London Properties, Inc. v. Vaccarello, 7445

• Decision Date: 29 March 1973
• Docket Number: No. 7445,7445
• Citation: 493 S.W.2d 255
• Parties: LONDON PROPERTIES, INC., Appellant, v. Thomas G. VACCARELLO, d/b/a Vance Advertising & Public Relations, Appellee.
• Court: Texas Court of Appeals

Page 255

493 S.W.2d 255

LONDON PROPERTIES, INC., Appellant, v. Thomas G. VACCARELLO, d/b/a Vance Advertising & Public Relations, Appellee.

No. 7445.

Court of Civil Appeals of Texas Beaumont.

March 29, 1973.

Tobolowsky, Schlinger & Blalock, Dallas, for appellant.

Lipscomb Norvell, Jr., Jerry J. Nathan, Beaumont, for appellee.

STEPHENSON, Justice.

This is an action upon sworn account for services rendered. Trial was before the court and judgment was rendered for plaintiff. Findings of fact and conclusions of law were made by the trial court . The parties will be referred to here as they were in the trial court.

Plaintiff, Thomas G. Vaccarello, d/b/a Vance Advertising & Public Relations, filed this suit against defendant, London Properties, Inc ., alleging that he had performed certain advertising and public relations services for defendant. Both plaintiff and defendant filed sworn pleadings, so plaintiff had the burden of proving his cause of action as in any other suit. The primary point of controversy in the trial court and here is whether plaintiff proved his cause of action against 'London Properties, Inc.' Defendant contends that there are two separate legal entities--London Properties, Inc., the corporation, and London Properties, a partnership--and that, at best, plaintiff proved a cause of action only against the partnership. In essence, the trial court found that defendant had requested that plaintiff perform the advertising services in question, that defendant issued the purchase orders for such services, and that plaintiff performed the services as requested by defendant. Defendant attacks such findings as having no support in the evidence and as being contrary to the great weight and preponderance of the evidence. In passing upon the no evidence point, we consider only the evidence favorable to the court's finding. In passing upon the other point, we consider the entire record.

Interrogatories served upon defendant established the following: That defendant is a corporation. That W. B. Phares was president of such corporation from the time it was chartered on November 8, 1967 until July 2, 1970 (which included all of the times material to this cause of action). That Phares owned all of the stock in such corporation. That Thomas Burbank succeeded Phares as president.

Plaintiff testified: That in March, 1968, he met with Phares, who secured his advertising service to prepare brochures for three apartment complexes, William Tell, Buckingham Square and Huntington Park Apartments. That he did the work requested of him by Phares and the three brochures were admitted in evidence. Plaintiff identified three purchase orders which were admitted in evidence covering the services performed. These purchase orders were on printed forms with headings 'London Properties' with a space at the bottom 'London Properties' and signed by Charles LeBlanc as manager. In the space marked 'Ship To' was typed 'London Properties' with a Beaumont, Texas address.

Plaintiff's wife testified: That Charles LeBlanc was head of advertising for all of the complexes. That they carried the name 'London Properties, Inc.' on their billing sheets. That the total amount owed to plaintiff by defendant had been $4,865.61. That she received a check from defendant in the amount of $1,429.64, leaving a balance of...