Dillard v. Broyles

633 S.W.2d 636, 1982 Tex. App. LEXIS 4400
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedApril 22, 1982
Docket1862
StatusPublished
Cited by37 cases

This text of 633 S.W.2d 636 (Dillard v. Broyles) 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
Dillard v. Broyles, 633 S.W.2d 636, 1982 Tex. App. LEXIS 4400 (Tex. Ct. App. 1982).

Opinions

OPINION

NYE, Chief Justice.

Dan Dillard, Jr., and wife, Sandra L. Dillard (appellants), brought this suit to set aside a trustee’s deed, for damages for wrongful foreclosure and damages for fraud against William H. Broyles, John R. Freeland and Reymundo Sanchez. From a judgment granting instructed verdicts in the favor of all three defendants on all causes of action, the Dillards perfected this appeal.

On or about December 23, 1974, the Dil-lards purchased from Sanchez a house and lot located in the city of Pharr, Hidalgo County, Texas, which property is the subject of the instant suit. As partial consideration for the sale, the Dillards executed in favor of Sanchez a promissory note in the principal sum of $3,600.00, which note was secured by a vendor’s lien and deed of trust. The Honorable John R. Freeland was the attorney representing both the buyer and the seller in the transaction. He was named trustee in the deed of trust.

Under the note, the Dillards were obligated -to make monthly payments in the amount of $49.72, for a total of 108 payments, beginning February 1, 1975, to Sanchez. It is disputed whether the Dillards made any payments on the note. In any [640]*640event, all parties agree that the Dillards made fewer than six payments total, allegedly refusing to make further payments because of Sanchez’ failure to make certain repairs on the house.

In a letter dated June 1,1977, and admittedly received by the Dillards shortly thereafter, Freeland informed the Dillards that their note had been accelerated because of their nonpayment and that foreclosure would be forthcoming if they did not tender the full amount of the principal and interest then owing within 10 days. Shortly after receiving the letter, the Dillards explained to Freeland by telephone their reason for nonpayment, i.e., the alleged warranty breaches of Sanchez. Freeland replied that he would see what he could do about getting Sanchez to fix the house, but that “the note would have to be paid.” Although there was testimony as to repeated attempts to contact Sanchez with regards to fixing the house, the Dillards had no further contact with Freeland.

On or about May 1, 1979, after the written notice of the foreclosure was sent to the Dillards and was returned “unclaimed,” Freeland, exercising the power given him by the deed of trust, sold the subject property to Broyles.

The Dillards here attack the adverse instructed verdicts by alleging several irregularities and inequities in the foreclosure, actionable fraud and professional misconduct on the part of defendants Sanchez and Freeland, and knowledge on the part of defendant Broyles so as to preclude Broyles from being an innocent purchaser for value of the property at the trustee’s sale.

In reviewing the propriety of granting an instructed verdict generally, we must consider all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the party against whom the verdict was instructed, disregarding all contrary evidence and inferences. Seideneck v. Cal Bayreuther Associates, 451 S.W.2d 752 (Tex.1970); Elizondo v. Tavarez, 596 S.W.2d 667 (Tex.Civ.App.—Corpus Christi 1980, writ ref’d n. r. e.). When reasonable minds may differ as to the truth of controlling facts, an issue of facts is presented for the trier of fact. Najera v. Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., 146 Tex. 367, 207 S.W.2d 365 (1948); Elizondo v. Tavarez, supra. With these rules in mind, we will examine each of the controlling points of error presented.

The Dillards first submit that there was sufficient evidence to raise a jury issue on whether Sanchez failed to make adequate demand of the Dillards for payment of the amount overdue and give adequate notice of intent to accelerate the entire indebtedness. Where, as here, the acceleration clause of the note is not automatic, but depends upon the exercise of an option of the mortgagee to declare the whole balance due, notice of the intent to mature the entire debt must be given prior to the actual exercise of the option to accelerate. In other words, some opportunity to cure the default caused by failure to pay installments when due must be afforded the debt- or before the option to accelerate may be exercised under the note. Brown v. Hewitt, 143 S.W.2d 223 (Tex.Civ.App.—Galveston 1940, writ ref’d); Jernigan v. O’Brien, 303 S.W.2d 515 (Tex.Civ.App.—Austin 1957, no writ); Crow v. Heath, 516 S.W.2d 225 (Tex.Civ.App.—Corpus Christi 1974, writ ref’d n. r. e.).

In the instant case, Dillard testified that, shortly after the closing of their purchase of the subject property from Sanchez, they received a letter from Freeland containing their copy of the recorded deed, note and deed of trust. This was in the early part of 1975. Dillard testified that the next time he heard from attorney Free-land was around the first of June, 1977, when they received the letter notifying them that the note had been accelerated and that a sale of the property under the terms of the deed of trust would be had if payment in full was not tendered within ten days. Sanchez, the seller, testified that he made no attempt to contact the Dillards (purchasers) about the debt; that he left the matter to his attorney [Freeland].

Under the standard of review announced above, we hold that this testimony alone is [641]*641sufficient to entitle the Dillards to reach the jury on the question of whether the initial step in the foreclosure process, demand for late payment and notice of intent to accelerate, was in fact taken. The Dil-lards’ first point of error is sustained.

The Dillards next contend, in essence, that the undisputed evidence of a delay of approximately 22 months between the June 1, 1977, letter notice of acceleration and the March, 1979, mailing of written notice of the foreclosure sale was sufficient to raise issues on laches, stale demands and equitable estoppel. However, in the absence of affirmative pleadings, the Dillards cannot assert these “defenses” to the foreclosure proceedings; they are waived. Rule 94, T.R.C.P. See: Bowling v. City of Port Arthur, 522 S.W.2d 270, 273 (Tex.Civ.App.—Beaumont 1975, writ ref’d n. r. e.) (estoppel); Danaho Refining Co. v. Dietz, 398 S.W.2d 307 (Tex.Civ.App.—Corpus Christi 1965, writ ref’d n. r. e.) (laches). Point of error number four is overruled.

The Dillards argue: that because of the time period between the notice of acceleration and the actual foreclosure; that because attorney Freeland represented both the seller and the buyer at the closing of the Dillards’ purchase of the subject property from Mr. Sanchez; that because attorney Freeland was aware that the Dillards were unhappy with some aspects of the construction of their home; and that because attorney Freeland had personal knowledge of their actual address; Freeland should be held to some higher standard beyond compliance with Article 3810. We decline to so hold. In the first place, the duty prescribed by Article 38101 belongs to “the holder of the debt,” which in this instance is the seller, Sanchez.

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Bluebook (online)
633 S.W.2d 636, 1982 Tex. App. LEXIS 4400, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dillard-v-broyles-texapp-1982.