Jennifer Cambas and Lawrence Cambas v. Trinity Roofing & Restoration, LLC

In the
Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana

No. 06-24-00073-CV

JENNIFER CAMBAS AND LAWRENCE CAMBAS, Appellants

V.

TRINITY ROOFING & RESTORATION, LLC, Appellee

On Appeal from the 57th District Court
Bexar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2021-CI-22664

Before Stevens, C.J., van Cleef and Rambin, JJ.
Memorandum Opinion by Justice van Cleef
MEMORANDUM OPINION

A Bexar County1 jury rendered a verdict in favor of Trinity Roofing & Restoration, LLC

(Trinity), on their breach of contract and quantum meruit claims against Jennifer Cambas and

Lawrence Cambas. On appeal, the Cambases argue that the jury’s verdict on breach of contract

was not supported by legally sufficient evidence and that Trinity’s claim for damages under the

contract was barred. The Cambases also argue that Trinity could not recover under quantum

meruit when an oral contract existed and that Trinity was not entitled to attorney fees awarded by

the trial court’s judgment. Because we conclude that legally sufficient evidence supported the

jury’s finding that the Cambases materially breached the contract, that Trinity’s right to recovery

was not barred, that Trinity’s quantum meruit recovery was not barred, and that Trinity was

entitled to attorney fees, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

I. Factual and Procedural Background

The Cambases owned a rental home located at 8518 Quail Sun, San Antonio, Texas

78250 (the Property). After their former renter caused a substantial amount of severe water

damage in 2020 to most of the home, the Cambases filed a claim with their insurance company,

MetLife. When their MetLife agent recommended Trinity for the repairs required to restore the

home, the Cambases contacted Trinity’s owner, Adrienne Brickley.

After Brickley informed the Cambases that Trinity was experienced in repairing water

damage, the Cambases hired Trinity to perform the repairs. Trinity had Phillip Revland survey

1
Originally appealed to the Fourth Court of Appeals, this case was transferred to this Court by the Texas Supreme
Court pursuant to its docket equalization efforts. See TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 73.001 (Supp.); TEX. R. APP. P. 41.3;
Mitschke v. Borromeo, 645 S.W.3d 251, 258 (Tex. 2022) (“Transferee courts must follow whatever law binds the
transferor court . . . .”).
2
the home and prepare an item-by-item “Xactimate,” which is a tool used by MetLife and other

insurance companies to estimate the cost of repair. The Xactimate, prepared on June 20, 2020,

detailed every repair needed to restore the Property due to water damage in the living room,

dining room, kitchen, three bathrooms, three bedrooms, the master bedroom closet, hallway,

stairway, laundry room, and garage. According to the Xactimate, the cost to repair the water

damage totaled $38,786.68. Although the Xactimate contained general descriptions of materials

that were needed to make the repairs, it did not specify what quality materials should be used. It

also noted that the “estimate [wa]s good for thirty days from 6/18/2020.” To support the

submission of the Xactimate to MetLife, Trinity included photos of the severe water damage

throughout the Property. After MetLife approved the Xactimate, the Cambases contracted with

Trinity to make the repairs.

The written contract signed by the Cambases on February 19, 2021, stated, “All work

will be done according to insurance scope as Trinity Roofing and Restoration and MetLife are in

agreement with estimate #2020-06-20-2141.” The contract price was $36,268.38, which was

less than the Xactimate price, provided that the Cambases paid the insurance deductible. At trial,

Brickley testified that Trinity, a general contractor, used CHS Construction (CHS) as its

subcontractor on the project. Brickley visited the Property with the subcontractor’s owner, who

estimated that the work could be completed in approximately four to five weeks. Accordingly,

as for the timing of the work, the written contract stated, “Please allow 4-5 weeks for production.

Work to begin 3/1/2021.” Even so, Brickley testified that she did not guarantee that the project

would be completed in that timeframe.

3
The written contract also stated, “[T]he [first insurance] check is required prior to

beginning production. Once work is finished Trinity Roofing and Restoration will turn in final

paperwork to insurance company to release recoverable depreciation. Balance due once final

check is received from insurance company. At that time, warranty will be issued to the

homeowner” for completed repairs.2 Brickley explained that those terms were the result of

MetLife’s “two-check process.” He continued, “One check is paid up front to the homeowner to

begin all the work. And then, upon final completion invoices, [MetLife] would release final

payment” to the homeowner, who would then pay Trinity.

MetLife provided the first check to the Cambases so they could pay Trinity to begin the

work, and the Cambases made the first payment of $16,893.34 to Trinity on February 25, 2021.

Also in February, in addition to the written contract, the Cambases made an oral agreement for

voluntary upgrades. Jennifer testified that the oral agreement required Trinity to paint kitchen

cabinets, upgrade the backsplash, remove popcorn ceilings, and trim trees, among other things.

The total for the repairs covered by the oral agreement was $6,424.03. Trinity agreed to perform

the upgrades and provided the Cambases with a separate, written invoice for the work completed,

totaling $6,424.03.

Additionally, there had been a hailstorm around that time, and on the Cambases’ request,

Trinity inspected the roof and concluded it was damaged. Trinity sent its findings to MetLife,

which agreed with Trinity and approved the Cambases’ claim to repair the roof damage. Trinity

replaced the roof, and text messages showed that the Cambases were happy with the new roof.

2
The written contract provided for a five-year workmanship warranty.
4
According to Brickley, while Trinity completed the repairs required by the oral

agreement and the roof repair, it was difficult to complete the repairs related to the written

contract because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused delays in obtaining construction

materials. Brickley testified that the repairs began in March 2021, but they were not completed

until July. She testified that, based on representations from CHS that it “was getting close to the

end,” she submitted a certificate of completion to MetLife in March so it would “release final

payment to the Cambases.” Jennifer said she did not tell Brickley that they were satisfied with

the completion of the project as of March 19, 2021, which is when MetLife issued the final

check to the Cambases.

Brickley testified that the Cambases chose the materials for the repairs, including flooring

and tile, and that Trinity installed the materials chosen. Brickley introduced text messages

between her and the Cambases confirming the materials they had selected. The text messages

also showed that the Cambases were initially happy with the living room floors. In May, based

on CHS’s representation, Brickley assured the Cambases that the repairs would be completed

that month but then had to notify them that CHS’s workers had gotten sick and that more delays

were expected. However, as the weeks progressed, Brickley determined that her reliance on

CHS’s estimated timeline was misplaced.

In May 2021, the Cambases found a renter for the Property who signed a rental

agreement beginning August 1. That same month, Lawrence voiced his disapproval that the

project had not yet been completed and informed Brickley that he was going to ask MetLife to

get another contractor to do the repairs, but Brickley convinced the Cambases to allow her to

5
continue working. Brickley testified that she fired CHS as her subcontractor because it had

already been paid $2,000.00 over its bid and was not “moving on production.” As a result, she

replaced CHS with Dr. Fix-It, a construction company owned by Daniel and Rosa Hernandez.

Lawrence testified that, by that time, he and Jennifer had a problem with the living room

flooring due to gaps and scratching. Brickley testified that, when the Cambases expressed

problems with the installed flooring, Trinity repurchased the floors that the Cambases had chosen

at no additional cost to them and had Dr. Fix-It install it to make them happy. Both Rosa and

Daniel testified that the living room floor installed by CHS was opening up due to an improper

plastic underlayment and that they completed the living room floor re-installation with a proper

underlayment. According to Brickley, the living room flooring was of good quality.

On July 5, when the Cambases expressed concerns with some bathroom flooring installed

by CHS, Brickley sent a text message stating,

I’m redoing the bathroom tile in the bathroom upstairs. I just wanted you to
accept my deepest apologies for the mess [CHS] put us both through. I feel
beyond embarrassed. If you only know how hard it was. I busted my tail to get
where I’m at today. It’s not by doing shoddy work. I do hope you don’t judge
my character by what [CHS] did. I personally have been there every day. I won’t
just leave you disappointed.

The next day, Brickley texted photos of the reset bathroom tile, with a text stating, “All done

over and perfect now,” and Jennifer responded to the photos and text with a thumbs-up emoji.

Text messages also show that the Cambases said the shower tile “look[ed] really good” and that,

after being sent photos of the redone living room floors, Jennifer sent a thumbs-up emoji on July

13 and said, “Looking good.”

6
On July 19, Brickley met with the Cambases at the Property to complete a walkthrough

and collect the final payments for the work under the written contract and oral agreement.

According to Brickley, the Cambases said they needed three or four items addressed. Brickley

testified, and the Cambases admitted, that Lawrence tendered one check for the full payment of

the oral agreement, totaling $6,424.03, and another check for $14,393.34, which was for

$5,000.00 less than the final payment required on the written contract. Brickley said that she had

agreed to the Cambases’ request to hold back the $5,000.00 until they finished the three or four

listed items, which would be completed the next day. Via text message on July 19, Lawrence

asked Brickley if she had received his notes, and Brickley responded that she had, was “on it,”

and that everything would be cleaned up.

On July 20, Dr. Fix-It arrived with a crew of four or five people, not including the

Hernandez’s, to complete the final checklist. Unfortunately for the Cambases, termites were

discovered in the living room wall that morning. Daniel testified that they were not finished with

the repairs at noon, but that they “were about to finish” and remained on the Property until 7:00

or 8:00 p.m. Brickley testified that her daughter-in-law, Cynthia Brickley, was with her at the

Property, along with Dr. Fix-It and the pest control people, that she and Jennifer walked the

Property, and that Jennifer wrote her the final $5,000.00 payment after speaking with Lawrence

on speakerphone and obtaining his permission to do so.

According to Jennifer, the repairs under the written contract were not complete, but

Brickley said she was not going to finish the job unless she received the final check. Jennifer

said she wrote the check for the balance of the written contract, even though the work was

7
allegedly not finished because she “was tired of [Brickley] badgering [her] and just telling [her],

I need a check.” As an example of what had not been finished, Jennifer testified that they were

supposed to have had French doors in one of the rooms, but she did not get them. Brickley

testified that the Xactimate included French doors, but the Cambases had ordered custom French

doors that would take at least three weeks for the order to ship. According to Brickley, the

Cambases did not want to wait for the French doors and, as a result, Dr. Fix-It made pocket

doors that looked like French doors, which the Cambases were happy with. Brickley included

text messages showing that the Cambases approved of the doors made to look like French doors.

Cynthia testified that she went with Brickley to pick up final payment from Jennifer on

July 20, that Jennifer wrote a check for $5,000.00, and that there was no confrontation. Cynthia

testified that Brickley did not corner Jennifer or force her to write the check. She added that

Rosa and Daniel were there to handle “a couple of things that [they] had to touch up.”

Brickley testified that the work under the oral agreement and written contract was

completed on July 20 by 8:00 p.m. and that she deposited the $6,424.03 and $14,393.34 checks

written on July 19, and the $5,000.00 check written on July 20. After Brickley had deposited the

checks, both Brickley and Jennifer testified that Jennifer asked Trinity to submit a bid for termite

repair. Jennifer said she asked Trinity for the bid despite being unsatisfied with their work.

The Cambases’ bank records showed, and Lawrence admitted, that their bank account did

not have sufficient funds to cover the checks written on July 19, that the $6,424.03 was returned

for insufficient funds, and that Lawrence placed a stop payment on the checks for $14,393.34

and $5,000.00. Lawrence admitted that he had not cashed the second MetLife check either.

8
Even so, he testified that he had fired Trinity on July 20 and had instead hired their

subcontractor, Dr. Fix-It.

In October 2021, Trinity sued the Cambases. Trinity brought claims for breach of the

oral agreement and written contract arguing that they had substantially performed while the

Cambases had failed to keep their promise to pay. In the alternative, Trinity raised causes of

action for quantum meruit and promissory estoppel.

In response, the Cambases filed counterclaims and a third-party claim against Brickley,

alleging that the repairs were not completed in a good and workmanlike manner and were not

completed on time. As a result, the Cambases filed counterclaims for breach of contract, breach

of warranty, deceptive trade practices, fraudulent inducement, common law fraud, negligence,

and negligent misrepresentation. The Cambases also alleged that Trinity was an alter ego of

Brickley.

The trial court granted the Cambases’ partial motion for summary judgment on Trinity’s

claim for quantum meruit “as to the express contracts executed on February 19, 2021, and

March 27, 2021,” but denied the motion “as to the parties’ oral contract surrounding upgrades”

to the Property “in the amount of $6,424.00.” The trial court also granted Trinity’s no-evidence

motion for summary judgment on the Cambases’ claims for breach of warranty, deceptive trade

practices, fraudulent inducement, common law fraud, negligence, negligent misrepresentation,

and alter ego. The remaining issues were submitted to a jury.

At trial, in addition to the evidence recited above, Lawrence admitted that Trinity had

completed the oral agreement and that he raised no issues regarding their roof repair with

9
Brickley. Even though he had written the July 19 checks, Lawrence testified that, as of that date,

there was still a lot of work left to be done, there “was paint all over the place,” there were issues

with the bathroom tile, and the living room floors were inadequate. Even though Jennifer

testified that she voiced no objection to the living room flooring installed by Dr. Fix-It, both

Jennifer and Lawrence believed that Brickley had purchased cheaper flooring than what they had

chosen. Lawrence and Jennifer also testified that they believed Trinity’s workmanship was poor.

They both admitted photos into evidence, but the photos, unlike those submitted by Trinity, were

undated.

Mark Stuart, an architect, residential building inspector, and former contractor, testified

that he was familiar with the “standard of good and workmanlike manner.” Stuart testified that

the Cambases did not like the look of the laminate flooring they had chosen and were not happy

with its installation. Stuart testified that he spoke to the Cambases about all the issues they had

with Trinity’s work, inspected the Property and work that Trinity performed, and concluded that

Trinity had performed the work in a good and workmanlike manner. Stuart did, however, point

out some items that remained to be finished “that a contractor might be willing to do,” and his

report included a proposed contract adjustment of $4,907.00.

The Cambases’ renter moved in as scheduled on August 1. The next year, after they had

been sued, the Cambases hired Jason Rozacky, a master licensed certified professional inspector,

to inspect the Property on September 8, 2022. Rozacky testified about alleged deficiencies in the

work, but ultimately said he was unaware of what repairs Trinity was charged with making and

10
could not attribute the deficiencies to Trinity since other contractors had been hired to work on

the Property after Trinity left.

The jury saw before and after photos of Trinity’s work, heard the Cambases’ evidence of

missing or poorly completed work, heard Trinity’s evidence about the work completed, and

found the following: (1) Trinity and the Cambases “enter[ed] into a contract for work to be done

in accordance with the insurance’s scope of work,” (2) the Cambases materially failed to comply

with the written contract first, (3) Trinity did not materially fail to comply with the written

contract, (4) Trinity substantially performed the written contract, and (5) $19,393.04 would fairly

and reasonably compensate Trinity for the damages resulting from the Cambases’ breach. 3 As

for Trinity’s quantum meruit claim on the oral agreement, the jury determined that Trinity

performed compensable work for the Cambases and received no compensation in return.

Accordingly, the jury awarded Trinity $6,424.03 for the work performed. The jury found that

Trinity’s failure to comply with the warranty, if any, was not a producing cause of any damages

to the Cambases, that neither Trinity nor Brickley fraudulently induced the Cambases into any

contract, and that Trinity and Brickley did not commit fraud during their performance of work on

the Property.

After the verdict, Trinity moved for an award of attorney fees for breach of contract and

as the prevailing party. It submitted the affidavit of its trial counsel, Abasi Major, who attached

detailed billing records showing that 432.55 hours of work was performed by attorneys and

3
The jury also found that Trinity substantially relied to its detriment on the Cambases’ promise in the written
contract, that their reliance was foreseeable, and that $25,817.07 was the sum that would fairly and reasonably
compensate Trinity for its damages resulting from the Cambases’ promise.
11
assistants, that the attorneys and assistants billed at different rates, and that a total of $95,984.63

of work was completed as reasonable and necessary.

In its final judgment for Trinity, the trial court entered judgment on Trinity’s breach of

the written contract and awarded it $19,393.04. The trial court noted that Trinity elected to

recover under its quantum meruit theory instead of promissory estoppel for the oral agreement

and awarded judgment on that claim for $6,424.03. The final judgment awarded Trinity attorney

fees in the amount of $76,500.00. The trial court also entered a take-nothing judgment on the

Cambases’ claims. The Cambases filed a motion for new trial and a motion for judgment

notwithstanding the verdict, but both motions were denied.

II. Legally Sufficient Evidence Supported the Jury’s Findings that the Cambases
Breached the Written Contract First

The jury found that the Cambases materially breached the written contract while Trinity

did not. By a separate question, the jury also found that the Cambases breached the written

contract first. In their first point of error, the Cambases argue that those findings were not

supported by legally sufficient evidence.

A. Standard of Review

Both Trinity and the Cambases had the burden to prove that the other breached the

written contract. An appellant attacking the legal sufficiency of an adverse finding on which it

did not have the burden of proof at trial must demonstrate that there is no evidence to support the

adverse finding. Exxon Corp. v. Emerald Oil & Gas Co., 348 S.W.3d 194, 215 (Tex. 2011).

When a party challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence to support an adverse finding on an

issue for which it had the burden of proof, that party “must demonstrate on appeal that the
12
evidence establishes, as a matter of law, all vital facts in support of the issue.” Dow Chem. Co.

v. Francis, 46 S.W.3d 237, 241 (Tex. 2001) (per curiam). “Evidence is legally sufficient if it

‘would enable reasonable and fair-minded people to reach the verdict under review.’” Exxon

Corp., 348 S.W.3d at 215 (quoting City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 827 (Tex. 2005)).

“We ‘credit favorable evidence if reasonable jurors could, and disregard contrary evidence

unless reasonable jurors could not.’” Id. (quoting City of Keller, 168 S.W.3d at 827).

“Jurors are the sole judges of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to give their

testimony.” City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 819 (Tex. 2005). “They may choose to

believe one witness and disbelieve another.” Id. “Reviewing courts cannot impose their own

opinions to the contrary.” Id. As a result, “[c]ourts reviewing all the evidence in a light

favorable to the verdict . . . assume that jurors credited testimony favorable to the verdict and

disbelieved testimony contrary to it.”4 Id.

B. Analysis

The Cambases’ argument is premised on the theory that time was of the essence in the

written contract because it stated, “Please allow 4-5 weeks for production. Work to begin

3/1/2021.” Accordingly, the Cambases argue that Trinity breached a material provision of the

written contract first as a matter of law and that they were discharged from the payment

provisions as a result.

“It is a fundamental principle of contract law that when one party to a contract commits a

material breach of that contract, the other party is discharged or excused from further

4
The Cambases do not raise any issue challenging the factual sufficiency of the evidence.
13
performance.” Mustang Pipeline Co. v. Driver Pipeline Co., 134 S.W.3d 195, 196 (Tex. 2004)

(per curiam) (citing Hernandez v. Gulf Grp. Lloyds, 875 S.W.2d 691, 692 (Tex. 1994)).

“Generally, materiality is an issue ‘to be determined by the trier of facts.’” Bartush-Schnitzius

Foods Co. v. Cimco Refrigeration, Inc., 518 S.W.3d 432, 436 (Tex. 2017) (per curiam) (quoting

Hudson v. Wakefield, 645 S.W.2d 427, 430 (Tex. 1983)). “Like other issues of fact, materiality

may be decided as a matter of law only if reasonable jurors could reach only one verdict.” Id.

(citing City of Keller, 168 S.W.3d at 822).

Because materiality is generally a fact issue, the following question in the trial court’s

charge tasked the jury with determining what provisions of the written contract were material:

QUESTION NO. 3

Did TRINITY ROOFING & RESTORATION, LLC fail to comply with the
contract?

Answer “Yes” or “No”

Answer: No

Instruction: A failure to comply must be material. The circumstances to
consider in determining whether a failure to comply is material include:

l. The extent to which the injured party will be deprived of the
benefit which he reasonably expected;

2. The extent to which the injured party can be adequately
compensated for the part of that benefit of which he will be
deprived;

3. The extent to which the party failing to perform or to offer will
suffer forfeiture;

14
4. The likelihood that the party failing to perform or to offer to
perform will cure his failure, taking into account the circumstances
including any reasonable assurances;

5. The extent to which behavior of the party failing to perform or to
offer to perform comports with standards of good faith and fair
dealing.[5]

The instructions in the trial court’s jury charge are the “factors enumerated in the Restatement

that” the Texas Supreme Court has decided “are ‘significant in determining whether a failure to

perform is material.’” Id. at 436 (quoting Mustang, 134 S.W.3d at 199 (citing RESTATEMENT

(SECOND) OF CONTRACTS § 241 (AM. LAW INST. 1981))).

The Cambases argue that no jury question should have been submitted because they

showed that time was of the essence in the written contract as a matter of law. In support of their

argument, the Cambases cite Mustang, in which the Texas Supreme Court reversed a jury verdict

and stated, “[I]f it is clear the parties intend that time is of the essence to a contract, timely

performance is essential to a party’s right to require performance by the other party.” Mustang,

134 S.W.3d at 196 (citing D.E.W., Inc. v. Depco Forms, Inc., 827 S.W.2d 379, 382 (Tex. App.—

San Antonio 1992, no writ)).

Mustang, however, was an exception to the general rule that materiality is a fact question.

In Mustang, the Texas Supreme Court looked to both the terms of the written contract and the

evidence and held that time was of the essence as a matter of law because the contract stated that

“all time limits stated in the Contract are of the essence to the Contract” and because “100

percent completion” of the contract was required “no later than” a specified date. Id. at 199. To

5
In the same manner, the jury was asked whether the Cambases’ breach of the written contract was material, and
they answered, “Yes.”
15
ensure that the project was completed on time, the contract in Mustang imposed a mandatory

work schedule of fourteen weeks, seven days a week, and eleven working hours daily. Id. at

196–97. Accordingly, Mustang held, under the facts of that case, “that a contractor’s failure to

meet a deadline in contravention of an express time-is-of-the-essence clause was a material

breach as a matter of law.” Bartush-Schnitzius, 518 S.W.3d at 437 (citing Mustang, 134 S.W.3d

at 199–200).

Here, unlike in Mustang, the written contract contains no language indicating that time

was of the essence. It simply stated that work would begin on March 1, 2021, and asked the

Cambases to allow four to five weeks for production. Yet, “a date of performance in a contract

does not in itself mean that the parties intended timely performance to be of the essence.”

Jennings v. Jennings, 625 S.W.3d 854, 865 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2021, pet. denied); see

Mun. Admin. Servs., Inc. v. City of Beaumont, 969 S.W.2d 31, 36 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1998,

no pet.) (“The fact that a contract specifies a date for performance does not, of itself, mean that

time is of the essence.”). This is because, “[o]rdinarily, time is not of the essence of a contract.”

Mun. Admin. Servs., Inc., 969 S.W.2d at 36; see Jennings, 625 S.W.3d at 866 (“Unless the

contract expressly makes time of the essence, the issue is a fact question.” (quoting Maroy

Intern., Inc. v. Cantu, No. 04-12-00193-CV, 2013 WL 1149066, at *2 (Tex. App.—San Antonio

Mar. 20, 2013, pet. denied) (mem. op.))); MHI P’ship, Ltd. v. DH Real Est. Inv. Co., No. 03-04-

00485-CV, 2008 WL 3877717, at *4 (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 20, 2008, pet. denied) (mem. op.)

(“Ordinarily, time is not of the essence in contract performance.” (citing Kennedy Ship & Repair,

16
L.P. v. Pham, 210 S.W.3d 11, 19 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, no pet.))).

Accordingly,

[a]ny intention to make time of the essence in the performance of a contract must
be clearly manifested from a consideration of the contract as a whole, and when
that intention is not made clear by the language in the contract itself, the
surrounding circumstances may be taken into consideration in determining that
question.

Mun. Admin. Servs., 969 S.W.2d at 36.

In opening statements, the Cambases’ own counsel said, “Now, remember, nobody was

living in the house at the time, and it wasn’t their own house. It wasn’t like they were displaced,

so there was no extreme rush to get this job done immediately back in 2020.” Even so, the

Cambases argue that time was of the essence because Jennifer testified, “[W]e needed it to be

completed in time before we had renters in the home. So we needed -- the timing was between

four to six weeks, and that was also important to us.” They also point to Brickley’s testimony

admitting that the written contract said that the job would be completed within four to five

weeks. Even so, the jury was presented with conflicting evidence as to whether time was of the

essence. As noted above, Brickley testified that she did not guarantee that the project would be

completed in that timeframe.

For example, the jury heard that the Cambases had no renters at the time they entered into

the written contract and that no one was living in the home. After the four or five weeks had

expired, the Cambases still allowed Trinity to continue making repairs. The Cambases also

requested voluntary upgrades and a roof repair that delayed the repairs under the written

contract. Text messages introduced into evidence show that some of the delays were caused by

17
the Cambases when they delayed meetings or were out of town. It was not until May 2021 that

the Cambases secured a renter, and the start date of the rental contract was not until August 1.

Moreover, the jury heard testimony that Trinity had completed the repairs by July 20 and that the

renter moved in on August 1, as planned. As a result, the jury could have determined that, while

the contract specified a completion date, it was not a material term of the contract.

The written contract contained no statement that time was of the essence, and the

evidence on this point was conflicting. Accordingly, the question of whether the written

contract’s proposed time frame for completion was a material term was a fact question for the

jury. See Bartush-Schnitzius, 518 S.W.3d at 436; Jennings, 625 S.W.3d at 866; GCC

Constructors, Inc. v. Am. Horizon Concrete, Inc., No. 01-04-00817-CV, 2007 WL 926652, at *5

(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Mar. 29, 2007, no pet.) (mem. op.). The trial court listed the

applicable five factors for the jury’s consideration in evaluating whether Trinity’s failure to

comply was material. See Bartush-Schnitzius, 518 S.W.3d at 436–37. Because the parties

presented evidence at trial that could have led rational jurors to reasonably disagree regarding the

application of the materiality factors, including whether time was of the essence, we find that the

Cambases were not entitled to a finding that time was of the essence in the written contract as a

matter of law.

“[W]hen a party commits a nonmaterial breach, the other party ‘is not excused from

future performance . . . .’” Id. at 436 (quoting Levine v. Steve Scharn Custom Homes, Inc., 448

S.W.3d 637, 654 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2014, pet. denied)). The jury determined that

Trinity’s breach, if any, was nonmaterial and that the Cambases were not excused from making

18
payment under the written contract. It also found that the Cambases breached the written

contract by issuing hot checks for the final payment due under that contract. Because we find

that legally sufficient evidence supported the jury’s findings on the written contract, we overrule

the Cambases’ first point of error.

III. Trinity’s Right to Recover Under the Written Contract Was Not Barred

In their second point of error, the Cambases argue that Trinity cannot recover under the

theory of substantial performance because the cost of remedying the lack of performance was

greater than the unpaid amount due to Trinity. We disagree.

Trinity pled both that it had “fully performed or substantially performed” the written

contract.6 In the third jury question asking whether Trinity failed to comply with the written

contract, the jury answered, “No.” After the third question, and before the fourth, the charge

contained the following instruction: “If you answered “Yes” to Question 3, then answer the

following question. Otherwise, do not answer the following question.” The jury disregarded

those instructions and answered the fourth question, thereby finding that Trinity substantially

performed its contract. Then, the jury answered the next two questions:

QUESTION NO. 5

Who failed to comply with the contract first?

6
“Substantial performance is ‘an equitable doctrine that was adopted to allow a contractor who has substantially
completed a construction contract to sue on the contract rather than being relegated to his cause of action for
quantum meruit.’” Edifika Invs., LLC v. Chain & Chain Constr., LLC, No. 04-21-00568-CV, 2023 WL 3487027, at
*3 (Tex. App.—San Antonio May 17, 2023, no pet.) (mem. op.) (quoting Vance v. My Apartment Steak House of
San Antonio, Inc., 677 S.W.2d 480, 482 (Tex. 1984)). “The doctrine does not, however, permit the contractor to
recover the full consideration provided for in the contract.” Vance v. My Apartment Steak House of San Antonio,
Inc., 677 S.W.2d 480, 482 (Tex. 1984). “By definition, this doctrine recognizes that the contractor has not totally
fulfilled his bargain under the contract—he is in breach.” Id. “Nonetheless, he is allowed to sue on the contract, but
his recovery is decreased by the cost of remedying those defects for which he is responsible.” Id.
19
....

Answer: Jennifer Cambas and Lawrence Cambas

QUESTION NO 6:

What sum of money, if any, if paid now in cash, would fairly and reasonably
compensate the party NOT identified in Question 5 for its damages, if any, that
resulted from such failure to comply?

....

Answer: $19,393.04

In response to the Cambases’ argument on this point, Trinity argues that we should

disregard the jury’s answer to the substantial performance question because they should not have

answered it. “A question is immaterial when it . . . was properly submitted but has been rendered

immaterial by other findings.” Se. Pipe Line Co. v. Tichacek, 997 S.W.2d 166, 172 (Tex. 1999).

“[B]ecause immaterial answers cannot support a judgment,” the jury’s answer to an immaterial

question is properly disregarded. BP Am. Prod. Co. v. Red Deer Res., LLC, 526 S.W.3d 389,

402 (Tex. 2017). As a result, since the jury should not have answered the question about

substantial performance, we disregard their answer.

Moreover, the jury found that Trinity did not materially breach the written contract and

that it was entitled to the full payment. That was likely due to Brickley’s testimony that the

written contract was fully performed as of 8:00 p.m. on July 20, 2021, Stuart’s testimony that

Trinity had performed the work in a good and workmanlike manner, and testimony showing that

20
the Cambases had written checks totaling $19,393.04 to Trinity for performance of its work

under the written contract.7

Because we find that the jury was not supposed to answer the substantial performance

question and that the $19,393.04 represented the damages sustained by Trinity on the written

contract, we overrule the Cambases’ second point of error.

IV. Trinity’s Quantum Meruit Recovery on the Oral Agreement Was Not Barred

In their third point of error, the Cambases argue that Trinity was not entitled to recover

under a quantum meruit theory because there was an express oral contract.

“Quantum meruit is an equitable remedy which does not arise out of a contract, but is

independent of it.” Vortt Expl. Co. v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc., 787 S.W.2d 942, 944 (Tex. 1990).

“When a valid agreement already addresses the matter, recovery under an equitable theory is

generally inconsistent with the express agreement.” Excess Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London v.

Frank’s Casing Crew & Rental Tools, Inc., 246 S.W.3d 42, 50 (Tex. 2008). “As a general rule, a

plaintiff who seeks to recover the reasonable value of services rendered or materials supplied

7
Moreover, we reject the Cambases’ argument that “the cost of remedying Trinity’s incomplete and deficient
performance was $23,688.” To support that figure, the Cambases rely on the following portion of transcript from
Lawrence’s testimony:

Q [(By the Cambases’ counsel)] How much did you have to pay out of pocket to
get the repairs done after Ms. Brickley left the project?

A 18,688. I don’t remember the change, but I believe it’s -- I know it was 18,688
and change.

Q How much out of your own pocket did you pay for material costs?

A I don’t recall the exact number. Maybe 5,000.

However, the record shows that those payments were made primarily to Dr. Fix-It. Rosa testified that they redid the
kitchen flooring even though nothing was wrong with it because the Cambases “just wanted better quality flooring,”
and Daniel testified they replaced the living floor a third time because the Cambases wanted better flooring.
21
will be permitted to recover in quantum meruit only when there is no express contract covering

those services or materials.” Laredo Jet Ctr., LLC v. City of Laredo, No. 04-17-00316-CV, 2018

WL 3551255, at *4 (Tex. App.—San Antonio July 25, 2018, pet. denied) (mem. op.) (quoting

Truly v. Austin, 744 S.W.2d 934, 936 (Tex. 1988)).8

While there was an oral agreement, we must analyze its contents to determine whether

there was an express oral contract. “The elements of written and oral contracts are the same and

must be present for a contract to be binding.” H.L. Zumwalt Constr., Inc. v. Rd. Repair, LLC,

No. 04-20-00134-CV, 2021 WL 4754835, at *5 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Oct. 13, 2021, pet.

denied) (mem. op.) (quoting Critchfield v. Smith, 151 S.W.3d 225, 233 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2004,

pet. denied)). “To establish the existence of a valid contract, a party must show (1) an offer;

(2) an acceptance; (3) a meeting of the minds; (4) each party’s consent to the terms;

(5) execution and delivery of the contract with intent that it be mutual and binding; and

(6) consideration.” Id. “In order to be legally binding, a contract must be sufficiently definite in

its terms so that a court can understand what the promisor undertook.” T.O. Stanley Boot Co. v.

Bank of El Paso, 847 S.W.2d 218, 221 (Tex. 1992). “The material terms of the contract must be

agreed upon before a court can enforce the contract. Where an essential term is open for future

negotiation, there is no binding contract.”9 Id.

8
The Fourth Court of Appeals has found that “there is an exception [to the general rule] for ‘building or construction
contracts.’” Laredo Jet Ctr., LLC, 2018 WL 3551255, at *4 (quoting Truly, 744 S.W.2d at 937).
9
In their reply brief, the Cambases argue that Trinity’s petition judicially admitted that there was a valid enforceable
contract. Yet, Trinity pled quantum meruit as an alternative to its breach of oral contract claim and “[w]hether an
agreement is legally enforceable or binding is a question of law.” Oakrock Expl. Co. v. Killam, 87 S.W.3d 685, 690
(Tex. App.—San Antonio 2002, pet. denied) (quoting Am.’s Favorite Chicken Co. v. Samaras, 929 S.W.2d 617, 622
(Tex. App.—San Antonio 1996, writ denied)).
22
The record demonstrates that the Cambases periodically asked Trinity to perform work

not included in the written contract. The Cambases testified that they orally agreed for Trinity to

paint kitchen cabinets, remove popcorn ceilings, upgrade the backsplash, trim trees, and purchase

items from Home Depot. However, the record fails to show that there was any meeting of the

minds on material terms.

For example, there was no agreement on the amount that would be charged for each item

performed or for the total of all the items performed. The oral agreement did not include what

quality or type of materials would be used or how much of each material was required, and it

contained no term as to the cost of labor. Instead, the evidence shows that the Cambases

periodically asked for additional work and that, after completing the work, Trinity submitted a

final bill. “[A] contract which does not fix the price or consideration or provide an adequate way

in which it can be fixed is too incomplete to be specifically enforceable.” Bendalin v. Delgado,

406 S.W.2d 897, 899 (Tex. 1966). Also, “[w]here . . . material terms of the contract were not

agreed to, but were left for future adjustment, as in this case, enforcement cannot be granted.”

Lynx Expl. & Prod. Co. v. 4-Sight Operating Co., 891 S.W.2d 785, 789 (Tex. App.—Texarkana

1995, writ denied). Accordingly, because there was no express contract, we reject the

Cambases’ argument that Trinity’s quantum meruit claim was barred.

Next, for Trinity to recover under a quantum meruit theory for the oral agreement, it had

to prove the following:

1) valuable services were rendered or materials furnished;

2) for the person sought to be charged;

23
3) which services and materials were accepted by the person sought to be
charged, used and enjoyed by him;

4) under such circumstances as reasonably notified the person sought to be
charged that the plaintiff in performing such services was expecting to be
paid by the person sought to be charged.

Vortt Expl. Co., 787 S.W.2d at 944 (quoting Bashara v. Baptist Mem’l Hosp. Sys., 685 S.W.2d

307, 310 (Tex. 1985)). The Cambases do not dispute that Trinity rendered valuable materials

and services for them under the expectation of being paid. Instead, looking to the third factor,

they argue that they never accepted Trinity’s substandard performance.

The Cambases’ do not specifically challenge in their brief the evidence supporting the

jury’s verdict. To the extent that their brief can be fairly read to include a legal sufficiency

challenge, we overrule it. Brickley testified that she completed each repair requested under the

oral agreement, and Lawrence agreed. Although he testified that the backsplash was missing

tiles, the jury saw before and after photos of the renovation and could determine that no tiles

were missing from the backsplash. While Lawrence complained that the countertops were

“sticker laminate,” the jury saw text messages to Brickley from the Cambases saying that the

Cambases were over budget on the laminate and backsplash and they “need[ed] to look at the

cheap laminate stuff” that was installed. The Cambases complained about the paint, but when

Brickley sent photos of the painted cabinets, Jennifer texted, “Wow! Is this the same house?”

From this evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, the jury was free to find

that the Cambases accepted Trinity’s work under the oral agreement.

In sum, we find that Trinity was entitled to quantum meruit recovery for the oral

agreement. We overrule the Cambases’ third point of error.
24
V. Trinity Was Entitled to Attorney Fees

Under Section 38.001 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Trinity was

entitled to recover attorney fees for its breach of contract claim and its claims for rendered

services, performed labor, and furnished material. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN.

§ 38.001(b) (Supp.). The Cambases’ only argument on the issue of attorney fees assumes

reversal of the trial court’s judgment on appeal. They argue only that, “[b]ecause this Court must

reverse the trial court’s . . . Judgment and render an order holding that the Cambas Parties are not

liable to Trinity for either breach of contract or quantum meruit, it must likewise reverse the trial

court’s award of attorney’s fees.” Because we have overruled the Cambases’ other points of

error, we likewise overrule their complaint about attorney fees.

VI. Conclusion

We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

Charles van Cleef
Justice

Date Submitted: April 15, 2025
Date Decided: May 15, 2025

25