City of Rio Grande City, Texas v. Remedios Herrera ( 2013 )

Fourth Court of Appeals
San Antonio, Texas
MEMORANDUM OPINION
No. 04-12-00382-CV
CITY OF RIO GRANDE CITY, TEXAS,
Appellant
v.
Remedios HERRERA,
Appellee
From the 381st Judicial District Court, Starr County, Texas
Trial Court No. DC-10-279
Honorable Jose Luis Garza, Judge Presiding
Opinion by: Marialyn Barnard, Justice
Sitting: Catherine Stone, Chief Justice
Karen Angelini, Justice
Marialyn Barnard, Justice
Delivered and Filed: January 16, 2013
AFFIRMED
Appellee Remedios Herrera filed suit against Noel Garcia d/b/a South Texas Memorials
and appellant City of Rio Grande City, Texas (“the City”) for injuries he allegedly suffered
during the removal of a monument. This is an interlocutory appeal from the trial court’s denial
of a plea to the jurisdiction and motion for summary judgment filed by the City. On appeal, the
City raises two issues, contending the trial court erred in denying its plea to the jurisdiction
because: (1) maintenance of the monument was a governmental function, not a proprietary
04-12-00382-CV
function, and thus the cap on damages applies to Herrera’s claim for exemplary damages, 1 and
(2) Herrera did not properly establish a waiver of the City’s governmental immunity. We affirm.
BACKGROUND
Herrera alleges that on or about January 30, 2010, the City retained the services of Noel
Garcia d/b/a South Texas Memorials to repair a monument located at the corner of Second Street
and Britton Avenue in Rio Grande City, Texas. The monument, honoring Starr County military
personnel who died in the line of duty, was originally erected in November 1998. Because of
concerns that the monument might tip over and injure someone, the Rio Grande City Economic
Development Corporation (EDC) contracted with Garcia to stabilize the monument.
The monument’s repair included removing it with a motorized vehicle, i.e. a John Deer
tractor. Herrera contends Garcia negligently operated the motorized equipment, resulting in the
monument falling on Herrera and causing him injury. At the time of his injury, Herrera was
employed by Noel Garcia d/b/a South Texas Memorials.
The City contends repairing the monument is a governmental function because the
monument is located in Britton Avenue, an area it asserts is a park or parkway, and thus, the
monument’s maintenance is classified under section 101.0215 of the Texas Civil Practice and
Remedies Code (“the Code”) as a governmental function. Herrera contends Britton Avenue is
not a park, and the monument’s repair does not fall under section 101.0215. Rather, Herrera
contends the location of the monument off of Britton Avenue is used to generate and increase the
City’s tax base, which is a proprietary function.
1
We will only address the issues in this appeal as they relate to the plea to the jurisdiction, but not with regard to its
effect on damages. Only limited issues may be raised in interlocutory appeals. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE
ANN. § 51.014 (West. Supp. 2012) (listing types of interlocutory appeals); see also Bally Total Fitness Corp. v.
Jackson, 53 S.W.3d 352, 355 (Tex. 2001) (noting that because interlocutory appeals are allowed only in limited
situations, section 51.014 must be strictly construed).
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The City alleges South Texas Memorials performed work requiring special skill,
furnished its own tools, labor and materials, came and went at its own discretion, and was to be
paid by the job. The City also contends its only involvement in the monument repair was to
close off Second Street around the monument area and provide two City employees to direct
traffic around the site. The City alleges it did not provide any supervision or control over the
manner in which the monument would be removed or stabilized, and the City provided no
employees to assist. There is no evidence the two city employees directing traffic to the east of
the accident witnessed any injury to Herrera or that any City employee was present at the scene
of the accident. Furthermore, the City contends no person from its staff ever instructed Herrera
on how to do any particular portion of the repair. Therefore, the City claims Garcia d/b/a South
Texas Memorials was not an employee or agent of the City.
Herrera argues Garcia was acting as an agent of the City when he was injured. Herrera
agreed he was hired and paid on a daily basis by Garcia, who provided him with all the tools,
supplies and materials to perform his job, and determined when Herrera’s workday started and
stopped and when he was to start and stop any particular work.
Herrera deposed Valerie Brown-Garza, Operations Manager for the City’s Economic
Development Corporation. Among other things, Brown-Garza testified Garcia performed work
requiring special skills, furnished his own tools, labor and materials, came and went at his own
discretion and was to be paid by the job.
After Herrera filed suit against Garcia and the City, the City filed a plea to the
jurisdiction and a motion for summary judgment. After conducting a hearing and considering
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the pleadings, the trial court denied the City’s plea to the jurisdiction and motion for summary
judgment. 2 The City perfected this appeal.
ANALYSIS
The City argues the trial court erred in denying its plea to the jurisdiction because Herrera
did not state sufficient facts to establish a proper waiver of governmental immunity. It also
contends maintenance of the monument was a governmental function, not a proprietary function,
and given the absence of a Texas Tort Claims Act (“TTCA”) waiver, it is immune from suit.
Standard of Review
Governmental immunity from suit defeats a trial court’s subject matter jurisdiction. Tex.
Dep’t of Parks & Wildlife v. Miranda, 133 S.W.3d 217, 225–26 (Tex. 2004). A plea to the
jurisdiction challenges a court’s authority to determine the subject matter of the action. Tex. Bay
Cherry Hill, L.P. v. City of Fort Worth, 257 S.W.3d 379, 387 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2008, no
pet.) (citing Tex. Dep’t of Transp. v. Jones, 8 S.W.3d 636, 638 (Tex. 1999)). Therefore, a claim
of governmental immunity is properly asserted in a plea to the jurisdiction. Miranda, 133
S.W.3d at 226.
Whether a court has subject matter jurisdiction and whether a plaintiff has alleged facts
that affirmatively demonstrate a trial court’s subject matter jurisdiction are questions of law. Id.;
Perez v. City of Dallas, 180 S.W.3d 906, 909 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2005, no pet.). Accordingly,
2
As a general rule, an appellate court does not have jurisdiction to hear appeals from denials of motions for
summary judgment. Ackermann v. Vordenbaum, 403 S.W.2d 362, 365 (Tex. 1966); William Marsh Rice University
v. Coleman, 291 S.W.3d 43, 45 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2009, pet. dismissed). The Legislature created an
exception to this general rule for officers or employees of the state or a political subdivision of the state. TEX. CIV.
PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 51.014(a)(5) (allowing appeal of interlocutory order that denies motion for summary
judgment based on assertion of immunity by individual who is officer or employee of state or political subdivision
of state). Because this exception does not apply in this case, we will only address the arguments on the plea to the
jurisdiction, and not those related to the motion for summary judgment. See Bland Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Blue, 34
S.W.3d 547, 555 (Tex. 2000) (noting in plea to jurisdiction, court must confine itself to evidence relevant to
jurisdictional issue).
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an appellate court should review de novo a challenge to the trial court’s subject matter
jurisdiction. Miranda, 133 S.W.3d at 226; Perez, 180 S.W.3d at 909.
A court is not required to look solely to the pleadings; rather, it may consider evidence
and must do so when necessary to resolve the jurisdictional issues. Bland Indep. Sch. Dist. v.
Blue, 34 S.W.3d 547, 554 (Tex. 2000). In reviewing a plea to the jurisdiction where, as here,
evidence is submitted that implicates the merits of the case, we take as true all evidence
favorable to the nonmovant, indulging every reasonable inference and resolving any doubts in
the nonmovant’s favor. See Miranda, 133 S.W.3d at 227–28. This standard generally mirrors
our summary judgment standard under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 166a(c), and the burden is
on the governmental unit as movant to meet the standard of proof. Id. at 228. After the
governmental unit asserts and provides evidentiary support for its plea, the nonmovants are
required to show only that a disputed material fact issue exists. Id. (emphasis added); City of
Dallas v. Heard, 252 S.W.3d 98, 102 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008, pet. denied). If the relevant
evidence fails to raise a fact question or is undisputed on the jurisdictional issues, the trial court
rules on the plea as a matter of law. Miranda, 133 S.W.3d at 228.
Application
The threshold question in this case is whether the City retained governmental immunity,
or whether Herrera established a waiver of the City’s immunity. Determining a municipality’s
immunity from suit is a two-step inquiry. Ethio Express Shuttle Serv., Inc. v. City of Houston,
164 S.W.3d 751, 754 n. 4 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2005, no pet.). First, we determine
whether the function is governmental or proprietary. Id.; Dalon v. City of DeSoto, 852 S.W.2d
530, 536 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1992, writ denied); McKinney v. City of Gainesville, 814 S.W.2d
862, 865 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1991, no writ). If it is governmental, the second step is to
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determine whether immunity is waived under the TTCA. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE
ANN. § 101.0215(a),(b) (listing governmental functions for which immunity is waived); Ethio
Express Shuttle Serv., Inc., 164 S.W.3d at 754 n. 4; Dalon, 852 S.W.2d at 536; McKinney, 814
S.W.2d at 865.
Before turning to the specific conduct Herrera alleged as the basis of his tort claims (i.e.
the negligent operation of a motor vehicle by an alleged city employee), the court must first
consider the context in which the conduct occurred. The context in which the conduct
occurred—and the backdrop for Herrera’s claims—is the maintenance of the monument. Thus,
the threshold question for this court to determine is whether the maintenance of the monument is
a governmental or a proprietary function.
A municipality is not immune from suit for torts arising from the exercise of its
proprietary functions, but it is generally immune from suit and liability for torts arising from the
exercise of its governmental functions, except for the limited waiver provided by the TTCA.
Tooke v. City of Mexia, 197 S.W.3d 325, 343 (Tex. 2006); TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN.
§ 101.0215(a),(b) (“A municipality is liable under this chapter for damages arising from its
governmental functions. . . . This chapter does not apply to the liability of a municipality for
damages arising from its proprietary functions. . . .”). The key difference between a proprietary
and a governmental function is that a municipality functions in its governmental capacity when it
performs functions mandated by the State for the public benefit. Tooke, 197 S.W.3d at 343
(quotation omitted); Temple v. City of Houston, 189 S.W.3d 816, 820 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] 2006, no pet.). More specifically, proprietary functions are those that a municipality may,
in its discretion and in its private capacity, perform in the interest of the inhabitants of the
municipality. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE §101.0215(b).
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The City contends the repairing of the monument is equivalent to the maintenance of a
municipal park, which is covered under section 101.0215. The City also alleges Britton Avenue
is a park or parkway alternatively, and therefore the repair of the monument was a governmental
function. 3
After the City asserted and provided this evidentiary support for its plea, Herrera, as the
nonmovant, was only required to show that a disputed material fact issue exists. See Miranda,
133 S.W.3d at 228. We hold Herrera met this burden through evidence from the City’s
representative, Valerie Brown-Garza, who testified in a deposition that the monument’s location
was not a park. During her deposition, Herrera’s counsel asked Brown-Garza numerous times
whether the area where the monument is located, Britton Avenue, is a park:
Q. [HERRERA’S ATTORNEY]: … I mean, Britton Avenue is not a park is it?
[CITY’S ATTORNEY]: Objection, form.
A. [BROWN-GARZA]: Huh-uh.
Q. [HERRERA’S ATTORNEY]: Okay. It’s not a park, is it?
[CITY’S ATTORNEY]: Objection, form. Go ahead and answer, to the extent you
believe you understand.
A. [BROWN-GARZA]: No, sir.
…
Q. [HERRERA’S ATTORNEY]: … Now, you’ve told me, and I’ve asked you several
times, that Britton Avenue is not a park, correct?
A. [BROWN-GARZA]: Uh-huh.
…
Q. [HERRERA’S ATTORNEY]: Okay. You’ve mentioned to me a couple of times,
when I’ve asked you whether or not Britton Avenue is a park, and you’ve told me no?
3
The City also states that because Britton Avenue is a park, any actions relating to the monument constitute a
governmental function under TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE §101.0215(a)(23), relating to recreational facilities.
However, the City fails to argue how the monument or its location constitutes a “recreational facility” under the
Code.
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[CITY’S ATTORNEY]: Objection, form.
[HERRERA’S ATTORNEY]: Have — is that what you’ve answered to my question?
[CITY’S ATTORNEY]: Objection, form.
A. [BROWN-GARZA]: It’s never been identified as a park.
…
Q. [HERRERA’S ATTORNEY]: … you work here at the City, you work for the
Development Corporation, you were in charge of the restoration project. It’s not a
park, is it?
[CITY’S ATTORNEY]: Objection, form.
A. [BROWN-GARZA]: (Moving head side to side)
Q. [HERRERA’S ATTORNEY]: No, right?
A. [BROWN-GARZA]: Huh-uh.
At oral argument, the City’s attorney asserted Brown-Garza was not a representative of
the City. However, during her deposition, the City’s attorney said in response to Herrera’s
counsel’s assertion that he had asked to depose a representative of the City and they produced
Brown-Garza:
[CITY’S ATTORNEY]: The reason we identified her was because you had asked for
somebody who would have most knowledge of the 2010 project involving the restoration
of the Britton Avenue.
…
[CITY’S ATTORNEY]: … Whatever she speaks, whatever she says, as a practical
matter, I think she is speaking – for practical purposes – I think she’s – her comments
could be attributed to the City.
Accordingly, this court may view Brown-Garza’s assertions as those from the City’s
representative or agent. Thus, we hold her testimony raises a disputed material fact issue
regarding whether the monument’s repair can be classified as park maintenance under section
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101.0215(13) of the Code, and thus, whether it was a proprietary or governmental function. See
id.
Finally, the City argues that even if the location of the monument is not a park or
parkway, the activities of the City in repairing the monument constitute community development
or urban renewal activities, defined as governmental function under §101.0215(a)(34). The
Code requires a municipality to undertake these community development or urban renewal
activities to constitute a governmental function. However, in its briefing and during oral
argument, the City’s counsel stated Noel Garcia was retained to stabilize the monument by the
City of Rio Grande City Economic Development Corporation, not by the City. Therefore, we
hold the City has failed to conclusively establish, as a matter of law, that the monument’s repair
constitutes a governmental function. See also TEX. LOCAL GOV’T CODE § 373.005 (noting
community development program must be adopted by municipality by ordinance or resolution)
(emphasis added). Accordingly, we hold the trial court correctly denied the City’s plea to the
jurisdiction. 4
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, we affirm the trial court’s denial of the City’s plea to the
jurisdiction.
Marialyn Barnard, Justice
4
Given our holding on the issue of whether the monument’s repair was a governmental or proprietary function, we
need not reach the issue of waiver.
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