Jerry Valdez v. Bruce Robertson, Jr. ( 2015 )


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  •                                                                             ACCEPTED
    01-14-000563-cv
    FIRST COURT OF APPEALS
    HOUSTON, TEXAS
    3/20/2015 5:07:56 PM
    CHRISTOPHER PRINE
    CLERK
    CAUSE NO. 01-14-000563-CV
    IN THE COtJRT OF APPEALS
    FIRST COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT FILED IN
    HOUSTON, TEXAS        1st COURT OF APPEALS
    HOUSTON, TEXAS
    3/20/2015 5:07:56 PM
    CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
    Clerk
    JERRY VALDEZ,
    Appellant
    vs.
    BRUCE ROBERTSON, JR.,
    Appellee
    APPEALED FROM PROBATE COURT NUMBER TWO
    BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS
    TRIAL COURT NO. 2008-PC-3026
    HONORABLE JOHN A. HUTCHISON, III, TRIAL JUDGE
    APPELLANT'S AMENDED BRIEF
    ARMANDO TREVINO
    State Bar No. 20211100
    1519 Washington St., Suite One
    Laredo, Texas 78040-0544
    Tel: (956) 726-1638
    Email: armandotrevinolaw@hotmail.com
    Attorney for Appellant
    CAUSE NO. 01-14-000563-CV
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
    FIRST COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
    HOUSTON, TEXAS
    JERRY VALDEZ,
    Appellant
    vs.
    BRUCE ROBERTSON, JR.,
    Appellee
    APPEALED FROM PROBATE COURT NUMBER TWO
    BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS
    TRIAL COURT NO. 2008-PC-3026
    HONORABLE JOHN A. HUTCHISON, III, TRIAL JUDGE
    APPELLANT'S AMENDED BRIEF
    ARMANDO TREVINO
    State Bar No. 20211100
    1519 Washington St., Suite One
    Laredo, Texas 78040-0544
    Tel: (956) 726-1638
    E-mail: armandotrevinolaw@hotmail.com
    Attorney for Appellant
    ii
    IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL
    JERRY VALDEZ                                    Appellant
    ARMANDO TREVINO                                 Attorney for Appellant
    SBN 20211100
    1519 Washington, Suite One
    Laredo, Texas 78040
    Tel: (956) 726-1638
    Email: am1andotrevinolawC(ilhotmail.com
    BRUCE ROBERTSON, JR.                            Appellee
    BRUCE ROBERTSON, JR.                            Attorney Pro Se
    SBN 17078000
    8100 Broadway, Suite 102
    San Antonio, Texas 78209
    Tel: (210) 225-4001
    Fax: (210) 227-2417
    CLEMENS & SPENCER                               Attorneys for Appellee
    GEORGE H. SPENCER, JR.
    SBN 18821001
    112 E. Pecan, Suite 1300
    San Antonio, Texas 78205
    Tel: (210) 227-7121
    Fax: (210) 227-0732
    iii
    INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
    Page(s)
    Cases
    Allen v. Nesmith, .................................................................................. .    15
    
    525 S.W.2d 963
    (Tex. App. - Houston [1 st Dist.] 1975
    writ refd n.r.e. 
    531 S.W.2d 330
    (Tex. 1975)
    Bank of Tex. V. Mexia, ........................................................ .                         6
    rd
    
    135 S.W. 3
    356,362 (Tex. App. - Dallas 2004, pet. denied)
    Boyles v. Gresham, ............................................................ ..                        15
    
    263 S.W.2d 935
    (Tex. 1954)
    Brooks v. Northglen Ass'n, ................................................... .                          12
    
    141 S.W. 3rd
    138 (Tex. 2004)
    Cooper v. Texas Gulf Indus., ................................................. ,                          6, 7,
    10. 12
    
    513 S.W.2d 200
    (Tex. 1947)
    Cox v. Johnson, ..................................................................                        7
    
    638 S.W.2d 867
    (Tex. 1982)
    Jones v. LaFargue, ........................................................... ...                        10
    
    758 S.W.2d 320
    (Tex. App. - Houston [14th Dist.] 1988, no writ
    Laros v. Hartman, ...............................................................                         6
    
    260 S.W.2d 22
    (Tex. 1947)
    Long v. Thomason, .............................................................                           6
    
    202 S.W.2d 212
    (Tex. 1947)
    Longoria v. Exxon Mobil Corp., ..............................................                             8, 12
    
    255 S.W. 3rd
    174 (Tex. App. - San Antonio 2008, pet. denied)
    Paradigm Oil, Inc. v. Retamco Operators, Inc., .............................                              8
    
    372 S.W. 3rd
    177 (Tex. 2012)
    iv
    INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
    Page(s)
    Cases
    Pledger v. SchoeUkopf, .........................................................         8
    
    762 S.W.2d 145
    (Tex. 1988)
    Pulte v. Gregory, ................................................................       10
    
    629 S.W.2d 919
    (Tex. 1982)
    Schott v. Oppenheimer, ..... ..... ......... ..................... ... ..............    8
    
    344 S.W.2d 250
    (Tex. App. - San Antonio 1861, writ refd n.r.e.)
    Simpson v. Afton Oaks Civic Club, Inc., ....................................             8
    
    145 S.W. 3rd
    169 (Tex. 2004)
    Triestman v. Kilgore, ............................................................       15
    
    838 S.W.2d 547
    (Tex. 1992)
    In re Estate of Wilson, ..........................................................       6
    
    252 S.W. 3rd
    708, 712 (Tex. App. - Texarkana 2008, no pet.)
    Wojcik v. Wesolick, 
    97 S.W. 3rd
    335 (Tex. App. - Houston [l4th Dist.]                    6, 7
    2003, no pet.
    Statutes and Rules
    Probate Code
    §3(r) ................................................................. .......    3, 6,
    10, 14
    §10 ........................................................................      3,6
    §33 .................. .......................................................    5,7
    §59 .........................................................................     6
    v
    INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
    Page(s)
    Statutes and Rules
    Rules of Civil Procedure
    39 ..................................................................... ......             3, 5,
    6,7,9
    10-13
    41 ....................................................................... ...             8, 12
    93.2 and 93.4 . ... ... ... ........... .......... ..... ....... ....... ............ .    8
    vi
    TABLE OF CONTENTS
    Page(s)
    Title Page. . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...     11
    Identity of Parties and Counsel ................................................                                                                           111
    Index of Authorities .............................................................                                                                         IV
    Table of Contents ................................................................                                                                         VB
    Statement of the Case. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......                     1
    Statement of Facts ...............................................................                                                                         1
    Issues Presented .................................................................                                                                         5
    Summary of the Argument .....................................................                                                                              6
    Argument
    First Issue. . . . . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..    7
    The Trial Court erred when it dismissed the application
    of JERRY VALDEZ to admit the Will of MARTHA
    JANE VALDEZ into probate.
    Second Issue .............................................................                                                                    13
    BRUCE ROBERTSON, JR. does not have standing to
    contest the application to admit the 1997 Will into
    probate.
    Third Issue ................................................................                                                                  14
    The Trial Court should have admitted the Will of
    MARTHA JANE VALDEZ because it met the
    requirements of Probate Code §59 for a self-proving Will
    and the Will was not being contested by anyone who had
    standing to contest the Will.
    vii
    TABLE OF CONTENTS
    Page(s)
    Prayer ............................................................. ................                                                  15
    Certificate of Service ...........................................................                                                     16
    Certificate of Compliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    17
    Appendix
    viii
    STATEMENT OF FACTS
    This case pertains to the probate of the estate of MARTHA JANE VALDEZ,
    who died on September 30,2008, at the age of98 and was survived by 12 children.
    DOROTHY MELLO's WILL CONTEST
    On October 10, 2008, Appellant JERRY VALDEZ filed an application to
    probate the February 22, 1997, self-proving Last Will and Testament of MARTHA
    JANE and to be appointed Independent Executor of the Will (CR 36, App. Exh. K).
    VALDEZ is the principal beneficiary of MARTHA JANE's estate under the Will.
    DOROTHY H. MELLO, one of the surviving children, filed a contest to the Will
    through her then attorney Appellee BRUCE ROBERTSON, JR (App. Exh. K). A
    jury trial was held, at which DOROTHY, her sisters ANGIE CONTRERAS, and
    ESTELLA PENA, testified, as well as DEBBIE ZAMARRIPA, and GERALDINE
    SMITH, grandchildren of MARTHA JANE. Also present at the trial were OLIVIA
    VALDEZ, JESSE VALDEZ, JULIO VALDEZ and GEORGE VALDEZ, other
    children of MARTHA JANE (App. Exh. K). The jury returned a verdict sustaining
    DOROTHY H. MELLO's will contest, and JERRY VALDEZ appealed to the
    Fourth Court of Appeals in Cause No. 04-13-00854-CV. While the appeal was
    pending, DOROTHY H. MELLO discharged ROBERTSON and withdrew her
    contest to the Will. The Court of Appeals, after noting there was no opposition to
    the dismissal of DOROTHY's will contest dismissed the appeal (App. Exh. K).
    1
    ROBERTSON's WILL CONTEST
    Appellee ROBERTSON filed a contest to the Will and to the appointment of
    VALDEZ as Independent Executor (CR 42, App. Exh. B), saying that he had
    standing through a judgment he had obtained against MARTHA JANE's estate on
    December 23, 2009, in Cause No. 2007-PC-2303, Estate of MARTHA JANE
    VALDEZ, An Incapacitated Person, in Probate Court Number Two of Bexar
    County, Texas.
    VALDEZ objected to the contest, pointing out that the December 23, 2009,
    was on appeal in the Fourteenth Court of Appeals under Cause No. 14-10-00323-
    CV and was not final. The Fourteenth Court of Appeals set aside the December 23,
    2009, judgment and remanded the case for ROBERTSON to prove what attorney's
    fees, if any, he was owed by MARTHA JANE's estate (CR 79, App. Exh.         10.
    Judge HUTCHISON entered an order that ROBERTSON had standing to contest
    the Will (App. Exh. F). On June 19, 2012, a final judgment was entered denying
    ROBERTSON's claim against the guardianship estate (CR 73, App. Exh. G), and
    ROBERTSON did not appeal.
    ROBERTSON made a second attempt to obtain standing to contest the Will
    by filing a claim against Decedent's estate. The court-appointed temporary
    administrator denied the claim (App. Exh. G) and ROBERTSON then filed suit
    against the court-appointed administrator even though ROBERTSON, who is
    2
    board-certified and has vast experience in probate matters, knew that the court-
    appointed administrator was protected by statutory immunity. The administrator
    waived compensation and withdrew from the case. In spite of all of the above
    Judge HUTCHISON continues to maintain that ROBERTSON has standing to
    contest the Will and to object to the appointment of VALDEZ as Independent
    Executor.
    DISMISSAL OF THE APPLICATION
    ROBERTSON wrote to the Trial Court and asked that the heirs of
    MARTHA JANE who had not been joined be made parties to the probate of the
    estate but did not file a plea in abatement. The Trial Court agreed and, ostensibly
    acting under the authority of Rule 39 Tex. R. Civ. Proc. Ann., ordered VALDEZ to
    join as parties all heirs of MARTHA JANE (CR 45, App. Exh. C). VALDEZ
    responded, saying that all of the heirs of MARTHA JANE were already parties
    pursuant to §§3(r), 10, 37 and 38 of the Probate Code and that he had already
    notified all of the living children of MARTHA JANE of his application to probate
    the estate and to admit the February 22, 1997, self-proving will into probate (CR
    63, App. Exh. D). The Trial Court disagreed with the response of VALDEZ and
    dismissed the application to probate the 1997 Will on May 21,2014 (CR 79, App.
    Exh. E).
    3
    FAILURE TO APPROVE THE WILL
    VALDEZ filed pleadings asking Judge HUTCHISON to admit the Will into
    probate, pointing out (l) that the Will met the requirements of Section 59 of the
    Probate Code for a self-proving Will, (2) none of the heirs of MARTHA JANE
    were contesting the Will and had even waived their rights to contest the Will, and
    (3) ROBERTSON did not have standing to contest the Will (CR 63,69). The Trial
    Court refused the request by VALDEZ (CR 79, App. Exh. K).
    4
    ISSUES PRESENTED FOR REVIEW
    First Issue: The Trial Judge erred when he held that he had authority under
    Rule 39 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure to dismiss the application to probate
    the Will because Appellant had failed to join all of the heirs of MARTHA JANE
    VALDEZ as parties to the application. This case is governed by the Probate Code
    and under the unambiguous language of Tex. Prob. Code Ann §33, it was not
    necessary to join all heirs of the Decedent.
    Second Issue: BRUCE ROBERTSON, JR. does not have standing to contest
    the application to admit the 1997 Will into probate.
    Third Issue: The Trial Court should have admitted the Will of MARTHA
    JANE VALDEZ into probate because it met the requirements of Probate Code §59
    for a self-proving will and the will was not being contested by anyone who had
    standing to contest the will.
    5
    SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
    The Trial Court erred in dismissing the suit, which is a probate proceeding
    governed by Section 33(a) of the Probate Code and not by Rule 39 of the Texas
    Rules of Civil Procedure, and even then Rule 39(b) authorized the Court to retain
    jurisdiction of the case and to enter judgment as to the persons who were parties to
    the suit. See Wojcik v. Wesolick, 
    97 S.W. 3rd
    335, 337-338 (Tex. App. - Houston
    [14 th Dist.] 2003, no pet.) in which the Court held that the Probate Code did not
    require the joinder of all interested parties in will contests, and Rule 39 of the
    Texas Rules of Civil Procedure on joinder of parties needed for just adjudication
    did not apply because it conflicted with the unambiguous language of the Probate
    Code. See also In re Estate of Wilson, 
    252 S.W. 3rd
    708, 712 (Tex. App. -
    Texarkana 2008, no pet.); Bank of Tex. v. Mexia, 
    135 S.W. 3
    rd 356, 362 (Tex.
    App. - Dallas 2004, pet. denied); Cooper v. Texas Gulf Indus., 
    513 S.W.2d 200
    ,
    203 (Tex. 1947).
    Appellee does not have standing to contest the Will. He is not an heir of
    Decedent, nor is he a confirmed creditor, therefore he does not meet the definition
    of an interest person as set out in Section 3(r) of the Probate Code nor does he meet
    the requirements of a contestant pursuant to Section 10 of the Probate Code as to
    persons entitled to contest probate proceedings. See Laros v. Hartman, 
    260 S.W. 2d
    592,595 (Tex. 1953); Long v. Thomason, 
    202 S.W.2d 212
    ,215 (Tex. 1947).
    6
    The Trial Court had a ministerial duty to admit the 1997 Will into probate
    because (1) it met the requirements for a self-proving will and (2) no interested
    person was contesting the Will. See Probate Code §§10 and 59.
    ARGUMENT
    First Issue: The Trial Judge erred when he held that he had authority under
    Rule 39 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure to dismiss the application to probate
    the Will because Appellant had failed to join all of the heirs of MARTHA JANE
    VALDEZ as parties to the application. This case is governed by the Probate Code
    and under the unambiguous language of Tex. Prob. Code Ann §33(a), it was not
    necessary to join all heirs of the Decedent as parties.
    Argument and Authorities
    The Trial Judge erred when he held that Rule 39 of the Texas Rules of Civil
    Procedure Annotated authorized him to dismiss the application of Appellant to
    probate the Will (CR 45, 75, 79). This is a probate case and Article 33(a) of the
    Probate Code trumps Rule 39 Tex. R. Civ. Proc. because the unambiguous
    language of Tex. Prob. Code Ann. says it is not necessary to join any person as a
    party or give notice of probate proceedings unless the Texas Probate Code
    expressly so provides, and no provision of the Texas Probate Code expressly
    provides that will contestants must join or give notice to all will beneficiaries or
    any other parties. See Rule 39 Tex. R. Civ. Proc.; Art. 33(a) Texas Probate Code;
    7
    rd
    Wojcik v. Wesolick, 
    97 S.W. 3
    335 (Tex. App. - Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, no
    pet.). See also Cooper v. Texas Gulf Indus., 
    513 S.W.2d 200
    , 203 (Tex. 1947);
    Cox v. Johnson, 
    638 S.W.2d 867
    , 868 (Tex. 1982); Simpson v. Afton Oaks Civic
    Club, Inc., 
    145 S.W. 3rd
    169, 170 (Tex. 2004).
    PRECEDENTIAL VALUE
    A panel adjudicating a case is bound by the precedent set in a prior opinion
    unless the prior opinion has been overruled by the Texas Supreme Court or by an
    en banc opinion of the same court of appeals. See Paradigm Oil, Inc. v. Retamco
    Operators, Inc., 
    372 S.W. 3rd
    177, 185 (Tex. 2012). A fortiori, Trial Judges,
    attorneys and litigants are required to abide by the decisions of the Fourth Court of
    Appeals in cases tried within the Fourth Court of Appeals District. See Longoria v.
    Exxon Mobil Corp., 
    255 S.W. 3rd
    174, 180 (Tex. App. - San Antonio 2008, pet.
    denied); Schott v. Oppenheimer, 
    344 S.W.2d 250
    , 251 (Tex. App. - San Antonio
    1961, writ ref'd n.r.e.) (defining persons who are interested in an estate as heirs).
    No Plea In Abatement
    Assuming arguendo that Appellee ROBERTSON had standing, he failed to
    file a plea in abatement. When a party complains that there has been a misjoinder
    of parties such as the failure to join an indispensable party, a verified plea in
    abatement must be filed. See Rules 41, 93.2, 93.4 of the Texas Rules of Civil
    Procedure; Pledger v. Schoellkopf, 
    762 S.W.2d 145
    , 146 (Tex. 1988).
    8
    When VALDEZ filed his second application to admit the 1997 Will into
    probate, ROBERTSON filed his amended contest of the Will and asked the Court
    to order VALDEZ to join all the heirs of MARTHA JANE as parties (CR 42). The
    Court agreed and entered an order saying that it was acting under the authority of
    Rule 39 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and ordered Appellant to join all of
    the heirs of MARTHA JANE as parties (CR 45, App. Exh. C). VALDEZ
    responded by saying: (l) all of the heirs of MARTHA JANE were already parties
    by virtue of Sections 3(4), 10,37 and 38 of the Probate Code; (2) he had on various
    occasions served all of the living children of MARTHA JANE with a copy of the
    1997 Will and of his application to probate the Will; (3) DOROTHY H. MELLO
    had filed a contest to the Will and had appeared at a jury trial with several of her
    siblings in support of the Will Contest but had subsequently withdrawn her contest
    to the Will and the Court of Appeals, noting there was no opposition, had
    dismissed the contest to the Will (App. Exh. 1<); and (4) cited Rule 39 and Supreme
    Court and Court of Appeals cases proving that the Trial Court did not have
    authority to dismiss the application (CR 63, App. Exh. D).
    A judicious review of the legal authorities applicable to the case readily
    discloses that the Trial Court did not have the authority to dismiss the application
    to probate the Will. If the 1997 Will is valid, JERRY VALDEZ is the main
    beneficiary of the estate. If the Will is invalid, the children (or their survivors) are
    9
    entitled to an equal share of the estate under Section 38 of the Probate Code. An
    allegation of a Constitutional violation is reviewed from a Constitutional
    perspective and not through an abuse of discretion standard.
    RULE 39
    Neither the Rules of Civil Procedure nor the Probate Code allow a Trial
    Court to dismiss the application to probate the Will upon the Trial Court's whim or
    fancy, and the Court misapplied Rule 39 when it dismissed the application of
    VALDEZ. It is not necessary that all of the heirs of MARTHA JANE be made
    parties. See Cooper v. Texas Gulf Indus., 
    513 S.W.2d 200
    , 203 (Tex. 1974); PuIte
    v. Gregory, 
    629 S.W.2d 919
    , 920 (Tex. 1982); Jones v. La Fargue, 
    758 S.W.2d 320
    , 324 (Tex. App. - Houston [14th Dist.] 1988, no writ).
    There are several equally valid reasons that prove the Trial Court committed
    reversible error when it dismissed the lawsuit:
    Reason No.1: The dismissal violated Article 1, Section 13 and 19 of the
    Texas Constitution by denying to JERRY VALDEZ and his siblings open access to
    a Texas Court and by denying them due process of law in denying them this right
    to whatever property they are entitled to receive from Decedent's Estate.
    Reason No.2: All of the heirs of MARTHA JANE were already parties as a
    matter oflaw pursuant to §3(r) of the Probate Code.
    10
    Reason No.3: All of the children of MARTHA JANE named in the Will
    were already parties as a matter of law under §37 of the Probate Code if the Will is
    valid.
    Reason No.4: All of the heirs of MARTHA JANE are parties as a matter of
    law pursuant to §38 of the Probate Code if it is determined that MARTHA JANE
    died intestate.
    Reason No.5: DOROTHY H. MELLO and all of the other children of
    MARTHA JANE who have made an appearance whether at the original will
    contest of DOROTHY H. MELLO or at any other time are already parties.
    Reason No.6: All of the children of MARTHA JANE who have been served
    with a notice of the will contest by JERRY VALDEZ are already parties.
    Reason No.7: The Trial Court violated and ignored Rule 39(a) of the Texas
    Rules of Civil Procedure that says in relevant part: "If (a person to be joined has
    not been joined) the court shall order that he be made a party." The language is
    clear, unambiguous, and places the burden on the Trial Court to order the joinder.
    All it would have taken was an order signed by the Trial Court - which already had
    the names and addresses of all the children of decedent - to enter an order saying
    that they were now joined as parties and for the Clerk of the Probate Court to serve
    each of them with a copy of the order. There is nothing in §39(a) which says that
    the court shall order the plaintiff, the applicant, or any contestant to join all the
    11
    other children of Decedent as parties. See Rule 39(a) Tex. R. Civ. Proc.; Rule 41
    Tex. R. Civ. Proc. ("Misjoinder of parties is not ground for dismissal of an
    action"); Brooks v. Northglen Ass'n, 
    141 S.W. 3rd
    158, 162 (Tex. 2004); Cooper v.
    Texas Gulf Indus., 
    513 S.W.2d 200
    , 204 (Tex. 1974); Longoria v. Exxon Mobil
    Corp., 
    255 S.W. 3rd
    174, 180 (Tex. App. - San Antonio 2008, pet. denied).
    Reason No.8: Whether from lack of interest, desire to avoid litigation, ill
    health, penury, or agreement to have the will probated, no child of MARTHA
    JANE is contesting the Will.
    Reason No.9: Instead of dismissing the suit, the Trial Court should have
    honored and abided by the spirit, letter and intent of Rules 39(b) and 41 of the
    Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and should have pursued the resolution of
    VALDEZ to admit the Will into probate. Instead of dismissing the suit the Trial
    Court should have determined in equity and good conscience to proceed among the
    parties already before it. See Brooks, Cooper, and 
    Longoria, supra
    .
    The Court of Appeals should set aside the order of dismissal and remand the
    case for further proceedings to determine the validity of the Will and to probate
    Decedent's Estate and settle the estate.
    Conclusion As To Issue Number One
    The Trial Judge in this case is the Honorable JOHN A. HUTCHISON, III, a
    former statutory probate judge with expertise in Texas probate law who knew, or
    12
    by the exercise of reasonable diligence should have known, that Section 33 of the
    Probate Code trumps Rule 39 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, and that
    Section 33 in combination with Rule 39(b) did not allow him to dismiss the
    application to probate the estate or the admission of the 1997 Will but instead
    authorized him to proceed as to the parties already joined.
    Second Issue: BRUCE ROBERTSON, JR. does not have standing to
    contest the application to admit the 1997 Will into probate.
    Argument and Authorities
    Appellee BRUCE ROBERTSON, JR. contested the application to admit the
    1997 Will and to be appointed Independent executor filed by JERRY VALDEZ;
    ROBERTSON claimed he had standing because of a judgment entered in his favor
    and against the guardianship estate of MARTHA JANE VALDEZ on December
    23,2009, in Probate Court Number Two of Bexar County.
    VALDEZ responded that the judgment was on appeal and was not final. For
    legally unsound and unfathomable reasons, the Trial Court held that ROBERTSON
    had standing. The December 23, 2009, was set aside by the 14th Court of Appeals
    under Cause No. 10-14-00323-CV, and the case was remanded for ROBERTSON
    to prove what fees and expenses, if any, he was owed by the Guardianship Estate.
    Probate Court Number Two held evidentiary hearings and held that ROBERTSON
    did not have a valid claim against the Guardianship Estate (CR 73, App. Exh. G).
    13
    ROBERTSON then filed a claim against Decedent's Estate, which was rejected by
    the court-appointed Temporary Administrator. ROBERTSON has repeatedly filed
    specious, spurious, bad-faith pleadings that his contract to represent MELLO in her
    application for appointment as guardian of MARTHA JANE was also a contract
    authorizing ROBERTSON to represent MARTHA JANE. NO jurisconsult,
    reasonable and competent attorney, Court or Justice - nay, not even a first-year law
    student - would agree with Appellee that his contract to represent MELLO was
    tantamount to a contract to represent the estate of MARTHA JANE VALDEZ.
    The Trial Court obdurately and unreasonably refused to set aside its order
    that ROBERTSON had standing to contest the Will. Au contraire, the evidence is
    clear and the proof is ineluctable that ROBERTSON was not a contestant but was a
    mere interloper. See Sections 3(r) and 10 of the Probate Code; Womble v. Atkins,
    
    331 S.W.2d 294
    ,297-98 (Tex. 1960); Logan v. Thomason, 
    202 S.W.2d 212
    ,215
    (Tex. 1947) (One who claims a pecuniary interest that will not be affected by the
    probate or defeat of a will, is not a "person interested" in an estate).
    Third Issue: The Trial Court had a ministerial duty to admit the 1997 Will
    into probate because the Will met the requirements of Section 59 of the Probate
    Code and there was no valid contest to the admission of the Will.
    14
    Argument and Authorities
    JERRY VALDEZ applied to have the 1997 Will of MARTHA JANE
    VALDEZ admitted into probate (CR 16, App. Exh. K). The Will meets the
    requirements of a self-proving Will. See §59 of the Probate Code; Boyles v.
    Gresham, 
    263 S.W.2d 935
    , 939 (Tex. 1954); Triestman v. Kilgore, 
    838 S.W.2d 547
    , 547 (Tex. 1992); Allen v. Nesmith, 
    525 S.W.2d 943
    , 945 (Tex. App. -
    Houston [1 st Dist.] 1975) writ ref'd n.r.e. 
    531 S.W.2d 330
    (Tex. 1975) (Purpose of
    the attestation clause, considering the evidence in favor of the proponent). No
    person interested in Decedent's Estate filed a contest to the Will after VALDEZ
    submitted his second application to probate the Will and the Trial Court had a
    ministerial duty to admit the Will into probate.
    PRAYER
    Premises Considered, Appellant JERRY VALDEZ prays:
    1.     That the May 21,2014, order dismissing his application to probate the
    Will be set aside and the case be remanded to the Trial Court for further
    proceedings, with costs of the appeal assessed against Appellee BRUCE
    ROBERTSON, JR.;
    2.     That the order holding that Appellee has standing to contest the Will
    and the appointment of JERRY VALDEZ as Independent Executor be set aside
    and held for naught;
    15
    3.       That the 1997 Will be admitted into probate; and
    4.       That the Court of Appeals enter such other orders as may be
    appropriate.
    Respectfully submitted,
    /
    /.
    .
    ,i     !!  ~
    '
    ARMANDO TREVINO'
    State Bar No. 20211100
    1519 Washington St., Suite One
    Laredo, Texas 7804Q-0544
    Tel: (956) 726-1638
    Fax: (956) 726-2034
    Email: annandotrevinolaw@hotmail.com
    Attorney for Appellant
    CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
    A true copy of the above document was served on the _ _ day of March,
    2015, on BRUCE ROBERTSON, JR., 8100 Broadway, Suite 102, San Antonio,
    Texas 78209; and on GEORGE H. SPENCER, JR., GEORGE H. SPENCER, JR.,
    112 E. Pecan, Suite 1300, San Antonio, Texas 78205.
    /   '
    , I
    ARMANDO TREVINO
    16
    CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
    Relying on the word count function in the word processing software used to
    produce this document, I certify that the number of words in this Petition
    (excluding any caption, identity of parties and counsel, statement regarding oral
    argument, table of contents, index of authorities, statement of the case, statement
    of issues presented, statement of jurisdiction, statement of procedural history,
    signature, proof of service, certification, certificate of compliance and appendix) is
    2,504.
    ,   ;
    /          ,c//
    ARMANDO TREVI~97
    /'
    17
    CAUSE NO. Ol-14-000563-CV
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
    FIRST COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
    HOUSTON, TEXAS
    JERRY VALDEZ,
    Appellant
    vs.
    BRUCE ROBERTSON, JR.,
    Appellee
    APPENDIX
    LIST OF EXHIBITS IN THE APPENDIX
    EXHIBIT                 DESCRIPTION
    A.                   Amended Application To Probate Will
    B.                   ROBERTSON's Amended Will Contest
    C.                   Order To Join All Heirs As Parties
    D.                   Response To Order To Join All Heirs
    E.                   May 21,2014, Order of Dismissal
    F.                   Approval of ROBERTSON's Standing As Contestant
    G.                   June 20, 2011, Denial Of ROBERTSON's Claim
    H.                   Rejection of ROBERTSON's Claim
    I.                   Rule 39, Texas Rule of Civil Procedure
    J.                   Art. 33, Probate Code
    K.                   Affidavit of Appellant JERRY VALDEZ
    L.                   Excerpts from July 22, 2013, Reporter's Record
    VERIFICATION OF EXHIBITS
    STATE OF TEXAS          §
    COUNTY OF BEXAR         §
    My name is ARMANDO TREVINO. I am the attorney for Appellant
    JERRY VALDEZ. I hereby verify that each of the above Exhibits is an original or
    a true copy of the original of a record in this cause.
    ARMANDO TREVrno--°'" --
    II,
    SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me on this the        .   1.<    day of March,
    2015.
    Notary, ublic
    State fTexas
    Exhibit A
    Amended Application To Probate Will
    CAUSE NO. 2008-PC-3026
    'TV
    ~,
    " J P 4:
    ':;:1(1)
    I
    ESTATE OF                                                                    IN PROBATE C9pRT ' . Ti:OFF
    V'._                     •   t COUR
    t;::-'.'                    .;~·. TEXt
    MARTHA JANE VALDEZ,                                                               NUMBERt>~ .
    ._-       ~~! ;--
    DECEASED                                                               BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS
    SECOND AMENDED APPLICATION TO PROBATE 1997 WILL
    TO THE HONORABLE JUDGE OF SAID COURT:
    Comes Now JERRY VALDEZ and files this Second Amended Application
    to probate the self-proving February 22, 1997, Last Will and Testament of
    MARTHA JANE VALDEZ. In support thereof Applicant shows:
    1.          This amended application takes the place of the original and
    previously amended applications. Rules 63,64 and 65 Tex. R. Civ. Proc.
    2.          Applicant asks the Court, pursuant to Rule 201 Tex. R. Ev., to take
    judicial notice of the following:
    a.          The self-proving February 22, 1997, Last Will and Testament
    of MARTHA JANE VALDEZ, that is on file in the records of this Cause.
    b.          DOROTHY H. MELLO - and only DOROTHY H. MELLO -
    filed a contest to the 1997 Will but later withdrew the contest to the Will and the
    Fourth Court of Appeals issued its mandate in Cause No. 04-10-00417-CV
    1
    112010. MJV, ESTATE, SECOND AMENDED APPUCAnON TO PROBATE 1997 Will
    approving the withdrawal of the contest of the Will. A copy of the August 11,
    2010, Mandamus Opinion and mandate are on file in the records of this cause.
    c.          The June 9, 2010, Settlement Agreement between DOROTHY
    H. :MELLO and JERRY VALDEZ.
    3.           Applicant JERRY VALDEZ is an individual interested in this Estate.
    He resides at 3315 Buena Vista, San Antonio, Texas. The Will being offered for
    probate names JERRY VALDEZ as the Independent Executor and his wife MARY
    ALICE VALDEZ as the Alternate Independent Executor.                              MARY ALICE
    VALDEZ resides at 9126 Summer Wind, San Antonio, Texas.
    4.          The Decedent is MARTHA JANE VALDEZ, who was 98 years old
    when she died on September 30, 2008, while residing at 158 N. San Horacio, San
    Antonio, Texas.
    5.          This Court has jurisdiction and venue because Decedent was
    domiciled in and had a fixed place of residence in this County at the time of her
    death.
    6.           At the time of her death Decedent owned:
    a.          Property One - 3307 Buena Vista S1., Lots 17 and 18 Block 4,
    New City Block 3040~ WEST IDGHLANDS,. City of San
    Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, accor