BZ Tire Shop v. Brian Brite and Brian Brite Enterprises, Inc. ( 2012 )

OPINION
No. 04-11-00670-CV
BZ TIRE SHOP,
Appellant
v.
Brian BRITE and Brian Brite Enterprises, Inc.,
Appellees
From the 2nd 25th Judicial District Court, Guadalupe County, Texas
Trial Court No. 09-1877-CV
Honorable W.C. Kirkendall, Judge Presiding
Opinion by: Steven C. Hilbig, Justice
Sitting: Rebecca Simmons, Justice
Steven C. Hilbig, Justice
Marialyn Barnard, Justice
Delivered and Filed: October 31, 2012
AFFIRMED
BZ Tire Shop (“BZ Tire”) appeals from a judgment rendered in favor of Brian Brite and
Brian Brite Enterprises, Inc. (collectively “Brite”). In one issue, BZ contends the trial court
erred in failing to grant a new trial after it was discovered that one juror was statutorily
disqualified from serving on the jury. See TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 62.102(7) (West Supp.
2012). We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
04-11-00670-CV
BACKGROUND
BZ Tire filed suit against Brite for defective construction of a building. Venireperson
Shawn Dozier was one of the eleven members of the jury that rendered a take-nothing verdict.
Before the parties conducted voir dire, the judge advised and questioned the jury panel about
their qualifications to serve. Dozier told the judge that he had been arrested for writing a “hot
check” in 1995 in Guadalupe County and paid a fine, but had never been placed on probation.
After further questioning by the judge, the trial court indicated he believed Dozier had only been
charged and not convicted. The trial court allowed Dozier to remain on the venire panel and
Dozier ultimately served on the jury.
After the verdict was rendered, BZ Tire discovered Dozier had pled guilty and was
convicted of felony theft in Bexar County in 1996. BZ Tire filed a Motion to Disregard the
Verdict and/or Motion for New Trial. At the hearing on the motion, BZ Tire introduced certified
copies of documents that demonstrated Dozier pled guilty to a felony theft in Bexar County in
1996 and successfully completed probation. Dozier testified at the hearing and explained that he
believed he received deferred adjudication and therefore did not have a felony conviction. He
also testified that because he believed he had received deferred adjudication for the theft charge,
he did not mention it to the parties during voir dire. The trial court denied BZ Tire’s Motion to
Disregard the Verdict and/or Motion for New Trial.
ANALYSIS
We review a trial court’s denial of a motion for new trial under an abuse of discretion
standard. Waffle House, Inc. v. Williams, 313 S.W.3d 796, 813 (Tex. 2010); Medistar Corp. v.
Schmidt, 267 S.W.3d 150, 159 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2008, pet. denied). A trial court abuses
its discretion when it acts unreasonably or without regard for any guiding legal principles.
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Medistar, 267 S.W.3d at 159. BZ Tire contends the trial court erred in not granting its motion
because Dozier was statutorily disqualified from serving on the jury. See TEX. GOV’T CODE
ANN. § 62.102(7)(West Supp. 2012) (“A person is disqualified to serve as a petit juror unless the
person . . . has not been convicted of misdemeanor theft or a felony.”); Dempsey v. Beaumont
Hosp., Inc., 38 S.W.3d 287, 289-91 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2001, pet. dism’d); R.R.E. v. Glenn,
884 S.W.2d 189, 191-94 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1994, writ denied). Brite does not dispute that
Dozier was disqualified to serve on the jury, but instead argues a new trial was not warranted
because BZ Tire failed to show harm arising from Dozer’s inclusion on the jury.
Contrary to BZ Tire’s argument, the participation of an unqualified juror in the jury’s
verdict does not automatically entitle a party to a new trial. See De Leon v. Longoria, 4 S.W.2d
222, 225 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1928, writ dism’d w.o.j.) (holding “the mere fact that a
member of a jury in a civil case is [disqualified] does not of itself require that the verdict of that
jury be set aside.”); see also Mercy Hosp. of Laredo v. Rios, 776 S.W.2d 626, 628 (Tex. App.—
San Antonio 1989, writ denied) (holding appellant waived complaint that illiterate juror was
unqualified); Jenkins v. Chapman, 636 S.W.2d 238, 240 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1982, writ
dism’d) (holding appellant waived complaint regarding unqualified juror who was accepted and
not complained about until after unfavorable verdict). However, we must determine whether,
absent waiver or agreement, a showing of harm is required in order to be entitled to a new trial.
The Texas Supreme Court has held that a party is materially injured by the rendition of an
unfavorable verdict when an unqualified juror voted with the majority in a 10-2 verdict. See
Palmer Well Servs., Inc. v. Mack Trucks, Inc., 776 S.W.2d 575, 577 (Tex. 1989). In making its
determination, the court noted that Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 292 permits a verdict of less
than ten jurors of a twelve person jury only when three jurors die or become disabled from
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sitting. Id. at 576. Because one of the ten jurors voting for the verdict was not qualified to serve,
the Court reasoned that Palmer was materially injured by the rendition of an unfavorable verdict
by less than the requisite number of qualified jurors. Id. at 577. The court distinguished De
Leon by explaining that in De Leon a sufficient number of jurors remained that could have
rendered a binding verdict. Id. The court’s reasoning in Palmer suggests that a verdict rendered
by a jury that includes one disqualified juror does not establish a material injury as a matter of
law. Under Palmer the presence of an unqualified juror in an 11-1 majority does not result in a
reversal of the verdict as a matter of law when, as here, the required ten qualified jurors rendered
the verdict.
BZ Tire argues that the Texas Supreme Court’s opinion in McDaniel v. Yarbrough, 898
S.W.2d 251 (Tex. 1995), and the court of appeals opinion in Dempsey compel a reversal in this
case. We disagree. In McDaniel, the Supreme Court considered whether the trial court erred
when it dismissed a juror sua sponte when the juror had indicated she was not able to attend
court due to heavy flooding. McDaniel, 898 S.W.2d at 252. The court held the trial court erred
because the circumstances did not rise to level of a juror disability to permit dismissal of the
juror under the constitution or rule 292. Id. at 253. The court held that it is constitutional error
to deprive a litigant of a full jury of twelve members, “absent an exception authorized by the
constitution or applicable rules.” Id. Similarly in Dempsey, a juror failed to appear after the jury
retired for deliberations. Dempsey, 38 S.W.3d at 289. It was discovered the juror was
disqualified to serve because he had prior felony convictions. Id. The trial judge denied a
mistrial motion and the deliberations proceeded with eleven jurors. Id. The court of appeals
held the action of the trial court deprived Dempsey of his constitutional right to a twelve-person
jury. Id. at 291.
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BZ Tire also relies on R.R.E. v. Glenn, 884 S.W.2d 189 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth
1994,writ denied), to support its argument that the judgment must be reversed. In R.R.E., the
court held that the presence of a juror disqualified to serve because of a felony conviction denied
the litigant his constitutional right to a jury. Id. at 194. However, in doing so, the court also
noted that the appellant suffered significant harm because the evidence showed the disqualified
juror played a “leading role” in convincing three jurors to change their votes. Id. at 191, 194.
The issue presented — whether the presence of a disqualified juror on a twelve-person
jury equates to a jury of less than twelve — is closer to the facts considered by the Supreme
Court in Palmer than those in McDaniel. Here, twelve persons deliberated and rendered the
verdict. And in R.R.E., it is clear the court considered the harm occasioned by the presence of an
unqualified juror. We believe it is appropriate to require a party seeking a new trial under the
circumstances present here to show harm. “As a general matter, few exceptions to the ‘harmless
error’ rule have been recognized.” In re K.R., 63 S.W.3d 796, 799 (Tex. 2001). Harm must be
shown when a party seeks a new trial in cases where it is alleged a juror is biased, there is jury
misconduct, and in criminal cases where it is discovered after the verdict that a juror in the case
was disqualified from service. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 327(a); TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art.
44.46 (West 2006); Nelson v. State, 129 S.W.3d 108, 112 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004) (criminal
cases); Golden Eagle Archery, Inc. v. Jackson, 24 S.W.3d 362, 372 (Tex. 2000) (jury
misconduct); Shepherd v. Ledford, 962 S.W.2d 28, 34 (Tex. 1998) (bias). Accordingly, we
follow the Supreme Court’s reasoning in Palmer and determine whether BZ Tire suffered any
harm from the presence of the unqualified juror.
The verdict in this cause was rendered by eleven jurors. The disqualified juror was
among the eleven. Excluding the disqualified juror, ten jurors remain to support the verdict.
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Rule 292 permits a verdict rendered by ten or more members of an original twelve-person jury.
BZ Tire offered no evidence that the presence of the disqualified juror harmed it, other than
making its argument for automatic reversal — an argument we have rejected. BZ Tire has failed
to show any harm from Dozier’s inclusion on the jury. Therefore, we conclude the trial court did
not err in denying BZ Tire’s motion for new trial.
CONCLUSION
Accordingly, we overrule BZ Tire’s issues on appeal and affirm the trial court’s
judgment.
Steven C. Hilbig, Justice
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