Jerry Valdez v. Bruce Robertson, Jr.

CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMarch 20, 2015
Docket01-14-00563-CV
StatusPublished

This text of Jerry Valdez v. Bruce Robertson, Jr. (Jerry Valdez v. Bruce Robertson, Jr.) 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
Jerry Valdez v. Bruce Robertson, Jr., (Tex. Ct. App. 2015).

Opinion

ACCEPTED 01-14-000563-cv FIRST COURT OF APPEALS HOUSTON, TEXAS 3/20/2015 5:07:56 PM CHRISTOPHER PRINE CLERK

CAUSE NO. 01-14-000563-CV IN THE COtJRT OF APPEALS FIRST COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT FILED IN HOUSTON, TEXAS 1st COURT OF APPEALS HOUSTON, TEXAS 3/20/2015 5:07:56 PM CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE Clerk

JERRY VALDEZ, Appellant

vs.

BRUCE ROBERTSON, JR., Appellee

APPEALED FROM PROBATE COURT NUMBER TWO BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS TRIAL COURT NO. 2008-PC-3026 HONORABLE JOHN A. HUTCHISON, III, TRIAL JUDGE

APPELLANT'S AMENDED BRIEF

ARMANDO TREVINO State Bar No. 20211100 1519 Washington St., Suite One Laredo, Texas 78040-0544 Tel: (956) 726-1638 Email: armandotrevinolaw@hotmail.com Attorney for Appellant CAUSE NO. 01-14-000563-CV IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FIRST COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT HOUSTON, TEXAS

APPEALED FROM PROBATE COURT NUMBER TWO BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS TRIAL COURT NO. 2008-PC-3026 HONORABLE JOHN A. HUTCHISON, III, TRIAL JUDGE

ARMANDO TREVINO State Bar No. 20211100 1519 Washington St., Suite One Laredo, Texas 78040-0544 Tel: (956) 726-1638 E-mail: armandotrevinolaw@hotmail.com Attorney for Appellant

ii IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

JERRY VALDEZ Appellant

ARMANDO TREVINO Attorney for Appellant SBN 20211100 1519 Washington, Suite One Laredo, Texas 78040 Tel: (956) 726-1638 Email: am1andotrevinolawC(ilhotmail.com

BRUCE ROBERTSON, JR. Appellee

BRUCE ROBERTSON, JR. Attorney Pro Se SBN 17078000 8100 Broadway, Suite 102 San Antonio, Texas 78209 Tel: (210) 225-4001 Fax: (210) 227-2417

CLEMENS & SPENCER Attorneys for Appellee GEORGE H. SPENCER, JR. SBN 18821001 112 E. Pecan, Suite 1300 San Antonio, Texas 78205 Tel: (210) 227-7121 Fax: (210) 227-0732

iii INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

Page(s)

Cases

Allen v. Nesmith, .................................................................................. . 15 525 S.W. 2d 963 (Tex. App. - Houston [1 st Dist.] 1975 writ refd n.r.e. 531 S.W. 2d 330 (Tex. 1975)

Bank of Tex. V. Mexia, ........................................................ . 6 rd 135 S.W. 3 356,362 (Tex. App. - Dallas 2004, pet. denied)

Boyles v. Gresham, ............................................................ .. 15 263 S.W. 2d 935 (Tex. 1954)

Brooks v. Northglen Ass'n, ................................................... . 12 141 S.W. 3rd 138 (Tex. 2004)

Cooper v. Texas Gulf Indus., ................................................. , 6, 7, 10. 12 513 S.W. 2d 200 (Tex. 1947)

Cox v. Johnson, .................................................................. 7 638 S.W. 2d 867 (Tex. 1982)

Jones v. LaFargue, ........................................................... ... 10 758 S.W. 2d 320 (Tex. App. - Houston [14th Dist.] 1988, no writ

Laros v. Hartman, ............................................................... 6 260 S.W. 2d 22 (Tex. 1947)

Long v. Thomason, ............................................................. 6 202 S.W. 2d 212 (Tex. 1947)

Longoria v. Exxon Mobil Corp., .............................................. 8, 12 255 S.W. 3rd 174 (Tex. App. - San Antonio 2008, pet. denied)

Paradigm Oil, Inc. v. Retamco Operators, Inc., ............................. 8 372 S.W. 3rd 177 (Tex. 2012)

iv INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

Pledger v. SchoeUkopf, ......................................................... 8 762 S.W. 2d 145 (Tex. 1988)

Pulte v. Gregory, ................................................................ 10 629 S.W. 2d 919 (Tex. 1982)

Schott v. Oppenheimer, ..... ..... ......... ..................... ... .............. 8 344 S.W. 2d 250 (Tex. App. - San Antonio 1861, writ refd n.r.e.)

Simpson v. Afton Oaks Civic Club, Inc., .................................... 8 145 S.W. 3rd 169 (Tex. 2004)

Triestman v. Kilgore, ............................................................ 15 838 S.W. 2d 547 (Tex. 1992)

In re Estate of Wilson, .......................................................... 6 252 S.W. 3rd 708, 712 (Tex. App. - Texarkana 2008, no pet.)

Wojcik v. Wesolick, 97 S.W. 3rd 335 (Tex. App. - Houston [l4th Dist.] 6, 7 2003, no pet.

Statutes and Rules

Probate Code §3(r) ................................................................. ....... 3, 6, 10, 14 §10 ........................................................................ 3,6 §33 .................. ....................................................... 5,7 §59 ......................................................................... 6

v INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

Rules of Civil Procedure 39 ..................................................................... ...... 3, 5, 6,7,9 10-13 41 ....................................................................... ... 8, 12 93.2 and 93.4 . ... ... ... ........... .......... ..... ....... ....... ............ . 8

vi TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page. . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 11

Identity of Parties and Counsel ................................................ 111

Index of Authorities ............................................................. IV

Table of Contents ................................................................ VB

Statement of the Case. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... 1

Statement of Facts ............................................................... 1

Issues Presented ................................................................. 5

Summary of the Argument ..................................................... 6

Argument

First Issue. . . . . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7 The Trial Court erred when it dismissed the application of JERRY VALDEZ to admit the Will of MARTHA JANE VALDEZ into probate.

Second Issue ............................................................. 13 BRUCE ROBERTSON, JR. does not have standing to contest the application to admit the 1997 Will into probate.

Third Issue ................................................................ 14 The Trial Court should have admitted the Will of MARTHA JANE VALDEZ because it met the requirements of Probate Code §59 for a self-proving Will and the Will was not being contested by anyone who had standing to contest the Will.

vii TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prayer ............................................................. ................ 15

Certificate of Service ........................................................... 16

Certificate of Compliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Appendix

viii STATEMENT OF FACTS

This case pertains to the probate of the estate of MARTHA JANE VALDEZ,

who died on September 30,2008, at the age of98 and was survived by 12 children.

DOROTHY MELLO's WILL CONTEST

On October 10, 2008, Appellant JERRY VALDEZ filed an application to

probate the February 22, 1997, self-proving Last Will and Testament of MARTHA

JANE and to be appointed Independent Executor of the Will (CR 36, App. Exh. K).

VALDEZ is the principal beneficiary of MARTHA JANE's estate under the Will.

DOROTHY H. MELLO, one of the surviving children, filed a contest to the Will

through her then attorney Appellee BRUCE ROBERTSON, JR (App. Exh. K). A

jury trial was held, at which DOROTHY, her sisters ANGIE CONTRERAS, and

ESTELLA PENA, testified, as well as DEBBIE ZAMARRIPA, and GERALDINE

SMITH, grandchildren of MARTHA JANE.

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Related

Boyles v. Gresham
263 S.W.2d 935 (Texas Supreme Court, 1954)
Allen v. Nesmith
525 S.W.2d 943 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1975)
Jones v. LaFargue
758 S.W.2d 320 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1988)
Laros v. Hartman
260 S.W.2d 592 (Texas Supreme Court, 1953)
State v. Jacob
260 S.W.2d 22 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 1953)
Triestman v. Kilgore
838 S.W.2d 547 (Texas Supreme Court, 1992)
Schott v. Oppenheimer
344 S.W.2d 250 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1961)
Wich v. Fleming
652 S.W.2d 353 (Texas Supreme Court, 1983)
Womble v. Atkins
331 S.W.2d 294 (Texas Supreme Court, 1960)
Krueger v. Williams
359 S.W.2d 48 (Texas Supreme Court, 1962)
Cox v. Johnson
638 S.W.2d 867 (Texas Supreme Court, 1982)
Pirtle v. Gregory
629 S.W.2d 919 (Texas Supreme Court, 1982)
Cooper v. Texas Gulf Industries, Inc.
513 S.W.2d 200 (Texas Supreme Court, 1974)
Pledger v. Schoellkopf
762 S.W.2d 145 (Texas Supreme Court, 1988)
Logan v. Thomason
202 S.W.2d 212 (Texas Supreme Court, 1947)
Nesmith v. Allen
531 S.W.2d 330 (Texas Supreme Court, 1975)
State v. Shirley
135 S.W. 1 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 1911)

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