Inez Manigault v. Jane Thorn-Henderson ( 2015 )

ACCEPTED
12-14-00156-CV
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS
TYLER, TEXAS
7/13/2015 12:10:15 PM
CATHY LUSK
CLERK
Case No. 12-14-00156-CV
___________________________________________________________
FILED IN
12th COURT OF APPEALS
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE TWELFTH DISTRICT TYLER, TEXAS
TYLER, TEXAS 7/13/2015 12:10:15 PM
___________________________________________________________
CATHY S. LUSK
Clerk
INEZ MANIGAULT, Appellant
Vs.
JANE THORN-HENDERSON, Appellee
___________________________________________________________
From the 145th Judicial District Court for Nacogdoches County, Texas
Cause No. 1228525
___________________________________________________________
APPELLEE’S BRIEF IN RESPONSE
TO PRO SE APPELLANT’S APPEAL
___________________________________________________________
Adam B. Allen
White Shaver, P.C.
205 W. Locust
Tyler, Texas 75702
(903) 533-9447 – phone
(903) 595-3766 - fax
AAllen@whiteshaverlaw.com
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE,
JANE THORN-HENDERSON
1
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL
Pursuant to Rule 38.1(a) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Appellee lists the
following parties affected by this appeal, and their respective appellate and trial counsel:
Appellant
Inez Manigault, Pro Se
Trial Counsel for Appellant
W. Wade Flasowski
State Bar No. 24055482
1801 North Street
Nacogdoches, Texas 75963
(936) 569-2327 – phone
(936) 569-7932 - fax
Appellee
Jane Thorn-Henderson
Appellate Counsel for Appellee
Adam B. Allen
State Bar No. 24038738
White Shaver PC
205 W. Locust St.
Tyler, Texas 75702
(903) 533-9447 – phone
(903) 595-3766 – fax
AAllen@whiteshaverlaw.com
Trial Counsel for Appellee
James E Hughes
State Bar No. 10214525
3400 W. Marshall #402
Longview, Texas 75604
(903) 297-7691 - phone
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL ………………………………….. 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS ……………………………………………………… 3
ISSUES PRESENTED ………………………………………………………… 4
BRIEF ANSWERS ……………………………………………………………. 5
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES ………………………………………………….. 6, 7
STATEMENT OF THE CASE ……………………………………………….. 8
ORAL ARGUMENT …………………………………………………………. 8
STATEMENT OF FACTS …………………………………………………… 8
OBJECTIONS TO APPELLANT’S ATTEMPT TO
SUPPLEMENT THE APPELLATE RECORD ……………………………… 8
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT ………………………………………….. 9
ARGUMENT …………………………………………………………………... 9
PRAYER …………………………………………………………………… 17
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ………………………………………………… 18
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE…………………………………………… 18
3
ISSUES PRESENTED
1. Did appellant’s failure to preserve error waive each of her appellate points for which
she now seeks a new trial?
2. Did trial judge abuse his discretion on any of the evidentiary issues presented by
appellant, such that the perceived error resulted in the rendition of an improper
judgment?
4
BRIEF ANSWERS
1. Appellant failed to preserve error on points of error 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11
(repeat of point of error 10) raised within her brief.
2. The trial judge acted well within his discretion regarding his rulings on the
evidentiary issues raised by appellant in points of error 5 and 6.
5
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
STATUTES
Aero Energy, Inc. v. Circle C Drilling Co.
699 S.W.2d 821, 822 (Tex. 1985) ………………………………………………. 11
BMC Software Belgium, N.V. v. Marchand
83 S.W.3d 789, 800 (Tex. 2002) ………………………………………………… 17
Brown v. Brown
145 S.W.3d 745, 749-50 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2004, pet. Denied ………………... 17
Central Educ. Agency v. Burke
711 S.W.2d 7, 8 (Tex. 1986) …………………………………………………….. 10
City of Brownsville v. Alvarado
897 S.W.2d 750, 753 (Tex. 1995) ………………………………………………. 16
Galveston County v. Texas Dep't of Health
724 S.W.2d 115, 119-21 (Tex. App.--Austin 1987 ……………………………… 13
Gee v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co.
765 S.W.2d 394, 396, 32 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 217 (Tex. 1989) ……………………… 16
Guerrero v. Boyd
No. 01-07-00465-CV, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 9227, 2008 WL 5178563
at *1 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Dec. 11, 2008, no pet.) (mem. op.) …….. 14
Halim v. Ramchandani
203 S.W.3d 482, 487 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, no pet.)
TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a)(1)(A) ………………………………………………….. 12
Johnson v. Ozim
804 S.W.2d 179, 182 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1991 ………………….. 10
Lone Star Greyhound Park, Inc. v. Texas Racing Comm'n
863 S.W.2d 742, 751 (Tex. App.--Austin 1993 ………………………………….. 13
Parker v. Fort Worth Transp. Auth.
No. 02-03-00213-CV, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 3604, 2004 WL 868741
at *1 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Apr. 22, 2004, no pet.) (mem. Op) …………….. 14
Perry v. Del Rio
66 S.W.3d 239, 259 (Tex. 2001) ………………………………………………… 9
6
Pirtle v. Gregory
629 S.W.2d 919, 920 (Tex. 1982) ……………………………………………….. 10
Sendejar v. Alice Physicians and Surgeons Hosp., Inc.
555 S.W.2d 879, 886 (Tex. Civ. App.--Tyler 1977, writ ref'd n.r.e.) …………… 10
Sharp v. Broadway Nat'l Bank
784 S.W.2d 669, 671 (Tex. 1990) (per curiam); Tex. R. Civ. P. 215.5 ………… 16
Smith v. Houston Chem. Servs., Inc.
872 S.W.2d 252, 278 (Tex. App.--Austin 1994 ………………………………… 13
Steves Sash & Door Co., Inc. v. Ceco Corp.
751 S.W.2d 473, 477 (Tex. 1988) ………………………………………………. 11
Texas Elec. Serv. Co. v. Yater
494 S.W.2d 271, 274 (Tex. Civ. App.--El Paso 1973, writ ref'd n.r.e.) ………… 10
United Parcel Serv., Inc. v. Tasdemiroglu
25 S.W.3d 914, 916 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2000 …………………. 11
RULES
Tex. R. App. P. 33.1. …………………………………………………………… 13, 15
TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a)(1)(A)…………………………………………………. 12
TEX. R. APP. P. 44.1(a) ……………………………………………………….. 16
Tex. R. Civ. P. 215.5 …………………………………………………………… 16
TEX. R. CIV. P. 324(b)…………………………………………………………. 12
TEX. R. CIV. P. 324(b)(2)……………………………………………………… 12
7
I. STATEMENT OF THE CASE
The essential nature of this appeal is that the appellant feels that the verdict and judgment
rendered in her favor at the trial court wasn’t favorable enough. Appellant in her brief fails to
identify any reversible error within the record, or any fundamental error independent of the
record. The evidence presented during trial supports the judgment entered by the trial court. The
trial court’s judgment should be upheld, and all costs assessed against the appellant.
II. ORAL ARGUMENT
Oral argument is not requested by appellee.
III. STATEMENT OF FACTS
This appeal arises out of a judgment taken in the 145th Judicial District Court of
Nacogdoches County, Texas. The underlying case involves an August 12, 2011 automobile
accident in which appellant, Inez Manigault, was rear-ended while stopped at a traffic light by
appellee, Jane Thorn-Henderson.
Following a two day trial on the merits, a jury returned a verdict for appellant and
awarded $7,517.63 in damages. A final judgment was signed and entered by the trial court on
June 6, 2014, which included awards for pre and post-judgment interests and taxable costs. (CR
134-135).
No post-judgment motions were filed.
Appellant timely filed her notice of appeal on June 10, 2014. This appeal followed.
IV. OBJECTIONS TO APPELLANT’S ATTEMPT TO
SUPPLEMENT THE APPELLATE RECORD
Appellee objects to all arguments made by appellant about evidence that was not made
part of the court’s record during trial. Appellant attached 11 exhibits to her brief, many of which
8
were never made part of the court’s record. Specifically, Exhibits 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9, were
never made part of the Clerk’s or Reporter’s Records.
“It is well-settled in Texas that an appellate court’s review is confined to the record in the
trial court when the trial court acted.” Perry v. Del Rio, 66 S.W.3d 239, 259 (Tex. 2001).
Because these individual exhibits were never filed with or presented for consideration to
the trial court, it is improper for appellant to include them now, for the first time, in briefing on
the merits to this court.
V. SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
Appellant waived error on points 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 (repeat of point of error
10), by failing to make a timely objection during trial to the perceived error, or by failing to file a
post-trial motion to preserve error on legal and factual sufficiency grounds.
Even in the event that appellant somehow preserved error on points of error 1, 2, 3, 4, 7,
8, 9, 10, and 11 (repeat of point of error 10), the evidence was legally and factually sufficient to
support the jury’s findings.
The trial court did not abuse its discretion on points of error 5 and 6 in excluding
evidence that was not properly authenticated or disclosed during discovery. Even in the event
that the trial court abused its discretion, the excluded evidence did not result in an improper
judgment.
VI. ARGUMENT
A. Waiver
Appellant Waived Error on her Appellate Points 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 (repeat of
point of error 10).
1. Appellant Waived Any Error Regarding the Jury Selection Process or Jury
Pool
9
Appellant asserts in her first point that because of the District Clerk's actions, she was
denied the right to a fair and impartial jury representative of the community, which is guaranteed
in the United States and Texas constitutions. She contends that a violation of this right is
fundamental error. "Fundamental error survives today only in rare instances in which the record
shows on its face that the court lacked jurisdiction or that the public interest is directly and
adversely affected as that interest is declared in the statutes or Constitution of Texas." Central
Educ. Agency v. Burke, 711 S.W.2d 7, 8 (Tex. 1986); see Pirtle v. Gregory, 629 S.W.2d 919, 920
(Tex. 1982). Moreover, fundamental error is non-waivable and may be raised for the first time on
appeal. Johnson v. Ozim, 804 S.W.2d 179, 182 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1991, writ
denied).
Although not explicitly stated, appellant argues that when positive statutes regulating jury
selection are violated as alleged here, appellant was denied her constitutional right of a fair trial.
The statutory violations of which appellant complains, however, are errors in the procedures of
summoning, assembling, excusing, and documenting the jury array. It is well settled in Texas
law that such procedural issues are waivable. See, e.g., Sendejar v. Alice Physicians and
Surgeons Hosp., Inc., 555 S.W.2d 879, 886 (Tex. Civ. App.--Tyler 1977, writ ref'd n.r.e.)
(challenge to improper excuses by sheriff, district clerk, and others waived if not presented prior
to time jury was selected); Texas Elec. Serv. Co. v. Yater, 494 S.W.2d 271, 274 (Tex. Civ. App.--
El Paso 1973, writ ref'd n.r.e.) (using district court panel instead of proper county court panel
was "matter of ready waiver"). Because procedural irregularities in jury selection can be waived,
appellant’s alleged error under the circumstances presented do not rise to the level of
fundamental error.
10
Appellant’s brief contains no specific violation by the Clerk or any other officer of the
court that would give rise to any error, let alone fundamental error. Moreover the record is bereft
of any objection made to the jury array, or to the manner in which the jury was selected.
Appellant therefore waived error on this point.
2. Plaintiff Waived all Legal Sufficiency Challenges To the Jury’s Findings
In a case tried to a jury, an argument that the evidence is legally insufficient to support a
finding can be preserved for appeal in one of five ways: (1) a motion for directed verdict, (2) a
motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, (3) an objection to the submission of the issue
to the jury, (4) a motion to disregard the jury's answer to a vital fact issue, or (5) a motion for
new trial. See Steves Sash & Door Co., Inc. v. Ceco Corp., 751 S.W.2d 473, 477 (Tex. 1988)
(citing Aero Energy, Inc. v. Circle C Drilling Co., 699 S.W.2d 821, 822 (Tex. 1985)); United
Parcel Serv., Inc. v. Tasdemiroglu, 25 S.W.3d 914, 916 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2000,
pet. denied).
By her second and fourth issues, it appears that appellant complains that the evidence is
legally insufficient to support the jury’s damage award, or the lack thereof. Appellant failed,
however, to preserve error on these points. The record is devoid of any post verdict motion
required to preserve error on this point.
Appellant failed to preserve error on her legal sufficiency points.
3. Plaintiff Waived all Factual Sufficiency Challenges to the Jury’s Findings
By her third and fourth issues, appellant complains that the evidence is factually
insufficient to support the jury's findings on the adequacy of the damages awarded (or the lack
thereof).
11
A motion for new trial is a prerequisite to a civil complaint challenging the factual
sufficiency of the evidence supporting a jury finding. TEX. R. CIV. P. 324(b)(2).
“A point in a motion for new trial is a prerequisite to the following
complaints on appeal:
....
(2) A complaint of factual insufficiency of the evidence to support a jury
finding;
....
(4) A complaint of inadequacy or excessiveness of the damages found by the
jury [.]
TEX. R. CIV. P. 324(b).
To preserve error, the motion for new trial must state the factual sufficiency complaint
with sufficient specificity to make the trial court aware of the complaint, unless the specific
grounds were apparent from the context. See, e.g., Halim v. Ramchandani, 203 S.W.3d 482, 487
(Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, no pet.); TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a)(1)(A).
Appellant did not file a motion for a new trial, or any other post-trial motion addressing
the sufficiency of the evidence presented on the issue of damages, or the inadequacy of the jury’s
award. Accordingly, appellant failed to preserve the error complained of in her points or error
three and four.
4. Appellant Failed to Preserve Error to Points of Error 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 By
Failing to Object at Trial
Rule 33.1 of the Appellate Rules of Civil Procedure require that as a prerequisite for
presenting a complaint for appellate review, “the record must show that:
(1) the complaint was made to the trial court by a timely request, objection,
or motion that:
(A) stated the grounds for the ruling that the complaining party
sought from the trial court with sufficient specificity to make the trial
court aware of the complaint, unless the specific grounds were
apparent from the context; and
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(B) complied with the requirements of the Texas Rules of Civil or
Criminal Evidence or the Texas Rules of Civil or Appellate
Procedure; and
(2) the trial court:
(A) ruled on the request, objection, or motion, either expressly or
implicitly; or
(B) refused to rule on the request, objection, or motion, and
the complaining party objected to the refusal.
Tex. R. App. P. 33.1.
With respect to appellant’s points of error 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, appellant failed to properly
preserve error on these points. The record contains no objections or complaints to the trial court
on the specific issues now before the court.
a. Appellant Waived any Error Regarding Ex Parte Communications
Appellant contends that ex-parte communications occurred outside of her presence. She
fails to cite to any portion of the record where such conversations took place, and fails to identify
whether this alleged error was ever objected to or complained of on the record.
The prohibition against ex parte communications was designed to prevent litigious facts
coming before decision makers without becoming part of the record in the contested case. See
Lone Star Greyhound Park, Inc. v. Texas Racing Comm'n, 863 S.W.2d 742, 751 (Tex. App.--
Austin 1993, writ denied); Galveston County v. Texas Dep't of Health, 724 S.W.2d 115, 119-21
(Tex. App.--Austin 1987, writ ref'd n.r.e.). The mere fact that an ex parte communication
occurred is not sufficient to establish a violation of the constitutional guarantees of procedural
due process of law. See Smith v. Houston Chem. Servs., Inc., 872 S.W.2d 252, 278 (Tex. App.--
Austin 1994, writ denied). A violation of the prohibition against ex parte communications is not
13
shown unless a party establishes that the content of the ex parte conversation came within the
prohibition. Lone Star, 863 S.W.2d at 751.
There was no objection or complaint made to the trial court regarding the alleged ex-parte
communication, nor is there anything in the record suggesting improper ex parte
communications ever occurred with the trial court.
Appellant therefore waived error on this point.
b. Regarding Alleged Misconduct by Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Appellant suggests that her counsel failed to object to: 1) the jury panel, 2) a sleeping
juror, 3) statements made by opposing counsel, and 4) “defending the plaintiff.” To the extent
that appellant attempts to preserve error on any of these points, she waived argument on her own
admission of her failure to object.
To the extent that appellant is making an argument regarding the ineffective assistance of
counsel in a personal injury matter, Texas courts do not recognize a constitutional right to
effective assistance of counsel under these circumstances. See Guerrero v. Boyd, No. 01-07-
00465-CV, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 9227, 2008 WL 5178563, at *1 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] Dec. 11, 2008, no pet.) (mem. op.) ("The Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of
counsel, however, does not extend to civil cases such as this personal-injury lawsuit."); Parker v.
Fort Worth Transp. Auth., No. 02-03-00213-CV, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 3604, 2004 WL
868741, at *1 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Apr. 22, 2004, no pet.) (mem. op.) (overruling issue
concerning alleged ineffective assistance of counsel in a civil negligence suit).
Appellant’s arguments are therefore either waived, or disallowed by Texas law on the
issue of ineffective assistance of counsel.
c. Allegations of Defense Counsel’s Misconduct was Waived
14
Appellant’s point of error 9 regarding alleged misconduct of defense counsel at trial is
waived. In order to properly preserve error, appellant is required to object to the alleged
instances of misconduct. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1. The record citations presented by appellant do not
contain any instances of misconduct, although even assuming arguendo that misconduct may be
inferred by portions of the record, there are no objections to the alleged misconduct within the
record.
Again, appellant waived this point of error.
d. Appellant Erroneously Identifies Charge Submission as “Broad
Form,” And Failed to Preserve Error.
There is no error regarding appellant’s points of error 10 and 11 (repeat of point of error
10). Charge Question No. 2 to the jury was a granulated submission, and was not submitted in
“broad form” as suggested by the appellant. (CR – 110). There is no error regarding the form of
the submission.
Appellant also failed to object to the submission of Charge Question No. 2 at the time of
the charge conference. Thus any error in the form of the submission was waived.
B. The Trial Court’s Evidentiary Rulings Were Well Within the Trial Court’s
Discretion
1. The Trial Court Properly Excluded Evidence
Appellant contends in her fifth point of error that the trial court erred in excluding
evidence. It is unclear what evidence the trial court erred in excluding, although it appears from
appellant’s brief that it is documentary evidence in the form of a damage appraisal, a copy of
which is attached to appellant’s brief.1
1
To the extent that appellant failed to present this evidence during the trial through a bill of exceptions pursuant
to Rule 33.2 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, and now attempts to supplement the appellate record with
the document, appellee continues to object to the improper inclusion of the evidence as stated supra.
15
The admission or exclusion of evidence is a matter committed to the trial court's
discretion. See City of Brownsville v. Alvarado, 897 S.W.2d 750, 753 (Tex. 1995). The appellate
court should examine the entire record to determine whether the trial court committed error and
whether that error probably caused the rendition of an improper judgment. See TEX. R. APP. P.
44.1(a); Alvarado, 897 S.W.2d at 754; Gee v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 765 S.W.2d 394, 396,
32 Tex. Sup. Ct. J. 217 (Tex. 1989).
Though it appears that appellant waived error on this point by failing to include the
excluded piece of evidence in the clerk’s record through a bill of exceptions, the trial court also
acted well within its discretion when excluding the evidence. The record clearly states that the
evidence at issue was not produced during the discovery period, and that it was shown to defense
counsel for the first time during the trial. (RR 22-26).
The only exception to the automatic sanction of exclusion of evidence for failure to
supplement discovery responses is a showing of good cause for the failure to supplement. Sharp
v. Broadway Nat'l Bank, 784 S.W.2d 669, 671 (Tex. 1990) (per curiam); Tex. R. Civ. P. 215.5.
Appellant made no good-cause showing of any kind. Exclusion of the evidence was therefore
appropriate.
2. The Trial Court Acted Well-Within Its Discretion In Denying Plaintiff’s
Motion for “Enlargement of Time.”
In point of error 6, appellant contends that the trial court abused its discretion by denying
her motion for enlargement of time filed pursuant to Rule 6(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure. (CR 172-177). The motion was filed on or about May 23, 2014, and was promptly
denied by the trial court on May 28, 2014. (CR at 177). This motion was filed and ruled upon
over a week before the signing and entry of the Judgment on June 6, 2014. (CR 134-135).
16
Although there is no specific procedural vehicle in Texas jurisprudence (at least that this
counsel could locate) dealing with a post-verdict continuance or enlargement of time, it is
assumed that a trial court's decision to deny such a motion would be akin to denying a pre-
verdict motion for continuance or motion to modify a discovery-control plan. The trial court’s
ruling would therefore be subject to review under an abuse of discretion standard. See BMC
Software Belgium, N.V. v. Marchand, 83 S.W.3d 789, 800 (Tex. 2002) (applying abuse of
discretion standard to denial of motion for continuance requesting extension to complete
discovery); Brown v. Brown, 145 S.W.3d 745, 749-50 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2004, pet. denied)
(applying abuse of discretion standard to denial of motion for enlargement of time and
modification of discovery procedures). A trial court "abuses its discretion when it reaches a
decision so arbitrary and unreasonable as to amount to a clear and prejudicial error of law."
BMC, 83 S.W.3d at 800.
The motion and brief filed by appellant at the trial court fails to specify the factual basis
for the request for additional time, does not cite to any Texas precedent in support of the motion,
and fails to identify the “good cause” necessity for the additional time requested. The trial court
considered the appellant’s motion and brief, and after “careful consideration,” denied the motion.
There is nothing in the record suggesting that the trial court’s decision was so arbitrary and
unreasonable as to amount to clear error under these very limited and undefined circumstances.
PRAYER
Appellee requests that the Court deny appellant’s requests for relief and assess all costs
against axxppellant.
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Respectfully submitted,
WHITE SHAVER, P.C.
205 W. Locust Ave.
Tyler, Texas 75702
Telephone: 903/533-9447
Telefax: 903/595-3766
By:
Adam B. Allen
State Bar No. 24038738
AAllen@whiteshaverlaw.com
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I do certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Response was delivered to
Appellant in accordance with the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure on this 13th day of July,
2015.
_________________________________
Adam B. Allen
CERTIFICATE OF WORD COMPLIANCE
I do certify on this 13th day of July, 2015 that the foregoing Response is in compliance
with the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure as having 2,890 words within the Response.
_________________________________
Adam B. Allen
18