Sammy Chavez v. State ( 2002 )

NO. 07-02-0250-CR

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

AT AMARILLO

PANEL E

OCTOBER 28, 2002

______________________________



SAMMY CHAVEZ, APPELLANT

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE



_________________________________

FROM THE 287^TH DISTRICT COURT OF BAILEY COUNTY;

NO. 2104-B; HONORABLE GORDON GREEN, JUDGE

_______________________________

Before REAVIS and JOHNSON, J.J., and BOYD, S.J. ⁽¹⁾

On June 5, 2002, a copy of a Notice of Appeal in cause No. 2104-B in the 287th District Court of Bailey County, Texas (the trial court), was filed with the clerk of this court (the appellate clerk). The document filed gives notice that Sammy Chavez desires to appeal from a conviction and sentence in such court and cause number. On June 25, 2002, a docketing statement was filed with the appellate clerk which sets out that the appeal is from a judgment or order dated May 8, 2002, and that an affidavit of indigency was filed on May 24, 2002.

On July 25, 2002, a request for extension of time for filing the clerk's record was filed with the appellate clerk. By such request, the District Clerk of Bailey County (the trial court clerk) advised that the clerk's record had not been paid for and no arrangements had been made to pay for the record. Pursuant to further requests, the times for filing the clerk's record and the reporter's record have been extended. Neither the clerk's record nor the reporter's record has been filed, and the appellate clerk's record reflects no other action by any party to the appeal to prosecute the appeal.

Accordingly, this appeal is abated and the cause is remanded to the trial court. Tex. R. App. P. 37.3(a)(2). Upon remand, the judge of the trial court is directed to immediately cause notice to be given of and to conduct a hearing to determine: (1) whether appellant desires to prosecute this appeal; (2) if appellant desires to prosecute this appeal, then whether appellant is indigent; (3) if appellant desires to prosecute this appeal, whether appellant is entitled to have the clerk's and reporter's records furnished without charge; and (4) what orders, if any, should be entered to assure the filing of appropriate notices and documentation to dismiss appellant's appeal if appellant does not desire to prosecute this appeal, or, if appellant desires to prosecute this appeal, to assure that the clerk's and reporter's records will be promptly filed and that the appeal will be diligently pursued.

The trial court is directed to: (1) conduct any necessary hearings; (2) make and file appropriate findings of fact, conclusions of law and recommendations, and cause them to be included in a clerk's record on remand; (3) enter any orders appropriate to the circumstances; (4) cause the hearing proceedings to be transcribed and included in a reporter's record; and (5) have a record of the proceedings made to the extent any of the proceedings are not included in the supplemental clerk's record or the reporter's record. In the absence of a request for extension of time from the trial court, the clerk's record on remand, reporter's record of the hearing and proceedings pursuant to this order, and any additional proceeding records, including any orders, findings, conclusions and recommendations, are to be sent so as to be received by the clerk of this court not later than November 29, 2002.

Per Curiam

Do not publish.

1. John T. Boyd, Chief Justice (Ret.), Seventh Court of Appeals, sitting by assignment.

hich it was based. On agreement of the parties the court severed the claims against the Wards, making disposition of those claims final. This appeal is brought from the judgment on the severed claims. The two issues appellant's brief asks us to determine are whether the trial court erred in (1) granting partial summary judgment on his claims for negligent entrustment, negligence per se, and gross negligence on traditional grounds, and (2) granting partial summary judgment on no-evidence grounds on his claims of negligent entrustment, negligence per se and his ability to maintain a survival action. ⁽⁴⁾

In our review of the trial court's grant of summary judgment, we apply the standards of review set forth in Nixon v. Mr. Property Management Co., 690 S.W.2d 546, 548-49 (Tex. 1985) (traditional motion) and King Ranch, Inc. v. Chapman, 118 S.W.3d 742, 750-51 (Tex. 2003) (no-evidence motion).

Negligent Entrustment

We begin by considering whether the Wards established entitlement to summary judgment on appellant's negligent entrustment claim. To establish a claim for negligent entrustment the plaintiff must show (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 the occasion in question and (5) that the driver's negligence proximately caused the accident. Schneider v. Esperanza Transmission Co., 744 S.W.2d 595, 596 (Tex. 1987).

The Wards' summary judgment motion addressed the second and third elements through traditional and no-evidence grounds. We focus on the third element, which requires proof the owner knew or should have known the driver was unlicensed, incompetent or reckless. Schneider, 744 S.W.2d at 596. There is no dispute Courtney held a valid driver's license permitting operation of the type of vehicle she was driving. Via their no-evidence motion, the Wards asserted appellant had no evidence they knew or should have known her to be an incompetent or reckless driver.

To raise a fact issue regarding the Wards' knowledge of their daughter's asserted incompetence or recklessness, appellant relies on evidence they knew of Courtney's youth and her lack of experience as a driver on a night-time highway trip like she undertook on that occasion, and knew that Courtney would violate Texas Transportation Code section 545.424(a) during the fatal return trip to Lubbock.

Appellant does not contend the Wards knew, or should have known, of any instance in which Courtney, on any prior occasion, had driven in an unlawful, unsafe or otherwise improper manner. ⁽⁵⁾ The record contains no evidence she had been issued a traffic citation or been involved in a previous accident, or that the Wards' experience riding with their daughter had revealed incompetence or recklessness. Cf. Pesina v. Hudson, 132 S.W.3d 133 (Tex.App.-Amarillo 2004, no pet.) (parents knew of six driving incidents in previous two years); Batte v. Hendricks, 137 S.W.3d 790, 791 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2004, pet. denied) (summary judgment for owner affirmed in absence of evidence she knew entrustee had driven while intoxicated before); Russell, 949 S.W.2d at 490 (father aware, or should have been, of son's six or seven tickets in previous two years). Rather, appellant emphasizes evidence that Courtney had limited experience driving long distances, at night on the open road, and evidence she had never before driven out-of-town "by herself."

Appellant cites the holding in Seinsheimer v. Burkhart, 132 Tex. 336, 122 S.W.2d 1063 (Tex.Comm.App. 1939), that "the condition and experience of a young driver was some evidence of his incompetence." Examination of that opinion shows the court's conclusion some evidence supported a finding of incompetence was based on more than youth and inexperience. The opinion does not indicate whether the driver possessed a license. It recites he "had but a limited experience in driving automobiles; had never driven a car of the same make[.]" 122 S.W.2d at 1067. The court also had before it the testimony of the car owner that during their trip from Galveston to Houston, she "didn't let him drive long, because I was just afraid,- wasn't used to him and my daughter said she couldn't ride with him driving[.]" Id. Appellant also cites Revisore v. West, 450 S.W.2d 361 (Tex.Civ.App.-Houston [14^th Dist.] 1970, no writ.), pointing to language from that opinion stating an entrustor may be deemed negligent where an entrustee is "for any reason lacking in judgment or perception." Id. at 364. Viewed in the light most favorable to appellant, the evidence here bears little resemblance to that of Seinsheimer or Revisore. We do not agree that evidence of Courtney's inexperience permits an inference she lacked judgment or perception, or was otherwise an incompetent driver.

Appellant also contends an amended answer raising the issue of Janell's negligence "in riding with an inexperienced driver after . . . midnight" is an admission Courtney "lacked the experience necessary to be a competent driver." It is undisputed Courtney did not have experience driving a relatively long distance at night and the Wards were aware of that. We agree the pleading can be taken as an admission Courtney was an inexperienced driver, but do not agree it is an admission of her incompetence. As appellant acknowledges, inexperience alone does not constitute incompetence as a driver. See Bartley, 919 S.W.2d at 752 (noting "inexperience" is not present in the "elemental definition" of negligent entrustment).

We turn to appellant's contention that a fact issue is raised on the knowledge element by evidence the Wards knew Courtney would be in violation of Texas Transportation Code section 545.424(a) on the return trip to Lubbock. Enacted by the Legislature in 2001, section 545.424(a) contains restrictions on operation of a motor vehicle by a person under eighteen during the six-month period following issuance of the new driver's license. Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.424(a) (Vernon Supp. 2006). Appellant cites two of the restrictions as applicable here, section 545.424(a)(1), which prohibits such drivers from operating a motor vehicle "after midnight and before 5 a.m. unless operation of the vehicle is necessary for the operator to attend or participate in employment or a school-related activity or because of a medical emergency"; and section 545.424(a)(2), which prohibits such drivers from carrying more than one passenger under 21 years old who is not a family member. The Wards do not dispute that Courtney was subject to the restrictions of section 545.424(a) in September 2003.

Assuming, arguendo, that knowledge Courtney would violate section 545.424(a)(2) by having two passengers of minor age in the vehicle on her return to Lubbock would be probative of recklessness, we see no summary judgment evidence that the Wards were made aware of that possibility at the time they gave permission for the trip. As noted, Janell decided to ride back to Lubbock with Courtney after they arrived in Odessa. Courtney's apparent violation of section 545.424(a)(2) on that occasion does not raise a fact issue on the knowledge element of negligent entrustment.

The parties apply very different interpretations to the language of section 545.424(a)(1), the driving curfew statute. Appellant argues that because Courtney's attendance at the game was not required, she violated the statute and the Wards knew she would be in violation when returning from the game. The Wards contend Courtney's voluntary attendance at the University Interscholastic League-sanctioned football game fell within the exception for attendance of school-related activities. Summary judgment evidence showed the Wards expected Courtney to arrive home between midnight and 1 a.m. Disposition of this appeal does not require us to determine whether a fact issue was raised concerning Courtney's violation of the driving curfew statute. Even assuming her return trip violated the statute, and further assuming the violation of the driving curfew statute would be probative of recklessness, it is evidence the Wards knew of a single prospective violation of the Transportation Code. Courts have uniformly held individual or isolated driving violations are not evidence of recklessness or incompetence. See Louis Thames Chevrolet Co. v. Hathaway, 712 S.W.2d 602, 604 (Tex.App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1986, no writ) (single ticket not legally sufficient to establish incompetence or recklessness); Broesche v. Bullock, 427 S.W.2d 89, 93 (Tex.Civ.App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1968, writ ref'd n.r.e.) (proof of single violation "grossly inadequate to establish incompetency or recklessness"); Mayer v. Johnson, 148 S.W.2d 454, 457 (Tex.Civ.App.--Amarillo 1941, writ dism'd) (single incident not sufficient to establish driver was incompetent, reckless or careless).

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to appellant, as we must, we conclude nonetheless there is no summary judgment evidence the Wards knew or should have known Courtney was an incompetent or reckless driver, either generally or with regard to the trip from Odessa to Lubbock. The trial court did not err by granting the Wards summary judgment on the negligent entrustment claim. Negligence Per Se

Appellant's pleadings alleged the Wards violated Transportation Code section 545.424(a) by allowing Courtney to operate a motor vehicle after midnight and before 5 a.m., and with more than one passenger under the age of 21 who was not a family member. Those asserted violations of sections 545.424(a)(1) and (2) form the basis for appellant's negligence per se claim against the Wards. As appellant's reply brief puts it, his "negligence per se claim is based on the Wards' actions in allowing their daughter to knowingly violate Texas Transportation Code § 545.424."

The elements of a negligence cause of action are a duty, a breach of that duty, and damages proximately caused by the breach of duty. Doe v. Boys Club of Greater Dallas, Inc., 907 S.W.2d 472, 477 (Tex. 1995). The doctrine of negligence per se permits a court to use a penal statute to define the applicable standard of conduct in some circumstances. Reeder v. Daniel, 61 S.W.3d 359, 361-62 (Tex. 2001); Perry v. S.N., 973 S.W.2d 301, 304 (Tex. 1998). When applicable, proof of violation of the statute establishes breach of the standard of conduct. 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).

The Wards' no-evidence and traditional motions for partial summary judgment presented the contention that violation of section 545.424(a)(1) and (2) could not support a negligence per se claim against them. We initially note that the Wards contended in the trial court, and continue to do so here, that appellant's negligence per se claim based on section 545.424(a) simply asserted another variation of his negligent entrustment claim, and cannot exist outside the framework of negligent entrustment. Appellant insists that the duty recognized in Rodriguez v. Spencer, 902 S.W.2d 37, 42 (Tex.App.-Houston [1^st Dist.] 1995, no writ), by which a parent may be "directly liable to a third party when the parent negligently permits the child to act in a manner likely to cause injury to another," provides the basis for a cause of action against the Wards, independent of his negligent entrustment claim. We need not address this initial disagreement, ⁽⁶⁾ because we agree with the Wards that section 545.424(a) cannot provide a standard of conduct for parents of a newly-licensed under-18 driver that makes application of negligence per se appropriate.

The conduct proscribed by section 545.424(a) is the operation of a motor vehicle by the newly-licensed under-18 driver under certain circumstances. On its face, the statute neither prescribes nor proscribes conduct by the parents of such a driver. ⁽⁷⁾ Undisputed evidence establishes that the Wards did not violate section 545.424(a) because they were not driving the vehicle at the time of the accident, and could not violate it because they are over 18 years of age. Responding on appeal to the Wards' contention that violation of section 545.424 was impossible for them, appellant cites Rodriguez and its language concerning parental duties. But to establish negligence per se, appellant would be required to prove not simply that the Wards owed a duty under our tort law to Janell Aboushadid but that the statute provides the required standard of conduct. Perry, 973 S.W.2d at 304-05. The standard for the Wards' conduct can hardly be provided by a statute that by its terms is inapplicable to them.

Among the factors courts consider to determine whether a penal statute can be the basis for negligence per se is the clarity with which it defines the prohibited or required conduct. Perry, 973 S.W.2d at 307. Section 545.424 defines no prohibited or required conduct applicable to the Wards or other parents who, under appellant's contention, would be subject to liability. See Perry, 973 S.W.2d at 305 (court must consider whether imposition of tort liability on "any and every person" violating statute is appropriate). This factor alone requires the conclusion that appellant could not maintain a negligence per se action against the Wards based on section 545.424(a). See Perry, 973 S.W.2d at 306 (issue whether statute should form basis of negligence per se not properly resolved by counting factors); Omega Contracting, Inc. v. Torres, 191 S.W.3d 828, 841-42 (Tex.App.- Fort Worth 2006, no pet.) (applying Perry factors). Summary judgment on appellant's negligence per se claim was proper.

Gross negligence

Appellant's pleadings asserted the Wards were grossly negligent and sought exemplary damages under chapter 41 of the Civil Practice & Remedies Code. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 41.003 (Vernon Supp. 2006) (standards for recovery of exemplary damages). The Wards' partial summary judgment motion asserted that appellant could not recover exemplary damages because he had no viable negligence cause of action against them. We agree. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 41.004; Juliette Fowler Homes v. Welch Assoc., 793 S.W.2d 660, 667 (Tex. 1990) (recovery of actual damages prerequisite to award of exemplary damages).

Appellant's issues are overruled, and the trial court's judgment is affirmed.

James T. Campbell

Justice

1. John T. Boyd, Chief Justice (Ret.) and Don H. Reavis, Justice (Ret.), Seventh Court of Appeals, sitting by assignment.

2. In this opinion, we refer to Gary and Shana Ward as "the Wards."

3. The motion challenged appellant's standing to assert a claim on behalf of Janell and raised the defense of release based on the settlement agreement. We do not reach those issues.

4. The Wards' brief parses these issues into twelve reply issues. Global challenges to the propriety of the summary judgment are permitted, Malooly Bros., Inc. v. Napier, 461 S.W.2d 119, 121 (Tex. 1970), and we address the issues as presented in appellant's brief.

5. Nor does appellant argue there was evidence of Courtney's recklessness or incompetence as a driver of which the Wards were not aware, but should have been. See, e.g., Russell v. Ramirez, 949 S.W.2d 480, 490 (Tex.App.-Houston [14^th Dist.] 1997, no writ) (father should have known, even if he did not, of son's six or seven tickets in previous two years); Bartley v. Budget Rent-A-Car Corp., 919 S.W.2d 747, 752 (Tex.App.-Amarillo 1996, writ denied) (under circumstances, rent car company had no duty to "inquire further" into competency of licensed driver).

6. And we express no opinion on the possible application to the Wards of the quoted language from Rodriguez, 902 S.W.2d at 42.

7. Neither appellant's pleadings nor its response to the Wards' summary judgment motion alleged the Wards had violated Transportation Code section 542.302, and the effect of that statute is not before us.