Associated Sawmills, Inc. v. Peterson

366 S.W.2d 844, 1963 Tex. App. LEXIS 2030
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMarch 22, 1963
Docket16156
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 366 S.W.2d 844 (Associated Sawmills, Inc. v. Peterson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Associated Sawmills, Inc. v. Peterson, 366 S.W.2d 844, 1963 Tex. App. LEXIS 2030 (Tex. Ct. App. 1963).

Opinion

WILLIAMS, Justice.

L. A. Peterson, W. A. Brannon and B. R. Brannon, brought this suit against Don Cameron Lumber Company, Interstate Lumber Company, Associated Sawmills, Inc., and James H. Harper, seeking to cancel and cause to be removed as a cloud on the title to real estate certain materialmen’s liens which had been filed by defendants individually against L. A. Peterson, as the result of delivery to and subsequent nonpayment by one Guy LaRue of various building materials for an apartment project being constructed by plaintiffs on the real estate in question. The defendants answered, denying that the liens should be cancelled, and, by counterclaim, sought to establish the validity of and to enforce said liens. Following a jury trial the court submitted the case upon special issues and based upon the answer of the jury to these issues the trial court rendered judgment for the plaintiffs and cross-defendants canceling the liens and removing the cloud from title. The defendant Associated Sawmills is the only defendant that appeals from such judgment.

At the outset we are confronted with a complaint by appellees concerning the validity of the statement of facts filed herein by appellant. Appellees contend that they had no opportunity to examine the statement of facts prior to its filing; that it was not approved by appellees’ counsel and therefore no valid statement of facts exists. Rule 404, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure provides that all motions relating to informalities in the matter of bringing a case into court shall be filed in this court within thirty days after filing of the transcript, otherwise, the objection shall be considered as waived. Appellees filed no such motion in this court, being content to raise the question for the first time in its brief filed long after the thirty day period referred to in Rule 404, T.R.C.P. Accordingly, any objection by appellees to the sufficiency of the statement of facts is waived. Looney v. Wing, Civ.App., 195 S.W.2d 557; Pacific Fire Ins. Co. v. Smith, 145 Tex. 482, 199 S.W.2d 486.

We have carefully considered this entire record in the light of appellant’s points of error, and finding no reversible error reflected therein, we affirm the judgment.

In its original brief appellant’s first point was: “The court erred in overruling appellant’s motion for judgment non ob-stante veredicto.” Appellees objected to our consideration of this point, contending same to be too general as well as multifarious. The point fails to comply with Rule 418, T. R.C.P. and may not be considered. Tindall *846 v. Tacconelly, Tex.Civ.App., 328 S.W.2d 909.

Appellant, realizing the inadequacy of its point, during oral argument before this court requested leave, pursuant to Rule 431, T.R.C.P., to withdraw its original point No. 1 and to substitute therefor eight substitute points of error. We granted permission to appellant to file its amended brief. Rule 431, T.R.C.P.; Minneapolis-Moline Co. v. Purser, Tex.Civ.App., 361 S.W.2d 239.

By its substituted points one through eight, inclusive, appellant says that the trial court erred in overruling appellant’s motion for judgment non obstante veredicto because (1) there was no evidence to support the jury’s findings to special issues Nos. 1, 2, 7 and 8, and (2) that the jury’s answers to special issues Nos. 1, 2, 7 and 8 are contrary to the great weight and preponderance of the evidence.

We have considered said substituted points Nos. 1 through 8, inclusive, and find that same are without merit and must be overruled. It must be noted that all of these substituted points purportedly relate to an order overruling the motion for judgment non obstante veredicto and, of necessity must constitute “no evidence” points of error. Rule 301, T.R.C.P. provides that the trial court may render judgment non obstante veredicto “if a directed verdict would have been proper.” A directed verdict is only proper where there is no evidence to support the submission of an issue to the jury. These substituted points, being “no evidence” only, preclude our consideration of the “contrary to the great weight and preponderance of the evidence” points. Also in our consideration of the “no evidence” points we weigh the question presented by considering only evidence favorable to the verdict and disregarding all other evidence. We not only give full credit to all evidence supporting such findings, but we indulge every legitimate conclusion in their favor. Todd v. Bruner, Tex.Civ.App., 349 S.W.2d 260; Shield Co. v. Cartwright, Tex.Civ.App., 172 S.W.2d 108; Dallas Railway & Terminal Co. v. Bosher, Tex.Civ.App., 278 S.W.2d 357; Pickens v. Harrison, 151 Tex. 562, 252 S.W. 2d 575. Governed by these rules we must inspect the record to determine if there is any evidence of probative force to justify the answers of the jury to Special Issues Nos. 1, 2, 7 and 8.

Issue No. 1 inquired whether Guy LaRue was an original contractor under the contract with L. A. Peterson, to which the jury answered “yes”. Issue No. 2 inquired what was the reasonable and necessary costs for plaintiffs to complete that part of the contract awarded to Guy LaRue after Guy La-Rue abandoned said project, to which the jury answered “$33,277.20.” By Issue No. 7 the court inquired whether L. A. Peterson, in dealing with Bill Brannon and Ben Bran-non in connection with the construction of the apartment house in question, was acting as an original contractor or as an owner, to which the jury answered “as an owner”. In Special Issue No. 8 the court asked if Guy LaRue was acting as a subcontractor under his contract with L. A. Peterson, to which the jury answered “no”.

A statement is necessary. L. A. Peterson, W. A. Brannon, and B. R. Brannon entered into an oral agreement to build an apartment house in Dallas, Texas. The land was selected and purchased, each owning one-third interest therein. The project was financed by the three by a loan of $90,000. Each agreed to contribute equally any additional sums that might be required to finish the job. Each man agreed that he would contribute his particular skill or reputation to the undertaking. Peterson testified that since he had more experience in the field of construction that he would generally watch that part of it. W. A. Bran-non was to be the contractor for interior design and furnishings and B. R. Brannon was to lend his financial strength or reputation. Peterson testified that the three men were to build the building jointly but that since he had a company in operation, known as “L. A. Peterson, General Contractor”, it *847 was agreed that the forms, the checks, and all other necessary paper work would be handled through his office. He testified that the three men spent a lot of time getting prices together, checking material prices, and checking subcontract prices with various contractors.

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366 S.W.2d 844, 1963 Tex. App. LEXIS 2030, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/associated-sawmills-inc-v-peterson-texapp-1963.