morton v. Nguyen,
412 S.W.3d 506 (Tex. 2013) ......................................................... 25, 27
Patterson v. First Nat’l Bank of Lake Jackson,
921 S.W.2d 240
(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1996, no writ) ................................16
Sadler v. Duvall,
815 S.W.2d 285 (Tex. App. Texarkana 1991, writ denied) ..................31
Salomon v. Lesay,
369 S.W.3d 540
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2012, no pet. ......................... 11–13, 17
Sayers v. Pyland,
161 S.W.2d 769 (Tex. 1942) .................................................................16
Smith v. Davis,
462 S.W.3d 604 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2015, pet. denied)....................... 26
Taylor v. Mosty Bros. Nursery, Inc.,
777 S.W.2d 568 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1989, no writ) ................... 15
Texas Employer’s Ins. Ass’n v. Engelke,
790 S.W.2d 93
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1990, no writ)...................................21
Thedford v. Union Oil Co.,
3 S.W.3d 609 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1999, pet. denied) ..........................31
Todd v. Bruner,
365 S.W.2d 155 (Tex. 1963) ................................................... 33, 34, 37
Wierzchula v. Wierzchula,
623 S.W.2d 730
(Tex. Civ. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1981, no writ) ...........................12
6
Wilcox v. Marriott,
103 S.W.3d 469
(Tex. App.—San Antonio 2003, pet. denied) ................................14, 22
Statutes
TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 16.021 .......................................................... 36
TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 16.023 ......................................................... 33
TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 16.024 ......................................................... 36
TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 16.035 .................................................. 28–29
TEX. CONST. art. XVI, § 50 ...................................................................... 11–14
TEX. PROP. CODE § 41.002 .................................................................. 11, 12, 14
TEX. PROP. CODE § 52.006............................................................................ 29
TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1 ........................................................................................ 9
TEX. R. CIV. P. 680 ......................................................................................... 9
Secondary Sources
TEX. PATTERN JURY CHARGES–NEGLIGENCE at §1.3(6) (2012) ...................... 38
West, The Texas Three Year Statute of Limitation,
19 TEXAS L. REV. 375 (1941) .............................................................. 36
7
TO THE HONORABLE FIRST COURT OF APPEALS:
Reply Brief
A. Reply Point No. 1: Sarah’s brief contains numerous
representations that are either designed to construe
matters out of context or outright misrepresentations.
Sarah’s brief is rife with misrepresentations of the record and the law,
including misleading representations designed to construe matters out of
context.
For example, in her introduction, Sarah claims that Hankins’ interest
in the Property arose from an execution sale that violated both federal and
state court orders. Resp. Br. at 1. Similarly, Sarah claims that Hankins is
not challenging the validity of the temporary restraining order on appeal.
Id. at 5, n. 4. These claims are irrelevant, taken out of context, and
misrepresentations of the record.
These claims are irrelevant because Sarah did not move for summary
judgment on either the temporary restraining order issued by the state
court or the injunction issued by the bankruptcy court. (1 Supp. CR at 179–
201; see also, id. at 186, n. 5) (“At this time, Sarah is not moving for
summary judgment on the grounds that the [execution] sale violated the
TRO.”)). Thus, neither injunction can serve as a basis for affirming the trial
court’s summary judgment.
8
Regardless, there is no evidence that the temporary restraining order
issued by the state court was valid because the order did not, inter alia,
state the hour of issuance, define the injury, state why any harm or injury
would be irreparable, or state why the order was granted without notice, as
required by Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 680. (Compare 1 Supp. CR at
474–76 with TEX. R. CIV. P. 680.) The court did set a bond in the amount of
$50,000. (Id. at 476). But Norma and Roy never paid the bond, and thus,
the clerk never issued a writ. (2 Supp. CR at 876). These facts were not
disputed by Sarah. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1 (“In a civil case, the court will
accept as true the facts stated unless another party contradicts them.”).
Thus, there is no evidence that the temporary restraining order was valid.
Instead, the evidence establishes that the temporary restraining order was
void because it failed to comply with Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 680.
Furthermore, there is no evidence that the injunction issued by the
bankruptcy court was issued before the execution sale. Rather, the record
shows the execution sale occurred at 10:30 a.m. on September 2, 1980, well
before the bankruptcy court issued its injunction later that day at 2:26 p.m.
(1 Supp. CR at 286, ¶ 32) (attached by Sarah as summary judgment
evidence). So, Hankins logically could not have violated the injunction
9
issued by the bankruptcy court when he executed on Norma’s interest in
the Property when the injunction did not issue until about four hours later.
Sarah also claims that “Hankins cited no evidence … to demonstrate
that Norma abandoned the Property as a matter of law, or, for that matter,
that she acquired another homestead elsewhere.” Resp. Br. at 19. This
representation is misleading for two reasons. First, Hankins—as the non–
movant—did not have to establish that Norma abandoned the Property as a
matter of law. Second, Hankins did cite evidence of abandonment in his
opening brief—Norma’s deposition testimony. Hankins Br. at 5–6.
Specifically, Hankins quoted Norma’s deposition testimony, in which she
testified that she had “no intention of moving back” to the Property. Id. at 5
(citing 2 Supp. CR at 1113–15).
In an effort to bolster her adverse possession claim and show
repudiation of Hankins’ interest in the Property, Sarah also claims that
Matthew Hoffman, an attorney, represented her, along with her parents in
dealing with Hankins’ demands in 1984 and 1990. Resp. Br. at 9. But
Hoffman merely averred that he represented Roy with respect to the
Property. (1 Supp. CR at 405, ¶ 3). As discussed in more detail below, there
is no evidence that Hoffman ever represented Sarah. Her claim to the
contrary belies the record.
10
These are a few examples of Sarah’s misrepresentations. Hankins will
address others in more detail below, as well as Sarah’s failure to address
binding authority that is adverse to her claims.
B. Reply Point No. 2: Sarah’s claim that the entirety of the
Property was protected from a forced sale because it
was a “family” homestead has a fatal flaw: Norma and
Roy were no longer a “family” after their divorce.
In her brief, Sarah repeatedly reasserts that Roy’s undivided
homestead interest protected the entire property because “the
constitutional homestead exemption is given to the family, not to either
spouse individually.” Resp. Br. at 20–27 (quoting Salomon v. Lesay, 369
S.W.3d 540, 555 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2012, no pet.). Sarah also
claims that “so long as real property is a family homestead by virtue of one
spouse’s intention and use, that property is protected by the homestead
exemption, unless abandonment is pleaded and proved.” Id. (quoting
Salomon, 369 S.W.3d at 355). Sarah’s claims have a fundamental flaw: Roy
and Norma were no longer a “family” at the time the levy was issued or at
the time of the execution sale—they were divorced. (1 Supp. CR at 378–82).
The constitutional homestead protection is given to either a “family”
or a “single adult person.” TEX. CONST. art. XVI, § 50; TEX. PROP. CODE §
41.002(a). This Court has held that it is impossible for a homestead to be
both a “family” homestead and a “single adult person” homestead. Salomon
11
v. Lesay, 369 S.W.3d 540, 555–56 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2012, no
pet.) (“[I]f Malena has a homestead interest in the property, as the jury
found, then that property must be a family homestead, because as a
married person with a living spouse, she cannot have the only other kind of
homestead, that of a single adult person.”) (citing TEX. CONST. art. XVI, §
50).
In this case, Roy and Norma divorced. As a result of the divorce, they
became co–tenants, each with an undivided one–half interest in the
Property. See Laster v. First Huntsville Props. Co., 826 S.W.2d 125, 131
(Tex. 1991). Again, it is impossible for the same property to be a “family”
homestead and a “single adult person” homestead—it must be one or the
other. Salomon, 369 S.W.3d at 555–56.1 Therefore, Roy’s and Norma’s
respective interest in the Property could only be protected as their separate
“single adult person” homestead because Roy and Norma were no longer a
“family.” TEX. CONST. art. XVI, § 50; TEX. PROP. CODE § 41.002(a). Thus,
Sarah’s repeated claim that the Property was protected from Hankins’
forced sale because it was a family homestead lacks merit. TEX. CONST. art.
XVI, § 50; see Salomon, 369 S.W.3d at 555–56.
1A divorce does not automatically destroy the homestead protection of a property. See,
e.g., Wierzchula v. Wierzchula, 623 S.W.2d 730, 732 (Tex. Civ. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] 1981, no writ). Thus, it appears that whatever family homestead Roy and Norma
possessed would have converted into separate single adult person homesteads upon
their divorce if not for Norma’s abandonment.
12
This conclusion also dictates that the Synnott case relied upon by
Sarah was wrongly decided. In Synnott, upon the ex–husband’s
abandonment of his homestead interest and his divorce, the property could
no longer be a “family homestead.” TEX. CONST. art. XVI, § 50; see Salomon,
369 S.W.3d at 555–56. Instead, the property in Synnott was a co–tenancy
upon the parties’ divorce, which converted whatever homestead interest the
parties may have had in the property from a family homestead to a single
adult person homestead. Id. Thus, the Austin Court of Appeals got it wrong
when it held that “the property remained at all relevant times protected by
[ex–wife’s] undivided homestead interest in the property.” Fairfield Fin.
Group, Inc. v. Synnott, 300 S.W.3d 316, 321 (Tex. App.—Austin 2009, no
pet.). The non–abandoning ex–spouse’s homestead rights only protected
her undivided interest in the property; not the entirety of the property.
C. Reply Point No. 3: Hankins’ judgment lien and
execution lien validly attached to Norma’s interest in
the Property after she divorced Roy and abandoned
the Property. Sarah’s claim that Hankins cited no
evidence to demonstrate that Norma abandoned the
Property is flat out wrong.
Sarah claims that Hankins’ judgment and execution liens could not
attach to Norma’s interest in the Property after her divorce from Roy
because the Property was Norma’s homestead. See Resp. Br. at 25, n. 12
(“Hankins could not foreclose on the $50,000 in proceeds from Norma’s
13
sale of her homestead interest to Roy. *** “[B]ecause the Property was
originally her homestead, Norma’s conveyance of the Property to Roy was
free of any alleged lien by Hankins.”). But this alleged homestead
protection can be lost through abandonment. See Florey v. Estate of
McConnell, 212 S.W.3d 439, 443–44 (Tex. App.—Austin 2006, pet. denied).
Thus, if the judgment debtor abandons the homestead property, the
judgment lien will attach to her interest in the property. See Wilcox v.
Marriott, 103 S.W.3d 469, 473 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2003, pet. denied).
Just because a property was once homestead doesn’t mean that it will
remain homestead ad infinitum.
Here, Norma and Roy were co–tenants following their divorce in
June 1980. See Laster, 826 S.W.2d at 131 (When more than one person
owns an interest in homestead property, there is a co–tenancy.). Under
Texas homestead law, they each could only claim the homestead protection
for their respective interest in the Property as a “single adult person.” TEX.
CONST. art. XVI, § 50; TEX. PROP. CODE § 41.002(a). But Norma lost the
homestead protection for her undivided one–half interest in the Property
when she abandoned the Property during her divorce proceeding. At the
time the divorce was filed, Norma was living in Brownsville and testified
that she had “no intention of moving back” to the Property. (2 Supp. CR at
14
1113–15). Norma thus abandoned any homestead rights she may have had
in the Property, and this abandonment was effective on the date her divorce
was granted.
Sarah disagrees. Resp. Br. at 17–19. Sarah claims that “Hankins cited
no evidence … to demonstrate that Norma abandoned the Property as a
matter of law, or, for that matter, that she acquired another homestead
elsewhere.” Id. at 19. Sarah is wrong. As set forth above, Hankins—as the
non–movant—had no obligation to establish that Norma abandoned the
Property as a matter of law. But more important, Hankins did cite
evidence of Norma’s abandonment—Norma’s deposition testimony.
Hankins Br. at 5–6. Specifically, Hankins quoted Norma’s deposition
testimony in his opening brief, in which she testified that she had “no
intention of moving back” to the Property. Id. at 5 (citing 2 Supp. CR at
1113–15). This is sufficient to establish abandonment, or, at the very least,
raise a genuine issue of material fact on the issue of Norma’s abandonment.
See Taylor v. Mosty Bros. Nursery, Inc., 777 S.W.2d 568, 569 (Tex. App.—
San Antonio 1989, no writ) (To show abandonment of one’s homestead
interest, the party claiming abandonment must show that the homestead
claimant moved with the intention of not returning to the property.).
15
D. Reply Point No. 4: Sarah’s claim that Roy’s undivided
one–half interest in the Property protected the entire
Property from a forced sale would grant him a greater
right, title, or interest in the Property than what he
actually owned, which is contrary to Texas law.
Sarah also continues to maintain that Roy’s undivided one–half
interest in the Property protected the entire Property from a forced sale.
Resp. Br. at 22. But Sarah ignores Texas law that dictates that a claimant’s
homestead interest can extend only to the interest in the property that he
owns. See Patterson v. First Nat’l Bank of Lake Jackson, 921 S.W.2d 240,
246 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1996, no writ) (stating that an ex–
wife’s family homestead extends only to her proportional interest in the
residence). Thus, it is well–established that one’s homestead right in
property can never rise any higher than the right, title, or interest the
claimant owns in the property. Sayers v. Pyland, 161 S.W.2d 769, 773 (Tex.
1942). This means Roy’s “single adult person” homestead rights in his
undivided one–half interest of the Property cannot operate to protect the
entire Property from a forced sale when the sale is limited to his ex–wife’s
separate and abandoned undivided one–half interest in the Property.
E. Reply Point No. 5: Sarah’s bold claim the Austin court
of appeals’ decision in Synnott “is the law” is wrong.
Sarah next boldly claims that Synnott “is the law.” Resp. Br. at 26.
Sarah is wrong. The Synnott case was decided by the Austin Court of
16
Appeals—not the Supreme Court of Texas. The Synnott case wasn’t even
appealed to the Supreme Court of Texas. This Court cited Synnott in its
Salomon decision, but that was dicta, as Salomon dealt with a married
couple asserting the constitutional homestead protection, as opposed to a
single adult person such as Roy. Salomon, 369 S.W.3d at 555–56. The
Salomon case did not address the issue presented here: whether an ex–
spouse’s abandonment of her homestead interest can subject her property
to a forced sale.
Sarah also claims that the Fourteenth Court of Appeals recognized
that Synnott “is the law” in its Drake Interiors, LLC v. Thomas opinion.
Resp. Br. at 27. But the Drake Interiors opinion only cited Synnott in
passing and for the general proposition that “[i]f the property is exempt
because it is the debtor's homestead, the lien will attach only when the
property has lost its homestead character.” Drake Interiors, LLC v.
Thomas, 433 S.W.3d 841, 847 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2014, pet.
denied). This is a far cry from the Fourteenth Court of Appeals following
Synnott and holding that an ex–spouse’s abandonment of her homestead
interest does not subject her property to a forced sale.
Sarah further cites a memorandum opinion issued by the Fourteenth
Court of Appeals as support her bold claim that Synnott “is the law.” Resp.
17
Br. at 27. But this opinion again only cites Synnott in passing and for
general propositions, such as “[p]roperty may lose its homestead character
only by the claimant’s death, abandonment, or alienation,” and “judgment
liens, even if properly abstracted, cannot attach to a homestead while that
property remains a homestead.” See Almanza v. Salas, No. 14–12–01114–
CV, 2014 WL 554807 at * 3–4 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Feb. 11,
2014, no pet.). In any event, Almanza was decided on a critical fact not
present here: the undisputed evidence showed that the ex–wife
relinquished any claim she had to the homestead pursuant to her divorce
decree by immediately conveying the property to her ex–husband. Id. at *5.
Here, the evidence is very much disputed regarding whether Norma
conveyed her interest in the Property to Roy pursuant to their divorce.
F. Reply Point No. 6: Sarah’s claim that a party’s
homestead protection “would be all but ephemeral” if
a creditor could force a partition ignores well–
established Texas law that permits the partition of
homestead property.
Sarah next claims the homestead protection “would be all but
ephemeral” if a creditor, such as Hankins could force a partition of the
Property. This claim can be easily dismissed. Texas courts have long held
that homestead rights attaching to property interests held by a co–tenant
are subordinate to another co–tenant’s right to partition. Grant v. Clouser,
18
287 S.W.3d 914, 920 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2009, no pet.)
(citing Cleveland v. Milner, 170 S.W.2d 472, 476 (Tex. 1943)). Specifically,
one co–tenant cannot rely upon a homestead right to trump the partition
right of a co–tenant who acquired the interest from a prior co–tenant.
Grant, 287 S.W.3d at 921 (citing Cleveland, 170 S.W.2d at 473). Thus, Roy’s
homestead right in his undivided one–half interest of the Property is
subordinate to Hankins’ right to compel partition. Id.
G. Reply Point No. 7: If the automatic stay created by
Roy’s bankruptcy filing results in the execution sale
being voided, the Court should restore the parties to
the status quo, including reviving Hankins’ liens, if
necessary. Sarah’s arguments in opposition are
unavailing.
If the execution sale is void because of the automatic stay created by
Roy’s bankruptcy filing (which Hankins denies), the sale can be set aside
and the parties should be restored to the status quo, which would include
reviving Hankins’ liens. There is no evidence that Roy’s bankruptcy
discharge invalidated Hankins’ judgment lien or his execution lien on
Norma’s undivided one–half interest in the Property. Nor is there any
evidence that Roy’s bankruptcy discharge invalidated Hankins levy on the
Property. Thus, Hankins asserts that even if the automatic stay applied to
void the execution sale (which Hankins denies), the parties should be
19
returned to the status quo, with Hankins’ liens revived. Sarah disagrees for
four reasons, none of which have any merit.
First, Sarah claims that Hankins ignores the release he signed in
March 1981, with the point being that the release would bar any attempt by
Hankins to restore the status quo. Resp. Br. at 34. Sarah is wrong—Hankins
didn’t ignore the release; he expressly addressed the release in his opening
brief. See Hankins Br. at 36, n. 8. As set forth in Hankins’ opening brief,
Sarah expressly didn’t move for summary judgment on the release. (1 Supp.
CR at 189, n.6). If Sarah wanted to enforce the release she should have
moved for summary judgment on the release. But she did not. So, the
release cannot serve as a ground for affirming the summary judgment.
Ironically, it is Sarah who ignores Hankins’ assertion that the release
may be invalid. Specifically, Hankins asserts that it is undisputed that the
release was executed on March 3, 1981, more than two months before
Roy’s received his discharge from the bankruptcy court. See Hankins Br. at
36, n. 8 (citing 1 Supp. CR at 234–35; 412). There is no evidence in the
record that indicates one way or the other whether the money paid to
Hankins in exchange for the purported release was property of Roy’s
bankruptcy estate. Nor is there any evidence the bankruptcy trustee
approved the settlement. Under Sarah’s logic, the release is void because it
20
violated the automatic bankruptcy stay. So, if the Court were inclined to
void the execution sale and restore the status quo, it should set aside the
release as well, revive Hankins’ liens, and place the parties back at square
one.
Second, Sarah claims it is too late to restore the status quo because
Hankins’ judgment lien only existed for 10 years, his writ of execution
extended the life of the judgment for ten years from the issuance of the writ,
and the deadline for reviving a dormant judgment has expired. Resp. Br. at
34–35. But Sarah ignores the most critical point of Hankins’ argument:
under settled Texas law, an execution lien—created by a valid levy, not an
abstract of judgment2—is effective from the time of the levy and continues
in effect until it is lost or abandoned, or in some way ceases to have vitality
and effect. Texas Employer’s Ins. Ass’n v. Engelke, 790 S.W.2d 93, 95 (Tex.
App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1990, no writ) (citing Borden v. McRae, 46 Tex.
396, 400 (1877)). Hankins’ execution lien has not been lost or abandoned,
nor has it in any way ceased to have vitality and effect. Instead, the levy and
the resulting execution lien remain in effect. Sarah ignores this argument in
her brief and fails to address this binding authority.
2See Gordon v. West Houston Trees, Ltd., 352 S.W.3d 32, 39 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] 2011, no pet.) (an execution lien is created by a valid levy).
21
Third, Sarah claims restoring the parties to the status quo is
impossible. Resp. Br. at 35. The basis of Sarah’s claim is that she is a
“stranger” to the transaction, i.e., the litigation and judgment. Id. But again
Sarah ignores a fundamental premise: it is axiomatic that if a judgment lien
properly attaches to real property, a subsequent purchaser, such as Sarah,
purchases the property subject to the lien. See Gordon, 352 S.W.3d at 38.
So, Sarah acquired whatever interest Roy had in the Property, subject to
Hankins’ lien. Encumbrances on real property do not disappear merely
because the obligor conveys the property.
Finally, Sarah claims that Hankins’ request to restore the status quo if
the execution sale were found to be void ignores her claim that Hankins’
judgment lien allegedly cannot be revived because it could never attach to
homestead property. This is merely a rehashing of Sarah’s earlier claims.
Again, Norma’s undivided one–half interest in the Property lost its
homestead protection once Norma divorced Roy and abandoned the
Property. See Wilcox v. Marriott, 103 S.W.3d 469, 473 (Tex. App.—San
Antonio 2003, pet. denied) (if the judgment debtor abandons the
homestead property, the judgment lien attaches to the property.). Hankins’
lien attached to Norma’s interest once she abandoned the Property and
divorced Roy.
22
H. Reply Point No. 8: Sarah’s claim that Hankins acquired
nothing at the execution sale because Norma allegedly
owned no interest in the Property at the time lacks
merit and would turn well–established Texas law in its
head.
Sarah next claims that her summary judgment should be affirmed
because Norma owned no interest in the Property at the time of the August
6, 1980 levy and September 2, 1980 execution sale. Resp. Br. at 36. Instead,
Sarah claims that Roy owned full equitable and legal title. Sarah is wrong.
As an initial matter, it doesn’t matter what Roy owned on either
August 6, 1980 or September 2, 1980. Even if he owned “full equitable and
legal title,” as Sarah claims, he acquired such title subject to Hankins’ liens
because those liens were first in time. See Gordon, 352 S.W.3d at 38.
Norma could not wipe out Hankins judgment and execution liens by merely
conveying the Property after she had abandoned it as her homestead.
Regardless, Sarah continues to insist that her parents’ divorce decree
and marriage settlement agreement conveyed any interest Norma may have
had in the Property to Roy less than three months before the execution sale.
Resp. Br. at 37. In support of this insistence, Sarah claims Roy had full
equitable title to the Property as a result of the divorce because her parents
intended to effect an immediate transfer of Norma’s interest in the Property
to Roy. Id. Sarah discounts Hankins’ assertion that the Marriage Settlement
23
Agreement indicated a future, or prospective, intent to convey and assign
Norma’s interest in the Property rather than a present intention, as
evidenced by the Agreement’s use of phrases indicating future acts such as
“shall be,” and “agrees to pay.” In support her claim, Sarah urges the Court
to apply general principles of contract interpretation, and then urges the
Court to disregard the cases cited by Hankins that applied general
principles of contract interpretation because those cases didn’t involve a
marriage settlement agreement or a divorce decree. Resp. Br. at 40–42; id.
at 42, n. 42. Sarah’s argument is puzzling: if general contract interpretation
principles apply, then the cases cited by Hankins that applied general
contract interpretation principles to similar language are thus good
authority.
Sarah also incorrectly fixates on the claim that the Marriage
Settlement Agreement was only contingent on court approval to support
her argument the Agreement evidenced a present intent to convey Norma’s
interest in the Property to Roy. Resp. Br. at 41. Sarah’s claim flies in the
face of the evidence in the record. For starters, Roy admitted in his
deposition—after the divorce was finalized—that (1) Norma’s execution of a
deed conveying her interest in the Property to Roy was “in process,” and (2)
Norma probably would not convey her interest to him until she had the
24
$50,000 purchase price “in hand.” (2 Supp. CR at 1185). Roy’s deposition
testimony does not read like a man who believed he had already acquired
“full equitable and legal title” the month before.3 Roy didn’t acquire
Norma’s undivided one–half interest in the Property through the Divorce
Decree and Marriage Settlement Agreement: he acquired whatever interest
Norma may have had through the Special Warranty Deed and Deed of
Trust he and Norma executed in September 1980.
I. Reply Point No. 9: Sarah’s continued insistence that
her parents’ Marriage Settlement Agreement
constituted an executory contract vesting Roy with
equitable title on the day of the divorce is puzzling.
Next, Sarah continues to make the puzzling argument that the
Marriage Settlement Agreement was an executory contract that vested Roy
with equitable title on the date the divorce decree was signed. Resp. Br. at
43–44.
As set forth in Hankins’ opening brief, an executory contract for the
sale of real estate contemplates that the purchaser will complete
performance in the future, that is, finishing making payments before title to
the property passes. See Morton v. Nguyen, 412 S.W.3d 506, 509–10 (Tex.
2013) (emphasis added) (“A contract for deed, unlike a typical secured
3 Norma’s and Roy’s attorney, Matthew Hoffman, wrote Hankins in 1984—four years
after the divorce—and stated that Norma “transferred her undivided fifty percent (50%)
interest in the Homestead Property to Roy Harris by Special Warranty Deed, pursuant
to the above–mentioned June 20, 1980 Divorce Decree.” (1 Supp. CR at 410).
25
transaction involving a deed of trust, is a financing arrangement that allows
the seller to maintain title to the property until the buyer has paid for the
property in full.)”; see also, Smith v. Davis, 462 S.W.3d 604, 609 (Tex.
App.—Tyler 2015, pet. denied) (unlike a traditional mortgage, an executory
contract allows the seller to retain title to the property until the purchaser
had paid for the property in full). Sarah failed to address this argument and
authority in her brief.
Regardless, the Marriage Settlement Agreement in this case is not an
executory contract. Under the Agreement, the transfer of Norma’s title to
Roy was not contingent on Roy paying the entire purchase price. (1 Supp.
CR at 387–88). Instead, Norma and Roy agreed that “title to the house
shall be transferred” to Roy, and more important, they agreed that “[i]n
return for the disposition of this asset to [Roy], [Roy] agrees to pay
[Norma] the sum of … $50,000 *** As evidence of this obligation, [Roy]
agrees to execute to [Norma] a promissory note in the principal sum of
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) ***.” (Id.; see 2 Supp. CR at 1132) (Roy
gave his deposition a month after the divorce was final and testified that the
deed of Norma’s interest to him was “in the process”). Thus, the Marriage
Settlement Agreement was not an executory contract because Norma and
Roy didn’t contemplate a future transfer of title contingent on the payment
26
of the full purchase price. (Id.). Thus, unlike a typical executory contract,
where title is transferred in the future upon the full payment of the
purchase price, Roy could obtain Norma’s legal title under the Marriage
Settlement Agreement before paying the purchase price. Sarah ignores this
argument in her brief.
Hankins also asserted in his opening brief that Sarah’s claim that the
Divorce Decree and Marriage Settlement Agreement constitute an
executory contract is puzzling in light of the deed of trust executed by Roy.
In an executory contract, a purchaser who goes into possession has
equitable title, with the seller holding legal title. See Johnson v. Wood, 157
S.W.2d 146, 148 (Tex. 1941); see also, Morton, 412 S.W.3d at 509–10.
Conversely, in a deed of trust, the seller, i.e., Norma, retains equitable title,
while the buyer, Roy, acquires legal title. Flag–Redfern Oil Co. v. Humble
Exploration Co., 744 S.W.2d 6, 8 (Tex. 1987). So, Norma didn’t convey
equitable title to Roy, as would be the case with an executory contract, but
instead, she conveyed legal title to Roy, subject, of course, to Hankins’ lien.
Sarah also ignored this argument in her brief.
Finally, Sarah makes one last puzzling and confusing claim as to how
Roy acquired equitable title through the Marriage Settlement Agreement.
Specifically, Sarah claims that the Marriage Settlement Agreement created
27
a vendor’s lien in favor of Norma to secure Roy’s payment for her interest in
the Property. Resp. Br. at 44. As a result of the vendor’s lien, Sarah claims
that Norma “no longer held title to the Property after June 20, 1980.” Id.
This incredible claim begs the question: if Norma didn’t hold title to the
Property after June 20, 1980, what exactly did she convey on September 1,
1980? In other words, how could Norma have conveyed her interest in the
Property to Roy on September 1, 1980 if she hadn’t held title to the
Property since June 20, 1980? Also, if Norma had a vendor’s lien to secure
payment, why did Roy give her a deed of trust in September 1980 to secure
the very same payment that was evidenced by a promissory note, a
promissory note referenced in the Marriage Settlement Agreement? (1
Supp. CR at 146–49) (deed of trust to secure payment of $50,000
promissory note payable to Norma Harris); (Id. at 387–88) (Marriage
Settlement Agreement provides that Roy agreed to execute to Norma a
promissory note in the principal sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000)).
Sarah fails to address these discrepancies in her brief.
J. Reply Point No. 10: Sarah’s claim that Hankins was
required to execute on his lien within four years
misconstrues and misrepresents the plain text of
Section 16.035 of the Civil Practice & Remedies Code.
Sarah next claims that Hankins was required to execute on his lien
within four years. Sarah relies on § 16.035 of the Civil Practice & Remedies
28
Code for her claim that “Texas law requires that judgment lien must be
foreclosed on within four years.” Resp. Br. at 40. Sarah is flat out wrong.
Specifically, § 16.035(a) of the Civil Practice & Remedies Code states that
“[a] person must bring suit for the recovery of real property under a real
property lien or the foreclosure of a real property lien not later than four
years after the day the cause of action accrues.” TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE
§ 16.035(a). Under § 16.035(g), “real property lien” means: (1) “a superior
title retained by a vendor in a deed of conveyance or a purchase money
note”; or (2) “a vendor's lien, a mortgage, a deed of trust, a voluntary
mechanic's lien, or a voluntary materialman's lien on real estate, securing a
note or other written obligation.” Id. at §16.035(g)(1, 2). Neither definition
of “real property lien” applies here. This case involves a judgment lien and
an execution lien. A judgment lien—as Sarah points out in her brief—exists
for ten years, which can be extended. Resp. Br. at 34 (citing TEX. PROP.
CODE § 52.006(a)). Thus, Sarah’s claim that § 16.035 of the Civil Practice &
Remedies Code only gave Hankins four years to execute on his judgment
lien not only misrepresents the plain text of the statute, but it also
contradicts other assertions in her briefing on the very same subject.
Needless to say, the Court can easily reject Sarah’s claim that Hankins
cannot executed on his lien because more than four years have passed.
29
K. Reply Point No. 11: Sarah’s claim that she wasn’t
required to prove repudiation and ouster of her co–
tenant is incredible. This is the very basis on which
Sarah based on her motion for summary judgment.
Sarah kicks off adverse possession argument with another puzzling
and confusing claim: the Court can “summarily reject” Hankins’ claim that
Sarah was required to establish ouster because he was never a co–tenant;
rather, Sarah and Hankins were “strangers in title.” Resp. Br. at 46. This
claim makes no sense. It makes no sense because Sarah specifically moved
for summary judgment on the basis that if Hankins validly foreclosed on
the Property, i.e., he was a co–tenant, she nevertheless adversely possessed
the Property. (1 Supp. CR at 195, ¶ 44). More specifically, Sarah stated in
her motion for summary judgment that Hankins’ acquisition of the
Property at the execution sale “would have created a cotenancy in the
Property between Mr. Hankins and Roy. Under Texas law, the doctrine of
ouster allows one cotenant to adversely possess property from another
cotenant.” (Id. at 197, ¶ 48). Thus, Sarah and Hankins were not strangers in
title; they were co–tenants, which required Sarah to establish as a matter of
law that she ousted Hankins before she could obtain a summary judgment
on her adverse possession claim.
30
Sarah continues her puzzling briefing with the claim that because she
and Hankins were strangers in title, all she had to do to establish adverse
possession was show that the possession was “of such character as to
indicate unmistakably an assertion of a claim of exclusive ownership in the
occupant,” which “Hankins does not argue that Sarah failed to establish
…..” Resp. Br. at 46. Hankins doesn’t argue that Sarah failed to establish
her adverse possession claim in this manner because Sarah didn’t raise this
claim in the trial court (1 Supp. CR at 195–99, ¶¶ 44–50). Therefore, this
new claim cannot support the summary judgment on appeal.
L. Reply Point No. 12: Sarah claims she repudiated
Hankins’ title by accepting a deed from Roy that
purported to convey the fee simple estate to her.
Despite Hankins directing her to binding authority
from this Court holding otherwise, Sarah ignores this
adverse authority.
Sarah claims she and her predecessors “clearly and unambiguously
repudiated Hankins’ interest” because Roy allegedly conveyed the entire
Property to Sarah in March 1984. Resp. Br. at 47–48. Thus, Sarah argues
that “[t]he March 1984 conveyance clearly and unequivocally repudiated
Hankins’ purported co–tenancy interest,” relying on cases from the Dallas
and Texarkana courts of appeals. Id. at 48 (citing Thedford v. Union Oil
Co., 3 S.W.3d 609, 614 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1999, pet. denied); Sadler v.
31
Duvall, 815 S.W.2d 285, 289 (Tex. App. Texarkana 1991, writ denied).
Sarah is wrong yet again.
Hankins specifically took this argument head on in his opening brief:
that repudiation cannot be established by Sarah accepting a deed
purporting to convey to her the fee simple interest in the Property. See
Hankins Br. at 54. Specifically, Hankins asserted that this Court recently
rejected this very same claim. Id. (citing Dyer v. Cotton, 333 S.W.3d 703,
711 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2010, no pet.) (the party claiming
adverse possession, who owned a 1/7 undivided interest in the property,
could not rely on an erroneous deed conveying the entire fee simple estate
to him as evidence of repudiation as to the other co–tenants). Despite
Hankins asserting this argument and directing Sarah to binding authority
from this Court, Sarah ignores it and fails to address this binding authority
that guts her repudiation claim. Without any explanation from Sarah as to
why Dyer is not controlling, the Court should not hesitate to follow its own
precedent and reject Sarah’s claim that “[t]he March 1984 conveyance
clearly and unequivocally repudiated Hankins’ [interest in the Property.]”
32
M. Reply Point No. 13: Sarah’s claim that she can rely on
her parents’ alleged repudiation of Hankins’ title when
they were not Hankins’ co–tenants lacks merit.
Sarah also disputes that Hankins’ claim that she cannot rely on her
parents’ period of alleged adverse possession to her alleged period of
possession. Specifically, Hankins asserted in his opening brief that for
tacking to be effective, Roy and Norma must have met all the requirements
of adverse possession at the time they allegedly repudiated Hankins’
interest in the Property. BP Am. Prod. Co. v. Marshall, 342 S.W.3d 59, 69
(Tex. 2011); TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 16.023. They failed to do so
because they were not co–tenants with Hankins at the time the July 1984
and September 1990 letters were sent. Sarah was Hankins’ co–tenant at the
time these letters were sent, not Roy and Norma. But it is Sarah, as
Hankins’ co–tenant, who must show unmistakable and hostile acts that
would put her co–tenant, Hankins, on notice of her intent to oust him from
the Property. See Marshall, 342 S.W.3d at 70 (citing Todd v. Bruner, 365
S.W.2d 155, 159–60 (Tex. 1963)). This is because “[t]he real property
statutes of limitations as to cotenants are not designed to run in secrecy and
silence.” Todd, 365 S.W.2d at 160. Thus, Sarah cannot rely on her parents
to do her bidding for her. Instead, she was required to repudiate Hankins’
interest through unmistakable and hostile acts that would have put
33
Hankins on notice. She cannot anonymously repudiate her co–tenant’s
interest under Texas law. See Todd, 365 S.W.2d at 160.
N. Reply Point No. 14: Sarah wants to eat her cake and
have it too. On one hand, Sarah claims she is a
stranger to this dispute. On the other hand, Sarah
claims that the dispute was between Hankins and the
Harris family, including her. Sarah cannot have it both
ways.
It is interesting to note that after repeatedly claiming throughout her
brief that she was a stranger to underlying events giving rise to this lawsuit,
Sarah now claims the dispute at issue was between Hankins and the Harris
family, including her. (Compare Resp. Br. at 48 (“The dispute was between
Hankins and the Harris family.”) with Resp. Br. at 35 (“[Sarah] is a
stranger to the Hankins litigation and the Judgment.”); id. at 36 (“Sarah is
a stranger to the Hankins litigation, Judgment, and the attempted
foreclosure.”); id. at 39 (“Sarah had nothing to do with the underlying
claims that led to the judgment, nor with the conveyances themselves.”); id.
at 1–2 (“Hankins has simply continued his campaign of harassment … long
after Sarah’s parents have passed away, even though Sarah had nothing to
do with his original lawsuit.”). Sarah should not be allowed to pick and
choose when she wants to cast herself as a stranger to this dispute and
when she wants a leading role depending on how convenient it is for her
argument.
34
Regardless, Sarah’s new claim that she has been in the middle of the
adverse possession dispute with Hankins before 2005 belies the record.
As set forth in Hankins’ opening brief, Sarah was not mentioned or
copied on Hoffman’s July 1984 letter; Hoffman copied Roy and Norma. (1
Supp. CR at 414). Hoffman did not state that he represented Sarah;
Hoffman referred to Roy as “our client. (Id. at 407). There is no evidence
that Hoffman ever represented Sarah. (See id. at 405–06 at ¶ 3) (Hoffman
stated in his affidavit that he represented Roy with regard to the Property).
The July 1984 letter does not establish as a matter of law that Sarah
repudiated Hankins’ interest or that Hoffman did so on Sarah’s behalf.
Likewise, Hoffman’s September 1990 letter fails to establish as a
matter of law that Sarah repudiated Hankins’ interest or that Hoffman did
so on Sarah’s behalf. Again, Sarah is not mentioned or copied on the
September 1990 letter. (1 Supp. CR at 416–18). Rather, Hoffman refers to
Norma as “our client.” (Id. at 416). There is no evidence that Sarah was
directly involved in any way with her parents’ disputes with Hankins in
1984 and 1990. The earliest Sarah could have been directly involved would
have been 2005. (1 Supp. CR at 439; 441–72) (Sarah’s attorney resent
Hoffman’s documents to Hankins’ attorney). Thus, there is no evidence that
Sarah repudiated Hankins’ interest in the Property before 2005.
35
O. Reply Point N0. 15: Despite Sarah’s claim to the
contrary, Sarah must establish title from the sovereign
to prevail on her three–year adverse possession claim.
Sarah next claims that she established the three year limitations
period for an adverse possession claim as a matter of law. Specifically, she
claims that she was not required to prove title from the sovereignty. Resp.
Br. at 50. Sarah is wrong yet again. To prove adverse possession under the
three year limitations period, Sarah must show adverse possession under
“title or color of title.” TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 16.024. So, the party
seeking to establish adverse possession must show title or color of title
evidenced by a chain of transfers from the sovereign to the person in
possession. See Humphrey v. C.G. Jung Educ. Ctr. of Houston, 624 F.2d
637, 641 (5th Cir. 1980). Title is defined as “a regular chain of transfers of
real property from or under the sovereignty of the soil.” Tex. Civ. Prac. &
Rem. Code § 16.021(4). “Color of title” differs only to the extent that one or
more of the transfers may be irregular. Humphrey, 624 F.2d at 641. The
phrase “color of title” does not “dispense with the fundamental, basic
requirement of a ‘transfer’ which actually passes the interest conferred by
the original grant or patent.” Id. (citing West, The Texas Three Year Statute
of Limitation, 19 TEXAS L. REV. 375, 394 (1941)). Therefore, Sarah was
required to prove title from the sovereign in order to establish adverse
36
possession under the three year limitations period. Sarah failed to do so.
Thus, that portion of the summary judgment must be reversed.
P. Reply Point No. 16: Sarah’s claim that there is
“voluminous evidence” to support her adverse
possession claim misses the mark. The evidence cited
by Sarah to support her claim for adverse possession is
nothing more than actions taken by the Harris family
that is consistent with a co–tenancy.
Sarah next claims there is voluminous evidence in the record to
support her claim for adverse possession. Sarah is wrong yet again. The
“voluminous” evidence Sarah cites are activities that are consistent with a
co–tenancy. Resp. Br. at 51–53. These activities include living on the
Property, receiving mail at the Property, making improvements to the
Property, listing the Property as a home address with the Texas Department
of Public Safety, paying property taxes, maintaining insurance, receiving
utility bills, and maintaining the Property by having lawn maintenance
performed. Id. These activities are insufficient to establish adverse
possession against a co–tenant as a matter of law.
Also, as set forth in Hankins’ opening brief, the maintaining of
utilities, keeping the property insured, paying taxes, making improvements
on the property, and performing general maintenance is, without more,
insufficient to establish an adverse possession claim against a co–tenant as
a matter of law. See Todd, 365 S.W.2d at 160. The Harris family’s alleged
37
usage of the Property is nothing more than undertaking and performing
tasks consistent with a co–tenancy, which is insufficient to establish
adverse possession as a matter of law. Id.
Regardless, Sarah claims she established her adverse possession
claims as a matter of law through her family’s use of the Property because
the cases cited in Hankins’ opening brief allegedly had “far more limited”
evidence than what she presented. But if the question is a matter of degree,
then a summary judgment is improper. Specifically, whether the Harris
family “did enough” to adversely possess Hankins’ interest in the Property
by maintaining the Property, living there, paying taxes, and cutting the
grass is a fact question for a jury and not an issue that can be resolved by
summary judgment.
Finally, Sarah’s claims about the number of pages of alleged summary
judgment evidence she submitted to the trial court (including a fair amount
duplicate information) invokes images of the cagey trial lawyer arguing that
his client should win merely because he brought more witnesses and
admitted more exhibits. Such a claim doesn’t work for jury trials—juries are
instructed otherwise. See TEX. PATTERN JURY CHARGES–NEGLIGENCE at
§1.3(6) (2012) (jury is instructed that preponderance of the evidence “is not
measured by the number of witnesses or by the number of documents
38
admitted in evidence.”). If such a claim is insufficient for trial, it is certainly
insufficient for summary judgment as a matter of law.
Conclusion and Prayer
The trial court erred in granting Sarah’s motions for summary
judgment. At a minimum, Hankins’ judgment and execution liens are still
effective and thus, he has an interest in the Property. And even if the Court
were inclined to affirm the voiding of the execution sale, equity warrants
reviving Hankins’ judgment and his liens. Hankins therefore requests that
the Court reverse the trial court’s grant of summary judgments in favor of
Sarah Harris, reverse the final judgment, and remand this matter back to
the trial court.
Respectfully submitted,
LEYH, PAYNE & MALLIA, PLLC
By: /s/ Sean M. Reagan
Sean Michael Reagan
sreagan@lpmfirm.com
Texas Bar No. 24046689
9545 Katy Freeway, Suite 200
Houston, Texas 77024
Telephone: 713-785-0881
Facsimile: 713-784-0884
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
39
Certificate of Service
I certify that a true and correct copy of this document has been served
to all interested parties of record on December 7, 2015, as follows:
William Feldman Via Email
Michael J. Mazzone Via Email
Michael T. Powell Via Email
Robert Carlton Via Email
Haynes & Boone, LLP
1221 McKinney Street, Suite 2100
Houston, Texas 77010-2007
Brian B. Kilpatrick Via Email
H. Fred Cook Via Email
Wilson, Cribbs & Goren, P.C.
2500 Fannin Street
Houston, Texas 77002
Jarrett L. Ellzey Via Email
W. Craft Hughes Via Email
Hughes Ellzey, L.L.P.
2700 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 1120
Galleria Tower I
Houston, Texas 77056
Hartley Hampton Via Email
Hampton & King
3 Riverway, Suite 910
Houston, Texas 77056
Kenneth T. Fibich Via Email
Texas Bar No. 06952600
1150 Bissonnet
Houston, Texas 77005
/s/ Sean M. Reagan
Sean M. Reagan
40
Certificate of Compliance
Under Rule 9.4 of the TEXAS RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE, I certify
that the foregoing document is a computer-generated document containing
7,490 words. The undersigned relied upon the word count feature on his
word processor in determining the word count.
/s/ Sean M. Reagan
Sean M. Reagan
41