Navin Patel and Sejal Patel v. Bipin Patel and Minaxi Patel

NO. 07-03-0357-CV IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT AMARILLO PANEL A JULY 7, 2004 ______________________________ NAVIN PATEL AND SEJAL PATEL, APPELLANT V. BIPIN PATEL AND MINAXI PATEL, APPELLEE _________________________________ FROM THE 159TH DISTRICT COURT OF ANGELINA COUNTY; NO. 33,117-00-5; HONORABLE PAUL E. WHITE, JUDGE _______________________________ Before JOHNSON, C.J., and REAVIS and CAMPBELL, JJ. MEMORANDUM OPINION Appellants Navin Patel and Sejal Patel appeal from a judgment following a bench trial, that appellees Bipin Patel and Minaxi Patel recover $53,493.98, plus attorney's fees in the amount of $17,613.00 from them. We abate the appeal and remand with directions to the trial court to file findings of fact and conclusions of law. Without the assistance of counsel, the parties signed a written contract for the sale of a convenience store, its inventory, and certain real estate. Before the contract was closed, appellants took possession and commenced operating the store; however, the transaction was never closed. Appellees filed suit seeking possession of the property and money damages. The case was tried on the merits on August 29, 2002, and on May 19, 2003, the trial court signed the judgment. Appellants requested the trial court file findings of fact and conclusions of law on May 28, 2003, and on June 28, 2003, gave written notice of past due findings of fact and conclusions of law. However, none were made nor filed. By their first issue, appellants complain of the trial court's failure to make and file findings of fact and conclusions of law. Citing Brooks v. Housing Authority of City of El Paso, 926 S.W.2d 316, 319 (Tex.App.--El Paso 1996, no writ), appellees acknowledge that abatement and remand is the appropriate remedy, Accordingly, we abate the appeal and remand this cause to the trial court. On remand, the trial court is directed to file findings of fact and conclusions of law on or before September 6, 2004, which date shall be deemed to be the 20th day after a timely request for findings and conclusion for purposes of Tex. R. Civ. P. 297, 298, and 299a, which rules shall apply to further proceedings in the trial court pursuant to this order. The trial court is further directed to cause the trial court clerk to prepare and file a supplemental appellate record which includes its findings of fact and conclusions of law. Leave is granted to appellants to file an amended brief within 20 days after the findings of fact and conclusions of law are filed in the trial court. Also, appellees may file a reply brief to appellants' amended brief within 20 days of the date appellants file their brief. Except as specifically set out otherwise, the provisions of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure shall apply to further proceedings. Because the case was previously submitted by oral argument, no further oral argument will be permitted, except upon motion setting forth good cause. It is so ordered. Per Curiam to visit with your attorney about the matter prior to entering your plea here today? Defendant: Yes, sir. Court: And you have also indicated that nobody made you any promises to induce you to enter into the plea; is that correct? Defendant: Yes, sir. * * * Court: And you are also waiving your right - what is called your right against self-incrimination, and do you understand that by entering a plea of guilty to these allegations, that means that you are admitting that these allegations are true; do you understand that? Defense Attorney: He is pleading nolo, Your Honor. Court: Okay. Defense Attorney: I am sorry. I think the papers reflect either a guilty plea or a nolo. Prosecutor: I will make sure that the final judgments, Your Honor, reflect nolo. Court: The Court will accept your plea of nolo contendere as to both of these cases, and you may have a seat. * * * (Emphasis added). In addition to the foregoing admonitions, appellant received, as evidenced by his signature, written admonishments regarding the consequences of his plea of guilty or nolo contendere. In those admonitions, among other things, he acknowledged that his "plea of guilty or nolo contendere [was] being given freely and voluntarily" and that "[n]o one [had] threatened, coerced, intimidated, forced, tricked, persuaded or otherwise induced [him] to enter his plea." By his first issue, appellant asserts that he "did not enter any plea; none was requested by the court, and none was given." Absent a plea, claims appellant, "the court was not authorized to proceed to a punishment hearing, and the resulting convictions, judgments, and sentences are a [sic] null and void." We disagree. Article 27.13 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides: "A plea of 'guilty' or 'nolo contendere' in a felony case must be made in open court by the defendant in person . . . ." (Vernon 1989). (2) A defendant, however, can enter a guilty plea in a felony case through his attorney as long as the defendant is present at the time of the plea and the plea is voluntary. Shields v. State, 608 S.W.2d 924, 927 (Tex.Cr.App. 1980). In other words, we will review the trial court's actions to determine if it substantially complied with the edicts of article 27.13. See id. Article 27.13 is complied with, regardless of who actually speaks, so long as it occurs in open court, in the presence of the defendant, who acknowledges the plea is his. Costilla v. State, 84 S.W.3d 361, 364 (Tex.App.-Beaumont 2002, pet. granted); but see Mendez v. State, 892 S.W.2d 81, 83 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 1994)(holding that mere fact of appellant's presence while his attorney stated a plea is insufficient to comply with the requirements of the Code), rev'd on other grounds, 914 S.W.2d 579 (Tex.Cr.App. 1996). Here, we conclude the trial court substantially complied with article 27.13 when it accepted appellant's attorney's assurance that appellant was "pleading nolo." Appellant acknowledged that plea as his own when, throughout the plea colloquy, he affirmatively responded to the trial court's queries concerning his understanding of the consequences of "your plea." Furthermore, there is nothing in the record to indicate that appellant was confused. Adkison v. State, 762 S.W.2d 255, 259 (Tex.App.-Beaumont 1988, pet. ref'd). Indeed, it appears from the record detailed above that appellant fully understood the proceedings. And, when questioned about the voluntariness of his plea, he affirmatively replied that no one made him any promises to induce him to enter into the plea, and that he was pleading freely and voluntarily. We have not overlooked appellant's reference to White v. State, 932 S.W.2d 595 (Tex.App.-Tyler 1995, pet. ref'd). However, because White is factually distinguishable from the cases under review here, White is not controlling. In White, after the State announced that it was abandoning one of the counts of the indictment, the appellant then pleaded guilty to the remaining count. Later in the hearing, the State announced that it had misstated the terms of the plea bargain, which contemplated the appellant's conviction on both counts. The trial court then failed to secure appellant's plea to the remaining count of the indictment. Here, in contrast to the White case, it was clear from the outset of the plea colloquy that appellant intended to make open pleas to all three counts. Indeed, when appellant's attorney advised the trial court that his client was "pleading nolo," it was in response to the court's admonition that by pleading appellant would be admitting that the allegations were true. In short, the record demonstrates that appellant acknowledged his attorney's plea of nolo as his own as to each count with which he was charged. Although the better practice would have been for the trial court to inquire of appellant personally as to his pleas, we conclude that "the circumstances are sufficient to show a compliance not only with the spirit but with the letter of article 27.13." Shields, 608 S.W.2d at 927. Appellant's first issue is overruled. By his second issue, appellant contends "[t]he trial court's error in accepting a plea, when [he] failed to make one, violated [his] right to due process of law under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution." Apart from making that declaration in the presentation of his issues, however, appellant wholly fails to present any argument or authority to support his position. Thus, he presents nothing for our review. See Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(h) (requiring appellant's brief to contain a clear and concise argument for the contentions made with appropriate citations to authorities and to the record); Jackson v. State, 50 S.W.3d 579, 591 (Tex.App.--Fort Worth 2001, pet. ref'd) (holding that the defendant waived his right to complain on appeal by failing to present any argument or authority supporting his point of error). Issue two is overruled. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. Don H. Reavis Justice Do not publish. 1. Appellant was charged with one count of aggravated robbery in cause number 2001-438439 and two counts of aggravated robbery in cause number 2001-438400. The cases were consolidated at trial, and appellant challenges the convictions jointly on appeal. Likewise, we will consider the cases simultaneously. 2. All references to articles are to the Code of Criminal Procedure unless otherwise indicated. (Vernon 1989).