Texas court overturns ruling against estate seeking to withdraw claims over disputed property deed

A disputed property deed can leave an estate fighting to recover land years after its owner's death, particularly when the signature authorising the original transfer is alleged to be forged. In Texas, the estate of a deceased doctor challenged a 2009 property transfer, claiming that a man who controlled the company receiving the land had forged the owner's signature. The dispute later involved another company that purchased the property and sought to defend its ownership.In a November 6, 2026, memorandum opinion available on Justia, the Texas First Court of Appeals ruled that the estate could withdraw its claims against the later buyer, Malachite Venture Corporation. The court reversed the trial court's refusal to recognise the withdrawal and its subsequent decision granting summary judgment to the buyer on the estate's claims. The appeals court held that the estate had filed its notice of nonsuit before judgment was entered and that the withdrawal did not prevent the buyer from pursuing any independent claims for affirmative relief.How the disputed property transfer beganThe case concerned land originally conveyed to Shiva Investment Group in 1992. In 2009, a deed purported to transfer the property from Shiva Investment Group to The 2525 Brothers, L.P. The document carried the signature of Dr. R.K. Dhingra, who had signed on behalf of the investment group.