Opinion by Justice LANG.
Appellant Thomas J. Ellis appeals the trial court's summary judgment against
This lawsuit was filed by Ellis in August 2010.
Both appellees filed general denial answers. Additionally, on August 30, 2011, the Association filed a counterclaim in which it sought (1) recovery of "delinquent assessments" owed by Ellis, (2) foreclosure of its "continuing lien against Ellis' unit 1208," and (3) "attorney's fees and costs."
In December 2011, (1) appellees filed a no-evidence motion for summary judgment on Ellis's claims and (2) the Association filed a traditional motion for summary judgment on its counterclaim. In the "Introduction" and "Statement of Relevant Facts" in its traditional motion for summary judgment, the Association asserted in part
(citations to record omitted).
In the "Argument and Authorities" section of its traditional motion, the Association asserted in part
Attached to the Association's traditional motion for summary judgment were affidavits of (1) Duane Bates, general manager of the Association, and (2) John A. Isbell, an attorney hired by the Association.
Bates testified in part in his affidavit (1) "I have personal knowledge of the facts stated herein and they are true and correct" and (2) "As of November 18, 2011, the Plaintiff owes a total of $13,405.64, including delinquent regular monthly assessments, fines, late fees and other charges." Additionally, Bates's testimony included descriptions of noise and conduct violations by Ellis essentially identical to those described in the Association's traditional motion for summary judgment. Further, Bates stated in part in his affidavit
Exhibits attached to Bates's affidavit included, in part (1) a "Condominium Declaration for The Renaissance on Turtle Creek Condominium" (the "Declaration"); (2) "Bylaws of The Renaissance on Turtle Creek Condominium Association, Inc."; (3) "Rules and Regulations of The Renaissance on Turtle Creek Condominium Association, Inc."; (4) resolutions adopting the rules and regulations, a "revised fining structure" and a "payment application policy"; (5) a "resident transaction report" showing an accounting of amounts owed by Ellis to the Association and payments made by Ellis from January 2009 through November 18, 2011; and (6) twelve written notices from Bates to Ellis describing violations committed by Ellis and the fines imposed.
Finally, Isbell testified that in his opinion, "a fee of $30,000.00 would be a reasonable fee for the filing of a brief and for each hearing before the Court of Civil Appeals" and "an additional fee of $30,000.00 would be a reasonable fee for the filing of a Petition for Review to the Texas Supreme Court, and for each hearing before said Court."
Ellis filed a response to the Association's traditional motion for summary judgment in which he stated in part
(emphasis original).
Attachments to Ellis's response included (1) correspondence from Ellis to the Association in which Ellis informs the Association that a "security breach" recently occurred at his bank, inquires whether the Association's records show certain payments to his account with the Association, and asks the Association to "verify what payments were actually received"; (2) written notices from the Association to Ellis informing him that his account is "currently outstanding due to repeated violation notices" and attempting to collect amounts owed; (3) a November 10, 2010 letter from the Association to Ellis informing Ellis that a check he submitted to the Association "was returned for `Payment Stopped'" and "[o]nly funds in the form of cashiers check or money order will be accepted at this time"; (4) emails from Ellis to a recipient at "rtchoa.com" complaining of noise coming from the unit above his; (5) incident reports by the Dallas Police Department and the Association's security personnel stating police responded to calls from Ellis in 2009 and 2010 respecting noise in the unit above his and were told by the Association's security personnel on September 1, 2009, that "sound travels through the walls and is almost impossible to locate the source"; and (6) a May 27, 2009 "night manager report" stating that several residents had complained of noise "reportedly created by Mr. Ellis of unit 1208."
Further, Ellis filed two responses to appellees' no-evidence motion for summary judgment. Exhibits attached to those responses included documents titled "Notice of Lien" and "Notice of Assessment Lien Sale" pertaining to real estate owned by Ellis that was described as follows:
In the final judgment of which Ellis complains, the trial court (1) granted appellees' no-evidence motion for summary judgment and the Association's traditional motion for summary judgment without specifying the grounds for its rulings; (2) ordered that the Association recover $13,405.64 on its counterclaim; (3) awarded the Association attorney's fees of $20,000 for services rendered through the summary judgment, $5,500 for services pertaining to foreclosure of Ellis's unit,
(emphasis original).
Ellis filed a "Second Amended Motion to Vacate, Modify, Correct, or Reform Judgment" in which he contended (1) material issues of fact exist "regarding the validity of fines and attempted payment of assessments" and (2) the award of attorney's fees is unreasonable and/or based on legally insufficient evidence. That motion was denied by the trial court. This appeal timely followed.
The standard of review in a traditional summary judgment case is well established. See TEX.R. CIV. P. 166a(c); Hackberry Creek Country Club, Inc. v. Hackberry Creek Home Owners Ass'n, 205 S.W.3d 46, 49-50 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2006, pet. denied). We review a trial court's decision to grant a traditional summary
"A motion for summary judgment must itself expressly present the grounds upon which it is made and must stand or fall on these grounds alone." Espalin v. Children's Med. Ctr. of Dallas, 27 S.W.3d 675, 688 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2000, no pet.) (citing McConnell v. Southside Indep. Sch. Dist., 858 S.W.2d 337, 341 (Tex.1993)). "Summary judgment may not be affirmed on appeal on a ground not presented to the trial court in the motion." State Farm Lloyds v. Page, 315 S.W.3d 525, 532 (Tex. 2010); see Travis v. City of Mesquite, 830 S.W.2d 94, 100 (Tex.1992). Further, "issues a non-movant contends avoid the movant's entitlement to summary judgment must be expressly presented by written answer to the motion or by other written response to the motion." McConnell, 858 S.W.2d at 341. With the exception of an attack on the legal sufficiency of the grounds expressly raised by the movant in his motion for summary judgment, issues not expressly presented to the trial court by written motion, answer or other response shall not be considered on appeal as grounds for reversal. Id. at 343; TEX.R. CIV. P. 166a(c); see also City of Lancaster v. Clopton, 246 S.W.3d 837, 839 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2008, no pet.) (constitutional issue in avoidance of summary judgment raised for first time in non-movant's motion to modify or set aside summary judgment in trial court "did not bring the issue before the trial court and will not be considered by this Court").
In his first issue, Ellis asserts the Association is not entitled to summary
We begin with Ellis's challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence to support the Association's counterclaim. Specifically, Ellis contends (1) "[be]cause the Declaration attached to Duane Bates' affidavit is invalid due to a lack of signature from the property owner, the Association did not present sufficient evidence to show that it has the authority to levy assessments, impose fines, create a lien on property, or foreclose a lien," and (2) because Bates's affidavit "does not show how he has personal knowledge of the alleged excessive noise," the Association's traditional motion for summary judgment "does not contain sufficient evidence to show that the fines were valid."
As to the Declaration attached to Bates's affidavit, the record shows that Declaration is not signed by the property owner. According to Ellis, Bates's statements respecting the Association's powers are therefore "conclusory and without foundation." Further, Ellis asserts that while a "subsequent execution" can "repair" a defect in a declaration in some cases and the property description in the judgment in this case indicates the Declaration was amended at some point, any such amendment cannot constitute a "repair" in this case because "the amended declaration is not included in or referenced by the Association" in its motion for summary judgment.
The record shows Ellis did not raise the lack of signature as to the Declaration or any arguments pertaining to an "amended" Declaration in the trial court. On this record, we conclude Ellis's complaint respecting the Declaration presents nothing for this Court's review. See All Am. Siding & Windows, Inc. v. Bank of Am., Nat'l Ass'n, 367 S.W.3d 490, 496 n. 2 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2012, pet. denied) (complaint of lack of signature on copy of agreement in question attached to affidavit as exhibit could not be asserted for first time on appeal).
Next, we address Ellis's complaint that Bates's affidavit "does not show how he has personal knowledge of the alleged excessive noise." According to Ellis,
(citations omitted). In support of that argument, Ellis cites generally to pages four through six of Bates's eight-page affidavit. Those pages contain assertions by Bates that Ellis "violated the Rules and Regulations" as described above and was notified in writing by Bates of each violation.
The Association responds that this complaint presents nothing for this Court's review because an objection regarding an affiant's lack of personal knowledge pertains to "a defect in the form of the affidavit" and is "waived" if not raised in the trial court. Further, the Association contends the undisputed summary judgment evidence, including Bates's affidavit and the attached notices of violations, "established that the Association assessed fines based upon complaints to, and investigations by, the general manager of the Association." Finally, the Association asserts that pursuant to section 202.004(a) of the Texas Property Code, it is entitled to a "presumption of reasonableness" respecting the assessment of the fines in question. See TEX. PROP.CODE ANN. § 202.004(a) (West 2007). Specifically, the Association
Section 202.004(a) provides in part "[a]n exercise of discretionary authority by a property owners' association or other representative designated by an owner of real property concerning a restrictive covenant is presumed reasonable unless the court determines by a preponderance of the evidence that the exercise of discretionary authority was arbitrary, capricious, or discriminatory." Id. However, the record shows no presumption pursuant to section 202.004(a) was raised in the trial court. Therefore, we conclude the Association's argument respecting a "presumption of reasonableness" pursuant to section 202.004(a) presents nothing for this Court's review. See Malcomson Rd. Util. Dist. v. Newsom, 171 S.W.3d 257, 279 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2005, pet. denied) (declining to address argument on appeal respecting applicability of statutory presumption in property code pertaining to easements where argument was not raised in summary judgment motion or response); see also State Farm Lloyds, 315 S.W.3d at 532 ("Summary judgment may not be affirmed on appeal on a ground not presented to the trial court in the motion."); Travis, 830 S.W.2d at 100 (same).
As to Ellis's complaint respecting Bates's "personal knowledge," the record does not show that complaint was raised in the trial court. However, we need not address whether such complaint is precluded on appeal. To the extent that complaint is intended by Ellis to address the entire affidavit and attached exhibits, it lacks specificity and therefore presents nothing for this Court's review. See French v. French, 385 S.W.3d 61, 68 (Tex. App.-Waco 2012, pet. denied) (complaint that summary judgment affidavit was conclusory did not specify portions of affidavit to which it pertained and thus presented nothing for appellate review). Alternatively, to the extent Ellis's complaint specifically addresses Bates's "assertion that "[Ellis] created excessive noise" on pages four through six of the affidavit, such assertion constitutes only a portion of the evidence in the record. In addition to that complained of assertion, Bates incorporated by reference the exhibits attached to his affidavit, including twelve notices sent to Ellis respecting the violations in question. As described above, those notices state that violations by Ellis were "witnessed" by residents and "associates" and "reported" by residents. Ellis did not object to that evidence in the trial court, nor does he specifically object to that evidence on appeal. Consequently, we conclude Ellis has not met his obligation to show Bates's alleged lack of personal knowledge respecting the complained of assertion on pages four through six of the affidavit is material. See Choice Asset Mgmt., Inc. v. CIT Tech. Fin. Servs., No. 07-12-00304-CV, 2013 WL 5039340, at *1 (Tex.App.-Amarillo Sept. 11, 2013, no pet.) (mem. op.) (concluding appellant's complaints respecting conclusory nature of certain utterances in summary judgment affidavit presented nothing for appellate review where appellant did not establish evidence complained of was material).
Next, we address Ellis's contention that the evidence attached to his response to the traditional motion for summary judgment raised "genuine issues of material facts regarding whether the Association refused to accept his payments and whether the fines imposed against him are reasonable."
(citations to record omitted). In support of those assertions, Ellis cites attachments to his response to the motion for traditional summary judgment, including (1) correspondence from Ellis to the Association in which Ellis informs the Association that a "security breach" recently occurred at his bank, inquires whether the Association's records show certain payments to his account with the Association, and asks the Association to "verify what payments were actually received"; (2) written notices from the Association to Ellis informing him that his account is "currently outstanding due to repeated violation notices" and attempting to collect amounts owed; and (3) a November 10, 2010 letter from the Association to Ellis informing Ellis that a check he submitted to the Association "was returned for `Payment Stopped'" and "[o]nly funds in the form of cashiers check or money order will be accepted at this time." Additionally, Ellis contends he "attempted to pay his assessments in person," but "the Association did not allow him to do so." In support of that assertion, he cites his response to the traditional motion for summary judgment.
The Association argues (1) Ellis's response to the traditional motion for summary judgment "is not summary judgment evidence" and (2) none of the evidence cited by Ellis raises a fact issue as to whether he "attempted to pay his assessments in person" and was not allowed to do so. Further, the Association contends Ellis's other assertions quoted above, even if proven true, "would not raise a fact issue on refused acceptance" because they "simply reveal[] that Ellis had a problem paying the Association due to issues with his bank."
Ellis's argument in his summary judgment response does not constitute evidence and therefore cannot raise a fact issue. See Madeksho v. Abraham, Watkins, Nichols & Friend, 57 S.W.3d 448, 455 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, pet. denied). Further, we cannot agree with Ellis that the evidence described above shows he attempted to make payments that were not accepted by the Association.
The Association responds in part
We reconfirm, no fact issue was raised by Ellis's arguments in his summary judgment response. See Madeksho, 57 S.W.3d at 455. Further, regardless of whether "sound travels through the walls and is almost impossible to locate the source," the record does not show that as to any of the alleged noise violations in question a determination of who committed the violation was made based solely on sound traveling through the walls. We conclude Ellis has identified no evidence in the record that he did not commit the violations in question or that the fines related to those violations were "unreasonable."
We decide against Ellis on his first issue.
In general, the party seeking to recover attorney's fees carries the burden of proof. Stewart Title Guar. Co. v. Sterling, 822 S.W.2d 1, 10 (Tex.1991). Factors to be considered in determining the reasonableness of attorney's fees include (1) the time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved, and the skill required to perform the legal service properly; (2) the likelihood that the acceptance of the particular employment will preclude other employment by the lawyer; (3) the fee customarily charged in the locality for similar legal services; (4) the amount involved and the results obtained; (5) the time limitations imposed by the client or by the circumstances; (6) the nature and length of the professional relationship with the client; (7) the experience, reputation, and ability of the lawyer or lawyers performing the services; and (8) whether the fee is fixed or contingent on results obtained or uncertainty of collection before the legal services have been rendered. Arthur Andersen & Co. v. Perry Equip. Corp., 945 S.W.2d 812, 818 (Tex.1997). However, evidence of each of the Arthur Andersen factors is not required to support an award of attorney's fees. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. v. Dieterich, 270 S.W.3d 695, 706 (Tex. App.-Dallas 2008, no pet.).
In his second issue, Ellis challenges the trial court's award of attorney's fees on the grounds that Isbell's affidavit is insufficient (1) to support the Association's claim for "$20,000 in attorney's fees for bringing a counterclaim for foreclosure" because "it is controverted by the record, it contains inconsistencies, and it is incredible, unreasonable, and questionable"; (2) "to support an award of attorney's fees as a matter of law because it is conclusory as to reasonableness without offering sufficient evidence of the Arthur Anderson factors"; and (3) "to support an award of attorney's fees as a matter of law because it does not address the qualifications, billing rate, or number of hours worked of the paralegals on the case nor the nature of their work."
The Association responds (1) on appeal, Ellis is limited to attacking the legal sufficiency of the evidence to support the attorney's fees because he failed to preserve any other arguments respecting attorney's fees for this Court's review and (2) "undisputed summary judgment evidence which was neither contradicted nor even attacked in the trial court" supports the Association's claim for reasonable and necessary attorney's fees in the amounts awarded by the trial court.
The record does not show Ellis's challenges respecting attorney's fees were asserted in his response to the traditional motion for summary judgment in the trial court. See McConnell, 858 S.W.2d at 343; TEX.R. CIV. P. 166a(c). However, to the extent Ellis's arguments can be construed to assert that the evidence in the record is legally insufficient to support the attorney's fees awarded, we consider those challenges. See McConnell, 858 S.W.2d at 343.
First, Ellis contends "Isbell's affidavit was contradicted by appellee's own arguments." In support of that contention, Ellis (1) cites assertions in the Association's motion for summary judgment and (2) quotes a statement by this Court in another case that "[i]f the record contains evidence that contradicts or controverts the interested witness's testimony, the affidavit is insufficient to sustain a summary judgment." Bartz v. Randall, 396 S.W.3d 647,
Additionally, Ellis argues "[t]he record offers circumstances that show that Mr. Isbell's affidavit is unreasonable, incredible, and questionable, and raises a fact issue." Specifically, Ellis asserts in his reply brief in this Court that the Association "argued in the trial court the contradictory positions that: (1) Ellis's claim for filing a fraudulent lien is a defense to the Association's counterclaim; and (2) it was reasonable for an attorney to need 73 hours, segregated from the work done on defense, to bring the counterclaim." Ellis contends "[t]he two causes are either the same thing or they aren't." Further, Ellis asserts (1) the record shows he filed a motion to compel production of discovery against the Association more than four months before the Association filed its counterclaim and (2) "[t]he motion to compel includes requests for production of documents and interrogatories that provide the evidence that the Association uses as evidence in its motion for summary judgment with the exclusion of the affidavit for attorney's fees." Ellis contends Isbell "could not have charged the Association to engage in `extensive written discovery' `segregated from ... [and] not include[ing] the ... fees incurred by the Association and its co-defendant to defend the suit filed by the Plaintiff,' because discovery requests pertinent to the elements of the Association's counterclaim were exchanged as part of the Association's defense, not part of the counterclaim." According to Ellis, those "contradictory assertions" raise a fact issue as to "reasonable attorney's fees." In support of his argument, Ellis cites Isbell's affidavit; footnote number one of the Association's motion for summary judgment; an April 7, 2011 motion to compel filed by Ellis respecting interrogatories and requests for production served by him on the Association; and the Association's responses and objections to Ellis's interrogatories and requests for production.
The Association contends Ellis's argument constitutes an objection to the failure to segregate recoverable attorney's fees from non-recoverable attorney's fees and was waived because it was not raised in the trial court. See Green Int'l, Inc. v. Solis, 951 S.W.2d 384, 389 (Tex.1997) ("if no one objects to the fact that the attorney's fees are not segregated as to specific claims, then the objection is waived"). In his reply brief in this Court, Ellis disputes that characterization of his argument. However, even assuming without deciding that Ellis's argument differs from an objection to failure to segregate attorney's fees and can be raised on appeal, we disagree with Ellis's position that "circumstances" in the record preclude a conclusion that Isbell's affidavit constitutes legally sufficient evidence to support the trial court's award of attorney's fees. As described above, the Association stated in footnote number one in its traditional motion for summary judgment that it filed a no-evidence motion for summary judgment on Ellis's fraudulent lien claims against it and that Ellis's claims "are, effectively, nothing more than an illusory defense to payment of the Association's regular monthly dues assessments, dressed up as an affirmative claim for relief, in order to avoid liability for his own actions and a reckoning of his obligations to the Association." On its face, that statement does not constitute an assertion that "the two causes" are the "same thing." See Bartz, 396 S.W.3d at 651-52 (concluding circumstances in record did not show contradiction). Further,
Second, we consider Ellis's contention that Isbell's affidavit is "conclusory as to reasonableness without offering sufficient evidence of the Arthur Andersen factors." "A conclusory statement is one that does not provide the underlying facts to support the conclusion." Thompson v. Curtis, 127 S.W.3d 446, 450 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2004); Dolcefino v. Randolph, 19 S.W.3d 906, 930 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, pet. denied). In support of his contention that Isbell's affidavit is "conclusory as to reasonableness," Ellis cites Burrow v. Arce, 997 S.W.2d 229, 236 (Tex.1999). Burrow involved affidavits by several attorneys in support of another attorney's motion for summary judgment on misconduct claims filed against him by a former client. Id. The attorneys' affidavits were offered to establish as a matter of law that the client did not suffer actual damages and thus the trial court's summary judgment dismissing the client's claims on that basis was proper. Id. The supreme court concluded the attorney affiants "have substantial credentials to render expert opinions on issues of attorney practice, but their affidavits ... offer no basis for the opinions stated" as to whether the client suffered damages as a result of the alleged misconduct. Id. at 236-37. Burrow did not involve the issue of whether an attorney's affidavit was conclusory or legally insufficient respecting the reasonableness of fees, nor did it involve an analysis respecting the Arthur Andersen factors. See id. Therefore, Burrow is inapposite.
Additionally, Ellis argues in his reply brief in this Court that Isbell (1) failed to adequately address the Arthur Andersen factor respecting "the experience, reputation, and ability of the lawyer or lawyers performing the services" because Isbell "does not state that he spent 73 hours" or "that anyone spent 73 hours," "does not state the $275 is a reasonable hourly rate," and "does not say who is being billed at that rate"; and (2) failed to address certain other Arthur Andersen factors. However, evidence of each of the Arthur Andersen factors is not required to support an award of attorney's fees. See Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., 270 S.W.3d at 706.
The record shows Isbell testified in his affidavit as to his level of experience, his personal knowledge of the facts stated therein, the type of work he and others performed on the case, and the amount of "reasonable and necessary fees" based upon his hourly rate and the time required. We cannot agree with Ellis that Isbell's affidavit is conclusory. See Dodd v. Savino, No. 14-12-00555-CV, 2014 WL 242881, at *13 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] Jan. 16, 2014, no pet.) (rejecting argument that attorney's affidavit testimony was conclusory where attorney attested she is duly licensed attorney with personal knowledge of work performed and indicated type of work performed). Further, based on the same testimony of Isbell, we disagree with Ellis that Isbell's affidavit was legally insufficient to support the attorney's fees awarded. See Tex. Commerce Bank, Nat'l Ass'n v. New, 3 S.W.3d 515, 518 (Tex.1999); Arthur J. Gallagher
Third, Ellis contends Isbell's affidavit is legally insufficient to support an award of attorney's fees "because it does not address the qualifications, billing rate, or number of hours worked of the paralegals on the case nor the nature of their work." In support of that contention, Ellis cites case law addressing the requirements for recovery of attorney's fees for work performed by legal assistants. Additionally, Ellis asserts "[Isbell] claims that `attorneys and paralegals at my firm, including myself,' have worked on the case."
However, the record shows Isbell's affidavit contained a list of specific tasks that "attorneys and paralegals at my firm, including myself, have done, have caused to be done, or will do ... in connection with the Association's Counterclaim." Further, Isbell's affidavit, on its face, does not show that any of the "reasonable and necessary" fees described by him pertain to work performed by legal assistants. Consequently, we cannot agree with Ellis's position that Isbell's affidavit is legally insufficient due to a failure to address the matters described by Ellis pertaining to paralegals. Cf. TEX.R. CIV. P. 166a(c) (summary judgment "may be based on uncontroverted testimonial evidence of interested witness, or of an expert witness as to subject matter concerning which the trier of fact must be guided solely by the opinion testimony of experts, if the evidence is clear, positive and direct, otherwise credible and free from contradictions and inconsistencies, and could have been readily controverted").
We decide against Ellis on his second issue.
In his third issue, Ellis contends "[t]he Association is not entitled to foreclosure on the property described in the order because it did not describe the property in its motion for summary judgment." Ellis's entire argument as to this issue consists of the following:
In support of his argument, Ellis cites a single authority, Westbrook Construction Co., Inc. v. Fidelity National Bank of Dallas, 813 S.W.2d 752, 754-55 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 1991, writ denied). In the cited portion of that opinion, the court states that a motion for summary judgment "must stand or fall on the grounds it specifically and expressly sets forth" and "a summary judgment cannot be sustained on a ground not specifically set forth in the motion." See id.
The Association responds that Ellis did not raise this argument in the trial court. Further, the Association asserts that, to the extent Ellis is arguing the property is incorrectly described, "[h]e could not legitimately do so, for the summary judgment evidence conclusively established that Ellis owned Unit 1208, which is the very unit described in the order granting summary judgment."
In its traditional motion for summary judgment, the Association (1) stated Ellis "is the owner of Unit 1208, a condominium unit in The Renaissance on Turtle Creek Condominium ... located at 3225 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75219" and
(emphasis original).
The record shows the judgment described the property exactly as it was described in the motion for summary judgment and then, additionally, included a more particular description of the same property. On this record, we cannot conclude summary judgment was granted on a ground that was not specifically set forth in the motion. See id.
We decide against Ellis on his third issue.
We decide Ellis's three issues against him. Additionally, we deny (1) Ellis's December 17, 2013 "Motion for Leave to File Amended Brief" and (2) the Association's January 23, 2014 "Motion to Strike or Alternatively, Disregard Appellant's Notice to the Court."
The trial court's judgment is affirmed.
(emphasis original).