Lee, Matter of, 77-2674

• Decision Date: 10 April 1978
• Docket Number: No. 77-2674,77-2674
• Citation: 570 F.2d 1301
• Parties: In the Matter of Billy James LEE and Dorothy Kirk Lee, Bankrupt. NORTH TEXAS PRODUCTION CREDIT ASSOCIATION, Appellant, v. Billy James LEE and Dorothy Kirk Lee, Appellees. Summary Calendar. *
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit

Page 1301

570 F.2d 1301

In the Matter of Billy James LEE and Dorothy Kirk Lee, Bankrupt.

NORTH TEXAS PRODUCTION CREDIT ASSOCIATION, Appellant, v. Billy James LEE and Dorothy Kirk Lee, Appellees.

No. 77-2674

Summary Calendar. ^*

United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.

April 10, 1978.

William C. Gooding, Texarkana, Tex., for appellant.

Jack E. Carter, Texarkana, Tex., for appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Before GOLDBERG, AINSWORTH, and HILL, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

This appeal concerns the entitlement of bankrupts to a rural homestead exemption for two parcels of property in the vicinity of Oak Grove, Texas. Fortuitously, there is Fifth Circuit precedent for the fact that Oak Grove was a village in 1934. Buttram v. Harris, 73 F.2d 679 (5th Cir. 1934). In the case at bar, the district court, reversing the decision of the bankruptcy judge, ¹ held that "the facts and circumstances which gave life to the village in (1934) do not presently exist and are not binding upon the Court in deciding this case." Recognizing the effects of changing times, we agree and affirm on the basis of the district court's memorandum opinion, reproduced below as an Appendix.

AFFIRMED.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

This matter is before this Court on appeal, wherein Billy James Lee and wife, Dorothy Kirk Lee, Bankrupts, have filed objections to the decision of the Bankruptcy Court rendered on January 26, 1977. The Bankrupts contend that they are entitled to a rural homestead exemption, and as a consequence, two tracts of land, one tract, consisting of one and one-eighth acre of land and upon which the Bankrupt's house is situated, and the other, containing 193.99 acres and separated three to four miles from the first, are exempt property. However, the Bankruptcy Court, in its decision, held that Oak Grove is a village, the Bankrupt's smaller tract and residence is located therein, and as a result thereof, they are entitled to an urban homestead exemption which does not include their 193.99 acre tract. This Court is of the opinion, for the reasons stated hereafter, that such ruling was erroneous in that Oak Grove is not presently a village.

The record discloses that Oak Grove is located at the intersection of Highway 82 and Farm to Market road 1326. Likewise, within a radius of two-tenths of a mile from the intersection, there are eleven houses, a convenience store where groceries and gas may be purchased, and an abandoned church. Six-tenths of a mile north of the intersection, there are two sawmills, and two additional houses, including that of the Bankrupts. Disregarding the distance of the two houses and sawmills and any argument therein concerning the limits or boundaries of Oak Grove, it is a village, if at all, on the strength of the houses, store, sawmills and abandoned building. It is the opinion of this Court that such is insufficient to constitute a village.

While there is no doubt that Oak Grove was a village in 1934, Buttram v. Harris, 73 F.2d 679 (5th Cir. 1934), ¹ it is the conclusion of this Court that...