Security Service Federal Credit Union v. Michelle Rodriguez ( 2020 )

COURT OF APPEALS
EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
EL PASO, TEXAS
SECURITY SERVICE FEDERAL ' No. 08-19-00154-CV
CREDIT UNION,
' Appeal from the
Appellant,
' 168th District Court
v.
' of El Paso County, Texas
MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ,
'
(TC# 2018DCV3979)
Appellee.
OPINION
In this interlocutory appeal, Appellant Security Service Federal Credit Union (“SSFCU”)
appeals the trial court’s denial by operation of law of its Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to the Texas
Citizens Participation Act (the “Act”). Appellee Michelle Rodriguez sued SSFCU for wrongful
termination based on age discrimination. SSFCU filed a motion to dismiss under the Act, asserting
that Rodriguez’s claims were based on or related to SSFCU’s exercise of free speech as defined
under the Act.
Because we find SSFCU failed to show by preponderance of the evidence that Rodriguez’s
suit is based on, related to, or in response to its exercise of free speech, we affirm the denial of
Appellant’s Motion to Dismiss.
BACKGROUND
Appellee Michelle Rodriguez is a fifty-four-year-old woman who was terminated from her
employment of twenty-three years with Security Service Federal Credit Union after allegedly
leaving the door of the cash vault open at her branch location. In her Original Petition, Appellee
asserts the alleged vault incident is pretext for the actual reason she was terminated, which she
claims to be age discrimination.
The parties include lengthy conflicting factual recitations in their briefs that are not
necessary to recount in full here. Suffice to say Rodriguez asserts SSFCU’s account of the cash
vault incident is false and SSFCU is using the incident as an excuse to fire her and replace her with
a younger employee. SSFCU posits Rodriguez’s actions of leaving the cash vault unsecured for
several hours and failing to be forthright about the situation when confronted by her manager
constituted offenses egregious enough to warrant termination for cause. However, the critical
issue here is the applicability of the Act to Rodriguez’s lawsuit, which necessitates our review of
this case. For context, we provide some additional factual background below.
The Vault Incident
Rodriguez was an assistant branch manager with SSFCU in early 2017. On January 31,
2017, shortly before lunch, a battery failure on the cash recycler (which we refer to generally in
this opinion as the “vault” or “cash vault”) at the branch where Rodriguez worked caused the door
to remain open and not close. At the time, the vault contained $75,000 in cash. According to
SSFCU, Rodriguez first attempted to contact a locksmith approximately four hours after she
learned of the malfunction, and despite receiving training on the proper vendor to contact, failed
to contact that vendor for another hour after contacting the locksmith. SSFCU also accuses
Rodriguez of leaving the vault open and unsecured when she went off the premises for lunch that
day.
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When confronted approximately two weeks later about the incident by her branch manager,
Jesus Garcia, SSFCU claims Rodriguez denied the occurrence happened and, when pressed, was
untruthful about her efforts to get the vault closed again. SSFCU argues Rodriguez’s actions
involving the vault, and, in particular, her lack of veracity in coming forward about the incident
initially or when confronted, violates SSFCU’s policies and procedures. SSFCU’s brief states
after Garcia investigated and discussed the incident with several of his superiors, SSFCU made
the decision to terminate Rodriguez on February 17, 2017. Rodriguez later filed for
unemployment.
Procedural History
A. Plaintiff’s Original Petition
Rodriguez filed her lawsuit on October 24, 2018. Initially, the case was assigned to the
346th Judicial District Court of El Paso County. In her pleading, she claims that she “was informed
that she was terminated by Mr. Jesus Garcia for allegedly leaving the vault door open,” but “denies
violating any company policy and denie[s] any conduct that could have resulted in disciplinary
action, including termination.” Her petition asserts a claim for employment discrimination based
on age.
SSFCU filed its original answer on November 26, 2018. Among its affirmative defenses,
SSFCU pleads that Plaintiff was terminated “for lawful and legitimate, non-discriminatory
business reasons unrelated to her age or other protected employment status.”
B. SSFCU’s Motion to Dismiss
On January 4, 2019, SSFCU filed its first motion to dismiss under the Texas Citizens
Participation Act. On January 15, 2019, SSFCU filed an amended motion to dismiss. In its motion,
SSFCU argued that Rodriguez’s lawsuit was “based on, related to, or in response to SSFCU’s
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exercise of its right of free speech on a matter of public concern,” and thus, under the Act,
warranted dismissal. Specifically, according to SSFCU, because Rodriguez’s suit involved
discussions among SSFCU employees regarding the vault incident and Rodriguez’s behavior, the
Act was implicated. SSFCU’s motion also contends Rodriguez is unable to make a prima facie
showing of each essential element of her employment discrimination claim, which is required to
avoid dismissal under the Act. In its argument on this point, SSFCU’s motion argues Rodriguez
failed to timely file her lawsuit in the case and failed to exhaust her administrative remedies, which
it posits preclude her from being able to maintain a case for discrimination.
C. Discovery Pursuant to the Act and Case Transfer
In early 2019, both sides moved to conduct written discovery related to SSFCU’s motion
to dismiss. Ultimately, the trial court only allowed Rodriguez to conduct discovery during the stay
period mandated by the Act. The trial court set SSFCU’s motion to dismiss for hearing on May 1,
2019.
On March 12, 2019, Rodriguez filed a motion for protective order and motion to quash
cross-notices of deposition filed by SSFCU for depositions originally noticed by Rodriguez. At a
scheduled hearing on the parties’ discovery motions, the trial court met with attorneys for both
parties in chambers and apparently disclosed counsel for Rodriguez had previously represented
the trial judge’s brother in a legal proceeding a few years prior. In light of the trial court’s
disclosure, at the request of SSFCU, the case was transferred out of the 346th District Court. It
was assigned to the 168th District Court on March 13, 2019.
D. SSFCU’s Supplement to its Motion to Dismiss, and Plaintiff’s Response
SSFCU supplemented its amended motion to dismiss on April 19, 2019, to include an
additional affidavit and deposition transcripts of four witnesses, all SSFCU employees, that had
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been noticed for deposition by Rodriguez. Approximately an hour before the hearing, Rodriguez
filed her Objections to SSFCU’s motion to dismiss evidence, objections to what she alleges to be
an untimely supplement to SSFCU’s motion to dismiss, and her response to SSFCU’s motion.
SSFCU filed a reply and an objection to Rodriguez’s response after the hearing, with the trial
court’s permission.
E. SSFCU’s Motion Pursuant to the Act Denied by Operation of Law
Based on deadlines imposed by the Act, the trial court had until May 23, 2019, to rule on
SSFCU’s motion. See TEX.CIV.PRAC.&REM.CODE ANN. § 27.008(a). The trial court failed to
rule, and SSFCU’s motion was therefore denied by operation of law. Id. SSFCU timely filed its
appeal in this case.
DISCUSSION
SSFCU presents four issues for review:
1. Whether SSFCU met is burden showing Rodriguez’s claim was a legal action based
on, related to, or in response to SSFCU’s exercise of its right of free speech on a
matter of public concern pursuant to the Act;
2. Whether Rodriguez established by clear and specific evidence, a prima facie showing
of, each essential element of her employment discrimination claim as required by the
Act;
3. Whether SSFCU satisfied its burden of proof on a valid defense to Rodriguez’s claim;
and
4. Whether the trial court erred by not sustaining SSFCU’s objections to Rodriguez’s
evidence.
Dismissal under the Act
A. Standard of Review
A trial court’s ruling on a motion to dismiss under the Act is reviewed de novo, as is the
court’s determination on the statutory interpretation of the Act. See Darnell v. Rogers, 588 S.W.3d
295, 300 (Tex.App.—El Paso 2019, no pet.)(citing Dallas Morning News, Inc. v. Hall, 579 S.W.3d
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370, 377 (Tex. 2019)); Youngkin v. Hines, 546 S.W.3d 675, 680 (Tex. 2018). “The court first
examines whether the defendant invoked the [Act] by showing, by a preponderance of the
evidence, that the plaintiff's claim ‘is based on, relates to, or is in response to the [Defendant's]
exercise of: (1) the right of free speech; (2) the right to petition; or (3) the right of association.’”
Darnell, 588 S.W.3d at 300 (citing TEX.CIV.PRAC.&REM.CODE ANN. § 27.005(b)). If the movant
meets its burden, the court must then look to whether the plaintiff has “establishe[d] 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 Darnell, 588 S.W.3d at 300-01. If the non-
movant fails to meet its burden under the second step, its claim[s] must be dismissed.
TEX.CIV.PRAC.&REM.CODE ANN. § 27.005(b). If the non-movant meets its burden under the
second step, the third step still requires dismissal if the movant demonstrates by a preponderance
of evidence “each essential element of a valid defense to the nonmovant’s claim.”
TEX.CIV.PRAC.&REM.CODE ANN. § 27.005(d).
In deciding the applicability of the Act and, if necessary, whether the plaintiff has met its
burden of producing clear and specific evidence of each essential element of its claim, a court is
required to look to the pleadings and all affidavits, both supportive and opposing, which state the
facts supporting the liability or defense at issue. TEX.CIV.PRAC.&REM.CODE ANN. § 27.006(a).
Further, if available, a court may consider evidence produced by either party in support of its
position, although neither party is required to produce evidence beyond its pleadings and affidavits
if doing so can satisfy its burden under the statute. See In re Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d 579, 590-91 (Tex.
2015); S&S Emergency Training Solutions, Inc. v. Elliott, 564 S.W.3d 843, 847 (Tex. 2018).
B. Does the Act apply to Rodriguez’s claim of age discrimination?
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In its first issue, SSFCU asserts that Rodriguez’s claim is a legal action based on, related
to, or in response to SSFCU’s exercise of its right of free speech on a matter of public concern, and
thus falls within the purview of the Act. See TEX.CIV.PRAC.&REM.CODE ANN. § 27.003(a). Under
the Act, a “legal action” can be a lawsuit or a single cause of action, among other things.
TEX.CIV.PRAC.&REM.CODE ANN. § 27.001(6); see Adams v. Starside Custom Builders, LLC, 547
S.W.3d 890, 892 (Tex. 2018). It is apparent Rodriguez’s lawsuit constitutes a “legal action” as
defined by the Act. The primary question we must address is whether that legal action is based on,
related to, or in response to SSFCU’s exercise of their right of free speech.
Whether a claim is based on, related to, or in response to a party’s exercise of the right of
free speech requires analysis of two components: (1) whether the party makes a communication,
and (2) whether such communication is made in connection with a matter of public concern.
TEX.CIV.PRAC.&REM.CODE ANN. § 27.001(3).
1. Communication
A communication under the Act is “the making or submitting of a statement or document
in any form or medium, including oral, visual, written, audiovisual, or electronic.”
TEX.CIV.PRAC.&REM.CODE ANN. § 27.001(1). Texas law explains that the definition of
“communication” under the Act is very broad, encompassing “[a]lmost every imaginable form of
communication, in any medium[.]” Adams, 547 S.W.3d at 894. It likewise includes “statements”
and “conduct.” See Castleman v. Internet Money, Ltd., 546 S.W.3d 684, 690 n.4 (Tex. 2018).
SSFCU asserts Rodriguez’s pleadings alone show by a preponderance of the evidence her
lawsuit is based on, related to, or in response to its exercise of the right of free speech. It is unclear
exactly which allegations SSFCU references, but we surmise it is referring to the sentence in
Rodriguez’s Original Petition that states, “On or about February 17, 2017, Plaintiff was informed
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that she was terminated by [Bank Manager] Garcia for allegedly leaving the vault door open.” She
goes on to state that she “denies violating any company policy and denie[s] any conduct that could
have resulted in disciplinary action, including termination.”
In support of its argument that these allegations are sufficient to meet its burden of proof
under the Act, SSFCU directs us to several cases in which at least one of the plaintiff’s claims was
clearly a speech-based claim. See Adams, 547 S.W.3d at 890 (analyzing whether speech was
“matter of public concern” where plaintiff raised defamation claim involving plaintiff’s business
services); ExxonMobile Pipeline Co. v. Coleman, 512 S.W.3d 895 (Tex. 2017)(analyzing whether
speech was “matter of public concern” where plaintiff raised defamation claim involving
defamatory statements in internal business documents); Camp v. Patterson, No. 03-16-00733-CV,
2017 WL 3378904 (Tex.App.—Austin Aug. 3, 2017, no pet.)(analyzing “matter of public
concern” where plaintiff raised defamation claim involving defamatory statements made in texts
and emails sent to plaintiff’s vendors); Lippincott v. Whisenhunt, 462 S.W.3d 507 (Tex.
2015)(analyzing “matter of public concern” where plaintiff raised defamation claim involving
defamatory statements made in email). In each of those cases, the primary question was not
whether a non-speech-based claim was covered by the Act, it was whether a speech-based claim
was covered by the Act. To answer that question the courts looked at the applicable statutory
definitions and were able to conclude that the speech-based claim was indeed captured by the Act’s
“wide net.”
SSFCU cites to Khalil v. Memorial Hermann Health System, No. H-17-1954, 2017 WL
5068157, at *5-6 (S.D. Tex. 2017) as an example of the dismissal of a state law employment
discrimination claim pursuant to the Act. The Southern District stated that because the Act is to
be broadly construed and the statute explicitly excludes certain causes of action, but is silent as to
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discrimination claims, it was reasonable to conclude that the Act can apply to state-law
discrimination claims. Id. at *5. Khalil’s companion case in Texas’ state court, Memorial
Hermann Health System v. Khalil, No. 01-16-00512-CV, 2017 WL 3389645, at *5-6 (Tex.App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 8, 2017, pet. denied), acknowledges, typically, whether an employee of
a privately-owned institution performs her job suitably is not a matter of public concern for First
Amendment analysis purposes. Mem. Hermann Health Sys., 2017 WL 3389645, at *5 (citing
Bates v. Dallas Indep. Sch. Dist., 952 S.W.2d 543, 550 (Tex.App.—Dallas 1997, writ denied)).
However, because the Act includes issues of health and safety in its definition of “matter of public
concern,” “statements concerning a healthcare professional’s competence” fall under the Act’s
purview. Id.
The facts underlying the Khalil cases provide a specific, unique fact pattern in which the
Act applies to a claim of age discrimination. In those cases, certain written communications among
hospital personnel regarding Dr. Khalil’s competence to practice medicine formed the basis of
each of her claims, including age discrimination. See id. at *1-3 (“Based on the letter from
Memorial Hermann’s chief of staff as well as other communications, Khalil sued Memorial
Hermann for defamation and other claims.”). Importantly, those claims also included speech-
based claims of defamation and tortious interference with a contract. Id. at *1.
Here, Rodriguez has not alleged any speech-based claim against SSFCU in her petition.
Rather, Rodriguez’s petition alleges only a non-speech claim for employment discrimination based
on age. Specifically, Rodriguez’s petition alleges that SSFCU “informed [Rodriguez] that she was
terminated by Mr. Jesus Garcia for allegedly leaving the vault door open,” despite allegedly having
never previously been disciplined for workplace conduct and denying she “violat[ed] any company
policy . . . that could have resulted in disciplinary action, including termination.” She claims
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SSFCU failed to follow a non-discriminatory policy in deciding to terminate her employment,
replaced her with a younger employee, and treated her less favorably than employees younger than
her. She seeks damages for lost wages in the past and future and lost past and future benefits.
It is not apparent from Rodriguez’s pleading that her claim is based on, related to, or in
response to SSFCU’s communications. Other than general allegations about Rodriguez being
“informed” she was terminated, there is no mention in her pleadings regarding any type of conduct
by SSFCU that could be inferred as constituting a “communication,” even under its broad
definition. Because the allegations in Rodriguez’s petition do not clearly establish the Act applies,
the Court must look elsewhere for proof that the action was brought in relation to SSFCU’s
exercise of its First Amendment rights.
SSFCU provided affidavits from Denise Staudt and Savannah Mondragon in support of its
motion. While we are permitted to look at “supporting and opposing affidavits stating the facts on
which the liability or defense is based,” TEX.CIV.PRAC.&REM.CODE ANN. § 27.006(a), it is unclear
from the SSFCU affidavits’ how Rodriguez’s claim attempts to chill SSFCU’s right to free speech,
or how Rodriguez’s claim is based on SSFCU’s communications. Staudt’s affidavit details
SSFCU’s products and services, Rodriguez’s employment timeline with SSFCU, Rodriguez’s job
duties as Assistant Branch Manager, the events regarding the incident with the vault, and various
policies and procedures of SSFCU’s that Rodriguez allegedly violated. Staudt’s affidavit states
Rodriguez’s claim is “based on, related to, or in response to communications to and about
[Rodriguez], and among SSFCU personnel, regarding the decision to end her employment with
SSFCU[,]” but does not identified the purported communications or discuss the substance of
SSFCU’s alleged protected speech.
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Mondragon’s affidavit recites her conversation with Jesus Garcia, Rodriguez’s branch
manager, when he inquired about whether Rodriguez contacted Mondragon about how to fix the
vault as Rodriguez allegedly represented to him. Mondragon’s affidavit appears to be evidence
SSFCU offers in support of its defense of Rodriguez’s claims, rather than evidence tending to
prove application of the ACT.
Additionally, SSFCU attached deposition transcripts of several SSFCU employees in
support of its motion. Jesus Garcia was the branch manager at the SSFCU location where
Rodriguez worked. In his deposition, he describes an email he received from one of his
subordinates regarding Rodriguez leaving the vault unattended. He also describes conversations
he had with other SSFCU employees regarding the incident and how Rodriguez should be
disciplined. He further describes his conversation with Rodriguez when he confronted her about
the incident. He avers leaving the vault unattended was a risk to SSFCU employees and posed a
risk of loss for the cash itself. Garcia was also questioned about Rodriguez’s written termination
notice, which he prepared.
At the time of the incident with Rodriguez and the vault, Derrick Aguilar was the Vice
President of Member Services in El Paso for SSFCU. Aguilar’s deposition covers much of the
same ground as Garcia, particularly related to the timeline of Rodriguez’s actions on the date of
the vault incident. Aguilar was also questioned regarding Rodriguez’s termination notice, which
he did not prepare.
Kerry Comer is the HR business consultant for several SSFCU branches in Southern
Colorado and El Paso, Texas. Comer testified she verified the numbers in Rodriguez’s call log
made the afternoon of the vault incident. Comer stated Rodriguez’s behavior ultimately put
employees at risk, which formed part of the basis of Rodriguez’s termination. Comer testified
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regarding SSFCU’s position statement for the EEOC hearing for Rodriguez’s claim, which she
prepared.
SSFCU never identifies with any specificity what communications Rodriguez’s claim is
purportedly based on or related to. Unfortunately, this leaves us in an awkward posture of having
to presume which communications SSFCU is basing its dismissal on. Based on the deposition
testimony provided by SSFCU, we speculate the “communications” upon which SSFCU is relying
on include the verbal discussions and written correspondence among SSFCU employees regarding
the vault incident and the termination notice prepared by Garcia that formally notified Rodriguez
of her termination. From this vantage point, it is conceivable Rodriguez’s claim could be related
to or in response to communications about her alleged violation of SSFCU’s policies, which
Rodriguez claims were applied less favorably to her than to younger employees. Using those
“communications,” we move to the second prong of our inquiry.
Matter of Public Concern
Under the Act, a matter of public concern “includes an issue related to:
(A) health or safety;
(B) environmental, economic, or community well-being;
(C) the government;
(D) a public official or public figure; or
(E) a good, product, or service in the marketplace.”
TEX.CIV.PRAC.&REM.CODE ANN. § 27.001(7).1 The communication need not be public in order
to be covered by the Act as a matter of public concern; private communications are also covered
1
The Legislature recently amended the Act. See H.B. 2730, 86th Leg., R.S. (Tex. 2019). The Act now defines a
“[M]atter of public concern” as “an issue related to: (A) a public official, public figure, or other person who has drawn
substantial public attention due to the person’s official acts, fame, notoriety, or celebrity; (B) a matter of political,
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under the plain language of the statute. ExxonMobil Pipeline Co., 512 S.W.3d at 900. Further,
the communication(s) at issue need not have “more than a ‘tangential relationship’ to” the specified
matters of public concern. ExxonMobil Pipeline Co., 512 S.W.3d at 900. It is not required under
the statute that the communications upon which a legal action is based specifically discuss matters
of public concern. Id. However, the Act does not cover all communications of any kind and does
have limits. See In re IntelliCentrics, Inc., No. 02-18-00280-CV, 2018 WL 5289379, at *4
(Tex.App.—Fort Worth October 25, 2018, no pet.)(mem. op.)(acknowledging that the Act casts a
wide net but recognizing that the statute’s reach has limits); Erdner v. Highland Park Emergency
Center, LLC, 580 S.W.3d 269, 276 (Tex.App.—Dallas 2019, pet. filed). When the communication
involved does not itself relate to a matter of public concern, the assertion that the communication
could result in a matter of public concern is beyond the reach of the Act. See Erdner, 580 S.W.3d
at 276 (citing Nguyen v. Hoang, 318 F. Supp. 3d 983, 1001 (S.D. Tex. 2018)).
SSFCU alleges Rodriguez’s lawsuit is based on, related to, or in response to a
communication made in connection with health and safety; environmental, economic, or
community well-being; the government; and a good, product, or service in the marketplace. We
will examine each of these elements in turn.
a. Health or Safety
SSFCU asserts the communications at issue are related to health and safety because federal
regulations regarding mandatory security programs, which include proper vault security, help
protect credit unions from robbery, which the National Credit Union Association associates with
the potential for personal injury. SSFCU directs us to a few cases where courts have found a
communication made regarding health or safety and is covered under the Act. As we discussed
social, or other interest to the community; or (C) a subject of concern to the public.” TEX.CIV.PRAC.&REM.CODE
ANN. § 27.001(7). Because the amendments were not made retroactive, the older definition applies to this appeal.
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previously, in Memorial Hermann Health System, 2017 WL 3389645, at *5-6, one of our sister
courts in Houston found a physician’s job performance, as it related to whether she was competent
to fulfill her duties as a doctor administering patient care, was a matter involving health or safety.
In its companion case in federal court, Khalil, 2017 WL 5068157, at *5-6, the Southern District of
Texas found the hospital-defendant met its burden in proving the Act applied to a physician’s state-
law age discrimination claim in federal court. The Southern District applied the identical analysis
used by the First District since both the state law tort claims and the discrimination claim in federal
court involved the same communications and subject matter. Id.
The Court in Memorial Hermann substantively dissects Lippincott out of the Texas
Supreme Court. See Memorial Hermann Health System, 2017 WL 3389645, at *5 (citing
Lippincott v. Whisenhunt, 462 S.W.3d 507, 508-509 (Tex. 2015)). The facts in Lippincott closely
mirror Khalil, involving communications about Whisenhunt, a certified registered nurse
anesthetist, and concerns over his job performance. See Lippincott, 462 S.W.3d at 508-09.
Specifically, administrators of a surgical group authored several emails to various recipients
regarding reports Whisenhunt, among other things, was “endanger[ing] patients for his own
financial gain[.]” Id. The emails detailed allegations “that Whisenhunt ‘failed to provide adequate
coverage for pediatric cases,’ administered a ‘different narcotic than was ordered prior to pre-op
or patient consent being completed,’ falsified a scrub tech record on multiple occasions, and
violated the company’s sterile protocol policy.” Id. at 510. Whisenhunt sued the administrators
for defamation, tortious interference with existing and prospective business relations, and
conspiracy to interfere in business relations. Id. at 509. The Texas Supreme Court determined the
emails around which Whisenhunt’s claims were based implicated, among others, the “health or
safety” prong of the Act definition of “matter of public concern,” and reaffirmed its position that
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“the provision of medical services by a health care professional constitutes a matter of public
concern.” Id. at 510 (citing Neely v. Wilson, 418 S.W.3d 52, 70 n.12, & 26 (Tex. 2013) and
TEX.CIV.PRAC.&REM.CODE ANN. § 27.001(7)).
In the cases cited by SSFCU, the communications around which the respective plaintiffs’
claims centered dealt with their provision of healthcare services to patients, which the Texas
Supreme Court explicitly considers matters of public concern due to the potential implications of
health and safety among the public. See, e.g., Lippincott, 462 S.W.3d at 509; Neely, 418 S.W.3d
at 70 n.12 & 26. Additionally, Texas courts acknowledge communications regarding the welfare
of children involve the “health or safety” prong of the public concern inquiry. See DeAngelis v.
Protective Parents Coalition, 556 S.W.3d 836, 852 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 2018, no pet.)(citing
Watson v. Hardman, 497 S.W.3d 601, 607 (Tex.App.—Dallas 2016, no pet.)).
We cannot draw such a conclusion to the facts of the case at hand. The communications
at issue involve Rodriguez allegedly leaving the vault unsecured for three to five hours and not
being forthcoming with her manager when confronted about the alleged lapse later. The
“communications” offered by SSFCU evidence a discussion of SSFCU’s policy for securing the
cash vault and Rodriguez’s alleged failures in this regard. The deposition testimony and affidavits
also emphasize SSFCU’s policies regarding honesty in communication as an employee and
Rodriguez’s lack of transparency regarding the incident with the cash vault.
Based on the evidence provided, two employees testified they believed Rodriguez’s actions
placed other branch employees at risk, and that risk formed the basis of the decision to terminate
her. Garcia testified he discussed the potential risk to the other employees with two subordinate
employees with whom he discussed the incident during his investigation. In examining the overall
tone of the communications, however, SSFCU’s concern centers on potential loss of cash from the
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cash vault and the overall breach of its security protocols, as well as its concerns regarding
Rodriguez’s veracity, but not on the potential risk posed to its employees. Further, there is nothing
in the record to indicate that anyone other than SSFCU’s employees knew the cash vault was
unsecured, or Rodriguez’s actions somehow created a greater probability an enterprising bank
robber would enter that particular SSFCU branch that day than if the vault had been properly
secured. The critical distinction between Khalil and Lippincott and the instant case is the
communications in those cases questioned a pattern of behavior of individuals whose professions
directly affect the health and safety of their patients. Here, even if SSFCU had been robbed while
the vault was unsecured, logically it may have subjected SSFCU to a greater financial loss, but we
cannot reasonably surmise the sole fact of the unsecured vault alone would have increased the risk
of violence to employees or customers. In looking at the evidence in the light most favorable to
the non-movant, the standard to which we are held, we do not find the “health or safety” prong of
the public concern inquiry satisfied under these facts.
b. Environmental, Economic, or Community Well-Being
“Community well-being” means those matters “affect[ing] the well-being of the
community at large or at least a subset of its residents.” Caliber Oil & Gas, LLC v. Midland
Visions 2000, 591 S.W.3d 226, 240 (Tex.App.—Eastland 2019, no pet.)(citing Schmidt v.
Crawford, 584 S.W.3d 640, 651 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2019, no pet.)). Neither
environmental nor economic well-being are discussed by SSFCU as pertaining to the facts of this
case, we therefore do not include them in our analysis.
SSFCU suggests the security protocols of credit unions as mandated by federal regulations
affects community well-being, and the communications at issue discuss those portions of SSFCU’s
policies Rodriguez allegedly violated on the afternoon of the vault incident. However, the record
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does not demonstrate any communication regarding how the community, or SSFCU’s members,
or even the individuals who stepped into the branch while the vault was unsecured were in any
way affected by the incident in question. There are no communications regarding a recurrent
breach of protocol by Rodriguez that would imply a continued threat to the security of SSFCU, or
communications suggesting SSFCU’s security policies are not sound. Here, the communication
does not relate to a matter of public concern; rather, it is about an employee’s alleged failure to
abide by her employer’s security policies for cash security. As discussed previously, the assertion
the communication could result in a matter of public concern is beyond the reach of the Act. See
Erdner, 580 S.W.3d at 276 (citing Nguyen, 318 F. Supp. 3d at 1001). We find the communications
at issue does not pertain to environmental, economic, or community well-being.
c. The Government
SSFCU asserts it is subject to a number of federal regulations pertaining to, among other
things, security on its physical premises. SSFCU explains it is also required to implement a
security program that satisfies a five-pronged test, to include the program must protect the physical
office from various forms of theft. SSFCU further discusses its own policies for employees
handling cash on its premises, which include proper securing or attending to vaults, securing locks
and doors, and securing devices when an employee is away from the area for an extended period
of time.
A communication is related to the ‘government’ when it is about governmental
misconduct, Adams, 547 S.W.3d at 896; direct conduct by the government, such as
purchasing property, Schimmel v. McGregor, 438 S.W.3d 847, 859 (Tex.App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] 2014, pet. denied); or the operation of the government, In re
Lipsky, 411 S.W.3d 530, 543 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 2013, orig. proceeding),
mandamus denied, 460 S.W.3d 579 (Tex. 2015).
Caliber Oil & Gas, LLC, 591 S.W.3d at 241. Although SSFCU is required to abide by federal
regulations regarding vault security, Rodriguez’s termination notice is not about governmental
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misconduct, direct conduct by the government, or the operation of government. We are not
persuaded the communications referenced by SSFCU interacts with “the government” in such a
way as to be considered a matter of public concern.
d. A Good, Product, or Service in the Marketplace
SSFCU also posits “a matter of public concern” is satisfied by the services it provides to
the El Paso community, including various loans, banking accounts, investment accounts, credit
accounts, “and other financial instruments and banking services.” However, the SSFCU
communications surrounding Rodriguez’s termination do not mention those services, and only
highlight her alleged actions in leaving the cash vault unsecured and her failure to abide by
SSFCU’s communication and honesty policies. Additionally, the communications do not link
Rodriguez’s alleged actions leading to her termination to SSFCU’s services in the marketplace or
otherwise allude to them. “Construing the [Act] to denote that all private business discussions are
‘a matter of public concern’ if the business offers a good, service, or product in the marketplace or
is related to health or safety is a potentially absurd result that was not contemplated by the
Legislature.” Forget About It, Inc. v. BioTE Medical, LLC, 585 S.W.3d 59, 68 (Tex.App.—Dallas
2019, pet. denied)(quoting Erdner, 580 S.W.3d at 277); see also Creative Oil & Gas, LLC v. Lona
Hills Ranch, LLC, 591 S.W.3d 127, 132 (Tex. 2019). We do not find the communications at issue
relate to SSFCU’s services in the marketplace as contemplated by the Act.
After a careful review of the record, we find the communications made by SSFCU
regarding Rodriguez’s dismissal are not related to any matter of public concern as defined by the
Legislature under the Act. We therefore hold SSFCU has not satisfied its burden of proving by a
preponderance of the evidence the claims asserted by Rodriguez are based on, related to, or in
response to its exercise of the right of free speech.
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Having determined SSFCU did not meet its burden, the burden does not shift to Rodriguez
to establish by clear and specific evidence a prima facie case for each essential element of her
claims. It is therefore unnecessary to decide SSFCU’s second and third issues and renders them
moot.
Evidentiary Considerations
In its fourth issue, SSFCU claims the trial court erred by not sustaining SSFCU’s objections
to Rodriguez’s evidence.
Both parties lodged objections to the other side’s evidence that was never ruled upon by
the trial court. Accordingly, we have no indication whether the trial court considered some, all, or
none of the objected-to evidence. Because we are not deciding SSFCU’s second issue regarding
Rodriguez’s prima facie showing of her claim on discrimination, we need not consider the
evidence she submitted and whether it should have been admitted or excluded. We therefore
decline to address Appellant’s fourth issue.
Assuming the trial court overruled all of Rodriguez’s lodged evidentiary objections and
error was preserved, there was no abuse of discretion in failing to exclude the evidence because,
having considered evidence submitted by SSFCU in our analysis, we still find the Act does not
apply. See TEX.R.APP.P. 61.1; Interstate Northborough Partnership v. State, 66 S.W.3d 213, 220
(Tex. 2001).
CONCLUSION
While we acknowledge the Act’s breadth prior to its 2019 amendment, we cannot discount
the purpose of the statute, which we do not believe would be achieved by finding its application
to the facts of this case. See TEX.CIV.PRAC.&REM.CODE ANN. § 27.002. Moreover, the very few
employment discrimination cases to which the Act has been applied are distinguishable from the
facts of the instant case.
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We hold SSFCU did not meet its burden in proving by a preponderance of the evidence
Rodriguez’s lawsuit was based on, related to, or in response to its exercise of the right of free
speech. Therefore, we find SSFCU’s motion was properly denied.
Having overruled Appellant’s first issue, which obviates the need to determine its
remaining three issues, we affirm.
April 24, 2020
YVONNE T. RODRIGUEZ, Justice
Before Alley, C.J., Rodriguez, and Palafox, JJ.
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