Sandra Saks, Lee Nick McFadin, III, and Margaret Landen Saks v. Broadway Coffeehouse LLC and Marcus Rogers, as Trustee for the Saks Children Trust A/K/A ATFL&L, a Texas Trust
04-14-00734-CV
Tex. App.Oct 28, 2015Background
- This is the second appeal involving the Property at 5321 Broadway and the Partnership that holds equitable title to it.
- The probate court resolved an arbitration award under a mediated settlement that transferred Partnership interests to the Saks Children Trust and ordered conveyance documents.
- The prior opinion affirmed the probate court’s judgment confirming the Trust’s ownership of the Partnership.
- Broadway Coffeehouse, LLC sought declaratory relief, partition, winding up, and to void certain deeds and assignments.
- The trial court granted partial summary judgment and then a final judgment awarding Broadway Coffeehouse relief and attorney’s fees.
- This court affirmed the trial court’s determinations that Broadway Coffeehouse owns 25% of the Partnership, the Trust 75%, and that the challenged instruments were void, with the Partnership wound up and the Property ordered sold.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether the partial summary judgment on ownership and partition was proper. | Saks argued genuine issues of material fact on partition in kind and capital withdrawal. | Broadway contends record supports 25/75 ownership and that partition in kind was inappropriate. | Yes; the summary judgment was proper, determining ownership and order of sale. |
| Whether attorney’s fees were properly awarded and segregated. | Saks contends fees were improper due to lack of declaratory relief and improper segregation. | Broadway asserts declaratory relief was sought and fees were properly segregated or justified. | Fees were properly awarded and segregation was warranted. |
| Whether the amount of the supersedeas bond was properly set. | Saks challenge to bond amount; contested with court orders on appeal. | Bond amount had already been addressed by this court’s prior orders. | The issue is overruled as already resolved by prior appellate orders. |
Key Cases Cited
- Frost Nat’l Bank v. Fernandez, 315 S.W.3d 484 (Tex. 2010) (summary judgment standard; review de novo with favorable inferences for nonmovant)
- Diversicare Gen. Partner, Inc. v. Rubio, 185 S.W.3d 842 (Tex. 2005) (evidence and inferences in summary judgment review)
- Tony Gullo Motors I, L.P. v. Chapa, 212 S.W.3d 299 (Tex. 2006) (segregation of attorney’s fees when discrete services advance multiple claims)
- In re Estate of Blankenship, 392 S.W.3d 249 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2012) (issues not raised in response cannot be considered on appeal)
- City of Houston v. Clear Creek Basin Authority, 589 S.W.2d 671 (Tex. 1979) (review of issues not preserved or presented in pleadings)
- Jarvis v. Rocanville Corp., 298 S.W.3d 305 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2009) (summary-judgment grounds must be challenged to avoid affirmance)
- Krueger v. Atascosa County, 155 S.W.3d 614 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2004) (appellate review of summary judgments; unchallenged grounds uphold)
