Harris v. Nelson

25 S.W.3d 917, 2000 Tex. App. LEXIS 6453, 2000 WL 1364250
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedSeptember 21, 2000
DocketNo. 09-00-055 CV
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 25 S.W.3d 917 (Harris v. Nelson) 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
Harris v. Nelson, 25 S.W.3d 917, 2000 Tex. App. LEXIS 6453, 2000 WL 1364250 (Tex. Ct. App. 2000).

Opinion

OPINION

DON BURGESS, Justice.

Huey P. Harris, individually and doing business as Huey P. Harris Land & Timber Company, (“Harris”) appeals the judgment entered in this timber cutting case in favor of Jacqueline Rae Nelson. After a bench trial, the trial court awarded Nelson enhanced damages under section 151.101 of the Texas Natural Resources Code and exemplary damages as well. Harris brings six issues on appeal. We will affirm in part and reverse in part.

Nelson agreed to sell Johnnie Tauber approximately fifty-three acres of land, with the Texas Veterans Land Board providing the financing. The proposed transaction was never completed as the Land Board cancelled its March 20,1998 contract when Tauber’s earnest money check was returned for insufficient funds. Tauber contracted with Harris to cut and remove timber from the Nelson property. Gary Marshall and his crew actually cut the timber from the Nelson land. Marshall was working for Harris and relied on him to get permission to cut the timber. Marshall sold the timber to a mill for approximately $16,000.

In issue one, Harris contends: (1) the evidence is factually insufficient to support the trial court’s finding that Nelson did not consent to removal of the timber and (2) the finding is against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence. The trial court determined that Harris caused the timber to be removed from Nelson’s land without the permission of Nelson and that Nelson never consented to have Harris cut timber from her land.

We review a trial court’s findings “for legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence by the same standards that are applied in reviewing evidence supporting a jury’s answer.” Catalina v. Blasdel, 881 S.W.2d 295, 297 (Tex.1994). Factual sufficiency issues are designated either as “great weight and preponderance” issues — if the complaining party had the burden of proof at trial — or, if not, then as “insufficient evidence” issues. See Raw Hide Oil & Gas, Inc. v. Maxus Exploration Co., 766 S.W.2d 264, 275-76 (Tex.App.—Amarillo 1988, writ denied).

An “insufficient evidence” point requires us to examine all evidence that supports and contradicts the finding, Plas-Tex, Inc. v. U.S. Steel Corp., 772 S.W.2d 442, 445 (Tex.1989). See also W. Wendell Hall, Standards of Review in Texas, 29 St. Mary’s L.J. 351, 485 (1998). The test is whether the evidence supporting the finding is “so weak or the answer so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence as to be clearly wrong and manifestly unjust.” Raw Hide Oil & Gas Inc., 766 S.W.2d at 276 (citing Garza v. Alviar, 395 S.W.2d 821, 823 (Tex.1965); In re King’s Estate, 150 Tex. 662, 244 S.W.2d 660, 661-62 (1951)); see also W. Wendell Hall, at 485. Further, the appellate court must not retry the case or substitute its judg[920]*920ment or opinion for that of the trier of fact, who is the sole judge of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony. See Rego Co. v. Brannon, 682 S.W.2d 677, 680 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1984, writ ref d n.r.e.).

Here, Nelson had the burden to prove her allegation that timber was removed from her land without her consent. Thus, Harris must show there is insufficient evidence to support the finding that Nelson did not consent. See Croucher v. Croucher, 660 S.W.2d 55, 58 (Tex.1983).

Nelson’s testimony supports the “no consent” finding. Nelson testified she learned from her nephew that three or four of her trees had been cut. She reported to the Sheriffs Office that someone was cutting her trees without permission. Later, her nephew told her Harris was responsible for the cutting. Nelson further testified that in her first conversation with Harris, which occurred after the cutting of the three or four trees but before the tract was cut, she told him she did not want her trees cut, the land was hers and no one had the right to cut the trees but her. Nelson maintained she never gave Harris permission to cut her trees. Later, she went to the property and saw that trees were being cut. When she spoke to Harris during that visit, he told her he had $8,600 for her. She responded that she did not want her trees cut and she wanted him to “get out right then.” Harris explained he had a few more loads on the ground and she gave him permission to haul out what was already cut. She testified she never gave him permission to cut a large tract of land or to cut anymore trees after he told her he had $8,600 for her.

Harris’s testimony contradicts the “no consent” finding. He testified that the first time he talked to Nelson in late February or early March, 1998, “She didn’t say she didn’t want it cut. She just said she had not given Johnnie Tauber permission to cut her timber.” But Harris explained that later Nelson called him and “specifically said she wanted it cut.” Then he sent Marshall out to look at the property.

Harris, however, failed to convince the trial court that he was credible. The trial court specifically found that Harris’s testimony regarding his alleged permission to cut and remove timber was not credible. Under cross examination, Harris admitted he had been convicted previously of felony timber theft, though at his deposition he had denied being indicted for any reason. Harris’s counsel objected to the questions and Nelson’s counsel argued the testimony was being offered to show her entitlement to punitive damages and to show his motive and intent. Harris does not complain on appeal of this evidence.

Part of Tauber’s testimony, which was presented through deposition at trial, contradicts the “no consent” finding. He testified Nelson gave him permission to cut the timber and had told him she wanted to use the proceeds for back taxes. However, the trial court also found Tauber’s testimony regarding Nelson’s consent was not credible since Tauber had given three different explanations regarding Nelson’s calling law enforcement authorities when she learned her timber had been cut. He first explained Nelson said she thought “clear-cutting” was occurring on her property. Next Tauber testified Nelson called the sheriffs department because she did not know what was happening at her property; she later called Tauber and told him he “needed to get a contract.” Finally, he testified, that Nelson did not know he had contacted anyone to cut the timber.

Forest Service Officer Rodney Monk’s testimony, which is offered through his deposition, is confusing. He testified he called Nelson when Marshall was on the property and Nelson told Monk that it was okay for loggers to there. Over Harris’s counsel’s objection, Monk then referred to a report that had been faxed to him. The report stated Nelson had not given permis[921]*921sion for the cutting. On appeal, Harris does not object to this evidence.

Nelson’s testimony supports the court’s finding that she did not consent.

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Bluebook (online)
25 S.W.3d 917, 2000 Tex. App. LEXIS 6453, 2000 WL 1364250, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/harris-v-nelson-texapp-2000.