Cheek v. Humphreys

800 S.W.2d 596, 1990 Tex. App. LEXIS 2669, 1990 WL 166232
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedNovember 1, 1990
DocketB14-89-01097-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by35 cases

This text of 800 S.W.2d 596 (Cheek v. Humphreys) 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
Cheek v. Humphreys, 800 S.W.2d 596, 1990 Tex. App. LEXIS 2669, 1990 WL 166232 (Tex. Ct. App. 1990).

Opinion

OPINION

DRAUGHN, Justice.

This is a breach of partnership agreement case. John L. Cheek and Jack Hum-phreys formed a partnership for the purpose of buying, packaging, and selling onions. The partnership failed after Hum-phreys discovered Cheek had moved the business equipment from one location in San Antonio to another, and then on to Houston. Humphreys sued Cheek for breach of their oral partnership agreement and requested dissolution of the partnership, an accounting, and actual and exemplary damages. The trial judge, as trier of fact, found Cheek had breached the oral agreement and awarded Humphreys $63,-000 as his share of the partnership, including $10,000 in exemplary damages. Cheek brings six points of error complaining of the damages awarded by the trial court. We reverse and remand in part and affirm in part.

In late 1981, Humphreys and Cheek decided to form a partnership to buy, package, and sell onions in San Antonio. The name of the partnership was San Antonio Pre-Pak (“SAPP”). On October 31, 1981, Humphreys leased a building in San Antonio for the furtherance of SAPP. The partnership purchased equipment, moved into the building, and began to buy, package, and sell onions in January, 1982. During that year and 1983, Humphreys testified he was denied access to inspect the partnership books. He also testified that Cheek *598 profited from the use of the partnership assets by moving them to his mother’s business, C & G Onion. Further, the telephone number of SAPP was changed to that of C & G Onion. Cheek later moved the assets of SAPP to the Houston location of C & G Onion. Cheek testified that he took all these actions without Humphreys’ consent.

The trial judge filed findings of fact and conclusions of law, in which he found that Cheek denied Humphreys access to the partnership books and failed to render on demand full information on matters affecting the partnership to Humphreys. The trial court further found that Cheek profited from the use of partnership assets and that he knowingly, wrongfully, arbitrarily, maliciously, and with disregard to the rights of Humphreys breached the partnership agreement. The trial court awarded Humphreys $63,000 in actual and exemplary damages for Cheek’s breach of the agreement.

In his first point of error, Cheek claims the trial court erred in awarding judgment of $8,948.34 to Humphreys in payment for one-half of the partnership equipment. At trial, Humphreys testified the cost of the partnership’s equipment was $21,054.93 and that it had been depreciated by $3,158.24. The result, $17,896.69, was the value the trial judge assigned to the partnership equipment. Cheek asserts the value relied on by the trial judge was book value and not market value and therefore was erroneous. We agree.

Book value is an improper method of determining the value of partnership equipment on dissolution of the partnership. Cauble v. Handler, 503 S.W.2d 362, 364 (Tex.Civ.App.—Fort Worth 1974, writ ref’d n.r.e.). Book values are arbitrary values and cannot be used in the valuation of partnership assets. Johnson v. Braden, 286 S.W.2d 671, 672 (Tex.Civ.App.—San Antonio 1956, no writ). Humphreys bore the burden of proof to show the market value of the partnership assets. Id. The only testimony about the market value of the equipment came from Cheek, who valued it at between $1500 and $2000. Because the trial court relied on an improper amount to value the partnership equipment, we conclude the evidence is insufficient to support the value found by the trial court of $17,896.69. We sustain point of error one.

In his second through fifth points of error, Cheek claims the court erred in finding damages in the following amounts:

One-half of the cash $ 6,073.08
One-half of the inventory 27,408.00
Profits 9,827.41
Electricity deposit 800.00

In a nonjury case, the trial court is the judge of the credibility of the witnesses and of the weight to be given their testimony. Tate v. Commodore County Mutual Ins. Co., 767 S.W.2d 219, 224 (Tex.App.—Dallas 1989, writ denied). Where the challenge to a finding is framed as an insufficient evidence point, the appellate court is to consider all the evidence in the case, both that in support of, and that contrary to, the finding, to determine if the challenged finding is so against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence as to be manifestly unjust. In re King’s Estate, 150 Tex. 662, 244 S.W.2d 660, 661 (1951); Fortner v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., 687 S.W.2d 8, 12 (Tex.App.—Dallas 1984, writ ref’d n.r.e.). In a nonjury trial the judge is the trier of fact and it is his prerogative and responsibility to weigh the credibility of the witnesses and the evidence. Bormaster v. Henderson, 624 S.W.2d 655, 659 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1981, no writ).

Humphreys testified that the cash on hand at the termination of the partnership was $12,146.17. Half of that amount is $6,073.08, which the trial court awarded as half of the cash on hand. Humphreys further testified that a fair estimate of the value of the inventory on hand for one week would be $27,408.13. He stated that, at the termination of the partnership, he expected that amount of inventory would be a fair amount to have on hand at any given time. He further testified that he paid a utility deposit of $800, which Cheek collected when he moved the business. The amounts awarded for one-half of the *599 cash and inventory on hand and the utility deposit are not so against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence as to be manifestly unjust.

On dissolution of a partnership, a partner’s interest includes his or her proportionate share of the profits after an accounting of the debts and credits of the partnership. Stone City Attractions, Inc. v. Henderson, 571 S.W.2d 206, 210 (Tex.Civ.App.—Austin 1978, writ ref’d n.r.e.). The Texas Uniform Partnership Act provides that, subject to any agreement between the partners, each one is to share equally in the profits and surplus remaining after all liabilities, including those to copartners, are satisfied. Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat.Ann. art. 6132b § 18(l)(a) (Vernon 1964). A partner of a dissolved partnership seeking to recover his proportionate share of post-dissolution profits must establish his right to profits in which he asserts an interest. Taormina v. Culicchia, 355 S.W.2d 569, 576 (Tex.Civ.App.—El Paso 1962, writ ref’d n.r.e.).

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Bluebook (online)
800 S.W.2d 596, 1990 Tex. App. LEXIS 2669, 1990 WL 166232, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cheek-v-humphreys-texapp-1990.