Wright v. Jones

52 S.W.2d 247
CourtTexas Commission of Appeals
DecidedJuly 19, 1932
DocketNo. 1340—5880
StatusPublished
Cited by43 cases

This text of 52 S.W.2d 247 (Wright v. Jones) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas Commission of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wright v. Jones, 52 S.W.2d 247 (Tex. Super. Ct. 1932).

Opinion

RYAN, J.

This suit was instituted on October 3, 1928, by Roy Lee Wright, Jack Wright, Margaret Wright, and Ruth Wright, minors, by their next friend, Annie Lee Wright, against the defendants in error, Charles H. Jones and others, in trespass to try title for the recovery of four sections of land in Gaines county.

By amended petition, filed on December 15, 1928, additional parties defendant were made, and plaintiffs’ recovery sought for only an undivided one-half interest in said four sections of land and for the cancellation and removal as clouds on title of certain deeds and oil and gas leases.

The amended answer of defendants filed on November 18, 1929, contains general demurrer, general denial, and plea of not guilty. It also contains what is therein denominated as “Cross-Action,” and on behalf of certain named defendants (to quote therefrom) “Becoming actors herein and by way of cross-action, come now (naming them) hereinafter called cross-plaintiffs, complaining of Roy Lee Wright, Jack Wright, Margaret Wright, Ruth Wright and Anna Lee Wright, hereinafter called cross-defendants, and for cause of action say” (here follow the customary allegations of a petition in trespass to try title, with prayer against the cross-defendants for the title and possession of the four sections of land in question, for costs of suit and all other and further relief to which they may be entitled).

No citation thereon or notice of the cross-action ever issued or was served upon the plaintiffs, and they filed no answer thereto.

The case was called for trial on January 27, 1930, when, as shown by the court’s judgment, plaintiffs through their attorney of record made known to the court that they desired to take a nonsuit and to have their action dismissed, which motion was granted, and the suit of plaintiffs dismissed, whereupon defendants appeared and announced ready for trial upon their cross-action, and plaintiffs and their attorneys of record refused to further appear and answer and defend said cross-action; thereupon the court appointed a guardian ad litem for the minor cross-defendants; the guardian ad litem answered by general demurrer, general denial, and plea of not guilty, and, a jury having been impaneled, the court peremptorily instructed verdict for the cross-plaintiffs and rendered judgment accordingly.

This judgment was affirmed by the Court of Civil Appeals, except as to Anna Lee Wright, next friend of the minor plaintiffs, on the ground that she asserted no claim to the land in controversy, was not a party to the suit, and, if a judgment was desired against her, she should have been cited and brought regularly into court. The Court of Civil Appeals held, as to her, there was and could be no constructive notice of the filing of such cross-action as in the case of the minors, and reversed the trial court’s judgment against her' and rendered judgment in her favor. 33 S.W.(2d) 292. Afterwards, on rehearing, the cause as to Anna Lee Wright was remanded on the ground that she was joined as a co-dofendant with her children in the cross-ac-tion, and affirmed as to the other cross-defendants.

The Court of Civil Appeals state: “It is conceded that there was no citation or notice issued and served upon the plaintiffs notifying them of the filing of defendants’' cross-action against them; the only service relied on being the constructive service by the appearance of plaintiffs’ attorney after the filing of said cross-action.”

The trial court found in its judgment that “the cause was regularly set for trial at the preceeding term of court for November' 18, 1929, when the attorney of record for the plaintiffs below appeared in open court and moved the court to continue the cause for the term and reset same at the present term for some Monday morning and as the first case, which motion was granted and the case [249]*249set for trial for Monday, January 27, 15)30, as the first case for said date. That at the time said motion for continuance and special setting was made, defendants had theretofore filed the answer and cross-action in trespass to try title hereinabove mentioned, all of which attorneys for plaintiffs had actual as well as constructive notice.”

The only service relied on was the constructive service by the appearance of plaintiffs’ attorney after the filing of said, cross-action, which was sought to be established by the testimony of one of. the attorneys for the defendants, who testified upon the trial: “I am one of the attorneys for the defendants.I was present at the last term of this court when this case was called for trial. Mr. Tom Garrard was present at that time. * * On motion of Mr. Garrard, the case was continued on account of the fact that Mrs. Wright lived in New Mexico. The case was set for the week following some four or five other cases. The weather was rather bad and he moved the court to continue the case in the absence of his client and he and I requested the court to set the case for some day certain of the present term of court, on a Monday, the first ease for the week, in order that he might have his client present. That occurred after we had filed the cross-action and taken the deposition that has been introduced in evidence. * * * I want to state that that motion of his and our agreement there of the case to be set for some Monday morning, the first case of this term, was made after the answer, the first amended answer and cross-action was filed by the defendants appearing here today, which was filed on November ISth, 1929. These motions and all were made after this pleading was filed. The plaintiffs took a jury in this case.”

The jury fee of $5 was paid by plaintiffs’ attorneys on November 18, 1929.

It is the contention of the plaintiffs in error that they, being minors, could not be charged with constructive notice of the filing of the cross-action of the defendants against them, and, there having been no citation or other character of notice served upon them or either of them, the court was without authority to appoint a guardian ad litem to represent such minors, after their suit has been dismissed, and to proceed to trial of the cross-action against them, and was without jurisdiction to render judgment against them for the title and possession of the land in controversy.

On the other hand, defendants in error contend that the appearance of the attorney representing the next friend, in applying for a continuance after the defendants’ cross-action for affirmative relief was on file, was a general appearance for all purposes and obviated the necessity of citation to the minors, on said cross-action.

Under article 1994, Rev. Stat. 1925, minors who have no legal guardian may sue and be represented by “next friend” who shall have .the same rights (with certain exceptions which do not affect this controversy) concerning such suits as guardians have, but the bringing of such a suit by next friend in no way changes the status of the minor. As said by Chief Justice Pleasants of the Galveston Court of Civil Appeals, in Galveston, H. & S. A. Ry. Co. v. Washington, 25 Tex. Civ. App. 600, 63 S. W. 538, 540: “The disabilities of a minor are not removed nor suspended by the bringing of such suit, as the minor is not, under said statute, relieved of any of his disabilities and can himself assert no right in the institution, conduct or disposition of such suit.

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Bluebook (online)
52 S.W.2d 247, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wright-v-jones-texcommnapp-1932.