Hicks v. Murphy

151 S.W. 845, 1912 Tex. App. LEXIS 1044
Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided November 20, 1912·Published·Cited by 8 cases

Opinion

MOURSUND, J.

This is an appeal from an interlocutory order dissolving a temporary injunction, which restrained C. W. Kuy-kendall from selling certain lands as substitute trustee under a deed of trust. There is no statement of facts in the record, and we are confined to the consideration of questions arising upon the pleading.

Appellant’s first contention is that the court had no authority to dissolve the temporary injunction because no answer was filed, but merely a motion to dissolve. The instrument is styled, “Motion to Dissolve Injunction,” and is so referred to by the court. It begins as follows: “Now come J. E. Murphy and C. W. Kuykendall, the defendants herein, and, moving the court to dissolve and vacate the injunction issued upon the defendants herein, would show to the court.” Then follow the allegations intended as denials of the material allegations of the petition, and the prayer for dissolution of the injunction and for general relief. It is verified by the oath of one of the defendants. No exceptions were filed to the form of this instrument, nor any question raised in the lower court in regard to its sufficiency as an answer, but issue was joined and *846 evidence introduced as shown by the judgment of the court.

[1] In the case of Smith v. Palo Pinto County, 128 S. W. 1193, the court held it was unnecessary to file a separate motion to dissolve the injunction; that the prayer in the answer for such relief was sufficient. In that case the pleading was styled an answer. In this ease it was styled a motion to dissolve, but there was no difference in substance, and, in the absence of objection in the lower court, we hold the instrument filed in this case sufficient as an answer. Nor do we agree with appellant’s contention that the case of Dawson v. Baldridge, 55 Tex. Civ. App. 124, 118 S. W. 593, is authority for a contrary holding. In that case the court considered a verified motion to dissolve as an answer, but held that it was not an answer such as equity requires, in that it did not contain a full and unequivocal denial of all the material allegations of plaintiffs’ petition.

[2] Appellant’s second contention is that, if the motion to dissolve be considered as an answer, then that same does not deny all the material allegations of the petition, and leaves sufficient uncontroverted to entitle appellant to the injunction. He says the petition alleges that Mrs. Herriott, who held the two notes payable to defendant Murphy, as collateral to secure the payment of his note to her for $1,500, did not join said Murphy, in the selection and designation of Kuyken-dall as substitute trustee, and that the deed of trust under which the sale was sought to be made by Kuykendall contained the usual power of sale, and the usual stipulation providing for the substitution of trustees in case the original trustee should die, become disqualified, or be unable to act, etc. We find the petition alleges that the two notes payable to defendant Murphy, one for $4,500 and the other for $4,477, secured by a deed of trust on the land in McMullen county, Tex., sought to be sold by Kuykendall, are held by Mrs. Herriott as collateral to secure the payment of Murphy’s note to her for $1,500; that neither she nor any authorized agent of hers ever made any request for the sale of the land under the deed of trust; and that Murphy acted wholly without right or authority under the terms of the deed of trust when he attempted to appoint Kuy-kendall as a substitute trusted under the terms of said instrument, and when he requested Kuykendall to advertise and sell the land to satisfy said two notes, and for said reasons the attempt of said Kuykendall to sell said land was in violation of law and of plaintiff’s rights as the owner of the land. We find no allegation setting out or describing the provision, if any, contained in said deed of trust with respect to the appointment of a substitute trustee. We do not know from the perusal of the petition whether any request by Mrs. Herriott was required before the original trustee could sell, nor do we know what provision was made for the appointment of a substitute trustee. True, the petition sets out the conclusion of the pleader that Murphy acted wholly without authority or right under the terms of said deed of trust when he attempted to appoint Kuykendall as substitute trustee, and requested him to sell the land. “The petition for' an injunction should state all and negative all, which is necessary to establish a right.” Moss v. Whitson, 130 S. W. 1035; Gillis v. Rosenheimer, 64 Tex. 243; City of Paris v. Sturgeon, 50 Tex. Civ. App. 522, 110 S. W. 459; Cotulla v. Burswell, 22 Tex. Civ. App. 329, 54 S. W. 614. It is necessary to allege such facts as show a want of authority. The conclusion of the pleader is not sufficient. Moss v. Whitson, supra. There are no facts pleaded b;y plaintiff from which we can determine whether or not the deed of trust authorized Murphy, even though he had parted with the title to the notes, to appoint a substitute trustee, and request him to proceed with the discharge of his duties as such trustee. Our law prescribes no form for deeds of trust, nor does it stipulate that a sale of notes secured by such an instrument carries with it the power to appoint a substitute trustee. The power to sell is strictly construed, and the deed of trust might give the power to appoint a substitute trustee solely to the payee of the notes. We conclude that the allegations of the petition are insufficient to authorize an injunction on the ground of the failure of Mrs. Her-riott to appoint or join in the appointment of the substitute trustee and to request him to sell. It is therefore only necessary to determine whether the allegations of the answer aid those of the petition so as to make a ease for plaintiff.

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Hicks v. Murphy, 151 S.W. 845, 1912 Tex. App. LEXIS 1044 (Tex. Ct. App. 1912).

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