Mackie v. Guthrie

• Decision Date: 19 November 2001
• Docket Number: No. 12-01-00043-CV.,12-01-00043-CV.
• Citation: 78 S.W.3d 462
• Parties: Thomas S. MACKIE, Appellant, v. David T. GUTHRIE, Appellee.
• Court: Texas Court of Appeals

Page 462

78 S.W.3d 462

Thomas S. MACKIE, Appellant, v. David T. GUTHRIE, Appellee.

No. 12-01-00043-CV.

Court of Appeals of Texas, Tyler.

November 19, 2001.

Rehearing Overruled January 29, 2002.

Robert H. Renneker, Dallas, for appellant.

Scott A. Ritcheson, Hardy, Atherton, Dollahite & Ritcheson, P.C., Tyler, for appellee.

Panel consisted of DAVIS, C.J., WORTHEN and GRIFFITH, JJ.

LEONARD DAVIS, Chief Justice.

Thomas S. Mackie ("Mackie") has filed a motion for rehearing. Mackie's motion for rehearing is denied. The opinion of September 5, 2001 is hereby withdrawn and the following opinion is substituted in its place.

Mackie appeals the trial court's order granting final summary judgment and award of attorneys' fees in favor of Appellee, David T. Guthrie ("Guthrie"). Mackie raises three issues on appeal. We affirm.

BACKGROUND

Guthrie was the owner of one hundred percent of the outstanding capital stock of Reliable Gas Company, Inc. ("Reliable"), a Texas Corporation. Guthrie, who was interested in selling the assets of Reliable, was approached by Mackie, who, at the time, was a representative for Redmond Derks, L.L.C. ("Redmond Derks"). On November 14, 1996, Reliable and Redmond Derks entered into an agreement whereby Redmond Derks would introduce prospective buyers to Guthrie as a representative of Reliable and if Reliable was sold or if a similar business arrangement was entered into between Reliable and such a prospective buyer, then Reliable agreed to pay Redmond Derks five percent of the purchase price (the "Redmond Derks Contract"). The Redmond Derks Contract set forth that Mackie remained obligated to provide assistance in all phases of the subject transaction, including closing. Although Guthrie executed this agreement on behalf of Reliable, it is unclear whether the Redmond Derks Contract was ever executed by a representative of Redmond-Derks. On March 6, 1997, Mackie delivered a new intermediary agreement containing almost identical terms as the Redmond Derks Contract (the "Mackie Contract"). However, the Mackie Contract omitted reference to Redmond Derks and listed the parties as Reliable and Mackie.¹

In July 1997, Mallory Propane Company ("Mallory") entered into negotiations with Reliable for the purchase of its assets and the purchase of Guthrie's Smith County real estate.² However, the discussions did not bear fruit and on August 11, 1997, notice was sent to Redmond Derks terminating the Redmond Derks contract. Following the termination of the Redmond Derks Contract, Mallory attempted to renew its previous negotiations with Reliable.

On January 20, 1998, Mackie filed for Chapter 7 relief under the Bankruptcy Code.³ Neither the Mackie Contract nor any commission due thereunder was listed in any of Mackie's bankruptcy schedules. Further, Mackie's bankruptcy Schedule G indicates that Mackie claimed no executory contracts.

Following Mackie's bankruptcy filing, Guthrie entered into negotiations with the owner of Mallory, Stanley Mallory, individually, for the sale of Guthrie's stock in Reliable and the sale of Guthrie's home. Negotiations were successful and Guthrie and his wife executed and delivered to Stanley Mallory a contract for the sale of Reliable Stock and certain real property including approximately 8.375 acres of land, which was owned by Guthrie as his separate property. Guthrie's pleadings indicate that in connection with the sale, Guthrie agreed to indemnify and hold Mallory harmless of and from claims and causes of action that could potentially be asserted by Mackie. The sale of the real estate and Reliable stock by Guthrie to Stanley Mallory was closed on March 31, 1998.

On October 14, 1998, Mackie submitted written demand to Stanley Mallory for 840,000.00, and provided a copy to Guthrie. On November 16, 1998, Guthrie received a demand letter from an attorney acting on behalf of Mackie for $40,000.00. In response, Guthrie filed the instant lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment determining his liability, if any, arising under the terms of the Redmond Derks Contract and/or the Mackie Contract. Guthrie asked the court to declare the Mackie Contract void, unenforceable, canceled, terminated and/or non-existent because (a) it was executed under false pretenses, (b) Mackie failed to perform pursuant to the terms of the agreement, (c) the agreement was terminated by written notice on August 18, 1997, (d) Mackie was judicially estopped from asserting the existence of any rights or claims under the terms of the Mackie Contract, and/or (e) the contract, if any, was not assumed within sixty days of the date Mackie filed Bankruptcy. Mackie filed an original answer asserting a general denial and a counterclaim against Guthrie for $40,000.00 and attorney's fees alleging that he had earned his commission upon his introduction to Reliable of Mallory, which had purchased Reliable's business for $800,000.00.

During the course of discovery, Guthrie served Mackie with requests for admission, to which Mackie failed to timely respond. Subsequently, Guthrie filed a motion for summary judgment and a no-evidence motion for summary judgment. Mackie failed to timely respond to Guthrie's motions and after a period of approximately three months, the trial court entered an order granting final summary judgment in favor of Guthrie and dismissed Mackie's counterclaim.⁴

STANDING VERSUS CAPACITY

In his first issue, Mackie claims that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in Guthrie's favor because Guthrie, who was not an interested party to the Mackie Contract, had no justiciable interest under the agreement. Mackie claims that Reliable, as the party to the Mackie Contract, is the only party with a justiciable interest.

"A plaintiff has standing when it is personally aggrieved, regardless of whether it is acting with legal authority; a party has capacity when it has the legal authority to act, regardless of whether it has a justiciable interest in the controversy." See Nootsie, Ltd. v. Williamson County Appraisal District, 925 S.W.2d 659, 661 (Tex.1996) (emphasis original). Standing is jurisdictional and can be raised for the first time on appeal. See Texas Association of Business v. Texas Air Control Board, 852 S.W.2d 440, 446 (Tex.1993). Capacity is not jurisdictional and may be waived. See Nootsie, 925 S.W.2d at 662.

In his brief, Mackie argues that Guthrie has no justiciable interest. However, the sole genesis of Mackie's claim is his contention that "[Guthrie, as] a corporate stockholder[,] cannot recover damages personally for a wrong done solely to the corporation, even though he may be injured by that wrong." In other words, Mackie argues that Guthrie, as an individual shareholder, was without authority to act, irrespective of whether he was aggrieved. See Nootsie, 925 S.W.2d at 661. Although Mackie now couches his argument, which he makes for the first time on appeal, in terms of standing, the underlying facts upon which Mackie bases his contention are inescapably related to the issue of capacity.⁵ Id. Neither of the cases Mackie cites in his brief involve a factual scenario and procedural posture analogous to those present in the instant case.⁶

A pleading contending that the plaintiff is not entitled to recover in the capacity in which he sues is required to be verified by affidavit. See TEX.R. CIV. P. 93(2). Parties who do not follow the mandate of Rule 93 waive any right to complain about the matter on appeal. See Nootsie, 925 S.W.2d at 662. In the case at hand, Mackie's answer does not raise such a defense, nor is his answer verified by an affidavit. Thus, we conclude that irrespective of Mackie's characterization of his argument, Mackie has waived his right to raise the issue of Guthrie's capacity to bring suit because he failed to Me a sworn pleading in accordance with Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 93(2). Mackie's first issue is overruled.

STANDING

However, an appellate court may consider standing on its own motion. See Texas Association of Business, 852 S.W.2d at 446. When we consider the issue of standing for the first time on appeal sua sponte, we must construe the plaintiffs petition in his favor, and if necessary, review the entire record to determine if any evidence supports standing. Id. The general test for standing in Texas requires that there (1) shall be a real controversy between the parties, which (b) will be actually determined by the judicial declaration sought. See Nootsie, 925 S.W.2d at 662, citing Texas Association of Business, 852 S.W.2d at 446. A controversy is justiciable only if there exists a real and substantial controversy involving a genuine conflict of tangible interests and not merely a theoretical dispute. See Bonham State Bank v. Beadle, 907 S.W.2d 465, 467 (Tex. 1995). In the instant case, Guthrie's alleges in this petition that in connection with the sale of Reliable stock and real estate to Mallory, Guthrie agreed to indemnify and hold Stanley Mallory harmless of and from claims and causes of action that could potentially be asserted by Mackie. The record further reflects that on October 14, 1998, Mackie submitted written demand to Stanley Mallory for 540,000.00, and provided a copy to Guthrie. Were Mackie to file suit against Mallory and prevail, under the indemnification agreement, Guthrie would be liable. Moreover, on November 16, 1998, a demand letter from an attorney acting on behalf of Mackie was sent to Guthrie personally for $40,000.00. Mackie's demands ultimately manifested themselves in Mackie's counterclaim against Guthrie. We hold that these facts constitute a real and substantial controversy involving a genuine conflict of Mackie and Guthrie's tangible interests and is not merely a theoretical dispute.

Next, we consider whether the controversy will be actually determined by the judicial declaration sought. See Nootsie, 925 S.W.2d at 662. In his petition, Guthrie asked for a judicial declaration that the Mackie Contract was...