Relyance Bank, N.A. v. Steve Pharr and Simmons Bank

Summary

The court held that the appeal was final because Relyance substantially complied with the rule requiring abandonment of unresolved claims, and the abandoned tort claims were dismissed with prejudice. On the merits, the court affirmed summary judgment for Pharr and Simmons Bank because undisputed evidence established equitable estoppel: Relyance’s authorized loan officer represented that its mortgage would be released, and the appellees relied on that representation in financing and completing the purchase. The court also concluded that reliance could defeat Relyance’s statute-of-frauds argument and vacated the court of appeals’ opinion.