Roy L. Smithwick, Jr. v. Ruth S. McClelland, Trustee of the Estate of Roy L. Smithwick ( 2000 )

99-00562 & 99-00564 Smithwick v McClelland.wpd Nos. 04-99-00562-CV & 04-99-00564-CV Roy L. SMITHWICK, Jr., Appellant v. Ruth S. McCLELLAND, Trustee of the Estate of Raquel P. Smithwick, Deceased, Appellee

v.

Ruth S. McCLELLAND, Trustee of the Estate of Roy L. Smithwick, Deceased,

Appellee

From the County Court at Law No. 1, Webb County, Texas

Trial Court Nos. P-92-00015-C2 & P-92-00016-C2

Honorable Alvino "Ben" Morales, Judge Presiding

Opinion by: Catherine Stone, Justice

Sitting: Tom Rickhoff, Justice

Catherine Stone, Justice

Paul W. Green, Justice

Delivered and Filed: January 26, 2000

AFFIRMED

Appellant, Roy L. Smithwick, Jr., complains of the trial court's order imposing a constructive trust. In a single issue, appellant argues the trial court erred in proceeding with a hearing and ruling on the appellee's motion without the benefit of his response. Because the issue on appeal involves well-settled law, we overrule appellant's issue and affirm the trial court's order in this memorandum opinion pursuant to Tex. R. App. P. 47.1.

Discussion

The trial court imposed a constructive trust for the benefit of the estates after a jury found appellant guilty of the murder of his parents.⁽¹⁾ Appellant now complains on appeal that the trial court erred by imposing the trust prior to receiving his response to appellee's motion to impose the trust. We overrule appellant's complaint on several grounds. First, appellant failed to timely file a response to appellee's Motion to Impose a Constructive Trust. Thus, no response existed for the trial court to consider. Appellant argues insufficient postage precluded the trial court from a timely consideration of his response and asks this court to extend him extraordinary consideration as a pro se litigant. We decline to do so, as case law directs that we hold pro se litigants to the same procedural standards as those required of litigants represented by counsel. See Hawkins v. State, 613 S.W.2d 720, 728 (Tex. Crim. App. 1981). Second, the trial court possessed enough documents to impose the constructive trust. In the interest of equity, Texas law provides for the imposition of a constructive trust to prevent a wrongdoer from profiting from his wrongful acts. Ginter v. Taub, 675 S.W.2d 724, 728 (Tex. 1984); Procom Energy, L.L.A., v. Roach, No. 12-98-00138-CV, slip op. at 3, 1999 WL 798933 at *3 (Tex. App.-Tyler Sept. 30, 1999). Here, the trial court considered the judgments from the trial and appellate criminal proceedings in making its determination to impose the trust. The trial court's conclusion to impose a constructive trust over the estate assets to which appellant would otherwise be entitled but for his commission of the murders, is consistent with Texas authority. See Pope v. Garrett, 211 S.W.2d 559, 560 (Tex. 1948); Ford v. Long, 713 S.W.2d 798, 799 (Tex. App.-Tyler 1986, writ ref'd n.r.e.). Third, appellant failed to comply with the requirements of the appellate rules for properly filing a brief. Appellant's brief contains no statement of facts, no citations to the record, and no references to authority. Tex. R. App. P. 38.1. For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court's order.

Catherine Stone, Justice

DO NOT PUBLISH

1. A jury convicted appellant for the murder of Roy Smithwick Sr. and Raquel Smithwick on November 29, 1991 in Cause No. K-92-41, 49th Judicial District Court, Webb County, Texas. The Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction on September 13, 1995 in Cause No. 04-92-00520-CR.