Carter v. Long

455 S.W.2d 812, 1970 Tex. App. LEXIS 2426
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedApril 21, 1970
DocketNo. 7979
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 455 S.W.2d 812 (Carter v. Long) 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
Carter v. Long, 455 S.W.2d 812, 1970 Tex. App. LEXIS 2426 (Tex. Ct. App. 1970).

Opinion

FANNING, Justice.

This cause, No. 7979, and cause No. 7987, are separate appeals from the same judgment. The main opinion will be written in this cause, No. 7979, and a brief opinion will be written in cause No. 7987, Tex.Civ.App., 455 S.W.2d 818.

Appellant in this cause, No. 7979, Harry Lee Carter, sued J. W. Long and C. D. Wyche, appellees (who are appellants in Cause No. 7987), for damages allegedly resulting from a breach of a written lease from Carter to Long of Carter’s ranch, and the alleged breach of a written contract by which Wyche assumed Long’s obligations under said lease.

The lease between Carter and Long provided essentially, among other things, the following: Carter leased to Long approximately 7500 acres in Cherokee County, Texas; for hunting, fishing and recreational purposes for a period of ten years, unless sooner terminated, and subject to the exceptions, terms and conditions expressed below in the lease; the lease was limited to hunting, fishing and recreational activities, and stated specifically other matters it did not include, and stated that Long could use two certain dwellings on the property, and Long was obligated to pay certain stated items of taxes and insurance; that Long was to maintain and conduct Neches Hunting and Fishing Club on said land and sell memberships in said club, with applicants for memberships having to be approved by Carter; that “all activities of the club shall conform to applicable state and federal law;” Long was authorized to sell bait, food, refreshments, supplies, services, etc.; both Carter and Long, their families and house guests were to have the privilege of the use of the club and its facilities; Long was required to carry appropriate liability insurance to save Carter harmless from liabilities that might arise, etc.; that Long was to construct an acceptable club house and at least five cabins, in the clubhouse area, of acceptable form, to erect a boat house, build roadways necessary for club purposes, clean out the lakes, and erect such other structures and facilities as may be necessary to the conduct of such club, and at the cost and expense of Long; Long was to devote his full time to the management of the club, but was to receive no salary; Long was to select an acceptable auditor and keep accounts, books and accounts on all expenditures made by him in constructing improvements, and in operating the club, and beginning September 1, 1963, Long was to render to Carter a monthly statement of the financial transactions of the club, etc., and was to open an account in a Jacksonville bank, depositing all monies of the club therein with all disbursements to be evidenced by checks; that all profit from the operation of the club was to be retained by Long until he had been reimbursed for costs of improvements and club expenses, except that one-fourth of the membership fees should be paid to Carter, and that Carter had the option of continuing to receive said one-fourth of said membership fees as rents for the property, or he could take one-half of the net profits arising from the club; the contract provided in paragraph VI for the option of Carter to sell the property, and specified what Carter would pay Long if the property was sold by Carter; provisions were made in the contract with reference to the contingency of the death of Long during the continuance of the lease; Long also could not assign or sublease without the written consent of Carter; the provisions of the lease would extend to the heirs, successors and legal representatives of the parties; the contract was effective as of May 15, 1963, with insurance bills and club bills being payable by Long, with the contract to terminate May 15, 1973, with Long having the right of refusal to continue the lease, as to any contract acceptable to Carter, which might at that time be proposed.

On October 14, 1963, a written agreement was made between Long and Wyche and other parties (such other parties were sued in this case by Carter, but were later dis[814]*814missed from the suit and are not parties to this appeal), which agreement provides:

“Second parties agree to take over the obligations of the First party under that contract of lease dated May 15, 1963, between J. W. Long and Harry Lee Carter, for the operation of a Club known as Neches Hunting and Fishing Club, located on the Circle C. Ranch, in Cherokee County, Texas.
“The parties agree that all moneys received from memberships shall be applied as follows:
a). The equivalent of 25% to Harry Lee Carter, as provided in said contract.
b). 25% to J. W. Long until he has received the sum of about $12,000.00 in repayment of expenditures previous made by him on said Club, and then after said repayment of said sum, to be applied to improvements hereafter made.
c). 50% to second parties until the sum of improvements made by them have been paid for in full (including the portion in paragraph (b) above, if applicable.
Until all monies expended by Second Parties for improvements have been repaid, the profits exclusive of membership shall be paid 50% to Second parties and 50% to First Party. After improvements have been reimbursed the profits shall be divided.
a) the equivalent of 50% to Harry Lee Carter, at his option as provided in said contract;
b) 25% to First party.
c) 25% to Second parties.
“As provided in said contract, the First Party shall spend his time in the development of the Club properties and all parties hereto shall exert their best efforts for the full consummation of the intent of this contract including the furnishing by Second Parties of a representative on the premises as may be necessary to a full and complete promotion of the Club facilities.
“IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto set their hands and seals this the 14th day of October, A.D. 1963.
/s/ J. W. LONG J. W. Long,
Party of the First Part
“C. B. Wyche

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Related

Tanella v. Rettagliata
294 A.2d 431 (New Jersey Superior Court App Division, 1972)
Long v. Carter
455 S.W.2d 818 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1970)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
455 S.W.2d 812, 1970 Tex. App. LEXIS 2426, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/carter-v-long-texapp-1970.