Bean v. Bluebonnet Savings Bank FSB

884 S.W.2d 520, 1994 Tex. App. LEXIS 2379, 1994 WL 448644
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedAugust 11, 1994
Docket05-93-01626-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by26 cases

This text of 884 S.W.2d 520 (Bean v. Bluebonnet Savings Bank FSB) 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
Bean v. Bluebonnet Savings Bank FSB, 884 S.W.2d 520, 1994 Tex. App. LEXIS 2379, 1994 WL 448644 (Tex. Ct. App. 1994).

Opinion

OPINION

MALONEY, Justice.

Bluebonnet Savings Bank F.S.B. sued William Jeff Bean to recover on two promissory notes. The trial court granted Bluebonnet’s motion for summary judgment. In seven points of error, Bean asserts the trial court erred in granting summary judgment. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

BACKGROUND

Bean executed promissory notes to North-Park Savings Association (the NorthPark Note) and to Commodore Savings Association (the Commodore Note). Federal Home Loan Bank Board declared both NorthPark and Commodore insolvent and appointed the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (FSLIC) as receiver. FSLIC transferred and assigned both the NorthPark Note and the Commodore Note to Bluebonnet. 1

Bean defaulted on both notes. Bluebonnet foreclosed on the property that secured the Commodore Note and brought a deficiency action on the remainder. Bluebonnet filed suit on the NorthPark Note. Bluebonnet moved for summary judgment alleging it was the owner and holder of the two notes.

Bean’s response to the summary judgment motion alleged that material fact issues existed on whether Bluebonnet possessed either note and whether any entity negotiated the notes to Bluebonnet. Bean also contended that Bluebonnet did not present sufficient evidence to prove that it was the holder in due course of the notes. At the summary judgment hearing and in a postsummary judgment hearing brief, Bluebonnet argued that it was entitled to judgment under the federal holder in due course doctrine. . The trial court granted Bluebonnet’s motion for summary judgment.

SUMMARY JUDGMENT

Bean argues that this appeal turns on whether Bluebonnet proved it was a holder in due course. He also maintains the trial court erred in granting summary judgment on a legal theory (federal holder in due course doctrine) that Bluebonnet did not raise in its summary judgment motion. Specifically, Bean contends the trial court erred in granting summary judgment because: genuine issues of material fact exist; the trial court did not “resolve factual disputes” for Bean; Bluebonnet’s summary judgment evidence is insufficient to support summary judgment; Bluebonnet did not prove it was the owner and holder of the notes; and the trial court improperly relied on the federal holder in due course doctrine.

1. Standard of Review

The standard of review in a summary judgment ease is well established. See Tex. R.Civ.P. 166a(c); Rodriguez v. Naylor Indus., Inc., 763 S.W.2d 411, 413 (Tex.1989); Nixon v. Mr. Property Management Co., Inc., 690 S.W.2d 546, 548-49 (Tex.1985); Delgado v. Burns, 656 S.W.2d 428, 429 (Tex.1983); City of Houston v. Clear Creek Basin Autk, 589 S.W.2d 671, 679 (Tex.1979); Gulbenkian v. Penn, 151 Tex. 412, 416, 252 *522 S.W.2d 929, 931 (1952). A fact is established as a matter of law if ordinary minds cannot differ on the conclusion to be deduced from the evidence. See Triton Oil & Gas Carp. v. Marine Contractors & Supply, Inc., 644 S.W.2d 443, 446 (Tex.1982); Zep Mfg. Co. v. Harbhcock, 824 S.W.2d 654, 657-58 (Tex.App. — Dallas 1992, no writ).

We consider only the grounds expressly alleged in the motion for summary judgment and the fact issues expressly asserted in the response. McConnell v. Southside Indep. Sch. Dist., 858 S.W.2d 337, 341-43 (Tex.1993). However, the nonmovant’s failure to respond cannot supply by default the summary judgment proof necessary to establish the movant’s entitlement to judgment. Id. at 343. When a movant asserts alternative grounds for summary judgment and the trial court does not specify the ground upon which it granted judgment, the appellant must show that each of the independent grounds was insufficient to support the court’s judgment. Parker v. Yen, 823 S.W.2d 359, 362 (Tex.App. — Dallas 1991, no writ).

2. Applicable Law

To recover on a promissory note, the plaintiff must prove: (1) the note in question, (2) the party sued signed the note, (3) the plaintiff is the owner or holder of the note, and (4) a certain balance is due and owing on the note. See Cockrell v. Republic Mortgage Ins. Co., 817 S.W.2d 106, 111 (Tex.App. — Dallas 1991, no writ); Jemigan v. Bank One, 803 S.W.2d 774, 775 (Tex.App.— Houston [14th Dist.] 1991, no writ); Sorrells v. Giberson, 780 S.W.2d 936, 938 (Tex.App.— Austin 1989, writ denied). An owner may recover on a lost promissory note by proving the note is lost and the terms of the obligation. Tex.Bus. & Com.Code Ann. § 3.804 (Tex.UCC) (Vernon 1968); Jemigan, 803 S.W.2d at 776. 2 Absent controverting evidence, affidavit testimony together with a true and correct copy of a note proves ownership for summary judgment purposes. See Zarges v. Bevan, 652 S.W.2d 368, 369 (Tex.1983).

Negotiation or assignment can change ownership of a promissory note. See Dillard v. NCNB Tex. Nat’l Bank, 815 S.W.2d 356, 360 (Tex.App. — Austin 1991, no writ), overruled on other grounds, Amberboy v. Societe de Banque Privee, 831 S.W.2d 793, 797 (Tex.1992); see also Lexington Ins. Co. v. Gray, 775 S.W.2d 679, 682 (Tex.App.— Austin 1989, writ denied), overruled on other grounds, Amberboy, 831 S.W.2d at 797. Affidavit testimony can establish transfer of ownership or assignment from FSLIC to another institution. Christian v. University Fed. Sav. Ass’n, 792 S.W.2d 533, 534 (Tex.App. — Houston [1st Dist.] 1990, no writ).

Texas statutes allow a holder in due course to take an instrument free from personal defenses. 3 Tex.Bus.

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884 S.W.2d 520, 1994 Tex. App. LEXIS 2379, 1994 WL 448644, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bean-v-bluebonnet-savings-bank-fsb-texapp-1994.