Huey P. Harris, Individually and D/B/A Huey P. Harris Land & Timber Company v. Johnnie Tauber

In The

Court of Appeals

Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont

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NO. 09-03-218 CV ____________________

HUEY P. HARRIS d/b/a HUEY P. HARRIS LAND & TIMBER CO., Appellant

V.

JOHNNIE TAUBER, Appellee

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On Appeal from the 136th District Court Jefferson County, Texas Trial Cause No. D-166,115

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MEMORANDUM OPINION ⁽¹⁾  

In this action, Huey P. Harris, d/b/a Huey P. Harris Land & Timber Company, ("Harris") sought recovery of $49,481.06, plus attorney's fees of $8,914.09, from Johnnie Tauber, arising out of a lawsuit and execution of judgment against Harris in Nelson v. Huey P. Harris, et al., Cause No. 16,652, 88th Judicial District Court, Tyler County, Texas, as affirmed by this Court in Cause No. 09-00-055 CV, and reported in 25 S.W.3d 917, 924. Tauber was not represented by counsel in the trial court, and has filed no brief on appeal. After a bench trial, the trial court granted a take nothing judgment in favor of Tauber and against Harris. For the reasons stated herein, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. In Harris v. Nelson, 25 S.W.3d 917 (Tex. App.--Beaumont 2000, no pet.), Jacqueline Rae Nelson sued Harris for cutting timber on her property without her permission. Nelson was the owner of approximately fifty-three (53) acres of land, which she agreed to sell to Johnnie Tauber, with financing provided by the Texas Veterans Land Board. The Land Board cancelled its contract when Tauber's earnest money check was returned for insufficient funds. In the meantime, Tauber contacted Harris about cutting and removing timber from the Nelson property. A crew working for Harris cut the timber from the property, and sold the timber to a mill for approximately $16,000. Id. at 919. The trial court awarded judgment to Nelson for three times the market value of the timber, plus punitive damages. Id. On appeal, the punitive damages award was reversed, and the trial court's judgment of $48,778.92, prejudgment interest of $702.14, and post-judgment interest of ten (10%) percent was affirmed. Id. at 923-24.

Harris raises five issues for our consideration. Issue One complains of the trial court's first finding of fact, i.e., that Tauber was an indispensable party to the original suit, Nelson v. Harris, supra. We agree that Tauber was not an indispensable party. However, an incorrect finding of fact does not warrant reversal on appeal if the judgment is otherwise correct. Loera v. Interstate Inv. Corp., 93 S.W.3d 224, 229 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 2002, pet. denied). Issue One is overruled.

In Issue Two, Harris challenges the trial court's finding of fact that plaintiff and defendant never entered into a written contract for removal of the timber in question. Harris does not challenge this factual finding per se, but contends it is not relevant to his claims. If that is so, it cannot be reversible error for the court to include this as a finding of fact. Harris's assertion that the court may have been relying on the defense of the Statute of Frauds is both speculative and irrelevant. Issue Two is overruled. In Issue Three, Harris contends Findings of Fact Numbers Two and Three, to wit, that both Harris and his agent, Marshall, were advised that the true owner of the property, Nelson, did not want the timber cut, and, that, if plaintiff is believed, the true owner did, in fact, tell them she wanted the timber cut, were not relevant to his cause of action for misrepresentation. We note that in his brief, Harris variously contends that his action was one for: (1) misrepresentation; (2) breach of contract; and (3) negligent misrepresentation. However, Harris's petition does not state a claim for relief based on either breach of contract or negligent misrepresentation. It is axiomatic that a plaintiff must plead and prove facts sufficient to support a judgment in the trial court. Failure to do so limits the appellate court's authority to grant relief. We do not consider these arguments in this opinion.

Harris's petition does allege a misrepresentation that caused him to perform an act which resulted in a judgment against him. However, there was no allegation that Tauber either knew the representation was false, or that he made the statement recklessly without any knowledge of its truthfulness. These are essential elements in an action for misrepresentation/fraud. Gaspard v. Beadle, 36 S.W.3d 229, 235 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2001, pet. denied). Further, Harris was required to plead and prove that his reliance on the statement was actual and justifiable. Stanley v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 839 F. Supp. 430, 434 (N.D. Tex. 1993)(applying Texas law). He did not. Issue Three is overruled.

In Issue Four, Harris contends the trial court erred in failing to enter certain findings of fact as he proposed. The most significant of these proposed factual findings are: that Tauber represented to Harris that he had authority to enter into a timber-cutting agreement with Harris on the land in question; that Tauber's representation was false; and that Harris cut, removed and sold the timber in question in reliance upon Tauber's representation.   

We note that as an appellate court, we review the trial court's findings of fact following a bench trial using the same standards as used to review the factual sufficiency of evidence supporting a jury's verdict. Patel v. Ambassador Drycleaning & Laundry Co., Inc., 86 S.W.3d 304, 307-08 (Tex. App.--Eastland 2002, no pet.). As the trier of fact in a bench trial, it is the trial court's province to determine the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given to their testimony, to believe or disbelieve all or any part of the testimony, and to resolve any inconsistencies in the testimony. The court of appeals should not re-weigh the evidence and set aside the trial court's finding merely because it is of the opinion that a different result is more reasonable. Id. at 308. Issue Four is overruled.

In Issue Five, Harris contends the trial court erred in concluding that he did not have a viable cause of action. Harris's pleadings and assertions made in the trial court indicate he was attempting to sue for contribution and indemnity.   

Contribution is allowed in Texas only among joint tortfeasors. See Bonniwell v. Beech Aircraft Corp., 663 S.W.2d 816, 818 (Tex. 1984); Pacesetter Pools, Inc. v. Pierce Homes, Inc., 86 S.W.3d 827, 831 (Tex. App.--Austin 2002, no pet.). In order for Harris to have a right to seek contribution against Tauber, Tauber must have some real or potential liability in damages to the owner of the land. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. 33.016(a) (Vernon 1997). A defendant's claim of contribution is derivative of the plaintiff's right to recover from the joint defendant against whom contribution is sought. Shoemake v. Fogel, LTD., 826 S.W.2d 933, 935 (Tex. 1992). Harris did not establish that Tauber knew of the owner's withdrawal of consent or that Tauber did anything to cause the cutting of the timber after the owner withdrew her consent. As such, Harris did not carry his burden of proof to establish Tauber's liability to the owner for the cut. Nor did Harris establish any other contractual, statutory, or common law right to indemnity or contribution. See Astra Oil Co., Inc. v. Diamond Shamrock Ref. Co., L.P., 89 S.W.3d 702, 706 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, pet. denied). The trial court concluded Harris failed to establish any viable cause of action against Tauber; not surprisingly, since no testimony before this trial judge countered Tauber's testimony. Issue Five is overruled.

The trial court properly concluded that Harris had failed to plead and prove a viable cause of action. When the findings of the trial court are sufficient to support judgment under any applicable legal theory and no reversible error is otherwise presented, the judgment must be affirmed. Sacks v. Dallas Gold & Silver Exch., Inc., 720 S.W.2d 177, 180 (Tex. App.--Dallas 1986, no writ). See also Grider v. Boston Co., Inc., 773 S.W.2d 338, 341 (Tex. App.--Dallas 1989, writ denied). The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

AFFIRMED.

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STEVE MCKEITHEN

Chief Justice

Submitted on December 24, 2003

Opinion Delivered May 6, 2004

Before McKeithen, C.J., Burgess and Gaultney, JJ.

DISSENTING OPINION

I respectfully dissent. The majority, in issue five, affirms the trial court's ruling that Harris did not have a viable cause of action. They note: "[T]he trial court concluded Harris failed to establish any viable cause of action against Tauber; not surprisingly, since no testimony (emphasis mine) before this trial judge countered Tauber's testimony." This statement is correct, in so far as it goes. It is true, there was no testimony, but there was evidence. The evidence was plaintiff's exhibit one - a copy of this court's decision in Harris v. Nelson, 25 S.W.3d 917 (Tex. App.--Beaumont 2000, no pet.), admitted without objection. ⁽²⁾ This evidence is unique. What is its import; its significance, its relevance? On the one hand, insofar as it states the law, it is simply a statement of the legal principles, much like a treatise. ⁽³⁾ On the other hand, from a factual viewpoint, it is classic hearsay. ⁽⁴⁾ Under Tex. R. Evid. 802, hearsay is not admissible except as provided by statute or these rules or by other rules prescribed pursuant to statutory authority. However, inadmissible hearsay admitted without objection shall not be denied probative value merely because it is hearsay. Therefore, under the rule, the factual statements in the opinion have probative value. Apparently, this is what the trial judge did not consider, nor does the majority consider it now. ⁽⁵⁾

I will not lengthen this dissent by setting out all the evidentiary foundation for the contribution cause of action contained in the previous opinion. From the opinion, it is clear Ms. Nelson did not give anyone, Tauber or Harris, consent to cut the timber; yet Tauber maintained to Harris there was consent to harvest the timber. Consequently Tauber and Harris are joint tortfeasors and Harris has a viable cause of action against Tauber for contribution. ⁽⁶⁾

Therefore, I would reverse and remand on this issue alone.

Regarding issue number one, the majority quite correctly finds that Tauber was not an indispensable party in the Nelson v. Harris litigation. It is likely that the trial court's conclusion that Tauber was an indispensable party was a contributing factor to the court's final take-nothing judgment. For this additional reason, I would reverse and remand.

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DON BURGESS

Justice

Opinion Delivered

May 6, 2004

1. Tex. R. App. P. 47.4.

2.

This is the first time, in the almost twenty years I have served, this court has seen an appellate opinion introduced into evidence.

3.

The use of the word "treatise" is by analogy only; there is no inference the opinion rises to the level of a "treatise."

4.

Tex. R. Evid. Rule 801. Definitions

(d) Hearsay. 'Hearsay' is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted.

5.

Apparently Harris' attorney was relying upon the opinion as factual evidence since he produced no other evidence.

6.

"Contribution is allowed in Texas only among joint tortfeasors." Pacesetter Pools, Inc. v. Pierce Homes, Inc., 86 S.W.3d 827, 831 (Tex. App.--Austin 2002, no pet.) (citing Bonniwell v. Beech Aircraft Corp., 663 S.W.2d 816, 818 (Tex. 1984)).