McCalla v. Baker's Campground, Inc.

• Decision Date: 23 August 2013
• Docket Number: No. 12–0907.,12–0907.
• Citation: 416 S.W.3d 416,56 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 965
• Parties: Anthony L. McCALLA and Cheryl A. McCalla, Petitioners, v. BAKER'S CAMPGROUND, INC., Kelli Graves, and Kourtnie Graves, Respondents.
• Court: Texas Supreme Court

416 S.W.3d 416

56 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 965

Anthony L. McCALLA and Cheryl A. McCalla, Petitioners,

v.BAKER'S CAMPGROUND, INC., Kelli Graves, and Kourtnie Graves, Respondents.

No. 12–0907.

Supreme Court of Texas.

Aug. 23, 2013.

Elizabeth Bloch, Husch Blackwell LLP, Austin, TX, Peter J. Harry, Husch Blackwell LLP, Dallas, TX, for Petitioners Anthony L. McCalla.

Douglas Scott Cain, Mark Andrew Hines, Cain & Associates, P.C., Cleburne, TX, for Respondents Baker's Campground, Inc.

PER CURIAM.

The sole question in this case is whether a settlement agreement that includes all the terms necessary for the contract's enforcement is an enforceable contract as a matter of law, even if some of its terms seem to imply that the parties contemplate forming an additional contract in the future. We hold that such a contract is enforceable.

Respondents Baker's Campground, Inc. and Kelli and Kourtnie Graves (collectively Baker's Campground) are successors-in-interest to 380 acres of land once owned by Baker (now deceased). Petitioners the McCallas entered into a lease agreement with Baker. The lease contained an option that allowed the McCallas to buy the land if Baker decided to sell it. Even as this lease was ongoing, Baker leased the land to the Davises (who are not involved in the present litigation). The McCallas brought suit against Baker and the Davises to void the Davises' lease and to exercise the McCallas' option to buy the land. The McCallas obtained a favorable jury verdict that would have allowed the McCallas to exercise the option to buy the land.

After the jury verdict but before judgment was rendered, the McCallas and Baker entered into settlement negotiations. They ultimately produced the settlement agreement that is the basis of the present lawsuit. The agreement provided that the McCallas and Baker released each other from any claims related to the lawsuit. The McCallas also agreed to purchase land identified as “the 380 acres more or less of land which was the subject of the litigation” for $470,000. The McCallas only became obligated to buy the land if the Davises' lease was finally “declared null and void as a matter of law” in the course of the litigation. If the Davises' lease was found to be void, the McCallas would then have 60 days to close on the purchase. The parties agreed “to execute any documents that [were] reasonable and necessary to carry out the terms and provisions of this Agreement.” The contract stated that it “shall be binding upon ... the parties....”

The McCallas signed on a line under these terms. Additional handwritten terms underneath these signature lines are initialed by the McCallas, and Baker signed underneath these handwritten additions. The handwritten additions include provisions that “I will agree to $470,000 purchase price above” and that “I agree to enter an agreement as discussed above.”

After entering into this settlement agreement, the McCallas and Baker told the trial court that they had reached an agreement but that they did not want to disclose the terms of the agreement. The McCallas' attorney stated that they “have settled all matters as between them,” and Baker's attorney “confirm[ed] with everything he just said.” Accordingly, the trial court entered a take-nothing verdict in Baker's favor.

The trial court entered judgment against the Davises based on the jury verdict. The court of appeals ultimately found that the Davises' lease was “unconscionable and unenforceable, not void.” Ski River Dev., Inc. v. McCalla, 167 S.W.3d 121, 128 (Tex.App.–Waco 2005, pet. denied).

The McCallas promptly attempted to exercise their right to buy the property under the settlement agreement, but Baker's Campground declined to sell the property. Instead, Baker's Campground brought a declaratory judgment action to void the settlement agreement. The trial court rendered a partial summary judgment for the McCallas, finding that the settlement agreement was an enforceable contract. The trial court then rendered a final judgment for the McCallas based upon stipulated facts. The final judgment incorporated the partial summary judgment and found that the McCallas owned the property and were due the profits Baker's Campground had made on the property after the settlement agreement was breached.

The court of appeals reversed...