Gregory R. Mattox and Barbara Wilkerson v. Grimes County Commissioners' Court

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided October 12, 2015·No. 01-14-00535-CV·Published

Opinion

ACCEPTED

01-14-00535-CV

FIRST COURT OF APPEALS

HOUSTON, TEXAS

10/12/2015 11:51:33 AM

CHRISTOPHER PRINE

CLERK

01-14-00535-CV

FILED IN

1st COURT OF APPEALS

IN THE HOUSTON, TEXAS FIRST COURT OF APPEALS 10/12/2015 11:51:33 AM AT HOUSTON CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE Clerk

GREGORY R. MATTOX AND BARBARA WILKERSON, Appellants,

V.

GRIMES COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ COURT Appellee

Appealed from the 506th Judicial District Court Grimes County, Texas

APPELLANTS’ MOTION FOR REHEARING

Appellants, Gregory R. Mattox and Barbara Wilkerson, submit this motion for rehearing in response to the opinion issued by the Court on August 27, 2015, and requests that the Court re-consider the following issues:

ISSUES PRESENTED FOR REHEARING

Issue 1: The Court in its opinion never addressed the 9 page argument presented by the Mattox parties that Bond Blackman never dedicated the road now known as Hill Forest lane through lot 36 to the end of the subdivision. (CR 550-558)

APPELLANTS’ MOTION FOR REHEARING PAGE 1 OF 21

Issue 2: The Court either misunderstands or confuses the requirement of the 258 map concerning the road footage, and because of that misunderstanding, credits the county with pleadings and evidence not found in the record.

Issue 3: The court erred when it failed to grant the Mattox Parties Motion for Summary Judgment.

In a summary judgment case, the issue on appeal is whether the movant met his burden for summary judgment by establishing that there exists no genuine issue of material fact and that he is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. City of Houston v. Clear Creek Basin Authority, 589 S.W.2d 671, 678 (Tex. 1979); TEX. R. CIV. P. 166-A.

The burden of proof is on the movant, and all doubts as to the existence of a genuine issue as to a material fact are resolved against him. Great American R. Ins. Co. v. San Antonio Pl. Sup. Co., 391 S.W.2d 41, 47 (Tex. 1965). Therefore, we must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-movant. See id. In deciding whether there is a material fact issue precluding summary judgment, all conflicts in the evidence will be disregarded and the evidence favorable to the non-movant will be accepted as true. Montgomery v. Kennedy, 669 S.W.2d 309, 311 (Tex. 1984); Farley v. Prudential Insurance Company, 480 S.W.2d 176, 178 (Tex. 1972). Every reasonable inference from the evidence must be indulged in favor of the non-

APPELLANTS’ MOTION FOR REHEARING PAGE 2 OF 21 movant and any doubts resolved in his favor. Montgomery, 669 *472472 S.W.2d at 311. Evidence which favors the movant's position will not be considered unless it is uncontroverted. Great American, 391 S.W.2d at 47.

The summary judgment will be affirmed only if the record establishes that the movant has conclusively proved all essential elements of his cause of action or defense as a matter of law. City of Houston, 589 S.W.2d at 678.

DISCUSSION AND AUTHORITY ISSUE 1.

The Court in its opinion never addressed the 9 page argument presented by the Mattox parties that Bond Blackman never dedicated the road now known as Hill Forest lane through lot 36 to the end of the subdivision. (CR 550-558)

Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure Rule 47. Opinions, Publication, and Citation states as follows:

47.1. Written Opinions

The court of appeals must hand down a written opinion that is as brief as practicable but that addresses every issue raised and necessary to final disposition of the appeal.

The Mattox Parties point this out in the abundance of caution, as they presume the Court did not address this issue because the Court decided this case on the 258 map being: “conclusive evidence” of the public’s right

APPELLANTS’ MOTION FOR REHEARING PAGE 3 OF 21 of access over Forest Hill Lane [sic] and the County’s authority to spend public money to maintain it.” Opinion at page 19.

It is undisputed that Mattox and Wilkerson did not protest or contest the inclusion of any part of Hill Forest Lane, including the 134-foot strip of land at issue, on the County’s road map. See TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. §§ 258.002(b), 258.004(a). Thus, the County’s road map constitutes “conclusive evidence” of the public’s right of access over Forest Hill Lane [sic] and the County’s authority to spend public money to maintain it. Id.

DISCUSSION AND AUTHORITY ISSUE 2.

The Court either misunderstand or confuses the requirement of the 258 map concerning the road footage, and because of that misunderstanding, credits the county with pleadings and evidence not found in the record.

Pleadings and arguments of counsel are not credible evidence that can support the granting of a motion for summary judgment. Laidlaw Waste Sys. (Dallas), Inc. v. City of Wilmer, 904 S.W.2d 656, 660 (Tex. 1995) (“Generally, pleadings are not competent evidence, even if sworn or verified.”) Americana Motel, Inc. v. Johnson, 610 S.W.2d 143, 143 (Tex. 1980); Clear Creek Basin Auth., 589 S.W.2d at 678; Hidalgo v. Surety Sav. & Loan Ass’n., 462 S.W.2d 540, 545 (Tex. 1971). Only if the allegations contained within the motion can be supported by credible, trial worthy

APPELLANTS’ MOTION FOR REHEARING PAGE 4 OF 21 evidence attached thereto, can the motion succeed. Laidlaw, 904 S.W.2d 660.

The County, through its smoke & mirrors pleadings and attached documents, created the illusion of the existence of pleadings and facts which are not actually in the record before this Court. As it pertains to Hill Forest Lane, the record contains neither pleaded facts nor summary judgment evidence capable of supporting the county’s claim of what was “conclusively established” by the County’s statutory adoption of the 258 County road map. The county infers, implies, alludes to, hints at, insinuates, but never articulates the following in their pleadings nor produces any evidence of:

1. The length of Hill Forest Lane on the 258 map or 2. The reason why Hill Forest Lane was put on the 258 map.

The Court states:

It is undisputed that Mattox and Wilkerson did not protest or contest the inclusion of any part of Hill Forest Lane, including the 134-foot strip of land at issue, on the County’s road map. See TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. §§ 258.002(b), 258.004(a).

Id.

The County has never stated nor proved the length of Hill Forest Lane

as it appears on the 258 map. There is no proof in the record that the last 134-foot strip of land at issue was included on the 258 map, and that burden is on the County to prove.

APPELLANTS’ MOTION FOR REHEARING PAGE 5 OF 21

They infer, imply, allude to, hint at, and insinuate, but never state nor produce evidence to establish the length of Hill Forest Lane reflected on the 258 map. You are left to assume, based on their pleadings and the many documents they attached as evidence, as well as the abundance of case law they quote about the plat, that when they clarified the existence of Hill Forest Lane through the 258 map, it was based on the plat. Where is that evidence? Where are the documents the County gave to Bickerstaff when they created the map? Where is the affidavit of the 911 coordinator, stating the road length? Where is the map scale footage the County states is on the map?

“[t]he Plaintiff would submit that any deficiency in the length of the Road, as shown on the map, or any other road shown on the map, is insufficient to defeat a claim that the status of the road was established by the map.” (County MSJ CR 062-063)

(Emphasis added.)

The County’s statement above clearly shows that there is a

corresponding road length for the line representing Hill Forest Lane on the 258 map. On a map, the length of a road can only be shown by reference to the map scale. The map was indisputably prepared for the County by Bickerstaff with all the data for the map being supplied by the County. (CR 620)

The Court states:

APPELLANTS’ MOTION FOR REHEARING PAGE 6 OF 21

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Gregory R. Mattox and Barbara Wilkerson v. Grimes County Commissioners' Court, (Tex. Ct. App. 2015).

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