Frederic Scott Deaver v. Riddhi Desai and Shilpi Pankaj Desai , 483 S.W.3d 668 ( 2015 )

Reversed and Remanded and Opinion filed November 3, 2015.
In The
Fourteenth Court of Appeals
NO. 14-14-00683-CV
FREDERIC SCOTT DEAVER, Appellant
V.
RIDDHI DESAI AND SHILPI PANKAJ DESAI, Appellees
On Appeal from the 295th District Court
Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 2014-18950
OPINION
This is an interlocutory appeal from an order denying a motion to dismiss
under the Texas Anti-SLAPP statute. We conclude that the movant below
established his burden of showing that two of the three claims against him were
filed in response to his exercise of the right of free speech. We further conclude
that even if the nonmovants established by clear and specific evidence a prima
facie case as to each essential element of the two claims, they still produced no
evidence that would overcome a valid statute of limitations defense. Because the
movant is entitled to a dismissal of the two claims, we reverse the trial court’s
order and remand for additional proceedings consistent with this opinion.
BACKGROUND
In 2006, Frederic “Scott” Deaver was involved in a contentious divorce and
child custody proceeding. After the divorce was finalized, Scott created a website
where he could air his grievances against Riddhi Desai, the attorney who
represented his former wife. The stated objective of the website was to seek
Riddhi’s disbarment because of her alleged “racial and gender hatred.” Over the
course of several years, Scott expanded the website in hopes of achieving an
additional objective: the criminal prosecution of Riddhi’s adult daughter, Shilpi,
whom Scott believed had stolen his personal identity.
The website documented Scott’s investigative work into the Desais. Scott
mentioned on his website that he hired a private detective, who allegedly
uncovered evidence that Shilpi was using six different social security numbers.
Scott also mentioned that he had personal discussions with the police about this
alleged crime. He even boasted that he was acting in the spirit of a glorified
“Neighborhood Watch.”
The entries on the website were long, written in blog or journal format, and
occasionally digressed from the main narrative. In one of the digressions, Scott
made sweeping generalizations about East Indian nationals, their cultural
prejudices, and their alleged penchant for corruption. Scott also criticized the
elected judiciary in this country, and he went so far as to likening the Texas Bar
Association to a “cross between the Ku Klux Klan and a carnival barker.” Scott
then tried to connect these various topics by suggesting that Riddhi—as a lawyer
and a person of Indian heritage—will lie, cheat, or resort to trickery to win over a
Texas judge.
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Most of the criticism on the website was directed towards Riddhi alone, and
the rhetoric was often coarse. Scott described Riddhi as “mercenary, manipulative,
and man-hating.” He claimed that she was a “cold-hearted professional liar,” who
hid “exculpatory evidence” that would have helped him during his divorce case.
He also generally accused Riddhi of being an incompetent lawyer and having “no
class whatsoever.”
The parties do not dispute that the website was last updated in August of
2011. The website, which still remains publicly accessible as of the date of this
opinion, closes with a plea to readers to spread the word about the Desais to
“inform possible past victims and protect potential future victims.”
In 2014, the Desais filed suit against Scott, alleging causes of action for
defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and civil theft. Scott filed a
pro se answer in which he asserted multiple affirmative defenses. He also
counterclaimed and moved to dismiss the Desais’ lawsuit under the Texas Anti-
SLAPP statute. The trial court denied the motion to dismiss, and this interlocutory
appeal followed.
SCOPE OF APPEAL
Still proceeding pro se, Scott has filed a sprawling brief—121 pages in
length—where he presents nine separate issues for our review. One of the issues is
devoid of legal argument as it is nothing more than a quotation from a statute.
Many of the other issues raise complaints without proper citations to authority or
the record. Some of these issues relate to matters not raised below, and others
involve general attacks on several trial court judges—none of which is helpful to
this court.
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Liberally construing his brief, we understand Scott’s main complaint to be
about the trial court’s ruling on the motion to dismiss. See Perry v. Cohen, 272
S.W.3d 585, 587 (Tex. 2008) (per curiam) (instructing that “[a]ppellate briefs are
to be construed reasonably, yet liberally, so that the right to appellate review is not
lost by waiver”). We address this issue, and no other, because it fully disposes of
the appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 47.1.
ANALYSIS
I. The Anti-SLAPP Statute
In 2011, the Texas Legislature enacted the Texas Citizens Participation Act,
known more commonly as the TCPA or the Texas Anti-SLAPP statute. See Act of
June 17, 2011, 82d Leg., R.S., ch. 341, §§ 1–2, 2011 Tex. Sess. Law Serv. 960,
960–63. The acronym SLAPP stands for “Strategic Lawsuits Against Public
Participation,” a term referring to legal actions that are primarily brought for the
purpose of silencing citizens who are exercising their First Amendment freedoms.
See Jardin v. Marklund, 431 S.W.3d 765, 769 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]
2014, no pet.); Laura Lee Prather & Jane Bland, Bullies Beware: Safeguarding
Constitutional Rights Through Anti-SLAPP in Texas, 47 Tex. Tech. L. Rev. 725,
736 (2015). The Anti-SLAPP statute attempts to protect the rights of these citizens
by providing for the quick and inexpensive dismissal of meritless lawsuits. See
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 27.003(a).
To dismiss a claim under the Anti-SLAPP statute, the movant must show by
a preponderance of the evidence that the claim is based on, relates to, or is in
response to the movant’s exercise of the right of free speech, the right to petition,
or the right of association. Id. § 27.005(b). If this initial showing is made, the
burden then shifts to the nonmovant to establish by clear and specific evidence a
prima facie case for each essential element of the claim in question. Id.
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§ 27.005(c). Dismissal of the claim is mandatory if the nonmovant fails to satisfy
this burden. Id. § 27.005(b). Even if the nonmovant succeeds by establishing a
prima facie case, the trial court must still dismiss the claim if the movant further
establishes by a preponderance of the evidence each essential element of a valid
defense. Id. § 27.005(d).
II. Scott’s Initial Burden Under Section 27.005(b)
We begin with the threshold question of whether Scott established that the
lawsuit against him was based on, related to, or made in response to his exercise of
the right of free speech, the right to petition, or the right of association. Because
this is a legal question, our standard of review is de novo. See Rehak Creative
Servs., Inc. v. Witt, 404 S.W.3d 716, 725 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2013,
pet. denied), disapproved of on other grounds by In re Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d 579
(Tex. 2015) (orig. proceeding); Newspaper Holdings, Inc. v. Crazy Hotel Assisted
Living, Ltd., 416 S.W.3d 71, 80 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2013, pet.
denied).
Scott argued in his motion to dismiss that the Desais’ lawsuit touched on all
three rights mentioned in the Anti-SLAPP statute. We need only focus on the right
of free speech. The Anti-SLAPP statute defines the “exercise of the right of free
speech” as “a communication made in connection with a matter of public concern.”
See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 27.001(3). A “communication” includes “the
making or submitting of a statement or document in any form or medium,
including oral, visual, written, audiovisual, or electronic.” Id. § 27.001(1). A
“matter of public concern” includes an issue related to “(A) health or safety;
(B) environmental, economic, or community well-being; (C) the government; (D) a
public official or public figure; or (E) a good, product, or service in the
marketplace.” Id. § 27.001(7).
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To demonstrate the applicability of the Anti-SLAPP statute, Scott referred in
his motion to more than 2200 pages of content that he allegedly stored on his
website. These pages allegedly included images, videos, audio recordings, and
other files that were available through hyperlinks on the website’s homepage. Scott
did not attach these other pages to his pleadings or affidavits, and on appeal, he has
criticized the trial court for not accepting his invitation to view these pages
independently. The trial court is under no obligation, however, to examine
evidence not contained within the pleadings and affidavits. Id. § 27.006(a) (“In
determining whether a legal action should be dismissed under this chapter, the
court shall consider the pleadings and supporting and opposing affidavits stating
the facts on which the liability or defense is based.”). We, similarly, will only
consider evidence found within the official appellate record.
The Desais attached to their pleadings an excerpted copy from Scott’s
website, which we have summarized in the background section above. This excerpt
contains Scott’s thoughts and viewpoints, as expressed in an electronic form or
medium. The website accordingly qualifies as a communication for purposes of the
Anti-SLAPP statute. See AOL, Inc. v. Malouf, Nos. 05-13-01637-CV & 05-14-
00568-CV, 2015 WL 1535669, at *1–2 (Tex. App.—Dallas Apr. 2, 2015, no pet.)
(mem. op.) (online article about a dentist’s alleged Medicaid fraud was a
communication).
The website also addresses matters of public concern. On his website, Scott
openly calls for Riddhi’s disbarment because, in his estimation, Riddhi is
prejudiced and will lie to win a legal case. These statements relate to Riddhi’s legal
services, which she offers in the marketplace. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code
§ 27.001(7)(E); Avila v. Larrea, 394 S.W.3d 646, 655 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012,
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pet. denied) (communication about a lawyer’s handling of cases was a matter of
public concern).
Scott also calls for criminal charges against Shilpi based on his investigation
allegedly showing that she has committed identity theft. Liberally construed, this
criminal allegation relates to both economic and community well-being. See Tex.
Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 27.001(7)(B); Malouf, 2015 WL 1535669, at *1–2
(communication about a dentist’s alleged Medicaid fraud related to community
well-being); Cortez v. Johnston, No. 06-13-00120-CV, 2014 WL 1513306, at *6
(Tex. App.—Texarkana Apr. 16, 2014, no pet.) (mem. op.) (“Criminal allegations
involve legitimate public concern.”); accord Makaeff v. Trump Univ., LLC, 715
F.3d 254, 261–62 (9th Cir. 2013) (communication warning of questionable
business practices, including possible identity theft, was a matter of public interest
under California Anti-SLAPP statute).
The Desais respond with two arguments challenging the applicability of the
Anti-SLAPP statute. In their first argument, they invoke the commercial speech
exemption, which provides as follows:
This chapter does not apply to a legal action brought against a person
primarily engaged in the business of selling or leasing goods or
services, if the statement or conduct arises out of the sale or lease of
goods, services, or an insurance product, insurance services, or a
commercial transaction in which the intended audience is an actual or
potential buyer or customer.
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 27.010(b).
The burden of proving the applicability of an exemption from the Anti-
SLAPP statute falls on the party asserting it. See Newspaper Holdings, Inc., 416
S.W.3d at 89. Here, the Desais argue that the Anti-SLAPP could not apply because
Scott made his website “in order to blackmail plaintiffs and extorts [sic] money.”
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Even if that motivation were true, it would not satisfy the proof required of the
commercial speech exemption because the Desais did not show that Scott was
involved in any form of commercial enterprise. More specifically, they did not
establish that Scott was “primarily engaged in the business of selling or leasing
goods or services,” or that the statements on his website arose out of “the sale or
lease of goods, services, or an insurance product, insurance services, or a
commercial transaction in which the intended audience is an actual or potential
buyer or customer.” See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 27.010(b).
In their second argument, the Desais contend that the website does not
involve a matter of public concern because it does not address any controversy that
the public is actively debating. However, there is no “public debate” requirement
under the Anti-SLAPP statute. In fact, the Texas Supreme Court has recently held
that a communication can be covered by the Anti-SLAPP statute even if the
communication occurs privately over an email exchange. See Lippincott v.
Whisenhunt, 462 S.W.3d 507, 508–09 (Tex. 2015) (per curiam).
We conclude that the website qualifies as a communication made in
connection with a matter of public concern. We also conclude that Scott has
established by a preponderance of the evidence that the website forms the basis for
at least two of the Desais’ claims against him: the website contains the statements
that are the focus of their defamation action, and the website also serves as the
source of damages asserted in their claim for intentional infliction of emotional
distress. As to these two claims, Scott satisfied his initial burden under the Anti-
SLAPP statute.
The record does not establish, however, that the website relates in any way
to the Desais’ claim for civil theft. The Desais asserted this bare claim in their
pleadings without alleging any additional facts whatsoever. Scott correctly filed a
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special exception, but the record does not reveal that he obtained a ruling. In his
motion to dismiss, Scott sought the dismissal of the Desais’ entire suit, but he did
not specifically address their civil theft claim. We hold that Scott did not satisfy his
burden of establishing that this particular claim was subject to dismissal.
III. Scott’s Burden to Establish a Valid Defense Under Section 27.005(d)
Anticipating that the Desais would file a response to his motion to dismiss,
Scott also argued that the evidence established a valid defense, which would defeat
any prima facie case that the Desais might be able to show. Scott actually argued
for several affirmative defenses, but we need only focus on one, the statute of
limitations. We examine this defense as it applies to each of the Desais’ claims
individually, applying a de novo standard of review. See United Food &
Commercial Workers Int’l Union v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 430 S.W.3d 508, 511
(Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2014, no pet.).
A. Defamation
For defamation claims, there is a one-year statute of limitations, which
begins to run from the day the cause of action accrues. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.
Code § 16.002(a). Normally, a defamation claim accrues when the matter is
published or circulated. See Velocity Databank, Inc. v. Shell Offshore, Inc., 456
S.W.3d 605, 609 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2014, pet. denied). However, the
discovery rule applies to an action for defamation if the defamatory statement is
inherently undiscoverable or not a matter of public knowledge. Id. When the
discovery rule applies, the limitations period begins to run when the claimant
discovers, or through the exercise of reasonable care should have discovered, the
existence of the defamatory statement. See Wheeler v. Methodist Hosp., 95 S.W.3d
628, 636 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, no pet.).
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Generally, any defamation claim arising out of a website would accrue from
the day the matter was published or circulated. See Velocity Databank, Inc., 456
S.W.3d at 609 (defamation claim accrued when the offending statements were first
published to the Internet). Scott alleged that his website had remained unchanged
for the three years preceding his answer. The excerpted copy of the website
contained within our record further demonstrated that the website was last updated
in August of 2011. Therefore, the one-year limitation period would have ended in
August of 2012 at the latest. Because the Desais filed their petition in 2014, well
outside that period, the evidence established the applicability of a valid statute of
limitations defense.
B. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
There is a two-year statute of limitations for claims of intentional infliction
of emotional distress. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a); Zurita v.
Lombana, 322 S.W.3d 463, 473 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2010, pet.
denied). Scott invoked this defense in his motion to dismiss because the Desais
complained of the website in 2011. The record supports his argument. In one
posting on the excerpted copy of his website, Scott described how he was
contacted in 2011 by a police officer, who had called him in regards to a complaint
about the website. The officer revealed that the complaint had been made by
Riddhi, who was specifically upset with Scott’s criminal allegations against Shilpi.
This evidence supports Scott’s defense that the Desais had suffered their distress
more than two years before they filed their lawsuit.
IV. The Desais’ Shifted Burden
To avoid dismissal, the burden shifted to the Desais to show two things.
First, because Scott established that two of the Desais’ claims were based on his
exercise of the right of free speech, the Desais were required to establish by clear
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and specific evidence a prima facie case as to each essential element of the two
claims at issue. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 27.005(c). Second, because
Scott further established the applicability of a statute of limitations defense, the
Desais were also required to overcome that defense. Id. § 27.005(d); Kinney v.
BCG Att’y Search, Inc., No. 03-12-00579-CV, 2014 WL 1432012, at *8 (Tex.
App.—Austin Apr. 11, 2014, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
The Anti-SLAPP statute does not define what is meant by “clear and
specific evidence” or “prima facie case,” but case law has provided guidance on
the understanding of these two terms. “Clear and specific evidence” refers to the
quality of evidence required to establish a prima facie case. See Serafine v. Blunt,
466 S.W.3d 352, 358 (Tex. App.—Austin 2015, no pet.). “Clear” means
unambiguous, sure, or free from doubt, and “specific” means explicit or relating to
a particular named thing. See Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d at 590. These terms do not
impose an elevated evidentiary standard, nor do they categorically reject the
consideration of circumstantial evidence. Id. at 591.
“Prima facie case” refers to the quantum of evidence required to satisfy the
nonmovant’s minimum factual burden. See Serafine, 466 S.W.3d at 358. More
specifically, the term refers to the amount of evidence that is sufficient as a matter
of law to support a rational inference that an allegation of fact is true. See Lipsky,
460 S.W.3d at 590. We apply a de novo standard of review when deciding whether
a nonmovant has satisfied her burden under the Anti-SLAPP statute. See Rehak,
404 S.W.3d at 727.
A. Defamation
To establish a prima facie case of defamation, the plaintiff must show each
of the following: (1) the defendant made a false statement of fact to a third party;
(2) the statement was defamatory concerning the plaintiff; (3) the defendant acted
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negligently if the plaintiff is a private individual, or with actual malice if the
plaintiff is a public official or figure; and (4) the statement caused damages, unless
the statement is defamatory per se, in which case damages may be presumed. See
Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d at 593.
Riddhi and Shilpi filed separate affidavits addressing their allegations of
defamation. Even if we assumed that these affidavits discharged their burden under
Section 27.005(c), the Desais did not respond at all to Scott’s limitations defense.
They did not claim that the discovery rule applied, nor did they argue for a
different accrual date. Because the evidence in support of the statute of limitations
defense is uncontroverted, we conclude that Scott established the defense by a
preponderance of the evidence and that he was entitled to a dismissal of the
Desais’ defamation claim. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. § 27.005(d).
B. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
To recover damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress, a
plaintiff must establish that (1) the defendant acted intentionally or recklessly;
(2) the defendant’s conduct was extreme and outrageous; (3) the defendant’s
actions caused the plaintiff emotional distress; and (4) the resulting emotional
distress was severe. See Hoffman-La Roche Inc. v. Zeltwanger, 144 S.W.3d 438,
445 (Tex. 2004).
The Desais did not specifically address this cause of action in their responses
or affidavits. Instead, they referred the trial court to their live pleading, which they
believed was sufficient to satisfy their burden under Section 27.005(c). Focusing
only on the final element of this cause of action, we conclude that the Desais’
pleading was insufficient by itself.
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To establish that they suffered “severe” emotional distress, the Desais were
required to bring forth clear and specific evidence that they suffered distress so
severe that no reasonable person could be expected to endure it. See GTE Sw., Inc.
v. Bruce, 998 S.W.2d 605, 618 (Tex. 1999). Generally, this requires proof of more
than mere worry, anxiety, vexation, embarrassment, or anger. See Regan v. Lee,
879 S.W.2d 133, 136 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1994, no writ).
Here, the only evidence in the Desais’ pleading regarding their emotional
distress is a single allegation that they endured “shame, embarrassment,
humiliation, and mental anguish.” This allegation does not qualify as clear and
specific evidence because the Desais did not establish explicitly or with
particularity how they suffered their emotional distress. Cf. Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d at
592–93 (affidavit failed to satisfy the Anti-SLAPP statute’s requirement of “clear
and specific evidence” because it was “conclusory” and “devoid of any specific
facts”). This allegation also completely fails to establish that their emotional
distress was “severe.” See GTE Sw., Inc., 998 S.W.2d at 618; Regan, 879 S.W.2d
at 136.
Even if the Desais had established a prima facie case for each essential
element of their emotional distress claim, they still, as before, did not respond at all
to Scott’s limitations defense. They did not dispute the evidence produced by
Scott, or even allege in their petition that their claim accrued on a date within the
limitations period. Because the Desais produced no evidence that would overcome
a limitations defense, we conclude that Scott established his defense by a
preponderance of the evidence. The trial court accordingly erred by failing to
dismiss the Desais’ emotional distress claim. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code
§ 27.005(b), (d).
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CONCLUSION
Scott is entitled to a dismissal of the Desais’ claims for defamation and
intentional infliction of emotional distress, but not civil theft. The order denying
the motion to dismiss is therefore reversed and the case is remanded for additional
proceedings including, but not limited to, consideration of the Desais’ remaining
claim, Scott’s counterclaims, and an award to Scott for court costs and other
expenses as the moving party under the Anti-SLAPP statute. Id. § 27.009.
/s/ Tracy Christopher
Justice
Panel consists of Justices Boyce, Christopher, and McCally.
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