The Texas Legislature created a statute to protect parties’ rights to freedom of speech and to petition the courts: the Texas Citizen’s Participation Act (TCPA). See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. §§ 27.001-.011. The TCPA’s purpose is “to encourage and safeguard the constitutional rights of persons to petition
in terrorem clause
Court Holds That Allegations Related To A Trustee’s Filing Of Suit Did Fall Under The Protection Of The Texas Citizens Participation Act, That A Trustee’s Actions To Modify Administrative Terms Did Not Trigger An In Terrorem Clause, But That Other Actions Unrelated To Suit Filings Were Not Protected From The Act
By David Fowler Johnson on
Posted in Cases Decided, Texas Court of Appeals
In Marshall v. Marshall, a son, who was a trust beneficiary, sued his mother and brother alleging breaches of fiduciary duty and sought a declaratory judgment that they violated an in terrorem clause of the will. No. 14-18-00094-CV, No. 14-18-00095-CV, 2021 Tex. App. LEXIS 423 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] January 21, 2021, no pet. history). The mother had created a similar Wyoming trust and then merged the original Texas trust into the Wyoming trust. The beneficiaries were essentially the same, but there were administrative differences, including who the trustees and successor trustees were and the wording of the in terrorem clauses. The mother also had a lawsuit filed in Wyoming to approve all of these changes, but did not serve the plaintiff. The defendants filed motions to dismiss under the Texas Citizens Participation Act (“TCPA”), the trial court denied them, and they appealed.
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…
Texas Supreme Court Accepts A Case Dealing With A No-Contest Clause
By David Fowler Johnson on
Posted in Texas Supreme Court
In Ard v. Hudson, a beneficiary sued testamentary trustees and executors for breach of fiduciary duty and also sought an accounting, temporary injunctive relief, and a receiver. No. 02-13-00198-CV, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 8727 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth August 20, 2015, pet. granted). The trial court granted a summary judgment…