DeBusk v. Guffee

171 S.W.2d 194, 1943 Tex. App. LEXIS 333
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedApril 16, 1943
DocketNo. 2355
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 171 S.W.2d 194 (DeBusk v. Guffee) 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
DeBusk v. Guffee, 171 S.W.2d 194, 1943 Tex. App. LEXIS 333 (Tex. Ct. App. 1943).

Opinion

FUNDERBURK, Justice.

Guy L. Guffee et al. (heirs or devisees and/or persons in privity with heirs or devisees of E. Guffee, deceased, and Mary E. Guffee, deceased) brought this suit against Mrs. Winnie DeBusk and her husband, Henry L. DeBusk, and Ira L. Guffee and others to partition Lot 3, Block F of the continuation of the Highland Addition to the City of Abilene, Texas. The defendants, other than those specially named above, were joined on the ground that they claimed some right or interest in the land and in order to afford them opportunity to assert such right or interest, if any. Defendant Henry L. DeBusk, in addition to the capacity aforesaid, was sued as independent executor of the estate of E. Guffee, deceased.

In addition to effecting partition of said land, plaintiffs sought recovery of their pro rata part of rents in the alleged sum of $100 per month claimed to be due upon the theory that the DeBusks had ousted plaintiffs as their cotenants from said property and had held exclusive possession thereof since November 1, 1940.

In purported answer to plaintiffs’ fourth amended original petition (trial pleading), the DeBusks pleaded at great length, as did also Henry L. DeBusk separately in his capacity of independent executor. It is deemed necessary only to notice three of the defensive pleas. In one, said defendants asserted claim to all of the property. In another, and in the alternative, they sought to be allowed the 'amount of enhancement in the value of the property allegedly resulting from improvements made thereon by the DeBusks. In another, also in the alternative, they claimed an allowance, as a charge against the common property, of “reasonable, fair and equitable compensation and reimbursement for services of Henry L. DeBusk as Independent Executor” and attorney for the estate aggregating $4,000 assigne'd to Mrs. Winnie DeBusk.

The trial was by jury. A verdict was returned finding the reasonable rental value of the property from November 1, 1940, to be $50 per month; that the property was, by improvements made on same by the DeBusks, enhanced in value $2,000, and that a reasonable compensation of Henry L. DeBusk for his services to and as executor of the estate of E. Guffee was $2,500.

The judgment ordered sale of the land in order to make partition, but ordered the [196]*196partition subject to payment of said enhancement in value by improvements, less rents, plus compensation allowed for the services, as aforesaid, of Henry L. DeBusk.

The judgment refers to the date of July 31, 1942, in such a way as to indicate that such was the date the judgment was rendered, and, according to the transcript, the term of court was adjourned the next day, on August 1, 1942. Hence, upon the theory that the term of court did not continue for as long as five days after the date of the judgment, no motion for new trial was made. The DeBusks (Henry L. DeBusk in all his capacities) have appealed.

Appellants filed assignments of error in the trial court and appellees have two cross-assignments of error in their brief. These, we think, are alike without effect. The only assignments of error now provided for by Texas Rules of Civil Procedure are such as constitute parts of the subject matter of motions for new trial. In all cases, where no motion for new trial is required, and, therefore, none made, the Rules provide a substitute for assignments of error. Such substitute provision is a part of Rule No. 374, reading as follows: “Complaint of the action of the court on all matters arising under circumstances where no motion for new trial is required by these rules, if relied upon on appeal, shall be included in the statement of points in the brief as hereinafter provided.” (Italics ours.) The words “as hereinafter provided” evidently refer to Rule No. 418 and that part of same reading as follows:

“The brief for appellant should contain in the order here stated: * * *

“(b) A statement of the points 'Upon which the appeal is predicated, separately numbered, in short form and without argument, and germane to one or more assignments of error when assignments are required. Such points will be sufficient if they direct the attention of the court to the error relied upon, and they should ordinarily be so concisely stated that they may appear, separately numbered, on a 'single page of the brief.” (Italics ours.)

Rule No. 418, while in terms applying to appellants, by adoption and reference is made to apply to appellees. Rule No. 420 provides: “In case the appellee desires to complain of any ruling or action of the trial court, his brief in regard to such matters shall follow substantially the form of the brief for appellant.” Rule No. 324, in part, provides that: “A motion for new trial shall not be necessary in behalf of appellee, except where he complains of the judgment or a part thereof." (Italics ours.) The implication is clear that in a case in which appellee seeks a review of any of the proceedings, a motion for new trial by him is required. This requirement, however, as to appellee, the same as to appellant, is undoubtedly, we think, limited to cases in which motions for new trial are required as prerequisite to appeal and has no application in this case.

It is our opinion that in this case as to both appellants and appellees, the “points upon which the appeal” is predicated are alone to be looked to as presenting the questions for decision by this court, without reference to the assignments of error or cross-assignments of error.

Looking to appellants’, brief to ascertain the number and nature of the points upon which the appeal is predicated, we find two briefs, one denominated “Brief” and the other “Supplemental Brief”; but each containing a different statement of the points. The points in the “Brief”, being numbered 1 to 5, inclusive, are each simply a declaration to the effect that, under stated circumstances, an independent executor has the “duty” or “authority” to appeal. They raise no material question. The independent executor was party to the suit. It would seem to be a matter for his decision whether it was his duty to appeal. There can be no question of his right or authority to appeal, and it does not appear that such authority has in anywise been challenged.

In the “Supplemental Brief” is a statement of seven points.

Point one is: “The suit filed by appellees should have been dismissed.” Point two is: “The trial court should have instructed for defendants.” Passing over the obvious fact that both of these could not be true, we deem it sufficient to say that, in our opinion, neither is sustained by the record.

Point three is: “The judgment does not conform to the verdict rendered upon the limited theory the case was tried.” So far as we can see, the judgment gave full effect to, and was in complete accord with, the verdict of the jury.

Point four is: “The evidence discloses no testimony against the award made for [197]*197the fee and improvements.” The award for improvements and attorneys fees was made for appellants. If, as the point asserts, there was no testimony against the award, what, it seems pertinent to ask, is the ground of complaint? If that be a fact, why label such a fact as a point upon which the appeal is predicated?

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171 S.W.2d 194, 1943 Tex. App. LEXIS 333, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/debusk-v-guffee-texapp-1943.