Gabriel v. Mendez

517 S.W.2d 447, 1974 Tex. App. LEXIS 2945
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedNovember 27, 1974
DocketNo. 15342
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 517 S.W.2d 447 (Gabriel v. Mendez) 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
Gabriel v. Mendez, 517 S.W.2d 447, 1974 Tex. App. LEXIS 2945 (Tex. Ct. App. 1974).

Opinion

BARROW, Chief Justice.

Appellant-wife has perfected her appeal from a take-nothing judgment entered after an instructed verdict was granted appel-lees, Inez Gabriel Mendez and her husband, Encarnación Mendez, who were joined as defendants in appellant’s suit for divorce against her husband, Johnny Gabriel.

Appellant alleged that she had joined her husband in the conveyance of two pieces of property to appellees, who are the husband’s mother and stepfather, because of fraud practiced upon her by the husband and appellees in a conspiracy to deprive the wife of her interest in these community assets. She prayed that the trial court set aside and hold said conveyances for naught. The trial court granted appellees’ motion for an instructed verdict after all parties had rested and closed their case. Appellant then took a non-suit as to all other claims1 including the primary action for divorce and relief ancillary thereto.

Appellant asserts the single assignment of error that the trial court erred [449]*449in instructing a verdict in favor of appel-lees. Appellees, by counter-point, urge that this point is too general to merit consideration. Appellees’ written motion for instructed verdict contains nine points wherein they urge that there was no evidence or insufficient evidence to support the submission of an issue on any of the five alleged fraudulent misrepresentations or actions of appellees. It was 'further asserted by appellees that there was no basis to cancel, rescind, set aside or hold for naught the two deeds from the husband and wife to appellees. The trial court did not indicate the grounds upon which the instructed verdict was granted.

In this situation, appellant’s burden on appeal is to establish that the directed verdict cannot be supported on any of the grounds set forth in appellees’ motion. McKelvy v. Barber, 381 S.W.2d 59 (Tex.1964); Whatley v. K-Mart Discount Stores, 451 S.W.2d 568 (Tex.Civ.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1970, writ ref’d n. r. e.). While appellant’s point is very general, she specifically asserts under this point that there is evidence of probative force to require submission of issues regarding two alleged misrepresentations made to her by Mrs. Mendez and further that there was no consideration for the conveyance to ap-pellees. While it would have probably been preferable for wife to have presented separate assignments of error, these contentions are all somewhat related and clearly ascertainable in the argument under this point. Appellees’ counter-point is overruled.

Olga and Johnny Gabriel were married in 1952 and have four children, three of whom are under eighteen years of age. On June 14, 1973, they jointly executed deeds conveying two pieces of real estate to appellees for the recited consideration of $10.00 and other valuable consideration. On September 24, 1973, wife filed this suit for divorce. She amended her petition on October 5, 1973, and joined appellees and others as defendants. Wife asserts on this appeal that the deeds were executed by her because of two misrepresentations made by her husband or his mother, Mrs. Inez Mendez. The first alleged misrepresentation was that Mrs. Mendez would not lend husband the funds owed to the Internal Revenue Service for back taxes unless the properties were conveyed to her. The second alleged misrepresentation was an assurance by Mrs. Mendez that if wife agreed to transfer the property, Mrs. Mendez would hold same for the benefit of wife and the children.

Since this is an appeal from the granting of an instructed verdict, we must accept as true the evidence in the record supporting wife’s cause of action against appellees. All conflicts and inconsistencies must be resolved in her favor, and we must draw all inferences therefrom most favorable to the alleged cause of action against appellees. Constant v. Howe, 436 S.W.2d 115 (Tex.1968).

We have been furnished a partial statement of facts which contains the testimony of wife, husband and Mrs. Mendez. There is very little testimony in this record relating to wife’s claim of fraud and conspiracy; however, this testimony is largely un-contradicted. Mrs. Mendez has carried the greater part of the financial burdens of the Johnny and Olga Gabriel family from the time of their marriage. They lived in her home for the first fifteen years of the marriage, and the husband was sent to college by Mrs. Mendez for two or three years during that time. The couple later built a home on a lot given by Mrs. Mendez. Mrs. Mendez either furnished the money or the credit for several unsuccessful business ventures for the husband. Unquestionably, this was done very informally and without any attempt to keep accurate records. However, all parties are fully aware of Mrs. Mendez’s substantial financial contributions to the ongoing of the Johnny and Olga Gabriel family.

Husband manages retail liquor stores located on the two pieces of real estate involved in this appeal for the corporation Discount Beverages Mart, Inc. One is located at 424 N. Zarzamora Street and the other at the corner of Hildebrand and [450]*450Blanco Avenue. Discount Beverage Marts, Inc. was incorporated in 1971 with 998 shares in husband’s name, one share in wife’s name, and one share in the name of a Mr. Casarez. In February of 1973, husband conveyed 990 of the shares in his name to Mrs. Rosalie Martinez, which conveyance was challenged by wife by a claim which was non-suited. In 1969, Mrs. Mendez conveyed the Zarzamora Street property to husband; and he agreed to pay her the sum of $15,000, which has not been paid. In 1970, husband and wife executed a deed of trust on this property to secure a $39,000 note to his aunt for moneys she had advanced to husband. This note has not been repaid and the lien and deed of trust securing same is still in effect.

The Hildebrand Avenue property was purchased in husband’s name from Humble Oil and Refining Company in 1972 for the sum of $46,000. Of this sum, $15,000 was lent husband by Mrs. Mendez and the other $31,000 was borrowed from the Bexar County National Bank on the signature of husband and wife. This and other community loans from said bank to remodel the premises and stock an inventory were secured by the pledge of savings accounts belonging to Mrs. Mendez. Mrs. Mendez also personally advanced funds to remodel the premises. Thus it is seen that Mrs. Mendez had a substantial financial interest in both properties.

There is no direct evidence of a conspiracy between husband and appellees regarding the conveyances in question. We recognize that direct evidence is seldom available to establish a conspiracy. The general rule is that conspiracy liability is sufficiently established by proof showing concert of action or other facts and circumstances from which the natural inference arises that the unlawful, overt acts were committed in furtherance of common design, intention or purpose of the alleged conspirators. International Bankers Life Insurance Company v. Holloway, 368 S.W.2d 567 (Tex.1963).

Wife testified that she had two telephone conversations with Mrs. Mendez in the year preceding the conveyance relating to the conveyance of the properties in question. Mrs.

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Bluebook (online)
517 S.W.2d 447, 1974 Tex. App. LEXIS 2945, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gabriel-v-mendez-texapp-1974.