Automek, Inc., D/B/A Auto Check 51 v. Domingo Orandy and Miguel Saldana

105 S.W.3d 60, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 2261, 2003 WL 1090496
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMarch 13, 2003
Docket01-01-00680-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 105 S.W.3d 60 (Automek, Inc., D/B/A Auto Check 51 v. Domingo Orandy and Miguel Saldana) 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
Automek, Inc., D/B/A Auto Check 51 v. Domingo Orandy and Miguel Saldana, 105 S.W.3d 60, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 2261, 2003 WL 1090496 (Tex. Ct. App. 2003).

Opinions

OPINION

ADELE HEDGES, Justice.

Appellees, Domingo Orandy and Miguel Saldana, brought this action against appellant, Automek, Inc. D/B/A Auto Check # 5, for conversion of a 1987 minivan. The jury found that Auto Check converted the minivan and awarded damages to Saldana in the amount of $3400 and to Orandy in the amount of $1700. Each appellee was also awarded attorney’s fees. Auto Check sought a remittitur of the judgment. The trial court reduced Orandy’s award to $1000 Auto Check presents seven points of error for our review. We reverse and render judgment for Auto Check.

Background

On December 5, 1996, Tracy Muckleroy brought a 1987 minivan to Auto Check No. 5 to be serviced. Muckleroy paid for the services with an insufficient check. Although appellee, Domingo Orandy, was the registered owner of the minivan at that time, he had authorized Muekleroy’s possession of the minivan pursuant to a sales agreement. Orandy regained possession of the minivan in January of 1997 after Muckleroy stopped making payments. On March 10, 1997, Orandy sold the minivan and transferred title to appel-lee, Miguel Saldana. Orandy testified that he sold the minivan in exchange for $100 and satisfaction of a debt he owed to Sal-dana. However, Saldana left the minivan under Orandy’s carport because it had broken windows. Later that day, Gary Golden repossessed the minivan from Or-andy’s carport. Orandy testified that the telephone number left by the repossession agent belonged to Auto Check No. 5. Or-andy then went to Auto Check to inquire into what had happened to his minivan. [63]*63Orandy was told that the minivan was not at Auto Cheek and that Auto Check had not authorized its repossession. However, an Auto Check representative called Golden and gave the phone to Orandy. Oran-dy asked Golden to return the minivan, but Orandy never received it.

Standard of Review

In its first point of error, Auto Check challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence supporting the jury’s finding that it converted the minivan from Orandy and Saldana. In reviewing legal insufficiency points, we consider only the evidence and inferences, when viewed in their most favorable light, that tend to support the finding and disregard all evidence and inferences to the contrary. Burroughs Wellcome Co. v. Crye, 907 S.W.2d 497, 499 (Tex.1995). We must uphold the jury’s findings when more than a scintilla of evidence exists to support it. Id. More than a scintilla exists when the evidence “rises to [a] level that would enable reasonable and fair-minded people to differ in their conclusions.” Transportation Ins. Co. v. Moriel, 879 S.W.2d 10, 25 (Tex.1994). If we encounter no evidence in support of the finding, we next examine the entire record to see if the opposite position is established as a matter of law. Sterner v. Marathon Oil Co., 767 S.W.2d 686, 690 (Tex.1989). In reviewing factual sufficiency points, we consider and weigh all the evidence and set aside the finding only if it is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence as to be clearly wrong and unjust. Cain v. Bain, 709 S.W.2d 175, 176 (Tex.1986).

Conversion

The unauthorized and wrongful assumption and exercise of dominion and control over the personal property of another, to the exclusion of or inconsistent with the owner’s rights, constitutes a conversion. Waisath v. Lack’s Stores, Inc., 474 S.W.2d 444, 447 (Tex.1971). A claim for conversion requires the plaintiff to show that (1) he owned, had legal possession, or was entitled to possession of the property, (2) the defendant assumed and exercised dominion and control over the property in an unlawful and unauthorized manner, to the exclusion of and inconsistent with the plaintiffs rights, and (3) the defendant refused the plaintiffs demand for return of the property. Hunt v. Baldwin, 68 S.W.3d 117, 181 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, no pet.); Akin v. Santa Clara Land Co., Ltd., 34 S.W.3d 334, 344 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 2000, pet. denied).

Auto Check challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence supporting the finding that Orandy proved the first and third elements of a conversion cause of action. Orandy testified that he and the owner of the minivan, Saldana, agreed that Orandy would keep the minivan under his carport. The minivan was under his carport when it was repossessed. Thus, the evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the jury’s finding that Orandy was in legal possession of the minivan.

Orandy testified that he went to Auto Check and asked an Auto Check representative where the minivan was located. He also testified that he requested Auto Check to return his minivan. An Auto Check representative told Orandy that Auto Check did not have “any business” with the minivan. Auto Check did not return the minivan. The evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the finding that Orand^fs made a demand for the minivan and that Auto Check refused this demand.

We overrule Auto Check’s first point of error as it pertains to Orandy.

[64]*64In regard to Saldana, Auto Check does not dispute that Saldana held title and had the right to possess the minivan. Instead, Auto Check takes issue with the demand element of Saldana’s conversion claim. Specifically, Auto Check argues that there was no evidence to support a finding that (1) Saldana made a demand for return of the minivan and (2) Auto Check’s action constituted a clear repudiation of Saldana’s rights to the minivan.

The Eighth Court of Appeals’s analysis in Whitaker v. Bank of El Paso is helpful in determining whether there is any genuine issue of material fact as to either a demand for return of the minivan or acts which constituted a clear repudiation which would excuse a demand. 850 S.W.2d 757, 761 (Tex.App.-El Paso 1993, no pet.). In Whitaker, the plaintiff brought a conversion suit against the Bank of El Paso. Id. at 759. For summary judgment purposes, the reviewing court assumed that the plaintiff owned eight mobile homes. Id. It was undisputed that the Bank had lent Industrial, Inc. money for the purchase of the mobile homes and that the Bank retained a security interest in Industrial’s business inventory. Id. at 760. The mobile homes owned by the plaintiff were included in this inventory list. Id. The Bank took possession of the mobile homes after obtaining a judgment against Industrial and writ of sequestration. Id. at 759. The judgment and writ identified the homes claimed by the plaintiff. Id. Plaintiff testified that, after the Bank took possession, he sent a letter to the Bank stating that he owned eight mobile homes that had been taken from the relevant address and stating, “If you know anything about these homes, please advise me.” Id. at 761. The Bank claimed it never received the letter. Id.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
105 S.W.3d 60, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 2261, 2003 WL 1090496, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/automek-inc-dba-auto-check-51-v-domingo-orandy-and-miguel-saldana-texapp-2003.