Hammond v. All Wheel Drive Co.

707 S.W.2d 734
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedApril 10, 1986
DocketNo. 09-85-056 CV
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 707 S.W.2d 734 (Hammond v. All Wheel Drive Co.) 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
Hammond v. All Wheel Drive Co., 707 S.W.2d 734 (Tex. Ct. App. 1986).

Opinions

OPINION

BROOKSHIRE, Justice.

Appeal from granting Motion for Summary Judgment, the suit involved the foreclosure of 5 separate tracts of land under powers of sale provided for in 5 deeds of trust. The deeds of trust secured payment of 5 different promissory notes.

The Appellants sought a declaration that a substitute trustee’s sale was void. They also sued for damages for wrongful foreclosure. In September, 1982, as consideration for the purchase of a large number of lots located in Roman Forest, a subdivision, R.S.W. Unlimited, Inc., and J.R. Lovell executed and delivered a series of promissory notes in various amounts. The notes were secured by the lots. In October, 1982, R.S.W. Unlimited, Inc., conveyed, by warranty deed, all the properties securing the payment of the notes to Appellant Hammond who assumed payment of the series of notes.

Appellees became the owners and holders of the notes and deeds of trust. Meyer Jacobson was the original trustee under the deeds of trust. He resigned; his resignation was placed of record. John B. Stewart was the substitute trustee. This was done by properly recorded appointment. The Appellants defaulted on the very first payment due under each one of the five notes. The very first payments which were not paid were due on March 27, 1983. Appellants tendered nothing — not a cent.

By mail, sent March 30, 1983, which was received by each Appellant on April 4, 1983, notice was given to each Appellant that each was in default on each of the 5 notes. Demand was also made for immedi[736]*736ate payment of the sums due. The Appellants were offered an opportunity to correct the default by making the proper payments of the sums due on or before noon of April 8, 1988.

Appellants were also notified that, if the payments due were not received by noon of April 8, 1983, the notes would be accelerated. All principal and interest would become due and payable at 12:01 p.m. on April 8, 1983, the property securing the indebtedness becoming subject to foreclosure under the power of sale. By mail dated April 11,1983, each of the Appellants was given written notice of a scheduled substitute trustee sale to be held on Tuesday, May 3, 1983. The Appellants were provided with a copy of the notice of the substitute trustee sale. The sale was held. After applying the proceeds, a remaining deficiency was due on the notes as of May 3, 1983, of $1,070,213.27.

Firstly, the Appellants complain that they did not have an opportunity to cure the default. It is not disputed under this record that notice of default, presentment, demand for payment and notice of intent to accelerate were mailed on March 30, 1983, and received by the Appellants on April 4, 1983. There was notice of intention to accelerate given prior to the acceleration. Appellants claimed that the 4 days notice was insufficient time to make the payments of the sums due on the notes. But the Appellants knew the provisions of the notes that they either signed or assumed. And the Appellants knew that the failure to make the payments on the notes, when due, could result in the exercise of an option by the holder of the notes to elect to accelerate the payments of the notes. We find in Allen Sales & Servicenter, Inc. v. Ryan, 525 S.W.2d 863 (Tex.1975), Justice Daniel, pronouncing for a unanimous court, at page 866, wrote:

“This demand for payment of the overdue installment need not be made on the date the installment is due; the only requirement, as to the time for making the demand, is that the demand for payment of the overdue installment be made prior to exercising the option to accelerate. See Griffith v. Griffith, 252 S.W.2d 517 (Tex.Civ.App.1952, writ ref’d n.r.e.); Beckham v. Scott, 142 S.W. 80 (Tex.Civ.App.1911, no writ). Our holding in this case should not be interpreted as requiring that demand be made prior to acceleration under all circumstances....”

We hold that the notice given to the Appellants was, under this record and under the governing documents, sufficient because the Appellants expressly waived "... grace, demand, presentment, notice, protest ...”

In a letter from Hon. Michael R. Garato-ni to the Hon. J.R. Lovell, dated March 30, 1983, the makers of the notes were specifically notified by the owners that they were in default on each of the five notes. The letter specifically set out the interest payments which were due under each of the five notes on March 27, 1983. Unequivocal demand was made for the payment of the sums due under the terms of each of the five notes, reading:

“... You are hereby granted the opportunity to cure your default of the above-described Notes by making payment of the sums due under the terms of each Note on or before noon on April 8, 1983.”

As a separate ground of affirmance, we hold that this was a reasonable amount of time, as a matter of law, under this record.

It is obvious from the letter of Meyer Jacobson, dated March 31, 1983, containing a description of other notes and the amounts due thereon, that the Jacobson letter was not dealing with the same notes described in the letter from Michael R. Garatoni.

It should be borne in mind that the Appellants, under their Point of Error No. One, do not complain of a lack of demand or lack of notice of intent to accelerate. Appellants’ sole complaint is that the interim between the received demand and the date of acceleration did not afford the Appellants a “reasonable time to cure” default. We hold otherwise, as a matter of law, under this record. In our case sub ju-[737]*737dice, notice was given in a meticulous manner. The five notes specifically provided that:

“Each maker, surety or endorser hereon severally waives grace, demand, presentment, notice, protest and consents that time of payment may be extended without notice....”

The notes were due on the 27th of March, 1983. The Appellants were given to April 8th, 1983, to cure the defaults. Lovell, R.S.W. Unlimited, Inc., and Hamilton knew that the interest on each of the notes was due and payable semi-annually, with the first payment specifically due on 27th day of March, 1983. This date was underlined in the notes. Allen Sales, supra. We hold the sole requirement to have been that the demand for payment of the overdue installment be made prior to the exercising of the option to accelerate.

Appellants contend John B. Stewart was not a proper substitute trustee. We find the district court did not err because there was simply no material or genuine issue of fact raised concerning the proper appointment of a substitute trustee. Appellants simply misconstrued a letter written by Meyer Jacobson. Nowhere in the letter did Jacobson even hint that he was trustee under the pertinent deeds of trust. Nor does that letter contain a demand for the payments of the notes that were owned, held and possessed by the appellees.

The district court correctly granted summary judgment in favor of appellees for the reason that the Appellants are not entitled to the relief sought. Appellants argue that the substitute trustee’s sale is void. We disagree. Appellants have never tendered payments of any of the sums due under the five promissory notes. Our record is totally silent of any payment or tender by the Appellants of the proper sums due.

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Bluebook (online)
707 S.W.2d 734, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hammond-v-all-wheel-drive-co-texapp-1986.