Sunny Letot v. United Services Automobile Association ( 2017 )

VACATE, AFFIRM and REVERSE in Part, and REMAND; Opinion Filed April 27, 2017.
Court of Appeals
S In The
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-14-01394-CV
SUNNY LETOT, Appellant
V.
UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION, Appellee
On Appeal from the 192nd Judicial District Court
Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 13-00156-E
MEMORANDUM OPINION ON REHEARING
Before Justices Lang, Brown, and Richter 1
Opinion by Justice Brown
We deny appellee United Services Automobile Association’s (USAA) motion for
rehearing, but withdraw our original opinion and substitute the following in its place.
Appellant Sunny Letot appeals a summary judgment granted in favor of USAA. In two
issues, Letot generally asserts the trial court erred in granting summary judgment because (1)
USAA failed to establish that it properly reported her vehicle as salvage to the Texas Department
of Transportation, and (2) USAA otherwise failed to show it was entitled to summary judgment
on her individual claims. For the following reasons, we reverse the trial court’s summary
judgment on Letot’s claims under the Texas Insurance Code, conversion, and tortious
interference with existing contractual relations and remand those claims to the trial court for
1
The Hon. Martin Richter, Justice, Court of Appeals, Fifth District of Texas at Dallas, Retired, sitting by assignment.
further proceedings. We affirm the trial court’s summary judgment that Letot take-nothing on
her claims for tortious interference with prospective contractual relations, slander of title and
injurious falsehood.
Background
On January 2, 2009, Letot was involved in a motor vehicle accident with USAA’s
insured, Evan Crosby. At the time of the collision, Letot was driving a vintage 1983 Mercedes
she had recently restored.
Almost immediately after the collision, Letot contacted USAA seeking to recover her
property damages. On January 15, after investigating her claim, USAA informed Letot that it
had deemed her vehicle a “total loss” and offered to pay her $2,494.02, which it asserted was the
actual cash value of her vehicle. On January 20, Letot rejected USAA’s valuation and its offer.
Nevertheless, the next day, on January 21, USAA mailed Letot an uncertified check for
$2,494.02 and, the day after that, USAA submitted an “Owner Retained Report” (“Report”) to
the Texas Department of Transportation (“TxDoT”) pursuant to provisions of the Texas
Certificate of Title Act (“the Act”). 2 In the Report, USAA represented to TxDoT that it had paid
a claim on a salvage motor vehicle, that Letot retained that vehicle, and therefore the motor
vehicle records should be marked to prevent further transfer of title until Letot obtained a salvage
title.
Letot subsequently received USAA’s check. On January 30, now through counsel, Letot
returned the check. That same day, TxDoT sent Letot a letter to inform her that USAA had filed
the Report and, as a result, her registration was no longer valid, she was not permitted to operate
the vehicle, and she could not transfer it until she obtained a salvage title.
2
USAA asserts USAA CIC, a wholly owned subsidiary of USAA, actually insured Crosby. Letot refers to both USAA and USAA CIC as
USAA. However, in a footnote, she states it was USAA that actually filed the Report. The parties otherwise treat the entities the same for
purposes of this appeal. We refer to both USAA and USAA CIC as USAA.
–2–
After receiving the letter and discussing her options with her mechanic, Letot disposed of
the vehicle as scrap to avoid incurring further storage fees. Then, almost two years after it filed
the Report, USAA filed a “correction” with TxDoT, representing it had filed the Report in error
and that the damages to Letot’s vehicle were insufficient to classify it as a salvage motor vehicle.
Letot sued USAA asserting claims for (1) violations of the Insurance Code and the
Deceptive Trade Practices Act, (2) conversion, (3) tortious interference with existing and
prospective contractual relations, (4) slander of title, and (5) injurious falsehood. USAA moved
for summary judgment asserting both traditional and no-evidence grounds. First, USAA
asserted it was entitled to summary judgment on all of Letot’s claims because it properly filed
the Report in accordance with the provisions of the Act. USAA also moved for summary
judgment on each of Letot’s individual claims. Following a hearing, the trial court granted
USAA’s motion, without stating its reasons, and rendered judgment that Letot take nothing.
This appeal followed.
Summary Judgment
1. Traditional Motion for Summary Judgment
A traditional motion for summary judgment must state “the specific grounds therefor.”
TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(c); see also Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Lenk, 361 S.W.3d 602, 609 (Tex.
2012) (“[C]ourt cannot grant summary judgment on grounds that were not presented.”);
McConnell v. Southside Indep. Sch. Dist., 858 S.W.2d 337, 339 (Tex. 1993) (motion must
expressly present grounds for summary judgment). “Grounds” refers to the reasons entitling the
movant to summary judgment. McConnell, 858 S.W.2d at 339 n. 2. The motion must provide
the nonmovant with adequate information to oppose the motion and to define the issues for the
purpose of summary judgment. See Westchester Fire Ins. Co. v. Alvarez, 576 S.W.2d 771, 772
(Tex. 1978).
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To be entitled to traditional summary judgment, a defendant must conclusively negate at
least one essential element of each of the plaintiff’s causes of action or conclusively establish
each element of an affirmative defense. Am. Tobacco Co., Inc. v. Grinnell, 951 S.W.2d 420, 425
(Tex. 1997). Evidence is conclusive only if reasonable people could not differ in their
conclusions. City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 816 (Tex. 2005). Summary judgment is
also proper if the material facts are not in dispute and the sole question is whether those facts
entitle the movant to summary judgment. City of Dallas v. Cornerstone Bank, N.A., 879 S.W.2d
264, 269 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1994, no writ).
2. No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment
A no-evidence motion is distinct from a traditional motion. Its purpose is to pierce
the pleadings to assess whether the factual allegations have evidentiary support. Robinson v.
Warner–Lambert & Old Corner Drug, 998 S.W.2d 407, 410 (Tex. App.—Waco 1999, no pet.).
Unlike a movant seeking summary judgment on traditional grounds, the movant is not required
to show it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law or to present any evidence. See TEX. R. CIV.
P. 166a(i). Instead, the movant 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 the adverse party
would have the burden of proof at trial. See id. The motion must identify the particular element
or elements on which there is no evidence. Id. A motion may be directed at specific factual
theories or allegations within a claim or defense only if the challenge is connected to a specified
element of a claim or defense. See Pakideh v. Pope, No. 13–08–00560–CV, 2010 WL 3820899,
at *4–5 (Tex. App.-Corpus Christi Sept. 30, 2010, no pet.) (mem. op.) (no-evidence challenge to
fourteen factual allegations not connected to a no-evidence challenge to an element of a claim
was defective); see also Callaghan Ranch, Ltd. v. Killam, 53 S.W.3d 1, 3–4 (Tex. App.—San
Antonio 2000, pet. denied).
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In ruling on a no-evidence motion, the trial court does not rule on substantive
questions of law. See, e.g. Hartford Accident & Indem. Co. v. Seagoville Partners, 05-15-00760-
CV, 2016 WL 3199003, at *2 (Tex. App.—Dallas June 9, 2016, no pet.) (explaining distinction
between summary judgment rulings based on summary judgment evidence and those based on
substantive questions of law). Rather, it determines whether the movant produced more than a
scintilla of probative evidence to raise a fact issue on the challenged elements. Killingsworth v.
Housing Auth. of City of Dallas, 447 S.W.3d 480, 486 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2014, pet. denied).
More than a scintilla of evidence exists if the evidence rises to a level that would enable
reasonable and fair-minded jurors to differ in their conclusions. Hamilton v. Wilson, 249 S.W.3d
425, 426 (Tex. 2008) (per curiam).
Owner Retained Report
As noted, Letot’s claims are based on her complaint that USAA falsely reported that it
had “paid a claim” on a salvage motor vehicle. USAA moved for summary judgment asserting
it was entitled to traditional summary judgment on all of Letot’s claims because it showed, as a
matter of law, it filed the Report in accordance with mandatory provisions of the Texas
Transportation Code. In her first issue, Letot contends the trial court erred in granting summary
judgment on this ground because the Transportation Code neither required nor authorized USAA
to file the Report.
Our resolution of this issue turns on our construction of former section 501.093(a) of the
Act. At the time it filed the Report, section 501.093(a) provided: “if an insurance company pays
a claim on a nonrepairable motor vehicle or salvage motor vehicle and the insurance company
does not acquire ownership of the motor vehicle, the insurance company shall submit to
[TxDoT] . . . a report stating that the insurance company: (1) has paid a claim on the motor
vehicle; and (2) has not acquired ownership of the motor vehicle. See Act of May 4, 2003, 78th
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Leg., ch. 1325, § 17.02, 2003 Tex. Gen. Laws 4979, 4983 (current version at TEX. TRANSP. CODE
ANN. § 501.0002 (West 2012)). When an insurance company submits such a report the owner of
the motor vehicle “may not operate or permit operation of the motor vehicle on a public highway
or transfer ownership of the motor vehicle by sale or otherwise unless the department has issued
a salvage vehicle title or a nonrepairable vehicle title for the motor vehicle . . . .” Id. A “salvage
motor vehicle” is a vehicle that has suffered damages to the extent “the cost of repairs . . .
exceeds the actual cash value of the motor vehicle immediately before the damage.” TEX.
TRANSP. CODE ANN. § 501.091 (West 2012).
Initially we note that it is undisputed that Letot made a claim for property damages to her
vehicle. It is also undisputed that USAA offered to pay her what it had determined represented
the fair market value of her vehicle, but Letot rejected both that offer and the check that
followed. Finally, it is undisputed USAA actually paid nothing to Letot for her claim.
USAA nevertheless asserts it paid a claim on Letot’s vehicle because, it argues, a tender
of an uncertified check constitutes “payment of a claim,” regardless of whether the payee
accepted the payment, either before or after it was tendered. To support its contention, USAA
relies heavily on its assumption that the purpose of the Act is to protect the public from unsafe
vehicles. 3 From that, USAA views the payment requirement as a procedural issue to be
determined entirely from the perspective of the insurance company. More specifically, it asserts
the term “pay” refers to “process of bestowing funds.”
In interpreting a statute, we begin with the statute’s plain language. Greater Houston
P’ship v. Paxton, 468 S.W.3d 51, 59 (Tex. 2015). The term “pay” has been defined as “to
3
The Act itself states its purpose is to lessen and prevent theft of motor vehicles and the sale of encumbered motor vehicles without
disclosing prior liens. TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. § 501.003 (West 2012); see also Martinez v. Ford Motor Credit Co., 04-11-00306-CV, 2012
WL 3711347, at *3 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Aug. 29, 2012, pet. denied) (purpose of Act not to ensure vehicles in a safe condition, but to notify
downstream purchasers about vehicle’s prior damage.). We also note that whether a vehicle qualifies as salvage is a mathematical equation that
does not incorporate any safety considerations. Indeed, it is as much, if not more, dependent on the starting value of the vehicle as on the cost of
the repairs needed.
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discharge an obligation,” “to discharge an indebtedness for: SETTLE,” “to make an agreed . . .
transfer of money.” See Webster’s Third International Dictionary 519 (1981). USAA proffers
only one definition that defines the term “pay” entirely from the perspective of the payor.
Specifically, pay has been defined as “to give, offer, or make freely or fitting.” Webster’s Ninth
New Collegiate Dictionary, 9th ed. p. 864 (1988). However, the notation that follows that
definition explains it is referencing the meaning of the term in the context of to “pay attention.”
See id. So, we disagree with USAA that the term “pay” refers only to the payor’s conduct
without reference to any underlying agreement with the payee.
We likewise reject USAA’s assertion that the legal meaning of the term “pay” means
“tender” and, that as a consequence, its tender of an uncertified check to Letot constituted
payment of a claim. 4 A tender is an offer of funds. See Black’s Law Dictionary 1315 (5th ed.
1983) (tender is an offer or proffer of money); Bucuum v. Great Am. Ins. Co. of N.Y., 370
S.W.2d 863, 866 (Tex. 1963) (“A tender is an unconditional offer by a debtor to pay another, in
current coin of the realm, a sum not less in amount that that due on a specified debt or
obligation.”). It is not a payment of funds. 5 Moreover, tender of an uncertified check is a
conditional offer. See Probus Props. v. Kirby, 200 S.W.3d 258, 262–63 (Tex. App.—Dallas
2006, pet. denied). For an uncertified check to constitute a “payment,” the check must be both
accepted and then honored. Tex. Mut. Life Ins. Ass’n v. Tolbert, 136 S.W.2d 584, 589 (Tex.
1940). We conclude that “pay” does not have the same meaning as “tender of payment.” We
4
According to Letot, sections 2.511 and 3.310 of the Business and Commerce Code support her payment argument. Under section 3.310
“unless otherwise agreed . . . if a note or uncertified check is taken for an obligation, the obligation is suspended to the same extent the obligation
would be discharged if an amount of money equal to the amount of the instrument were taken.” We cannot agree that section lends any support
to USAA’s contention. Section 3.310 only applies if a party takes a check as payment, it does not force a party to accept a check as payment.
Under section 2.511, a tender of payment for goods is sufficient “when made by any means or in any manner current in the ordinary course of
business unless the seller demands payment in legal tender . . . .” TEX. BUS. COM. CODE ANN. § 2.511 (West 2009). Section 2.511 is
inapplicable for the simple reason that it applies only to transactions involving the sale of goods. Id. at § 2.102. Moreover Section 2.511
determines when a buyer’s payment constitutes a tender as a condition to the seller’s duty to tender and complete delivery of goods. Id. It does
not reference “payment.”
5
In Republic Underwriters Ins. Co. v. Mex-Tex, Inc., 150 S.W.3d 423 (2004), the Texas Supreme Court concluded that the mailing of a
check constitutes a tender of payment, and if unconditional, is sufficient to preclude a claimant from claiming penalties for failure to make a
prompt payment. Contrary to USAA’s suggestion, the Supreme Court did not conclude mailing a check constitutes a payment. See id.
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further conclude that if the Legislature intended to require an insurer to submit a Report on a
tender of payment alone, it surely would have said so.
Here, USAA showed only that it mailed an uncertified check in an effort to pay Letot a
portion of her claimed damages. It is undisputed that Letot did not accept either the amount of
payment or the manner in which USAA tendered it. Further, because Letot returned the check,
USAA did not actually transfer any funds to Letot. We conclude USAA did not conclusively
establish it paid a claim on Letot’s vehicle or, therefore, that it properly filed the Report. Thus,
the trial court erred in granting USAA’s motion for summary judgment on that ground. 6
USAA also moved for summary judgment on each of Letot’s individual causes of
actions. USAA’s expressed grounds for summary judgment were largely based on, or at least
intertwined with, its interpretation of the statutory language. We will address Letot’s remaining
challenges to the extent USAA’s motion asserted independent grounds supporting summary
judgment.
Deceptive Insurance Practices
Letot asserted USAA violated provisions of 17.46(b) of the Deceptive Trade
Practices Act (“DTPA”) by falsely representing to TxDoT that it had paid a claim on a salvage
motor vehicle. TEX. BUS. & COM. CODE ANN. § 17.46(b) (West 2011). Letot asserted her claims
both directly under the DTPA and through section 541.051 of the Insurance Code. See TEX. INS.
CODE ANN. § 541.151 (West 2009). USAA filed a motion for summary judgment on these
claims asserting Letot lacked standing to sue under either the DTPA or the Insurance Code.
First, USAA asserted Letot lacked standing to sue directly under the DTPA because she was not
6
In its motion for rehearing, USAA asserts that, regardless of whether it paid a claim on Letot’s vehicle, the trial court properly granted its
traditional motion for summary judgment because it conclusively established Letot’s vehicle was a salvage motor vehicle. USAA did not move
for summary judgment on that ground. Nor were Letot’s claims premised on whether or not, as a factual matter, her vehicle was a salvage motor
vehicle.
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a consumer. In a separate ground, USAA asserted that Letot lacked standing under the Insurance
Code because her claims arose out of USAA’s actions in handling her claim as a third party
claimant of insurance benefits. On appeal, Letot only challenges the trial court’s summary
judgment with respect to her standing under section 541.051 the Insurance Code.
Under Section 541.051, “a person” may bring a claim for damages for violations of
section 17.46(b) the DTPA. Id. Thus, the Insurance Code, unlike the DTPA, does not require a
plaintiff to be a consumer to bring an action, even if her claims are based on violations of the
DTPA. Crown Life Ins. Co. v. Casteel, 22 S.W.3d 378, 384 (2000). The plaintiff may,
nevertheless, be required to prove consumer status if the DTPA violation asserted itself requires
consumer status. Id.
In its motion for summary judgment USAA asserted Letot lacked standing to assert
claims under the Insurance Code because her claims arose out of its actions in settling her claim
against Crosby, its insured. USAA relied on Allstate Ins. v. Watson, 866 S.W.2d 145, 149 (Tex.
1994). In Watson, the plaintiff sued Allstate asserting claims for unfair settlement practices and
specifically complained Allstate had failed to promptly settle her third-party claim against its
insured. The supreme court acknowledged the Insurance Code (then former article 21.21)
granted broad standing to “any person” to sue for unfair practices in the business of insurance.
The supreme court nevertheless concluded the plaintiff in that case lacked standing. Id. The
supreme court’s analysis turned on whether the plaintiff had a substantive claim under the
Insurance Code. It concluded she did not because her claims were based on violations of duties
Allstate did not owe her, but owed its insured. See id. at 145. The supreme court refused to
recognize a third-party cause of action because it would compromise the insurer’s duties to its
insured. Id. at 150.
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The Supreme Court has since declined to extend Watson beyond its rationale. See
Rocor Intern, Inc. v. Nat’l Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, P.A., 77 S.W.3d 253, 258 (Tex. 2002);
Casteel, 22 S.W.3d at 384. Specifically, the Supreme Court has consistently recognized the
Insurance Code provides broad standing to any person who has been damaged by deceptive or
unfair trade practices in the insurance industry. See Casteel, 22 S.W.3d at 384 (grant of broad
standing is consistent with legislature’s express objective to regulate all insurance trade
practices); see also Rocor Intern, 77 S.W.3d at 77.
In its motion for summary judgment, USAA relied entirely on Letot’s status as a
third party claimant to show she lacked standing to assert claims under the Insurance Code. In
other words, USAA did not assert she lacked an underlying claim. Nor did it assert she lacked
standing to sue for the specific DTPA violations she alleged. We conclude Letot’s status as a
third party claimant was only incidental to her claims and therefore, did not defeat her standing.
Specifically, Letot was not claiming USAA owed her any duties or obligations under an
insurance policy. Nor were Letot’s claims related to any liability Crosby may have had. We
conclude USAA did not conclusively establish that Letot lacked standing to assert her claims. 7
USAA also moved for summary judgment on the merits of Letot’s Insurance Code
claims. As noted, Letot’s claims under the Insurance Code were based on her contention that
USAA violated provisions of the DTPA. On appeal, the parties both identify USAA’s motion
for summary judgment on these claims as generally challenging whether Letot had any evidence
it made a false statement.
According to Letot, the trial court erred in granting summary judgment on this
ground because she presented sufficient evidence to show USAA falsely stated it paid a claim on
7
On appeal, Letot also asserts the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of USAA on her Insurance Code claims because
she asserted DTPA violations that do not require consumer standing. We have reviewed USAA’s motion for summary judgment and conclude it
did not assert that, and it did not ask the trial court determine whether Letot’s individual claims required consumer status. We conclude that
question is not properly before us at this time.
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her vehicle. In its response, USAA relies on essentially the same arguments it made under the
first issue; specifically, it asserts it did pay a claim on a salvage motor vehicle. We have
previously rejected USAA’s contention. We conclude the trial court erred in granting USAA’s
motion for summary judgment on this basis.
USAA also moved for summary judgment on Letot’s Insurance Code claims on the
basis that she had no evidence of any damages. Letot presented evidence that, as a direct result
of USAA’s representations, she was prohibited from operating her vehicle, her registration was
declared invalid, and she was required to obtain a salvage vehicle title. We conclude this
evidence constitutes more than a scintilla of evidence to show Letot was damaged as a result of
USAA’s conduct. For the foregoing reasons, we conclude the trial court erred in granting
USAA’s motion for summary judgment on Letot’s claims under the Insurance Code.
Conversion
Letot next asserts the trial court erred in granting USAA’s motion for summary judgment
on her conversion claim. Conversion is the “unauthorized and wrongful assumption and exercise
of dominion and control over the personal property of another, to the exclusion of or inconsistent
with the owner’s rights.” Waisath v. Lack’s Stores, Inc., 474 S.W.2d 444, 447 (Tex. 1971); see
also Wells Fargo Bank Nw., N.A. v. RPK Capital XVI, L.L.C., 360 S.W.3d 691, 699 (Tex.
App.—Dallas 2012, no pet.). To prove conversion, a plaintiff must ordinarily establish: (1) it
owned or had legal possession of the property or entitlement to possession; (2) the defendant
unlawfully and without authorization assumed and exercised dominion and control over the
property to the exclusion of, or inconsistent with, the plaintiff’s rights; (3) the plaintiff demanded
return of the property; and (4) the defendant refused to return the property. Khorshid, Inc. v.
Christian, 257 S.W.3d 748, 75859 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2008, no pet.). The demand and refusal
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elements are not, however, required if other evidence establishes an act of conversion. 8 See
Presley v. Cooper, 155 Tex. 168, 284 S.W.2d 138, 141 (1955); see also Wells Fargo Bank Nw.,
N.A. v. RPK Capital XVI, L.L.C., 360 S.W.3d 691, 700 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012, no pet.). An
act of conversion does not have to be an actual manual taking but merely an act that is such an
active interference with the owner’s right of property or control as to deprive him of its free use
and enjoyment. Pierson v. GFH Fin. Services Corp., 829 S.W.2d 311, 314 (Tex. App.—Austin
1992, no writ) (citing Waisath v. Lack’s Stores, Inc., 474 S.W.2d 444, 447 (Tex. 1971)); see also
American Surety Co. v. Hill County, 254 S.W. 241, 245–46 (Tex. Civ. App. 1923), aff’d, 267
S.W. 265 (1924).
Letot’s conversion claim was based on her complaint that USAA unlawfully exercised
dominion and control over her vehicle, her title and her registration by filing the Report. See
Bures v. First Nat. Bank, Port Lavaca, 806 S.W.2d 935, 938 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1991,
no writ) (a title is property subject to conversion). USAA moved for summary judgment
asserting:
There is no evidence supporting any element of Letot’s
conversion claim. Indeed, the summary judgment evidence
conclusively establishes that USAA [] never exercised dominion or
control over Letot’s vehicle. It is undisputed that, at all times
before she destroyed the vehicle and sold it as scrap, Letot, not
USAA [] retained exclusive control over the vehicle. Indeed, the
act about which Letot complains is [USAA’s] filing of an “Owner
Retained Report with the TxDoT, in which USAA [] noted that
despite [USAA’s] payment, Letot retained possession of the
vehicle.
Initially, we note that USAA’s motion for summary judgment was premised on the
assumption that conversion requires the defendant to exercise physical dominion and control
8
Ordinarily, a demand and refusal are required to establish a conversion when a person initially acquired possession lawfully and without
fault. Hull v. Freedman, 383 S.W.2d 236, 238 (Tex. Civ. App.—Fort Worth 1964, writ ref’d n.r.e.). The purpose of demand and refusal is most
effectively illustrated in bailment, where “a conversion by the bailee cannot otherwise by shown than by his refusal to comply with the demand
for possession.” Id; Burns v. Rochon, 190 S.W.3d 263, 270 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.).
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over property. However, USAA did not move for summary judgment on that basis or any other
traditional ground for summary judgment. See, e.g. Hartford Accident & Indem., 2016 WL
3199003, at *2 (explaining distinction between summary judgment rulings based on summary
judgment evidence and those based on substantive questions of law); see also Sacks v.
Zimmerman, 401 S.W.3d 336, 339 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2013, pet. denied); (party
should not circumvent the protective features of the special exception procedure by urging a
motion for summary judgment on the pleadings or by other means when a plaintiff's pleadings
fail to state a claim). Instead, it moved for summary judgment on “no evidence” grounds, but
based on a factual theory that Letot did not allege. Dallas Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Finlan, 27 S.W.3d
220, 231-32 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2000, pet. denied) (motion for summary judgment must meet
the plaintiff’s cause of action as pleaded).
We conclude Letot presented sufficient evidence to support the elements of her claim
based on the factual theory she alleged. The summary judgment evidence showed that, after
Letot rejected USAA’s offer to pay her claim, USAA notified TxDoT it had paid her claim, that
Letot had retained the vehicle, and therefore her motor vehicle records should be marked to
prevent her from transferring it. Robinson v. Nat’l Autotech, Inc., 117 S.W.3d 37, 40 (Tex.
App.—Dallas 2003, pet. denied) (dominion is defined as: “in law, power to direct, control, use,
and dispose of; right of possession and use). As a direct result, the record of Letot’s title was
physically marked as “SURRENDERED,” Letot’s registration was cancelled, and Letot was
prohibited from using or transferring the vehicle. We conclude Letot presented sufficient
summary judgment evidence to show USAA intentionally and unlawfully assumed and exercised
dominion and control over her property in a manner that was inconsistent with her rights. 9
9
We also reject USAA’s assertion that Letot failed to raise a fact issue because, regardless of its actions, Letot only had the rights of an
owner of a salvage vehicle. USAA’s argument, however, does not relate to the elements of conversion or to whether Letot presented sufficient
evidence to support them. See Pakideh, 2010 WL 3820899, at *4–5 (a no-evidence motion for summary judgment may be directed at specific
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USAA also moved for summary judgment on the basis that there was no evidence USAA
intended to assert a right in Letot’s property. However, USAA’s argument was premised on its
contention that USAA had no intent to obtain physical possession of Letot’s property, which was
not disputed. Moreover, the evidence showed USAA intentionally filed the Report, claiming it
had paid a claim on a salvage vehicle, and USAA specifically requested TxDoT to invalidate
Letot’s title. We conclude that evidence raised a fact issue showing USAA intentionally asserted
rights in Letot’s property.
Finally, USAA moved for summary judgment on the ground that Letot could show no
injury or damages. Again, it is undisputed that, as a direct result of USAA’s actions, Letot’s title
and registration were no longer valid. We conclude that evidence was sufficient to raise a fact
issue on damages. Therefore, USAA did not establish it was entitled to summary judgment on
Letot’s conversion claim.
Tortious Interference with Existing Contract
Letot next asserts the trial court erred in granting summary judgment on her tortious
interference with existing contract claim. Letot’s tortious interference claim was based on her
complaint that USAA falsely represented to TxDoT that it had paid her claim on a salvage
vehicle and requested it to mark her title record to prevent her from transferring her vehicle. As
an immediate result of USAA’s actions, her registration and title were deemed invalid.
A party alleging tortious interference must prove four elements to sustain its claim: (1)
that a contract subject to interference exists; (2) that the alleged act of interference was willful
and intentional; (3) that the willful and intentional act proximately caused damage; and (4) that
actual damage or loss occurred. ACS Inv'rs, Inc. v. McLaughlin, 943 S.W.2d 426, 430 (Tex.
factual theories or allegations within a claim or defense if the challenge to the factual allegation is connected to a no-evidence challenge to a
specified element of a claim or defense).
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1997). In its motion for summary judgment, USAA acknowledged that Letot’s tortious
interference claim was based on its interference with her vehicle registration and permit. USAA
did not dispute the registration and permit existed or that it interfered with them. Thus, USAA’s
motion was not directed to whether Letot could prove the factual basis of her claim. It
nevertheless purported to move for summary judgment on “no-evidence grounds,” asserting that
it could not have interfered with Letot’s existing contract because “there was no existing contract
or agreement between Letot and the state under which Letot was entitled to anything but a
‘salvage motor vehicle.’”
Having reviewed USAA’s motion for summary judgment, we agree with Letot that it did
not present a legal basis for summary judgment on this claim. Indeed, it is not entirely clear on
what legal theory USAA was basing its entitlement to summary judgment. We conclude the trial
court erred in granting USAA summary judgment on Letot’s tortious interference with existing
contract claim.
Tortious Interference with Prospective Contractual Relations
Letot also asserts the trial court erred in granting USAA’s traditional motion for summary
judgment on her tortious interference with prospective contract claim. To prevail on a claim for
tortious interference with prospective business relations, the plaintiff must establish that: (1)
there was a reasonable probability that the plaintiff would have entered into a business
relationship with a third party; (2) the defendant either acted with a conscious desire to prevent
the relationship from occurring or knew the interference was certain or substantially certain to
occur as a result of the conduct; (3) the defendant’s conduct was independently tortious or
unlawful; (4) the interference proximately caused the plaintiff injury; and (5) the plaintiff
suffered actual damage or loss as a result. Coinmach Corp. v. Aspenwood Apartment Corp., 417
S.W.3d 909, 923 (Tex. 2013).
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USAA moved for summary judgment asserting Letot had no evidence USAA committed
any independent tortious conduct, no evidence it interfered with any prospective business
relationships, and no evidence she was injured as a result of any interference. On appeal, Letot
asserts USAA’s filing of the Report was independently tortious. Letot has not, however,
challenged USAA’s other grounds for summary judgment on this claim. Therefore, she has
failed to show the trial court erred in granting summary judgment on this claim. TEX. R. APP. P.
38.1(h); Capital One, N.A. v. Haddock, 394 S.W.3d 605, 612 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012, pet.
denied).
Slander of Title/Injurious Falsehood
Letot’s claims for slander of title and injurious falsehood were based on her claim that
USAA made false and disparaging statements about her car. USAA moved for summary
judgment on those claims asserting, among other things, she had no evidence of special damages
and no evidence that she had lost a specific sale. Slander of title is a species of injurious
falsehood arising from a party’s disparaging statements about a person’s title. See Ellis v.
Waldrop, 656 S.W.2d 902, 904-05 (Tex. 1983). To succeed in an action for slander of title, a
party must prove special damages, specifically the loss of a specific sale. Id. On appeal, Letot
has not challenged USAA’s motion for summary judgment on the ground that she had no
evidence of special damages and no evidence she lost a specific sale. We conclude she has failed
to show summary judgment on this claim was improper.
For the foregoing reasons, we conclude the trial court erred in granting summary
judgment in favor of USAA on Letot’s claims under the Insurance Code, for conversion, and for
tortious interference with existing contract and remand those claims to the trial court for further
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proceedings. We affirm the trial court’s judgment ordering that Letot take nothing on her claims
for tortious interference with prospective contract and slander of title and injurious falsehood.
/Ada Brown/
ADA BROWN
JUSTICE
141394F.P05
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S
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
JUDGMENT
SUNNY LETOT, Appellant On Appeal from the 192nd Judicial District
Court, Dallas County, Texas
No. 05-14-01394-CV V. Trial Court Cause No. 13-00156-E.
Opinion delivered by Justice Brown. Justices
UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE Lang and Richter participating.
ASSOCIATION, Appellee
In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, we VACATE our August 18, 2016
judgment.
The trial court’s judgment is AFFIRMED in part and REVERSED in part. We
REVERSE that portion of the trial court’s judgment that appellant Sunny Letot take nothing on
her claims under the Texas Insurance Code, conversion, and tortious interferences with existing
contractual relations. In all other respects, the trial court’s judgment is AFFIRMED. We
REMAND this cause to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
It is ORDERED that appellant SUNNY LETOT recover her costs of this appeal from
appellee UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION.
Judgment entered this 27th day of April, 2017.
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