1 ... S ee Te x. R. App . P. 47. 4. 

## COURT OFAPPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOF TEXAS FORT WORTH NO. 2 - 0 7 - 2 2 8 - CV TE XA S SP ECI ALTY TRAI L ERS , I NC . ; APPE L L AN TS J . M A R V IN W IL L IA M S , J R .; AND R I CH AR D K E L L E R M AN D/ B /A J K T R UC K I NG V . JA C KS O N & SI M M EN D RI LL I N G A PPELL EE S COMP ANYAN D L E XI NGT ON I NS UR ANC E CO M P ANY

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FR O M THE 271STDI STRI CT CO URT O F JACK CO UN TY

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### MEMORANDU M OPI NI ON 1

----- ----- -- In e i g h tis s u e s , a p p e lla n t sT e x a sS p e c ia lt yT r a ile r s , I n c ., J . M a rv in W i l l i am s, Jr . , an d Ri cha r d Kel l er m an d/ b/ a J K Tr uck i ng a ppe ala j udgm ent r end er ed on a j ury ve r di ctaw ardi ng a ppe l l eeJa ck so n &Si m m en D r i l l i ng2

C om pany ap pr oxi m at el y $3 . 2 m i l l i on i n dam ages. W e af f i r m i n part , r ever se a n d ren d e r i n p a rt , a n d rev e rse an d rem a n d i n p a rt . I . Ba ck gr ound I n S ept em ber20 05 , Jackson & S i m m en D r i l l i ng C om pany ( J& S ) ow ned a d r i l l i ng r i g t hatw as st or ed i n Pal o Pi nt o C oun t y. Becau se J& S h ad a cont r act w i th an o i l co m p a n yto d ri l l w e l ls in C o m a n c h e C o u n ty, J & S n e e d e d to tr a n sp o rtthe ri g to th a t c o u n ty. J & S co n tac ted co m p a n i e s th a t ha d h a u l e d i ts r i g i n t he pas t , butnone w er e a vai l abl e t o ha ul t he r i g t o Com anc he C ount y. A tt h e s u g g e s ti o n o f o n e o f th e c o m p a n i e s , J e rryJ a c k s o n , a J & S p ri n c i p a l, contact ed W i l l i am s, a shar ehol derand m anager f or Tex as S peci al t y Trai l er s, I nc. (T e x as Speci al t y) , about haul i ng t he r i g. A ft eri nspect i ng t he r i g, W i l l i am s t el eph one d Ja ck so n t o i nf or m h i m t hatTexa s Speci al t y “ cou l d m ove ” i tan d o ffe re d to d o th e j o b fo r $ 7 ,0 0 0 . J a c k s o n a c c e p te d T e x a sS p e c i a l ty ’so ffe r. T h e re a fte r, T e x a s S p e c i a l tyc o n tra c te d w i th a n i n d e p e n d e n t c o n tra c to r, R i c h a rd Kel l er m an d/ b/ a J K Tr uck i ng ( Kel l er m an) , t o dr i ve t he t r uck pul l i ng t he t r ai l eron w hi ch t he r i g w ast o bel oad ed. On S e p t e mb e r2 2 , 2 0 0 5 , W i l l i a ms a n d K e l l e r ma n m e tw i t h J &S em pl oye es i n Pal o Pi nt o C ount y t o l oad t he r i g. W hi l e t he r i g w asbe i ng l oad ed, W i l l i am s and K el l e r m an det er m i ned t hati tw oul d not si tsaf el y on t he t r ai l er bec aus e t he r i g w ast oo w i de f ort he t r ai l er : w hen bei ng p os i t i oned at op t he2 ... Tex. Bus . & Com . Code Ann. §§ 17. 41– . 63 ( V erno n 2 002 & Supp.

2 0 0 8 ). 3 t r a i l e r , t h e r i g ’ sw h e e l sw o u l d c o n t a c tt h e t r a i l e r ’ sw h e e l s . S o me o n e f r o m J &S t hen of f er ed W i l l i am s and Kel l er m an t he us e of pi pe gr at esasa pl at f or m f ort he r i g’ s t i r es so t hatt hey w oul d not com e i nt o contactw i t h t he t r ai l er . W i l l i am s and K el l er m an agr eed t o do t hi s, an d t he r i g w as l oaded usi ng t he pi pe gr at es. W i l l i am s t hen ch ai ned t he r i g t o s ec ur e i tt o t he t r ai l er . Kel l er m an i ns pec t ed t he l o a d a n d s a ti s fi e d h i m s e l f th a t i t w a ss a fe b e fo re d ri v i n g o u t. K e l l e rm a n d e p a rte d fo r C o m a n c h e C o u n ty . J u s t o u ts i d e o f S tra w n , in Pal o Pi nt o Count y, Texa s, how eve r , t he t r ai l er ca r ryi ng t he r i g s epa r at ed f r om t h e v e h ic le h a u lin g it . T h e r ig r o lle d o f ft h e t r a ile ra n d in t o a d it c h w h e r e itf e ll on i t s si de. T h e r i g w a sd a m a g e d . Asa r e s u l t , J &S w a sn o ta b l e t o d r i l l t he w el l s i n Com anc he C ount y. J& S sue d Tex asSpec i al t y, W i l l i am s, an d K el l erm an i n Ja ckCount y f or neg l i gen ce , br ea ch ofco nt r ac t , an d vi ol at i onsoft he Texa s D ec ept i ve Tr ade P ra c ti c e s – C o n s u m e r P ro te c ti o n A c t (D T P A ). 2A ft era t r i al , t he j ur y f oun d T exas S peci al t y, W i l l i am s, and K el l er m an l i abl e f orn e gl i gence and f oun d t hatTexas Speci al t y a nd W i l l i am s vi ol at ed t he D TPA . The pr oport i ona t e r es pons i bi l i t y of J& S and Jac ks on w asnots ubm i t t ed t o t he j ury.3 ... See Bradl eys ’ Elec . , I nc. v. Ci

gnaLl oydsI ns . Co. , 995 S. W . 2d 675, 67 7 ( Tex . 19 99 ) ( hol di ng t hatcourt s ofappeal s m ustconsi deri ssues t hatm ay 4 Based o n t hei r negl i gence and D TP A
- vi ol at i on f i ndi ngs, t he j ur y aw ar ded J& S $7 50 , 00 0 i n r epai rorr epl acem entdam ages, $2 , 47 5, 00 0 i n l ostpr of i t s, and $29, 800 i n ot herda m age s. The t r i alco urtr end er ed j ud gm en ton t he ver di ct , aw ar di ng da m age s di vi ded be t w ee n Tex asSpec i al t y, W i l l i am s, an d Kel l er m an bas ed on t hei rpe r centag es ofr es pons i bi l i t y a s det er m i ned by t he ju ry . T h e ju d g m e n t a ls o a w a r d e d J & S p r eju d g m e n t in t e r e s t a n d $ 3 3 3 ,7 5 0 in att or ney s’ f ee s. Thi s app ea l f ol l ow ed. I I . I ssues I n ei ght i ssues, appel l ant s com pl ai n on app eal t hat( 1) t he t r i al courter r ed i n de nyi ng t he m oti on to t r ans f erve nuef i l ed j oi nt l y byTexa s Speci al t y a nd K el l er m an, ( 2) t he evi den cew asi ns uf f i ci entt o s upportt he j ury’ s ver di cton J & S ’s n e g lig e n c e a n d D T P A c la im s , (3 ) W illia m ss h o u ld n o tb e in d iv id u a llylia b le f orne gl i gen ce , ( 4) t he t r i alco urter r one ous l y r ef us ed t o s ubm i tt he pr opo rt i onate r esponsi bi l i t y ofJ & S a n d J ackson t o t he j ur y, and ( 5) t he t r i al courter r ed i n aw ar di ng pr ej udg m ent inte res t on dam ages t o r epai rorr epl ace t he r i g and on l ostpr of i t s. W e m u s t a d d re s sth e s u fficie n c yo f th e e v i d e n c e is s u e sa n d W i l l i a m s ’s i ndi vi dual l i abi l i t y bef or e det er m i ni ng t he ot heri ssues. 3re s u l t i n re n d i ti o n b e fo re c o n s i d e ri n g i s s u e sth a t c o u l d re s u l t o n l yi n re m a n d ). 4 ... Uni royal G oodr

i ch Ti re Co. v. Marti

nez , 977 S . W . 2d 328, 334 ( Tex. 1 9 9 8 ), cert. denied, 5 2 6 U .S . 1 0 4 0 (1 9 9 9 ).

5 ... Cent. Ready Mi

x Concrete Co. v. I

sl as , 2 28 S. W . 3d 649 , 651 ( Tex. 2 0 0 7 ); City of

Kel ler v. W i l son , 1 6 8 S .W .3 d 8 0 2 , 8 0 7 , 8 2 7 (T e x . 2 0 0 5 ). 6 ... Cont’

l Coff ee Prods. Co. v. Cazarez , 937 S . W . 2d 444, 450 ( Tex. 1 9 9 6 ); Leitch v. Hor nsby , 9 3 5 S .W .2 d 1 1 4 , 1 1 8 (T e x . 1 9 9 6 ).

5 I I I . Suff i ci ency of t he Evi dence A . S t andar d ofRev i ew W e m a ys u s t a in a le g a l s u fficie n c yc h a l l e n g e o n l yw h e n : (1 ) th e re c o rd di scl oses a com pl et e absence ofevi dence of a vi t al f act ; ( 2) t he courti s bar r ed by r ul es of l aw or of evi dence f r om gi vi ng w ei ght t o t he onl y evi dence off er ed to p ro v e a v i ta l fa c t; (3 ) th e e v i d e n c e o ffe re d to p ro v e a v it a l fa c t i sn o m o re th a n a m e re sc i n ti l l a ; o r (4 ) th e e v i d e n c e es tab l i sh e s c o n c l u sive l ythe o p p o sit e o f a v i tal fac t. 4I n d e term i n i n g w h e th e r th e re is l e g a l l ysu ffi c i e n t ev i d e n c e to su pportt he f i ndi ng un der r evi ew , w e m us t con si der evi den cef avo r abl e t o t he f i ndi ng i f a r ea so nab l e f ac t f i nde r cou l d and di sr ega r d evi den ce con t r ary t o t he fi n d i n g u n l e ss a re a so n a b l e fac tfi n d e r co u l d n o t. 5 A n y th i n g m o re th a n a s c i n ti l l a o f e v i d e n c e i sl e g a l l y s u fficie n t to s u p p o rt t he f i ndi ng. 6 W h e n th e e v i d e n c e o ffered to p rov e a v i tal fac t i s so w e a kas to do no m or e t han cr ea t e a m er e s ur m i seors us pi ci on ofi t s exi st enc e, t he7 ... K i ndred v. Con/Chem , I nc. , 6 5 0 S .W .2 d 6 1 , 6 3 (T e x . 1 9 8 3 ). 8 ... Rocor

I nt ’ l , I nc. v. Nat ’

l Uni on F i re I ns . Co. , 77 S . W . 3d 253, 262 (T e x . 2 0 0 2 ).

9 ... Pool v. Ford Motor

Co. , 715 S . W . 2d 629, 635 ( Tex. 1986 ) (op. on re h ’g ); Gar

za v. A lvi

ar, 3 9 5 S .W .2 d 8 2 1 , 8 2 3 (T e x . 1 9 6 5 ); I nreKi ng ’s E sta te , 1 5 0 T e x . 6 6 2 , 2 4 4S .W .2 d 6 6 0 , 6 6 1 (1 9 5 1 ). 6 evi dence i s no m or e t han a sci nt i l l a and, i n l egal ef f ect , i s no evi dence. 7 M o r e t h a n a s c in t illa o fe v id e n c e e x i s t s ift h e e v id e n c e f u r n is h e ss o m e re a s o n a b le b a sis fo r d iffe ri n g co n c l u sion s b yrea so n a b l e m i n d s a b o u t t h e ex i ste n c e o f a v i tal fac t. 8 W h e n rev i e w i n g an as se rt i o n tha t th e e v i d e n c e i s fa c tu a l l yi n su ffi c i e n t t o su pporta f i ndi ng, w e s etasi de t he f i ndi ng on l y i f , aft erco ns i der i ng a nd w e i g h i n g a l l o f th e e v i d e n c e i n th e re c o rd p e rti n e n t to th a t fi n d i n g , w e d e te rm i n e th a t th e e v i d e n c e s u p p o rti n g th e fi n d i n g i s s o w e a k , o r s o c o n tra ry t o t he over w hel m i ng w ei ght ofal l the evi dence, thatthe answ ershoul d be set as i de and a new t r i alor der ed. 9 B. N egl i gence I n t hei rs eve nt h i ss ue, ap pel l ant s as se rtt hat the e vi den cei s l ega l l y a nd f ac t ual l y i ns uf f i ci entt o sho w tha tt hei rf ai l ur e t o pr ope r l y l oad , s ec ur e, an d c h a i n the ri g p rox i m a tel yca u se d d a m a g e to th e ri g b e c a u se J & S fai l e d to pr es entev i den ceoft he am ountofdece l er at i on f or ceex ert ed on t he r i g dur i ng10 ... D oe v. Bo ys Club s o f Greater D al l as, I nc. , 907 S. W . 2d 472, 477 (T e x . 1 9 9 5 ).

11 ... IHS Cedar

s Trea tm ent

Ctr. of D eSoto, Tex. , I

nc. v. Mas on , 143 S .W .3 d 7 9 4 , 7 9 9 (T e x . 2 0 0 4 ).

12 ... Excel

Cor p. v. A podaca , 8 1 S .W .3 d 8 1 7 , 8 2 0 (T e x . 2 0 0 2 ).

7 t he acci dent. A ccor di ng t o appel l ant s, w i t hou tevi dence qu ant i f yi ng t he f or ce o f d e c e l e r a t i o n , t h e r e i s n o e v i d e n c e o f c a u s e - i n - f a c t b e c a u s e t h e f or ce of decel er at i on m ay have been so g r eatthatthe r i g w oul d have l eftt he t r ai l ereven i ft he r i g ha d be en pr ope r l y l oad ed and s ec ur ed. Pr oxi m at e cause, as an el em ent of a negl i gence cl ai m , ent ai l s bot h causei n- f ac tan d f or es ee abi l i t y. 10The t es tf orca us e- i n- f ac t , or“ but f or ” ca us at i on, i s w het hert he neg l i gen tac tor o m i ss i on w asa su bs t ant i alf ac t ori n br i ngi ng abo utt he i nj ury a nd w het hert he i nj ury w oul d hav e occ ur r ed w i t hout t he ac tor om i ss i on. 11 A l t hou gh cause- i n- f actcan be est abl i shed by ci r cum st ant i al evi den ce , i tcannotbe es t abl i sh ed by m er e c onj ec t ur e, gue ss , ors pec ul at i on. 12 A tt r ia l, W illia m sa g r e e d t h a tT e x a sS p e c ia lt yisre s p o n s ib le a n d w o u ld

“ ta k e re s p o n s i b i l i ty ” fo r th e d a m a g e to th e ri g . I n a d d i ti o n , A n i ta K e re z m a n , a veh i cl e o per at i onsan d s af et y s pec i al i st , t est i f i ed t hatTexa s Speci al t y a nd K e ll e rm a n ca u se d d a m a g e to th e ri g b yfai l i n g to p rop e rl yse c u re th e ri g , to bl ock t he r i g as f eder al an d st at e regul at i ons r equi r ed, an d t o l oad t he r i g so as t o pr oper l ydi st r i bute i t s w ei ght acr oss t he t r ai l er . Ker ezm an f urt heropi ned13 ... S ee 49 C . F. R . § 3 93 . 10 2( a) ( 20 08 ) . 0. 8g si gni f i es t he f or ce exert ed

by e i ght y pe r ce ntoft he w ei ghtoft he l oad . 8 t hat , ha d t he l oad be en pr ope r l y se cur ed and bl ock ed, t he r i g w oul d notha ve r ol l ed of ft he t r ai l err egar dl ess ofany ot herequi pm entfa i l u res . W hen q u e stio n e d ab o u t t h e all e g e d fai l u re o f t h e p i p e g rate s th a t w e re u se d to s u p p o rt th e ri g a b o v e th e tra i l e r’sw h e e l s , K e re z m a n te s ti fi e d th a t th i s“ d o e s n ’t m a t t e r ” w it h r e s p e c tt o t h e a c c id e n t ’s c a u s a t io n b e c a u s e “ ift h e lo a d isp r o p e r ly se cur ed and bl ock ed, even i ft her e i s a f ai l ur e i n s om e p artoft he l oad , i t ’ s not g o i n g to c o m p ro m i s e t h e in te g ri tyo f th e e n ti re lo a d a n d w e d o n ’t l o s e th i sri g .” K e rez m a n tes ti fi e d tha t, u n d e r ap p l i c a b l e fed e ral reg u l a ti o n s, ap p e l l a n ts w er e r eq ui r ed t o us e c ar go s ec ur em entde vi ce s and s ys t em s ca pab l e o f w i t hs t and i ng a 0. 8g dec el er at i on i n t he f or w ar d di r ec t i on. 13S h e co n ferred w i th a m ec han i ca l en gi nee r / ac ci den tr ec ons t r uct i oni stan d, aft erex am i ni ng phot ogr aph s and t he m at er i al s, co ncl ude d t hatt he ac ci den tp r od uc ed no m e c h a n i s m o p e ra ti n g o n th e l o a d th a t c o u l d h a v e e x c e e d e d 0 .8 g in fo rw a rd d e c e l e rati o n . T h e refo re, a c c o rding to K e rez m a n , h a d ap p e l l a n ts c o m p l i e d w i th r egu l at i onsan d pr ope r l y se cur ed and bl ock ed t he l oad , t he cha i nsw oul d ha ve h e l d a n d th e ri g w o u l d n o t h a v e l e ft th e tra i l e r.14 ... A ppe l l ant s cha l l eng e Ker ez m an’ s qua l i f i ca t i ons , asw el l ast he

r el i abi l i t y ofhe rt es t i m ony, co nt end i ng t hati ti s “b ar e o pi ni on w i t houtan y f oun dat i on orexpert i se. ” N one of t hese obj ect i on s, how ever , w er e r ai sed at t r i al . T heyar e, t her ef or e, w ai ved . SeeT e x . R . A p p . P . 3 3 .1 ; se e al soCity of San A ntoni

o v. Pol l ock , 2 8 4S .W .3 d 8 0 9 , 8 1 6

– 1 7 (T e x . 2 0 0 9 ). 15 ... The c ourts ubm i t t ed t hr ees epa r at e DTPA vi ol at i onst o t he j ury: “[ r ] epr es ent i ng t hats ervi ce s had orw oul d ha ve cha r ac t er i st i cst hatt heydi d not have”; “[ r ] epr esent i ng t hatservi ces ar e orw i l l be ofa p art i cul arqual i t y i ft hey w er e ofanot her ”; and “[ r ] e p res e nt i ng t hatan agr eem entconf er s ori nvol ves r i ghtst hati td i d n o t have ori nvol ve. ” S eeT e x . B u s . &C o m . C o d e A n n . § 17 . 46 ( b) (5 ), (7 ) , ( 12 ) . The j ur y f oun d t hatTexas S peci al t y and W i l l i am s com m i t t ed al l t hr ee vi ol at i ons. 9 W e h o ld t h a t K e r e z m a n ’s t e s t im o n y c o n s t it u t e s b o t h le g a lly a n d f a c t u a lly suf f i ci entevi dence t o suppo rta f i ndi ng ofpr oxi m at e cause. 14A c c o r d i n g l y , we over r ul e appel l ant s’ sevent h i ssue. C . D TPA I n t hei rs ec ond i ssue, ap pe l l ant s as se rtt hatt he evi den cei s l ega l l y a nd f act ual l y i nsuf f i ci entt o suppo rtt he j ur y’ s f i ndi ngs on J& S ’ s D TP A cl ai m s, 15 b a se d i n p a rto n the tes ti m o n yb yJ a c k so n tha t W i l l i a m s m a d e tw o se p a rate s t a t e m e n t s : ( 1 ) t h a tT e x a s S p e c ia lt y “ c o u ld m o v e ” t h e r ig ; a n d (2 ) t h a tt h e rig

“ w o u ld rid e .” A p p e lla n t s a r g u e t h a tb o t h o fW illia m s ’s s t a t e m e n t sw e r e m e r e ly st at em ent s oft he part i es’ cont r actand, t her e fo re, notdecept i ve act s. They f urt hercont end t hatt he st at em entt hatt he r i g “w oul d r i d e ” i s m er el y an exp r es si on ofopi ni on.16 ... Crawf ord v. A c eSi

gn, I nc. , 9 1 7 S .W .2 d 1 2 , 1 3

– 1 5 (T e x . 1 9 9 6 ); Head v. U.S . I

nspectD FW

, I nc. , 1 5 9 S .W .3 d 7 3 1 , 7 4 2

– 4 3 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 5 , n o p e t.).

17 ... S ee C ont’

l D redgi ng, I nc. v. D e-Kai

zered, I nc. , 120 S. W . 3d 380, 3 8 9

– 9 0 (T e x . A p p .— T e x a rk a n a 2 0 0 3 , p e t. d e n i e d ).

18 ... S ee Beki

ns Movi ng & S torage Co. v. W i l l i am s , 947 S. W . 2d 568, 577 (T e x . A p p .— T e x a rk a n a 1 9 9 7 , n o w ri t).

19 ... Head, 159 S. W . 3d a t743. 10 The m er e f ai l ur e t o per f or m a t er m ofa con t r ac ti s nota D TPA vi ol at i on. 16 T o di sti ng ui sh b etw ee n de ce pti ve a cts a nd a breac h o fco ntr ac t , co urt s an al yze w h e th e r th e re w a ss o m e re p re s e n ta ti o n m a d e “ o u ts i d e th e c o n tra c t.” 17 I fa d e f e n d a n t ’s re p r e s e n t a t io n w a s o n ly t h a t it s p e r f o r m a n c e w o u ld b e o fa c e rt a in q u a l i ty , i t i sn o t a D T P A v i o l a ti o n a n d b re a c h o f c o n tra c t w o u l d b e th e o n ly act i on avai l abl e. 18 W he t he r t he f a c t s , on c e a s c e rt a i ne d, c on st i t ut e a m i sr epr esent at i on un dert he D TP A i s a quest i on of l aw . 19 W i l l i am s’ s st at em ent t hat Texa s Speci al t y “c oul d m ove ” t he r i g w asnot m er el y a st at em ent of i t s contr act w i t h J& S . I tw as nota r epr esent at i on t hat T e x a s S p e c i a l ty w o u l d fulf i l l i ts c o n tr a c tu a l o b l i g a ti o n to h a u l th e ri g o r t h a t i ts perf orm an ce i n ha ul i ng t he r i g w oul d beofa ce rt ai n qua l i t y. Rat her , t he st at em entw asa r epr es ent at i on t hatTexa s Speci al t y ha d t he exp ert i sean d20 ... A t t h e ti m e W i l l i a m s m a d e th e rep res e n tati o n tha t T e x a s S p e c i a l ty

“coul d m ove” t he r i g, t he r ecor d show s Texas S peci al t y’ s pr i m ary busi ness w as not haul i ng l ar ge equi pm entordr i l l i ng r i gs butbuyi n g a n d s el l i ng t r ai l er s. I ns t ea d ofap pr i si ng J & S oft hi s f ac t , Texa s Speci al t y ex am i ned t he r i g, m ea su r ed i t , an d r epr es ent ed t hat i t had t he equ i pm ent and exp ert i set o m ove t he r i g. The r ec or d, how ev er, de m ons t r at est hatTexa s Speci al t y di d not ac cur at el y m ea su r e t he r i g, di d notha ve ade qua t e e qui pm ent , an d c oul d not l oad an d m ovet he r i g beca us e i tl ac ke d t he r equ i r ed exp er i enc e and e qui pm ent t o do so s af el y.

21 ... See, e. g. , Bestv. Ryan A uto Group, I nc. , 786 S. W . 2d 670, 671– 72 (T e x . 1 9 9 0 ) ( h o ld in g t h a tm is r e p r e s e n t a t io n t h a tt h e p u r c h a s e ro fa m o t o r c y c le deal er shi p w oul d “be abl e t o buypart s and v ehi cl es as [ t he f or m erow ner ] had bee n buy i ng”w asac t i ona bl e u nde rD T P A s ec t i on 17. 46( b) ( 12) w hen t he “ d e a l e rs h i p ” c o n v e y a n c e d i d n o t i n fa c t i n c l u d e th e a b i l i t yt o p u rc h a s e m o re v e h i c l e s fro m th e m o to rc y c l e m a n u fa c tu re r). 11 abi l i t y t o m ove t he r i g, w hi ch t he evi dence show s w as f al se, 20 t hat w asm ade p ri o r to t he f or m at i on ofJ& S’ s con t r ac tw i t h Tex asSpec i al t y. As a m att erof l aw , t he st at em entt hatTexas S peci al t y “coul d m ove” t he r i g w as, t her ef or e, o u tsi d e the p a rt i e s’ co n tr a c t an d a d e c e p ti v e ac t. 21 A ppe l l ant s ar guet hatJ& S no l onge rco ul d r el y t o i t s det r i m entupon W i l l i a m s’s s tate m e n t after W i l l i a m s s u b se q u e n tl ysta ted “w e ca n n o t h a u l i t” w hi l e a t t em pt i ng t o l oad t he r i g. H ow eve r , t he r ec or d s how s t hi s st at em ent w as m ade i n r ef er ence t o a l ack ofavai l abl e equi pm enton hand , nott o T exas Speci al t y’ s abi l i t y t o m ovet he r i g as i thad r epr es ent ed. Af t erW i l l i am s m ade t he st at em ent , hean d K el l er m an l oad ed t he r i g w i t h t he us e ofbor r ow ed pi pe22 ... Bec aus e t he “c oul d m ove ” st at em ental onew i l l s upportt he D TPA

ver di ct , w e need not r each t he part i es’ ar gum e n ts concer ni ng w het her W i l l i am s’ s st at em entt hatt he r i g “w oul d r i de” w oul d sup portt hose f i ndi ngs. S eeTe x. R. App . P. 47. 1.

23 ... Tr i v. J. T. T. , 1 6 2 S .W .3 d 5 5 2 , 5 6 3 (T e x . 2 0 0 5 ). 24 ... Leitch , 9 3 5 S .W .2 d a t 1 1 7 (e m p h a s i sa d d e d ). 12 g rate s as a t ype of pl at f or m f or t he r i g’ s w heel s and att em pt ed t o haul i tto C om anc he C ount y, asag r ee d. Becau se t he evi dence i s suf f i ci entt o suppo rtt he j ur y’ s D TP A f i ndi ng t hat t he m i sr epr esent at i on th atTexas S peci al t y “coul d m ove” t he r i g w as a decepti ve act , w e over r ul e appel l ant s’ second i ssue. 22

I V . W i l l i am s’ s I ndi vi dualLi abi l ity f orN egl i gence In t h e irs ix t h is s u e , a p p e lla n t sa s s e rtt h a tW illia m sc a n n o tb e p e r s o n a lly l i a bl e f orn e gl i ge nc e b e c a us e h e h a d no d ut y i n hi si nd i vi du a l c a pa c i t y t o J&S. T h e e x i stence of a dut y i s a quest i on of l aw . 23“ A co r por at e o f f i ce rorag ent can be l i abl e t o ot her s . . . f orhi s orherow n negl i gence. H ow ever , i ndi vi dual l i abi l i t y a r i se s onl y w hen t he of f i ce rorag entow esan i nde pen den tdut y of r ea so nab l e c ar e t o t he i nj ur ed part y ap a rt fro m theemp lo yer’

s du ty .” 24 J& S conc ede s t hat“ t he i ndi vi dua l s part i ci pat i ng i n l oad i ng a nd s ec ur i ng th e ri g ” o w e d n o d u tyt o J & S . M o re o v e r, J & S d o e sn o t c o n te s t th a t W i l l i a m s ’s act s r el at i ng t o t he l oadi ng and haul i ng ofthe r i g w er e done i n hi s capaci t y as25 ... See i d. 26 ... A ppe l l ee s poi ntoutt hati n r es pons e t o s pec i alque st i on nu m bert w o, th e j u ryfo u n d W i l l i a m sp e rs o n a l l yl i a b l e u n d e r th e D T P A . S ee Mi l ler v. Keyser, 90 S. W . 3d 7 12 , 7 17 ( Tex . 2 00 2) . Th i s f i ndi ng i s no tch al l enged by appel l ant s, exc eptas t o a su f f i ci enc y cha l l eng e w hi ch w e h aveove r r ul ed. Conse que nt l y, al t hough w e s us t ai n ap pe l l ant s’ s i xt h i ss ue, i tr es ul t s i n no cha ngei n t he j udgm entbe ca us e W i l l i am s i s i ndi vi dua l l y l i abl e f ort he j udgm ent , asa r es ul tof t he j ur y’ s D TP A f i ndi ngs.

27 ... W i l s o nv. T

ex . Pa rks& W

i ld l ifeD ep 't, 886 S . W . 2d 259, 261 ( Tex. 1 9 9 4 ). 13 a cor por at e of f i cerort hath e w a s p e rf or m i ng du t i es bel ong i ng t o T exas Speci al t y. Acco r di ngl y, w e c onc l udet hatW i l l i am s ow ed no du t y a nd c ann ot be per sonal l y l i abl e f ornegl i gence. 25W e sust ai n appel l ant s’ si xt h i ssue. 26 H avi ng c ons i der ed al l of app el l ant s’ r end i t i on poi nt s, w e n ow t ur n t o t he venue, pr opo rt i onate r esponsi bi l i t y, and pr ej udg m enti nt er esti ssues. V . Venue I n t hei rf i r sti ss ue, appel l ant s con t end t hatt he t r i alcourter r ed i n de nyi ng Tex as Speci al t y and K el l er m an’ s m ot i on t o t r ansf ervenue. A . S t andar d ofRev i ew A p la in t if fis a c c o r d e d t h e r ig h tt o c h o o s e v e n u e ; a slo n g a ss u itisin it ia lly f i l ed i n a co unt y ofpr ope rvenue( i . e. , t he coun t y i s atl ea sta per m i ss i ve ven ue and no m and at ory pr ovi si on a ppl i es ) , t he pl ai nt i f f ’ s ven ue cho i ce c ann otbe d i s t ur bed . 27 I ft he di sput e i s bet w een t w o coun t i es ofper m i ssi ve venue,28 ... Id. a t262. 29 ... I n re Mo. Pac . R. R. Co. , 9 9 8 S .W .2 d 2 1 2 , 2 1 6 (T e x . 1 9 9 9 ). 30 ... T e x . R . C i v . P . 8 7 (2 )(a ), (3 )(a ); I n re Mas onite Cor

p. , 9 97 S. W . 2d 1 9 4 , 1 9 7 (T e x . 1 9 9 9 ).

31 ... W i l s o nv. T

ex . Pa rks& W

i ld l ifeD ep 't, 886 S. W . 2d a t261. 32 ... T e x . C i v . P ra c . &R e m . C o d e A n n . § 1 5 .0 6 4 (b ) (V e rn o n 2 0 0 2 ); Ruiz v. Cono co, I

nc. , 8 6 8 S .W .2 d 7 5 2 , 7 5 8 (T e x . 1 9 9 3 ). 33 ... Ruiz , 868 S. W . 2d a t758. 14 tra n s fe rri n g th e c a s e i si m p ro p e r. 28A p l ai nt i f f ’ s cho i ce o fv enue st ands unl ess chal l enged by a pr operm ot i on to tran sfervenue. 29O ncech al l eng ed, t he p la in t if fh a st h e b u r d e n t o p r e s e n tp r im a f a c ie p r o o ft h a tv e n u e ism a in t a in a b le i n the co u n ty o f su i t. 30The ac t i on m us tr em ai n i n t he cou nt y ofs ui ti ft he pl ai nt i f fsel ect ed a county ofpr opervenue and support ed t he sel ect i on w i th pr i m a f aci e pr oof suppo rt i ng ven ue t her e. 31 I n r evi ew i ng a venu e deci si on, t he appel l at e courtm ustcondu ctan i ndep enden tr evi ew oft he ent i r e r ecor d, i ncl udi ng, w her e ap p l i c a bl e, t he t r i al on t he m er i t s, t o det er m i ne w het her any pr obati ve evi dence s upp ort s t he t r i al cou rt ’ s ven ue dec i si on. 32C ourt s r evi ew t he evi denti ary r ecor d i n t he l i ght m ost fa v o ra b l e to th e v e n u e ru l i n g ; h o w e v e r, n o d e fe re n c e i sg i v e n to th e tri a l c o u rt’s appl i cat i on of t he l aw . 33An appel l at e c ourtca nnotr evi ew t he su f f i ci enc y of34 ... Id. 35 ... Bo nh a m S ta teBa n kv. Bea d le , 9 0 7 S . W . 2 d 4 6 5 , 4 7 1 ( T ex . 1 9 9 5 ); W i l son v. T

ex . Pa rks& W

i ld l ifeD ep 't, 886 S. W . 2d a t262. 36 ... Rui z, 8 6 8 S .W .2 d a t 7 5 7 ; Ro sa lesv. H.E. Bu tt Gro c eryCo ., 905 S .W .2 d 7 4 5 , 7 5 0 (T e x . A p p .— S a n A n to n i o 1 9 9 5 , w ri t d e n i e d ).

37 ... Ruiz , 868 S. W . 2d a t757. 38 ... T e x . C i v . P ra c . &R e m . C o d e A n n . § 1 5 .0 6 4 (b ). 39 ... Gi lcrease v. Gar

l ock, I nc. , 2 11 S . W . 3d 4 48 , 4 59 ( Tex . A pp. — El Paso 200 6, no p et . ) ( ci t i ng W i l s o nv. T

ex . Pa rks& W

i ld l ifeD ep 't, 88 6 S .W . 2d at 2 6 2 ). 15 t he evi dence s upp ort i ng t he pl ai nt i f f ’ s venue choi ce. 34 I ft her e i s anypr oba t i ve evi dence supp ort i ng ven ue i n t he coun t y ofsui t , a t r ansf ershoul d be deni ed eve n i ft he evi de nc e p r epo nde r at est o t he con t r ary. 35How eve r , co ncl us i ve e v i d e n c e to th e c o n tra ryc a n d e s tro yth e “ p ro b a ti v e e v i d e n c e .” 36

“ [A ]n a p p e lla t e c o u rtm u s tre v e r s e (t h e r e c a n n o tb e h a r m le s se r r o r ) if ot he r e v i dence i n t he r ecor d, even evi dence add uced af t ervenue w as d e te rm i n e d , d e s tro y sth e p ri m a fa c i e p ro o f o n w h i c h th e tri a l c o u rt re l i e d .” 37 A ppel l at e r evi ew oft he ent i r e r ecor d, as r equi r ed by st at ut e, 38t hus “pr eserves t he pl ai nt i f f ’ s r i ght t o se l ec t and m ai nt ai n su i t i n a co unt y ofpr ope rve nue , an d i t p ro te c ts th ed e fe n d a n t fro m fra u d o r i n a c c u ra c ya t th e p l e a d i n g s ta g e .” 3940 ... T e x . C i v . P ra c . &R e m . C o d e A n n . § 1 5 .0 0 2 (a )(1 ). 41 ... T e x . B u s . &C o m . C o d e A n n . § 1 7 .5 6 (2 ). 42 ... See Chi

r i boga v. State Far

m Mut. A uto. I

ns . Co. , 96 S . W . 3d 673, 6 8 0

– 8 2 (T e x . A p p .— A u sti n 2 0 0 3 , n o p e t. ) (ex a m i n i n g th e es se n ti a l elem e n ts oft he cl ai m w hen det er m i ni ng w her e a su bs t ant i al part of eve nt s orom i ss i ons o c c u rre d g i v i n g ri s e to p l a i n ti ff’sd e c l a ra to ry-j ud gm en t a c ti o n re g a rd i n g i n s u re r’s d u t yto d e fe n d ); see al so K W Constr. v. Stephens & So ns Concre te Contr actors, I nc. , 1 6 5 S .W .3 d 8 7 4 , 8 8 2

– 8 3 (T e x . A p p .— T e x a rka n a 2 0 0 5 , p e t. d e n ie d ) ( d e t e r m in in g “ s u b s t a n t ia l p a rt ” v e n u e in a b r e a c h o fc o n t r a c ta c t io n in cou nt y w her e e ven t s orom i ss i onsoc cur r ed r el at i ng t o t w o oft he cl ai m ’ s f our e s s e n ti a l e l e m e n ts ). 16 B . G o v e rning V e n u eS tatu te J& S as se rt s t hatve nuei s pr ope ri n Ja ckCount y un dert w o pe r m i ss i ve ven ue st at ut es : ( 1) t he gen er alve nuer ul e cont ai ned i n T exa s C i vi l Pr ac t i cean d Rem edi esCode s ec t i on 15. 002 ( a) ( 1) , w hi ch pr ovi des t hat ven ue i s pr ope ri n t he c o u n ty w h e re “ a l l o r a su b sta n ti a l p a rto f t h e ev e n ts o r om i ss i o n s g i v i n g ri se to t he cl ai m occur r ed”; 40and ( 2) t he D TP A ’ s venue pr ovi si on, w hi ch pr ovi des t hat ven ue i s pr ope ri n a ny “ cou nt y i n w hi ch t he def end ant or an aut hor i z ed age nt oft he def endan tsol i ci t e d th e tr ansact i on m ade t he subj ectoft he act i on at b a r.” 41 A d d res sing the g e n e ral v e n u e rul e u n d e r se c ti o n 1 5 .0 0 2 (a)( 1 ), to d e t e r m in e w h e t h e ra “ s u b s t a n t i a l p a rt ” o ft h e e v e n t sg iv in g ris e t o a c la im o c c u rre d i n th e c h o s e n v e n u e , c o u rtse x a m i n e th e re c o rd i n l i g h t o f th e c l a i m ’s essent i al el em ent s. 42Thus , a D TPA pl ai nt i f fi s r equ i r ed t o e st abl i sh f orve nue43 ... T e x . B u s . &C o m . C o d e A n n . § § 1 7 .4 6 , 1 7 .5 0 (a ); s e ea l s o Hen ry Schei n, I nc. v. Strom boe , 1 0 2 S .W .3 d 6 7 5 , 6 8 6 (T e x . 2 0 0 2 ); Gi l l v. Boyd D i s tri b u ti o nC tr. , 6 4S .W .3 d 6 0 1 , 6 0 4( T e x . A p p .— T e x a rka n a 2 0 0 1 , p e t. d e n i e d ) . T h e p a rt i e sd o n o td i s p u t e t h a tJ &S i sa c o n s u me ru n d e rt h e DT P A.

44 ... The j ury f ound Texa s Speci al t y and W i l l i am s vi ol at ed D TPA s ec t i on 1 7 .4 6 (b )(5 ), (7 ), a n d (1 2 ). 17 pur pos est he f ol l ow i ng e l em ent s: ( 1) t he pl ai nt i f fi s a c ons um er ; ( 2) t he def end antco m m i t t ed an ac t i on orom i ss i on l i st ed asa vi ol at i on un derD TPA se ct i on 17. 46( b) ; ( 3) t he pl ai nt i f fde t r i m ent al l y r el i ed upon t he w r ongf ul ac t i on orom i ss i on; an d ( 4) t he w r ongf ul act i on orom i ss i on w asa pr oduc i ng caus e o f t he pl ai nt i f f ’ s dam ages. 43 C . E v i d e n c eS u p p o rt s V e n u ei n J a c kC o u n ty The e vi den cei n t hi s ca seshow s t hatJack so n w asi n JackCount y du r i ng t he t el epho ne conv er sat i on i n w hi ch W i l l i am s m ade t he m i sr epr esent at i on t hat Te xa s Sp e c i a l t y “ c oul d m ove”t her i g a nd t ha tJ a c k s on , o n be ha l fo fJ & S, i nde ed ent er ed i nt o t he con t r ac t w i t h Texa s Speci al t y w hi l e i n JackCount y. Texa s Speci al t y c ont end s, how eve r , t hatW i l l i am s’ s r epr es ent at i on i s not a c ti o n a b l e u n d e r th e D T P A , a n d th a t, e v e n i f i t i s , th e fa c ts s u rro u n d i n g i t a re n o t su ffi c i e n t t o m e e t t h e su b sta n ti a l i ty re q u i rem e n t. W e have al r eady hel d t hatW i l l i am s’s m i sr epr esent at i on t hatTexas Speci al t y “ cou l d m ove ” t he r i g i s an ac t i ona bl e DTPA vi ol at i on. 44T h u s, to det er m i ne w het her venue i s pr operi n Jack C oun t y, w e m ustdet er m i ne w het her45 ... S ee Chi r i boga, 96 S . W . 3d a t681. 46 ... Id. 47 ... S ee Masse y v. Colum busState Bank , 35 S. W . 3d 697, 700 ( Tex. A pp. — H oust on [ 1stD i st . ] 20 00 , pet . deni ed) ( noti ng ven ue w oul d be pr oper b a se d o n thre a ten i n g an d h a ras sing tele p h o n e c a l l s a n d l e tters se n t t o d e fe n d a n t in t h e c o u n tyo f v e n u e ); s e ea ls o Mo ve f o rf re e .c o m In c . v. D a vid Hetr i ck, I nc. , N o. 1 4
- 07- 000 44- C V , 2009 W L 141606 9, at*3 ( Tex. A pp. — H oust on [ 14 t h D i st . ] M a y2 1 , 20 09 , no pet . ) ( f i ndi ng ven ue und er sect i on 1 5. 00 2( a) ( 1) i n t he coun t y i n w hi ch m i sr epr esent at i ons w er e r ecei ved a n d p a rti a l p e rfo rm a n c e o f th e c o n tra c t w a sre q u i re d ); Si em ens C or

p. v. Bartek , N o . 0 3 -0 4 -0 0 6 1 3 -C V , 2 0 0 6 W L1 1 2 6 2 1 9 , a t * 6

– 7 (T e x . A p p .— A u s ti n A p r. 2 8 , 2 0 0 6 , n o p e t.) (m e m . o p .) (sa m e ). 18 t he f ac t s su r r oundi ng t hatact i on abl e m i sr epr es ent at i on s at i sf y s ec t i on 1 5 .0 0 2 (a)( 1 )’ s s u b sta n ti a l i ty re q u i rem e n t. 45 I n so doi ng, w e ar e m i nd fu l that ourt aski s no tt o de t er m i ne t he bes tve nue , butt o de t er m i ne w het heran y pr oba t i ve evi den ces upport s t he t r i al cou rt ’ s ven ue det er m i nat i on un ders ec t i on 1 5 .0 0 2 (a )(1 ). 46 I n m ak i ng v enu e det er m i nat i ons , T exa s cou rt s hav e h el d t hatt he r ec ei pt oft el eph oneca l l s and l ett er s i n a part i cul arcount y a r e f ac t s t hatw ei gh i n f avo r off i ndi ng venuet o be ap pr opr i at e i n t hatco unt y. 47H er e, i ti s undi sput ed t hat J a c kC o u nt y i s w her e Jackson r ecei ved t he t el epho ne cal l i n w hi ch W i l l i am s t ol d hi m t hatTexas S peci al t y “coul d m ove” t he r i g. Jackson al so t est i f i ed t hat h e re lie d u p o n t h is re p r e s e n t a t io n , a n d itisu n d is p u t e d t h a tJ a c kC o u n t yis w her e Jackson act ed by pl aci ng t he t el epho ne cal l i n w hi ch he accept ed T exas48 ... B e c a u se w e h o l d tha t t h e e v i d e n c e su p p o rt s v e n u e i n J a c kC o u n ty

u n d e rs e c t io n 1 5 .0 0 2 (a )’ s“ s u b s t a n t ia l p a rt ” p r o v is io n b a s e d o n t h e a c t io n a b le m i sr epr esent at i on t hatTexas S peci al t y “coul d m ove” t he r i g, w e do not r each a p p l i c a ti o n o f th e D T P A ’ss e c ti o n 1 7 .5 6 (2 ) v e n u e p ro v i s i o n . S ee Tex. R. A pp. P. 47. 1.

49 ... A p p e ll a n ts c o m p l a i n th a t th e tri a lc o u rt e rre d (1 ) i n g ra n ti n g J & S ’s t r adi t i onal and no- evi dence part i al sum m ary j udg m entm ot i on on Texas S p e c i a l ty ’sp ro p o rti o n a te re s p o n s i b i l i tyd e fe n s e , (2 ) i n g ra n ti n g J a c k s o n ’s t r adi t i ona l an d no- evi den cepa rt i als um m ary j udgm entan d m ot i on t o s t r i ket he d e s ig n a t io n o f J a c k s o n a s a r e s p o n s ib le t h ir d p a rt y , a n d (3 ) in f a ilin g t o s u b m it t he i ss ue ofJ& S’ s and Ja ck so n’ s pr oport i ona t e r es pons i bi l i t y t o t he j ury.

50 ... G ui de On eL l

o ydsIn s . C o . v. F

i rs t Bap ti

s t Ch urcho f Be dfo rd, 268 S. W . 3d 822, 837 ( Tex. A pp. — FortW ort h 2008, no p et . ) ( ci t i ng I nreV. L . K. , 19 S p e c i a l ty ’so ffe r to m o v e th e ri g . V i e w i n g th e s e fa c ts i n lig h to ft h e e n ti re r ecor d, w e co ncl ude t hatthey co nst i t ut e p r obati ve evi dence t hata subst ant i al partofJ& S ’ s D TP A cl ai m occur r ed i n Jack C oun t y. W e over r ul e appel l ant s’ f i r sti ssue. 48 V I . P rop o rt i o n a te R e sp o n sibi l ity In th e i r th i rd , fo u rth , a n d fi fth i s s u e s , a p p e l l a n ts a s s e rt th a t th e tri a l c o u rt er r ed i n f ai l i ng t o f i nd J& S and Jackson t o be r esponsi bl e part i es and, t her ef or e, d e p ri v e d ap p e l l a n ts o f th e ri g h t t o su b m i t t h e i r pro p o rt i o n a te res p o n sibi l i ty to t he j ury. 49 W e r evi ew al l eged er r ori n t he j ur y char ge f orabuse ofdi scr et i on, w hi ch occ ur s onl y w hen t he t r i alc ou rtac t s ar bi t r ar i l y, unr ea so nab l y, orw i t hout r ef er ence t o gui di ng r ul es orpr i nci pl es. 50Ifa n is s u e isp r o p e r lyp le a d e d a n d is2 4S .W .3 d 3 3 8 , 3 4 1 (T e x . 2 0 0 0 )). 51 ... Tri plex Com m c’

ns, I nc. v. Ri

ley , 9 0 0 S .W .2 d 7 1 6 , 7 1 8 (T e x . 1 9 9 5 ); se e al so T e x . R . C i v . P . 2 7 8 ; E l b a o r v. Sm ith , 8 45 S. W . 2d 240, 243 ( Tex . 19 92 ) ( “A t r i al courtm ay r ef use t o subm i tan i ssue onl y i fno ev i d e n ce e x i s ts to w a rra n t i ts s u b m i s s i o n .” ).

52 ... T e x . C i v . P ra c . & R e m . C o d e A n n . § 3 3 .0 0 2 (a )(1 ), (2 ) (V e rn o n 2 0 0 8 ). 53 ... T e x . C i v . P ra c . &R e m . C o d e A n n . § 3 3 .0 0 3 (b ). 54 ... Kroger

Co. v. Keng , 2 3 S .W .3 d 3 4 7 , 3 5 1 (T e x . 2 0 0 0 ); seeMoore v. K itsm i l ler, 2 0 1 S .W .3 d 1 4 7 , 1 5 1 (T e x . A p p .— T y l e r 2 0 0 6 , p e t. d e n i e d ). 20 su pport ed by so m e evi den ce , a l i t i gan ti s ent i t l ed t o ha ve con t r ol l i ng qu es t i ons su bm i t t ed t o t he j ury. 51 A. Te xa sCi vi lPra c t i c ea nd Re m e di e sCod eCha pt e r33 Th e p r opo rt i onate r esponsi bi l i t y pr ovi si ons ofci vi l p r act i ce and r em edi es cod e Chapt er33 appl y t o “ anyca us e o fac t i on ba se d on t ort ” and t o “ any ac t i on br oughtunde rt he [ D TPA ] ” “i n w hi ch a d ef end ant , s ett l i ng per so n, or r es pons i bl e t hi r d pa rt y i s f ound r es pons i bl e f ora per ce nt ageoft he har m f or w h i c h re l i e f i ss o u g h t.” 52 U nde rChapt er33, s ubm i ss i on ofa com par at i ve f aul tque st i on r ega r di ng th e co n d u c t of a n yp e rso n i s n o t al l o w e d “w i th o u t su ffi c i e n t ev i d e n c e to s u p p o rt th e s u b m i s s i o n .” 53Because com par at i ve res p o nsi bi l i t y i nvol ves m e a s u r in g t h e p a rt ie s ’ c o m p a r a t iv e f a u ltin c a u s in g t h ep la in t if f ’s in ju r ie s , it r e q u ir e s a p r e lim in a ryf in d in g t h a tt h e p la in t i f fw a sin f a c tc o n t r ib u t o r ily n e g l i g e n t. 5455 ... Par ker v. Hi ghl and Par k, I nc. , 5 6 5 S .W .2 d 5 1 2 , 5 2 0 (T e x . 1 9 7 8 ). 56 ... Keng , 23 S . W . 3d a t351; Bro wnv. Ed wa rdsT ra n s f er Co. , 764 S .W .2 d 2 2 0 , 2 2 3 (T e x . 1 9 8 8 ).

57 ... Mo o re , 201 S. W . 3d a t151. 58 ... Na b o rs D ri

l l i ng, U.S.A ., I

n c . v. E sc o to , 52 Te x. Sup . Ct . J . 885, 886, 2 0 0 9 W L1 7 1 2 7 9 7 , a t * 2 (T e x . J u n e 1 9 , 2 0 0 9 ); D . Hous ton, I nc. v. Lo ve , 92 S .W .3 d 4 5 0 , 4 5 4(T e x . 2 0 0 2 ).

59 ... T ri, 1 6 2 S .W .3 d a t 5 6 3 ; se e al soFortBend County Drai nag e Di st. v. Sbrusch , 818 S . W . 2 d 3 92, 395 ( Tex. 1991 ) ( r evi ew i ng j udgm ent n o tw i th sta n d i n g th e v e rdict a n d re c o g n i zi n g th a t “ [t ]he e x i ste n c e o f a l e g a l d u ty i s a q ues t i on ofl aw f ort he courtal t hough i n s om e i ns t anc esi tm ay r equ i r e t he r esol ut i on of di sput ed f act s ori nf er ences w hi ch ar e i napp r opr i at e f orl egal re s o l u ti o n ” ). 21 C ontr i butory negl i gence con t em pl at es an i nj ur ed per son’ s f ai l ur e t o use o rdina ryc a re i n reg a rd to h i s o r he r ow n sa fety 55an d r equ i r espr ooft hatt he p la in t if f w a s n e g lig e n t a n d t h a t t h is n e g lig e n c e w a s t h e p r o x im a t e c a u s e o fh is orheri nj ur i es. 56T h e s ta n d a rd sa n d te s ts fo r d e te rm i n i n g c o n tri b u to ry negl i gence ar e th e sam e as t hose f ordet er m i ni ng neg l i gence, and t he sam e r ul esofl aw ap pl y t o bot h. 57 B . D u tyt oS a f e lyL o a d a n d S e c u r et h eR ig To br i ng a negl i gence act i on i n Tex as, a pl ai nt i f f m ustpr esentevi dence est abl i shi ng a l egal dut y, br each ofthatd ut y, and dam ages pr oxi m at el y caused by t he br ea ch. 58T h e e x i s te n c e o f a le g a l d u tyisa q u e s ti o n o f l a w fo r th e c o u rt t o de ci de, de t er m i ned f r om t he f ac t s su r r oundi ng t he occ ur r enc e i n que st i on. 5960 ... Kroger Co. v. Elwood, 1 9 7 S .W .3 d 7 9 3 , 7 9 4(T e x . 2 0 0 6 ). 61 ... Prudenti

al I ns . Co. of

A m . v. Fi

n. Revi ewServs . , I

nc . , 29 S. W . 3d 74, 77 ( Tex. 2000 ) ( “A courtm ay i ns t r uc ta ver di cti fno e vi den ceofpr oba t i ve fo rc e ra i s e sa fa c t i s s u e o n th e m a te ri a l q u e s ti o n si n th e s u i t.” ).

62 ... S ee 49 C . F. R . § 3 92 . 9 ( 20 07 ) ; 37 Tex. A dm i n. C od e § 4 . 11 ( l ast a m e n d e d 2 0 0 8 ) (T e x . D e p ’t o f P u b . S a fe ty ).

63 ... Forexam pl e, sect i on 3 92 . 9 p r ovi des: [ A ] m ot orcar r i erm ay not req u i re orper m i ta dr i vert o oper at e a 22 Li abi l i t y canno tbe i m posed i fno duty exi st s. 60 M or eover , w hen a duty exi st s, t o have a quest i on subm i t t ed t o t he j ur y, the evi dence m ustr ai se a m at er i al f act i ssue. 61 J& S and Jackson con t end, am ong ot herargum ent s, t hat , even i ft hey part i ci pat ed i n t he l oad i ng pr oce ss , t heyar e notr es pons i bl e part i esand t hatt he t r ia l c o u rtw a sc o r r e c tin re f u s in g t o s u b m itis s u e st o t h e ju r yr e g a r d i n g t h e ir r esponsi bi l i t y f ordam age t o t he r i g because Tex as S peci al t y and K el l er m an had n o n -d e le g a b le d u t ie su n d e rf e d e r a l a n d s t a t e la w t o lo a d a n d s e c u r e t h e rig sa f el y. 1 . G e n e ralR u l eo f C a rr i e r Li a b i l ity I t i s u n d i sp u ted tha t T e x a s S p e c i a l ty a n d K e l l e rm a n w e re s u bj e c t t o f ede r al an d s t at e r egu l at i onsr ega r di ng s af el y l oa di ng a nd s ec ur i ng t he r i g. 62 U nde rap pl i ca bl e f ede r alr egu l at i ons , t he ca r r i eri s so l el y r es pons i bl e f or di st r i but i ng a nd l oad i ng c ar go. 63The T exas Tr ansport at i on Co de pr ovi des t hatc om m e r c i a l m ot orv e hi c l e u nl e s s–– (1 ) t h e c o m m e r c ia l m o t o rv e h ic le ’s c a r g o isp r o p e r ly di s t r i bu t e d a nd a de qu a t e l y s e c ur e d a ss pe c i f i e d i n §§ 3 9 3 .1 0 0 th ro u g h 3 9 3 .1 3 6 o f th i ss u b c h a p te r. 49 C. F. R. § 39 2. 9.

64 ... T e x . T ra n s p . C o d e A n n . § 5 .0 0 1 (a )(1 ) (V e rn o n 1 9 9 9 ). 65 ... Com m on Car

r i er Motor Frei

ght A ss 'n v. N CHCor p. , 788 S. W . 2d 207, 2 0 9 (T e x . A p p .— A u s ti n 1 9 9 0 , w ri t d e n i e d ); see United S tates v. Savage T ruck Li ne I nc. , 2 0 9 F .2 d 4 4 2 , 4 4 5

– 4 7 (4 th C i r. 1 9 5 3 ), cert. denied, 347 U. S. 952 (1 9 5 4 ).

66 ... Mo. Pac . R. R. Co. v. El m ore & S tahl, 368 S. W . 2d 99, 101 (T e x .1 9 6 3 ), af

f ’d, 3 7 7 U .S . 1 3 4(1 9 6 4 ); se e al soCent. Frei

ghtLi nes, I nc. v. Naztec, I

nc. , 7 9 0 S .W .2 d 7 3 3 , 7 3 5 (T e x . A p p .— E l P a s o 1 9 9 0 , n o w ri t); U ti l s. Pi pel i ne Co. v. A m . Petrof i na Mkt g. , 7 60 S . W . 2d 71 9, 72 3 ( Tex . A pp. — D al l as 1 9 8 8 , n o w ri t).

67 ... S ee Savage T

ruck Li ne I nc. , 209 F. 2d a t445– 47. 23 “t he dut i esan d l i abi l i t i esofa ca r r i eri n t hi s st at e and t he r em edi esagai ns tt he car r i erar e t he sam e as p res c ri b e d by t he com m on l aw ” unl ess ot her w i se p r o v i d e d b yl a w. 64 A t co m m o n l a w , c a rr i e rs a re “full y ” l i a b l efor a n yl o ss o r i n j u ry to p rop e rt y o c c u rr i n g d u ri n g tr a n sp o rt . 65Car r i er s, how eve r , m ay avo i d t hi s l i abi l i t y by af f i r m at i vel y s how i ng t hatt he l os s ori nj ury a ti ss ue w asca us ed so l el y byt he fa u l t o f th e s h i p p e r. 66Thi s excep t i on t o car r i erl i abi l i t y, how ever , onl y appl i es w hen t he sh i ppe rass um est he ca r r i er ’ s r es pons i bi l i t y f orl oad i ng a nd s ec ur i ng t he ca r go. 6724

2. J& S and Jac ks on D i d NotA ss um e t he D uty t o Safel y L oad an d S e c u r et h eR ig Th e evi dence i n t hi s case show s t hatTexa s S p e ci al t y and K el l er m an r et ai ned f ul l cont r ol and r esponsi bi l i t y f or l oadi ng and secur i ng t he r i g. W i l l i am s conced ed dur i ng hi s deposi t i on t est i m ony thatTex a s S p eci al t y r et ai ned r esponsi bi l i t y t o l oad and secur e t he r i g, despi t e J& S ’ s ass i st ance: Q : W e l l , n o w , T e x a s S p e c i a l ty T rai l e r h a s th e res p o n sibi l i ty to lo a d a n d s e c u r e it slo a d t h a tit ’s g o in g t o h a u l? A : W e h ave t he r esponsi bi l i t y t o secur e w hat everw e h aul , yes, s i r. Q : A nd w hatI ’ m t ryi ng t o get dow n i s a br eakdow n as t o w hat [ J& S] w asgoi ng t o do and w hatT exa s Speci al t y w asgoi ng to d o b e fo re th e tra c to r tra i l e r p u l l e d o u t o f th e y a rd . . . . A : W hatI w antto – – W e w as [ sic ] t ol d t ha tt he r e w ou l d be–– [ J& S ’ s] cr ew w oul d be t her e t o assi st us i s [ sic ] i n any w ay w e needed t o hel p gett he r i g up t her e. Q : To do w hat eve ryou ne ede d t hem t o do? A : R i g h t. Q : W hat eve ryou di r ec t ed t hem t o do? A : W hat everw e asked t o do, yes. Q : O ka y. Butasf arass ec ur i ng t he l oad , asbe t w ee n Ja ck so n & S i m m e n a n d T e x a sS p e c i a l ty , th a t w a sT e x a sS p e c i a l ty ’s r es pons i bi l i t y? A : Th atw as Texas S peci al t y’ s. Si m i l ar l y, Kel l er m an t es t i f i ed t hat he w asr es pons i bl e f orl oad i ng t he r i g:68 ... See, e. g. , El m ore & S tahl, 368 S. W . 2d a t101.

25 Q : W ho’ s i n c har ge ofl oad i ng t hatr i g? A : M e.

. . . . Q : S o l et ’ s say M r . –– M r . W i l l i am s com e [ sic ] i n a nd s ays , I w ant to d o t h i sd i ffe re n tl y ; a n d y o u f e e l li k e t h i sisu n s a fe , y o u ’re notdr i vi ng t he r i g? A : I ’ m r esponsi bl e. Q : O kay. A nd so t he day t hatt hi s r i g w as l oaded , i tw as under y o u rd ir e c t io n a n d c o n t r o l? A : Y e s , sir. Q : A l l ri g h t. A n d a sy o u – – a sy o u s i t h e re th i sm o rn i n g , y o u ’re –– you’ r e t ak i ng f ul l r es pons i bi l i t y f ort he l oad i ng oft hatr i g? A : Y e s , sir. B a se d o n the ev i d e n c e , w e c o n c l u d e th a t J & S a n d J a c k so n h a d n o d u ty a s a m a tte r o f l a w w i th re g a rd to th e l o a d i n g o f th e ri g , a n d , th u s , th e tri a l c o u rt di d not er ro rabuse i t s di scr et i on i n f ai l i ng t o t r eatt hem as r esponsi bl e part i es o r i n refu s in g to s u b m i t t o the j u ry i ss u e s re g a rding the i r pro p o rt i o n a te r es pons i bi l i t y. The f ac tt hatJ& S and Jac ks on a ss i st ed i n l oad i ng the r i g, w i th o u t m o re , d o e sn o tim p o s e o n th e m a d u tyto i n s u re th e s a fe a n d s e c u re l oad i ng oft he r i g. 68A c c o rding l y , w e o v e rr u l e a p p e l l a n ts’ th i rd, fou rt h , a n d fi fth i ssues.69 ... T o shib aMa ch . Co ., A m . v. SPMF lo wCo n tro l, I

nc. , 180 S. W . 3d 761, 7 8 5 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 5 , p e t. g ra n te d , j u d g m 't v a c a te d w .r.m .) ( ci t i ng J. C. Penn ey Lif e I ns. Co. v. Hei

nr i ch , 32 S. W . 3 d 280, 289 ( Tex. A p p .— S a n A n to n i o 2 0 0 0 , p e t. d e n i e d )).

70 ... Id. ( ci t i ng W

al ker v. Packer, 8 2 7 S .W .2 d 8 3 3 , 8 3 9

– 4 0 (T e x .1 9 9 2 )). 71 ... W al ker, 8 2 7 S .W .2 d a t 8 4 0 (c i ta ti o n o m i tte d ). 72 ... Toshi

ba Mach. Co. , 180 S. W . 3d a t785. 26 V I I . Prej udg m entI nt er est In th e i r e i g h th i s s u e o n a p p e a l , a p p e l l a n ts c o n te n d th a t th e tri a l c o u rt e r r e d in a w a r d in g J & S p r eju d g m e n tin t e r e s to n it sc la im sf o rt h e c o s tt o re p a ir orr epl ace t he r i g and f ori t s l ostpr of i t s. A . S t andar d ofRev i ew W e r evi ew a t r i al court ’ s aw ar d ofp r ej udg m enti nt er estu ndert he abuse ofdi sc r et i on s t and ar d. 69 U n d e r th i ss ta n d a rd , w e w i l l n o t d i s tu rb a tri a l c o u rt’s f in d in g s o n f a c t u a l is s u e su n le s st h e c o u rtre a s o n a b lyc o u ld h a v e re a c h e d o n ly onede ci si on a nd i tf ai l ed t o do so . 70 H ow eve r , a “t r i alcourtha s no ‘ di sc r et i on’ i n d e te rm i n i n g w h a t th e la w i so r a p p l y i n g th e l a w to th e fa c ts .” 71 Th e abuse o f d i sc reti o n s tan d a rd a p p l i e s to the tr i a l co u rt ’s fac tu a l fi n d i n g s a s th e yrel a te to p rej u d g m e n t i n te re s t, b u t th e d e n o v o s ta n d a rd a p p l i e sto th e tri a l c o u rt’s appl i cat i on of t he l aw t o t he f act s. 7273 ... S ee Te x. Bu s . & C om . C ode A nn. § 17 . 50( f ) ( Ver no n Sup p. 2008 )

(s t a t in g in p a rtt h a t“ [a ] c o u rtm a yn o ta w a r d p r e j u d g m e n tin t e r e s ta p p lic a b le to . . . d a m a g e s f o rf u tu re l o s su n d e r [th e D T P A ]” ); se e al so Tex. Fi n. Code A nn. § 304 . 101 ( V er non 200 6) ( “Thi s su bch apt er app l i es onl y to a w r ongf ul d e a th , p e rs o n a l i n j u ry , o r p ro p e rtyd a m a g e c a s e o fa c o u rt o f th i ss ta te .” ). P rej u d g m e n t i n te re s t m a yn o t b e a s s e s s e d o r re c o v e re d o n a n a w a rd o f fu tu re d a m a g e s g o v e rn e d b yc h a p te r 3 0 4s u b c h a p te rB . See Tex. Fi n. Code Ann. § 3 0 4 .1 0 4 5 (V e rn o n 2 0 0 6 ).

74 ... Brai

na rd v. Tr

i nity Univer

sal I ns . Co. , 216 S . W . 3d 809, 812 ( Tex. 2 0 0 6 ). 27 B . D a m a g e st oR e p a iro rR e p la c et h eR ig A ppel l ant s com pl ai n t hat t he dam ages of $7 50 , 00 0 t o r epai rorr epl ace t he r i g const i t ut es “f ut ur e dam ages” becau se t he r i g had no tbeen r epai r ed as ofthe date j udg m entw as ent er ed, and, t hus, t he aw ar d ofpr ej udg m enti nt er est o n th e s e d a m a g e si si m p ro p e r. Pr ej udg m ent i nt er est i s not r ecover abl e f or f ut ur e l osses. 73 In s t e a d , itis i nt end ed t o c om pen sa t e “ f orl os tus e oft he m one y du e a s dam age s dur i ng t he l a p s e o f ti m e b e tw e e n th e a c c ru a l o f th e c l a i m a n d th e d a te o f j u d g m e n t.” 74 Itisu n d is p u t e d in t h is c a s e t h a tJ & S ’s c la im a c c r u e d w h e n t h e rig sust ai ned dam age att he t i m e ofthe acci dent. J& S ’ s r i ght t o m oney d am ages f orr epai ro rrepl acem ento fthe r i g accr ued atthi s t i m e, n otw hen t he r i g w as o r w i l l b e a c tu a l l yre p a i re d o r re p l a c e d . T h e re fo re , w e h o l d th e s e a re n o t fu tu re dam ag e s a n d t h a tt h e t r i a l c o u rtd i d n o ta b u s e i t sd i s c r e t i o n i n a w a r d i ng pr ej udgm enti nt er es ton J & S’ s cl ai m f orda m age s t o r epa i rorr epl ac e t he r i g.75 ... Cavnar v. Q ual ity Control

Par ki ng, I nc. , 696 S . W . 2d 549, 556 ( Tex. 1 9 8 5 ); Cresthaven Nursi ng Resi dence v. Freem an , 1 34 S. W . 3d 214 , 223 ( Tex. A p p .— A m a ri l l o 2 0 0 3 , n o p e t.).

76 ... Cavnar, 6 9 6 S .W .2 d a t 5 5 6 ; KM GKanal
-Mul ler- GruppeD eutschl

and Gm b H& Co . KGv. D a vis , 1 75 S . W . 3d 37 9, 39 6– 97 ( Tex . A pp. — H oust on [ 1st D i s t.] 2 0 0 5 , n o p e t.); Cresthaven , 134 S. W . 3d a t223.

77 ... S ee, e. g. , Cavnar, 6 9 6 S .W .2 d a t 5 5 6 ; KM GKanal
-Mul ler- Gruppe D eutschl

and, 175 S. W . 3d a t396– 97. 28 C . LostPr of itD am ages A ppel l ant s al so cont end t hatt he t r i al courti m pr oper l y aw ar ded p rej u d g m e n t i n te re s t o n J & S ’sl o s t p ro fi ts d a m a g e sb e c a u s e p a s t a n d fu tu re lo s tp r o f it sw e r e n o ts e g r e g a t e d . J & S c o n c e d e st h a tt h e t r ia l c o u rte r r e d in a w a rding p rej u d g m e n t i n tere st a s to the futu re lo s t pro fi ts, bu t as k s th a t w e m o d i fy th e j u d g m e n t byred u c i n g itb yan am o u n t i t cl a i m s i s a ttr i b u tab l e to pr ej udgm enti nt er es ton f ut ur e l os tpr of i t s onl y. T o rec o v e r prej u d g m e n t i n tere st o n an a w a rd of p a st d a m a g e s, the p a rt y se ek i ng t o obt ai n pr ej udgm enti nt er es tm us ts egr ega t e p as tda m age s f r om f ut ur e dam ages. 75 Pr ej udgm ent i nt er es t i s not r ec ove r abl e on t he el em ent s of d a m a g e s a t i ss u e w h e n this b u rde n i s n o t m e t. 76 A cc or di ngl y, w e r eve r sean d vacat e the aw ar d ofp r ej udg m enti nt er esto n J& S ’ s l ostpr of i t s. 77A ppel l ant s’ e i g h th i ss u e ch a l l e n g i n g the aw a rd o f prej u d g m e n t i n tere st o n J & S ’s l o st p rofi ts i s su st ai ned . O t her w i se , t he ei ght h i ss ue i s ove r r ul ed.29 V I I I . Concl us i on W e r eve r set he j udgm enti n partas t o W i l l i am s’ i ndi vi dua l l i abi l i t y a nd t he aw ar d o f p rej udg m enti nt er eston J& S ’ s l ostpr of i t s. A ccor di ngl y, w e r ender j udg m entt hatJ& S t ake nothi ng f r om W i l l i am s i ndi vi dual l y on J& S ’ s negl i gence cl ai m , w e vac at e t he aw ar d ofpr ej udgm enti nt er es ton J & S’ s l os tpr of i t s, an d w e r em and t he ca set o t he t r i alco urtto r ec al cul at e p r ej udgm enti nt er es ton J& S’ s r em ai ni ng da m age s t hata r e su bj ec tt o pr ej udgm enti nt er es t , ex cl udi ng th e a m o u n ts i m p ro p e rl ya w a rd e d a sf u tu re lo s t p ro fi ts . I n a l l o th e r re s p e c ts , w e a ffi rm the j u d g m e n t of th e tr i a l co u rt .

J OHN CAYCE CHI E FJ UST I CE PA N EL: CA YC E, C. J. ; W A LKER, J. ; an d HO LM A N , J. ( Ret i r ed) H O L M A N , J . (R e ti re d ), n o t p a rti c i p a ti n g . S ee Tex. R. A pp. P. 41. 1( b) DEL I VERE D: Aug us t13, 2009