Judy Weirich v. IESI Corporation and Southside Wrecker, Inc. ( 2015 )

ACCEPTED
03-14-00819-cv
5696714
THIRD COURT OF APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
6/16/2015 2:20:43 PM
JEFFREY D. KYLE
CLERK
CAUSE NO. 03-14-00819-CV
FILED IN
3rd COURT OF APPEALS
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD COURT AUSTIN, TEXAS
OF APPEALS
DISTRICT OF TEXAS, AUSTIN, TEXAS6/16/2015 2:20:43 PM
JEFFREY D. KYLE
Clerk
JUDY WEIRICH,
Appellant
VS.
IESI CORPORATION AND SOUTHSIDE WRECKER, INC.,
Appellees
ON APPEAL FROM THE 33RD JUDICIAL
DISTRICT COURT OF BLANCO COUNTY, TEXAS
CAUSE NO. CV07387
BRIEF OF APPELLEE IESI CORPORATION
THORNTON, BIECHLIN, SEGRATO,
REYNOLDS & GUERRA, L.C.
Vaughan E. Waters
Email: vwaters@thorntonfirm.com
State Bar No. 20916700
Michael J. Clark
Email: mclark@thorntonfirm.com
State Bar No. 04293300
100 N.E. Loop 410, Suite 500
San Antonio, Texas 78216
Telephone: 210/342/5555
Fax: 210/525-0666
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE IESI
CORPORATION
ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED
NAMES OF THE PARTIES
Pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 38, Tex. R. App. P., the parties to this
appeal are:
JUDY WEIRICH,
Appellant
COUNSEL: ZACHARY P. HUDLER, PC
Mr. Zachary P. Hudler
State Bar No. 24032318
100 E. Pecan St., Suite One
Johnson City, TX 78636
Telephone: 830/868-7651
Fax: 830/868-7636
zachary@hudlerlaw.com
IESI CORPORATION,
Appellee
COUNSEL: THORNTON, BIECHLIN,
SEGRATO, REYNOLDS &
GUERRA, L.C.
Mr. Vaughan E. Waters
State Bar No. 20916700
vwaters@thorntonfirm.com
Michael J. Clark
State Bar No. 04293300
mclark@thorntonfirm.com
100 N.E. Loop 410, Suite 500
San Antonio, Texas 78216
Telephone: 210/342-5555
Fax: 210/525-0666
i
SOUTHSIDE WRECKER,
INC.,
Appellee
COUNSEL: THE PETRAS LAW FIRM PLLC
Mr. George J. Petras, IV
State Bar No. 15850510
1504 San Antonio St.
Austin, TX 78701
Telephone: 512/334-9583
Fax: 512/334-9709
gpetras@petraslawfirm.com
TRIAL COURT JUDGE: The Honorable J. Allan Garrett
424th Judicial District Court
Blanco County, Texas
ii
REQUEST FOR ORAL ARGUMENT
Pursuant to Rule 39, Tex. R. App. P., Appellee respectfully requests oral
argument in this case.
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
NAMES OF THE PARTIES.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (i)
REQUEST FOR ORAL ARGUMENT.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (iii)
TABLE OF CONTENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (iv)
LIST OF AUTHORITIES.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (vi)
I. STATEMENT OF THE CASE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
II. ISSUES PRESENTED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
(1) ISSUE NO. 1:THIS HONORABLE COURT HAS
JURISDICTION OVER THIS APPEAL
(RESPONSIVE TO APPELLANT’S ISSUE NO.
1).
(2) ISSUE NO. 2:THIS HONORABLE COURT DID
NOT ERR IN GRANTING SUMMARY
JUDGMENT, INASMUCH AS THE MOTION
EMBRACED ALL CLAIMS AND CAUSES OF
ACTION, APPELLANT’S PURPORTED
SUMMARY JUDGMENT EVIDENCE WAS
PROPERLY STRICKEN BY ORDER OF THE
TRIAL COURT, AND APPELLANT FAILED TO
RAISE A DISPUTED ISSUE OF MATERIAL
FACT (RESPONSIVE TO APPELLANT’S
ISSUES NO. 2 AND 3).
III. STATEMENT OF FACTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
iv
IV. SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
V. ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
CONCLUSION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
PRAYER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
v
LIST OF AUTHORITIES
CASES PAGE
Borden, Inc. v. Price, 939 S.W.2d 247, 250
(Tex. App.-Amarillo 1997, writ denied) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Carter v. William Sommerville & Son, Inc.,
584 S.W.2d 274, 278 (Tex. 1979) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Haddock v. Arnspiger,
793 S.W.2d 948, 950 (Tex. 1990). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Nguyen v. Woodley,
273 S.W.3d 891 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2008, no pet.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
RT Realty, Ltd. v. Texas Utilities Electric Company,
181 S.W.3d 905, 915-916 (Tex. App.-Dallas 2006, no pet). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Saenz v. J. D. Rodriguez Produce and Trucking Co.,
2000 WL 33225303 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 2000,
no pet.) (not designated for publication).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Wortham v. Dow Chemical Company,
179 S.W.3rd 189, 202-203 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.], 2005, no pet.). . . . 16
Zavala v. Trujillo,
883 S.W.2d 242, 245 (Tex.App.-El Paso 1994, writ denied). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
STATUTES, RULES, AND OTHER AUTHORITIES
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §41.001(11) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Tex. R. App. P. 38.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Tex R. Civ. P., Rule 190.3 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
vi
Tex. R. App. P. 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Tex. R. Civ. P 166a(i) ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
vii
CAUSE NO. 03-14-00819-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS
DISTRICT OF TEXAS, AUSTIN, TEXAS
JUDY WEIRICH,
Appellant
VS.
IESI CORPORATION AND SOUTHSIDE WRECKER, INC.,
Appellees
ON APPEAL FROM THE 33RD JUDICIAL
DISTRICT COURT OF BLANCO COUNTY, TEXAS
CAUSE NO. CV07387
BRIEF OF APPELLEE IESI CORPORATION
TO THE HONORABLE JUSTICES OF THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS OF
THE STATE OF TEXAS, AUSTIN, TEXAS:
NOW COMES IESI CORPORATION (“IESI”), Appellee, and files this its
Brief of Appellee, pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 38.2, Tex. R. App. P.; and
in support thereof would respectfully show this Honorable Court as follows:
1
I.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
This is an appeal from a summary judgment in a “road hazard” case.
Plaintiff/Appellant JUDY WEIRICH (“WEIRICH”) alleges that she suffered both
property damage to her automobile and bodily injury when a wheel came off a truck
owned by IESI and struck her vehicle; the IESI truck was not in operation at the time,
but was being towed by a wrecker owned by Co-Defendant/Co-Appellee
SOUTHSIDE WRECKER, INC. (“SOUTHSIDE WRECKER”). The 424th Judicial
District Court of Blanco County, Texas, the Honorable J. Allan Garrett presiding,
entered a no-evidence summary judgment for IESI on November 12, 2014 and for
SOUTHSIDE WRECKER on December 8, 2014. C.R., at 179-180, 183-185.
II.
ISSUES PRESENTED
ISSUE NO. 1: THIS HONORABLE COURT HAS JURISDICTION
OVER THIS APPEAL (RESPONSIVE TO APPELLANT’S ISSUE
NO. 1).
ISSUE NO. 2: THIS HONORABLE COURT DID NOT ERR IN
GRANTING SUMMARY JUDGMENT, INASMUCH AS THE
MOTION EMBRACED ALL CLAIMS AND CAUSES OF ACTION,
APPELLANT’S PURPORTED SUMMARY JUDGMENT EVIDENCE
WAS PROPERLY STRICKEN BY ORDER OF THE TRIAL
COURT, AND APPELLANT FAILED TO RAISE A DISPUTED
ISSUE OF MATERIAL FACT (RESPONSIVE TO APPELLANT’S
ISSUES NO. 2 AND 3).
2
III.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
Plaintiff/Appellant WEIRICH filed her original petition in this cause on August
2, 2012, in which she alleged that on or about January 9, 2012 she was traveling
through Johnson City, Texas on State Highway 290 near Town Creek when her vehicle
was struck by a wheel that had detached from an IESI garbage truck being towed
through town by SOUTHSIDE WRECKER. The impact, she alleged, totaled the
2002 Mazda which she was driving and further caused “severe personal injuries.”
C.R., at 4-5.
WEIRICH alleged that IESI failed to use ordinary care and prudence in properly
maintaining its garbage truck “to assure that it was safe to travel on the highway”, and
that SOUTHSIDE WRECKER likewise failed to “properly inspect and assure that the
IESI garbage truck that it was towing was safe on the highway”; the breach of these
duties, she alleges, proximately caused her injuries. She further alleged that
“SOUTHSIDE WRECKER was in the sole custody and control of the garbage truck
at the time of the incident made the basis of this lawsuit.” Id., at 5.
Over the course of the next year and a half WEIRICH twice amended her
petition, adding claims for gross negligence and exemplary damages against both IESI
and SOUTHSIDE WRECKER. C.R., at 34-37, 47-51. She took no depositions,
however, in support of any component of recovery. On July 14, 2014 IESI filed its
second amended answer. C.R., at 84-87.
On August 22, 2014 IESI filed its no-evidence motion for summary judgment
and for severance, one day after SOUTHSIDE WRECKER’s filing of a similar
motion. C.R., at 94-106, 107-126.
3
IESI moved for summary judgment on the basis of no evidence (1) that it owed
a legal duty to WEIRICH under the undisputed facts, (2) that it breached any duty
owed to WEIRICH, or (3) that any act or omission of IESI was the proximate cause
of the accident made the basis of WEIRICH’s suit; it further moved for summary
judgment as to the claims of gross negligence accordingly, as well as on grounds that
WEIRICH had no “clear and convincing” evidence that any act or omission of IESI
amounted to gross negligence as defined under Texas law. C.R., at 111.
IESI pointed out that WEIRICH filed suit on August 2, 2012 (more than two
years earlier), under Level 2 of Rule 190.3, Tex, R. Civ. P., pursuant to which—as
established under Rule 190.3(b)(1) and the affidavit of Michael J. Clark, trial counsel
of record for IESI—the discovery period ended more than eleven months earlier, on
or about September 7, 2013. “Therefore, ‘adequate time for discovery’ has passed
and [IESI] may present this no-evidence motion for summary judgment to the court.”
C.R., at 112, 120.
On October 17, 2014—one week prior to the hearing on Appellees’ respective
summary judgment motions—WEIRICH filed her response to those motions, as well
as her Fourth Amended Original Petition. C.R., at 127-131, 132-139. Her amended
petition was essentially identical to the most recent version of same, except that she
added the following to her list of claims for various categories of damages (¶10): “In
the alternative, Defendants are liable under the legal principles of negligence per se and
res ipsa loquitur.” C.R., at 129. In her response to the motions WEIRICH freely
conceded that only her own deposition had been taken during the twenty-six months
the case had been pending, but urged that there had not been an adequate time for
discovery. C.R., at 132. (Note: WEIRICH has since abandoned this argument; she
makes no complaint in her Appellant’s Brief of there not having been an adequate time
4
for discovery.) In this response WEIRICH set forth several arguments as to why she
felt summary judgment would be improper, but the fact that she had just amended her
petition to add the foregoing allegation relating to negligence per se and res ipsa
loquitur was not among these arguments. C.R., at 132-136.
WEIRICH’s response included her own affidavit. She described in this
affidavit the circumstances of the accident, which she said occurred on or about
January 9, 2012 as she approached the intersection of Highway 90 and Main Street in
Johnson City, Texas; her car was struck by the IESI garbage truck wheel/tire while she
was near the traffic light at that intersection. She also stated in this affidavit as follows:
“To date, no one who investigated the accident, including the Johnson City Police
Department, has indicated that the cause of the wheel coming off was anything other
than IESI failing to maintain its garbage truck and Southside failing to ensure that it
safely transported the garbage truck.” She stated that “[h]ad IESI properly maintained
and inspected its garbage truck to ensure that all of its wheels were adequately
attached, the accident would not have occurred.” C.R., at 138.
Further included in WEIRICH’s affidavit were the following two paragraphs:
...
4. I am a reasonable person of reasonable intelligence. I am 61 years
old. I have driven and maintained automobiles since I became
licensed to drive at the age of 16 years. While the Defendants
apparently do not realize or know, or at least claim to this Court
that they do not realize or know, there is an extreme degree of risk
in failing to provide the minimum maintenance to ensure that the
wheels on an automobile are properly attached to the automobile
as it travels on the Texas roads and Texas highways. There also
involves an extreme degree of risk in failing to take the minimum
steps to ensure that a vehicle you tow is safe to tow on the roads
and highways. Minimally, one who tows a vehicle should make
sure that the wheels are properly attached. This extreme degree of
5
risk is exacerbated when the motor vehicle is a large trash truck as
the ones we generally see picking up trash from residences.
5. IESI, as a trash disposal company, and Southside Wrecker as a
towing company indeed have actual and subjective awareness of
the extreme risk involved as discussed above but proceeded with
conscious indifference to the rights, welfare, and safety of others,
including but not limited to me.
...
C.R., at 139.
Both IESI and SOUTHSIDE WRECKER filed objections and motions to strike
the summary judgment evidence of WEIRICH. IESI pointed out that the above
referenced statements were conclusory and were not based on the personal knowledge
of WEIRICH, or of any expertise in any way demonstrated by her. C.R., at 159-164.
SOUTHSIDE WRECKER moved to strike WEIRICH’s affidavit on similar grounds,
and further pointed out, as indicated in IESI’s summary judgment motion, that the
discovery period had ended more than a year prior to the date (October 17, 2014) on
which WEIRICH filed her response to the summary judgment motions and on which,
for the first time, she claimed insufficient time for discovery. C.R., at 140-146.
By order dated November 12, 2014 the trial court sustained IESI’s objections
to the above-quoted portions of the WEIRICH affidavit and granted its motion to
strike accordingly. In particular, the court sustained the objection to, and ordered
stricken: the statement of WEIRICH that “no one who investigated the accident,
including the Johnson City Police Department, has indicated that the cause of the
wheel coming off was anything other than IESI failing to maintain its garbage truck and
Southside failing to ensure that it safely transported the garbage truck”; the statement
that “[h]ad IESI properly maintained and inspected its garbage truck to ensure that all
of its wheels were adequately attached, the accident would not have occurred”; and
6
the entirety of the above quoted paragraphs 4 and 5 of the affidavit (relating to gross
negligence/exemplary damages). C.R., at 176-178. By its further order of that same
date, the trial court granted IESI’s no-evidence summary judgment motion in its
entirety, ordering the judgment severed from the remainder of the case and made “final
for all purposes, having disposed of all claims by and between [IESI] and all parties.
This is an appealable final judgment.” C.R., at 179-180.
This appeal ensues.
IV.
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
Having invoked this Honorable Court’s jurisdiction by filing a notice of appeal,
WEIRICH now argues in her brief, for the first time, that the Court lacks “standing”
to decide the appeal inasmuch as “the purported judgments do not dispose of all
claims”—and alternatively that her affidavit, the only evidence attached to her response
by which she attempts to raise a fact issue, succeeds in doing so because no one has
ever told her that IESI is not at fault for the accident giving rise to her claims.
Though one scarcely knows where to begin, the reality is that except for the
introductory sentences in which WEIRICH explains where she was and what she was
doing when her car made contact with the loose wheel, there is not a single statement
contained in her affidavit that is not a wishful speculation or an unfounded conclusion.
The trial court correctly granted IESI’s no-evidence summary judgment motion—there
being no actual evidence to oppose it—and the trial court’s judgment should be in all
respects affirmed.
7
V.
ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES
ISSUE NO. 1 RESTATED: THIS HONORABLE COURT
HAS JURISDICTION OVER THIS APPEAL
(RESPONSIVE TO APPELLANT’S ISSUE NO. 1).
WEIRICH urges that because she filed her Fourth Amended Original Petition
seven days prior to the hearing on the summary judgment motions, and that that
pleading raised “additional theories of recovery” (i.e., negligence per se and res ipsa
loquitur) not addressed in the summary judgment motions, this Honorable Court lacks
“standing” to hear the case and thus it should be remanded to the trial court.
Appellant’s Brief, at 5-6.
WEIRICH seems to conflate, and confuse, the scope of the summary judgment
motions with the jurisdiction of the trial court to render final judgment thereon. (How
and why WEIRICH considers this to relate to her notion of “standing” is not clear.)
The trial court’s judgment stated clearly and succinctly that IESI’s summary
judgment motion was granted, and that WEIRICH take nothing by way of her suit
against IESI. The trial court further decreed that that judgment be severed from the
remainder of the case such that it “is final for all purposes, having disposed of all
claims by and between [IESI] and all parties. This is an appealable final judgment.”
C.R., at 179.
8
The Fourteenth Court of Appeals stated the point succinctly and well in the case
of Nguyen v. Woodley, 273 S.W.3d 891 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2008, no
pet.) as follows:
As a general rule, an appeal may be taken only from a final judgment.
Lehmann v. Har-Con Corp., 39 S.W.3d 191, 195 (Tex. 2001). A
judgment issued without a conventional trial is final only if it either
actually disposes of all claims and parties before the court, or it states
with unmistakable clarity that it is a final judgment. See id. at 200. In the
case at bar, the December 10, 2007 “Final Summary Judgment” is a final,
appealable judgment [that] expressly disposes of all claims and all parties,
stating with unmistakable clarity that it is a final judgment, i.e., it expressly
states that it disposes of all parties and claims and is final and appealable.
Nguyen, at 896. That is precisely what we have here: a judgment in a severed action
which expressly and unequivocally disposes of all claims by and between WEIRICH
and IESI, and which states “with unmistakable clarity” that it is a final and appealable
judgment.
That being the case, this Honorable Court clearly has jurisdiction to review this
final judgment on appeal. It remains only for this Court to determine whether the trial
court acted correctly in rendering it.
ISSUE NO. 2 RESTATED: THIS HONORABLE COURT
DID NOT ERR IN GRANTING SUMMARY
JUDGMENT, INASMUCH AS THE MOTION
EMBRACED ALL CLAIMS AND CAUSES OF
ACTION, APPELLANT’S PURPORTED SUMMARY
JUDGMENT EVIDENCE WAS PROPERLY STRICKEN
BY ORDER OF THE TRIAL COURT, AND
APPELLANT FAILED TO RAISE A DISPUTED ISSUE
9
O F MATERIAL FACT (RESPON SIVE TO
APPELLANT’S ISSUES NO. 2 AND 3).
A. Plaintiffs’ Fourth Amended Original Petition adds no new claims or
causes of action.
WEIRICH suggests - in addition to her “standing” argument - that summary
judgment was improper in that Appellees’ respective summary judgment motions did
not address her newly pled allegations relating to negligence per se and res ipsa
loquitur (as set forth supra). Appellant’s Brief, at 6. This argument is meritless.
After an adequate time for discovery, a party may move for summary judgment
on the ground that there is no evidence of one or more essential elements
of a claim or defense on which an adverse party would have the burden
of proof at trial. The motion must state the elements as to which there is
no evidence. The court must grant the motion unless the respondent
produces summary judgment evidence raising a genuine issue of material
fact.
Rule 166a(i), Tex. R. Civ. P.
Again, IESI moved for summary judgment under Rule 166a(i), as to all
negligence claims against it by WEIRICH, “ because [WEIRICH] has no evidence that
IESI owed a legal duty to Plaintiff under the facts of this case, IESI breached any duty
owed to Plaintiff, or that IESI’s conduct or omissions were the proximate cause of
the accident in question” (C.R., at 113) (emphasis added)—and moved for summary
judgment as well on the gross negligence claims because, in addition, WEIRICH “has
no ‘clear and convincing’ evidence that IESI’s conduct arises to the level of ‘gross
10
negligence’ as defined in Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §41.001(11).” C.R., at 111,
113.
“Negligence per se” is not a cause of action separate and independent from a
common law negligence action. Zavala v. Trujillo, 883 S.W.2d 242, 245 (Tex.
App.-El Paso 1994, writ denied). It is, rather, a tort concept whereby a legislatively
imposed standard of conduct is adopted by the civil courts as defining the conduct
of a reasonably prudent person. Carter v. William Sommerville & Son, Inc., 584
S.W.2d 274, 278 (Tex. 1979); Borden, Inc. v. Price, 939 S.W.2d 247, 250 (Tex. App.-
Amarillo 1997, writ denied). See also, Saenz v. J. D. Rodriguez Produce and
Trucking Co., 2000 WL 33225303 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 2000, no pet.) (not
designated for publication), at *2-*3.
So it is, too, with res ipsa loquitur, which is simply a rule of evidence by which
negligence may be inferred by the jury, and not a separate cause of action from
negligence. Haddock v. Arnspiger, 793 S.W.2d 948, 950 (Tex. 1990); Saenz, supra,
at *3.
Indeed, Saenz is particularly instructive. In that case the appellant argued that
the appellee “failed to amend his motion for summary judgment after Saenz amended
his original petition to include . . . additional claims of negligence and negligence per
11
se, res ipsa loquitur, negligent entrustment and malice . . .” Saenz, at *2 (emphasis
added) The San Antonio Court of Appeals took a dim view of this argument:
Rodriguez’s motion specifically challenged the element of
proximate causation as to each of Saenz’s negligent claims.
Rodriguez was not required to amend his motion in
response to the amended petition because the added
negligence claims and the negligent entrustment claim
contained the same element of proximate causation that
was previously challenged. Therefore, Saenz was required
to introduce evidence of proximate causation as to each of
his negligence claims, including the negligent entrustment
claim, in order to avoid summary judgment.
Saenz’s reliance on his first amended pleadings instead of
bringing forward the requisite evidence on proximate
causation was an attempt to avoid the effect of the no-
evidence summary judgment rule [citing Lampasas v.
Spring Center, Inc. 988 S.W.2d 248, 436 (Tex. App.-
Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no pet.)]. Based on the facts
before us, the amended petition merely reiterates the same
essential elements of negligence (duty, breach and
causation) in another fashion, and the motion for summary
judgment adequately covered these new variations. See id.
at 437. Accordingly, we overrule issues one and two.
Id. (emphasis added).
WEIRICH, in her amended pleading, effectively added no new claim or cause
of action; at most she attached new theories of liability to the common law
negligence/gross negligence claims she had already pled. It was still incumbent upon
her to produce competent and admissible summary judgment evidence in support of
12
the challenged elements of her claim—and, as further discussed infra, she failed utterly
to do so.
It should further be noted that, with respect to the res ipsa loquitur allegation,
WEIRICH herself acknowledges freely that the elements of this theory of recovery are
that (1) the injury would not have occurred in the absence of negligence, and (2) the
injury-causing instrumentality was under the sole possession and control of the
Defendant. Appellant’s Brief, at 6. WEIRICH specifically and expressly avers—both
in her Fourth Amended Original Petition and in her Appellant’s Brief—that
SOUTHSIDE WRECKER was in the sole custody and control of the IESI truck at
the time of the incident made the basis of this action. C.R., at 127, 128 (“Southside
Wrecker was in the sole custody and control of the garbage truck at the time of the
incident made the basis of this lawsuit”); Appellant’s Brief, at 6 (“[T]he IESI garbage
truck was under the sole possession and control of Southside Wrecker at the time of
the incident”). These judicial admissions confirm, as a matter of law, that WEIRICH
would be precluded from relying on the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur as against IESI
in any event.
B. WEIRICH’s purported summary judgment evidence was properly
stricken by the trial court, and no other evidence raised a material fact
issue.
13
WEIRICH points out in her brief, correctly, that “affidavits are routinely
recognized as competent summary judgment evidence”. Appellant’s Brief, at 7.
Indeed so—provided, of course, the affidavits comply with the requirements of Rule
166a and particularly of Rule 166a(f) (“Supporting and opposing affidavits shall be
made on personal knowledge, shall set forth such facts as would be admissible in
evidence, and shall show affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify to the
matters stated... .”) And therein lies the rub: WEIRICH, in her brief, does not even
attempt to explain how she had knowledge of the key portions of her affidavit.
For example: “Had IESI properly maintained and inspected its garbage truck to
insure that all of its wheels were adequately attached, the accident would not have
occurred.” C.R., at 138. WEIRICH, of course, cannot and does not demonstrate
how she is qualified to make that statement. Did the wheel come off because the truck
had been “improperly” maintained and inspected in the past? Did it come off because
it was damaged in the earlier accident that caused SOUTHSIDE WRECKER to be
retained in the first place to tow the truck through Johnson City? Did it come off
because, unbeknownst to IESI, the bolts that had been used to fasten it were defective
as received from the manufacturer? Or—the truck having been properly inspected and
maintained, no damage to the wheel having occurred in the earlier accident, and the
bolts being good and serviceable parts—did it come off because it was sabotaged by
14
a person or persons unknown between the time the truck was disabled and the time the
truck was secured for towing by SOUTHSIDE WRECKER? WEIRICH does not
know the answers to these questions because, during the more than two years the case
had been pending before the summary judgment motions were heard, she never
bothered to conduct any discovery to attempt to answer them.
WEIRICH does not claim to be, and is not in fact, a qualified expert in the
repair and maintenance of large trucks, or specifically as to large truck wheels and
tires. Whether and to what extent any act or omission of IESI caused or contributed
to cause the accident is a matter of pure speculation on this record. The wholly
unsupported (and wholly speculative) conclusion of WEIRICH, to the effect that the
wheel came loose because IESI failed to maintain or inspect it, is not competent
summary judgment evidence under Rule 166a(f); any suggestion that the trial court
erred or abused its discretion in striking that statement is not only meritless but
specious.
Even less valid than that stricken statement is the one which immediately
precedes it in WEIRICH’s affidavit: “To date, no one who investigated the accident,
including the Johnson City Police Department, has indicated that the cause of the
wheel coming off was anything other than IESI failing to maintain its garbage truck and
Southside Wrecker failing to insure that it safely transported the garbage truck.” C.R.,
15
at 138. It would have been every bit as truthful—and every bit as relevant—for
WEIRICH to have stated that no one has ever told her that the cause of the accident
was anything other than the wheel having been loosened by gremlins. WEIRICH’s
statement is nothing more than her legal position as to the cause of the accident as
stated in her pleadings; it is not evidence, or anything resembling evidence, of either
breach of duty or causation. WEIRICH simply failed to sustain her burden of raising
a genuine issue of material fact under Rule 166a(i).1
It is axiomatic, of course, that where there is no evidence to raise a fact issue
as to a claim of negligence, a claim of gross negligence is invalid as a matter of law.
See, e.g., RT Realty, Ltd. v. Texas Utilities Electric Company, 181 S.W.3d 905,
915-916 (Tex. App.-Dallas 2006, no pet); Wortham v. Dow Chemical Company,
179 S.W.3rd 189, 202-203 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.], 2005, no pet.). So it is
here with WEIRICH’s gross negligence claim. Moreover, the trial court acted
correctly and within its discretion in striking WEIRICH’s “gross negligence”
paragraphs, those being paragraphs 4 and 5 of her affidavit, for the reasons already
discussed. Once again, WEIRICH has failed to show herself an expert—or to provide
1
For purposes of this appeal we need not discuss the hypothetical situation of whether an
accident report of the Johnson City Police Department would have been competent and admissible
summary judgment evidence, since WEIRICH did not submit such a report, or any other investigative
report, as part of her summary judgment response.
16
any foundation or basis whatsoever for her purported knowledge—with respect to
what “actual and subjective awareness” IESI had regarding the “extreme risk” of
towing a vehicle whose wheel might or might not have been recently inspected (she
doesn’t know), might or might not have been recently maintained (she isn’t sure),
might or might not have been damaged (she’d have to speculate), and might or might
not have been tampered with anonymously (one of the “unknown unknowns”). For
WEIRICH even to describe such statements as are contained in paragraphs 4 and 5
of her affidavit—or, indeed, in any of the stricken portions of her affidavit—as
“summary judgment evidence” borders on sanctionable.
CONCLUSION
In view of the foregoing, the trial court acted correctly in striking WEIRICH’S
“summary judgment evidence” and in granting a no-evidence summary judgment in favor
of IESI (and, for that matter, in granting summary judgment for SOUTHSIDE
WRECKER as well). That judgment in favor of IESI is correct and complete as
entered, and IESI respectfully submits that it should be in all respects affirmed.
PRAYER
WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, IESI respectfully prays that the
judgment of the trial court in its favor dated November 12, 2014, be in all respects
affirmed; and for such other and further relief, at law or in equity, to which IESI might
show itself justly entitled.
17
Respectfully submitted,
THORNTON, BIECHLIN, SEGRATO,
REYNOLDS & GUERRA, L.C.
100 N.E. Loop 410, Suite 500
San Antonio, TX 78216
Telephone: 210/342-5555
Telecopier: 210/525-0666
By: /s/ Vaughan E. Waters
Vaughan E. Waters
State Bar No. 20916700
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE IESI
CORPORATION
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
Pursuant to Rule 9, Tex. R. App. P., the undersigned certifies that:
A. Brief of Appellee contains 4,068 words.
B. Brief of Appellee has been prepared in proportionally spaced typeface using
Word Perfect in Times New Roman 14 point.
/s/ Vaughan E. Waters
Vaughan E. Waters
18
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of Appellee’s Brief has been
forwarded to the following this 16th day of June, 2015.
Mr. Zachary P. Hudler VIA FACSIMILE TO 830/868-7636
Zachary P. Hudler, PC
P.O. Box 1728
Johnson City, TX 78636
Attorneys for Appellant
Mr. George J. Petras VIA FACSIMILE TO 512/334-9709
The Petras Law Firm
1504 San Antonio St.
Austin, TX 78701
Attorneys for Southside Wrecker, Inc.
/s/ Vaughan E. Waters
Vaughan E. Waters
19
APPENDIX 1
6/16/2015 Saenz v. J.D. Rodriguez Produce & Trucking Co. - WestlawNext
,A
Saenz v. J.D. Rodriguez Produce & Trucking Co.
Court of Appeals of Texas, San Altonlo, December 2B, 2000 Not Reported In S.W.Sd 2000 WL 33226303 (ApplOX. 6 pages) SELECTED TOPICS
2000WL33225303 Appeal and Error
Only the Westlaw citation is currently available. Review
De Novo Trial Court Grant of Summaiy
NOTICE: NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION. UNDER TX R RAP RULE 47.7, Judgment
UNPUBLISHED OPINIONS HAVE NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE BUT MAY BE CITED
WITH THE NOTATION "(not designated for publication)." Secondary Sourcas
§ 18;15.Necesslty to respond
Court of Appeals of Texas, SanAntonio.
3 McDonaU & Cartson Tex. Civ. Prac. § 18:16
(2d.ed.)
Emeterio SAENZ, Appellant,
...Tradtttonally, Texas has adhered to the
V. notion that summary Judgment should not
come by way of default, even If the
J.D. RODRIGUEZ PRODUCE AND TRUCKING COMPANY and John D. nonmovant does not file a response. Rather, a
summary judgment Is based on the propri..,
Rodriguez, Appellees.
CIVIL PROCEDURE AND DISCOVERY
UPDATE
No. 04-99-00867-CV. Dec. 29, 2000,
38 ThsAdvoc, (Texas) 1
From the 224th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas, Trial Court No. 98-CI-09011; ...C1-STABLE OF CONTENTS I.
INTRODUCTION. 1 II. CIVIL PROCEDURE
David A. Berchelmann, dr., Judge Presiding. UPDATE, 1 A. ATTORNEY IN CHARGE. 1 B.
CITATION. 1 C. CONTINUANCE. 3 D.
RICKHOFF, L6PEZ and DUNCAN, JJ. DEFAULT JUDGMENT. 4 E. DISMISSAL. 5
F. FINAL JUDGMENT. 5 G. JUROR C...
Opinion SUMMARY JUDGMENTS IN TEXAS:
STATE AND FEDERAL PRACTICE
L6PEZ.
52 Hous. L. Rev. 773
...Introduction. 777 Part 1: State Summary
*f Emeterio Saenz appeals the trial court's summary judgment granted In favor of J.D. Judgment Practice. 7791. Procedure. 779
Rodriguez Produce and Trucking Company and John D. Rodriguez ("Rodriguez"). Saenz A. Motton for Summary Judgment. 779 1.
General Requirements and Uses. 780 Z.
sued Rodriguez alleging negligence, res ipsa loquitur, negligent entrustment, and malice Traditional Motion for Summary Ju...
(gross negligence). On appeal, Saenz complains that the trial court erred in granting the
See More Secondary Sources
summary judgment. We affirm the Judgment of the trial court.
Briefs
Factual and Procedural Background
Brief of Appe lisa Joa McKay
On February 13,1997, Saenz was driving a tractor-trailer owned by Rodriguez from
Colorado with a load of potatoes. Joe Colunga was a co-driver with Saenz. Saenz was 2011 WL 1688722
Robert GREEN and Marilyn Green,
not an employee of Rodriguez, but worked as an independent contractor for J.D. Appellants, V. Joe MCKAY, Appdtee.
Rodriguez Produce and Trucking, a sole proprietorship owned by Rodriguez. Saenz Court of Appeals ofTexas, Dallas,
March 18,2011
stopped the tractor-trailer on the improved shouMer of a downhill section of Interstate
...One of the Defendant's counsel In this
Highway 10 ("IH-10") jyst north of Boerne, Texas. At the time Saenz stopped the truck, matter, Mtehete Sheets, Is married to State
Colunga was asleep in the cab of the truck. After Saenz stepped down from the truck, It Representath/e Kenneth Sheets. The
daughter-ln-law of Justice Douglas S. Lang Is
started to roll. Saenz attempted to get back Into the truck cab, but slipped off the running a member of RepresentaUve Sheets's s...
board, Saenz fell to the pavement and the rear wheels of the tractor ran over his legs.
Appellants' Brief
EMS treated Saenz at the scene and transported him to University Hospital. After he was 2
discharged from the hospital, Saenz developed an infection in his left leg. As a result, his 2013 WL 5973844
KAT/ VENTURE, LTD. and Katy
leg was ultimately amputated. Saenz also broke his right leg, and inflicted severe injuries Management, L.L.C,, Appellants, v.
CREMONA BISTRO CORP., Appellee.
to his right foot, left shoulder, left arm and body in general.
Court of Appeals of Texas, Dallas.
July 05,2013
On June 17,1998, Saenz filed his lawsuit against Rodriguez alleging negligence, ...FN2. Katy presents a uniflsd statement of
negligence per se in violation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations the case and of facts, because the case was
disposed on summary Judgment and the
("FMCSR"), and malice (gross negligence), On July 27,1999, Rodriguez filed a no- underlying facts were primarily developed
evidence motion for summary judgment. On August 16,1999, Sgenz filed a first through affldavNs and documents tha...
amended original petition alleging additional negligence and negligence per se claims,
Brief of Appollae
res ipsa loquitur, and that Rodriguez negligently entrusted the truck to Colunga. On
2013 WL 6973845
August 31, 1999, the trial court granted Rodrlguez's no-evidence motion as to the entire KAT/VENTURE, LTD. and Katy
case. On November 12, 1999, the trial court denied Saenz's amended motion to set Management, L.L.C., Appellants, v.
CREMONA BISTRO CORP., Appellee.
aside the no-evidence summary judgment order and request for leave to open summary Court of Appeals of Texas, Dallas.
judgment evidence for reconsideration; or alternatively, a motion for new trial. On appeal, August 02,2013
...FN1. The Katy Entities combined the
Saenz complains that the trial court erred in granting a no-evidence summary judgment
Statement of Ihg Case and Statement of Facts
in Rodriguez's favor because Rodriguez's conclusory motion did not address each claim In their brief into one section and, accordingly,
in responding to same herein Appelee
in his petition and there was more than a sclntilla of evidence to support each and every
Cremona similarly combines those...
claim.
See More Briefs
Standard of Review
Trial Court Documents
We review a summary Judgment de novo. See Ganzales v. American Postal Workers
LONGHORN LANDSCAPESER
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Union, AFL CIO, 948 S.W.2d 794, 797 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 1997, writ denied). A np- INC., V. CHRISTIAN DEAL.
evidence summary judgment is essentially a pretrlal directed verdict, and we apply the 2001 Wl. 35836992
LON13HORN LANDSCAPE SERVICES, INC.,
same legal sufficiency standard in rQviewing a no-evidence summary judgment as we
V, CHRISTIW DEAL.
apply in reviewing a directed verdict. See Moore v. K Mart Corp., 981 S.W.2d 266, 269 District Court pf Texas, Harris County
May 08,2001
(Tex.App.-San Antonio 1998, no pet,). We review the evidence in the light most favorable
...Plainflff, Longhorn Landscape Servtees,
to the respondent against whom the no-evidence summary judgment was rendered, Inc., files this Response to Defendant's Motion
disregarding all contrary evidence and inferences. See Merreil Daw Pharmaceuticals, Inc. For Partial Summary Judgment and in
response would show: The Defendant files hla
v. Havner, 953 S.W.2d 706, 711 (Tex.1997); Moore, 981 S.W.2d at269.Ano-evidence Motion bas9d upon Texas Business...
summary judgment Is improperly granted if the respondent brings forth more than a
Estate Of W. A, WHITMIRE, Dec'
scintllla of probatlve evidence to raise a genuine Issue of material fact. SeeTEX.R.CIV.P.
186a(i); see ateo Havner, 953 S.W,2d at 711; Moore, 981 S.W.Zd at 269,Less than a 2006WL4858Z45
Estate of W. A. WHITMIRE, Deceast -.
scintilla of evidence exists when the evidence is so weak as to do no more than create a District Court of Texas, McMulsn County
mere surmise or suspicion of a fact. See Gomez v. Tri City Community Hosp., Ltd., 4 August 10,2005
S.W.Sd 281, 283 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 1999, no pet.); Moore, 981 S.W.Zd at 269,More ...BE IT REMEMBERED that on this day came
on before this Court for consideration of
than a scintilla of evidence exists when the evidence rises to a level that would enable Bessfe MaeWhNmlre's ("Proponenr of the
reasonable and fair-minded people to differ In their conclusions. See Gomez, 4 S.W.3d at January 9,2001 Will) Motion for Summary
Judgment under Rule 166a(i) ofTexas ...
283; Moore, 981 S.W.2d at 269.
Cynthia TATUM, Indh/idually, ar
*2 When reviewing a summary judgment granted on general grounds, this court Behalf of All Others Similarly S
Plaintiff, v. JMC HOMES, INC. a
considers whether any theories asserted by the summary judgment movant will support Mortgage Company, Ltd., Defor,—,.—.
the summary judgment. See S(ate Farm Fire & Cas, Co. v. S,S., 858 S.W.Zd 374, 380
2001 WL 35926755
(Tex.1993). When a trial court's order granting summary Judgment does not specify the Cynthia TATUM, IndlvMyaly, and on Behalf of
All Others Similarly Situated, Plaintiff, v. JMC
ground or grounds relied on for the ruling, summary judgment will be affirmed on appeal HOMES, INC. and JMC Mortgage Company,
If any of the theories advanced are meritorious, See id. Ltd., Defendants.
Dlstrtet Court of Texas, Harris County
April 30,2001
Discussion
...Plaintiff Cynthia Tatum, Individually and on
In his first and second issues, Saenz complains that the trial court erred in granting Behalf of AI Others Similarly Situatod, files this
summary Judgment because the trial court granted Judgment on claims not addressed in response to Defendant JMC Homes, Inc.'s
("JMC") "no-euidence" motfon for partial
the summary judgment motion. Specifically, Saenz argues that Rodriguez failed to summary judgment, and s...
amend his motion for summary judgment after Saenz amended his original petition to
See More Trial Court Documents
Include additional negligence claims. Saenz's first amended original petition alleged
additional claims of negligence and negligence per se,1 res ipsa loquitur, negligent
entrustment, and malice. In his motion for summary judgment, Rodriguez addressed
Saenz's malice claim, some ofSaenz's negligence and negligence per se claims,2 and
failed to address Saenz's negligent entrustment claim. Accordingly, Saenz contends that
summary judgment should be reversed on each specific negligence and negligent
entrustment claim that Rodrlguez failed to address in his motion.
A no-evidence motion for summary judgment must specify the elements of the plaintiffs
plaim as to which there is no evidence. SeeTEX.R.GIV.P. 166a(i); Lampasas v. Spring
Center, Inc., 988 S.W.2d 42,8, 436 (Tex.App.-Houston [14 th Dlst.] 1999, no pet.). This, In
turn, shifts the burden on the nonmovant to come forward with some evidence of the
essential element or elements challenged In the motion. See Lampdsas, 988 S.W,2d at
436.If the nonmovant does not, then the trial court must grant the no-evidence motion for
summary Judgment covering all the claims or defenses composed of the element or
elements that were specifically challenged. SeeTEX.R.CIV.P. 166a(i); Lampasas, 988
S.W.2dat436.
Rodrlguez's motion specifically challenged the element of proximate causation as to each
of Saenz's negligent claims. Rodriguez was not required to amend his motion in
response to the amended petition because the added negligence claims and the
negligent entrustment claim contained the same element of proximate causation that was
previously challenged. Therefore, Saenzwas required to introduce evidence of proximate
causation as to each of his negligence claims, including the negligent entrustment claim,
In order to avoid summary judgment.
Saenz's reliance on his first amended pleadings Instead of bringing forward the requisite
evidence on proximate causation was an attempt to avoid the effect of the no-evidence
summary judgment rule. See Lampasas, 988 S,W.2d at 436.Based on the facts before
us, the amended petition merely reiterates the same essential elements of negligence
(duty, breach and causation) In another fashion, and the motion for summary judgment
adequately covered these new variations. See id. at 437 Accordingly, we overrule Issues
one and two.
*3 In his third issue, Saenz complains that the trial court erred in granting summary
judgment because there was more than a scintilla of evidence to support each and every
claim that he asserted. In response, Rodrlguez contends that Saenz failed to produce
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competent summary Judgment evidence on proximate cause, an essential element of his
recovery.
The elements for negligence include: (1) a legal duty owed by one person to another; (2)
a breach of that duty; and (3) damages proximately resulting from that breach. See
Greater Houston Transp. Co. v. Ph/llips, 801 S,W,2d 523, 525 (Tex.1990). Although
Rodriguez addressed negligence per se separately In his motion for summary judgment,
negligence per se is not a cause of action separate and independent from a common law
negligence action. See Zavala v. Trujillo, 883 S.W.2d 242, 245 (Tex.App.-EI Paso 1994,
writ denied). Negllgenpe per se is a tort concept whereby a legislatively Imposed
standard of conduct is adopted by the civil courts as defining the conduct of a reasonably
prudent person. See Carter v. William Sommerville and Son, Inc., 584 S.W.2d 274, 278
(Tex.1979); Borders, Inc. v. Price, 939 S.W.2d 247, 250 (TexApp.-Amarillo 1997, writ
denied). The unexcijsed violation of a statute constitutes negligence as a matter of law if
such statute was designed to prevent injury to the class of persons to which the injured
party belongs. See Mwghon v. Wolf, 576 S.W.2d 603, 604 (Tex.1978); Ward v.
Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op. Elevator, 909 S.W.2d 143,147 (Tex.App.-Texarkana
1995, writ denied). The trial court merely has the fact finder decide If the tortfeasor
committed the act proscribed by the statute and if the act proxlmatety caused injury. See
Borden, 939 S.W,2(1 at 250.
Res ipsa loquitur, meaning "the thing speaks for Itself," is used only in certain limited
cases where the circumstances surrounding the accident constitute sufficient
circumstantial evidence of the defendant's negligence to support such a finding. See
Haddock v. Amspiger, 793 S.W.Zd 948, 9SO (Tex.1990); Schorlemerv, Reyes, 974
S.W.2d 141, 145 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 1998, pet. denied). Specifically, res ipsa loquitur
applies only when two factors are present: (1) the character of the accident is such that it
would not ordinarily occur in the absence of negligence; and (2) the instrumentality
causing the injury Is shown to have been under the management and control of the
defendant. See Haddock, 793 S.W.2d at 950; Schorlemer, 974 S.W,2d at
145.Furthermore, the likelihood of other causes does not have to be completely ruled
out, but their likelihood must be "so reduced that the jury can reasonably find by a
preponderance of the evidence that the negligence, if any, lies at the defendant's
door."See Schorlemer, 974 S.W.2d at 145.Accordingty, res Ipsa loquitur is simply a rule
of evidence by which negligence may be Inferred by the jury; it is not a separate cause of
action from negligence. See Haddock, 793 S.W.Zd at 950.
*4 The elements of negligent entrustment are: (1) entrustment of a vehicle by the owner;
(2) to an unlicensed, Incompetent, or reckless driver; (3) that the owner knew or should
have known to be unlicensed, incompetent, or reckless; (4) that the driver was negligent
on Ihe occasion in question; and (5) that the driver's negligence proxlmately caused the
accident. See Frito Lay, Inc. v.. Queen, 873 S,W.2d 85, 86 (TexApp.-San Antonio 1994,
writ denied). Implicit In this criteria is that the driver to whom the vehicle was entrusted
was the same driver who proxlmately caused the accident. See id.
Malice or gross negligence includes two elements: (1) viewed objectively from the actor's
standpoint, the act or omission must involve an extreme degree of risk, considering the
probability and the magnitude of the potential harm to others, and (2) the actor must
have actual, SMbjective awareness of the risk involved, but nevertheless proceed In
conscious indifference to the rights, safety, or welfare of others, SeeTEX.CIV.PRAC. &
REM .CODE ANN . § 41,001 (7)(B) C^ernon 1997); Mobll Oil Corp. v. Ellender, 968 S,W.2d
917, 921 (Tex.1998). Evidence of simple negligence is not enough to prove either the
objective or subjective elements of gross negligence. See Eilender, 968 S.W.2d at 921.
In the instant case, Saenz argues that his summary judgment proof brings forth more
than a scintilla of probative evidence to raise a genuine issue of material fact. Saenz's
summary judgment proof consists of the following; (1) Saenz's affidavit and non-
stenographlc deposition; (2) Rodriguez's responses and objections to Saenz's first set of
interrogatorles, requests for production and requests for admissions; (3) an Insurance
endorsement; and (4) Rodriguez's oral/video deposition testimony,
Initially, Saenz offered his affidavit and his non-stenographlc deposition as summary
judgment proof. In his affidavit, Saenz contended that Rodriguez owned a for-hire
trucking company that would deliver and pick up goods both inside and outside the
United States. Saenz drove routes for Rodrlguez. In the mldd Ie of February 1997,
Rodriguez asked Saenz if he would pick up goods from the valley, picK up Joe Colunga
and, together, go to the state of Colorado, deliver goods, and take back a shipment of
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goods to San Antonio, Texas. Saenz claimed that Rodriguez never wanted to pay for
permits and Saenz understood that he and Colunga were only supposed to drive
evenings to avoid weigh stations and permit checks. Furthermore, Saenz asserted that at
one time Colunga was a capable driver, but by the time he began working for Rodriguez,
Colunga was a substance abuser and had difficulty making the routes on his own.
Colunga had some physical difficulties that might have been associated with drug abuse.
Rodrlguez rarely assigned Colunga his own long routes, and Instead would make another
driver travel with Colunga. Saenz asserted that the truck he and Colunga drove had
already been In service a number of years t?efore Rodriguez purchased it. The truck did
not have a working gas gauge, and the only way to determine how much fuel was in the
tank was by guesswork or by opening the tank and shining a flashlight or inserting a
dipstick. Saenz contended that Rodriguez told him that he was going to sell the truck
Immediately after they completed their haul In February 1997. Saenz understood that
Rodriguez did not want him to turn the truck in with a full tank of fuel, but Insteaci, wanted
him to bring the truck in almost empty so Rodriguez couW "save a few bucks."
*5 In addition, Saenz described the accident and explained that he stopped the truck
thirty miles or so outside of San Antonio on IH-10 West. Saenz put on the brakes for both
the tractor and trailer. Saenz got out of the truck to check the amount of gasoline In the
tank because he was not sure he had enough left to get him to San Antonio. Saenz
exited the truck and checked all the tires and the level of fuel. Saenz claimed he needed
to use the restroom so he urlnated next to the truck, in between the passenger area and
the trailer. Suddenly, the truck started to roll forward. Saenz yelled to Colunga and tried
to jump up onto the running board of the passenger side so he could get Colynga's
attention or stop the truck himself. Saenz missed the running board and landed on his
back. Two outside tires ran over Saenz's legs causing permanent crippling to one leg and
an eventual amputatipn of the other, Saenz stated that he was outside the truck and did
not know exactly why the truck rolled forward. Colunga later died in 1998.
Saenz's deposition testimony appears to be contradictory. Saenz claimed, on one hand,
that the brakes on the truck were "okay," and that he did not complain to Rodriguez
about any safety features on the truck. Later in the deposition, Saenz testified that he told
Rodriguez that the brakes on the truck were "no good."
Secondly, Saenz offered Rodriguez's discovery responses and admissions as summary
Judgment proof, Rodriguez's discovery responses and admissions reflected that he had
not been Involved in prior incidents that were similar to this case. Rodriguez claimed that
the truck in question was Inspected annually for its safety sticker and routine
maintenance was performed approximately every 10,000 miles. Not only were tires
Inspected before every trip, but drivers were expected to report any tire or other
problems which occurred during a trip and make arrangements for repairs as needed. In
addition, Rodriguez purchased the truck In 1995 and then sold it in 1997. Rodriguez
stated that his policy regarding the operational speeds of his vehicles was that contract
drivers were expected to obey traffic laws and were responsible for any tickets received
during a trip. Contract drivers were compensated by receiving a commission based on a
percentage of the load paid. Moreover, Rodriguez failed to produce: (1) documentation
of insurance policies or indemniftoation agreements; (2) documents regarding the truck
for five years prior to the incident, including any maintenance records, repair records,
repair bills, invoices, work orders, maintenance checks, condition checklists, complaints,
or receipts; (3) log books (4) records of personnel matters, including driving history, drug
tests, supervisor evaluations, Incident or accident reports, and truck records and
Department of Transportation records; (5) and a report on the accident from Saenz.
Next, Saenz offered an insurance endorsement as summary judgment proof. The
endorsement, however, indicated a surcharge for non-recelpt of a mechanical Inspection
dated July 25,1996. The document bears the notation "null and void" and does not
appear to be linked in any way to the truck in question.
*6 Finally, Saenz offered Rodriguez's video deposition testimony as summary judgment
proof. In his deposition, Rodriguez testified J.D, Rodrlguez Produce & Trucking Company
was a sole proprietorship that had been in operation for thirty years as a trucking
business, and that he owned the truck that was Involved in the accident. Rodrlguez
claimed that he cjid not have the truck's maintenance records and did not keep copies of
the driver's log books. Rodriguez acknowledged that the federal regulations which
applied to tractor trailers In February 1997 also applied to his oompany. Rodrigyez never
conducted yearly reviews of driving records with state agencies nor did he have a system
of training drivers on his rigs,
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According to Rodriguez, Saenzwas an independent contractor who, in turn,
independently hired Colunga to go with him on trips. Colunga was operating Rodriguez's
trucks with Roclriguez's express permission. Rodrignez never gave Colynga a driving
test. Rodriguez knew Colunga had a valid commercial driver's license, but did not
remember ever seeing it. Rodriguez never checked with the Department of Public Safety
to determine if Colunga ever had his driver's lipense suspended or revoked, Rodrlguez
knew that Colunga was rumored to have taken drugs. Rodriguez had no formal company
drug policy nor did he send drivers to take drug tests. However, Rodriguez had asked
(Irivers If they had been using drugs.
Rodrlguez further testified that Saenz had been driving for him for more than five years
and was his best driver. According to Rodriguez, Saenz did not have a valid commercial
driver's license and that was why Saenz took Colunga on trips because Colunga had a
driver's license. Rodriguez claimed that under normal conditions, when a driver stopped
on the side of the road to check the truck's tires, the driver would put on the brakes by
pulling out two buttons, which was the emergency brake. In this case, Saenz told
Rodrlguez that he did not pull the emergency brake buttons, but instead pulled the trailer
brake handle located under the steering wheel. A trailer brake handle is not normally
used for parking, but instead, used for driving conditions, like ice or snow or driving down
hill on a mountain pass. Rpdriguez claimed that trucks wouM not move if the emergency
brake was pulled. Rodrlguez also understood that Colunga was asleep in the cab at the
time ofSaenz's accident.
In addition, Rodriguez claimed that the first time he found out that the fuel gauge was not
working on the truck was when he found out about the accident. Rodriguez asserted that
he had never encouraged his drivers to drive at night instead of In the daytime. Saenz
used to like to drive at night because he did not have a driver's license.
Saenz asserts that his affidavit evidence shows a reasonable Inference that either
Colunga released the brake or the brakes failed. Saenz argues that there is more than a
scintilla of evidence to show that Rodriguez failed to property malntgln and inspect his
trucks because Rodriguez lacked maintenance records. In addition, Saenz contends that
the evidence shows that Rodriguez violated several of the provisions of the Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and that such violations are negligence per se.Saenz
argues that Rodriguez was negligent In hiring, training, supervising, and testing his
drivers. Furthermore, Saenz asserts that his affidavit raises genuine issues of material
fact regarding malice or gross negligence because It offers more than a scintilla of
evidence of conscious or knowing disregard for the rights, welfare and safety of others.
*7 Despite Saenz's arguments, after reviewing all of Saenz's summary judgment
evidence, we find that there is no evidence that Rodriguez proximately caused this
accident. Saenz's argument that his summary judgment evidence raised a reasonable
Inference that either the brakes failed or Colunga released the brakes is merely suspicion
and speculation. Saenz's summary Judgment evidence fails to offer even a scintllla of
evidence that acts or omissions of Rodriguez proxlmately caused the trailer to roll or
proximately caused Saenz to slip when he tried to jump back in the tractor cab. There is
no connection between Rodriguez's lack of maintenance records and the truck rolling.
In addition, even if the alleged violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
are true, this does not defeat the no-evidence summary judgment. Since proximate
cause is an essential element of negligence per se, Saenz must show by competent
evidence that the violations of (he statute proxtmately caused the truck to roll. See
Borden, 939 S.W.Zd at 2SO; Yap v. ANR Freight Systems, Inc., 789 S.W,2d 424, 427
(Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist,] 1990, no writ). Even ifRodriguez's deposition testimony
contained admissions of violations of any regulations, Saenz failed to connect the
violations with the truck Saenz was driving or point out any evidence In this record that
establishes howthe violations are proof that some act or omission of Rodriguez
proximately caused the truck to roll. Saenz failed lo make any plausible connection
between Colunga's problems, the lack of documents and the alleged violations and
conduct of Rodrlguez upon which to conclude there was even a scintilla of evidence that
Rodrigyez proximately caused the accident.
Finally, there Is no evidence to support Saenz's malice claim for exemplary damages.
Because Saenz failed to produce even a scintilla of evidence that Rodriguez proximately
caused the accident on his negligence claims, there Is not enough evidence to prove
either the objective pr subjective elements of gross negligence. See Ellender, 968 S.W,2d
at 921 .Specifically, there is no evidence of any act or omission by Rodriguez which
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showed he had actual subjective awareness of the rlski but proceeded with conscious
indifference to the rights, safety, or welfare of others, including Saenz. See id.
Accordingly, Saenz failed to meet his burden to produce summary judgment evidence
that amounts to more than a surmise or suspicion. Since Sgenz suggests only suspicion
and speculation as a basis for his conclusion that Rodriguez proximate)/ caused the
accident, the trial court correctly found that Saenz presented less than a scintilla of
evidence. Because the trial court properly granted summary judgment on each of
Saenz's causes of action, we overrule this issue.
Having overruled each of Saenz's issues on appeal, we affirm the Judgment of the trial
court.
Footnotes
In his first amended original petition, Saenz alleged that Rodrlguezwas
negligent in the following ways; 1) falling to keep a proper lookout as a
person of ordinary care would have kept under a similar circumstance; 2)
failing to inspect and repair or alter brakes; 3) failure to inspect or repair
broken gas gauges; 4) ordering Saenz to return the truck with a nearly-
empty fuel tank because Rodrlguez was planning on selling the truck upon
Saenz's completion of the assignment; 5) forcing Saenz to drive at night; 6)
refusing to pay for proper federal permits; 7) failing to keep maintenance
records; 8) failing to test Colunga for substance abuse; 9) requesting that
Colunga accompany Saenz on this route; 10) negligently hiring and
retaining Colunga; 11) failing to check Colunga's physical health; 12) failing
to check Colunga's driving record; 13) falling to conduct an appropriate
background or reference check on Colunga before and during his work for
Rodriguez; 14) negligently supervising Colunga; 15) negligently testing or
failing to test Colunga's competence and qualifications to operate a tractor-
trailer: 16) negligently permitting Colunga, a person that Rodrlguez knew or,
In the exercise of due care, should have known, was unfit, incompetent,
reckless and/or impaired to operate a tractor-trailer; 17) failing to Inspect
the truck; 18) failing to keep the driving mechanisms of the truck free from
Interference; 19) failing to make such application of the brakes as a person
using ordinary care would have made under the same or similar
circumstance; 20) failing to exercise due care to avoid colliding with Saenz,
who was a pedestrian upon the roadway; and 21) failing to maintain the
vehicle in proper working condition. Saenz alleges that each of the acts
and/or omissions, singularly or In combination with others, constitute
negligence and negligence per se which proximatety caused Saenz's
injuries.
Rodriguez only addressed the following negligence claims In his motion for
summary judgment: 1) failing to keep a proper lookout; 2) failing to maintain
control over the vehicle prior to the collision; 3) operating the vehicle in
willful and wanton disregard for the safety of persons; 4) failing to keep
driving mechanisms of Rodriguez Trucking vehicle free from interference;
5) falling to make such application of the brakes as a person using ordinary
care; 6) failing to exercise due care to avoid colliding with plaintiff who was
a pedestrian; 7) falling to give warnings to plaintiff by sounding the horn
when necessary; and 8) failing to maintain the vehicle In proper working
condition.
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