Phillips v. Phillips

820 S.W.2d 785 (1991)

Martha Jean PHILLIPS, Petitioner,

v.

Harry S. PHILLIPS, et al., Respondents.

No. D-0107.

Supreme Court of Texas.

December 11, 1991.

Rehearing Overruled January 29, 1992.

Michael S. Wilk, Anna L. Stock, Jay N. Gross, Houston, for petitioner.

Patrick Kelley, Otis Carroll, Tyler, for respondents.

OPINION

HECHT, Justice.

We granted the applications for writ of error in this case to decide whether a contractual provision that requires payment of a multiple of actual damages for breach of trust is an unenforceable penalty, and if so, whether the defense of penalty was waived because it…