Guy Sparkman v. Reliastar Life Insurance Company ( 2008 )

NUMBER 13-03-500-CV
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG
GUY SPARKMAN, Appellant,
v.
RELIASTAR LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, Appellee.
On appeal from the 7th District Court of Smith County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Chief Justice Valdez and Justices Garza and Benavides
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Benavides
This case began as an interpleader action. Appellee, ReliaStar Life Insurance
Company (“ReliaStar”),1 received competing claims from Guy Sparkman and his son, Larry
Sparkman, regarding the proceeds of four annuity policies. ReliaStar then filed an
1
ReliaStar Life Insurance Com pany was form erly known as United Olym pic Life Insurance Com pany.
At various points throughout the record, Guy Sparkm an refers to ReliaStar as “United.” W e will refer to
ReliaStar Life Insurance Com pany as “ReliaStar.”
interpleader action naming Guy and Larry Sparkman as interpleader defendants. Guy
answered, alleged multiple counterclaims against ReliaStar, and contested ReliaStar’s right
to interplead the funds. He also asserted cross-claims against Larry.
The trial court allowed ReliaStar to interplead the annuity proceeds and granted
ReliaStar summary judgment on Guy’s counterclaims. After ReliaStar was dismissed from
the action, Larry failed to appear for trial, and the trial court awarded Guy the disputed
funds in the court’s registry as a result of Larry’s default. Although Guy was awarded the
interpleaded funds, he now appeals the summary judgment discharging ReliaStar from the
case.2 For the following reasons, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
I. BACKGROUND 3
Guy cared for his elderly mother, Willie Ressegieu, prior to her death in 1996.
Although Ressegieu was never diagnosed by a doctor, Guy believed she had advanced
symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. According to Guy, she had no business
experience, and she relied on him to handle all her business dealings, including her
finances.
Guy’s son, Larry, was ReliaStar’s employee. In 1988, Larry approached Guy about
buying insurance with Ressegieu’s savings. Guy claims that he refused to purchase
insurance, but he agreed to use Ressegieu’s savings to purchase annuity policies with the
express condition that he be designated as the beneficiary on the policies. Guy alleges
that he discussed the issue with Ressegieu, and she agreed. Accordingly, Guy instructed
2
Guy is appearing pro se.
3
Our recitation of the facts in this case is necessarily lim ited by the incom plete appellate record
currently before us. As we discuss in m ore detail later in this opinion, the record does not include ReliaStar’s
sum m ary judgm ent evidence. The following background is drawn prim arily from Guy’s answer, counterclaim ,
and cross-claim and from an affidavit he filed in response to ReliaStar’s m otion for sum m ary judgm ent.
2
Larry to purchase the annuity policies and to name Guy as the beneficiary.
According to Guy, Larry never delivered the annuity policies to him or to Ressegieu.
Larry, however, assured Guy that he was the named beneficiary. Guy did not see the
policies until after Ressegieu died. It was then that he discovered that Larry had been
named as the beneficiary on the contracts. Guy notified ReliaStar of his claim to the
proceeds, but ReliaStar did not pay the proceeds to Guy or Larry. Rather, ReliaStar waited
approximately four years to file the instant interpleader action.
Based on the above allegations, when ReliaStar filed the interpleader action seeking
to deposit the annuity policy proceeds into the trial court’s registry, Guy asserted
counterclaims against ReliaStar and cross-claims against Larry for knowing and intentional
violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (“DTPA”),4 negligence and gross
negligence, violations of the common-law duty of good faith and fair dealing, violations of
former articles 21.21 and 21.55 of the Texas Insurance Code, common-law fraud, and
breach of fiduciary duty. He asserted claims for damages and for exemplary damages
under these theories.
ReliaStar filed a motion for summary judgment on both no-evidence and traditional
grounds, alleging that it was entitled to interplead the annuity policy proceeds and attacking
nearly every element of each of Guy’s claims. Separate from the motion itself, ReliaStar
also filed substantial evidence in support of its motion.5 This evidence does not appear in
the clerk’s record on appeal. Guy filed a response, attaching an affidavit and purporting
to incorporate ReliaStar’s summary judgment evidence by reference. Guy then filed his
4
T EX . B U S . & C O M . C OD E A N N . §§ 17.41-.63 (Vernon 2002 & Supp. 2007).
5
ReliaStar’s m otion for sum m ary judgm ent referenced the evidence filed with the trial court, which
included testim ony and docum entary evidence.
3
own motion for summary judgment without attaching any supporting evidence. This motion
also purported to incorporate ReliaStar’s summary judgment evidence and the affidavit
attached to Guy’s response to ReliaStar’s motion for summary judgment.
On August 20, 2001, the trial court granted ReliaStar’s motion for summary
judgment, expressly stating that “there is no summary judgment evidence that will permit
the various claims made by Guy Sparkman against ReliaStar to survive the summary
judgment challenge.” On September 12, 2001, the trial court issued a supplemental order
granting ReliaStar’s motion for summary judgment, clarifying that: (1) the motion was
granted in its entirety; (2) Guy was to take nothing by his claims against ReliaStar; (3)
ReliaStar was “entitled to deposit the proceeds of the annuity policies, together with
accumulated interest, into the Registry of the Court and to be released from further liability
relating to the policies at issue”; and (4) ReliaStar was excused from any further
participation in the trial of the cause. On September 21, 2001, the trial court denied Guy’s
cross-motion for summary judgment, expressly stating that it had considered the motion
and the “Response by Plaintiff . . . ReliaStar Life Insurance Company.”
The case then proceeded to trial to determine who, as between Guy and Larry, was
entitled to the proceeds. Larry failed to appear for trial. Thus, the trial court found that by
his default, Larry admitted Guy’s allegations. The trial court rendered its final judgment on
May 1, 2003. The judgment states that on November 6, 2001, ReliaStar “deposited the
required funds (totaling $34,907.17) with the District Clerk . . . as shown by the ‘Notice of
Filing of Affidavit of Julie Drady Regarding Calculation of the Amount Deposited by
ReliaStar Life Insurance Company.’” (emphasis in original). The clerk’s record, however,
does not contain this affidavit. The judgment awarded Guy the entire amount of the funds
4
on deposit in the court’s registry along with any accrued interest. Guy filed a motion to
modify, correct, or reform the judgment, which the trial court denied. Guy then filed the
instant appeal.
II. ANALYSIS
Guy challenges the trial court’s judgment by four issues. Within his first issue, Guy
raises multiple sub-issues. He argues the trial court erroneously determined that ReliaStar
was an innocent stakeholder entitled to the benefits of interpleader. Additionally, he
argues that ReliaStar’s “traditional” motion for summary judgment failed to conclusively
demonstrate all elements of its defenses or to demonstrate that there was no genuine
issue of material fact as to elements of Guy’s claims. Furthermore, he argues that the trial
court erroneously granted ReliaStar summary judgment on his claims for DTPA violations,
negligence and gross negligence, breach of the common law duty of good faith and fair
dealing, violations of former articles 21.21 and 21.25 of the Texas Insurance Code,
common law fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty.
By his second issue, Guy argues that the trial court improperly denied his cross-
motion for summary judgment. His third issue alleges that the trial court improperly
permitted ReliaStar to deposit only a portion of the proceeds on the annuity policies.
Finally, Guy’s fourth issue asserts that the trial court erroneously denied Guy’s motion to
modify, correct, or reform the final judgment, which was also based on his argument that
ReliaStar failed to deposit all the proceeds.
A. Standard of Review
The standards of review for traditional and no-evidence summary judgments are
well established. Jackson v. Tex. Dept. of Pub. Safety, 243 S.W.3d 754, 757 (Tex.
5
App.–Corpus Christi 2007, pet. filed). A movant for traditional summary judgment has the
burden to establish that there are no material issues of fact. TEX . R. CIV. P. 166a(c);
Rhone-Poulenc, Inc. v. Steel, 997 S.W.2d 217, 222 (Tex. 1999); Mercier v. Sw. Bell Yellow
Pages, Inc., 214 S.W.3d 770, 773 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 2007, no pet.). Evidence
favorable to the non-movant will be taken as true, every reasonable inference will be
indulged in the non-movant’s favor, and doubts must be resolved in the non-movant’s
favor. Provident Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. Knott, 128 S.W.3d 211, 215 (Tex. 2003).
In contrast, a no-evidence summary judgment is the same as a pretrial directed
verdict, and we apply the same legal sufficiency standard on review. Mack Trucks, Inc. v.
Tamez, 206 S.W.3d 572, 582 (Tex. 2006); Ortega v. City Nat'l Bank, 97 S.W.3d 765, 772
(Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 2003, no pet.) (op. on reh'g). We review the evidence in the
light most favorable to the non-movant. City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 825
(Tex. 2005). The non-movant must produce evidence to raise a genuine issue of material
fact in order to defeat a no-evidence summary judgment. TEX . R. CIV. P. 166a(i).
The non-movant must merely produce a scintilla of probative evidence to raise a
genuine issue of material fact. Ortega, 97 S.W.3d at 772. “Less than a scintilla of
evidence exists when the evidence is ‘so weak as to do no more than create a mere
surmise or suspicion of a fact.’” Id. (quoting Kindred v. Con/Chem, Inc., 650 S.W.2d 61,
63 (Tex. 1983)). More than a scintilla of evidence exists when the evidence “rises to a level
that would enable reasonable and fair-minded people to differ in their conclusions.” Id.
(citing Transp. Ins. Co. v. Moriel, 879 S.W.2d 10, 25 (Tex. 1994)). To determine whether
the non-movant has met its burden, we review the evidence in the light most favorable to
the non-movant, crediting such evidence that reasonable jurors could credit and
6
disregarding contrary evidence unless reasonable jurors could not. Tamez, 206 S.W.3d
at 582; City of Keller, 168 S.W.3d at 827.
“When both parties move for summary judgment, and the trial court grants one
motion and denies the other, we will review both parties' summary judgment evidence and
determine all questions that are presented.” Jackson, 243 S.W.3d at 757 (citing FM Props.
Operating Co. v. City of Austin, 22 S.W.3d 868, 872 (Tex. 2000)). The court should render
the judgment that the trial court should have rendered. Id. If the trial court did not state
the specific grounds for its grant of summary judgment, we may affirm the trial court's ruling
if any of the theories presented in the motion for summary judgment are meritorious. Id.
B. Availability of Interpleader
By his first issue, Guy argues that ReliaStar did not demonstrate it was an “innocent
stakeholder,” which he asserts was required before the trial court could allow ReliaStar to
interplead funds into the court’s registry. He alleges that ReliaStar was not a disinterested
stakeholder because ReliaStar: (1) failed to promptly file its interpleader action; (2) acted
negligently in supervising Larry by failing to ensure that the policies were delivered to Guy
and Ressegieu; and (3) failed to promptly pay the proceeds to Guy after Ressegieu’s
death.6 We will address each argument in turn.
1. Timeliness of Interpleader
Guy argues that he notified ReliaStar of his claim to the annuity policies’ proceeds
on October 14, 1996, but ReliaStar did not file its interpleader action until June 6, 2000.
He argues that ReliaStar should not have been entitled to interplead the funds because it
6
Additionally, under his first issue, Guy argues that the trial court should not have allowed ReliaStar
to interplead the funds because ReliaStar failed to deposit all the proceeds from the four policies with the
court. As Guy also raises this argum ent separately under his third issue, we will not discuss it under issue
one.
7
unreasonably delayed the filing of its interpleader action.
The Texas Supreme Court, however, has rejected the notion that unreasonable
delay means a stakeholder can never interplead disputed funds into a court’s registry:
[I]nterpleader is not improper merely because it is delayed; while some
courts have listed prompt filing as an interpleader requirement, the rules of
procedure require only conflicting claims. When rival claims exist, courts
must decide who gets the proceeds no matter how tardy the deposit; we
cannot simply “toss the money back out the clerk's window,” or return it to a
stakeholder who makes no claim to it.
State Farm Life Ins. Co. v. Martinez, 216 S.W.3d 799, 807 (Tex. 2007) (citations omitted).
Thus, ReliaStar may have been tardy in filing this interpleader action, but that does not
mean it is no longer entitled to interplead the funds. This is not to say that an interpleader
defendant is without any remedy for a tardy deposit—as the Texas Supreme Court held,
the availability of an interpleader action in this context does not preclude the recovery of
penalties for tardy payments, assuming that the interpleader defendant can establish a
right to such penalties. Id. Guy has asserted such claims, which we address in Parts
II.D.5-7. However, we overrule Guy’s issue as it relates to ReliaStar’s ability to interplead
the funds due to tardiness.
2. ReliaStar’s Management of the Accounts
Guy further argues that ReliaStar was not an “innocent stakeholder” wholly
disinterested in the suit because of its handling of Ressegieu’s accounts. He appears to
argue that in order to bring an interpleader action, the interpleader plaintiff must not have
engaged in any conduct prejudicial to any other party claiming the funds. We disagree.
“In order to bring an interpleader under Rule 43, a stakeholder is not required to be
wholly disinterested in the suit.” Bank One, Tex., N.A. v. Taylor, 970 F.2d 16, 23 (5th Cir.
1992) (analyzing Texas law). The interpleader plaintiff must merely show that “‘it is or may
8
be exposed to double or multiple liability as a result of conflicting claims justifying a
reasonable doubt as to which claimant is entitled to the funds.’” Id. (quoting Sears Sav.
& Profit Sharing Fund v. Stubbs, 734 S.W.2d 76, 79 (Tex. App.–Austin 1987, no writ); see
TEX . R. CIV. P. 43.7
A stakeholder’s interest in the lawsuit is relevant to the determination of whether to
award the interpleader plaintiff attorney’s fees; however, it is “irrelevant for purposes of
commencing an action under Rule 43.” Bank One, Tex., N.A., 970 F.2d at 23.
Accordingly, while an interpleader plaintiff’s culpability in handling a claim may subject that
plaintiff to a claim for damages separate from payment of the disputed funds, such as
statutory penalties for untimely payment of insurance proceeds, it does not mean that the
disputed funds cannot be the proper subject of an interpleader. Martinez, 216 S.W.3d at
806, 808 (“[W]hether State Farm should have added Toni as a beneficiary is not the same
question as whether it should have paid her.”); see also Great Am. Reserve Ins. Co. v.
Sanders, 525 S.W.2d 956, 958-59 (Tex. 1975) (interpleader was proper when wife
questioned whether ex-wife, who was named beneficiary, should be paid on policy
purchased with community funds). Accordingly, we reject Guy’s argument that ReliaStar
was not entitled to interplead the disputed funds merely because Guy now asserts claims
7
Rule 43 provides:
Persons having claim s against the plaintiff m ay be joined as defendants and required to
interplead when their claim s are such that the plaintiff is or m ay be exposed to double or
m ultiple liability. It is not ground for objection to the joinder that the claim s of the several
claim ants or the titles on which their claim s depend do not have a com m on origin or are not
identical but are adverse to and independent of one another, or that the plaintiff avers that
he is not liable in whole or in part to any or all of the claim ants. A defendant exposed to
sim ilar liability m ay obtain such interpleader by way of cross-claim or counterclaim . The
provisions of this rule supplem ent and do not in any way lim it the joinder of parties perm itted
in any other rules.
T EX . R. A PP . P. 43.
9
against ReliaStar for its handling of his claim to the proceeds.
C. Insufficiency of ReliaStar’s Motion for Summary Judgment
Also by his first issue, Guy argues that the trial court erred in granting ReliaStar’s
motion for summary judgment because ReliaStar failed to conclusively establish all
elements of its causes of actions or defenses. Relying on standards for traditional motions
for summary judgment, Guy argues that he did not have a burden to produce evidence in
support of his claims because ReliaStar did not conclusively prove its case as a matter of
law.
Guy misunderstands the nature of ReliaStar’s motion for summary judgment and
the respective evidentiary burdens for a traditional and no-evidence summary judgment.
ReliaStar moved for no-evidence summary judgment under Rule 166a(i), attacking multiple
elements of each of Guy’s claims. ReliaStar also moved for traditional summary judgment
on several grounds, including its right to interpleader relief, contending that the evidence
conclusively negated elements of Guy’s claims and that the evidence conclusively
established its affirmative defense of limitations to Guy’s DTPA causes of action. The trial
court’s order granting summary judgment, however, expressly found that there was no
evidence to support any of Guy’s counterclaims.8
Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 166a(i) provides:
After adequate time for discovery, a party without presenting summary
8
For this reason, we m ust address the no-evidence m otion for sum m ary judgm ent before reaching
any traditional grounds for sum m ary judgm ent. See Cincinnati Life Ins. Co. v. Cates, 927 S.W .2d 623, 626
(Tex. 1996) (holding court of appeals should consider grounds expressly ruled on by the trial court but has
discretion to affirm on other grounds presented to, but not ruled on by, the trial court); see also Ford Motor
Co. v. Ridgeway, 135 S.W .3d 598, 600 (Tex. 2004) (“If the plaintiffs fail to produce m ore than a scintilla of
evidence under [the burden im posed by 166a(i)], then there is no need to analyze whether Ford's proof
satisfied the Rule 166a(c) burden.”).
10
judgment evidence may move for summary judgment on the ground that
there is no evidence of one or more essential elements of a claim or defense
on which an adverse party would have the burden of proof at trial. The
motion must state the elements as to which there is no evidence. The court
must grant the motion unless the respondent produces summary judgment
evidence raising a genuine issue of material fact.
TEX . R. CIV. P. 166a(i) (emphasis added). As the rule itself recognizes, the party moving
for no-evidence summary judgment has no burden to produce evidence. Id.; City of Keller
v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 825 (Tex. 2005); see also Pisharodi v. Barrash, No. 13-05-744-
CV, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 7583, at *5 n.12 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi Sept. 20, 2007, no
pet. h.) (mem. op.); Bavouset v. Hall, No. 13-03-025-CV, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 4363, at
*4 n.6 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi May 18, 2006, pet. denied) (mem. op.). Rather, the rule
specifically places the burden on the non-movant to produce evidence to defeat a no-
evidence motion for summary judgment. Ford Motor Co., 135 S.W.3d at 600. Accordingly,
we reject Guy’s argument that ReliaStar’s no-evidence motion was insufficient because it
failed to conclusively establish ReliaStar’s case. Guy had the evidentiary burden in
response to ReliaStar’s no-evidence arguments. We must now determine if he met that
burden.
D. Guy’s Duty to Challenge All Possible Grounds for the Trial Court’s Ruling
Guy argues that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment on his
counterclaims. At the outset, we must discuss whether Guy satisfied his burden in this
appeal to demonstrate reversible error. If a trial court’s order granting summary judgment
does not specify the grounds for the ruling, the appellant bears the burden of negating all
possible grounds for the trial court’s ruling. Star-Telegram, Inc. v. Doe, 915 S.W.2d 471,
473 (Tex. 2001). “If summary judgment may have been rendered, properly or improperly,
on a ground not challenged [on appeal], the judgment must be affirmed.” Ellis v. Precision
11
Engine Rebuilders, Inc., 68 S.W.3d 894, 898 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, no pet.).
Here, the trial court ruled that no evidence supported any of Guy’s claims, but the
order does not specify which elements of the claims lacked sufficient evidentiary support.
Because ReliaStar moved for no-evidence summary judgment by attacking multiple
elements of each of Guy’s claims, Guy was required to demonstrate on appeal that more
than a scintilla of evidence supported each element attacked by ReliaStar’s motion for no-
evidence summary judgment. McCoy v. Rogers, 240 S.W.3d 267, 272 (Tex.
App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, pet. denied).
Guy has raised a general issue arguing that the summary judgment is improper,
supported by several sub-issues, as is allowed under Malooly Bros., Inc. v. Napier, 461
S.W.2d 119, 121 (Tex. 1970). Guy’s sub-issues question whether summary judgment was
proper as to a particular cause of action, but they do not reference a particular element of
that cause of action. Again, this is also proper under Malooly. See id.; McCoy, 240
S.W.2d at 272 (issue was sufficient to raise propriety of summary judgment fraud claim
where it questioned the propriety of summary judgment in opposing party’s favor).
However, a sufficiently raised issue is not the end of an appellant’s burden—an
appellant must not only raise a proper issue, he or she must present arguments and
supporting authority for the court to reverse a summary judgment. Id. It is not enough to
say, “the trial court erred in granting summary judgment.” In circumstances such as these,
where a trial court has potentially granted summary judgment on multiple elements of a
claim, the appellant must present arguments and supporting authority regarding each of
the elements challenged by the motion for summary judgment. Id. With respect to all his
counterclaims against ReliaStar, Guy has failed to meet his burden to attack all the
12
possible grounds for the no-evidence summary judgment.9
1. Common-law Fraud
The elements of a common-law fraud claim are: “1) a material representation was
made; (2) the representation was false; (3) when the representation was made, the
speaker knew it was false or made it recklessly without any knowledge of the truth and as
a positive assertion; (4) the representation was made with the intention that it be acted
upon by the other party; (5) the party acted in reliance upon the representation; and (6) the
party suffered injury.” Johnson & Higgins of Tex., Inc. v. Kenneco Energy, Inc., 962 S.W.2d
507, 524 (Tex. 1998). In its no-evidence motion for summary judgment, ReliaStar asserted
that there was no evidence to demonstrate any of the elements of common-law fraud. On
appeal, however, Guy does not address ReliaStar’s knowledge or reckless state of mind
or whether ReliaStar made a representation with the intent that Guy rely on the
representation. Accordingly, Guy has failed to demonstrate that the trial court erred in
granting summary judgment on this claim. McCoy, 240 S.W.2d at 272.
2. Negligence
The elements of a negligence cause of action are: “1) a legal duty owed by one
person to another, (2) a breach of that duty, and (3) damages proximately resulting from
the breach.” Ins. Network of Tex. v. Kloesel, No. 13-05-680-CV, 2008 WL 907479, at *6
(Tex. App.–Corpus Christi Apr. 3, 2008, no pet. h.). ReliaStar attacked each element of
Guy’s negligence claim for lack of evidence. Guy’s brief, however, does not address the
9
Although we construe pro se pleadings and briefs liberally, we m ust hold pro se litigants to the sam e
standards as any other litigant— pro se appellants m ust com ply with all the applicable rules of procedure.
Mansfield State Bank v. Cohn, 573 S.W .2d 181, 184-85 (Tex. 1978). Any other rule would give pro se litigants
an unfair advantage over those represented by counsel. Harris v. Showcase Chevrolet, 231 S.W .3d 559, 561
(Tex. App.–Dallas 2007, no pet.); Shull v. United Parcel Serv., 4 S.W .3d 46, 53 (Tex. App.–San Antonio 1999,
pet. denied).
13
causation element of his negligence claim. Accordingly, Guy has failed to demonstrate that
the trial court erred in granting summary judgment on this claim. McCoy, 240 S.W.2d at
272.
3. Gross Negligence
“To establish gross negligence, a plaintiff must also prove by clear and convincing
evidence two additional elements: (i) that from the actor’s standpoint, the act or omission
complained of involved an extreme degree of risk, considering the probability and
magnitude of the potential harm to others, and (ii) that the actor had actual subjective
awareness of the risk involved but nevertheless proceeded in conscious indifference of the
rights and safety or welfare of others.” Alcoa, Inc. v. Behringer, 235 S.W.3d 456, 459 (Tex.
App.–Dallas 2007, pet. filed) (citing TEX . CIV. PRAC . & REM . CODE ANN . § 41.003 (Vernon
2005)). ReliaStar moved for no-evidence summary judgment on all the elements of gross
negligence. Guy, however, did not argue in his brief or point to any evidence that
ReliaStar’s acts involved an extreme degree of risk or that ReliaStar was aware of such a
risk but nevertheless proceeded in conscious indifference to Guy’s rights and safety.
Accordingly, Guy has failed to demonstrate that the trial court erred in granting summary
judgment on this claim. McCoy, 240 S.W.2d at 272.
4. Breach of fiduciary duty
“Generally, for a party to establish a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty, there must
exist a fiduciary relationship between the plaintiff and defendant, the defendant must have
breached its fiduciary duty to the plaintiff, and the defendant’s breach must result in injury
to the plaintiff, or benefit to the defendant.” Punts v. Wilson, 137 S.W.3d 889, 891 (Tex.
App.–Texarkana 2004, no pet.) (citing Burrow v. Arce, 997 S.W.2d 229, 238-39 (Tex.
14
1999)). ReliaStar moved for summary judgment contending that there was no evidence
that it (1) owed Guy a fiduciary duty, or (2) breached any such duty. On appeal, Guy
addresses neither of the elements challenged by ReliaStar. Guy, therefore, has failed to
demonstrate that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment on this claim. McCoy,
240 S.W.2d at 272.
5. Deceptive Trade Practices Act violations
Guy alleged violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. TEX . BUS . &
COM . CODE ANN . §§ 17.41-.63. Guy raised every possible type of claim under the DTPA,
including laundry-list violations,10 unconscionable conduct, and breach of warranty. Id. §
17.50(a)(1)-(3).11 With respect to all these claims, however, a plaintiff must demonstrate
that the defendant’s actions were a producing cause of economic or mental anguish
damages. Id. § 17.50(a); Doe v. Boys Club of Greater Dallas, Inc., 907 S.W.2d 472, 478
(Tex. 1995). ReliaStar moved for no-evidence summary judgment alleging, among other
things, that there was no evidence that any of its actions were the producing cause of
Guy’s damages. On appeal, Guy does not address producing cause. Again, Guy has
failed to demonstrate that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment on his DTPA
claims. McCoy, 240 S.W.2d at 272.
6. Breach of the Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing
Guy claims that ReliaStar violated its duty of good faith and fair dealing. An insurer
breaches the duty of good faith and fair dealing when it fails to attempt in good faith to
10
See T EX . B U S . & C O M . C OD E A N N . §§ 17.46(b), 17.50(a)(1) (Vernon 2002 & Supp. 2007).
11
Guy also alleged insurance code violations, which are actionable under the DTPA pursuant to
section 17.50(a)(4). T EX . B U S . & C O M . C OD E § 17.50(a)(4). Those claim s will be addressed along with Guy’s
insurance code claim s in Part II.D.6-7.
15
effectuate a prompt, fair, and equitable settlement of a claim with respect to which the
insurer’s liability has become reasonably clear. Universe Life Ins. Co. v. Giles, 950 S.W.2d
48, 55 (Tex. 1997). ReliaStar moved for no-evidence summary judgment asserting that
there was no evidence that ReliaStar’s liability to Guy has ever become reasonably clear.
Guy’s appellate brief does not adequately address this element of his claim.
Guy’s factual argument with respect to his claim for the breach of the duty of good
faith and fair dealing consists of the following paragraph, without any citations to the
record:
The evidence is clear, precise and uncontroverted that ReliaStar knowingly,
intentionally, fraudulently or negligently engaged in acts, actions, and
conduct that violated their common-law duty of good faith and fair dealings.
The evidence demonstrates ReliaStar denied and delayed with no
reasonable basis, or failed to determine whether there was a reasonable
basis within a reasonable time. Then ReliaStar knowingly, intentionally and
fraudulently deposited only a portion of the proceeds from the four policies
with the court.
This argument does not address how or when ReliaStar’s liability became reasonably clear,
is conclusory, and lacks any citation to the record. See TEX . R. APP. P. 38.1(h) (“The brief
must contain a clear and concise argument for the contentions made, with appropriate
citations to authorities and to the record.”). Accordingly, Guy has failed to demonstrate that
the trial court erred in granting summary judgment on his claim for breach of the duty of
good faith and fair dealing. McCoy, 240 S.W.2d at 272.
7. Prompt Payment of Claims Statute
Guy alleged violations of former article 21.55 of the Texas Insurance Code, the
“prompt payment of claims” statute.12 “To successfully maintain a claim under [former]
12
Article 21.55 was repealed and recodified without substantive change. See Act of June 6, 1991,
72nd Leg., R.S., ch. 242, § 11.03, 1991 Tex. Sess. Law Serv. Ch. 242, repealed and recodified by Act of June
21, 2003, 78th Leg., R.S., ch. 1274, § 26, 2003 Tex. Gen. Laws 3611, 4138 (current version at T EX . IN S . C O DE
16
article 21.55, section 6, a party must establish three elements: (1) a claim under an
insurance policy; (2) the insurer is liable for the claim; and (3) the insurer has failed to
follow one or more provisions of [former] article 21.55 with respect to the claim.” Coats v.
Farmers Ins. Exch., 230 S.W.3d 215, 220 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, no pet.)
(citing Allstate Ins. Co. v. Bonner, 51 S.W.3d 289, 291 (Tex. 2001)). ReliaStar moved for
no-evidence summary judgment, arguing that there was no evidence that it was not in
compliance with the provisions of former article 21.55.
Guy’s argument with respect to former article 21.55 consists of the following
statement:
Under Article 21.55, sec. 2, 3, and 4 of the Texas Insurance Code, ReliaStar
had a duty to either pay or deny Guy Sparkman’s claim within 30 days.
Clearly, ReliaStar failed to deny or pay Guy Sparkman’s claims within 30
days. It was four years before ReliaStar filed the Interpleader action. Under
the clearly established law, the four years it took ReliaStar to file its
Interpleader action was too long.
Guy, however, does not argue or point to any evidence that demonstrates that he made
a proper claim against the annuity policies that would trigger article 21.55, such that
ReliaStar’s failure to pay was not in compliance with article 21.55.
A “claim” is a “first party claim made by an insured or a policyholder under an
insurance policy or contract or by a beneficiary named in the policy or contract that must
be paid by the insurer directly to the insured or beneficiary.” See Act of June 6, 1991, 72nd
Leg., R.S., ch. 242, § 11.03, 1991 Tex. Sess. Law Serv. Ch. 242, repealed and recodified
by Act of June 21, 2003, 78th Leg., R.S., ch. 1274, § 26, 2003 Tex. Gen. Laws 3611, 4138
(current version at TEX . INS. CODE ANN . § 542.055 (Vernon Pamph. 2007)). This provision
A N N . § 542.055 (Vernon Pam ph. 2007)); Evanston Ins. Co. v. ATOFINA Petrochemicals, Inc., No. 03-0647,
2008 W L 400394, at *10 n. 75 (Tex. Feb. 15, 2008). For purposes of this opinion, we will refer to form er
article 21.55, because the parties briefed it this way here and below.
17
limits a prompt payment claim to a beneficiary named in the policy. Martinez, 216 S.W.3d
at 802. Former article 21.55 does not provide relief to a party who is not named a
beneficiary in the policy or contract but is merely deemed the proper beneficiary after
litigation. DeLeon v. Lloyd’s London, Certain Underwriters, 259 F.3d 344, 354 (5th Cir.
2001) (“The legislature has framed the claim-processing deadlines of [former] Article 21.55
in terms of the primary relationship between the insurer and the ‘named’ beneficiary—not
the lawful, yet unnamed beneficiary.”).
Throughout his brief, Guy argues that his son, Larry, improperly designated himself
as the beneficiary on the policy. However, he does not explain or point to any evidence
that supports his standing to make a claim under former article 21.55— he does not assert
that he was a named beneficiary or explain how, given that he was not named as a
beneficiary, he has standing to assert a claim under former article 21.55 against ReliaStar.
Accordingly, Guy has failed to demonstrate that the trial court erred in granting summary
judgment on his former article 21.55 claim. McCoy, 240 S.W.2d at 272.
8. Former Article 21.21 Claim
Guy alleged that ReliaStar violated former article 21.21 of the Texas Insurance
Code13 and that his claim was actionable under the DTPA.14 ReliaStar moved for no-
evidence summary judgment alleging that Guy’s article 21.21 claim was a mere
recharacterization of his good faith and fair dealing claim, which failed for lack of evidence
13
Form er Article 21.21 of the Texas Insurance Code was repealed and recodified without substantive
change. See Act of May 10, 2001, 77th Leg., R.S., ch. 290, § 1, 2001 Tex. Gen. Laws 548, 548-51, repealed
and recodified by Act of May 22, 2003, 78th Leg., R.S., ch. 1674 §§ 2, 26, 2003 Tex. Gen. Laws 3611,
2659-61 (current versions at T EX . IN S .C OD E A N N . §§ 541.051, 541.056 (Vernon Pam ph. 2007)) (hereinafter
“form er article 21.21").
14
T EX . B U S . & C O M . C OD E A N N . § 17.50(a)(4).
18
and precluded a statutory recovery. Guy’s brief does not address this potential ground for
the trial court’s summary judgment. Accordingly, he has failed to demonstrate that the trial
court erred in granting summary judgment on his claim under former article 21.21. McCoy,
240 S.W.2d at 272.
9. Conclusion
As demonstrated above, Guy has failed to demonstrate, as to each cause of action,
that the trial court erred in granting ReliaStar’s no-evidence motion for summary judgment.
Accordingly, Guy’s first issue is overruled.
E. Insufficient Record
By his second issue, Guy claims that the trial court erred in denying his cross-motion
for summary judgment. In it, Guy argued that ReliaStar’s interpleader petition was legally
and factually groundless. He also alleged that there were no issues of fact regarding his
claims against ReliaStar, which he asserted were established as a matter of law. By his
third issue, Guy argues that ReliaStar should not have been discharged from the case
because it did not interplead the total proceeds from the annuities into the court’s registry;
therefore, it was not a disinterested stakeholder who unconditionally deposited the disputed
funds in accordance with Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 43. Guy argues that ReliaStar only
deposited $34,907.17 into the court’s registry, but he argues that his mother purchased
four annuity policies for $10,000.00 each. Finally, Guy complains that the trial court
erroneously denied his “Motion to Modify, Correct, or Reform Final Judgment,” in which he
repeated his complaint that the trial court allowed ReliaStar to deposit less than the total
proceeds of the annuity policies. Guy’s motion did not attach any evidence demonstrating
the amounts due under the policies.
19
ReliaStar responds that Guy waived these arguments by failing to bring forth a
complete record of the proceedings below. We agree. “Absent a complete record of the
summary judgment evidence, an appellate court must assume that the omitted documents
support the judgment of the trial court.” DeSantis v. Wackenut Corp., 793 S.W.2d 670, 689
(Tex. 1990).
With respect to Guy’s cross-motion for summary judgment, ReliaStar points out that
the record does not contain ReliaStar’s response to Guy’s motion. Although Guy disputes
that ReliaStar filed a response, the trial court’s order denying Guy’s motion expressly states
that it considered the “the Response by Plaintiff ReliaStar. . . .” Without reviewing
ReliaStar’s response, it is impossible to determine whether the trial court erred, and we
must presume it did not. Id.
Because of the insufficient record, we are also unable to review the trial court’s
apparent determination that ReliaStar properly deposited all the annuity policies’ proceeds
into the court’s registry. ReliaStar’s motion for summary judgment references several
pieces of evidence and notes that the evidence was filed separately from the motion. The
clerk’s record contains ReliaStar’s summary judgment motion, but it does not include any
of the evidence filed in support of the motion. For example, ReliaStar apparently submitted
the annuity policies in support of its motion for summary judgment, and these policies do
not otherwise appear in the record. Additionally, the trial court’s judgment dated May 1,
2003 references an affidavit filed by ReliaStar along with the deposit of the annuity funds
into the court’s registry that apparently set out the calculation of the amount deposited.15
15
The judgm ent states that “Plaintiff deposited the required funds (totaling $34,907.17) with the
District Clerk pursuant to [the trial court’s order dated Septem ber 11, 2001] on October 2, 2001 as shown by
the ‘Notice of Filing of Affidavit of Julie Drady Regarding Calculation of the Am ount Deposited by Reliastar Life
Insurance Com pany’ filed Novem ber 6, 2001.”
20
This document also does not appear in the clerk’s record. We must presume these
documents support the trial court’s decision to grant ReliaStar’s motion for summary
judgment and its denial of Guy’s Motion to Modify, Correct, or Reform the Final Judgment.
Guy does not dispute that ReliaStar properly filed evidence in support of its motion
for summary judgment—in fact, his response to ReliaStar’s motion for summary judgment
and his cross-motion for summary judgment expressly point to and rely on the evidence
ReliaStar filed. Rather, Guy contends that he did not bear the burden to ensure that
ReliaStar’s evidence appeared in the clerk’s record. He argues that either the trial court
clerk or ReliaStar had the burden to ensure that the clerk’s record contained ReliaStar’s
summary judgment evidence.
The trial court clerk is required by Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 35.3(a) to
compile, certify, and file the clerk’s record. TEX . R. APP. P. 35.3(a). Rule 34.5 lists the
documents the trial court clerk must include in the record, but it does not specifically list
motions for summary judgment or supporting evidence as required contents of the clerk’s
record. TEX . R. APP. P. 34.5; Mallios v. Standard Ins. Co., 237 S.W.3d 778, 782 (Tex.
App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2007, pet. denied). While rule 34.5(a) lists documents that must
be included in the record, rule 34.5(b) provides that a party may request that additional
items be included in the record. TEX . R. APP. P. 34.5(b). As the Fourteenth Court of
Appeals recently explained, a party appealing a trial court’s order granting summary
judgment has a duty to request that the record include the motion for summary judgment
and supporting evidence:
Thus, although the trial court clerk is required to include at least the
documents listed in 34.5, per Enterprise, if a party wishes to successfully
appeal a grant of summary judgment, he must include more than those
documents the court clerk is required to include–he must include all
21
‘pertinent’ documents the trial court considered in granting the motion.
Mallios, 237 S.W.3d at 783 (citing Enter. Leasing Co. v. Barrios, 156 S.W.3d 547, 549
(Tex. 2004)). The duty is placed upon the appellant to request that the pertinent item be
included in the record because the appellant bears the burden of demonstrating reversible
error. TEX . R. APP. P. 44.1(a); DeSantis, 793 S.W.2d at 689.
Thus, although ReliaStar had the burden to plead and prove that it was entitled to
interplead the funds into the court’s registry below, Guy bears the burden on appeal to
show that the trial court erred in granting ReliaStar’s motion for summary judgment,
accepting the funds for deposit, denying his cross-motion for summary judgment, and
denying his motion to modify, correct, or reform the judgment. See Enter. Leasing Co.,
156 S.W.3d at 549 (“Although Enterprise bears the burden to prove its summary judgment
as a matter of law, on appeal Barrios bears the burden to bring forward the record of the
summary judgment evidence to provide appellate courts with a basis to review his claim
of harmful error.”); Danner v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 496 S.W.2d 950, 953 (Tex. Civ.
App.–Fort Worth 1973, no writ). Guy had the burden to ensure that a sufficient record
supported his arguments. In the absence of a complete record, we must presume that the
evidence omitted from the record supports the trial court’s order denying Guy’s cross-
motion for summary judgment and its judgment that ReliaStar was entitled to interplead the
funds into the court’s registry. Enter. Leasing Co., 156 S.W.3d at 549; Mallios, 237 S.W.3d
at 783; Danner, 496 S.W.2d at 953 (presuming that trial court acted within its discretion in
approving interpleader where record on appeal was incomplete). Accordingly, we overrule
Guy’s second, third, and fourth issues.
22
III. CONCLUSION
Having overruled all of Guy’s issues, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
_____________________________
GINA M. BENAVIDES,
Justice
Memorandum Opinion delivered and
filed this the 15th day of May, 2008.
23