Thomas J. Ellis v. the Renaissance on Turtle Creek Condominium Association, Inc.

426 S.W.3d 843, 2014 WL 1028718, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 3007
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMarch 18, 2014
Docket05-12-01435-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 426 S.W.3d 843 (Thomas J. Ellis v. the Renaissance on Turtle Creek Condominium Association, Inc.) 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
Thomas J. Ellis v. the Renaissance on Turtle Creek Condominium Association, Inc., 426 S.W.3d 843, 2014 WL 1028718, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 3007 (Tex. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

OPINION

Opinion by Justice LANG.

Appellant Thomas J. Ellis appeals the trial court’s summary judgment against *845 him on a counterclaim by appellee The Renaissance on Turtle Creek Condominium Association, Inc. (the “Association”) pertaining to foreclosure of a lien on a condominium unit. In three issues on appeal, Ellis contends the Association was not entitled to (1) summary judgment on its counterclaim for unpaid assessments and fines in the amount of $13,405.64; (2) attorney’s fees of $20,000 for services pertaining to the counterclaim, $5,500 respecting the foreclosure, and $30,000 for each unsuccessful appeal; and (3) foreclosure respecting the property described in the judgment. For the reasons below, we decide Ellis’s three issues against him. The trial court’s judgment is affirmed.

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

This lawsuit was filed by Ellis in August 2010. 1 In his live pleading at the time of the judgment complained of, Ellis (1) asserted he owned “a condominium unit more specifically described as 3225 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Unit 1208, Dallas, Texas, 75219” and (2) contended appellees had filed fraudulent liens pertaining to that property.

Both appellees filed general denial answers. Additionally, on August 30, 2011, the Association filed a counterclaim in which it sought (1) recovery of “delinquent assessments” owed by Ellis, (2) foreclosure of its “continuing lien against Ellis’ unit 1208,” and (3) “attorney’s fees and costs.”

In December 2011, (1) appellees filed a no-evidence motion for summary judgment on Ellis’s claims and (2) the Association filed a traditional motion for summary judgment on its counterclaim. In the “Introduction” and “Statement of Relevant Facts” in its traditional motion for summary judgment, the Association asserted in part

The Plaintiff is the owner of Unit 1208, a condominium unit in The Renaissance on Turtle Creek Condominium (the “Condominium”) located at 3225 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75219.... The Plaintiff is delinquent in paying regular monthly dues assessments and other charges owed to the Association under its condominium declaration and bylaws.
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The bylaws of the Association ... authorize and direct its board of directors to perform certain duties necessary for the administration of the Association, including but not limited to, establishing the amount of monthly assessments and collecting same from owners; collecting delinquent assessments against any owner and the owner’s unit; abating any nuisance; enforcing the terms of the Condominium Declaration; and enforcing the compliance with the rules and regulations adopted by the Association through any means deemed necessary or appropriate, including the use of penalties levied for violations....
... On May 27, 2009, Plaintiff violated the Rules and Regulations by playing loud music in his unit at approximately 8:00 a.m. ... In the course of a running dispute with his upstairs neighbor, Plaintiff embarked on a campaign of repeated and deliberate violations of the Association’s Rules and Regulations by loudly banging on his ceiling. The first “banging” violation, which occurred on or about August 5, 2009, constituted a second violation of the Rules and Regulations, resulting in a fine of $250 in *846 accordance with the Association’s fíne schedule. Despite receiving a written notice to refrain from future violations, Plaintiff committed a third violation on or about August 31, 2009 by again loudly banging on his ceiling. In accordance with the Association’s fine schedule, Plaintiff was fined $500 and was issued another written notice to stop the egregious conduct. During the ensuing ten (10) months, from September 7, 2009 to July 28, 2010, Plaintiff was cited for nine (9) additional violations for loudly banging on his ceiling. In accordance with the Association’s fine schedule, Plaintiff was fined $500 for each of these flagrant violations of the Rules and Regulations .... Plaintiff violated the Rules and Regulations again on or about April 5, 2010 when he raised his voice in a common area lobby, and used an abusive tone and vulgar language toward the Association’s staff. Pursuant to the terms of the fine schedule, Plaintiff was fined $250 for this violation and was duly notified of same.
... The Plaintiff refused to pay the above-described fines, totaling $5,500.00.

(citations to record omitted). 2 The Association stated that starting in August 2009, all payments received by Ellis were applied first toward the payment of outstanding fines and other charges in accordance with the Association’s payment policy. Thus, although Ellis made monthly payments approximately equal to the monthly dues assessments owed by all unit owners, he became delinquent as to those monthly dues assessments. The Association asserted that as of the end of October 2010, “the Plaintiffs monthly dues assessments account was delinquent in the amount of $6,865.00.” Further, the Association contended (1) Ellis “failed and refused to make any payments to the Association” from December 2010 through the date of the motion and currently owed a total of $13,405.64 plus interest; (2) it “has a continuing assessment lien against the Plaintiffs unit 1208” on which it was entitled to foreclosure; and (3) in accordance with the “Condominium Declaration” and Texas law, it was entitled to recover reasonable and necessary attorney’s fees incurred in connection with its counterclaim.

In the “Argument and Authorities” section of its traditional motion, the Association asserted in part

As set forth below, the Association is entitled to judgment, as a matter of law, because the pleadings and summary judgment evidence demonstrate there is no genuine issue as to any material fact regarding Plaintiffs ongoing breach of the Association’s Condominium Declaration, Bylaws and Rules and Regulations, and his personal liability for the delinquent amounts owed as a result of that breach.... Accordingly, the Association is entitled to summary judgment against Plaintiff on its entire Counterclaim for the full amount due and owning, and for foreclosure of its assessment lien against Plaintiffs unit.
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Pursuant to its authority, the Association established regular monthly as *847 sessments, adopted the Rules and Regulations regulating the conduct of the owners and governing the use of the Condominium, established a system of fines for violations of the Rules and Regulations, and adopted a Payment Application Policy setting forth the order in which payments from a unit owner will be applied to satisfy charges for which the owner is liable. The Plaintiff is bound by the Association’s authority, must abide by the Association’s actions taken under such authority, and is personally liable to the Association for the consequences of his actions in contravention of that authority.

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426 S.W.3d 843, 2014 WL 1028718, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 3007, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/thomas-j-ellis-v-the-renaissance-on-turtle-creek-condominium-association-texapp-2014.