In Michael D. Heatley v. Red Oak 86, L.P. & Charles Johnson, investors in a limited partnership sued the managing member for breach of fiduciary duty. No. 05-18-01083-CV, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 6592 (Tex. App.—Dallas August 17, 2020, no pet. history). The jury found that the defendants owed a
Breach of Fiduciary Duty
Presentation: Remedies for Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims
By Winstead on
Posted in Items of Interest, Latest From Knowledge Library
David F. Johnson presented his paper on “Remedies for Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims” to the Tarrant County Probate Bar Association’s Litigation Seminar on August 7, 2020.
Court Affirmed A Trial Court’s Holdings On The Removal Of A Trustee, The Trustee’s Discretion To Construe A Trust, A Trustee’s Advice Of Counsel And In Terrorem Defenses, And The Termination Of A Trust
By David Fowler Johnson on
Posted in Cases Decided, Texas Court of Appeals
In re Estate of Bryant, a couple set up three trusts for their three children, Bill, Leslie, and Jane. No. 07-18-00429-CV, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 2131 (Tex. App.—Amarillo March 11, 2020, no pet. history). After the couple had both passed away, their son Bill assumed the role of trustee…
Court Holds That A Plaintiff Can Raise A Conspiracy To Breach Fiduciary Duty Claim Even Where The Party Who Owed Fiduciary Duties Was Not A Party To The Suit
By David Fowler Johnson on
Posted in Cases Decided, Texas Court of Appeals
In Klinek v. Luxeyard, Inc., a company sued its majority shareholder in a suit for breach of fiduciary duty arising from a pump-and-dump scheme and later settled that claim. No. 14-17-00899-C, 2019 Tex. App. LEXIS 9421 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] October 29, 2019, no pet. history). The company then…
Court Reverses Summary Judgment On Breach Of Fiduciary Duty Claim Because There Was A Fact Issue On The Running Of The Statute Of Limitations
By David Fowler Johnson on
Posted in Cases Decided, Texas Court of Appeals
In Melton v. Waddell, a sister sued her brother for breach of fiduciary duty for misapplying funds in a joint account and not properly allocating revenues from real estate that they owned as tenants in common. No. 07-18-00105-CV, 2019 Tex. App. LEXIS 9531 (Tex. App.—Amarillo October 30, 2019, no…
Statute of Limitations Barred Estate Representative’s Claim To Void Beneficiary Designations
By David Fowler Johnson on
Posted in Cases Decided, Texas Court of Appeals
In Sanders v. Hathaway, the decedent’s estate’s representative sued her sister for various claims arising from the decedent’s beneficiary designation changes, deed transfers, and accounts payable on death changes that benefited the sister. No. 01-18-00661-CV, 2019 Tex. App. LEXIS 5708 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] July 9, 2019, no pet. history). The sister alleged that the claims were barred by the statute of limitations. The trial court granted summary judgment for the sister, and the representative appealed. The court of appeals first held that limitations had run on the claims:
Court Holds That Economic Loss Rule Bars Conspiracy To Breach Fiduciary Duty Claims
By David Fowler Johnson on
Posted in Cases Decided, Texas Court of Appeals
In Shopoff Advisors, LP v. Atrium Circle, GP, the buyer and seller to a real estate transaction sued each other. No. 04-18-00438-CV, 2019 Tex. App. LEXIS 5764 (Tex. App.—San Antonio July 10, 2019, no pet. history). The plaintiff alleged that the defendant conspired with the escrow agent, who owed the plaintiff a fiduciary duty. The defendant filed a SLAPP motion, which the trial court denied. The Texas Citizens Participation Act (“TCPA”) is also known as Texas’s anti-SLAPP statute. Id. (citing Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. §§ 27.001-.011). The defendant appealed. The court of appeals affirmed in part on other claims, but reversed as to the conspiracy claim. Regarding conspiracy, the court held:
In A Trust Case, A Court Affirms Judgment Against A Beneficiary/Limited Partner’s Aiding-And-Abetting-Breach-Of-Fiduciary-Duty Claim For Distributions To A Trustee/Limited Partner
By David Fowler Johnson on
Posted in Cases Decided, Texas Court of Appeals
In Marshall v. Ribosome L.P., a beneficiary of a trust sued a limited partnership of which the trustee was a partner. No. 01-18-00108-CV, 2019 Tex. App. LEXIS 3787 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] May 9, 2019, no pet. history). The beneficiary asserted that the limited partnership aided and abetted a…
Federal Court Holds That Trust Beneficiaries’ Claims Against Brokerage Firm Should Not Be Compelled To Arbitration
By David Fowler Johnson on
Posted in Items of Interest
In Freeman v. Fid. Brokerage Servs., LLC, the mother of the plaintiffs executed a living trust agreement. No 3:18-CV-0947-G, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 34694 (N.D. Tex. March 5, 2019). Upon her death, the trust agreement directed that the trust assets were to be divided and allocated into trusts for…
Breach Of Fiduciary Duty Claim Against Trustee Based On Self-Dealing Real Estate Investment Was Dismissed Due To Limitations, Quasi-Estoppel, And An Exculpatory Clause, But The Attorney’s Fees Award Against The Beneficiary Was Reversed Where The Award Was Not Equitable
By David Fowler Johnson on
Posted in Cases Decided, Texas Court of Appeals
In Goughnour v. Patterson, a beneficiary sued a trustee based on a failed real estate investment. No. 12-17-00234-CV, 2019 Tex. App. LEXIS 1665 (Tex. App.—Tyler March 5, 2019, no pet. history). In 2007, the trustee of four trusts invited his mother, the primary beneficiary, and his siblings, also beneficiaries,…