Bassett v. American National Bank

145 S.W.3d 692, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 7572, 2004 WL 1879638
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedAugust 24, 2004
Docket2-03-352-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 145 S.W.3d 692 (Bassett v. American National Bank) 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
Bassett v. American National Bank, 145 S.W.3d 692, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 7572, 2004 WL 1879638 (Tex. Ct. App. 2004).

Opinion

OPINION

TERRIE LIVINGSTON, Justice.

In this case we must decide whether the trial court erred in . granting summary judgment in favor of appellee American National Bank (ANB) as plaintiff in its suit to collect amounts due on a promissory note, and as defendant on appellants’ counterclaims for fraud and usury. Because we hold that a fact issue exists on appellants’ affirmative defenses of failure of consideration and conditional delivery, we reverse the summary judgment as to ANB’s claims regarding enforcement of the note and remand that part of the case to the trial court. But because we hold that summary judgment was proper as to appellants’ counterclaims, we affirm that part of the summary judgment.

Background Facts

Appellants Victor Bassett and Mark Drea operate a chain of pizza restaurants. Sometime before August 2, 1999, they entered into negotiations with ANB to purchase a building owned by Robert Cook. Cook was in default on a loan from ANB that was secured by the building.

Cook operated a fast food chicken restaurant in the building, but he did not own the land on which the building was situated. Instead, he leased the land from the owner of the adjacent shopping center. The lease specifically stated that the premises were to be used as a “Golden Fried Chicken Restaurant and not otherwise.” The lease also contained a provision prohibiting assignment without the landlord’s approval.

On August 2, 1999, Bassett and Drea signed a promissory note and deed of trust with ANB. The deed of trust purported to secure payment of the note with Bassett and Drea’s ownership interest in Cook’s building and leasehold. However, Bassett and Drea never received any documents conveying any interest in the building or leasehold to them. ANB applied the Bas-sett and Drea loan proceeds to Cook’s debt with ANB.

After executing the loan documents, Bassett and Drea learned that the shopping center owner refused to sign a lease agreement with them because their planned use of the building as a pizza restaurant would interfere with another *695 tenant’s proposed pizza business. When Bassett and Drea informed ANB, ANB told them that they were nevertheless still liable for the full amount of the promissory note.

Bassett and Drea never made any payments on the promissory note, and ANB eventually filed suit to recover the full face amount of the note, plus interest and attorney’s fees. Bassett and Drea pled affirmative defenses of failure of consideration, conditional delivery, fraudulent inducement, and usury. They also counterclaimed for fraud and usury.

ANB filed a motion for summary judgment on its collection suit, claiming that it had proven its entitlement to recovery of principal and interest on the promissory note as a matter of law. It also asked for summary judgment on Bassett and Drea’s counterclaims. Bassett and Drea filed a motion for partial summary judgment contending that they established their failure of consideration defense as a matter of law. The trial court denied Bassett and Drea’s motion and granted ANB’s motion as to all claims and parties, including Bas-sett and Drea’s counterclaims.

After finding out during discovery that Bassett and Drea claimed no ownership interest in the building, ANB sold it to a third party for $75,000, claiming it had an obligation to mitigate its damages on the Bassett and Drea note. However, there is no evidence as to how ANB acquired title to the building. The trial court’s summary judgment reduces ANB’s recovery on the note by $75,000.

Standard of Review

In a summary judgment case, the issue on appeal is whether the movant met his summary judgment burden by establishing that no genuine issue of material fact exists and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Tex.R. Civ. P. 166a(c); S.W. Elec. Power Co. v. Grant, 73 S.W.3d 211, 215 (Tex.2002); City of Houston v. Clear Creek Basin Auth., 589 S.W.2d 671, 678 (Tex.1979). The burden of proof is on the movant, and all doubts about the existence of a genuine issue of material fact are resolved against the movant. N.W. Elec. Power Co., 73 S.W.3d at 215; Rhone-Poulenc, Inc. v. Steel, 997 S.W.2d 217, 223 (Tex.1999); Great Am. Reserve Ins. Co. v. San Antonio Plumbing Supply Co., 391 S.W.2d 41, 47 (Tex.1965). Therefore, we must view the evidence and its reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmovant. Great Am., 391 S.W.2d at 47.

In deciding whether there is a material fact issue precluding summary judgment, all conflicts in the evidence are disregarded and the evidence favorable to the non-movant is accepted as true. Rhone-Poulenc, 997 S.W.2d at 223; Harwell v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 896 S.W.2d 170, 173 (Tex.1995). Evidence that favors the movant’s position will not be considered unless it is uncontroverted. Great Am., 391 S.W.2d at 47. The summary judgment will be affirmed only if the record establishes that the movant has conclusively proved all essential elements of the mov-ant’s cause of action or defense as a matter of law. Clear Creek Basin, 589 S.W.2d at 678.

A defendant is entitled to summary judgment if the summary judgment evidence establishes, as a matter of law, that at least one element of a plaintiffs cause of action cannot be established. Elliott-Williams Co. v. Diaz, 9 S.W.3d 801, 803 (Tex.1999). The defendant as movant must present summary judgment evidence that negates an element of the plaintiffs claim. Centeq Realty, Inc. v. Siegler, 899 S.W.2d 195, 197 (Tex.1995). Once the defendant produces sufficient evidence to establish the right to summary judgment, *696 the burden shifts to the plaintiff to come forward with competent controverting evidence raising a genuine issue of material fact with regard to the element challenged by the defendant. Id.

Wheii both parties move for summary judgment and the tidal court grants one motion and denies the other, the reviewing court should review both parties’ summary judgment evidence and determine all questions presented. Dow Chem. Co. v. Bright, 89 S.W.3d 602, 605 (Tex.2002). The reviewing court should render the judgment that the trial court should have rendered. Id. Generally, the nonmovant must expressly present to the trial court any reasons for avoiding the movant’s right to summary judgment. McConnell, 858 S.W.2d at 343. No response is necessary, however, when the movant’s summary judgment proof is legally insufficient.

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Bluebook (online)
145 S.W.3d 692, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 7572, 2004 WL 1879638, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bassett-v-american-national-bank-texapp-2004.