Lemus v. Aguilar

491 S.W.3d 51, 2016 Tex. App. LEXIS 2685, 2016 WL 1039165
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMarch 16, 2016
DocketNo. 04-14-00609-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 491 S.W.3d 51 (Lemus v. Aguilar) 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
Lemus v. Aguilar, 491 S.W.3d 51, 2016 Tex. App. LEXIS 2685, 2016 WL 1039165 (Tex. Ct. App. 2016).

Opinion

OPINION

Opinion by: Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice

On February 10, 2016, we issued an opinion and- judgment in this appeal. On February 17, 2016, Appellants Irma Le-mus and Manuel Lemus Jr. filed a motion for rehearing. .Although we deny the motion for rehearing, on our own motion, we withdraw our opinion and judgment of February 10, 2016, and substitute this opinion and judgment in its stead.

This appeal stems from a trespass to try title action. Appellants Irma Lemus and Manuel Lemus Jr. appeal the trial court’s judgment awarding Appellees John Rene Aguilar, Johnny B. Wells, Laura [54]*54Ashley Wells, and Johnny Montoya Gaza title .to the property and attorney’s fees, but denying ah claims for reimbursement of impi’ovements. On appeal, the Lemus-es allege (1) the trial court erred in determining the purported will of Elvira G. Aguilar was actually a gift deed; (2) the evidence was factually insufficient to support the trial court’s finding that the warranty deed Elvira G.' Aguilar signed' on January 7, 2009, was void for want of capacity; (3) the trial court erred in denying the Lemuses reimbursement for repairs, improvements, and taxes on the property located at 106 Cameo Avenue, San Antonio, Texas; (4) the trial court erred in finding the signature on the purported will was a forgery; and (5) the trial court erred in awarding attorney’s fees to the appellees. ■

Because we conclude the “March1’ 11, 2006 Will” was not a gift deed, we reverse the portions of the trial court’s judgment naming John Rene Aguilar, Laura-Ashley Wells, and Johnny B.Wells as title owners of the premises at 106 Cameo Avenue, San Antonio, Texas and the trial court’s award of attorney’s fees. We affirm the remaining portions of the trial court’s judgment and remand this cause to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Factual and PRocedural BackgRqund

Pursuant to a 1983 divorce, Elvira G. Aguilar1 was awarded the home at 106 Cameo Avenue, San Antonio, Texas and lived at the residence for over twenty years with her partner, Johnny Montoya Garza. Elvira had five' adult children: Irma Lemus,; Irene Lambert, David Aguilar, Annette Wells, and Nanette Aguilar. Following the tragic deaths of Annette and her husband in 1990, Elvira and Garza were named the grandchildren’s managing conservators. When Elvira’s grandchildren, John Rene Aguilar, Laura Ashley Wells, and Johnny B. Wells, came to live at the Cameo residence, a second story was added' to the home. Elvira’s' oldest daughter, Irma Lemus, filed multiple custody suits seeking to gain managing con-servatorship of the grandchildren resulting in a very contentious relationship between Elvira and Irma.

A. “March 11,2005 Will”

On March 11, 2005, Elvira and Garza signed a document titled “Will from Johnny Montoya Garza and Elvira G. Aguilar.” 2 • The “March 11,-2005 Will” provided as follows: “we agree that the house be evenly owned by John Rene Aguilar, Laura Ashley Wells and Johnny B, Wells and that nothing will be done without the authorization of John Rene Aguilar, Johnny B. Wells and Laura Ashley Wells.” The document further provides that no changes will be1 made to the house without the authorization of the grandchildren; and, if there is a disagreement, the grandchildren were to have the final say in the matter. The document' was handwritten by Garza and signed by both he and Elvira. All of the children and grandchildren knew of the document and its.location in the home.

B, Elvira Begins Exhibiting Signs of Dementia

In middle to late 2005, Elvira began exhibiting difficulty recognizing family members, and she was diagnosed with Al[55]*55zheimer’s disease. Elvira’s -cognitive skills continued to decline; family members reported times of relative calm, punctuated by periods of hysteria, paranoia,- confusion, and violent rages. Although medication slowed the dementia, Elvira’s mental capacity progressively declined. In the summer of 2006, Elvira moved into her daughter Nanette’s home. Elvira’s progressive deterioration, both physically and mentally, required constant care.

In November 2008, Nanette suffered a recurrence of cancer, necessitating hospitalization and admittance into a long-term care facility. Nanette passed away shortly after being admitted. When Nanette was hospitalized, Elvira was also hospitalized and subsequently moved to a nursing home. The diagnosis from Elvira’s admission examination included (1) mental impairment (Alzheimer’s disease and psychosis), (2) language/cognitive impairment (symbolic dysfunction), and (3) various physical maladies (diabetes and hypertension). A psychosocial evaluation, performed on November 24, 2008, concluded Elvira was so confused as to be unaware of Nanette’s passing ten days prior.

C. January 7, 2009 Deed

Six weeks later, on January 7, 2009, Laura was visiting Elvira at the nursing home when Irma arrived. Laura testified that Elvira could not recognize any family members, including either herself or Irma.

After Laura departed, Irma and Elvira also left the nursing home. Irma and Elvira were met at a coffee shop by a notary and Elvira signed a warranty deed that was prepared by an attorney at Irma’s request. The deed conveyed the 106 Cameo Avenue property to the Lemus-es in exchange for “love and affection.” Although the attorney produced a billing statement showing the Lemuses paid for the deed’s preparation, he testified that he possessed no personal recollection of preparing the deed. The notary, who was not an employee of the attorney’s office, testified the transaction was memorable because it occurred at a Starbucks, and not a law office. She also recalled Irma’s telephone call requesting her services. Irma explainéd Elvira “was not easily mobile and asked if [Elvira] needed to be present and I did confirm that yes, she did.” The warranty deed was filed of record the following day.

.An ’ evaluation by Elvira’s doctor, conducted the day the deed was filed, opined Elvira suffered from psychosis, dementia, agitation, depression, and periods of physical aggression. Similarly, nursing notes in Elvira’s medical chart described Elvira as confused, combative, often refusing rhédi-cations, and unable to find her room without assistance.

D. Events after January 2009 ,

-Garza was employed as a long-haul truck driver and continued to occupy the home when in town until January of 2009, when the Lemuses changed the locks. Garza testified the grandchildren also had keys to the home until that time. Elvira passed away on July 1, 2011, approximately six months before Garza filed this trespass to try title suit.

Knowing many personal items were stored in the 106 Cameo Avenue residence, the Lemuses continued to allow family members access to the garage, even after the deed was filed. The Lemuses did, however, prevent Garza from mowing the lawn and Johnny B. from actually occupying the residence. On January 6, 2012, Garza filed this trespass, to try title action and was later joined by the grandchildren. In response to Garza’s suit, the Lemuses blocked all access to the residence, including the items stored' in the garage. Finally, in late 2012, almost a year- after the suit [56]*56was filed, the Lemuses began repairs to the property.

The “Makch 11, 2005 Will”

A.

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491 S.W.3d 51, 2016 Tex. App. LEXIS 2685, 2016 WL 1039165, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lemus-v-aguilar-texapp-2016.