Tara Hoke v. the Campbell Group, LLC and Crown Pine Timber 1, L.P. ( 2016 )

NUMBER 13-14-00215-CV
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG
TARA HOKE, Appellant,
v.
THE CAMPBELL GROUP, LLC
AND CROWN PINE TIMBER 1, L.P., Appellees.
On appeal from the 75th District Court
of Liberty County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Garza, Perkes, and Longoria
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Perkes1
1 Pursuant to a docket-equalization order issued by the Supreme Court of Texas, the appeal has
been transferred to this Court from the Ninth Court of Appeals in Beaumont, Texas. See TEX. GOV’T CODE
ANN. § 73.001 (West, Westlaw through 2015 R.S.)
Appellant Tara Hoke (Hoke) appeals a summary judgment rendered in favor of
appellees The Campbell Group, LLC and Crown Pine Timber 1, L.P. Following a motor
vehicle accident, Hoke filed suit alleging negligence and gross negligence.2 Appellees
filed a traditional3 motion for summary judgment arguing that they owed no duty to Hoke,
which the trial court granted. By one issue, Hoke challenges the summary judgment
order, arguing “appellees failed to conclusively negate an element of her premises liability
and negligent activity claims, and [that she] raised issues of material fact.” We reverse
and remand.
I. BACKGROUND
As alleged in her original petition4, Hoke sustained injuries after her vehicle collided
with a logging truck. Hoke and the truck were both traveling on highway 96 in Hardin
County; Hoke in the right lane, the logging truck in the left. Attempting to turn onto a
private logging road owned by The Campbell Group, LLC and managed by Crown Pine
Timber 1, L.P., the truck unexpectedly turned in front of Hoke and activated its brakes,
stopping in the roadway. Hoke hit the rear of the logging truck and sustained injuries.
In her original petition, Hoke alleged appellees were negligent by: (1) failing to
use appropriate signage to alert and warn the traveling public of unusual and dangerous
2 Hoke also filed suit against Harold Watson, Delbert Croft, and Croft Logging. After granting
summary judgment in favor of The Campbell Group and Crown Pine Timber 1, L.P., the trial court severed
the remaining causes of action against defendants Watson, Croft, and Croft Logging.
3 Appellees solely submitted their motion as a “traditional” motion for summary judgment, and cite
solely to TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(c) (West, Westlaw through 2015 R.S.). They do not contend that it is a “no
evidence” motion for summary judgment, and make no citation to section 166a(i). Compare TEX. R. CIV.
P. 166a (c) with (i).
4 Neither party submitted any affidavit, deposition, or other evidence describing the accident or any
other factual matters regarding the case. Thus, we are referencing Hoke’s original petition to give some
general background.
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commercial activity; (2) failing to inspect the site for hazardous interference with the
traveling public; (3) failing to develop and/or implement a safe worksite plan to reduce the
risk of hazards to the traveling public from trucks turning onto the logging road; and
(4) failing to make a safe entrance for logging trucks turning off a major highway. Hoke
further alleged that appellees were grossly negligent. The original petition does not
include any references to either “negligent activity” or “negligence per se” and no statutory
references are included therein.5
Appellees filed a traditional motion for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 166a(c)
of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, claiming that Hoke could not prove an essential
element of her negligence claims. Appellees, however, did not attach or otherwise
reference any affidavit or other evidence to support their motion. Rather, they relied
solely on Hoke’s original petition, wherein she asserted that the accident did not occur on
appellees’ property. Appellees contend that the duty of a premises owner to provide
protection does not extend beyond the limits of the owner’s control. Since the accident
occurred on a highway and not on property controlled by appellees, appellees conclude
they owed no duty to Hoke, thus challenging an essential element of Hoke’s negligence
cause of action. The trial court granted summary judgment in appellees’ favor.6
5 Hoke’s original petition was the live pleading before the trial court at the time it entered its
summary judgment. Hoke’s appellate brief, however, is replete with background and other references to
her amended pleadings. Hoke’s first amended petition asserts appellees breached their duty to Hoke by
violating the Texas Administrative Code in the design of the driveway. Hoke’s second amended petition
further alleges appellees “failed to provide adequate instruction and research to [the truck’s driver] regarding
his procedure and route.” Inasmuch as both amended pleadings were filed after the trial court granted
summary judgment, and without leave, the amended petitions are not relevant to this appeal.
6 Appellees filed a reply to Hoke’s summary judgment response and objection to Hoke’s evidence.
The trial court, however, stated at the post-judgment hearing it was untimely filed and was not considered.
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II. DISCUSSION
By her sole issue, Hoke claims the trial court erred by granting summary judgment
on her negligence claims when appellees failed to conclusively negate an element of her
premises liability and negligent activity claims, and that she raised issues of material fact.
A. Standard of Review
We review the trial court’s summary judgment de novo. See FM Props. Operating
Co. v. City of Austin, 22 S.W.3d 868, 872 (Tex. 2000). When reviewing a summary
judgment, we take as true all evidence favorable to the nonmovant, and we indulge every
reasonable inference and resolve any doubts in the nonmovant’s favor. S.W. Elec.
Power Co. v. Grant, 73 S.W.3d 211, 215 (Tex. 2002); Sci. Spectrum, Inc. v. Martinez, 941
S.W.2d 910, 911 (Tex. 1997). Under Rule 166a(c) of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure,
the party moving for summary judgment bears the burden to show that no genuine issue
of material fact exists and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. TEX. R. CIV.
P. 166a(c); see Haase v. Glazner, 62 S.W.3d 795, 797 (Tex. 2001); Rhone–Poulenc, Inc.
v. Steel, 997 S.W.2d 217, 223 (Tex. 1999). A defendant, as movant, is entitled to
summary judgment if it (1) disproves at least one element of the plaintiff’s theory of
recovery; or (2) pleads and conclusively establishes each essential element of an
affirmative defense, thereby rebutting the plaintiff’s cause of action. Pico v. Capriccio
Italian Restaurant, Inc., 209 S.W.3d 902, 905 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, no
pet.); see Am. Tobacco Co. v. Grinnell, 951 S.W.2d 420, 425 (Tex. 1997). Because the
trial court’s order does not specify the grounds for its summary judgment, we must affirm
the summary judgment if any of the theories presented to the trial court are meritorious.
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Cincinnati Life Ins. Co. v. Cates, 927 S.W.2d 623, 626 (Tex. 1996); Carr v. Brasher, 776
S.W.2d 567, 569 (Tex. 1989).
B. Applicable Law
In order to establish tort liability, the plaintiff must establish the existence of a duty
owed by the defendant to the plaintiff and a breach of that duty. Otis Engineering Corp.
v. Clark, 668 S.W.2d 307, 309 (Tex. 1983). Whether a duty exists is the threshold inquiry
in a negligence case. Graff v. Beard, 858 S.W.2d 918, 919 (Tex. 1993). The duty of a
premises owner or occupier to provide protection arises from control of the premises, and
the duty does not extend beyond the limits of the premises owner’s control. Dixon v.
Houston Raceway Park, Inc., 874 S.W.2d 760, 762 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1994,
no pet.); see Grapotte v. Adams, 111 S.W.2d 690, 691 (Tex. 1938); La Fleur v.
Astrodome–Stadium Corp., 751 S.W.2d 563, 565 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1988,
no writ). An owner or occupier of property is not an insurer of the safety of travelers on
an adjacent highway and is not required to protect against the negligent acts of third
persons. Naumann v. Windsor Gypsom, Inc., 749 S.W.2d 189, 191 (Tex. App.—San
Antonio 1988, writ denied). However, the owner of a property abutting a public highway
must exercise reasonable care not to jeopardize or endanger the safety of persons
lawfully using the highway as a means of passage or travel and the owner is liable for any
injury that proximately results from his wrongful acts in such respects. See Carter v.
Steere Tank Lines, 835 S.W.2d 176, 178 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1992, writ denied); Skelly
Oil Co. v. Johnston, 151 S.W.2d 863, 865 (Tex. Civ. App.—Amarillo 1941, writ ref’d).
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C. Analysis
Appellees contend they owe no duty to Hoke because the vehicle accident did not
occur on their premises. According to appellees, the existence of duty depends on the
foreseeability of the harmful consequences resulting from the particular conduct at issue.
Appellees further argue that in determining whether a landowner owes a duty to those
traveling on adjacent public roadways, it is axiomatic that a person does not have a duty
to anticipate negligent or unlawful conduct on the part of another.
Appellees point to several cases for the proposition that a landowner has no duty
to guard passing motorists against the possible negligence of another over whom the
landowner exercises no control and whose competence to perform his duties the
landowner has no reason to doubt. See Garrett v. Houston Raceway Park, Inc., No. 14–
94–000929–CV, 1996 WL 354743, at *1–2 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] June 27,
1996, no writ); Dixon, 874 S.W.2d at 762; Lawson v. B Four Corp., 888 S.W.2d 31, 35
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, writ denied); Naumann v. Windsor Gypsum, Inc.,
749 S.W.2d 189, 191 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1988, writ denied). All four cases
involved accidents which took place on a highway adjacent to a defendant’s property.
For instance, in Garrett, which was almost factually identical to Dixon, an
eastbound driver who left the defendant’s property turned in front of the westbound
Garrett vehicle and caused an accident. See Garrett, 1996 WL 354743, at *1. The
defendants submitted summary judgment proof that the accident occurred off their
premises and that they had no right of control over the state road where the accident
occurred. Id. The Garrett court concluded that there was no greater risk or
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foreseeability of an accident in front of defendant’s property than on other portions of the
highway, and that the defendant had no duty to protect passing motorists from the
negligent acts of other motorists. Id. at *2.
Similarly, in Naumann, a truck driven by an independent contractor which entered
a highway from an adjoining landowner’s (Windsor Gypsum) property was involved in an
accident. See 749 S.W.2d at 191. After reviewing the summary judgment evidence,
the court held that Windsor Gypsum had every right to expect truck drivers, over whom
they had no control, to exercise due care in the operation of their vehicles as they exited
Windsor Gypsum’s plant, and that it was not foreseeable that the truck driver would act
in a negligent manner. Id at 192. The court concluded that Windsor Gypsum was not
obligated to guard passing motorists against the possible negligence of independent
contractors. Id.
Appellees liken the facts in this case with those in Dixon, Lawson, Garrett and
Naumann, arguing that there is no evidence they had any control over the driver or any
reason to doubt he was competent to drive his truck safely. Appellees have confused
the burden of proof. The burden was on appellees to bring forth competent summary
judgment evidence proving that they owed no duty to Hoke. TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(c); see
Haase v. Glazner, 62 S.W.3d 795, 797 (Tex. 2001). In each of those four cases, the
defendants submitted summary judgment evidence to support their respective motions.
Here, however, appellees did not.
The record is devoid of any affidavits, depositions, pictures or other summary
judgment evidence that would show how the accident occurred, where the accident
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occurred, or whether the accident was unforeseeable. There is no summary judgment
evidence that shows the conditions of the private roadway, the entrance of the driveway
in relation to the highway, and the proximity of the accident to appellees’ property
entrance or roadway. There is also no summary judgment evidence to show that the
driver executed his right turn in front of Hoke in a negligent manner or that appellees did
not exert any control over the driver. See Dixon, 874 S.W.2d at 762; see also Garrett,
1996 WL 354743, at *1; While we agree, as did the court in Naumann, that appellees
should expect drivers entering their property to exercise due care, there is simply no
summary judgment evidence in the record that the driver failed to do so.
Although appellees point to Hoke’s original petition as proof of their lack of a legal
duty, pleadings generally do not constitute summary judgment proof. See Brooks v. Ctr.
for Healthcare Servs., 981 S.W.2d 279, 283 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1998, no pet.).
Moreover, appellees do not argue that Hoke’s pleadings constitute judicial admissions
negating her cause of action, nor do we so hold. In short, the record is devoid of any
evidence that would allow a court to conduct an analysis of the legal duty owed based on
the facts of the accident, as was done in the cases we previously discussed. Because
appellees failed to meet their burden of proof negating an essential element of Hoke’s
cause of action, the trial court erred in granting their traditional motion for summary
judgment. Hoke’s issue is sustained.
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III. CONCLUSION
We reverse the trial court’s judgment and remand for further proceedings
consistent with this opinion.
GREGORY T. PERKES
Justice
Delivered and filed the
21st day of April, 2016.
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