Bruce Olson v. Del Mar College ( 2014 )

NUMBER 13-13-00029-CV
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG
BRUCE OLSON, Appellant,
v.
DEL MAR COLLEGE, Appellee.
On appeal from the County Court at Law No. 2
of Nueces County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Chief Justice Valdez and Justices Garza and Longoria
Memorandum Opinion by Chief Justice Valdez
Appellant, Bruce Olson, appeals from the trial court’s summary judgment in favor
of appellee, Del Mar College. By seven issues, Olsen contends that: (1) the trial court
should have ordered Del Mar to specifically perform a settlement agreement by paying
him the amount of $100,467 in the form of salary and not as a retirement benefit; (2) the
trial court improperly admitted parol evidence submitted by Del Mar; (3) the trial court’s
final order is “too vague and ambiguous to be enforced and does not contain any specific
retirement or specific method of payment language”; (4) the trial court “failed to consider
facts of mediation relevant to [the] parties[’] intent on [the] form of payment”; (5) the trial
court “erred in failing to rule that payment as salary was a condition precedent to voluntary
retirement”; (6) public policy requires that the “interest is served by holding [Del Mar] to
its contractual terms and Fraudulent Inducement”; and (7) the summary judgment in favor
of Del Mar was improper. We reverse and remand.
I. PERTINENT FACTS
Olson and Del Mar participated in mediation, and both parties signed a settlement
agreement pursuant to rule 11 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and section 154.071
of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, (the “Agreement”). See TEX. CIV. PRAC.
& REM. CODE ANN. § 154.07 (West, Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.). In the Agreement,
Olson agreed that his two pending causes of action against Del Mar would be dismissed,
and he agreed to a “Full Release and Hold Harmless Agreement as to Both Cases now
pending.”1 Specifically, Olson agreed “to completely release, discharge, and forever hold
[Del Mar] . . . harmless from any and all claims [in both cases], demand, or suits, known
or unknown, fixed or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated whether or not asserted in the
above case, as of this date, arising from or related to the events and transaction which
are the subject matter of this case.” The Agreement also included a confidentiality clause
providing that all parties and their representatives had agreed to keep the litigation
1 The record does not contain a description of the claims Olson made against Del Mar prior to the
Agreement.
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confidential including, among other things, “all investigations, mediations and settlement
negotiations relating to” any of the claims.
Paragraph eight of the Agreement states, “Additional terms of this Settlement
Agreement agreed to by all parties are as follows:” “Plaintiff agrees never to reapply for
Employment with [appellee]. . . . Plaintiff shall be entitled to Early retirement [(]effect[tive]
immediate[ly)] package using the sum of $100,467 Salary plus $37,392.95 for accrued
unused vacation and sick leave which shall be used as last year’s salary for purposes of
reporting to TRS as required by TRS.”2
The Agreement states that “the consideration to be given for this settlement is as
follows: See attached Ex: A.” Exhibit A is an email written by Philip McKinney, appellee’s
trial counsel, with the subject line stating, “settlement terms.” Exhibit A states the
following:
Exhibit A to Mediation/Settlement Agreement
The consideration given by [Del Mar] in exchange for
settlement/dismissal of any and all claims by [Olson] against [Del
Mar]:
[1.] opportunity to participate in the January 2011 voluntary early
retirement package
[2.] accrued and unused sick leave/vacation paid at current, daily
rate
[3.] $42,140.05 to be paid within 30 days by Trident Ins. Co. in
addition to amounts rightfully owed on accrued sick leave and
vacation amounts
The contract has not been performed due to a disagreement between the parties
regarding whether Olson agreed that a $100,467 payment would be part of a retirement
2 The TRS is the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
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benefit and not his salary for the previous year. In June 2012, Olson sued Del Mar for
breach of contract, requesting specific performance. Del Mar counter-sued for breach of
contract and filed a motion for summary judgment.
In its motion for summary judgment, Del Mar stated that it “has [at all times]
remained ready, willing, and able to honor the terms of the Settlement Agreement [as it
has interpreted it].” Del Mar alleged that the Agreement required Olson to retire and that
Olson had refused to provide the necessary paperwork to initiate the retirement
procedure. Del Mar argued that it was entitled to specific performance. Del Mar argued
that it was entitled to summary judgment on Olson’s claim for breach of contract because
Del Mar has remained ready to perform under the Agreement. Del Mar further argued
that it had agreed to pay the sum of $100,467 to Olson as an “incentive payment” and not
as his salary. In its motion for summary judgment, Del Mar attached the following
evidence: (1) an affidavit of Dr. Lee Sloan; (2) the Agreement with Exhibit A; and (3)
documents regarding appellee’s “2011 Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Program.”
Olson filed a response to Del Mar’s motion for summary judgment. Olson alleged
that “[t]he intentions of the parties in the agreement was to pay Olson ‘salary’ for his
monetary compensation under the agreement. The amount of salary to be paid to Olson
was correctly stated on page two (2) of the mediated settlement agreement where the
contract explicitly and clearly states he will be paid: ‘the sum of $100,467 salary.’” Olson
contended that “he shall be entitled to early retirement effective immediately, and that he
be paid in the manner specifically described in the agreement.” Olson agreed that once
Del Mar paid him the “salary,” he promised to “never reapply for employment at Del Mar
upon conclusion of the agreement.” Olson argued that the Agreement is unambiguous
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and that it explicitly entitled him to payment of the $100,467 as “salary.” Olson stated that
he was requesting the following: (1) “Payment of ‘the sum of $100,467 salary’”; (2)
“$37,392.95 for accrued, unused vacation and sick leave which shall be used at last year’s
salary”; (3) “$42,140.05 to be paid by Trident to Dr. Olson”; and (4) an “opportunity to
participate in January 2011 early retirement program.” Dr. Olson agreed that “[o]nce
these conditions [were] met,” he agreed “he shall be entitled to early retirement effective
immediately” and that he would not “reapply for employment at Del Mar following his
retirement.” Olson objected to appellee’s summary judgment evidence claiming that it
constituted impermissible extrinsic and parol evidence.
The trial court granted appellee’s motion for summary judgment. This appeal
followed.
II. SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE
By his first issue, Olson contends that the trial court should have ordered appellee
to specifically perform on the contract by giving him the $100,467 in the form of the prior
year’s salary. However, Olson did not move for summary judgment seeking specific
performance in the trial court. Thus, we are unable to provide the relief requested. See
TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1 (establishing that trial court must make a ruling before issue is
preserved); CU Lloyd’s of Tex. v. Feldman, 977 S.W.2d 568, 569 (Tex. 1998) (“[B]efore
a court of appeals may reverse summary judgment for one party and render judgment for
the other party, both parties must ordinarily have sought final judgment relief in their cross
motions for summary judgment.”). We overrule Olson’s first issue to the extent that he
seeks rendition of judgment.
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III. SUMMARY JUDGMENT
By his seventh issue, Olson contends that summary judgment was improper.
Specifically, Olson argues that the Agreement required Del Mar to pay him the $100,467
in the manner of salary. Del Mar responds that “the ‘sum of $100,467.00’ was to be used
to determine the amount of the retirement incentive to be paid to Olson upon his early
retirement, and not as an amount to be paid as salary as Olson complains.” Del Mar
argues, “After applying the rules of construction and analyzing and harmonizing the
Agreement as a whole, there is only one reasonable interpretation of the Agreement,”
which is that “[Del Mar] agreed to allow Olson to participate in the Early Retirement
Program as part of the settlement, and to ‘immediately’ pay him a retirement incentive
payment ‘using the sum of $100,467 salary’ to calculate the amount of the incentive
payment.”3
Olson points out that the parties disagree with the way that he is to be paid and
agree that a valid agreement exists that he would be paid the $100,467.4 Olson also
contends that he was not required to retire until Del Mar paid him the sum of $100,467 as
his salary. Del Mar responds that Olson breached the Agreement by not retiring and that
Del Mar agreed to pay Olson after he retired.
3 The term “incentive payment” is not mentioned in the Agreement or in Exhibit A.
4 Del Mar argues on appeal that Olson believes he is entitled to the “retirement incentive benefit
promised him in the agreement, but not retire.” We do not interpret Olson as arguing that he has not agreed
to retire under the early retirement program. Olson argues that he is not required under the Agreement to
retire before being entitled to the payment and that Del Mar agreed to credit the payment as the previous
year’s salary. In his brief, Olson agrees that he will retire under the program. Specifically, Olson states,
“The contract required payment of salary to Olson, which upon successful payment, he agreed to voluntary
retirement and dismissal with release of his pending claims” and “The issue in controversy surrounds the
method of payment as salary, and when and if Olson’s retirement should be effective.”
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A. Standard of Review
In a traditional motion for summary judgment, the movant has the burden of
showing that no genuine issue of material fact exists and that it is entitled to judgment as
a matter of law. TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a; Nixon v. Mr. Prop. Mgmt. Co., 690 S.W.2d 546, 548
(Tex. 1985). If the movant’s motion and summary judgment proof facially establish a right
to judgment as a matter of law, the burden shifts to the non-movant to raise a material
fact issue sufficient to defeat summary judgment. Centeq Realty, Inc. v. Siegler, 899
S.W.2d 195, 197 (Tex. 1995); Holmstrom v. Lee, 26 S.W.3d 526, 530 (Tex. App.—Austin
2000, no pet.); HBO, A Div. of Time Warner Entm’t Co., L.P. v. Harrison, 983 S.W.2d 31,
35 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1998, no pet.). In deciding whether a disputed
material fact issue precludes summary judgment, we resolve every reasonable inference
in favor of the non-movant and take all evidence favorable to it as true. See Nixon, 690
S.W.2d at 548–49; Karl v. Oaks Minor Emergency Clinic, 826 S.W.2d 791, 794 (Tex.
App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1992, writ denied).
“When a plaintiff moves for summary judgment, the plaintiff must show entitlement
to prevail on each element of the cause of action.” Geiselman v. Cramer Fin. Group, Inc.,
965 S.W.2d 532, 535 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1997, no writ). The plaintiff must
produce evidence sufficient to support an instructed verdict at trial. Id. A defendant
seeking a traditional motion for summary judgment must either disprove at least one
element of each of the plaintiff’s causes of action or plead and conclusively establish each
essential element of any affirmative defense. Cathey v. Booth, 900 S.W.2d 339, 341
(Tex. 1995) (per curiam); Sanchez v. Matagorda County, 124 S.W.3d 350, 352 (Tex.
App.—Corpus Christi 2003, no pet.). We review the granting of a traditional motion for
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summary judgment de novo to determine whether a party’s right to prevail is established
as a matter of law. Dickey v. Club Corp. of Am., 12 S.W.3d 172, 175 (Tex. App.—Dallas
2000, pet. denied).
Here, the trial court specified that it granted Del Mar’s motion for summary
judgment on the basis that Olson breached the contract. When a trial court limits its basis
for granting summary judgment, this Court merely determines whether that ground was a
proper basis as a matter of law. Cox v. Upjohn Co., 913 S.W.2d 225, 228 (Tex. App.—
Dallas 1995, no writ) (“Where the summary judgment order specifies the grounds on
which it bases summary judgment, we limit our review to those grounds.”) (citing Delaney
v. Univ. of Houston, 835 S.W.2d 56, 58 (Tex.1992)).
B. Discussion
The four elements of a breach of contract claim are: (1) the existence of a valid
contract; (2) performance by the plaintiff; (3) breach of the contract by the defendant; and
(4) damages to the plaintiff resulting from that breach. Holloway v. Dekkers, 380 S.W.3d
315, 320 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012, no pet.). Thus, in order to be entitled to summary
judgment on its breach of contract claim against Olson, Del Mar must have proven all of
the above four elements as a matter of law. See Geiselman, 965 S.W.2d at 535.
Olson argues that under the terms of the Agreement, he was not required to retire
prior to receiving the payment from Del Mar. The Agreement sets out that Del Mar would
deliver “all settlement documents required to be executed in connection with this
settlement” to Olson’s trial counsel within fourteen days and that both parties agreed to
“cooperate with each other in the drafting and execution of such additional documents”
that are necessary to “implement the provisions and spirit of” the Agreement. Thus,
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according to Del Mar, Olson was required to sign his retirement documents, as they
constituted “settlement documents,” before they were required to pay him. Thus, Del Mar
argues that Olson breached the contract when he failed to retire. However, we do not
interpret the Agreement as requiring Olson to sign the retirement documents.
First, the Agreement states, “[(1)] Plaintiff agrees never to reapply for Employment
with [appellee], (2) Plaintiff shall be entitled to Early retirement [(]effect[ive] immediate[ly)]
package using the sum of $100,467 Salary plus $37,392.95 for accrued unused vacation
and sick leave which shall be used as last year’s salary for purpose of reporting to TRS
as Required by TRS.” This statement does not include any requirement that Olson retire,
and we find nothing in the Agreement requiring such an action.
The Agreement states explicitly that Olson will be “entitled to [the] early
retirement . . . package using the sum of $100,467 salary plus $37,392.95 for accrued
unused vacation and sick leave which shall be used as last year’s salary for purposes of
reporting to TRS as required by TRS. (Emphasis added). “Entitle” means “to furnish with
proper grounds for seeking or claiming something.” See Merriam Webster’s Online
Dictionary http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entitle (last visited October 28,
2014). Thus, the Agreement furnished Olson with proper grounds for seeking or claiming
the early retirement package. See id. It did not, however, state that he must retire.
Moreover, Exhibit A states that Del Mar agreed to give Olson, in consideration of
the “settlement/dismissal of any and all claims by [Olson] against [Del Mar] . . . an
opportunity to participate in the January 2011 voluntary early retirement package.”
(Emphasis added). Exhibit A does not state that Olson is required to retire. In other
words, Del Mar agreed to provide to Olson the benefit of participating in the early
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retirement program in exchange for Olson’s promise to dismiss his suits and release Del
Mar from liability. Accordingly, because the Agreement does not require that Olson retire,
he did not breach the contract by not signing the retirement documents. Moreover, Olson
signed the release and dismissed his claims. Thus, we conclude that the trial court’s
summary judgment in favor of Del Mar on the basis that Olson breached the Agreement
was improper.
In addition, the trial court granted Del Mar’s summary judgment on Olson’s claim
that Del Mar breached the contract, stating that Olson’s cause of action for breach of
contract was dismissed with prejudice and that he should take nothing on his claim. The
trial court apparently granted Del Mar’s summary judgment on Olson’s breach of contract
claim on the basis that Olson committed a breach of the contract by failing to retire.5
Thus, Del Mar was excused from performing.6 However, as previously stated, the
Agreement does not require that Olson retire, and he signed the release documents as
required by the contract. We sustain Olson’s seventh issue.7
5 In order to prevail on its motion for summary judgment regarding Olson’s claim that Del Mar
breached the contract, Del Mar had to show that no issue of material fact existed on each of the elements
of breach of contract. However, Del Mar admitted that it had not performed. Del Mar’s defense was that
Olson breached the contract by not retiring, thus, it had no duty to perform. However, given that we have
determined that Olson did not breach the contract by not retiring, a question of fact remains regarding
whether Del Mar breached the contract by its non-performance.
6 The trial court documented in its order that it was denying Olson’s motion for summary judgment.
However, there is no such motion in the clerk’s record, in the trial court’s docket sheet, or in the case
summary. We therefore construe the trial court’s summary judgment as granting Del Mar’s motion for
summary judgment on Olson’s claims.
7 Because Olson’s seventh issue is dispositive, we need not address his remaining issues. See
TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1.
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IV. CONCLUSION
We reverse the summary judgment and remand the case to the trial court for
further proceedings.8
/s/ Rogelio Valdez
ROGELIO VALDEZ
Chief Justice
Delivered and filed the
20th day of November, 2014.
8 Because we have reversed the summary judgment, we need not address Del Mar’s cross-issue
claiming that the trial court failed to award it attorney’s fees. See id.
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