Irma Lemus and Manuel Lemus v. John Rene Aguilar, Johnny B. Wells, Laura Ashley Wells, and Johnny Montoya Garza

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided June 23, 2015·No. 04-14-00609-CV·Published

Opinion

ACCEPTED

04-14-00609-CV

FOURTH COURT OF APPEALS

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

6/23/2015 10:04:40 AM

KEITH HOTTLE

CLERK

FILED IN

No. 04-14-00609-CV 4th COURT OF APPEALS SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

06/23/2015 10:04:40 AM

COURT OF APPEALS KEITH E. HOTTLE FOURTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS Clerk SAN ANTONIO

IRMA LEMUS AND MANUEL LEMUS, JR., Appellants,

v.

JOHN RENE AGUILAR, LAURA ASHLEY WELLS and JOHNNY B. WELLS, and JOHNNY MONTOYA GARZA,

Appellees

BRIEF FOR APPELLEES

On Appeal from the 225th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas Trial Court No. 2012-CI-00251 Honorable Antonia Arteaga, 73rd Judicial District Court, Presiding

ANITA J. ANDERSON

Law Office of Anita J. Anderson 303 West Sunset Suite 103 POB 830722

San Antonio, Texas 78283

Telephone: (210) 533-8726 Telecopier: (210) 533-0989 Email: ajanderson1111@gmail.com

By /s/ Anita J. Anderson

Texas Bar No. 01165955

NO ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

APPELLANTS

Irma Lemus and Manuel Lemus, Jr., Defendants in the Trial Court

APPELLEES

Jon Rene Aguilar, Johnny B. Wells, Laura Ashley Wells and Johnny Montoya Garza Plaintiffs in the Trial Court

ATTORNEYS

Anita J. Anderson Law Office of Anita J. Anderson 303 West Sunset Suite 103 POB 830722 San Antonio, Texas 78283 Telephone: (210) 533-8726 Telecopier: (210) 533-0989 Email: ajanderson1111@gmail.com

For Appellees John Rene Aguilar, Laura Ashley Wells, Johnny B. Wells & Johnny Montoya Garza

Sarah Anne Lishman 310 South St. Mary’s St. Suite 845 San Antonio, Texas 78205 Telephone: (210) 308-6448 Telecopier: (210) 308-5669 Email: sarahanne@jamiegrahamlaw.com

Ana Laura Hessbrook Attorney at Law 4100 N.W. Loop 410, Suite 105 San Antonio, Texas 78229 Telephone: (210) 706-9466 Telecopier: (210) 706-9467 Email: hessbrook@sbcglobal.net

For Appellants Irma Lemus and Manuel Lemus, Jr.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL…………………………………………….….…….2 INDEX OF AUTHORITIES…………………………………………………………….…….…..6 STATEMENT OF THE CASE ……………………………………………………………….. ....9 STATEMENT OF FACTS ………………………………………………………………. …...11

Family History in the Home ……………………………………………………………..13 Relationship to Lemuses …………………………………………………………………19 Aguilar “Will” (Issue I)…………………………………………………………………..14 Aguilar’s Mental Decline (Issue II)……………………………………………………....16 Lemus Deed (Issue II) ……………………………………………………………………22 Claim for Improvements (Issue III) …………………………………………………….. 26 Signatures (Issue IV)……………………………………………………………………..29

REPLY TO ISSUES PRESENTED……………………………………………………………...30

Reply to Issue I: The evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the trial court’s finding that the Aguilar “Will” of March 11, 2005 satisfies the requirements of a deed and conveys good and valid title

Reply to Issue II: The evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the trial court’s finding that Elvira Aguilar lacked the requisite capacity when she signed the Lemus Deed on January 7, 2009, and the trial court was correct in declaring the deed void.

Reply to Issue III: The evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the trial court’s finding that the Lemuses did not act in good faith in making improvements and paying taxes on 106 Cameo.

Reply to Issue IV: The evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the trial court’s implied finding that Elvira Aguilar signed the Aguilar “Will.”

Reply to Sub-issues I – III: Attorneys fees were properly awarded to the prevailing party pursuant to Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.034.

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS……………………………………………….....…………… 31 ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES ………………………………....………………………..31

Standards of Review………………………......................................................................31 Trespass to Try Title .......…………………………………………………............………31

REPLY TO ISSUE I: The evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the trial court’s finding that the Aguilar “Will of March 11, 2005 satisfies the requirements of a deed and conveys good and valid title ................…………………...33

Basic Rule of Construction: Intent of the Maker .................................................33 “Will” = “Intent” of Elvira Aguilar and Johnny Garza ......................................35 Requisites of a valid deed and of gift deed ……………………………………...37 Operative words of grant established by intention shown………………... …….38 Present right of control and possession creates gift deed ……………………....38 Delivery presumed, need not be manual………………………………………...39 Acknowledgement and recording not required as to Lemuses ………….……….40

REPLY TO ISSUE II: The evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the trial court’s finding that Elvira Aguilar lacked the requisite capacity when she signed the Lemus Deed on January 7, 2009, and the trial court was correct in declaring the deed void …………………………………………….41

Standard for mental capacity to make a deed …………...………………………..42 Relevant time period…………………………………………………………......42 Persistence of the condition……………………………………………..…....... .43 Nature of the disposition........................................................................................43 Opinion evidence……………………………………………………….……..….43

REPLY TO ISSUE III: The evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the trial court’s finding that the Lemuses did not act in good faith in making improvements and paying taxes on 106 Cameo…………………………….……….…...44

Failure to properly plead for improvements …………………………………….44 Good faith – not belief but notice …………………………………………….….45 No reimbursement for taxes paid under fraudulent deed ………………………..46 No proper proof of increase in value of house by improvements …………………46 Any value offset by use and occupation …………………………………………..47

REPLY TO ISSUE IV: The evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the trial court’s implied finding that Elvira Aguilar signed the Aguilar “Will” …...........48

Verified denial of authenticity required ………………………………………...48 Inherently unreliable exemplar ……………………………………....….……...49

REPLY TO SUBISSUES I – III: Attorneys fees were properly awarded to the prevailing party pursuant to Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.034 ...................... 49

CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................50 PRAYER ..................................................................................................................................... 51 Certificate of Compliance .............................................................................................................52 Certificate of Service …...................................................................................................,,,...........52

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

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Irma Lemus and Manuel Lemus v. John Rene Aguilar, Johnny B. Wells, Laura Ashley Wells, and Johnny Montoya Garza, (Tex. Ct. App. 2015).

Irma Lemus and Manuel Lemus v. John Rene Aguilar, Johnny B. Wells, Laura Ashley Wells, and Johnny Montoya Garza (Irma Lemus and Manuel Lemus v. John Rene Aguilar, Johnny B. Wells, Laura Ashley Wells, and Johnny Montoya Garza) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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