HSBC HSBC 749 751 HSBC 746 v. 51 705 710 2001 51 709 (2012)

Court of Appeals of Texas, Waco.

Background Facts HSBC filed a petition for forcible detainer in the justice of the peace court.  A trial was held, and the court rendered judgment in favor of HSBC. Chavez Garcia appealed to the county court, which tried the case de novo.  See Tex.R. Civ. P. 749, 751.  The county court also rendered judgment in favor of HSBC. Chavez Garcia now appeals to this court.  Forcible Detainer In a forcible detainer action, the only issue the trial court determines is whether the party seeking to obtain possession is entitled to actual and immediate possession;  the merits of whether a party has title may not be determined.  See Tex.R. Civ. P. 746;  Black v. Wash. Mut. Bank, 318 S.W.3d 414, 416 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2010, pet. dism'd w.o.j.);  Williams v. Bank of N.Y. Mellon, 315 S.W.3d 925, 927 (Tex.App.—Dallas 2010, no pet.).  Thus, questions over whether a sale of property in a deed of trust is invalid “must be brought in a separate suit.”  Williams, 315 S.W.3d at 927;  Rice v. Pinney, 51 S.W.3d 705, 710 (Tex.App.—Dallas 2001, no pet.).  “To prevail in a forcible detainer action, a plaintiff is not required to prove title, but is only required to show sufficient evidence of ownership to demonstrate a superior right to immediate possession.”  Rice, 51 S.W.3d at 709.

NO. 02–11–00324–CV

Decided: January 23, 2012