William E. Johnson v. State of Texas, Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Opinion issued November 20, 2018
In The
Court of Appeals
For The
First District of Texas
————————————
NO. 01-18-00068-CV
———————————
WILLIAM E. JOHNSON, Appellant
V.
DAVID GUTIERREZ AND KEN PAXTON, Appellees
On Appeal from the 126th District Court
Travis County, Texas1
Trial Court Case No. D-1-GN-16-002392
MEMORANDUM OPINION
1
Pursuant to its docket equalization authority, the Supreme Court of Texas
transferred this appeal to this Court. See Misc. Docket No. 18–9010 (Tex. Jan. 12,
2018); see also TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 73.001 (Vernon 2013) (authorizing
transfer of cases).
In this interlocutory appeal,2 appellant, William E. Johnson, challenges the
trial court’s order dismissing his claims for false imprisonment, “official
oppression,” kidnapping, “deprivation of liberty,” and violation of his constitutional
rights3 against appellees, David Gutierrez4 and Ken Paxton5 (collectively,
“appellees”).6 In his sole issue, Johnson contends that the trial court erred in granting
appellees’ motion to dismiss his claims.7
We affirm in part and dismiss in part.
Background
In his petition, Johnson alleged that his “illegally court-imposed sentence [of
confinement] expired [on] August 2, 2013,” but the “Board of Pardons & Paroles
refused to issue [a] [d]ischarge [c]ertificate at [the] end of [his] sentence” and he was
“held . . . beyond the term of [his] [j]udicially court-imposed sentence.” Further,
during 2014, he was “repeatedly falsely arrest[ed],” and “[o]n August 27, 2014, . . . a
bogus ‘Blue Warrant’ for [his] arrest” was issued “with full knowledge that [his]
2
See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 51.014(a)(8) (Vernon Supp. 2018).
3
See 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
4
David Gutierrez is the chair of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
5
Ken Paxton is the Attorney General of the State of Texas.
6
Appellant has brought claims against other defendants, who are not parties to this
appeal, which remain pending in the trial court.
7
See TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a (“[A] party may move to dismiss a cause of action on the
grounds that it has no basis in law or fact.”).
2
sentenced had ceased to run.” Johnson was then “illegally detained . . . with no
conviction running and without [d]ue [p]rocess of [l]aw having transpired.” And he
alleged that time was “illegally” added “to the end of [his] court-imposed sentence.”
Johnson brought claims against appellees in their official capacities for false
imprisonment, “official oppression,” kidnapping, “deprivation of liberty,” and
violation of his constitutional rights,8 and he sought monetary damages and
unspecified declaratory and injunctive relief. Johnson alleged that immunity was
waived pursuant to the Texas Tort Claims Act (“TTCA”),9 the Texas Declaratory
Judgment Act (“DJA”),10 and the Eleventh Amendment to the United States
Constitution.
Appellees moved to dismiss11 Johnson’s claims against them, asserting that
Gutierrez is the Presiding Officer of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and
Paxton is the Attorney General of the State of Texas; governmental entities in Texas
are immune from suit and cannot be held liable for damages unless a plaintiff’s
claims fall squarely within the limited statutory waiver of sovereign immunity;
Johnson’s tort claims are barred by sovereign immunity and do not fall under “any
8
See 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
9
See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. §§ 101.001–.109 (Vernon 2011 & Supp.
2018).
10
See id. §§ 37.001–.011 (Vernon 2015).
11
See TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a.
3
of the limited waivers of sovereign immunity under the [TTCA]”; and Johnson’s
claim for violation of his constitutional rights is barred by the statute of limitations
and because he does not allege facts showing appellees’ personal involvement.
After a hearing, the trial court granted appellees’ motion, dismissing all of
Johnson’s claims against them.
Jurisdiction
As a threshold matter, appellees argue that this Court lacks jurisdiction over
this appeal because the trial court’s order dismissing Johnson’s claims against them
is “an interlocutory order, not a final judgment.”
“[C]ourts always have jurisdiction to determine their own jurisdiction.”
Heckman v. Williamson Cty., 369 S.W.3d 137, 146 n.14 (Tex. 2012) (internal
quotations omitted). Whether we have jurisdiction is a question of law, which we
review de novo. See Tex. A & M Univ. Sys. v. Koseoglu, 233 S.W.3d 835, 840 (Tex.
2007). Generally, appeals may be taken only from final judgments. Lehmann v.
Har–Con Corp., 39 S.W.3d 191, 195 (Tex. 2001). Interlocutory orders may be
appealed only if permitted by statute. Koseoglu, 233 S.W.3d at 840; Bally Total
Fitness Corp. v. Jackson, 53 S.W.3d 352, 352 (Tex. 2001); see TEX. CIV. PRAC. &
REM. CODE ANN. § 51.014 (Vernon Supp. 2018) (authorizing appeals from certain
interlocutory orders). We must “strictly apply statutes granting interlocutory appeals
because they are a narrow exception to the general rule that interlocutory orders are
4
not immediately appealable.” CMH Homes v. Perez, 340 S.W.3d 444, 447 (Tex.
2011); see also Schlumberger Tech. Corp. v. Baker Hughes Inc., 355 S.W.3d 791,
796 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2011, no pet.).
Appellees argue that the trial court’s order is interlocutory because although
the trial court granted appellees’ motion, “claims [still] remain against multiple
different defendants,” only Johnson’s claims against appellees were dismissed from
the suit, and a trial court’s order is interlocutory if it “does not dispose of all parties
and all claims in [a] case.” Appellees further assert that Texas Civil Practice and
Remedies Code section 51.014 does not permit an interlocutory appeal of the trial
court’s order in this case.
A party may appeal from an interlocutory order that “grants or denies a plea
to the jurisdiction by a governmental unit.” TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN.
§ 51.014(a)(8). Under this section, an interlocutory appeal may be had when a trial
court grants the challenge of a governmental unit12 to subject-matter jurisdiction,
“irrespective of the procedural vehicle used.” Thomas v. Long, 207 S.W.3d 334, 339
(Tex. 2006) (“To be entitled to an interlocutory appeal, section 51.014(a)(8) requires
the [grant or] denial of a jurisdictional challenge.”); see also Tex. Dep’t of Criminal
12
See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 101.001(3) (defining governmental
unit); see also Cornyn v. Fifty-Two Members of Schoppa Family, 70 S.W.3d 895,
898 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2001, no pet.); Harrison v. Tex. Bd. of Pardons &
Paroles, 895 S.W.2d 807, 809 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1995, writ denied).
5
Justice v. Simons, 140 S.W.3d 338, 349 (Tex. 2004); City of Austin v. Liberty Mut.
Ins., 431 S.W.3d 817, 822 (Tex. App.—Austin 2014, no pet.) (“[T]he Rule 91a
motion challenged the trial court’s subject-matter jurisdiction over the claims
asserted; therefore, section 51.014(a)(8) affords [a party] a right to an interlocutory
appeal . . . .”). Notably, the availability of an interlocutory appeal is not decided by
the style or caption of a motion but is determined by the substance of the motion and
the relief sought. See Surgitek, Bristol-Myers Corp. v. Abel, 997 S.W.2d 598, 601
(Tex. 1999); see also Simons, 140 S.W.3d at 349.
Appellees, in their rule 91a motion, moved to dismiss Johnson’s tort claims
against them on the ground that they are barred by sovereign immunity and do not
fall under “any of the limited waivers of sovereign immunity under the [TTCA].”
And the trial court granted appellees’ challenge to its subject-matter jurisdiction
based on sovereign immunity and dismissed Johnson’s tort claims. Accordingly, we
hold that we have jurisdiction to review the portion of the trial court’s order
dismissing Johnson’s tort claims on the basis of sovereign immunity. See TEX. CIV.
PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 51.014(a)(8); Thomas, 207 S.W.3d at 339; Simons, 140
S.W.3d at 349.
Appellees, in their rule 91a motion, also moved to dismiss Johnson’s claim
for violation of his constitutional rights because it is barred by the statute of
limitations and Johnson does not allege facts showing appellees’ personal
6
involvement. Although the trial court, in its order, dismissed Johnson’s claim for
violation of his constitutional rights, neither Texas Civil Practice and Remedies
Code section 51.014, nor any other statute, permits an interlocutory appeal from that
portion of the trial court’s order. Accordingly, we hold that the portion of the trial
court’s order granting appellees’ motion to dismiss Johnson’s claim for violation of
his constitutional rights is not appealable by interlocutory appeal, and we dismiss
that portion of Johnson’s appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(a), 43.2(f); Schlumberger
Ltd. v. Rutherford, 472 S.W.3d 881, 883–84, 895 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]
2015, no pet.) (dismissing for lack of jurisdiction portion of interlocutory appeal);
Astoria Indus. of Iowa, Inc. v. SNF, Inc., 223 S.W.3d 616, 627–28 (Tex. App.—Fort
Worth 2007, pet. denied) (limiting scope of interlocutory review to portion of order
denying summary judgment on claims defended on free-speech grounds, and not
other parts of same order).
Sovereign Immunity
In his sole issue, Johnson argues that the trial court erred in dismissing his tort
claims against appellees because the DJA and the Eleventh Amendment to the
United States Constitution waive appellees’ immunity.
Whether a trial court has subject-matter jurisdiction over a case is a question
of law, which we review de novo. Tex. Dep’t of Parks & Wildlife v. Miranda, 133
S.W.3d 217, 226 (Tex. 2004). A plea to the jurisdiction is a dilatory plea that seeks
7
dismissal of a case for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. Harris Cty. v. Sykes, 136
S.W.3d 635, 638 (Tex. 2004); Villarreal v. Harris Cty., 226 S.W.3d 537, 541 (Tex.
App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.). Because appellees used a rule 91a motion
to challenge the trial court’s subject-matter jurisdiction, it effectively constitutes a
plea to the jurisdiction, and we review the trial court’s order using the standard of
review for a plea to the jurisdiction that challenges only the pleadings. See City of
Austin, 431 S.W.3d at 822 n.1.
Sovereign immunity and its counterpart, governmental immunity, exist to
protect the State and its political subdivisions from lawsuits and liability for money
damages. Mission Consol. Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Garcia, 253 S.W.3d 653, 655 (Tex.
2008). Generally, a public official sued in his official capacity is protected by the
same sovereign or governmental immunity as the governmental unit he represents.
See Koseoglu, 233 S.W.3d at 843–44; Satterfield & Pontikes Constr., Inc. v. Tex. S.
Univ., 472 S.W.3d 426, 435 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2015, pet. denied).
Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 38.1(i) requires that an appellant’s brief
“contain a clear and concise argument for the contentions made, with appropriate
citations to authorities and to the record.” TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(i). “This requirement
is not satisfied by conclusory statements.” Marin Real Estate Partners, L.P. v. Vogt,
373 S.W.3d 57, 75 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2011, no pet.); Yoonessi v. D’Arcy,
No. 05-07-00689-CV, 2008 WL 4981631, at *1 (Tex. App.—Dallas Nov. 25, 2008,
8
pet. denied) (mem. op.) (pro se appellant bears burden of discussing his assertions
of error). A failure to provide substantive analysis of an issue or cite appropriate
authority waives a complaint on appeal. Vogt, 373 S.W.3d at 75; Huey v. Huey, 200
S.W.3d 851, 854 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2006, no pet.); Cervantes-Peterson v. Tex.
Dep’t of Family & Protective Servs., 221 S.W.3d 244, 255 (Tex. App.—Houston
[1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.).
Although Johnson, in his brief, asserts that the DJA and the Eleventh
Amendment waive appellees’ immunity, he does not actually explain or provide
analysis as to how or why either the DJA or the Eleventh Amendment would apply
to waive appellees’ immunity for his tort claims. And the authorities that he does
cite in his brief do not support his assertion that appellees’ immunity for Johnson’s
tort claims is waived by either the DJA or the Eleventh Amendment. See TEX. R.
APP. P. 38.1(i); Thompson v. HSBC Bank USA, No. 01-14-00589-CV, 2015 WL
3981799, at *3 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] June 30, 2015, no pet.) (mem. op.)
(issue waived where appellants did not “present[] a cogent argument to support
[their] issue”); Huey, 200 S.W.3d at 854 (“We have no duty to brief appellant’s issue
for [him]. Failure to cite to applicable authority or provide substantive analysis
waives an issue on appeal.”); see also Mansfield State Bank v. Cohn, 573 S.W.2d
181, 184–85 (Tex. 1978) (pro se litigants held to same standards as licensed
attorneys and required to comply with applicable laws and rules of procedure);
9
Hopes-Fontenot v. Farmers New World Life Ins. Co., No. 01-12-00286-CV, 2013
WL 4399218, at *1 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 15, 2013, no pet.) (mem.
op.) (pro se litigant must properly present his case on appeal; we “may not make
allowances or apply different standards for litigants appearing
without . . . counsel”).
Further, we note that in his petition, Johnson alleged that immunity was
waived pursuant to the TTCA, and appellees, in their rule 91a motion, asserted that
Johnson’s tort claims against them are barred by sovereign immunity and the claims
do not fall under “any of the limited waivers of sovereign immunity under the
[TTCA].” Johnson has not argued on appeal that the trial court erred in dismissing
his tort claims against appellees on the ground that his claims did not allege a waiver
of immunity under the TTCA. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(i). By failing to challenge
one possible ground of the trial court’s ruling, Johnson has waived any error by the
trial court in dismissing his tort claims against appellees. See Ollie v. Plano Indep.
Sch. Dist., 383 S.W.3d 783, 790–91 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012, pet. denied); Britton
v. Tex. Dep’t of Criminal Justice, 95 S.W.3d 676, 681–82 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] 2002, no pet.); see also Davison v. Plano Indep. Sch. Dist., No.
05-12-01308-CV, 2014 WL 1018212, at *5 (Tex. App.—Dallas Feb. 20, 2014, no
pet.) (mem. op.) (“Because [appellant] d[id] not challenge the sustaining of the
jurisdictional plea on the ground that her claims did not allege a waiver of immunity
10
under the TTCA, she . . . waived any error by the trial court in dismissing her tort
claims against appellees, and the decision to dismiss her tort claims must be
affirmed.”).
Accordingly, we hold that Johnson has waived his sole issue.
Conclusion
We affirm the portion of the trial court’s order dismissing Johnson’s tort
claims against appellees on the basis of sovereign immunity. We dismiss, for lack
of jurisdiction, Johnson’s appeal of the portion of the trial court’s order dismissing
his claim for violation of his constitutional rights against appellees. We dismiss all
pending motions as moot.
Terry Jennings
Justice
Panel consists of Justices Jennings, Higley, and Massengale.
11