Myra Lisa Wellons, Individually and as the Representative of the Estate of Jason Wellons, Megan Wellons v. Valero Refining-New Orleans, L.L.C. ( 2020 )

Affirmed and Opinion filed December 31, 2020.
In The
Fourteenth Court of Appeals
NO. 14-18-01075-CV
MYRA LISA WELLONS, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS THE
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF JASON WELLONS,
DECEASED, AND MEGAN WELLONS, Appellants
V.
VALERO REFINING—NEW ORLEANS, L.L.C., Appellee
On Appeal from the 113th District Court
Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 2015-36186
OPINION
This case involves a conflict-of-laws dispute in a wrongful death action
where the decedent, Jason Wellons, was covered by workers’ compensation
insurance. Appellants Myra Lisa Wellons, Jason’s widow, and Megan Wellons,
Jason’s daughter, appeal from the trial court’s determination that Louisiana law
should apply to the claims against appellee Valero Refining—New Orleans, L.L.C.
(“VRNO”) and from the court’s final take-nothing judgment favoring VRNO.
Jason’s injuries occurred at VRNO’s refinery in St. Charles Parrish, Louisiana, and
he later died in St. Charles Parish. However, Jason was domiciled and hired in
Texas, and appellants received Texas workers’ compensation benefits.
In addition to asserting that the trial court erred in applying Louisiana law,
appellants also assert that the trial court erred in prohibiting one of their expert
witnesses from testifying as to the intent of VRNO’s personnel and that VRNO’s
counsel made incurably improper statements during closing argument. We affirm.
Background
Jason was hired by J.V. Industrial Companies, Ltd. (“JVIC”), a Texas
corporation, to work a turnaround at VRNO’s St. Charles Refinery in Norco,
Louisiana. Jason was a Texas resident and was hired in Texas but specifically for
the turnaround in Louisiana.
On March 17, 2015, Jason was working on a pipe rack at the refinery
approximately 30 feet above the ground while wearing an impermeable chemical
suit with the wrists and ankles taped. When Jason became overheated and
collapsed, VRNO emergency personnel responded to the situation. Jason was
lowered from the pipe rack and taken to a local hospital, where he died the next
day. An autopsy concluded that Jason died as the result of heatstroke. Appellants
contend that the delays in responding to the situation and failure to timely and
properly treat Jason’s condition, including failing to quickly lower his body
temperature, led to his death. VRNO asserts that its personnel worked as quickly
and efficiently as possible under difficult circumstances. After Jason’s death,
appellants received Texas workers’ compensation survivor benefits with JVIC
listed as the insured employer on the claim documents.
Appellants sued VRNO, JVIC, Valero Services, Inc., and several other
2
defendants in a Texas court, bringing a wrongful-death action and alleging
negligence and gross negligence. By the time the case reached the jury, only
VRNO remained as a defendant. After extensive briefing and argument by the
parties, the trial court determined that the claims against VRNO should be
determined under the substantive laws of Louisiana—which permit recovery for
wrongful death when a decedent is covered by workers’ compensation only when
the defendant committed intentional conduct—and not the substantive laws of
Texas, which permit recovery of exemplary damages in such cases for gross
negligence.
During trial, after an objection by VRNO, the trial judge ruled that one of
appellants’ expert witnesses, Dr. John McManus, would not be permitted to testify
regarding the subjective intent of VRNO or its employees. During closing
argument, VRNO’s counsel made arguments concerning the fact appellants had to
prove intentional conduct. At one point, appellants’ counsel tried to object to the
argument, but the trial judge overruled the objection and told counsel to sit down.
Question no. 1 in the jury charge asked:
Did the intentional conduct, if any, of Valero Refining—New
Orleans, LLC proximately cause Jason Wellons’ death?
In considering the conduct of Valero Refining—New Orleans,
LLC, consider only Valero Refining-New Orleans, LLC ’s, conduct
dealing with the rescue and providing emergency medical care after
Mr[.] Wellons’ injury became known.
“Intentional conduct” means that one or more Valero
Refining—New Orleans, LLC employee either (1) consciously
desired the physical result of his actions or (2) knew that the result is
substantially certain to follow from his actions. If a Valero Refining—
New Orleans, LLC employee knew that the consequences are certain,
or substantially certain, to result from his actions, and still goes [sic]
ahead, it is treated by the law as if Valero had in fact desired to
produce the result.
3
“Substantially certain” means virtually sure, inevitable and
incapable of failing.
“Proximate cause” means a cause that was a substantial factor
in bringing about an event, and without which cause such event would
not have occurred[.] In order to be a proximate cause, the act or
omission complained of must be such that a person using the degree
of care required of him would have foreseen that the event, or some
similar event, might reasonably result therefrom. There may be more
than one proximate cause of an event.
On a 10-2 vote, the jury found that the intentional conduct of VRNO’s employees
did not proximately cause Jason’s death. Because of that answer, the jury was not
required to and did not answer any other questions.
Discussion
I. Conflict of Laws
In their first issue, appellants contend that the trial court erred in holding that
Louisiana law governed the claims against VRNO. We will first explain the
standards by which we determine which law to apply, and then we will apply those
standards to the facts of this case.
A. Governing Law
We need not decide which state’s laws apply unless those laws conflict.
Sonat Expl. Co. v. Cudd Pressure Control, Inc., 271 S.W.3d 228, 231 (Tex. 2008).
The workers’ compensation laws of both Texas and Louisiana contain exclusive
remedy provisions that limit the claims available in wrongful death actions when
the decedent was covered by workers’ compensation. See Tex. Labor Code §
408.001(a)-(b); La. Rev. Stat. § 23:1032. Under the Texas statute,
[r]ecovery of workers’ compensation benefits is the exclusive remedy
of an employee covered by workers’ compensation insurance
coverage or a legal beneficiary against the employer or an agent or
4
employee of the employer for the death of or a work-related injury
sustained by the employee [except for] the recovery of exemplary
damages by the surviving spouse or heirs of the body of a deceased
employee whose death was caused by an intentional act or omission
of the employer or by the employer’s gross negligence.
Tex. Labor Code § 408.001(a)-(b). Under the Louisiana statute,
except for intentional acts . . . the rights and remedies herein granted
to an employee or his dependent on account of an injury, or
compensable sickness or disease for which he is entitled to
compensation under this Chapter, shall be exclusive of all other rights,
remedies, and claims for damages, including but not limited to
punitive or exemplary damages.
La. Rev. Stat. § 23:1032A(1)(a). The parties agree, as do we, that these laws
conflict in that, as applied to today’s case, the exception to the exclusive remedies
provision of the Louisiana statute includes only liability resulting from an
intentional act, whereas the exception to the exclusive remedies provision of the
Texas statute permits the recovery of exemplary damages if an employee’s death
was caused by the employer’s intentional conduct or by the employer’s gross
negligence. See Tex. Labor Code § 408.001(a)-(b); La. Rev. Stat. § 23:1032(A),
(B).
The issue of which state’s substantive law applies is a question of law for the
court to decide. Torrington Co. v. Stutzman, 46 S.W.3d 829, 848 (Tex. 2000).
Thus, we review de novo the trial court’s decision to apply Louisiana law. See Mn.
Mining & Mfg. Co. v. Nishika Ltd., 955 S.W.2d 853, 856 (Tex. 1996); Greenberg
Traurig of N.Y., P.C. v. Moody, 161 S.W.3d 56, 70 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th
Dist.] 2004, no pet.). We note, however, that determining the contacts to be
considered in resolving the legal question may entail issues of fact. Sonat Expl.,
271 S.W.3d at 231.
When there is a conflict of laws, Texas courts use the Restatement’s “most
5
significant relationship” test to determine which law to apply. See Restatement
(Second) of Conflict of Laws §§ 6, 145 (1971); Hughes Wood Prods., Inc. v.
Wagner, 18 S.W.3d 202, 205 (Tex. 2000). Section 6 of the Restatement sets out the
relevant general factors to consider when determining which law to apply.1 Section
145 sets forth the factual matters to be considered when applying the principles of
section 6 in a tort case. Hughes Wood, 18 S.W.3d at 205.2
The Texas Supreme Court has also instructed on numerous occasions that
more specific Restatement provisions can apply in determining conflicts-of-laws
issues in particular contexts. See id. at 206 n.2 (listing cases and contexts). In
Hughes Wood, the court specifically stated that Restatement section 184 provides
the standards by which a court is to determine immunity from a tort suit when an
employee is covered by workers’ compensation insurance. Id. at 205-06. That
1
The general factors listed in section 6 include:
(a) the needs of the interstate and international systems,
(b) the relevant policies of the forum,
(c) the relevant policies of other interested states and the relative interests of those
states in the determination of the particular issue,
(d) the protection of justified expectations,
(e) the basic policies underlying the particular field of law,
(f) certainty, predictability and uniformity of result, and
(g) ease in the determination and application of the law to be applied.
Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 6(2).
2
The factual matters listed in section 145 include:
(a) the place where the injury occurred,
(b) the place where the conduct causing the injury occurred,
(c) the domicil, residence, nationality, place of incorporation and place of
business of the parties, and
(d) the place where the relationship, if any, between the parties is centered.
Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 145(2).
6
section provides:
Recovery for tort or wrongful death will not be permitted in any state
if the defendant is declared immune from such liability by the
workmen’s compensation statute of a state under which the defendant
is required to provide insurance against the particular risk and under
which
(a) the plaintiff has obtained an award for the injury, or
(b) the plaintiff could obtain an award for the injury, if this is the state
(1) where the injury occurred, or (2) where the employment is
principally located, or (3) where the employer supervised the
employee’s activities from a place of business in the state, or (4)
whose local law governs the contract of employment under the rules
of §§ 187–188 and 196.
Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 184.3
In Hughes Wood, the court considered, as we do here, whether the Texas or
Louisiana workers’ compensation exclusivity provision applied. In doing so, the
court noted that “there is no policy reason to refuse to apply Louisiana’s exclusive
3
As the supreme court explained in Hughes Wood, section 184 applies the section 6
factors in the workers’ compensation exclusive-remedy context. 18 S.W.3d at 206. Its
application protects the parties’ justified expectations because “[i]t is thought unfair that a person
who is required to provide insurance against a risk under the workmen’s compensation statute of
one state which gives him immunity from liability for tort or wrongful death should not enjoy
that immunity in a suit brought in other states.” Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 184
cmt. b (1971).
Section 184 further appreciates the relative interests of other states in providing an
exclusive workers’ compensation remedy, because “to deny a person the immunity granted him
by a workmen’s compensation statute of a given state would frustrate the efforts of that state to
restrict the costs of industrial accidents.” Id. Moreover, “[a]ll states are sympathetic with the
policies underlying workmen’s compensation, and all states grant certain persons immunity from
liability for tort or wrongful death . . . .” Id. Thus, applying section 184 (1) serves the needs of
the interstate system, see id. § 6(2)(a); (2) applies the relevant policies of the forum, see id. §
6(2)(b); (3) promotes the basic policies underlying the workers’ compensation system, see id. §
6(2)(c); (4) protects justified expectations, see id. § 6(2)(d); (5) facilitates certainty,
predictability, and uniformity of result, see id. § 6(2)(f); and (6) eases the determination and
application of the law to be applied, see id. § 6(2)(g). Hughes Wood, 18 S.W.3d at 206.
7
workers’ compensation remedy.” Hughes Wood, 18 S.W.3d at 207.4
B. Application to the Facts
The key issues in this case for analysis under section 184 are (1) whether
VRNO would have immunity under Louisiana law that it would not have under
Texas law and (2) whether appellants have obtained or could obtain Louisiana
workers’ compensation benefits. See id. If VRNO has greater immunity under
Louisiana law and appellants have received or could receive Louisiana benefits,
under section 184, Louisiana law applies to the claims against VRNO. See id. We
discuss each issue in turn and conclude that Louisiana law was properly applied in
this case.
1. Immunity
Appellants do not dispute that given the facts of this case, VRNO would
have immunity under Louisiana law that it would not have under Texas law.
Louisiana provides that in addition to an injured worker’s direct employer, a
“statutory employer” also is immune from suit, except for liability resulting from
an intentional act, when an injured worker is covered by workers’ compensation
insurance. See La. Rev. Stat. §§ 23:1032(A)(1)(a); 23:1061; St. Angelo v. United
Scaffolding, Inc./X-Serv., Inc., 40 So. 3d 365, 368-70 (La. App. 4 Cir. 2010); Lopez
v. U.S. Sprint Commc’ns Co., 973 So. 2d 819, 823-25 (La. App. 4th Cir. 2007); see
also Hughes Wood, 18 S.W.3d at 207.5 A party qualifies as a statutory employer,
4
Appellants urge us to adopt their theory that if the employee was initially hired in the
same state in which workers’ compensation benefits are paid, that state’s substantive law should
always apply over the laws of the state where the injury occurred. We decline to adopt this
theory in light of the supreme court’s direction to apply Restatement section 184 in cases such as
this.
5
Appellants conceded in the trial court that Jason was covered by workers’ compensation
insurance in Louisiana and do not suggest otherwise on appeal. An insurance policy that appears
to cover Jason in Louisiana appears several times in the record.
8
among other possibilities, if the party undertook “to execute any work which is a
part of his trade, business, or occupation in which he was engaged at the time of
the injury . . . and contracts with any person for the execution thereof.” La. Rev.
Stat. §§ 23:1032(A)(2); see also id. § 23:1061(A)(1); St. Angelo, 40 So. 3d at 368-
70. When a contract between the injured worker’s direct employer and the party in
question recognizes the existence of a statutory-employer relationship, it is
presumed that the party is the worker’s statutory employer. See La. Rev. Stat. §
23:1061(A)(3); Johnson v. Motiva Enters. LLC, 128 So. 3d 483, 489 (La. App. 5
Cir. 2013). This presumption can be rebutted by evidence that the work in question
was “not an integral part of or essential to the ability of the principal to generate
that individual principal’s goods, products, or services.” La. Rev. Stat. §
23:1061(A)(3); see also Johnson, 128 So. 3d at 489.
Here, the contract governing the turnaround between JVIC, Jason’s direct
employer, and VRNO expressly recognized a statutory-employer relationship.
Appellants offered no evidence to rebut the presumption that this contract created.
See La. Rev. Stat. § 23:1061(A)(3); Johnson, 128 So. 3d at 489. Accordingly, as
Jason’s statutory employer, VRNO possessed immunity under Louisiana law that it
did not possess under Texas law. See La. Rev. Stat. §§ 23:1032(A)(1)(a); 23:1061;
St. Angelo, Inc., 40 So. 3d at 368-70; Lopez, 973 So. 2d at 823-25.
2. Louisiana benefits
We next turn to the question of whether appellants have obtained or could
obtain Louisiana workers’ compensation benefits. See Hughes Wood, 18 S.W.3d at
207; Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 184(b). It is undisputed that
appellants have only received benefits under the Texas workers’ compensation
system and have not sought benefits under the Louisiana system. The fact that out-
of-state benefits are being received, however, is not a bar to the receipt of benefits
9
under the Louisiana system. See La. Rev. Stat. §§ 23:1035.1(2). The out-of-state
benefits simply act as a credit against any Louisiana benefits. Id. § 23:1035.1(2)(c).
Appellants instead assert that they could not now obtain benefits in
Louisiana because any such claim would be barred under Louisiana Revised
Statutes section 23:1209(A)(1) as more than a year has passed since Jason’s death
without a claim being filed in Louisiana. Section 1209(A)(a) specifically provides
that
(1) [i]n case of personal injury, including death resulting therefrom,
all claims for payments shall be forever barred unless within one year
after the accident or death the parties have agreed upon the payments
to be made under this Chapter, or unless within one year after the
accident a formal claim has been filed . . . .
La. Rev. Stat. §§ 23:1209(A)(l).
As VRNO points out, however, prescription under section 1209(A)(1) may
be interrupted in certain circumstances. One such tolling provision is set forth in
section 1209(A)(2), which provides that “[w]here such payments have been made .
. . , the limitation shall not take effect until the expiration of one year from the time
of making the last payment . . . .” Louisiana courts have interpreted this provision
as encompassing workers’ compensation payments made through another state’s
system. See Lentz v. N. Am. Van Lines, Inc., 582 So. 2d 984, 986 (La. App. 1 Cir.
1991); Ryder v. Ins. Co. of N. Am., 282 So. 2d 771, 774–75 (La. App. 3 Cir. 1973);
cf. Chance v. Fid. & Cas. Co. of N.Y., 509 So. 2d 593, 599–600 (La. App. 3 Cir.
1987) (holding that payments under federal compensation system interrupted
prescription under section 1209(A)(1)). It is established and undisputed in this case
that payments to appellants under the Texas system are ongoing; thus, the
prescription of the claim for Louisiana benefits is interrupted. See Lentz, 582 So.
102d at 986; Chance, 509 So. 2d at 599–600; Ryder, 282 So. 2d at 774–75.6
Appellants do not make any other arguments about whether they could still obtain
Louisiana benefits.
3. Conclusion
Because appellants could still obtain Louisiana benefits and VRNO has
greater immunity under Louisiana law than Texas law, Restatement section 184
dictates that Louisiana law applies to the claims against VRNO. See Hughes Wood,
18 S.W.3d at 207; Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 184. Accordingly,
the trial court did not err in applying Louisiana law to those claims and we overrule
appellants’ first issue.
II. Expert Testimony on Intent
In their second issue, appellants contend that the trial court erred in refusing
to permit one of their experts, Dr. John McManus, to testify as to whether certain
conduct of VRNO personnel was intentional. McManus, one of several experts to
6
It should be noted that it is something of an open question in Louisiana law as to
whether out-of-state payments made by or on behalf of a direct employer would also serve to
interrupt prescription on claims involving a statutory employer. Although we found no Louisiana
case considering this exact issue, it would appear that the interruption of prescription due to out-
of-state payments would encompass both the direct employer and the statutory employer because
under Louisiana law the liability of the two employers is considered solidary. See, e.g., Stewart
v. Boh Bros. Const. Co., 128 So. 3d 398, 402 (La. App. 5 Cir. 2003); Isaac v. Lathan, 836 So. 2d
191, 194–95 (La. App. 1 Cir. 2002); see also Glasgow v. PAR Minerals Corp., 70 So. 3d 765,
769-70 (La. 2011) (explaining that when prescription is interrupted for one solidary obligor, it is
interrupted for all solidary obligors).
In its appellate briefing, VRNO also identifies a second ground for holding that
prescription was interrupted under the facts of this case: in Louisiana, the timely filing of a tort
action against an employer in a court of competent jurisdiction interrupts prescription on a
workers’ compensation claim based on the same occurrence. See, e.g., Torres v. La. Shrimp &
Packing Co., 32 So. 3d 803, 803 (La. 2010); Isaac v. Lathan, 836 So. 2d 191, 194–95 (La. App.
1 Cir. 2002). The present lawsuit was clearly timely filed against VRNO as it was filed less than
a year after Jason’s injury and death; however, because VRNO did not raise this ground in the
trial court, we will not consider this ground on appeal.
11
testify for appellants, was presented as an expert in emergency medicine. He
testified at length regarding the proper protocols, diagnosis, and treatment of
heatstroke as well as the conditions first-responders encountered at the refinery and
the perceived failings of VRNO personnel in responding to the emergency.
McManus was quite critical of the St. Charles Refinery’s emergency system and
protocols and of the decisions made and treatment undertaken. Among other
critiques, he concluded that there was no justifiable explanation as to why VRNO
personnel did not timely and effectively lower Jason’s body temperature or why
there was a delay in calling 911. McManus further stated that by the time VRNO
got Jason transferred to a St. Charles Parish ambulance, it was substantially certain
that he was going to die because they had not sufficiently lowered his temperature.
Prior to trial, VRNO filed a motion to exclude testimony from McManus
regarding intent. As mentioned in the motion, McManus discussed VRNO
employees’ intent several times in his expert report.7 Although the trial court
denied this motion after a brief hearing, VRNO urged the court to reconsider the
7
Among McManus’s statements in his report about intent were the following:
The circulatory status was intentionally not documented or fully assessed
according to medical statements. . . . The intentional choice not to treat Mr.
Wellons during the “golden hour” time period made it substantially certain that he
would suffer morbidity and/or mortality. . . . There was deliberate absence of
medical equipment immediately available to assess, monitor and treat Mr.
Wellons. . . . During the medical extrication and treatment by the ERT for Mr.
Wellons there was intentionally no organized medical communication and
treatment. There was intentionally no communication or coordination between the
nurse on the ground and the medical personnel during the extrication on treatment
or possible transportation to nearest hospital. . . . Once the patient was extricated,
there was intentionally no continuous cooling performed while awaiting 911
EMS. There was a deliberate lack of documented medical treatment provided
other than legal statements for this case. Although the initial medical response by
the ERT was swift, there was intentionally absence of a clear treatment plan
during extrication and while awaiting transport. The deliberate absence of
prehospital communication and medical treatment resulted in certain mortality for
this patient.
12
ruling shortly before McManus testified during trial. In a conference held outside
the jury’s presence, the trial court reconsidered its earlier ruling and held that
McManus would not be “allowed to testify to what was the subjective intent of
Valero and its employees.” The court further expounded, “I don’t think that he’s
entitled to do that unless he has some evidence that they made statements or did
other things that would lead him as a professional to conclude that they had a
specific intent.”8
A witness “qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training,
or education” may present opinion testimony if the expert’s scientific, technical, or
other specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand the evidence or
to determine a fact in issue. Tex. R. Evid. 702; see also KMart Corp. v. Honeycutt,
24 S.W.3d 357, 360 (Tex. 2000) (per curiam); GTE Sw., Inc. v. Bruce, 998 S.W.2d
605, 620 (Tex. 1999). For expert testimony to be admissible, the proponent of the
testimony must establish that the expert is qualified and that his testimony is
relevant and based upon a reliable foundation. E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. v.
Robinson, 923 S.W.2d 549, 556 (Tex. 1995). A trial court has broad discretion in
deciding whether to admit expert testimony, and its decision will not be disturbed
on appeal absent an abuse of discretion. Mack Trucks, Inc. v. Tamez, 206 S.W.3d
572, 578 (Tex. 2006).
Under Texas Rule of Evidence 103, a party complaining of the exclusion of
evidence must inform the trial court of the substance of the excluded evidence by
an offer of proof, unless the substance was apparent from the context. Tex. R.
Evid. 103(a)(2); In re N.R.C., 94 S.W.3d 799, 806 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th
Dist.] 2002, pet. denied). During the conference on McManus’s testimony,
8
VRNO’s motion also sought to prevent McManus from testifying about Jason’s cause
of death or the question of timing as it related to the cause of death. The trial court denied these
portions of the motion and did not reconsider them during trial.
13
although appellants’ counsel argued McManus should be allowed to testify
regarding intent, counsel did not provide any specifics regarding McManus’s
proposed testimony, not whose intent he planned to testify to or how the testimony
would aid the jury. Near the end of the conference, appellants’ counsel stated his
intention to make a bill of exception or offer of proof with McManus, to which the
judge replied, “Absolutely. No problem.” It does not appear, however, that any
such bill or offer was made. Later, during appellants’ counsel’s examination of
McManus, the following exchange occurred:
Q. [D]oes their policy and procedure say that EMS should be called
immediately and there should be a transport?
A. Yes.
Q. And so with regard to both Charles Adams and Nurse Rulapaugh
saying they wanted to wait until Jason Wellons got on the ground
before they did their evaluation to call 911, what is your evaluation of
that?
A. That would be a [sic] intentional delay and it resulted in the death
of Mr. Wellons.
VRNO’s counsel: Excuse me. Judge, object to this witness giving
opinions on intent of the Valero people.
THE COURT: Okay. That’s sustained.
Appellants’ counsel: We can restrain. [sic]
VRNO’s counsel: Can we instruct the jury?
THE COURT: Instruct the jury . . . to disregard the witness’[s]
characterization.
Q. Okay. So let’s just say this:
Can you think of any reason whatsoever to wait until Jason Wellons
hit the ground if he has shown signs of heatstroke when he’s up in the
rack?
14
A. I cannot. And they—that would be a violation of their own
protocol.
In their briefing to this court, appellants point to this exchange as “[a]n example of
the type of testimony that would have been offered.” We presume without deciding
that appellants have preserved this issue for our review. See Tex. R. Evid.
103(a)(2); In re N.R.C., 94 S.W.3d at 806.
Appellants argue at length that experts are allowed to testify as to ultimate
issues of fact. While this is true under appropriate circumstances, see, e.g., Helena
Chem. Co. v. Wilkins, 47 S.W.3d 486, 499 (Tex. 2001) (“Otherwise admissible
opinion testimony is not objectionable because it embraces an ultimate issue of
fact.”), the proponent of such evidence is still required to show that such expert
testimony is necessary to “assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to
determine a fact in issue.” Tex. R. Evid. 702; see also Honeycutt, 24 S.W.3d at
360; Bruce, 998 S.W.2d at 620.
When the jury is equally competent to form an opinion about an ultimate
fact issue or an expert’s testimony is within the common knowledge of the jury, the
trial court should exclude the expert’s testimony. Honeycutt, 24 S.W.3d at 360. In
other words, if the issue involves only general knowledge and experience rather
than expertise, it is within the province of the jury to decide. See Bruce, 998
S.W.2d at 620.
Appellants do not offer any explanation in their briefing as to why the jury
needed McManus to tell them that the VRNO employees wanting to wait until
Jason was brought down from the pipe rack to evaluate him and decide whether to
call 911 was intentional. Appellants likewise do not explain why the jury needed
McManus’s expert opinion on any other matter of subjective intent.9 The trial court
9
See, for example, the statements regarding intent in McManus’s expert report. See n.8
15
could have reasonably concluded that the question of whether the actions and
inactions in question were intentional was not so complex as to require expert
testimony to help jurors draw their own conclusions. See, e.g., Mega Child Care,
Inc. v. Tex. Dep’t of Protective & Regulatory Servs., 29 S.W.3d 303, 310 (Tex.
App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, no pet.) As discussed above, McManus gave a
full-throated critique of VRNO’s policies and protocols at the St. Charles Refinery
as well as of the actions VRNO personnel took and failed to take. Appellants have
not established that the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to permit
McManus to testify regarding the subjective intent of VRNO or its employees. See
Honeycutt, 24 S.W.3d at 360-61 (holding testimony of human factors and safety
expert was not necessary to help the jury determine whether conditions at store
created an unreasonable risk of injury). Accordingly, we overrule appellants’
second issue.
III. Closing Argument
In their third issue, appellants assert that VRNO’s counsel made improper
and incurable statements to the jury during closing arguments. Specifically,
appellants complain that VRNO’s counsel suggested in his argument that
appellants were asserting and had to prove that VRNO personnel intended to kill or
murder Jason in order to be successful on their claims. As will be discussed below,
appellants really make two different complaints under this issue—a complaint
about the references to an intent to kill, which was not preserved by an objection,
and a complaint about a reference to murder, which arguably was preserved by
objection.
A litigant is entitled to have his counsel argue the facts of the case to the
jury. Zurita v. Lombana, 322 S.W.3d 463, 482 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]
supra.
16
2010, pet. denied). Trial counsel may properly discuss the reasonableness of the
evidence as well as the probative effect, or lack thereof, of the evidence. Id.
Counsel should be allowed wide latitude in arguing the evidence and the
reasonable inferences from the evidence to the jury. Id. at 483. Control over
counsel during closing argument is within the sound discretion of the trial court
and will not be disturbed absent clear abuse of that discretion. Duke v. Jack in the
Box E. Div., L.P., No. 14-15-00798-CV, 2017 WL 2561245, at *2 (Tex. App.—
Houston [14th Dist.] June 13, 2017, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
A. Counsel’s Remarks
To understand VRNO’s counsel’s closing remarks, we must first recall that
Question no. 1 in the jury charge asked whether the intentional conduct of VRNO
proximately caused Jason’s death, and the accompanying two-part definition
defined “intentional conduct” as meaning “that one or more [VRNO] employee
either (1) consciously desired the physical result of his actions or (2) knew that the
result is substantially certain to follow from his actions.” In his remarks, defense
counsel stated generally that appellants’ claim was that VRNO “intentionally
caused [Jason’s] death,” “intentionally killed” Jason, and were “trying to kill”
Jason, but counsel insisted, contrary to that claim, VRNO personnel were actively
trying to help Jason, not kill him.
In specifically discussing the first part of the charge definition of intentional
conduct— “consciously desired the physical result of his actions”—counsel
likened the requirement to the Texas penal statute for murder, stating that it
required evidence that a VRNO employee consciously wanted to cause Jason’s
death. At this point, appellants’ counsel stated his first and only objection to this
line of argument. Appellants’ counsel, however, did not state the complete grounds
for his objection before the judge overruled the objection and instructed him to sit
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down. Counsel stated: “Excuse me, Your Honor. [H]e’s arguing the murder
that’s—.”10 This was also VRNO’s counsel’s only use of the word “murder” in his
argument.
In discussing the second part of the definition— “knew that the result is
substantially certain to follow from his actions”—VRNO’s counsel acknowledged
that this was the section on which appellants were relying. He also emphasized the
high bar set by the requirement of substantial certainty and urged the jury to
confine its consideration to the time period after Jason’s injury became known.
In his closing remarks, appellants’ counsel reiterated that appellants were not
claiming any VRNO personnel “consciously desired the physical result,” i.e.,
Jason’s death, but they knew untreated heatstroke is deadly and yet failed to timely
and properly treat Jason. Appellants’ counsel also insisted that VRNO failed to
follow its own procedures and that bad company policies and inadequate training
and supervision equaled intent as defined in the second part of the definition. In
direct response to defense counsel’s argument, appellants’ counsel stated, “don’t
think because we didn’t prove they murdered him, that we didn’t prove that it was
substantially certain” that VRNO personnel’s inaction would lead to Jason’s death.
B. References to Intent to Kill
We begin our analysis with appellants’ complaint about VRNO’s counsel’s
references to an intent to kill. Appellants state that VRNO’s counsel asserted
appellants claimed and had to prove VRNO personnel possessed an intent to kill
Jason in order for appellants to be successful in the lawsuit. As set forth above,
VRNO’s counsel did make several references to an intent to kill, but at no point
did appellants object to those references. If the probable harm from an improper
10
The judge had also earlier instructed VRNO’s counsel to sit down when he had made
an objection during appellants’ counsel’s closing remarks.
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jury argument is curable, then the error must be preserved by obtaining an adverse
ruling on a timely objection, motion to instruct the jury, or motion for mistrial.
Living Ctrs. of Tex., Inc. v. Penalver, 256 S.W.3d 678, 680 (Tex. 2008) (per
curiam); DeWolf v. Kohler, 452 S.W.3d 373, 396 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th
Dist.] 2014, no pet.). Only when argument is deemed so prejudicial and
inflammatory that its impact would not be curable by an instruction to disregard by
the trial court is no objection necessary. Clark v. Bres, 217 S.W.3d 501, 509 (Tex.
App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, pet. denied). And even then, the complaint at
least must be raised in a motion for new trial, as appellants did here. See Phillips v.
Bramlett, 288 S.W.3d 876, 883 (Tex. 2009); Clark, 217 S.W.3d at 509 n.1.
In order to show that VRNO’s counsel made an incurable argument,
appellants must prove: (1) an improper argument was made; (2) it was not invited
or provoked; (3) it was not curable by a prompt withdrawal of the statement by
counsel or a reprimand or instruction by the trial court; and (4) by its nature,
degree, and extent, the argument constituted harmful error based on an
examination of the entire record to determine the argument’s probable effect on a
material finding. Clark, 217 S.W.3d at 509. The duration of the argument, whether
it was repeated or abandoned, and whether there was cumulative error are factors
for consideration. Id. Appellants must also show that the probability the improper
argument caused harm is greater than the probability the verdict was grounded on
proper proceedings and evidence. Id. Instances of truly incurable jury argument are
rare. Phillips, 288 S.W.3d at 883. Appellants must demonstrate that “the offensive
argument was so extreme that a ‘juror of ordinary intelligence could have been
persuaded by that argument to agree to a verdict contrary to that to which he would
have agreed but for such argument.’” Id. (quoting Goforth v. Alvey, 153 Tex. 449,
271 S.W.2d 404, 404 (1954)).
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As stated above, VRNO’s counsel’s remarks must be viewed in light of the
definition of “intentional conduct” provided in the charge as meaning a VRNO
employee either “consciously desired the physical result of his actions” or “knew
that the result [wa]s substantially certain to follow from his actions.” In this light, it
is clear that counsel’s remarks regarding an intent to kill were either a shorthand
way to refer to the fact that appellants had to prove “intentional conduct” that
resulted in Jason’s death or referenced the first part of the charge definition—
“consciously desired the physical result of his actions.” It appears from context
that, at different points, defense counsel meant the remarks in each of these ways.
Regardless, VRNO’s counsel also made it clear that he understood that appellants
were not basing their claim on the first part of the definition but instead were
basing their claim on the second part— “knew that the result [wa]s substantially
certain to follow from his actions.” While VRNO’s counsel suggested that to be
successful under the first part of the definition, appellants would have to prove an
intent to kill, he made a different argument in regards to the second part of the
definition, emphasizing the high level of proof required to show substantial
certainty and urging the jury to confine its consideration to the time period after
Jason’s injury became known. Appellants’ trial counsel reiterated this dichotomy
in his own remarks to the jury, explaining that they were not seeking a finding
under the first part and thus did not have to prove an intent to kill.
Considering the entirety of the closing arguments and the record as a whole,
VRNO’s counsel’s references to an intent to kill was not “so extreme that a juror of
ordinary intelligence could have been persuaded by that argument to agree to a
verdict contrary to that to which he would have agreed but for such argument.”
Phillips, 288 S.W.3d at 883. The probability that the improper jury argument
caused harm is not greater than the probability that the verdict was grounded on
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proper proceedings and evidence. See Clark, 217 S.W.3d at 509. Even assuming
the argument was improper, it was not incurable in nature.
C. Reference to Murder
As explained above, the only reference VRNO’s counsel made to murder
came when he stated that the first part of the court’s “intentional conduct”
definition was “similar to the Texas statute on murder” in that it required a VRNO
employee to consciously desire Jason’s death. Even assuming that appellants’
counsel objected sufficiently to this argument and such argument was improper,
based on the entire record of this case, we cannot say the argument, either alone or
in combination with the other complained-of argument, probably caused the
rendition of an improper judgment. See Tex. R. App. P. 44.1(a) (providing that no
judgment may be reversed for error unless the error probably caused the rendition
of an improper judgment or prevented the proper presentation of the case to the
court of appeals); Standard Fire Ins. Co. v. Reese, 584 S.W.2d 835, 839–40 (Tex.
1979) (explaining that complainant must show that the probability an improper
argument caused harm is greater than the probability that the verdict was grounded
on proper proceedings and evidence); Dallas Cty. v. Crestview Corners Car Wash,
370 S.W.3d 25, 48 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012, pet. denied) (holding arguments,
although improper, did not either alone or in combination with other arguments
probably cause the rendition of an improper judgment.). Counsel’s comment was a
clear attempt to explain the first part of the charge definition of “intentional
conduct,” the part that both VRNO’s counsel and appellants’ counsel agreed was
inapplicable to the case. In the absence of demonstrable harm from any of the
closing remarks appellants complain about, we overrule appellants’ third issue.
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Conclusion
Finding no merit in any of appellants’ issues, we affirm the trial court’s
judgment.
/s/ Frances Bourliot
Justice
Panel consists of Chief Justice Frost and Justices Christopher and Bourliot.
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