Perry D. Felix D/B/A Han's Laser Technology Co. v. Prosperity Bank

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided March 25, 2015·No. 01-14-00997-CV·Published

Opinion

ACCEPTED 01-14-00997-CV FIRST COURT OF APPEALS HOUSTON, TEXAS 3/25/2015 4:37:34 PM CHRISTOPHER PRINE CLERK

N O . 01–14–00997–CV FILED IN In the First Court of Appeals 1st COURT OF APPEALS HOUSTON, TEXAS Houston, Texas 3/25/2015 4:37:34 PM CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE Clerk Perry D. Felix d/b/a Han’s Laser Technology Co., Appellant

v.

Prosperity Bank, Appellee

From the 164th District Court, Harris County, Texas Cause No. 2013–50191

PROSPERITY BANK’S CROSS–APPELLANT’S BRIEF

Hirsch & Westheimer, P.C.

Michael D. Conner State Bar No. 04688650 mconner@hirschwest.com William “Pat” Huttenbach State Bar No. 24002330 phuttenbach@hirschwest.com Jacob M. Stephens State Bar No. 24066143 jstephens@hirschwest.com 1415 Louisiana, 36th Floor Houston, Texas 77002 Telephone: (713) 220–9162 Facsimile: (713) 223–9319

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE/CROSS–APPELLANT, PROSPERITY BANK

20090252.20140460/2125761.1 IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

Appellant: Attorneys:

Perry D. Felix d/b/a Han’s Laser J. Steven Stewart Technology Co. State Bar No: 19210500 jss@jstevenstewart.com 5353 West Alabama, Suite 605 Houston, Texas 77056 Telephone: (713) 977–3447 Fax: (832) 201– 9117

Appellee/Cross–Appellant: Attorneys:

Prosperity Bank Michael D. Conner State Bar No. 04688650 mconner@hirschwest.com William “Pat” Huttenbach State Bar No. 24002330 phuttenbach@hirschwest.com Jacob M. Stephens State Bar No. 24066143 jstephens@hirschwest.com 1415 Louisiana, 36th Floor Houston, Texas 77002 Telephone: (713) 220–9162 Facsimile: (713) 223–9319

i 20090252.20140460/2125761.1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Identity of Parties and Counsel ..................................................................... i

Table of Contents........................................................................................ ii

Table of Authorities ................................................................................... iv

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

Cross Issue Presented .................................................................................. 2

The trial court erred by failing to award attorneys’ fees to Prosperity for Felix’s breach of the written deposit agreement. ............ 2

Preliminary Statement ................................................................................. 2

Statement of Facts Pertinent to Prosperity’s Cross Issue ............................... 2

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

Argument & Authorities & Standard of Review .......................................... 7

Standard of Review ............................................................................ 7

Felix failed to comply with the written agreement................................ 8

The deposit agreement is treated like any contract. .............................. 9

Attorneys’ fees are recoverable. ......................................................... 10

Prosperity is entitled to its fees under Chapter 38. .............................. 12

Prosperity complied with Chapter 38. ................................................ 13

Prosperity conclusively proved its fees. .............................................. 14

ii 20090252.20140460/2125761.1 Conclusion & Prayer..................................................................................16

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

Certificate of Service ..................................................................................17

Appendix ...................................................................................................18

iii 20090252.20140460/2125761.1 TABLE OF AUTHORITIES

Cases

1/2 Price Checks Cashed v. United Auto. Ins. Co., 344 S.W.3d 378 (Tex. 2011) ................................................................ 12

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. v. Nat'l Dev. & Research Corp., 299 S.W.3d 106 (Tex. 2009) ................................................................ 11

Albataineh v. Eshtehardi, 2013 WL 1858864 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] May 2, 2013, no pet.) .......................... 12

Anderson v. McCormick, 2013 WL 5884931 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] Oct. 31, 2013, no pet.) ........................ 15

Berg v. Wilson, 353 S.W.3d 166 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2011, pet. denied) ................... 13

Bocquet v. Herring, 972 S.W.2d 19 (Tex. 1998).................................................................. 15

Boyaki v. John M. O’Quinn & Associates, PLLC, 2014 WL 4855021 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] Sept. 30, 2014, pet. filed) .............. 12, 13

Brainard v. Trinity Universal Ins. Co., 216 S.W.3d 809 (Tex. 2006) ................................................................ 14

Buckhannon Bd. & Care Home, Inc. v. W. Va. Dep't of Health and Human, Res., 532 U.S. 598, 121 S. Ct. 1835, 149 L.Ed.2d 855 (2001)......................... 10

Flavor Finish Resurfacing, L.L.C. v. Ellerkamp, 2012 WL 3776345 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 30, 2012, no pet.) .........................9

iv 20090252.20140460/2125761.1 Fleischmann Distilling Corp. v. Maier Brewing Co., 386 U.S. 714, 87 S. Ct. 1404, 18 L.Ed.2d 475 (1967) ............................ 10

G.R.A.V.I.T.Y. Enters., Inc. v. Reece Supply Co., 177 S.W.3d 537 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2005, no pet.) ............................... 10

Helping Hands Home Care, Inc. v. Home Health of Tarrant County, Inc., 393 S.W.3d 492 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2013, pet. denied) ......................... 11

Honeycutt v. Billingsley, 992 S.W.2d 570 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1999, pet. denied ....... 14

Jim Maddox Properties, LLC v. WEM Equity Capital Investments, Ltd., 446 S.W.3d 126 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2014, no pet.) ..............7

Lofton v. Texas Brine Corp., 777 S.W.2d 384 (Tex.1989) ................................................................. 14

M.D. Anderson Hosp. & Tumor Inst. v. Willrich, 28 S.W.3d 22 (Tex. 2000) .....................................................................8

Mann Frankfort Stein & Lipp Advisors, Inc. v. Fielding, 289 S.W.3d 844 (Tex.2009) ...................................................................7

Pala v. Maxim, 2002 WL 188567 (Tex.

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