Xijun Wang v. Robin Yao

Opinion issued November 15, 2012.
In The
Court of Appeals
For The
First District of Texas
————————————
NO. 01-11-00923-CV
———————————
XIIJUN WANG, Appellant
V.
ROBIN YAO, Appellee
On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 1
Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Case No. 968714
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Xijun Wang appeals the trial court’s rendition of a take-nothing judgment in
his suit against Robin Yao. Wang sued Yao for breach of contract, alleging he
loaned Yao over $90,000 that Yao failed to repay. After a bench trial, the trial
court rendered a take-nothing judgment on Wang’s claims. Wang contends the
trial court erred by denying his request for an interpreter, by sustaining objections
to certain exhibits, and because the evidence is factually insufficient to support the
trial court’s judgment. We affirm.
Background
The Hunan River Chinese Restaurant was owned by HDH Enterprise, LLC.
Yao was part-owner of HDH and ran the restaurant. Wang testified that he loaned
over $90,000 to Yao from 2006 to early 2008 for the costs of running the
restaurant. Wang said Yao expressly told him that all the money Wang was
advancing would be repaid. Wang introduced several checks that he contends
showed the amount he loaned to Yao. Wang also introduced several documents in
support of his claim, a loan agreement and promissory note and three separate
documents each entitled “Bill of Sale and Assignment of Business Interest.” Wang
testified that Yao did not provide an interpreter or translator to translate the bills of
sale for Wang and also told Wang that the money he was to pay under the
agreements was a loan and would be repaid. Wang also introduced a check he
received from Yao for $80,000. Wang claimed the check was meant as a
repayment on the loan, but was returned for insufficient funds.
Yao testified that Wang did not loan him any money. He pointed out that
the “Loan Agreement and Promissory Note” was signed by him as president of
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Hersky Trading, LLC, not individually. Yao also testified that Wang was not
making a loan, but buying an interest in HDH, to become co-owner of the
restaurant. The bills of sale list HDH as the seller and Wang as the buyer of “the
assets of [Hunan River].” Finally, Yao pointed out that the $80,000 check was not
his personal check, but rather a check of HDH, and testified that it was intended to
be a re-purchase of Wang’s interest in HDH.
After opening statements and just before Wang’s testimony, the trial court
summarized for the record a discussion that had taken place off the record. The
trial court stated that Wang had brought Charmin Lee, an individual proficient in
Mandarin Chinese, Wang’s native tongue, to court and requested that Lee act as
Wang’s interpreter. The trial court, however, denied the request because Lee was
not a licensed court interpreter. The trial court asked, “Is that a correct recitation
[for] the record of everyone’s understanding?” Counsel for Wang and counsel for
Yao both answered, “Yes, Judge.”
The parties tried the case to the bench, which found for Yao and entered a
take-nothing judgment. Wang appeals.
Wang’s Request to Have Lee Interpret
In his first issue, Wang contends that the trial court erred in denying his
request to use Lee as an interpreter.
3
Section 57.002(a) of the Texas Government Code provides, “A court shall
appoint a . . . licensed court interpreter if a motion for the appointment of an
interpreter is filed by a party or requested by a witness in a civil or criminal
proceeding in the court.” TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 57.002(a) (West Supp. 2012).
A court also may, on its own initiative, appoint a licensed court interpreter. Id.
§57.002(b). The statue defines “licensed court interpreter” as “an individual
licensed under Subchapter C by the Texas Commission of Licensing and
Regulation to interpret court proceedings for an individual who can hear but who
does not comprehend English or communicate in English.”1 Id. § 57.001(5) (West
Supp. 2012).
The statute provides that interpreters who are not licensed may be
appointed, but only in narrow circumstances. For example, a court “may appoint a
spoken language interpreter who is not a licensed court interpreter” in a county
with a population of less than 50,000.2 Id. § 57.002(c). A court may appoint a
1
Section 57.002 also applies to a “certified court interpreter,” which is “an
individual who is a qualified interpreter as defined in Article 38.31, Code of
Criminal Procedure, or Section 21.003, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, or
certified under Subchapter B by the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative
Services to interpret court proceedings for a hearing-impaired individual.” TEX.
GOV’T CODE ANN. § 57.001(1). But this case involves “an individual who can
hear,” so this opinion will refer only to licensed court interpreters and not certified
court interpreters.
2
The interpreter must also qualify as an expert under the Texas Rules of Evidence,
must be at least 18 years of age, and may not be a party to the proceeding. TEX.
GOV’T CODE ANN. § 57.002(e).
4
non-licensed interpreter in a county having a population of 50,000 or more if the
language to be interpreted is not Spanish and “the court makes a finding that there
is no licensed court interpreter within 75 miles who can interpret in the language
that is necessary in a proceeding.” Id. § 57.002(d). The trial court made no such
finding in this case.
Wang argues that, because he did not file a motion asking the court to
appoint an interpreter but instead orally requested the use of his own interpreter,
the provisions of Chapter 57 do not apply, and Lee, therefore, was not required to
be a licensed court interpreter to interpret for Wang.3 In other words, Wang argues
that Chapter 57 applies only when the party filed a written motion for an
interpreter, not when a party made an oral request for an interpreter.
Statutory construction is a question of law, which we review de novo.
McIntyre v. Ramirez, 109 S.W.3d 741, 745 (Tex. 2003). “In construing a statute,
‘our primary objective is to determine and give effect to the Legislature’s intent.’”
Id. (quoting Tex. Dep’t of Transp. v. Needham, 82 S.W.3d 314, 318 (Tex. 2002)).
To determine the Legislature’s intent, we begin with the plain language of the
statute, but may also consider other matters, including the law’s objective, the
3
Wang did not ask the trial court to appoint an interpreter other than Lee.
Accordingly, Wang waived any claim that a licensed court interpreter should have
been appointed.
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legislative history, and the consequences of a particular construction. TEX. GOV’T
CODE ANN. § 311.023(1), (3), (5) (West 2005); McIntyre, 109 S.W.3d at 745.
We believe the plain language of the statute demonstrates that the
Legislature intended Chapter 57’s licensing requirements to apply to all court
interpreters unless the exceptions in subsections (c) or (d) apply. First, a court may
appoint a licensed court interpreter on its own motion. Thus, contrary to Wang’s
contention, a party’s filing of a motion is not necessary to trigger the application of
Chapter 57. TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 57.002(b); see also Tex. Att’y Gen. Op. No.
JC-0584, 2002 WL31674922, at *14 (2002) (explaining section 57.002 “appears to
contemplate written motions,” but “nothing precludes a court from granting a
party’s oral motion or request for appointment of an interpreter, or from appointing
an interpreter on its own motion”). Additionally, section 57.002 allows a trial
court to appoint an interpreter who is not a licensed court interpreter in certain
situations, and these subsections make no express reference to or requirement of a
motion, written or otherwise. See TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. §57.002(c), (d). Thus,
according to the plain language of the statute, if a court appoints an interpreter, it
must appoint a licensed court interpreter, except in those specific situations
described in section 57.002.
This interpretation is consistent with an opinion from the Office of the
Attorney General, which is persuasive authority. See City of Dallas v. Abbott, 304
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S.W.3d 380, 384 (Tex. 2010) (citing Holmes v. Morales, 924 S.W.2d 920, 924
(Tex. 1996)). The Attorney General opined that section 57.002(a) leaves to the
trial court’s discretion whether to appoint an interpreter, but it “clearly modifies the
authority of a court to determine the qualifications of an interpreter.” Tex. Att’y
Gen. Op. No. JC-0584, 2002 WL 31674922, at *6. The Attorney General
“construe[d] section 57.002(a) to impose on a court the mandatory duty to appoint
a certified or licensed interpreter when the court appoints an interpreter.” Id.
(emphasis in original). The Attorney General also concluded, “[T]he legislature
intended chapter 57’s licensing requirements to apply in all civil and criminal
proceedings.” Id. at *11.
The language of the statute indicates that the Legislature intended to
establish statewide, uniform standards for licensing court interpreters. The
Legislature also provided specific exceptions to the requirement that court
interpreters be licensed, none of which apply in this case. Accordingly, we
conclude that the trial court did not err in denying Wang’s request to have Lee, an
unlicensed court reporter, interpret the proceedings. See Salem v. Asi, No. 02-10-
00295-CV, 2011 WL 2119640, at *2 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth May 26, 2011, no
pet.).
We overrule Wang’s first issue.
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Exclusion of Evidence
In his second issue, Wang contends that the trial court erred in refusing to
admit two checks into evidence. The first was a check that Yao purportedly wrote
to Wang for $70,247.00. The second was a $10,000 check that Wang purportedly
gave to Yao, made payable to the restaurant. Yao responds that Wang did not
preserve this issue for appellate review.
A. Standard of Review
We review a trial court’s decision to exclude evidence for an abuse of
discretion. Bay Area Healthcare Grp., Ltd. v. McShane, 239 S.W.3d 231, 234
(Tex. 2007); Owens–Corning Fiberglas Corp. v. Malone, 972 S.W.2d 35, 43 (Tex.
1998). A trial court abuses its discretion if it acts without regard to guiding rules
or principles. Owens–Corning Fiberglas Corp., 972 S.W.2d at 43. We must
uphold the trial court’s evidentiary ruling if there is any legitimate basis for the
ruling. Id. We will not reverse a trial court for an erroneous evidentiary ruling
unless the error probably caused the rendition of an improper judgment. See TEX.
R. APP. P. 44.1(a)(1); McShane, 239 S.W.3d at 234; Benavides v. Cushman, Inc.,
189 S.W.3d 875, 879 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.). Evidentiary
rulings do not usually cause reversible error unless the judgment turns on the
particular evidence that was admitted or excluded. Benavides, 189 S.W.3d at 879
(citing City of Brownsville v. Alvarado, 897 S.W.2d 750, 753–54 (Tex. 1995)).
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B. Check for $70,427
Wang offered into evidence a check signed by Yao for $70,427, dated
February 11, 2008, bearing the notation “remaining of 80,000.” Yao objected on
the grounds that the check had not been produced during discovery. The trial court
sustained the objection.
Rule 193.6(a) provides that “[a] party who fails to make, amend, or
supplement a discovery response in a timely manner may not introduce in evidence
the material or information that was not timely disclosed.” See TEX. R. CIV. P.
193.6. Rule 193.6 “mandates exclusion of the undisclosed material or
information,” unless the trial court finds good cause for the failure to disclose the
evidence or lack of unfair surprise or prejudice to the opposing party. Harris Cnty.
v. Inter Nos, Ltd., 199 S.W.3d 363, 367 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no
pet.) (citing TEX. R. CIV. P. 193.6(b)). The burden of showing good cause, lack of
unfair surprise, or lack of prejudice is on the party who seeks to introduce the
evidence. Id. (citing TEX. R. CIV. P. 193.6(b)).
Wang’s counsel argued that there was good cause for the failure to timely
produce the check.4 He stated that he had received the check the day of trial
because Wang “did not believe that this check was relevant to the issues at trial,
but that now he understands that it is relevant.” Failing to understand the
4
Wang did not assert a lack of unfair prejudice or surprise in the trial court or in his
brief. We therefore do not address either of those issues.
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importance of the proffered evidence is not good cause for failing to produce it
during discovery. See Sprague v. Sprague, 363 S.W.3d 788, 800 (Tex. App.—
Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, pet. denied) (citing Alvarado v. Farah Mfg. Co., 830
S.W.2d 911, 915 (Tex. 1992)) (holding trial counsel’s failure “to appreciate the
significance” of two letters is not good cause for admitting letters not produced
during discovery); see also Inter Nos, Ltd., 199 S.W.3d at 367 (citing Alvarado,
830 S.W.2d at 915) (noting that “the following factors, standing alone, do not
constitute good cause: inadvertence of counsel, lack of surprise, or uniqueness of
the excluded evidence”). Because Wang did not show good cause for failing to
timely produce the check during discovery, we hold that the trial court did not
abuse its discretion in excluding the check.
For the first time on appeal, Wang also argues, “As commercial events,
checks should not even be subject to the full strictures of the rules of evidence.” In
support of this proposition, Wang asserts that federal courts have considered
checks as “legally-operative ‘verbal acts’ that are not barred by certain evidentiary
restrictions.” Wang did not offer the check under this theory of admissibility at
trial; therefore, the issue is not preserved for our review. See TEX R. APP. P.
33.1(a)(1)(A) (complaint preserved for appellate review by requesting desired
ruling from trial court “with sufficient specificity to make the trial court aware of
the complaint”); see also Tidwell v. Terex Corp., No. 01-10-01119-CV, 2012 WL
10
3776027, at *14 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 30, 2012, no pet.) (mem.
op.) (argument that evidence of subsequent remedial measure was admissible to
show control not preserved when not raised in trial court as theory supporting
admission of evidence); Aldridge v. Avara, No. 14–05–01283–CV, 2007 WL
2366964, at *6 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Aug. 21, 2007, no pet.) (mem.
op.) (because appellant did not argue evidence admissibility under same hearsay
exception at trial as she did on appeal, she failed to preserve error for review);
McKee v. McNeir, 151 S.W.3d 268, 270 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2004, no pet.)
(finding proponent of evidence waived complaint that trial court erred in excluding
evidence because proponent’s stated grounds for admission at trial did not comport
with grounds raised on appeal).
We overrule Wang’s second issue concerning the check for $70,427.
C. Check for $10,000
Wang offered into evidence a copy of a check he wrote for $10,000, dated
June 16, 2007. Yao objected on the grounds of “proper authentication and
predicate.” Counsel for both Wang and Yao discussed the issue with the trial
court. The trial court asked Wang’s counsel, “Are you trying to make a business
records exception under 803?” Wang counsel replied that was his intent. The trial
court asked Wang’s counsel if he had filed a business records affidavit to
11
authenticate the copy under Texas Rule of Evidence 902(10), to which counsel
replied he had not. The discussion of the admissibility concluded:
Court: Well, the objection to the exhibit being admitted as
hearsay is sustained at this time. I will allow you to try to
prove it up either through the maker of the check or
through the business records of an entity that would have
that in the normal scope of a business record.
Counsel: All right. We’ll go to the next question. It’s really
unnecessary to have this admitted into evidence.
On appeal, Wang argues that the trial court erred because Texas courts have
concluded that checks are not hearsay, and, therefore, he was not required to
establish the business records exception to admit the check into evidence. Citing
Rules of Evidence 902(9) and 1003, Wang also argues the check is “commercial
paper” that is “self-authenticating” and copies of documents are generally
admissible to the same extent as originals. As shown above, Wang did not offer
the check into evidence at trial under any of these theories. Therefore, these
arguments are not preserved for appeal. See TEX R. APP. P. 33.1(a)(1)(A); see also
Tidwell, 2012 WL 3776027 at *14; Aldridge, 2007 WL 2366964, at *6; McKee,
151 S.W.3d at 270.
We overrule Wang’s second issue concerning the check for $10,000.
Factual Sufficiency
In his third issue, Wang contends that the trial court’s judgment is not
supported by factually sufficient evidence.
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A. Standard of Review
Where, as here, findings of fact were neither filed nor requested after a
bench trial, we imply all necessary findings of fact to support the trial court’s
judgment. Ryan v. Abdel-Salam, 39 S.W.3d 332, 335 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] 2001, pet. denied) (citing Holt Atherton Indus., Inc. v. Heine, 835 S.W.2d
80, 83 (Tex. 1992)). An appellant may still challenge implied findings, which we
review under the same standard we apply to jury findings. Id. (citing Holt
Atherton Indus., Inc., 835 S.W.2d at 83). When reviewing the factual sufficiency
of the evidence, we consider all the evidence, both in support of and contrary to the
challenged implied finding, and uphold the implied finding unless it is against the
great weight and preponderance of the evidence so as to be manifestly unjust. Id.
In conducting a factual sufficiency review, we may not substitute our judgment for
that of the fact-finder. Pitts & Collard, L.L.P. v. Schechter, 369 S.W.3d 301, 312
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2011, no pet.) (citing Golden Eagle Archery, Inc.
v. Jackson, 116 S.W.3d 757, 761 (Tex. 2003)). “The fact-finder is the sole judge
of the witnesses’ credibility and the weight to be given their testimony, and the
fact-finder may choose to believe one witness over another.” Id. (citing Golden
Eagle Archery, Inc., 116 S.W.3d at 761). We “must assume that the fact-finder
resolved all evidentiary conflicts in accordance with its decision if a reasonable
person could have done so.” Id. An appellate court may not impose its own
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opinion to the contrary of the fact-finder’s implied credibility determinations. Id.
(citing Golden Eagle Archery, Inc., 116 S.W.3d at 761).
B. Analysis
Wang sued Yao for breach of contract, based on Yao’s alleged failure to
repay a loan. Wang contends that the evidence at trial “showed that [Wang] paid
out to [Yao] and the two businesses that [Yao] was principally in charge of a total
sum of $90,453.00” and that Yao failed to repay that sum. The elements of a
breach of contract cause of action are: (1) the existence of a valid contract;
(2) performance or tendered performance by the plaintiff; (3) breach of contract by
the defendant; and (4) damages sustained as a result of the breach. Williams v.
Unifund CCR Partners, 264 S.W.3d 231, 235–36 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]
2008, no pet.) (citing Winchek v. Am. Exp. Travel Related Servs. Co., 232 S.W.3d
197, 202 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, no pet.)). A valid contract
consists of: (1) an offer, (2) an acceptance in strict compliance with the terms of
the offer, (3) a meeting of the minds, (4) each party’s consent to the terms, and
(5) execution and delivery of the contract with the intent that it be mutual and
binding. Id. at 236.
An implied finding that Wang and Yao did not reach a meeting of the minds
about the alleged loan supports the trial court’s judgment. See Williams, 264
S.W.3d at 236. Wang testified that the checks he gave to Yao were for loans.
14
Yao, in contrast, testified that they were not loans, but investments in the company
that owned the Hunan River Restaurant. The trial court reasonably could have
credited Yao’s testimony and resolved this conflicting testimony concerning the
checks’ purpose in Yao’s favor. See Pitts & Collard, L.L.P., 369 S.W.3d at 312
(stating fact-finder is sole judge of credibility of witnesses and may choose to
believe one witness over another). Furthermore, this implied finding is not so
against the weight of the other evidence on which Wang relies to render the finding
manifestly unjust. Wang introduced a loan agreement and promissory note that he
contends supports his cause of action. The agreement, however, was between
Wang and Hersky Trading, LLC, of which Yao was the president, not with Yao
personally. Similarly, one of the checks Wang contends supports his cause of
action was written to Hersky Trading, not to Yao. Wang also introduced checks
that were written to Yao. The first of these bears the notation “Hunan River
Downpay” in the memo line. Others checks to Yao state the checks were for “2nd
payment (Hunan River),” “2nd payment,” and “3rd payment for HDH.” Another
check was written to “Hunan River,” not Yao, and states it is for “Partner
Investment.” Additionally, Wang introduced several documents entitled “Bill of
Sale and Assignment of Business Interest.” These documents expressly state that
HDH Enterprise, LLC was selling an interest in the company to Wang. Finally, the
check for $80,000, which was returned for insufficient funds and which Wang
15
contends was evidence Yao was repaying a loan, was written on the account of the
“Hunan River Chinese Restaurant,” not Yao’s personal account.
In sum, Yao’s testimony and the documentary evidence indicating the
transactions were purchases and not loans conflicted with Wang’s testimony that
he loaned money to Yao with the expectation that he would be repaid. Conflicts in
the evidence are the sole province of the fact-finder, in this case, the trial court.
See Pitts & Collard, L.L.P., 369 S.W.3d at 312; Ryan, 39 S.W.3d at 335. And we
must presume that the trial court resolved the conflicts between Wang’s testimony
and the other evidence in favor of its decision. See Pitts & Collard, L.L.P., 369
S.W.3d at 312 (citing Golden Eagle Archery, Inc., 116 S.W.3d at 761).
Accordingly, we hold that the evidence is factually sufficient to support the trial
court’s implied finding that the partied did not enter into a loan agreement with the
expectation that Yao, individually, would repay the loan.5
We overrule Wang’s third issue.
5
Wang also asserts the judgment is against the great weight and preponderance of
the evidence because the trial court “could pierce the corporate veil and hold
[Yao] personally accountable.” However, neither the pleadings nor the evidence
supports the judgment on a veil-piercing theory. See Mapco, Inc. v. Carter, 817
S.W.2d 686, 688 (Tex. 1991) (holding judgment against company that owned
defendant company not proper where, in part, no pleadings or evidence supported
that theory).
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Conclusion
We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
Rebeca Huddle
Justice
Panel consists of Chief Justice Radack and Justices Bland and Huddle.
17