Jaime Garcia v. Elizabeth Garcia-Giesick, the Successor Independent of the Estate of Israel Garcia

Opinion

No. 04-00-00360-CV Jaime GARCIA, Appellant v.

Elizabeth GARCIA-GIESICK, the Independent Executor of the Estate of Israel Garcia, Deceased,

Appellee From the Probate Court No. 2 of Bexar County, Texas Trial Court No. 98-PC-1990 Honorable Sandee Bryan Marion, Judge Presiding

Opinion by: Karen Angelini, Justice

Sitting: Alma L. López, Justice
Paul W. Green, Justice
Karen Angelini, Justice

Delivered and Filed: November 21, 2001

AFFIRMED

Jaime Garcia appeals the summary judgment granted in favor of Elizabeth Garcia-Giesick, executor of the estate of Israel Garcia. We affirm.

Background

Jaime Garcia ("Garcia") brought suit against Elizabeth Garcia-Giesick, executor of the estate of Israel Garcia ("Executor"). Garcia ⁽¹⁾ sought to recover title to property that his father conveyed to Israel Garcia ("decedent") under the theory of constructive trust. Specifically, he alleged: (1) an oral agreement existed between his father and decedent pursuant to which his father conveyed the property to decedent in consideration for a $50,000 loan; upon repayment, decedent was to reconvey the property to Garcia's father; (2) the Executor refuses to convey the property to Garcia if the loan is repaid; (3) by retaining the property, the Executor is unjustly enriched because she is retaining permanently property intended to be held only while the loan remained unpaid; and (4) such unjust enrichment should be remedied by a constructive trust in Garcia's favor. The Executor filed a no-evidence motion for summary judgment. In response, Garcia produced four affidavits. The Executor filed various objections to the affidavits. The trial court sustained some objections and overruled others. The trial court then granted the Executor's motion for summary judgment.

Garcia asserts two issues on appeal: 1) the trial court erred in sustaining the Executor's objections to Garcia's summary judgment evidence; and 2) the trial court erred in granting summary judgment for the Executor because Garcia's evidence was sufficient to present a question of material fact as to the alleged loan agreement between Roberto and decedent.

Evidentiary Rulings Garcia argues that application of Texas Rule of Evidence 601(b), commonly referred to as the Dead Man's Rule, to his summary judgment evidence was improper. Rulings concerning the admission or exclusion of summary judgment evidence are reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard. See Maldonado v. Frio Hosp. Ass'n, 25 S.W.3d 274, 277 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 2000, no pet.); Sanders v. Shelton, 970 S.W.2d 721, 727 (Tex. App.-Austin 1998, pet. denied). A trial court abuses its discretion if it acts without reference to any guiding rules or principles. See E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., Inc. v. Robinson, 923 S.W.2d 549, 558 (Tex.1995); Downer v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238, 241-42 (Tex.1985).

Garcia, in his affidavit, describes the circumstances surrounding the alleged loan agreement. Specifically, he discusses how the decedent requested, as security for a loan, that Garcia's father, Roberto, convey to him a parcel of land. He further explains that both parties agreed to the transaction. The Executor objected to Garcia's affidavit because the statements contained therein are uncorroborated as required by Texas Rule of Evidence 601(b). The trial court sustained the objection. Texas Rule of Evidence 601(b) provides that:

In civil actions by or against executors, administrators, or guardians, in which judgment may be rendered for or against them as such, neither party shall be allowed to testify against the others as to any oral statement by the testator, intestate, or ward, unless that testimony to the oral statement is corroborated or unless the witness is called at the trial to testify thereto by the opposite party; and, the provisions of this article shall extend to and include all actions by or against the heirs or legal representatives of a decedent based in whole or in part on such oral statement.

Garcia first argues that because he brought suit against the Estate, rather than any executor, heir, or legal representative, Rule 601(b) does not apply to his affidavit. In his petition, Garcia names "the Estate of Israel Garcia" as defendant. Although Garcia brought suit against Israel Garcia's "estate," a decedent's estate is not a legal entity and can neither sue nor be sued. Henson v. Estate of Crow, 734 S.W.2d 648, 649 (Tex.1987); Richardson v. Lake, 966 S.W.2d 681, 683 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 1998, no pet.). Accordingly, a suit by or against an estate must be brought in the name of its legal representative. See Estate of C.M. v. S.G., 937 S.W.2d 8, 10 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1996, no writ); Peek v. DeBerry, 819 S.W.2d 217, 218 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 1991, writ denied). Thus, we must construe the suit as one against the executor. Estate of C.M., 937 S.W.2d at 10.

Garcia further argues that even if Rule 601(b) does apply, his testimony is corroborated and, therefore, admissible. Tex. R. Evid. 601(b). Garcia cites testimony from his own affidavit, as well as testimony from the affidavits of Roberto Garcia, Hilda Garcia, and Arturo Figueroa, arguing that statements contained in these affidavits corroborate the testimony contained in his affidavit. Generally, corroboration of a witness's testimony may come from any competent witness or other legal source. Tramel v. Estate of Billings, 699 S.W.2d 259, 262 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 1985, no writ). Corroboration of an interested party's testimony, however, may not emanate from him or depend on his credibility. Id. Garcia is an interested party. Accordingly, we cannot look to Garcia's own affidavit to corroborate his testimony. Id. Instead, we must limit our review to the other three affidavits.

The Executor objected to the testimony in the affidavits of Roberto Garcia, Hilda Garcia, and Arturo Figueroa on multiple grounds. The trial court excluded on hearsay and conclusory grounds all testimony in the affidavits concerning the alleged oral agreement. Although Garcia has appealed the exclusion of this testimony on hearsay grounds, he has not challenged its exclusion on conclusory grounds. Where evidence has been held to be inadmissible and that holding has not been challenged on appeal, this court cannot consider the excluded evidence. Inglish v. Prudential Ins. Co., 928 S.W.2d 702, 706 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1996, writ denied); Rhodes v. Interfirst Bank Fort Worth, N.A., 719 S.W.2d 263, 265 (Tex. App.-Fort Worth 1986, no writ). Thus, we may not consider the testimony excluded on conclusory grounds in determining whether Garcia's testimony is corroborated and therefore admissible under Rule 601(b). However, we must determine whether the trial court erred in excluding certain testimony on hearsay grounds.

Garcia argues that the Executor's hearsay objections are unfounded. We construe his issue to be one complaining of the trial court's exclusion of statements as hearsay. ⁽²⁾ We review the exclusion of evidence for an abuse of discretion. Maldonado, 25 S.W.3d at 277. Garcia admits that certain statements contained in the affidavits are hearsay. However, he points to several other statements that he contends are not hearsay.

Each statement in Roberto Garcia's affidavit relating to the alleged agreement that is not conclusory, is hearsay. For instance, Roberto states that he and his brother, the decedent, agreed that the decedent "was lending [Roberto] $50,000, and that the deed executed in his favor as Grantee would serve as a mortgage or security agreement between" Roberto and the decedent. Although Roberto may testify to his own understanding of the alleged agreement, he may not testify about the decedent's understanding of it. Such testimony is inadmissible hearsay. See Tex. R. Evid. 801, 802. Roberto's statement that the decedent agreed to return the property upon repayment of the loan is, likewise, hearsay. Id. Garcia neither challenges the nature of these statements, nor offers a hearsay exception under which they fall. Instead, he points to other facts, as stated in Roberto's affidavit, that were not excluded. Those statements, however, do not establish that the decedent and Roberto entered into an agreement to convey property as security for a loan. Rather, they show that Roberto and the decedent had a close familial relationship, that they had entered into similar agreements in the past, and that the parties to the agreement never changed their behavior in relation to the property. These facts do not corroborate Garcia's testimony about the alleged agreement.

Likewise, Arturo Figueroa's affidavit does not corroborate Garcia's testimony. Figueroa states that he learned about the alleged agreement from Roberto or the decedent after they had executed the conveyance. This statement implies that Roberto or the decedent told him about the alleged purpose of the agreement. Figueroa's comments regarding an agreement are hearsay. Id.

Garcia also points to testimony in Hilda Garcia's affidavit. However, she provides no facts to support the contention that any agreement existed between the decedent and Roberto. As such, her affidavit is conclusory and is inadmissible to corroborate Garcia's testimony. We note again that Garcia does not challenge on appeal the trial court's ruling on the conclusory nature of the affidavits. We cannot say the trial court abused its discretion in excluding evidence of the agreement in the affidavits that served as Garcia's response to Executor's motion for summary judgment on hearsay grounds.

The facts contained in the affidavits that were not excluded on either hearsay or conclusory grounds do not corroborate Garcia's testimony regarding the decedent's statements that the conveyance was a loan agreement. Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding his testimony in accordance with Texas Rule of Evidence 601(b). Garcia's first issue is overruled.

Summary Judgment

In his second issue, Garcia asserts he presented evidence sufficient to raise a fact issue regarding the alleged loan agreement, thereby rendering the trial court's order granting summary judgment erroneous. The purpose of a no-evidence summary judgment motion is to pierce the pleadings and to assess the proof to determine whether a genuine need for trial exists. Robinson v. Warner-Lambert, 998 S.W.2d 407, 410 (Tex. App.-Waco 1999, no pet.). In assessing the propriety of a no-evidence summary judgment motion, we review the evidence in a light favorable to the respondent against whom the no-evidence summary judgment was rendered, disregarding all contrary evidence and inferences. Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc. v. Havner, 953 S.W.2d 706, 711 (Tex. 1997). A no-evidence summary judgment is improperly granted when the respondent brings forth more than a scintilla of probative evidence that raises a genuine issue of material fact. Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(i); Gomez v. Tri City Community Hosp., Ltd., 4 S.W.3d 281, 283 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 1999, no pet.).

Here, Garcia sought to recover title to the property under the doctrine of constructive trust. A constructive trust is not a trust. Ellisor v. Ellisor, 630 S.W.2d 746, 748 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1982, no writ). Rather, it is an equitable remedy imposed by law to prevent unjust enrichment. Fitz-Gerald v. Hull, 237 S.W.2d 256, 262 (Tex. 1951); Young v. Fontenot, 888 S.W.2d 238, 242 (Tex. App.-El Paso 1994, writ denied). A constructive trust may be imposed where there is a confidential relationship between a grantor and a grantee, and the grantor relies upon the oral promise of the grantee to reconvey the property. See Stout v. Clayton, 674 S.W.2d 821, 823 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 1984, writ ref'd n.r.e.). Courts do not enforce the oral contract, but instead, impose a constructive trust based upon the violation of the fiduciary duty. Omohundro v. Matthews, 341 S.W.2d 401, 405 (Tex. 1960).

In this case, Garcia claims the Estate is unjustly enriched by keeping land that decedent promised to reconvey once a $50,000 loan was repaid and, therefore, constructive trust is an appropriate remedy. The Executor filed a no-evidence summary judgment motion, alleging there is no evidence of the loan agreement, and thus, no evidence of any grounds for the imposition of the constructive trust.

The evidence that Garcia claims raises a fact issue as to the loan agreement and that exists in the record for our review is the same evidence Garcia relies on to corroborate the decedent's statements. Specifically, that Roberto Garcia had financial difficulties; there was a close familial relationship between Roberto and Decedent; Roberto and Decedent had entered into loan agreements before; it is not uncommon to have intra-family loan agreements secured by deeds rather than mortgages; and Roberto continued to act as owner of the property after conveying it to decedent. None of this evidence directly supports the notion that Roberto and the decedent entered into a loan agreement. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Garcia, we cannot say that it creates more than mere surmise or suspicion of the alleged loan agreement. Therefore, without evidence of a loan agreement, there can be no evidence of unjust enrichment, and the trial court properly granted Executor's motion for summary judgment. Garcia's second issue is overruled.

Conclusion

We overrule Garcia's two issues and affirm the trial court's judgment.

Karen Angelini, Justice

DO NOT PUBLISH

1. Roberto Garcia, Garcia's father, conveyed his interest in the property to Garcia. Accordingly, Garcia is the plaintiff in this case.

2. Garcia, in his brief, never expressly challenges the trial court's exclusion of certain statements contained in the affidavits as hearsay. He simply asserts that the ruling was "unfounded." Not only is Garcia's issue very general, but he makes no argument and cites no authority to support his contention.