Rio Grande H2O Guardian and Albert Furney Muller, Jr. v. Robert Muller Family Partnership LTD, DBA Robert Muller LTD and Rosetta Stone, LLC ( 2014 )

Fourth Court of Appeals
San Antonio, Texas
MEMORANDUM OPINION
No. 04-13-00441-CV
RIO GRANDE H2O GUARDIAN and Albert F. Muller, Jr.,
Appellants
v.
ROBERT MULLER FAMILY PARTNERSHIP LTD, d/b/a Robert Muller LTD and Rosetta,
ROBERT MULLER FAMILY PARTNERSHIP LTD., d/b/a Robert Muller, Ltd.
and Muller’s Rosetta Stone, LLC,
Appellees
From the 111th Judicial District Court, Webb County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2013CVQ001860D2
Honorable Monica Z. Notzon, Judge Presiding
Opinion by: Catherine Stone, Chief Justice
Sitting: Catherine Stone, Chief Justice
Karen Angelini, Justice
Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice
Delivered and Filed: January 29, 2014
REVERSED AND RENDERED IN PART; REVERSED AND REMANDED IN PART
This is an accelerated interlocutory appeal of the trial court’s order denying a motion to
dismiss under the Texas Citizens Participation Act which is an anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits
Against Public Participation) law. Appellants, Rio Grande H2O Guardian and Albert F. Muller,
Jr., contend the trial court erred in denying their motion because: (1) their actions in filing the
underlying lawsuit are protected by the Act; and (2) the appellees, Robert Muller Family
Partnership Ltd. d/b/a Robert Muller, Ltd. and Muller’s Rosetta Stone, LLC, failed to establish a
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prima facie case to support their counterclaims and third-party claims by clear and specific
evidence. We agree with appellants.
BACKGROUND 1
By state law, all zoning ordinances adopted by the City of Laredo must be in accordance
with the Comprehensive Plan the City adopted in 1991. City of Laredo v. Rio Grande H2O
Guardian, 2011 WL 3122205, at *1 (cited hereinafter as Rio Grande H2O Guardian I). In 2009,
Rio Grande H2O Guardian, a non-profit corporation, “filed a declaratory judgment action against
the City challenging the legality of [two] new zoning ordinances as violative of the City’s
Comprehensive Plan.” 2 Id. The City filed a plea to the jurisdiction asserting that Rio Grande H2O
Guardian lacked standing to bring the suit, its claims were not ripe for consideration, and its claims
were moot. Id. at *2. The trial court denied the City’s plea, and the City filed an interlocutory
appeal challenging the ruling in this court. Id. This court affirmed the trial court’s order. Id. at
*11.
Almost a year and a half after this court issued its opinion, the appellees, Robert Muller
Family Partnership Ltd. d/b/a Robert Muller, Ltd. and Muller’s Rosetta Stone, LLC, filed
counterclaims against Rio Grande H2O Guardian and third-party claims against Albert F. Muller,
Jr., alleging claims for tortious interference with an existing contract, tortious interference with
prospective business relations, aiding and abetting, and civil conspiracy. The appellees also
alleged that the corporate form of Rio Grande H2O Guardian should be disregarded based on an
alter ego theory. The basis for the appellees’ claims against Rio Grande H2O Guardian was that
1
Many of the facts set forth in this section are based on this court’s prior opinion in City of Laredo v. Rio Grande H2O
Guardian, No. 04-10-00872-CV, 2011 WL 3122205 (Tex. App.—San Antonio July 27, 2011, no pet.), which disposed
of an appeal, arising from the same underlying lawsuit, that challenged the trial court’s denial of a plea to the
jurisdiction.
2
Rio Grande H2O Guardian also named the following as additional defendants: Robert Muller Family Partnership,
Ltd., Muller’s Rosetta Stone, LLC, and other companies with an interest in the rezoned property.
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its lawsuit opposing the zoning ordinances was ultra vires because it was beyond the purposes for
which Rio Grande H2O Guardian was formed as stated in its Certificate of Formation and was “not
germane to the organization’s purpose.” With regard to Albert F. Muller, Jr., the petition alleges,
“Rio Grande H2O Guardian, by and through Albert F. Muller, Jr., continue [sic] to attempt to
challenge and oppose the zoning ordinances at issue.”
Rio Grande H2O Guardian and Albert F. Muller, Jr. filed a motion to dismiss under the Act
to which the appellees filed a response and supplemental response. After a hearing, the trial court
denied the motion, and this appeal was filed challenging that ruling.
OVERVIEW OF THE ACT AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
Among other purposes, the Act is designed to “encourage and safeguard the constitutional
rights of persons to petition … and, at the same time, protect the rights of a person to file
meritorious lawsuits for demonstrable injury.” TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 27.002
(West Supp. 2013). The Act is to “be construed liberally to effectuate its purpose and intent fully.”
Id. at § 27.011(b).
In order to promote these purposes, the Act “creates an avenue at the early stage of
litigation for dismissing unmeritorious suits that are based on the defendant’s exercise of the rights
of free speech, petition, or association” as the Act defines those rights. In re Lipsky, 411 S.W.3d
530, 539 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2013, orig. proceeding [mand. pending]) (citing TEX. CIV. PRAC.
& REM. CODE ANN. § 27.003(a) (West Supp. 2013)). In this regard, the Act contains “a burden-
shifting mechanism” in seeking and defending against a dismissal. See Rehak Creative Servs., Inc.
v. Witt, 404 S.W.3d 716, 723 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2013, pet. denied). The moving
party must show by a preponderance of the evidence that the legal action it seeks to dismiss is
“based on, relates to, or is in response to the party’s exercise of” the right of free speech, petition,
or association. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 27.005(b) (West Supp. 2013); see also In
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re Lipsky, 411 S.W.3d at 539; Rehak, 404 S.W.3d at 723. If the moving party meets this burden,
the burden shifts to the party bringing the legal action to establish “by clear and specific evidence
a prima facie case for each essential element of the claim in question.” TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.
CODE ANN. § 27.005(c); see also In re Lipsky, 411 S.W.3d at 539; Rehak, 404 S.W.3d at 723-24.
We agree with the Houston court that we review both steps in this analysis under a de novo
standard of review. See Rehak, 404 S.W.3d at 724-27. Under the second step, the Act “does not
define what sort of evidence satisfies the ‘clear and specific’ qualitative standard, but it expresses
that in determining the propriety of dismissal, courts may consider ‘the pleadings and supporting
and opposing affidavits stating the facts on which the liability or defense is based.’” In re Lipsky,
411 S.W.3d at 539 (quoting TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 27.006 (a) (West Supp. 2013)).
“‘Clear and specific evidence’ has been described as evidence that is ‘unaided by presumptions,
inferences, on intendments.’” Rehak, 404 S.W.3d at 726 (quoting McDonald v. Clemens, 464
S.W.2d 450, 456 (Tex. App.—Tyler 1971, no writ)). “‘Prima facie evidence is evidence that, until
its effect is overcome by other evidence, will suffice as proof of a fact in issue.’” Id. (quoting
Duncan v. Butterowe, Inc., 474 S.W.2d 619, 621 (Tex. Civ. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1971, no
writ)). “‘In other words, a prima facie case is one that will entitle a party to recover if no evidence
to the contrary is offered by the opposite party.’” Id. (quoting Duncan, 474 S.W.2d at 621).
Therefore, in analyzing the second step, “we determine de novo whether the record contains a
minimum quantum of clear and specific evidence that, unaided by inferences, would establish each
essential element of the claim in question if no contrary evidence is offered.” Id. at 727.
EXERCISE OF RIGHT TO PETITION
Focusing on the first step in our analysis, the crux of the claims by the appellees clearly
relates to the filing of the underlying lawsuit. The “exercise of the right to petition” includes a
“communication in or pertaining to a judicial proceeding” and “a communication that is reasonably
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likely to encourage consideration or review of an issue by a legislative, executive, judicial or other
governmental body or in another governmental or official proceeding.” TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.
CODE ANN. § 27.001(4) (West Supp. 2013). In this case, the lawsuit was filed to encourage the
trial court to consider whether the City’s two new zoning ordinances were invalid because they
were adopted in violation of the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
The appellees contend that the appellants failed to meet their burden of proving that the
underlying lawsuit related to the exercise of their right to petition because they presented no
evidence. Unlike other types of cases where pleadings are not considered evidence, section 27.006
of the Act, which is entitled “Evidence,” expressly provides, “In determining whether a legal action
should be dismissed under this chapter, the court shall consider the pleadings and supporting and
opposing affidavits stating the facts on which the liability or defense is based.” Id. at § 27.006(a).
Because we may consider the pleadings as evidence in this case, Rio Grande H2O Guardian’s
petition established that the appellants were exercising their right to petition in filing the lawsuit.
The appellees next contend Rio Grande H2O Guardian had no right to petition because the
filing of the lawsuit was not within the powers it was formed to exercise. In its pleadings, the
appellees specifically asserted, “the diminution in property values due to hypothetical water
pollution, litter, noise, light traffic, dust and/or odor because of the zoning are not germane to the
organization’s purpose.” This argument fails for three reasons.
First, section 20.002(b)(1) of the Texas Business Organizations Code provides that an act
of a corporation is not invalid because the act was beyond the purposes of the corporation as
expressed in the corporation’s certificate of formation. TEX. BUS. ORGS. CODE ANN. § 20.002(b)
(West 2012). Second, the fact that an act is beyond the scope of a corporation’s stated purpose
can be asserted in a proceeding brought only by a shareholder or member of the corporation, the
corporation itself, or the attorney general. Id. at § 20.002(c)(1). Finally, the appellees’ argument
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is contrary to this court’s holding in Rio Grande H2O Guardian I that the filing of the lawsuit was
germane to Rio Grande H2O Guardian’s organizational purpose because the lawsuit was within its
stated goals of “‘preserving and enhancing the water quality of the Rio Grande and its local
tributaries,’ and ‘preservation of … low-density residential area near the Rio Grande.’” 2011 WL
3122205, at *5.
In addressing this third basis for our holding in its response, the appellees sought to rely on
the absence of a specific reference to these stated goals in Rio Grande H2O Guardian’s certificate
of formation. The certificate of formation stated, however, that Rio Grande H2O Guardian was
formed for the specific purpose of “Land and water restoration / management / conservation /
guardianship.” The certificate of formation further stated “The purposes of land and water
restoration / management / conservation / guardianship” included “provid[ing] for conservation of
the natural water resources of the Rio Grande River basin in the Laredo-Nuevo-Laredo region; and
to provide resources either through itself or funding for other organizations that will act as
guardians of the water quality of the watershed of the Rio Grande River tributaries in and around
the Laredo-Nuevo-Laredo region.” These stated purposes are consistent with the goals considered
by this court in our earlier decision.
Accordingly, appellants have met their burden of showing that the underlying lawsuit is
based on or related to their exercise of the right to petition.
CLEAR AND SPECIFIC EVIDENCE OF PRIMA FACIE CASE
Because the appellants satisfied the first step of our analysis, the burden shifts to the
appellees to establish “by clear and specific evidence a prima facie case for each essential element”
of their counterclaims and third-party claims. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 27.005(c)
(West Supp. 2013); see also In re Lipsky, 411 S.W.3d at 539; Rehak, 404 S.W.3d at 723-24. The
primary claims asserted by the appellees were tortious interference with contract and tortious
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interference with prospective business relations. One element of these claims required the
appellees to establish a willful and intentional act of interference with a contract or a tortious or
unlawful act by the appellants that prevented a reasonably probable business relationship.
Holloway v. Skinner, 898 S.W.2d 793, 795-96 (Tex. 1995); Dunham Engineering, Inc. v. Sherwin-
Williams Co., 404 S.W.3d 785, 797 n.7 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2013, no pet.) (quoting
Baty v. ProTech Ins. Agency, 63 S.W.3d 841, 860 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, pet.
denied)); Newman v. Kock, 274 S.W.3d 697, 702 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2008, no pet.).
In their motion to dismiss, appellants asserted that the tortious act alleged in support of the
appellees’ claims was that Rio Grande H2O Guardian’s claims challenging the City’s zoning
ordinance “were not properly a function of [its] organizational purpose.” In their response to the
appellants’ motion, the appellees conceded that the basis for their claims “[b]riefly, and stated
simply” was Rio Grande H2O Guardian’s “fil[ing] [of] a lawsuit that it had neither the legal power,
the authority, nor the right to file.” For the reasons previously stated, we hold that Rio Grande
H2O Guardian had the legal authority, power, and right to file the lawsuit. Therefore, the filing of
the lawsuit was not a tortious act, and appellees failed to satisfy their burden of providing clear
and specific evidence of any tortious act. Because appellees’ claims for civil conspiracy and aiding
and abetting 3 depend on participation in some underlying tort, those claims also fail. Ernst &
Young, L.L.P. v. Pacific Mut. Life Ins. Co., 51 S.W.3d 573, 583 (Tex. 2001); In re Lipsky, 411
S.W.3d at 549, 552. Finally, piercing the corporate veil and alter ego are “means of imposing on
an individual a corporation’s liability for an underlying cause of action;” “these theories … are not
substantive causes of action.” Phillips v. United Heritage Corp., 319 S.W.3d 156, 158-59 (Tex.
3
We note that some uncertainty exists as to “whether Texas recognizes a cause of action of ‘aiding and abetting’
separately from a civil conspiracy claim.” In re Lipsky, 411 S.W.3d at 552 n.26. Because we reject this claim for
other reasons, we need not decide whether aiding and abetting is a viable, separate cause of action.
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App.—Waco 2010, no pet.). Because the appellees failed to meet their burden on their tortious
interference claims, no underlying cause of action exists to support an alter ego theory of liability.
CONCLUSION
The appellants met their burden of proving that the appellees’ claims relate to the
appellants’ exercising their right to petition. Even if the filing of the lawsuit was beyond the scope
of Rio Grande H2O Guardian’s purposes, the filing was not invalid or ultra vires, and the appellees
did not have standing to assert such a contention. TEX. BUS. ORGS. CODE ANN. §§ 20.002(b),
20.002(c)(1) (West 2012). Moreover, this court previously held that the lawsuit was germane to
Rio Grande H2O Guardian’s organizational purpose, Rio Grande H2O Guardian I, 2011 WL
3122205, at *5, and our holding is supported by the purposes stated in Rio Grande H2O Guardian’s
Certificate of Formation.
The appellees failed to establish a prima facie case for each essential element of their
tortious interference claims by clear and specific evidence. Because the civil conspiracy, aiding
and abetting, and alter ego theories of liability required the establishment of an underlying tort,
appellees also failed to establish those claims.
For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the trial court’s order and dismiss the appellees’
claims against appellants. The cause is remanded to the trial court to determine the amount of the
expenses, attorney’s fees, and court costs to be awarded to the appellants in accordance with
section 27.009(a) of the Act.
Catherine Stone, Chief Justice
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