Joseph Ashmore, Jr., Allan Clark and Financial Risk Specialists, Inc. v. JMS Construction, Inc. and David Perley

Opinion

Affirmed as Modified; Opinion Filed December 13, 2016.

In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-15-00537-CV

JOSEPH E. ASHMORE, JR., ALLAN CLARK, AND FINANCIAL RISK SPECIALISTS, INC., Appellants V. JMS CONSTRUCTION, INC. AND DAVID PERLEY, Appellees

On Appeal from the 193rd Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. DC-10-13260

MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Myers, Evans, and Schenck Opinion by Justice Evans

Joseph E. Ashmore, Jr., Allan Clark, and Financial Risk Specialist, Inc. (FRS) appeal a

judgment following a jury trial. Ashmore asserts that the trial court (1) abused its discretion by

imposing “death penalty” sanctions against him and (2) erred in excluding witness testimony at

trial. Ashmore and FRS both assert that there is no evidence, or the evidence is factually

insufficient, to support the jury’s findings that both Ashmore and FRS hold money which

belongs to appellee JMS Construction, Inc. (JMS Construction) and thus cannot be liable for

money had and received as the jury found. Ashmore and Clark also both assert that there is no

evidence, or the evidence is factually insufficient, to support the jury’s findings that Ashmore

and Clark converted monies of JMS Construction. Finally, all three appellants assert that the

trial court erred in entering final judgment against them which granted to JMS Construction a “double recovery” in violation of the one satisfaction rule. We affirm in part because the trial

court did not abuse its discretion in enforcing its scheduling order and based on the sufficiency of

the evidence to support the jury’s liability findings, but we modify in part to eliminate the double

recovery so, as modified, we affirm.

BACKGROUND

David Perley, Michael Alexander, and Gordon Brown were working on a log deal in the

Amazon together. Perley owns JMS Construction. Alexander is Perley’s friend and business

partner. Brown is Alexander’s friend and helped to secure the log deal. Perley, Alexander, and

Brown attended a meeting at Ashmore’s office with Ashmore, Clark, and Jack Wilemon to

discuss getting an insurance wrap on the log project. Ashmore is a former probate judge and

private practitioner. Clark owns FRS and Wilemon worked with Clark.

A. Appellants’ Version of Events

Ashmore, Clark, and FRS assert that Wilemon and Clark asked if Ashmore would serve

as a “paymaster” for several investment opportunities. They assert that Ashmore’s duties as

paymaster involved holding the funds until the parties instructed him to pay the money out for

various investment deals, distributing those funds and cutting checks for the deals brought to

him, and paying taxes. Ashmore agreed to act as paymaster.

Ashmore, Clark, and FRS allege that Perley, Brown, and Alexander went to Ashmore’s

office in November 2006 to discuss an insurance wrap on a log deal with Wilemon and Clark.

At that meeting, Wilemon also explained a separate bond deal to Perley, Alexander, and Brown.

Specifically, Ashmore, Clark, and FRS allege that Wilemon informed Perley that he would have

to invest $1.5 million to initiate the insurance wrap and bond deal.

Ashmore, Clark, and FRS assert that (1) the meeting was between Alexander, Brown,

Wilemon, and Clark, and (2) Ashmore’s presence at this initial meeting was limited to

–2– approximately ten minutes. Ashmore testified that he “dropped in while they were having a

meeting” but did not stay at the meeting or discuss a bond deal. Ashmore, Clark, and FRS

further allege that Ashmore only acted as paymaster, did not take part in the insurance wrap deal,

had no money invested in the deal, and never received any compensation for acting as

paymaster. Wilemon outlined the insurance wrap deal points in an email dated December 4,

2006 to Perley, Alexander, and Clark as follows:

1. $1,500,000 will be deposited in Joseph E. Ashmore, Jr. account. The wiring instructions for this account will be sent under separate cover.

2. These funds will be held in this account pending a final determination that everything is in place with Morgan Keegan to proceed with this bond issue. Should it be determined that this issue is not ready, then your funds will be returned to you in full.

3. Once the determination is made that the process is ready, you will give instructions to Judge Ashmore to release these funds per Mr. Clark’s instructions.

4. Upon the closing and funding of this bond issue, your company will receive 15-20 million dollars. These funds will be sent to Judge Ashmore’s account and he will forward the funds to the coordinates that you desire.

Between December 11 and December 14, 2006, Perley wired funds totaling $1.5 million from

the JMS Construction account into Ashmore’s account.

On December 15, 2006, Perley provided Wilemon with a letter that (1) acknowledged the

transfer of funds to Ashmore’s account for completion of the bond offer and (2) authorized Clark

to disburse the funds “to the appropriate parties to complete the transaction.” The letter further

stated Perley’s understanding based on information from Wilemon that the transaction was likely

to close at the end of December. However, the day before the date of Perley’s letter, on

December 14, 2006, Ashmore transferred $1.5 million from his account to FRS ($150,000) and

Pruitt & Pruitt ($1,350,000). Ashmore contends that the funds were transferred because

Wilemon and Clark decided to use Pruitt & Pruitt as paymaster instead of himself. Ashmore

–3– testified that Wilemon instructed him to make the transfer and Clark followed up with him to

disburse the funds.

Ashmore, Clark, and FRS all contend that other than the brief time the funds were in

Ashmore’s bank account and his transfer of the funds, Ashmore did not have any involvement

with the bond deal or the insurance wrap transaction. FRS and Clark contend that they did not

receive any money other than the $150,000 which FRS returned to Alexander on August 22,

2007.

B. Appellees’ Version of the Events

Perley testified that he went to Ashmore’s office on November 28, 2006 with Alexander

and Brown to discuss the insurance wrap with Clark and Wilemon. Perley testified that Ashmore

joined the meeting and suggested that Perley, Alexander, and Brown be allowed to invest in a

bond opportunity. Perley specifically testified that Ashmore and Wilemon discussed the

opportunity as follows:

And he and Jack had a conversation back and forth where he would say, Well, let’s get these boys in the bond deal. And Jack would say, Well, Judge, that's about to close. And then he would say, No, Jack, we can get them in there. They can make some quick money. And Jack would say, No, Judge, that deal is already done. We’re going to have that thing closed in 30 days. It will be over. And he said, Jack, get these boys in the bond deal. Let them make some money.

Perley testified that Ashmore represented that (1) the bond deal was his deal, (2) he was in

control of the deal and (3) Clark and Wilemon were his associates. Perley testified that he

offered to secure $1.5 million in a short time for the bond deal and was advised that the funds

would be used to pay fees when the bond was completed. Perley further testified that Ashmore

told him that his money “would never be in harm’s way and would never leave [Ashmore’s]

account until the transaction was completed.” Perley testified that Ashmore told him he needed

to wire $200,000 for the insurance wrap before they could move forward with the bond deal.

–4– Perley testified that Ashmore said that he “had money involved in the deal, he had skin in the

game, and that we were all going to make a lot of money.”

On November 30, 2006, Perley, through JMS Construction, transferred $200,000 to FRS

for the insurance wrap. Perley testified that he felt comfortable wiring these funds because:

(1) Ashmore was involved in the project and would act as trustee; (2) Perley’s “money would

never be in harm’s way”; and (3) his money would be returned if the deal didn’t go through. In

regard to the bond deal, Perley testified that he “invested in the deal because of Ashmore. That’s

why we put our money in. We didn’t really know Wilemon from Clark from Adam . . . .”

Perley specifically testified that he would not have wired any funds if Ashmore had not been

involved.

After the $200,000 was wired to FRS, a second meeting took place at Ashmore’s office.

Perley testified that in addition to himself, the other attendees of this meeting included Wilemon,

Clark, Alexander, and Randy Moseley. Perley brought Moseley to the meeting to help him

understand how the bond deal was going to work.1 Perley also participated in a conference call

with Clark and Wilemon to discuss the bond deal. Perley testified that he expected that the deal

would be done within thirty days and he would make $5 million.

Perley then wired money to Ashmore’s trust account and, as of December 14, 2006, had

transferred funds totaling $1.5 million, in addition to the $200,000 he had previously transferred

to FRS. Perley later discovered that Ashmore had transferred the $1.5 million out of his trust

account on December 14, 2006. Perley contends that he did not authorize the transfer of these

funds. Perley testified that on December 15, 2006 he prepared the letter dated December 15,

2006—one day after the transfer—instructing Ashmore to “allow Mr. Alan Clark to disburse

1 Moseley was a CFO of a company Perley and Moseley were putting together.

–5– these funds to the appropriate parties to complete this transaction.” Perley testified that he

signed this letter and “issued” it to Wilemon to hold because he was going on vacation and was

told the bond was going to be funded the weekend that he would be gone.

After the initial thirty-day time period had passed and the bond had not closed, Perley

testified that he spoke with Clark and Wilemon daily about the bond deal. Clark and Wilemon

advised Perley that they were working on closing the bond and that Perley would receive money

soon. Perley contends that he continuously demanded the return of JMS Construction’s money

for the four years following his original investments, but the neither the bond deal or the

insurance wrap ever materialized.

C. Litigation

On October 5, 2010, JMS Construction and David Perley filed a lawsuit against

Ashmore, Clark, FRS, and Wilemon asserting claims for breach of contract, negligent

misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, constructive fraud, conversion, unjust

enrichment, money had and received, and conspiracy. Ashmore was served with the original

petition, which contained requests for disclosure, on October 7, 2010. Ashmore filed his pro se

general denial on November 1, 2010, but failed to respond to the requests for disclosure which

were due on December 21, 2010.

Trial was originally set for September 13, 2011 but the record contains numerous other

trial settings.2 In connection with several of the trial settings, the trial court entered agreed or

unopposed orders extending the pretrial deadlines including those deadlines for (1) filing

2 The record contains references to eleven trial settings in addition to the original trial setting.

–6– amended pleadings asserting new claims or defenses and (2) amending or supplementing

discovery responses.3

On April 15, 2013, the day before the April 16, 2013 trial setting, Ashmore filed a

voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. As a result, the case

was abated on April 16, 2013 and was not reopened until October 30, 2013. In the order

reopening the case, the trial court set a new trial date of January 7, 2014 and ordered that none of

the deadlines in the sixth and last scheduling order be changed. The sixth scheduling order

contained a February 21, 2013 deadline for asserting new claims or defenses and a March 7,

2013 deadline for amended or supplemented discovery responses.

The trial court continued the trial setting to April 22, 2014, then to May 13, 2014, and

finally to August 19, 2014. Although the trial dates were continued, none of the deadlines from

the sixth scheduling order were extended. On July 29, 2014, the parties filed an unopposed

motion to continue the trial date for the sole purpose of conducting a mediation. The trial date

was continued to October 28, 2014.

On August 21, 2014, three days before the mediation, Ashmore filed an amended answer

and affirmative defenses and served “amended” responses to requests for disclosure.4 The

amended answer and the discovery responses asserted, for the first time, five affirmative

defenses. Ashmore named fifteen potential persons with knowledge of relevant facts and their

telephone numbers but did not provide any additional information on those persons. Aside from

3 The trial court prepared the original scheduling order after which the parties agreed to or did not oppose five additional scheduling orders. 4 In their brief, appellees note that Ashmore titled his discovery responses as “amended” responses to requests for disclosure but appellees have no record of having received an original response to request for disclosure from Ashmore. The record does not contain any response from Ashmore to requests for disclosure before the “amended” responses.

–7– these two responses, the remainder of the disclosure responses contained answers such as “none

at this time” or “defendant will supplement pursuant to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.”

On August 22, 2014, Perley and JMS Construction’s counsel sent a letter to Ashmore’s

counsel advising that such pleadings and discovery were untimely and requesting that the

pleadings and response be withdrawn. On October 3, 2014, Perley and JMS Construction moved

to strike Ashmore’s amended answer and affirmative defenses and responses to disclosures. On

October 9, 2014, Ashmore filed a Response to Plaintiffs’ Motion to Strike and Motion for Leave

to File Amended Answer and Second Amended Disclosures. On October 10, 2014, the trial

court granted Perley and JMS Construction’s motion and denied Ashmore’s motion expressly

denying leave to file and striking the amended answer and the responses to disclosure in their

entirety.

On October 27, 2014, the day before trial, Ashmore filed an emergency motion to

continue the trial date due to an illness. The trial court granted the motion and continued the trial

date from October 28, 2014, to December 2, 2014.

The jury trial began on December 2, 2014, and ended on December 17, 2014. During

trial, Ashmore moved for an instructed verdict on plaintiffs’ claims, including money had and

received and conversion. Clark and FRS orally joined in Ashmore’s motion. The trial court

denied defendants’ motion regarding money had and received and conversion and submitted the

case to the jury. The jury found that Clark, Ashmore, and Wilemon converted the monies of

JMS Construction and assessed harm in the amount of $1.5 million. In keeping with the

unchallenged instructions, the jury assessed the percentage of fault attributable to each defendant

as follows: (1) Clark, 35%; (2) Ashmore, 30%; and (3) Wilemon, 35%. On the money had and

received theory, the jury found that FRS and Ashmore both held money that belonged to JMS

Construction in the amount of $1.5 million. In addition, the jury found liability against various

–8– combinations of appellants for breach of contract, fraud and fraudulent inducement, negligent

misrepresentations, and breach of fiduciary duty as an escrow agent, but did not assess any

damages for those claims. Finally, in response to a question about conspiracy submitted

separately from any other claim, the jury concluded that Clark and Wilemon, but not Ashmore,

were part of a conspiracy that damaged JMS Construction. The jury did not answer the damages

question that followed the conspiracy question.

On January 15, 2015, Ashmore, Clark, and FRS filed motions for judgment

notwithstanding the verdict on the claims for conversion and money had and received. On

January 26, 2015, the trial court signed a final judgment awarding JMS Construction judgment

against (1) Clark in the amount of $1,050,000 and (2) FRS and Ashmore, jointly and severally, in

the amount of $1,500,000.

Ashmore, Clark, and FRS moved for a new trial asserting that the jury’s findings in

regard to money had and received and conversion were not supported by factually sufficient

evidence. Ashmore, Clark, and FRS also asserted that the trial court improperly excluded

Alexander’s testimony. Ashmore, Clark, and FRS’s motions for judgment notwithstanding the

verdict and motion for new trial were overruled by operation of law. Ashmore, Clark, and FRS

then filed this appeal.

ANALYSIS

A. Striking of Amended Answer

Ashmore asserts that the trial court abused its discretion by striking his amended answer

and affirmative defenses. We disagree.

Generally, a party may amend its pleadings up until seven days before trial. TEX. R. CIV.

P. 63. However, the deadline for filing an amended pleading imposed by rule 63 may be altered

by the trial court in a scheduling order issued pursuant to rule 166. Id. A party must seek leave

–9– of court to amend its pleading after the deadline imposed by a scheduling order entered pursuant

to rule 166. Id. We review a trial court’s decision whether to grant leave to file an amended

pleading for abuse of discretion. See Bagwell v. Ridge at Alta Vista Inv. I, LLC, 440 S.W.3d 287,

292 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2014, pet. denied). The trial court has no discretion to refuse an

amendment unless (1) the opposing party presents evidence of surprise or prejudice; or (2) the

amendment asserts a new cause of action or defense, and thus is prejudicial on its face, and the

opposing party objects to the amendment. Id. at 293. The trial court’s enforcement of its

scheduling order is also reviewed for abuse of discretion. See Hakemy Bros., Ltd. v. State Bank

and Trust Co., Dallas, 189 S.W.3d 920, 924 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2006, pet. denied). A trial court

abuses its discretion when it acts arbitrarily or unreasonably without reference to any guiding

rules and principles. Id.

In this case, the trial court entered the sixth scheduling order pursuant to rule 166 and

required all amended pleadings asserting new causes of action or defenses to be filed no later

than February 21, 2013. The amended answer that Ashmore filed on August 21, 2014, without

leave of court, contained five affirmative defenses including prior material breach, failure of

condition precedent, justification, capacity, and contribution. The only prior answer filed by

Ashmore was a pro se general denial dated November 1, 2010. Accordingly, the nearly four

years between the filings, Ashmore had never asserted any affirmative defense. In their motion

to strike, Perley and JMS Construction argued that they would be unfairly surprised and severely

prejudiced if the court were to allow the affirmative defenses because Perley and JMS

Construction had not conducted discovery regarding the affirmative defenses and “[t]here has

been no new information and/or sudden revelation that has occurred that would justify these

affirmative defenses being asserted after four years of being in litigation.”

–10– We summarized above the protracted pretrial procedural history of this case which

includes numerous resettings of the trial and six scheduling orders. From this it is clear the trial

court worked with counsel and the parties to move this case to trial while accommodating the

parties and counsel, but compliance with the scheduling orders became an issue. Based on this

record, it was reasonable for the trial court to conclude that allowing the amendment after four

years of pretrial preparation would detrimentally affect Perley and JMS Construction’s

presentation of the case by injecting new substantive matters into the trial. Given that

Ashmore’s amended answer was (1) untimely filed under the applicable scheduling order;

(2) facially prejudicial because it asserted new affirmative defenses; and (3) objected to by

Perley and JMS Construction, we cannot conclude that the trial court abused its discretion by

striking Ashmore’s amended answer, denying Ashmore’s motion for leave to file his amended

answer, or enforcing its scheduling order.

On appeal, however, Ashmore does not address his failure to assert affirmative defenses

until after the time allotted by the scheduling order. Ashmore also does not respond to Perley

and JMS Construction’s allegations of unfair surprise and prejudice.5 Instead, Ashmore portrays

the trial court’s decision to strike the amended answer as an imposition of death penalty

sanctions.6 Ashmore characterizes as a sanction the consequence of his non-compliance with a

scheduling order.7 Ashmore is not being penalized for egregious conduct which warranted a

5 Ashmore filed a “Response to Plaintiffs’ Motion to Strike and Motion for Leave to File Amended Answer and Second Amended Disclosures” on October 9, 2014. The motion, however, only addresses Ashmore’s motion for leave and does not address appellees’ motion to strike. 6 A trial court may impose any appropriate sanction under rule 215.2 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, including striking out pleadings or parts thereof, if a party is abusing the discovery process. See Shops at Legacy (Inland) Ltd. P’ship v. Fine Autographs & Memorabilia Retail Stores, Inc., 418 S.W.3d 229, 232 (Tex. App.— Dallas 2013, pet. denied). These sanctions, that adjudicate a claim and preclude presentation of the merits on the case, are often referred to as “death penalty” sanctions. Id. 7 This is sometimes a tactical strategy. See infra n. 8.

–11– discovery sanction. See, e.g., Cire v. Cummings, 134 S.W.3d 835 (Tex. 2004) (pleadings

stricken as a discovery sanction for refusing to disclose and later destroying discoverable

audiotapes). To the contrary, Ashmore is being held accountable for his failure to assert new

defenses in the case after the deadline in the sixth (last) scheduling order in accordance with

rules 63 and 166. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 63, 166.

B. Striking of Disclosure Responses

Ashmore asserts that the trial court abused its discretion by striking his amended

responses to requests for disclosure. Ashmore specifically argues that the trial court was

required to consider lesser sanctions before granting Perley and JMS Construction’s motion to

strike because the striking of amended disclosure responses constituted death penalty sanctions.

We disagree.

Perley and JMS Construction’s motion sought to strike the responses to requests for

disclosure filed after the deadline set by the sixth scheduling order because Ashmore failed to

explain “why these [15] witnesses were not disclosed sooner” and allowing the discovery

responses would result in “severe and unfair prejudice” to Perley and JMS Construction. Among

other reasons they argued,

Because of Ashmore’s complete failure to disclose these witnesses timely, Plaintiffs did not conduct discovery as to these persons and/or take their depositions nor did the Plaintiffs attempt to obtain more details pertaining to these individuals from any of the Defendants.

Thus, the motion articulated the standards for automatic exclusion of untimely discovery

contained in rule 193.6. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 193.6. We, therefore, analyze the trial court’s

decision to strike Ashmore’s discovery responses according to the standards in rule 193.6:

In discussing Rule 193.6, we have explained, “The rule is mandatory, and the penalty—exclusion of evidence—is automatic, absent a showing of: (1) good cause or (2) lack of unfair surprise or (3) unfair prejudice.” Oscar Luis Lopez v. La Madeleine of Texas. Inc., 200 S.W.3d 854, 860 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2006, no pet.). We continued, “The sanction of automatic exclusion of undisclosed –12– evidence, subject to the exceptions set forth in the rule, is well established. The party offering the undisclosed evidence has the burden to establish good cause or lack of surprise, which must be supported by the record.” Id. (citations omitted). The trial court applied the proper standard under Rule 193.6. See id.

See In re Staff Care, Inc., 422 S.W.3d 876, 882 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2014, no pet.) (concluding

that trial court properly analyzed whether or not to strike discovery responses under Rule 193.6

and not pursuant to a death penalty analysis).8 Under Rule 193.6, a party who fails to timely

make, amend, or supplement a discovery response may not introduce in evidence the material or

information that was not timely disclosed or offer the testimony of a witness who was not timely

identified, unless the trial court finds that (1) good cause exists for the failure to timely make,

amend, or supplement the response, or (2) the failure will not unfairly surprise or prejudice the

other parties. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 193.6.

As he did regarding the striking of his untimely amended answer, Ashmore characterizes

the trial court’s decision to strike the disclosure responses as an imposition of death penalty

sanctions. Once again, Ashmore confuses a consequence for his failure to file timely disclosure

responses with a discovery sanction. As stated above, the sixth (last) scheduling order had a

March 7, 2013 deadline for serving amended or supplemented discovery responses. Ashmore

had the burden to establish good cause for the untimely response or lack of unfair surprise or

unfair prejudice. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 193.6(b). If Ashmore failed to meet this burden, then

under rule 193.6, the trial court’s decision to strike the responses should be affirmed. See

Cunningham v. Columbia/St. David’s Healthcare System, L.P., 185 S.W.3d 7, 13 (Tex. App.—

Austin 2005, no pet.). We review this decision under an abuse of discretion standard. Id. This

8 Unlike the present case, when parties do not argue in the trial court or court of appeals for the application of rule 193.6 but instead frame the issue under rule 215.2, we have limited our analysis to rule 215.2. See, e.g., Associated Air Ctr. LP v. Tary Network Ltd., No. 05-13-00685-CV, 2015 WL 970664, at *3, *5-*6 (Tex. App.— Dallas Mar. 4, 2015, no pet.) (trial court’s ruling on motion to strike summary judgment evidence and prohibit its admission at trial pursuant to rule 215.2 for failure to produce documents and answer deposition questions analyzed on appeal under rule 215.2; no party raised rule 193.6 in the trial court or appellate briefs).

–13– Court may not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court absent a clear abuse of discretion.

Id.

Here, Perley and JMS Construction argued that the late-filed disclosure responses would

cause unfair surprise and prejudice. Perley and JMS Construction specifically argued that

Ashmore named fifteen potential persons with knowledge of relevant facts in the disclosure

responses whom they did not have the opportunity to depose or otherwise conduct discovery to

learn the substance of those witnesses’ testimony. In addition, the disclosure responses asserted,

for the first time, five affirmative defenses. Ashmore did not address the reason for his untimely

discovery or appellee’s assertions of unfair surprise in his response to the motion to strike.

Ashmore simply noted that Alexander had only recently reached out to him and that Alexander

provided new information. Ashmore did not provide to the trial court at the hearing or in his

brief before us any meaningful reason for his failure to speak with Alexander prior to October

2014, or prior to the discovery deadlines. Accordingly, we cannot conclude that the trial court

abused its discretion in implementing the automatic exclusion of untimely discovery responses

pursuant to rule 193.6 by striking Ashmore’s disclosure responses. We resolve Ashmore’s first

issue against him.

C. Exclusion of Testimony

Ashmore asserts that the trial court abused its discretion in excluding the testimony of

Michael Alexander as a fact and rebuttal witness at trial on the basis that Ashmore failed to

timely disclose Alexander under rule 193.6 of Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. We disagree.

1) Standard of review

As stated above, a party who fails to timely make, amend, or supplement a discovery

response may not offer the testimony of a witness who was not timely identified, unless the trial

court finds that (1) good cause exists for the failure to timely make, amend, or supplement the

–14– response, or (2) the failure will not unfairly surprise or prejudice the other parties. See TEX. R.

CIV. P. 193.6. The burden of establishing good cause is on the party calling the witness and a

finding of good cause must be supported by the record. Id. We review the trial court’s

exclusion of a witness on nondisclosure grounds for an abuse of discretion. White v. Harrison,

390 S.W.3d 666, 675 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012, no pet.).

2) Additional facts

On August 21, 2014, Ashmore served “amended” responses to requests for disclosure

despite the fact that the sixth (last) scheduling order had a March 7, 2013 deadline for serving

amended or supplemented discovery responses.9 On October 9, 2014, Ashmore filed a response

to plaintiffs’ motion to strike and motion for leave to file amended answer and second amended

disclosures. The second amended disclosures were attached as an exhibit to the motion and, for

the first time, listed Alexander as a fact witness. At trial, the following exchange took place:

The Court: Well, we talked about this in the pretrial. Why is it that all of this information only became known after the designation deadline?

Ashmore’s counsel: He was only willing to testify or talk to us at a point when he told us that his conscious [sic] changed and he had to tell the truth. He was going to stay on their side with their story, which I don’t want to say much more about that because it will just -- he would have testified in a way that is untruthful, and now he wants to tell the truth. So he came out of nowhere and came to us. I didn’t find the guy. He came to Joe, not myself. But then I came and I met with him personally. And so if he’s not credible, that’s fine, cross-examine him.

The Court: Well, again, we talked about this at the pretrial hearing. I understand that -- and this is part of the problem of taking over a case from another lawyer. But just because you, the lawyers, might not have known of the situation, there is nothing that’s been shown that the parties didn’t know

9 The “amended” responses served by Ashmore did not list Alexander as a fact witness.

–15– about his knowledge of anything. Everybody knew about him from the beginning. He could have been noticed and deposed years ago. So that request is denied.

Ashmore’s counsel: Your Honor, the knowledge that we knew was different than the knowledge that we learned. This is new knowledge. We only learned of the new knowledge now. This guy was singing a different tune then. So this is new.

The Court: I don’t think that’s the inquiry. Everybody knew about his involvement from day one. He could have been noticed and deposed. That’s the Court’s ruling.

The trial court also entered an order denying Ashmore’s motion for leave to file the second

amended disclosures.

3) Analysis

As discussed above, the burden of establishing good cause was on Ashmore and a finding

of good cause must be supported by the record. Ashmore’s sole justification for his late

disclosure of Alexander was that Alexander only recently changed how he would testify.

Ashmore cites no reason for his failure to speak with Alexander prior to October 2014, or prior

to the discovery deadlines. Further, rule 194.2(e) requires the disclosure of potential witnesses,

not just favorable witnesses. Ashmore concedes he knew about Alexander as a witness, yet

Ashmore did not explain to the trial court or us what was his good cause for not disclosing

Alexander during the three and one-half years discovery period even if by doing so Ashmore

would have disclosed a potentially unfavorable witness. The trial court indicated it grasped that

by commenting that Alexander could have been noticed and deposed years ago thereby learning

within the discovery period the substance of Alexander’s testimony and, by implication, whom it

favored.

Ashmore further argues in his appellate brief that Perley and JMS Construction would not

have been unfairly surprised because Alexander was known to all parties. Ashmore, however,

did not raise this argument below in the trial court thereby not preserving this argument for our –16– review. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1; Zorrilla v. Aypco Constr. II, LLC, 469 S.W.3d 143, 159 (Tex.

2015) (alternate argument for avoidance of lien foreclosure not raised in trial court not preserved

for appellate review).

Moreover, to obtain reversal of a judgment based upon error of the trial court for

exclusion of evidence, the following must be shown: (1) that the trial court did in fact commit

error; and (2) that the error was reasonably calculated to cause and probably did cause rendition

of an improper judgment. Gee v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 765 S.W.2d 394, 395 (Tex. 1989).

Even if we were to conclude that error occurred, Ashmore would still need to demonstrate that

the alleged error likely caused rendition of an improper judgment. Ashmore contends that

Alexander would have testified that: (1) Alexander was heavily involved in the deal;

(2) Ashmore just stopped by the first meeting to introduce himself; (3) Ashmore made no

representations about the bond deal, that the money would be protected, or a guaranteed return;

(4) Ashmore made no representations that the money was used to pay fees and would stay in his

account until authorized or that he had skin in the game. This proposed testimony was

presumably based upon Alexander’s affidavit, which was submitted as an exhibit to Ashmore’s

motion for leave to file his amended answer and second amended disclosures. The testimony

described above and in the affidavit, however, does not negate the agreement described in the

December 4th email that (1) Perley’s money was to remain in Ashmore’s account until Perley

authorized the release of the funds, or (2) that the funds would be returned in full if the bond was

not ready. As Alexander’s proposed testimony could only contradict but not negate as a matter

of law Perley’s testimony that he did not consent to the transfer of money out of Ashmore’s

account, we cannot conclude that the trial court’s act of exclusion probably caused the rendition

of an improper judgment against Ashmore on JMS Construction’s claims for conversion and

money had and received.

–17– For these reasons, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding

Alexander’s testimony and, even if the trial court had abused its discretion, that it did not cause

harmful error. We resolve Ashmore’s second issue against him.

C. Sufficiency of the Evidence

Ashmore and FRS assert that the evidence was factually and legally insufficient to

support the jury’s findings regarding the claim of money had and received. Ashmore and Clark

assert that the evidence was factually and legally insufficient to support the jury’s conclusions

regarding the claim of conversion.

The standard of review for the denial of a directed verdict is a legal sufficiency or “no

evidence” standard of review. See Mauricio v. Castro, 287 S.W.3d 476, 478–79 (Tex. App.—

Dallas 2009, no pet.). In reviewing the legal sufficiency of the evidence, we view the evidence

in the light favorable to the fact finding, crediting favorable evidence if reasonable persons

could, and disregarding contrary evidence unless reasonable persons could not. Id. at 479.

When reviewing a jury verdict to determine the factual sufficiency of the evidence, the

court of appeals must consider and weigh all the evidence, and should set aside the verdict only

if it is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of evidence as to be clearly wrong and unjust.

Cain v. Bain, 709 S.W.2d 175, 176 (Tex. 1986).

In conducting our review of the sufficiency of the evidence, we are mindful that the jury,

as fact finder, was the sole judge of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given

their testimony. City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 827 (Tex. 2005); Hinkle v. Hinkle,

223 S.W.3d 773, 782 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, no pet.). “[Jurors] may choose to believe one

witness and disbelieve another. Reviewing courts cannot impose their own opinions to the

contrary.” City of Keller, 168 S.W.3d at 819 (footnotes omitted).

–18– The starting point generally of a legal or factual sufficiency review is the charge and

instructions to the jury. Golden Eagle Archery, Inc. v. Jackson, 116 S.W.3d 757, 762 (Tex.

2003). This is necessary in order to “first have a clear understanding of the evidence that is

pertinent to [the appellate court’s] inquiry.” Id. When there is no objection to the form of a

charge brought forward in an issue on appeal, we should assume the charge is correct without

deciding that issue and evaluate the sufficiency of the evidence against the charge. See Akin,

Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. v. Nat'l Dev. & Research Corp., 299 S.W.3d 106, 112

(Tex. 2009) (“Because there was no objection to the charge as submitted, we assume, without

deciding, that the instruction was correct and measure the evidence by the charge as given.”)

(citing Osterberg v. Peca, 12 S.W.3d 31, 55 (Tex. 2000)).

2) Money Had and Received

The jury found that Ashmore and FRS held money in the amount of $1.5 million which

in equity and good conscience belonged to JMS Construction. Ashmore and FRS each contend

that the evidence supporting this conclusion was legally and factually insufficient. FRS

alternatively argues that if FRS did hold money which belonged to JMS Construction then it only

held $150,000 not $1,500,000.

a) Jury charge

We begin with the jury charge which provided the following instruction on money had

and received:

Do any of those named below hold money, which in equity and good conscience belongs to JMS?

Answer “Yes” or “No” for each of the following:

FRS: _______Yes_______________ Joseph Ashmore: _______Yes_______________

For the purposes of this question, whether a Defendant acquired the money wrongfully is irrelevant; the action is not premised on wrongdoing. The sole –19– inquiry is whether the Defendant received the money that rightfully belongs to a Plaintiff.

b) Ashmore

Ashmore contends that the evidence is insufficient to support the jury’s conclusion that

he holds money which in good conscience belongs to JMS Construction because there is no

evidence or factually insufficient evidence that he was unjustly enriched by temporarily holding

JMS Construction’s money. Ashmore further argues that he transferred the $1.5 million in

accordance with Perley’s intent for how Ashmore should handle the money. Ashmore also

argues that there is no evidence that he “held” the money after he was directed to transfer the

money out of his account. Ashmore further argues that once the funds were transferred into

Ashmore’s trust account, JMS Construction lost legal title to the funds. Lastly, Ashmore argues

he cannot be liable for transferring the money because an express contract governed the

transaction. We conclude each of Ashmore’s arguments is without merit.

The jury charge for money had and received did not contain any mention of unjust

enrichment. The charge only asked whether Ashmore received money that belonged to JMS

Construction. Ashmore did not object in the trial court or complain in his appellate brief in any

issue that the charge on money had and received failed to instruct the jury on an unjust

enrichment requirement. Because we evaluate the sufficiency of the evidence against the charge

as submitted—see Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P., 299 S.W.3d at 112—Ashmore’s

contention that no evidence showed he benefitted from holding the money is not relevant to the

jury’s answer to the money had and received question in the charge. We also note there is some

evidence that Ashmore was to receive up to $50,000 for his role in the transaction. Accordingly,

we decide this argument against Ashmore.

We also disagree with Ashmore’s assertion that he transferred the funds in accordance

with Perley’s direction for how Ashmore should handle the money. By email dated December 4, –20– 2006, Wilemon informed Perley and Alexander that the $1.5 million would be held in Ashmore’s

account “pending a final determination that everything is in place with Morgan Keegan to

proceed with this bond issue. Should it be determined that this issue is not ready, then your

funds will be returned to you in full.” The email went on to state that “[o]nce the determination

is made that the process is ready, you will give instructions to Judge Ashmore to release these

funds per Mr. Clark’s instructions.” Perley testified that he understood this email to mean that

the “money would not be released until the Morgan Keegan bond deal was finalized, because the

money was used to pay fees on the bond.” Between December 11 and December 14, 2006, it is

undisputed that Perley wired funds totaling $1.5 million from the JMS Construction account into

Ashmore’s account. On December 14, 2006, Ashmore transferred the funds out of his account to

FRS ($150,000) and Pruitt & Pruitt ($1,350,000). There is nothing in the record to indicate, and

no party argued, that “everything [was] in place with Morgan Keegan to proceed with this bond

issue” at the time Ashmore transferred the funds out of his account. Ashmore did not return the

$1.5 million to JMS Construction.

Perley testified that he did not authorize the transfer of these funds out of Ashmore’s

account. In fact, Perley specifically testified that he was not asked by Ashmore for authority to

transfer the $1.35 million and the $150,000 prior to or on December 14, 2006. There was,

however, conflicting evidence about Perley’s authorization for Ashmore to transfer the money

after the fact. Perley and others testified that on December 15, 2006 Perley signed a letter dated

that same date that authorized Clark to authorize Ashmore to transfer the money. The December

15, 2006 letter stated that Perley’s understanding and purpose in authorizing the transfer was to

close the transaction approximately at the end of December. Nothing in the letter authorized a

transfer before the letter was signed nor changed any term of the agreement. And nothing in the

record indicates that the transfer of the funds resulted in closure of the transaction. As we

–21– recounted above, Perley testified the terms included Ashmore’s agreement to hold the funds until

everything was in place to close the bond transaction and that if it did not close Ashmore would

return JMS’s $1.5 million to JMS Construction. Although Ashmore and other witnesses

provided conflicting testimony, neither side established their position as a matter of law. The

jury, therefore, had to evaluate the credibility and weight of the evidence and it apparently chose

to believe Perley which the jury was authorized to do. See City of Keller, 168 S.W.3d at 819

(“[Jurors] may choose to believe one witness and disbelieve another. Reviewing courts cannot

impose their own opinions to the contrary.”) (footnotes omitted). The testimony of Perley

corroborated by the December 4th email stating the deal terms which are not contradicted or

superseded by the December 15th letter supports the jury’s decision, so we cannot conclude the

jury’s verdict was contrary to the overwhelming weight of evidence as to be clearly wrong and

unjust. Thus, we conclude that Ashmore did not establish legal or factual insufficiency so the

jury was entitled to reject Ashmore’s contention that his transfer of JMS Construction’s money

was in accordance with Perley’s intent or express or implied authorization.

Ashmore also argues that there is no evidence that he “held” the money after he was

directed to transfer the money out of his account. Ashmore did not cite any case law in support

of his assertion that money had and received legal theory required Perley to prove Ashmore was

in continuing possession of the funds. Perley and JMS Construction, however, cited numerous

cases which conclude that a defendant may be liable under a money had and received claim even

if he no longer holds the money. See Pickett v. Republic Nat.l Bank of Dallas, 601 S.W.2d 405

(Tex. App.—Tyler 1980, aff’d) (claim for money had and received upheld even though recipient

of money had been mistakenly been paid to third parties) aff’d 619 S.W.2d 399 (Tex. 1981) (per

curiam); H.E.B., LLC v. Ardinger, 369 S.W.3d 496, 509 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2012, no pet.)

(H.E.B. spent $1.3 million paid by Persistence Capital after parties rescinded purchase agreement

–22– subjecting H.E.B. to claim by creditor of Persistence Capital for $1.3 million under the equitable

principles of money had and received); Greer v. White Oak State Bank, 673 S.W.2d 326 (Tex.

App.—Texarkana 1984, no pet.) (Bank allowed to pursue money had and received claim against

depositor to whom Bank had given immediate credit for deposited insurance check even though

depositor had used immediate credit to pay off liens on insured property before insolvency of

insurer resulted in dishonor of deposited insurance check). Because Ashmore does not cite

authority to support his argument, we decline to add an element to the common law theory of

money had and received. Instead, we find Ashmore’s argument unpersuasive.

Ashmore next argues that once JMS Construction transferred the funds to Ashmore’s

account, those funds no longer belonged to JMS Construction and it could not assert an equitable

claim for money had and received against Ashmore. Essentially, Ashmore argues that because

JMS Construction no longer had an ownership in the funds, it could not assert a money had and

received claim. In support of this assertion, Ashmore cites Austin v. Duval, 735 S.W.2d 647,

648–49 (Tex. App.—Austin 1987, writ denied) and Miller-Rogaska, Inc. v. Bank One, Texas,

N.A., 931 S.W.2d 655, 662 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1996, no writ). In Austin, the ownership rights to

the money at issue were extinguished pursuant to the express terms of a contract between the

parties (first option contract). 735 S.W.2d at 648. The court noted that the parties alleging a

right to the money could not do so “absent some showing of fraud or other error in the first

transaction.” Id. Unlike Austin, however, Ashmore has not cited to any express language of any

agreement which extinguished JMS Construction’s right to the money.

In Miller-Rogaska, a buyer of merchandise made a check payable to Miller but never

delivered it to Miller, instead mailing the check to another creditor who deposited the check to its

account. 931 S.W.2d at 657. The court noted that it was “[e]ssential to Miller’s claim that it had

ownership in the proceeds of the check” but concluded that “a check made out to Miller did not

–23– operate as an assignment of the funds to Miller absent delivery.” Id. at 663. Here, Perley

testified he did not authorize the transfer of funds out of Ashmore’s account indicating his belief

that he owned the funds. The December 4th email of deal terms also provided that Ashmore was

to hold JMS Construction’s funds and return the funds to JMS Construction if the transaction did

not consummate. Accordingly, Ashmore did not establish as a matter of law that the funds no

longer belonged to JMS Construction once the funds were transferred to Ashmore’s account.

Because there was evidence the jury was entitled to evaluate and believe, the jury’s verdict that

necessarily viewed the funds as belonging to JMS Construction was not contrary to the

overwhelming weight of evidence as to be clearly wrong and unjust.

Lastly, Ashmore argues that JMS Construction cannot recover under a theory of money

had and received because an express contract covered the subject matter of the dispute between

JMS Construction and Judge Ashmore. See Fortune Prod. Co. v. Conoco, Inc., 52 S.W.3d 671,

684 (Tex. 2000) (“Generally speaking, when a valid, express contract covers the subject matter

of the parties’ dispute, there can be no recovery under a quasi-contract theory, with certain

exceptions not relevant here.”) (internal citations omitted); MGA Ins. Co. v Chesnutt, 358

S.W.3d 808, 815 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012, no pet.) (same). Ashmore argues that Perley’s

December 15th letter was an express agreement authorizing Ashmore to transfer the funds out of

Ashmore’s account. Here, the December 4th email provided that Perley’s money was to remain

in Ashmore’s account until Perley authorized the release of the funds, or the funds would be

returned in full if the bond was not ready. The December 15th letter does change the

requirement that completion of the bond transaction was required in order to transfer the funds.

It is undisputed that the bond transaction did not close. We have previously discussed the

December 4th and December 15th documents when examining whether they express Perley’s

intention for the handling of the funds in Ashmore’s account and whether Ashmore acted

–24– consistently (even if preemptively) in conformity with Perley’s intent and found Ashmore did

not. For the reasons stated therein, we disagree with Ashmore’s assertion that there was an

express agreement that Ashmore was allowed to transfer the funds out of the account. Further,

this Court has recognized an exception to a contract barring recovering for money had and

received where there is evidence of fraud, bad faith, or illegality. See McAfee, Inc. v. Agilysys,

Inc., 316 S.W.3d 820, 828 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010, no pet.). In this case, JMS Construction

alleged a fraud claim and the jury concluded that Ashmore did commit fraud against JMS

Construction, although the jury did not award damages for fraud. Accordingly, we cannot

conclude that the jury was unable to assess liability for money had and received against

Ashmore.

Having reviewed all of Ashmore’s arguments, we conclude that the evidence was legally

and factually sufficient to support the jury’s findings regarding the claim of money had and

received against Ashmore.

c) FRS

FRS makes three of the same arguments: (1) there can be no recovery for unjust

enrichment if the same subject is covered by an express contract; (2) FRS no longer is in

possession of the funds; and (3) no evidence of FRS being unjustly enriched. As we have

already analyzed these arguments above, we need not address them again here and, accordingly,

we reject FRS’s argument that it is not liable for money had and received. We, however, agree

with FRS that the amount of damages awarded against FRS on this claim be modified from $1.5

million to $150,000.

On December 14, 2006, Ashmore transferred $150,000 of the $1.5 million in funds he

received from JMS Construction to FRS. The amount of $150,000 was the only amount within

FRS’s control as Ashmore transferred the remainder of the funds to Pruitt & Pruitt. See Akturk v.

–25– Leeche, No. 05-98-02095-CV, 2001 WL 619618, at *2 (Tex. App.—Dallas June 7, 2001, pet.

denied) (without evidence that the money ever entered into defendant’s possession, there was no

claim for money had and received). FRS then concedes that it used the $150,000 to pay

Alexander, another dissatisfied investor, rather than return the money to JMS Construction or

Perley. There is no dispute in the record that Alexander invested $150,000 of his own money

into the bond deal. Perley testified that Alexander threatened to expose Wilemon and Clark if he

did not receive his investment back from them. Shortly thereafter, Alexander signed a release of

all the parties in exchange for the sum of $150,000. Thus, FRS received from Ashmore funds in

the amount of $150,000 which belonged to JMS Construction that FRS never returned to JMS

Construction. See MGA Ins. Co. v. Charles R. Chesnutt, P.C., 358 S.W.3d 808, 814 (Tex.

App.—Dallas 2012, no pet.) (“To prove a claim for money had and received, a plaintiff must

show that a defendant holds money which in equity and good conscience belongs to him.”). We

note that neither FRS or Clark were found to be in conspiracy with Ashmore as the question was

abstractly asked in the charge. Nor is there any other basis in the charge such as agency or

respondeat superior for which FRS could be liable for Ashmore’s conduct in committing money

had and received. Accordingly, we modify the amount of damages awarded against FRS on the

claim of money had and received from $1.5 million to $150,000, but we reject FRS’s argument

that it is not liable at all for money had and received.

3) Conversion

The jury concluded that Ashmore and Clark converted monies in the amount of $1.5

million which belonged to JMS Construction. Ashmore and Clark assert that the evidence was

legally and factually insufficient to support this conclusion.

a) Elements of claim

Conversion is the wrongful exercise of dominion or control over the property of another

–26– in denial of, or inconsistent with, the other’s rights in the property. See Robinson v. Nat’l

Autotech, Inc., 117 S.W.3d 37, 39 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, pet. denied). To establish a claim

for conversion of personal property, a plaintiff must prove that: (1) the plaintiff owned or had

legal possession of the property or entitlement to possession; (2) the defendant unlawfully and

without authorization assumed and exercised dominion and control over the property to the

exclusion of, or inconsistent with, the plaintiff’s rights as an owner; (3) the plaintiff demanded

return of the property; and (4) the defendant refused to return the property. Smith v. Maximum

Racing, Inc., 136 S.W.3d 337, 341 (Tex. App.—Austin 2004, no pet.). There can be no

conversion, however, where the owner has expressly or impliedly assented to the taking or

disposition of the property. Robinson, 117 S.W.3d at 39–40.

Ashmore argues that because he acted in accordance with the terms of the December 15,

2006 letter and because he acted at the direction of Wilemon and Clark, both of whom who were

authorized by Perley to make the transfer, there is no evidence that Ashmore committed an

“unauthorized and wrongful assumption and exercise of dominion and control” over the funds.

As this is Ashmore’s sole argument as to why there is factually and legally insufficient evidence

of conversion which we analyzed and rejected when asserted as to money had and received, we

again reject this argument.10 Accordingly, we disagree that the evidence was factually or legally

insufficient to support a claim of conversion and we resolve Ashmore’s fourth issue against him.

c) Clark

Clark makes two arguments that there is insufficient evidence to support the jury’s

verdict for conversion against him. He first argues that there is no evidence that he committed an

10 See supra Section C(2)(b). This argument was previously raised and rejected under Ashmore’s argument for money had and received.

–27– “unauthorized and wrongful assumption and exercise of dominion and control” over the funds

because the facts cannot establish that he acted inconsistently with JMS Construction’s rights as

owner of the funds. We disagree for the reasons analyzed above when Ashmore made this

argument regarding money had and received.

In summary, Ashmore testified that he received a call from Clark to transfer the funds.

As stated above, Perley testified that he did not authorize the transfer of these funds out of

Ashmore’s account. Perley further testified that he was not asked by Clark for authority to

transfer the $1.35 million and the $150,000 prior to or on December 14, 2006 when Ashmore

transferred the funds. Thus, the record lacks evidence that Perley provided Clark with express or

implied consent to transfer the $1.5 million to FRS ($150,000) and Pruitt & Pruitt ($1,350,000).

Perley’s execution of the December 15th letter did not authorize a transfer of the funds under the

circumstances existing when Ashmore transferred them nordid it ratify Ashmore’s previous

transfer of the funds. Accordingly, when Clark instructed Ashmore to transfer the funds out of

his account, Clark did so without the authorization of JMS Construction and he exercised

dominion and control of the property in a manner inconsistent with JMS Construction’s rights.

Clark’s second argument is there was no evidence presented that Clark refused to return

the money. We disagree. Perley testified that he spoke with Clark and Wilemon daily about the

bond deal after the initial thirty-day time period passed and the bond had not closed. Perley

testified that he continuously demanded the status of JMS Construction’s money for the four

years following his original investments. Perley testified that he was advised that Wilemon,

Clark, and Ashmore were “working hard to get everyone their money” and that the promises and

excuses continued up until the lawsuit was filed.

In his concluding paragraph under this issue, Clark adds a new challenge to the

sufficiency of the evidence “to arrive at the amount of $1,050,000.00” awarded as damages

–28– against him. He provides no argument or authorities or citation to the record supporting this

challenge. An appellant’s brief in the court of appeals “must contain a clear and concise

argument for the contentions made, with appropriate citations to authorities and to the record.”

TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(i). Failure to provide citations or argument and analysis as to an appellate

issue may waive it. See ERI Consulting Eng’rs, Inc. v. Swinnea, 318 S.W.3d 867, 880 (Tex.

2010); Bullock v. Am. Heart Ass’n, 360 S.W.3d 661, 665 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2012, pet. denied)

(“Failure to cite legal authority or provide substantive analysis of the legal issue presented results

in waiver of the complaint.”). Here there is undisputed evidence that Perley through JMS

Construction wire transferred $1.5 million to Ashmore’s account which is the amount of

damages the jury awarded against Clark and Ashmore to JMS Construction for its money had

and received claim. So without argument and authorities referring to specific facts in the record

to which we are cited, Clark’s single sentence argument presents nothing for us to review.

Accordingly, we do not consider Clark’s challenge to the amount of $1,050,000.00 awarded

against him in the trial court’s judgment.

For these reasons, we disagree with Clark that the evidence was factually or legally

insufficient to support a claim of conversion, so we resolve Clark’s second issue against him.

D. Final Judgment / Double Recovery

Ashmore, FRS, and Clark assert that the trial court erred in entering final judgment in

favor of JMS Construction and against multiple defendants on multiple theories of recovery in

direct violation of the one satisfaction rule. Ashmore, Clark, and FRS specifically argue that the

jury awarded identical damages—$1.5 million—for each of JMS Construction’s liability theories

for conversion (against Clark, Ashmore, and Wilemon) and money had and received (against

FRS and Ashmore). Perley justifies the multiple recoveries arguing that he personally suffered

injuries, in addition to those suffered by JMS Construction, as a result of Ashmore releasing the

–29– $1.5 million to the third parties. We agree with Ashmore, Clark, and FRS that the judgment

violates the one satisfaction rule, so we reform the judgment.

Under the one satisfaction rule, a plaintiff is entitled to only one recovery for any

damages suffered. Crown Life Ins. Co. v. Casteel, 22 S.W.3d 378, 390 (Tex. 2000). This rule

applies when multiple defendants commit the same act as well as when defendants commit

technically different acts that result in a single injury. Id. Here, JMS Construction transferred in

the aggregate $1.5 million to Ashmore’s account. Ashmore in turn transferred $150,000 of that

to FRS and $1.35 million to a third party. Ashmore did not return to JMS Construction any part

of the $1.5 million and FRS did not return to JMS Construction any of the $150,000 received

from Ashmore. As measured against the jury charge with multiple theories of liability,

Ashmore, FRS, and Clark committed technically different acts that caused JMS Construction to

suffer a financial injury, but JMS Construction put a single amount of money into the

transaction—$1.5 million—and suffered a single financial injury. To the extent that Perley is

arguing that he was entitled to additional, personal damages for the claims of conversion and

money had and received, the record is clear from the instruction in the damages questions in the

charge that the jury only awarded damages to JMS Construction for its financial injury. Perley

did not complain in the trial court or on appeal that the charge and resulting judgment did not

include theories of liability and damages by which he might have recovered personally.

An appellate court has the power to modify a judgment when it appears from the face of

the record that the modification is necessary and that the justice of the case requires it. See

C.G.V. v. Tex. Dept. of Human Res., 663 S.W.2d 871, 873 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 1983, no

pet.). Accordingly, we sustain Ashmore’s fifth issue and FRS and Clark’s third issue and modify

the judgment as follows:

Plaintiff JMS Construction, Inc. has judgment jointly and severally against Defendants Financial Risk Specialists, Inc. and Joseph Ashmore in the principal –30– amount of $150,000.00, together with prejudgment interest on the aforementioned sum in the amount of 5% per annum accruing from December 14, 2006 through January 25, 2015, together with taxable court costs, together with post-judgment interest on the aforementioned sums in the amount of 5% per annum accruing from January 26, 2015 through the date on which the judgment is satisfied in full.

Plaintiff JMS Construction, Inc. has judgment jointly and severally against Defendants Allan Clark and Joseph Ashmore in the principal amount of $1,050,000.00, together with prejudgment interest on the aforementioned sum in the amount of 5% per annum accruing from December 14, 2006 through January 25, 2015, together with taxable court costs, together with postjudgment interest on the aforementioned sums in the amount of 5% per annum accruing from January 26, 2015 through the date on which the judgment is satisfied in full.

Plaintiff JMS Construction, Inc. has judgment severally against Defendant Joseph Ashmore in the principal amount of $1,500,000.00, together with prejudgment interest on the aforementioned sum in the amount of 5% per annum accruing from December 14, 2006 through January 25, 2015, together with taxable court costs, together with postjudgment interest on the aforementioned sums in the amount of 5% per annum accruing from January 26, 2015 through the date on which the judgment is satisfied in full.

Plaintiff JMS Construction, Inc. has judgment in the maximum, aggregate amount of $1,500,000.00.

E. Allocation of Costs

Finally we consider the proper allocation of costs in this appeal. Rule of civil procedure

139 provides that where the judgment of the court of appeals is against an appellant but for a

lesser amount than the trial court judgment, costs of appeal shall be borne by the appellee but

costs of the trial court shall be borne by the appellant. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 139. Rule 139 further

provides that if the judgment against an appellant is for the same or greater amount than the

judgment of the trial court, appellee shall recover costs of both courts. See id. Further, we have

discretion in more complex situations to allocate costs for good cause. See TEX. R. APP. P. 43.4;

Recognition Commc’n, Inc. v. Am. Auto. Ass’n, Inc., 154 S.W.3d 878, 894 (Tex. App.—Dallas

2005, pet. denied) (“We conclude this language allows us to exercise our discretion to determine

how ‘costs’ shall be awarded for an appeal as well as for trial in recognition of the result on

appeal.”). –31– Under our judgment, Perley and JMS Construction continue to prevail as they did in the

trial court. But their recovery has been reduced to a single recovery of $1.5 million in the

aggregate which approaches a fifty percent reduction. In addition, FRS obtained a 90%

reduction of its judgment obligation. Ashmore and Clark, however, did not obtain a reduction of

their individual judgment obligation, but Perley and JMS Construction are limited to a single

recovery. That result increases the likelihood that Ashmore and Clark will discharge the

judgment by each paying part of the judgment thereby paying less than under the trial court’s

judgment. We conclude, therefore, that Perley and JMS Construction should recover all of their

trial court costs as provided for in its judgment, but that appellate court costs should be borne

fifty percent by Perley and JMS Construction and fifty percent by Ashmore and Clark.

CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated above, we modify the trial court’s judgment as described above

and we modify the amount of damages awarded against FRS on the claim of money had and

received from $1.5 million to $150,000. As modified, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

/David W. Evans/ DAVID EVANS 150537F.P05 JUSTICE

–32– Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas JUDGMENT

JOSEPH ASHMORE, JR., ALLAN CLARK On Appeal from the 193rd Judicial District AND FINANCIAL RISK SPECIALISTS, Court, Dallas County, Texas INC., Appellants Trial Court Cause No. DC-10-13260. Opinion delivered by Justice Evans. No. 05-15-00537-CV V. Justices Myers and Schenck participating.

JMS CONSTRUCTION, INC. AND DAVID PERLEY, Appellees

In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is MODIFIED as follows:

Plaintiff JMS Construction, Inc. has judgment jointly and severally against Defendants Financial Risk Specialists, Inc. and Joseph Ashmore in the principal amount of $150,000.00, together with prejudgment interest on the aforementioned sum in the amount of 5% per annum accruing from December 14, 2006 through January 25, 2015, together with taxable court costs, together with post-judgment interest on the aforementioned sums in the amount of 5% per annum accruing from January 26, 2015 through the date on which the judgment is satisfied in full.

Plaintiff JMS Construction, Inc. has judgment jointly and severally against Defendants Allan Clark and Joseph Ashmore in the principal amount of $1,050,000.00, together with prejudgment interest on the aforementioned sum in the amount of 5% per annum accruing from December 14, 2006 through January 25, 2015, together with taxable court costs, together with postjudgment interest on the aforementioned sums in the amount of 5% per annum accruing from January 26, 2015 through the date on which the judgment is satisfied in full.

Plaintiff JMS Construction, Inc. has judgment severally against Defendant Joseph Ashmore in the principal amount of $1,500,000.00, together with prejudgment interest on the aforementioned sum in the amount of 5% per annum accruing from December 14, 2006 through January 25, 2015, together with taxable court costs, together with postjudgment interest on the aforementioned sums in the amount of 5% per annum accruing from January 26, 2015 through the date on which the judgment is satisfied in full. –33– Plaintiff JMS Construction, Inc. has judgment in the maximum, aggregate amount of $1,500,000.00.

It is ORDERED that, as modified, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.

It is ORDERED that costs should be borne fifty percent by David Perley and JMS Construction, Inc. and fifty percent by Joseph E. Ashmore, Jr. and Allan Clark.

Judgment entered this 13th day of December, 2016.

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