1 ... S eeTe x. R. App . P. 47. 4. 2 ... S eeT e x . C i v . P ra c . &R e m . C o d e A n n . § 5 1 .0 1 4 (a )(6 ) (V e rn o n 2 0 0 8 ).



## COURT OFAPPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOF TEXAS FORT WORTH NO. 2 - 0 8 -4 0 0 - CV
J AC K D. B R OCK AP P E L L ANT V . JULI E FREDERI C K TA N D Y A PPELL EE

----- ----- -- FR O M THE 153RD DI STRI CT CO URT O F TARRA NT CO UN TY

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### MEMORANDU M OPI NI ON 1 

### O N R E HEAR I NG

----- ----- -- I . I nt r oduc t i on In t h is a c c e le r a t e d in t e r lo c u t o rya p p e a l, 2 A ppel l antJack D . Br ock
com pl ai nst hatt he t r i alco urter r ed by d eny i ng hi s m ot i on f ort r adi t i ona l an d no
e v id e n c e s u m m a ryju d g m e n tin f a v o ro fA p p e lle e J u lie F r e d e r ic kT a n d y . W h ile3 ... I n 1 9 9 1 , B roc kb e g a n the p roc e ss o f de v e l o p i n g so m e o f his p rop e rt y

i nt o a res i denti al sub di vi si on. I n 19 92 , the C i t y appr oved the pl atf ort he f i r st pha se , W es tPar k I , and t he i ns t al l at i on ofw at eran d s ew erf oral l pha se s oft he W estPar k Su bdi vi si on dev el opm ent . The C i ty su bsequen t l y appr oved W est P a rk I I ’s p l a t. A t so m e p o in t b e tw e e n 1 9 9 2 an d 1 9 9 9 , th e ev e n ts l e a d i n g to th e d i sp u te o v e r t h e w a ter d ra in a g e e a se m e n t be g a n . I n 1 9 9 9 , th e C i ty a p p rov e d W e st P a rk I I I ’s p l a t. I n 2 001 , B r o c kd i s c o v e r e d t h a th i sp l a tf o rW e s tP a r kI I I w a su n s i g n e d. B roc kalso b e g a n d a m m i n g th e inl e t i n to h i s d rai n a g e d i tch to p rev e n t t h e C i ty f r o m u sing i t . The C i t y event ual l y f i l ed a condem nat i on act i on t o acqui r e a dr ai nag e e as em ent . A unani m ousCi t y Counci l vot ed t o conde m n t he ea se m ent on Br ock ’ s pr ope rt y. 2 w e d e n y Br o c k ’ s m o t i o n f o r r e h e a r i n g , w e w i t h d r a w o u r e a r l i e r o p i ni on a nd j u d g m e n t o f M a y1 4 , 2 0 0 9 , a n d s u b s ti tu te th e fo l l o w i n g . W e a ffir m .

I I . Fa ct ualan d Proce duralBac kground T h i s d e fam a ti o n a c ti o n aro se fr o m d i sp u tes b e tw e e n B roc kan d the C i ty ofK el l er( “C i t y”) regar di ng Brock’ s r eal pr opert y— speci f i cal l y, a subdi vi si on pl at t hatBr ock had ori gi nal l y subm i t t ed f ordevel opm enti n 1 99 9, b u t t hatw as si gned i n 2 00 4; t he cond em nat i on of an easem entbythe C i t y f orw at er dr ai nage a cr os s so m e o fBr ock ’ s pr ope rt y i n 2007; an d t he den i al , ats om e poi nt bef or e M ay 12, 200 7, of Br ock ’ s app l i ca t i on t o c han ge z oni ng on s om e o f h is p rop e rt yso h e co u l d p u t a R a c e T rac g a s s tati o n o n i t. 3Ta nd y w as e l e c t e d m a yo ri n 2003 a nd 2005 ; s hew a sn otr e e l e c t e d i n 2007. Br ockpa i d f ort he f ol l ow i ng a dve rt i se m ent( t he “Ad”) , al ong w i t h a co py oft he con t r ove r si alpl at , t o r un i n The Kel ler Citi zen , a l ocal n ew spaper , on M ay4 ... Br ock t est i f i ed th a t The Kel ler Citi zen pr i nt ed hi s art i cl e w i t h a t ypog r aphi cal er r or , and t hati tshoul d have r ead, “I coul d p rov e t hatI had re c e i v e d a p p ro v a l , a n d s o h a d a n e w p l a t m a d e i n 2 0 0 4 .” 3 4 , 2 0 0 7 , e i gh tda ysb e f o r e t h e ma y o r a l e l e c t i o n t h a tT a n d yl o s t . T h e Ad st at ed: T h i sisa c o p yo f th e f i n a l p l a t o f W e s t P a rkA d d i ti o n i n K e l l e r. I or i gi nal l y ha d a n a ppr ove d pl ati n 1 999 t hatw asde st r oye d bya cor r upt C i t y H al l . I co ul d not 4p r o v e t h a tI h a d re c e iv e d a p p r o v a l, and s o ha d a ne w p l at m adei n 2004. I n t he si gna t ur e a nd ded i ca t i on s ec t i on, you w i l l s ee m y nam e not ar i z ed and da t ed June 3, 20 04 . Y ou w i l l see t hatt he pl ati s show n t o have been r ecor ded June 18 , 2 00 4, at t he coun t y court hou se and i s l ocat ed i n C a b i n e tA , s l i d e 9 3 3 0 . I n th e b o xu n d e r th e c o u n tyc l e rk ’s na m e , o u ro wn ma y o r ’ ss i g n a t u r e a p p e a r sd a t e d J u n e 1 5 , 1 9 9 9. Th e onl y pr obl em i s sh ewa sn ’t m a yo r in1 9 9 9 ! L ik e m e , s h e re a lly si gne d i ti n Ju ne 200 4, butba ck dat ed t he si gna t ures t o coverup t he cor r upt i on. M or e t han co r r upt i on, t hi s am ount s t o f r aud . And r ec or di ng a f r aud ul entdoc um enti s a f el ony. I n t he pastf ew m o n th s, ci t i zens ofK el l erhave w i t nessed f l ood i ng on W hi tl ey R oad t hathas w r ong l y been bl am ed on m e. Th e bl am e shoul d be di r ect ed atM ayorTan dy and C ou n c i l m an S tev e T ri n e w h o refu se d to m e e t w i th m e a n d w e re to o b u syto fi n d o u t w h a t m i sta k e s th e C i ty M a n a g e r a n d h i s s taff m a d e to ca us e t hi s m es s. O nl y t w o counc i lm em ber s w ant ed t o know t he tr u th . T h e tr u th i s th e C i ty M a n a g e r a n d th ree m e m b e rs o f h i s s taff m adea ver ba l a greem entw i t h m e f oran ea se m enti n Ju ne of 20 04 . But ourm ayorand herf r i ends vot ed i n M ar ch 2 00 7 to s t eal i tt he ol d- f ashi oned w ay— em i nent dom ai n. Theydeci ded t o t a ke m yl a n d b yf o rc e n o w an d fac e the d a m a g e su i t l a ter. T h e cit y r u in e d m yp a s t u r e b yc o n d e m n in g a s t r ip o fla n d t h r o u g h t h e m id d le o f m yp rop e rt y , tu rn in g m yo n e p i e c e o f l a n d i n to tw o se p a rate par ce l s t hatar e n o l onge rco nne ct ed. Furt her m or e, by putt i ng a dr ai nage di t ch t hr oug h t he m i ddl e o fm y pr opert y, they have r ui ned w hatw er e t o be 20 f ut ur e r es i den t i al l ot s. A nd t he di t ch t heyha ve4

puti n d o e s n ’ t e v e n d r a i n , b u t s e rv e s a s a b r e e d i n g g r o u nd f or m os qui t oesi ns t ea d. La stw ee k I i ns t r uct ed m y a t t or neyt o t ak e a co py o ft he f al si f i ed pl att o t he T arr antCount y Di st r i ctA t t or neyt o ha ve t he f ol l ow i ng c ha r ge sa ga i ns tt heM a yo ra nd s t a f fi nv e s t i ga t ed: 1) c om m i t t i ng f r a ud a nd r e c or di ng f a l s i f i e d l e ga l d oc um ent s, 2) c o n sp i rac yto d e n ym e th e u se o f m y p rop e rt y , 3 ) v i o l a ti o n o f state and ci t y w at erl aw s, an d 4) t r es pas si ng on pr i vat e p r op ert y by di vert i ng c ont r ol l ed gr ound w at eront o m y pr ope rt y. I n t he pas t , an yt i m e t he [ C ] i t y ofK el l erha s nee ded an yt hi ng, I ha ve w i l l i ngl y gi ven . I ha ve gi ven m y t i m e. I ha ve gi ven m y m one y. I ha ve gi ven r oad fr on t agean d s ew erea se m ent s f r eeof c h a rg e . A l l th e [C ]i tyh a se v e r h a d to d o w a sa s k . A fte r l i v i n g h e re fo r 8 0 y e a rs, i t i s a sa d d a yw h e n I h a v e to g o to th e co u n ty di st r i ctatt or ney ’ s of f i ceab outt he cor r upt i on i n ourci t y. A tt he bott om oft he A d i s t he f ol l ow i ng l egend , “W r i t t en and pai d f orby Jack B ro c k .” Tandys ued Br ock , cl ai m i ng l i bel per se . Br ockm ove d f ora t r adi t i ona l an d
n o e v id e n c e s u m m a ryju d g m e n t . T h e t r ia l c o u rtd e n ie d B r o c k ’s m o t io n , a n d t h is app ea l f ol l ow ed. I I I . Di sc us si on I n hi s f i r st i ssue, Br ock ar gues t hatt he sum m ary j udg m entevi dence
c o n c l u s i v e l ys h o w sth a t t h e fa c tu a l a s s e rti o n sth a t T a n d yc o m p l a i n so f w e re n o t d e fa m a to rya n d th a t th e re i sn o e v id e n c e th a t th e a s s e rti o n sw e re d e fam a to ry. I n h i s s e c o n d a n d thir d i ss u e s, h e p res e n ts th e sa m e arg u m e n ts5

w i th reg a rd t o the tr u th o f t h e as se rt i o n s a n d w h e th e r he m a d e the m w i th act ual m al i ce. A . St andar d ofRev i ew W hen a part y m ove s f or su m m ary j udgm ent unde r bot h r ul es166a( c) an d 166 a( i ) , w e w i l l f i r str evi ew t he t r i alco urt ’ s j udgm entunde rt he s t an dar dsof
ru l e 1 6 6 a (i ). F

o rd Mo to r Co . v. Ri

d g wa y, 1 3 5 S .W .3 d 5 9 8 , 6 0 0 (T e x . 2 0 0 4 ). I ft he non m ovant f ai l ed t o pr odu ce m or e t han a s ci nt i l l a ofevi dence un dert hat b u rd e n , th e n th e re i sn o n e e d to a n a ly z e w h e th e r th e m o v a n t’ss u m m a ry j u d g m e n t p ro o f s a ti s fi e d th e l e s ss tri n g e n t ru l e 1 6 6 a (c ) b u rd e n . Id. U nde rr ul e 166a( i ) , t he pa rt y w i t houtt he bur den ofpr oofm ay, w i t hout pr es ent i ng e vi den ce , m ovef ors um m ary j udgm entaft eran ad equ at e t i m e f or di scover y on t he gr oun d t hat ther e i s no evi dence t o suppo rtan essent i al el em entoft he nonm ova nt ’ s cl ai m orde f ens e. Tex . R. Ci v. P. 166a( i ) . The
m o ti o n m u s t s p e c i fi c a l l ys ta te th e e l e m e n ts fo r w h i c h th e re i sn o e v i d e n c e . Id.; Jo hn s o nv. Bre wer

& Pr itch a rd , P. C. , 73 S. W . 3d 193, 207 ( Tex. 200 2) . The tri a l c o u rt m u s t g ra n t th e m o ti o n u n l e s sth e n o n m o v a n tp ro d u c e ss u m m a ry j u d g m e n t e v i d e n c e th a t ra i s e sa g e n u i n e i s s u e o f m a te ri a l fa c t. S eeTex. R. Ci v. P . 1 6 6 a (i ) &c m t.; Sw. Elec . Power Co. v. Grant, 73 S. W . 3d 211 , 215 ( T ex. 2 0 0 2 ).6

W h e n re v i e w i n g a n o e v i d e n c e s u m m a ryj u d g m e n t, w e e x a m i n e th e e n ti re r e c o r d in t h e lig h tm o s tf a v o r a b le t o t h en o n m o v a n t , in d u lg in g e v e ryre a s o n a b le i n fe re n c e a n d re s o l v i n g a n yd o u b ts a g a i n s t th e m o ti o n . Sudanv. Su dan , 199 S. W . 3d 291 , 2 92 ( Tex. 2 006 ) . I ft he nonm ova ntbr i ngsf or w ar d m or e t han a sci nt i l l a ofpr obati ve evi dence t hatr ai ses a genu i ne i ssue ofm at er i al f act , t hen
a n o e v i d e n c es u m m a ryj u d g m e n t i sn o t p ro p e r. Moore v. K MartCor p. , 981 S . W . 2d 26 6, 26 9 ( Tex . A pp. — S an A nt oni o 1 99 8, p et . d eni ed) . W e r evi ew a no evi den ce su m m ary j udgm entf orev i den cet hatw oul d e nab l e r ea so nab l e a nd fa i r-m i n d e d j u ro rsto d i ffe r i n th e i r c o n c l u s i o n s . Ham i lton v. W

i l son , 249 S. W . 3d 425, 426 ( Tex. 2008 ) ( ci t i ng City of Kel ler v. W i l son , 168 S. W . 3d 802, 8 2 2 (T e x . 2 0 0 5 )). B. Li belperse A s a p u b l i c o ffi c i a l w h e n B roc k p l a c e d th e A d , T a n d yh a s th e b u rde n to p ro v e th a t B ro c kp u b l i s h e d a fa l s e s t a t e m e n t o f fa c t th a t w a sd e fa m a to ry con ce r ni ng he rw hi l e a ct i ng w i t h a ct ualm al i cer ega r di ng t he st at em ent ’ s t r ut h. See Bentley v. Bunton , 9 4 S .W .3 d 5 6 1 , 5 7 9 , 5 8 6 (T e x . 2 0 0 2 ); W FA A
- TV , I nc.
v. Mc L em o re , 9 7 8 S .W .2 d 5 6 8 , 5 7 1 (T e x . 1 9 9 8 ), cert. denied, 526 U. S. 1051 ( 199 9) . Tand y s ued Br ockcl ai m i ng l i belpe rs e, i . e. , t hatt he pri nt ed w or ds
w er e s o obv i ous l y hu rt f ul t o he rt hatt heyr equ i r e n o pr oofoft hei ri nj ur i ous c h a ra c t e rt o m a k e th e m a c ti o n a b l e . See Cl ar k v. Jenki

ns , 248 S. W . 3d 418,5 ... Sum m ary j udgm entca nnotbegr ant ed exc epton t he gr ounds

e x p re s s l yp re s e n te d i n th e m o ti o n . Jo hn s o n, 7 3 S .W .3 d a t 2 0 4 ; S ci . Sp e c trum, I nc. v. Marti

nez , 94 1 S . W . 2d 91 0, 91 2 ( Tex . 19 97 ) . Br ock asks us t o r ever se th e tr i a l co u rt ’s j u d g m e n t de n y i n g h i s m o ti o n for su m m a ry j u d g m e n t an d to r end erj udgm enton hi s beh al f . H ow eve r , al t hough Br ockar gue s i n hi s se con d i ssue t hat“[ t ] he sum m ar y j udg m entevi dence con cl usi vel y dem onst r a tes t hat t he f ac t ualas se rt i onsco m pl ai ned ofby [ Tandy] w er e t r ue ort hatt her e i s no e v i d e n c e th a t th e y w e re fa l s e ,” h e d i d n o t ra i s e th i sa sa g ro u n d fo r s u m m a ry j udg m enti n hi s m ot i on. Ther ef or e, w e m ay not addr ess t hi s i ssue f ort he f i r st ti m e o n a p p e a l . S ee Johnson , 7 3 S .W .3 d a t 2 0 4 ; Marti nez , 94 1 S . W . 2d at 912. 7 4 3 7 (T e x . A p p .— A m a ri l l o 2 0 0 8 , p e t. d e n i e d ), petiti on f or cert. f i led, 77 U .S .L.W . 3 5 3 1 ( U .S . M a r. 5 , 2 0 0 9 ) (N o . 0 8 -1 1 2 2 ). O n ap p e a l , B roc kas se rt s t hatf ourke y s t at em ent s i n t he A d w ere notde f am at ory, w er e n otf al se , an d
w er e notm ade w i t h act ual m al i ce. 5 1. Def am at ory M ea ni ng Br ockar gue s t hatTandyha d no def am at i on c l ai m ba se d on t he f ol l ow i ng f ourst at em ent s: ( 1) “ Li kem e, s he r ea l l y s i gne d i ti n June 2004, butba ck dat ed t he s ig n a tu re to c o v e r u p th e c o rru p ti o n . M o re th a n c o rru p ti o n , th is am oun t s t o f r aud. A nd r ecor di ng a f r audu l ent d o c u m e nti s a f el ony. ” ( 2) “ The bl am e s houl d bedi r ec t ed atM ayo rTandyan d c ounc i l m an, S tev e T ri n e w h o refu se d to m e e t w it h m e an d w e re to o b u syto f i nd ou t m i st akes t he C i t y M anagerand hi s st af fm ade t hatcaused th i sm e s s .” ( 3) “But ourm ayorand herf r i ends voted i n M a rch 2 00 7 to s t eal [ t he easem ent ] t he ol d f ashi oned w ay— em i nent dom ai n. ”6 ... A l th o u g h B roc kco m p l a i n s th a t T a n d yd i d n o t plea d a c o m p l a i n t t o

i nt er pr ett he A d a nd t hats he ca nnotnow co m pl ai n a bouti m put ed as se rt i ons off r aud and c or r upt i on, Tandy ’ s pet i t i on i s very br oad , pl ea di ng de f am at i on w i t h r ef er enc e t o bot h s pec i f i c s t at em ent s and t he A d i n ge ner al , s t at i ng, “ D e f e n d a n tin t e n t io n a llyp u b lis h e d a w r it t e n c o m m u n ic a t io n s t a t in g v e r if ia b le fa c ts a n d a c c u s a ti o n sre l a ti n g t o T a n d yin h e r o fficia l c a p a c i tya sM a y o r . . . . T h e A d w a s u n a m b i g u o u s a n d th e s tate m e n ts th e rei n w e re fal se a n d m a d e w i th a c tu a l m a l i c e a n d w i th k n o w l e d g e o f a n d re c k l e s sd i s r e g a r d f o r th e i r fa l s i ty .” She a t t ac hed a cop y oft he A d t o he rpe t i t i on, al ong w i t h Br ock ’ s dep os i t i on. 8 ( 4) “ La stw ee k I i ns t r uct ed m y a t t or neyt o t ak e a co py o ft he f al si f i ed pl att o t he T arr an tCount y Di st r i ctA t t or neyt o ha ve t he f ol l ow i ng c ha r ge sa ga i ns tt hem a yo ra nd s t af fi nves t i ga t e d: 1) c om m i t t i ng f r a ud a nd r ecor di ng f a l s i f i e d l e ga l d oc um e nt s , 2) c o n sp i rac yto d e n ym e th e u se o f m yp rop e rt y , 3 ) v i o l a ti o n o f state and ci t y w at erl aw s, an d 4) t r esp assi ng on pr i vat e p r ope rt y by d i v e rti n g c o n tro l l e d g ro u n d w a te r o n to m yp ro p e rty .” A l t hou gh T andy m ade r ef er ence t o t hese st at em ent s i n herpet i t i on, she al so r em i nds t he courtt hatw e m ustr ead t he A d i n i t s ent i r et y and notj ustconsi der t he i ndi vi dua ls t at em ent s i n i so l at i on. 6 Li beli s def am at i on e xpr es se d i n w r i t t en f or m t hatt end s t o i nj ur e a l i vi ng per so n’ s r epu t at i on an d t her ebyex pos e h ert o pub l i c h at r ed, co nt em ptor r i di cul e, orf i nan ci ali nj ury ort o i m pea ch herhone st y, i nt egr i t y, vi rt ue, or re p u ta ti o n . SeeT e x . C i v . P ra c . & R e m . C o d e A n n . § 7 3 .0 0 1 (V e rn o n 2 0 0 5 ). W he t he ra publ i ca t i on i s ca pab l e o fbe i ng de f am at ory i s i ni t i al l y a que st i on of l a w to b e d e t e r m in e d b yth e c o u rt. NewTi m es, I nc. v. I saacks , 146 S. W . 3d 1 4 4 , 1 5 5 (T e x . 2 0 0 4 ), cert. denied, 5 4 5 U .S . 1 1 0 5 (2 0 0 5 ); Tur ner v. KTRK9

Televi si on, I nc ., 3 8 S .W .3 d 1 0 3 , 1 1 4(T e x . 2 0 0 0 ) . T o m a k e t h is d e te rm i n a ti o n , th e tri a l c o u rt s h o u l d c o n s i d e r w h e th e r th e w o rd su s e d a re r e a s o n a b lyc a p a b le o fd e f a m a t o rym e a n i n g b yc o n s id e r in g t h e a lle g e d ly d e fa m a to ry s ta te m e n t a sa w h o l e . S ee Musser v. Sm ith Prot. Servs. , I nc. , 723 S . W . 2 d 6 5 3 , 6 5 4

– 5 5 ( T e x . 1 9 8 7 ) . T h e d e t e r mi n a t i o n i sb a s e d o n h o w a p e rs o n o f o rd i n a ryi n te l l i g e n c e w o u l d p e rc e i v e th e e n ti re s ta t e m e n t. S ee Bentley , 9 4S .W .3 d a t 5 7 9 ; HarvestHouse Publ i sher s v. Local

Church , 1 90 S .W .3 d 2 0 4 , 2 1 0 (T e x . A p p .— H o u s to n [1 s t D i s t. ] 2 0 0 6 , p e t. d e n i e d ), c ert. denied, 12 7 S . C t . 29 87 ( 20 07 ) . A nd even i fi ndi vi dual st at em ent s consi der ed i n i sol at i on ar e l i t er al l y t r ue ornon- def am at or y, a publ i cat i on can con vey a f al se a n d d e fa m a to rym e a n i n g b yo m i ttin g o r ju x t a p o s in g fa c ts . S ee Tur ner, 38 S. W . 3d at114– 15. A publ i ca t i on a s a w hol e m ay be def am at ory i ft he p u b l i c a ti o n c re a te sa fa l s e i m p re s s i o n . S e ei d. a t117– 18. A d d i ti o n a l l y , a s T a n d yw a s a p u b li c o ff ici a l at th e ti m e , th e sta tem e n ts
m u st b e o f s u c h c h a rac ter tha t, i f t h e yw e re true , w o u l d h a v e su bj e c ted h e r t o rem o v a l fr o m o ffi c e , to c ri m i n a l c h a rge s, o r to i m p u tati o n o f offi c i a l d i sh o n e sty o r c o rru p ti o n . S ee Ben tley , 94 S . W . 3d at582 ( “Accus i ng a publ i c o f f i ci al of
c o rru p ti o n i so rd i n a ri l yd e fa m a to ryp e r s e .” ); Bra sh er v. Ca rr, 743 S. W . 2d 674, 677 ( Tex. A pp. — H ous t on [ 14t h D i st . ] 198 7) ( “St at em ent s t hatar e o fs uch a cha r ac t eras , i ft r ue, w oul d s ubj ec ta publ i c off i ci alt o r em ova l f r om of f i ceor7 ... Tan dy t est i f i ed t hatshe w as not aw ar e ofany contr over si es bet w een

t he C i t y a nd B r ock r ega r di ng t he Phas e I I I pl atpr i ort o M ay 4, 2007 . She st at ed i n heraf f i davi tt hat she di d not f i l l i n t he dat e af t erhersi gnatur e w hen sh e s i gne d t he pl ati n 2004. She al so t es t i f i ed t hats he di d notvot e o n t he coun ci l ’ s deci si on t o cond em n B r ock’ s pr opert y and t hatt he coun ci l vot e w as unan i m ous. Tand y t est i fi e d th a therr eputat i on i n t he com m uni t y had been dam age d byt he A d, ba se d on f ee dba ckand com m ent s t hats he r ec ei ved , an d t hats he had ne verm etBr ockbe f or e h i s dep os i t i on. 10 c h a rg e h i m w i th a c ri m e a re l i b e l o u sp e r s e .” ), rev’ d on other

grounds , 776 S .W .2 d 5 6 7 (T e x . 1 9 8 9 ). I n i ts e n ti rety , a rea so n a b l e p e rso n co u l d i n terp ret th e A d ’s o v e ral l g i st to be t hata “cor r upt C i t y H al l ” ( vi a i t s cor r upt em pl oyees) dest r oyed B r ock’ s W est Par k I I I pl at so m e t i m e bet w ee n 199 9 and 200 4, aft er i t had be en ap prov ed; t hatTan dy com m i t t ed a f el o n yb yb a c kdat i ng hersi gnatur e i n 2 00 4 to cover up t he cor r upt i on i nvol ved i n de st r oyi ng Br ock ’ s or i gi nalpl at( bac kda t i ng r ender i ng t he pl atf r audu l ent ) and by t hen r ecor di ng t he f r audu l entpl at ; t hat Tan dy w as al so t o bl am e f orBr ock f l ood i ng W hi t l ey R oad becau se she r ef used to m e e t w i th h i m an d w a s to o b u s yto l o o ki n to m i sta k e s c a u se d b yC i ty em pl oyees ( al l ow i ng t hem t o r un am uck) ; and t hati n M ar ch 2 00 7, Tan dy voted t o s t ea l hi s l and vi a e m i nen tdo m ai n, r ui ni ng hi s pas t ur e a nd hi s dev el opm ent pl ans , aft erco ns pi r i ng t o de ny h i m t he us e o fhi s pr ope rt y, vi ol at i ng s t at e a nd ci t y w at erl aw s, an d t r es pas si ng on hi s pr ope rt y by d i vert i ng c ont r ol l ed gr ound
w a ter o n to i t. 78 ... Sp eci f i cal l y, st at em ent( 1) , w hi ch accuses Tand y ofof f i ci al

di sh one st y, co ul d a ppe art o a r ea so nab l e p er so n t o bede f am at ory.

9 ... Br ockha s r equ es t ed by m ot i on t hatw e t ak e j udi ci alnot i ceoft he cop i esoft he C i t y’ s cha rt eran d a rt i cl e 4 oft he C i t y’ s U ni f i ed D evel op m ent C ode , an d bys uppl em ent alm ot i on t hatw e t ak e j udi ci alnot i ceoft he cop i esof art i cl e 4 o f t h e Ci t y ’ s Un i f i e d De v e l o p m e n t Co d e a n d s e c t i o n 16

- 20 4 o ft he C i t y’ s Subdi vi si on Or di na nceN um ber571, da t ed M ar ch 29, 1989 , t hathe s u p p l i e d to th e c o u rt. W e g ra n t h i so ri g i n a l m o ti o n in p a rt, a sto th e c h a rte r, bec ause h e p r es ent ed t hi s sa m e r equ es tt o t he t r i alco urt . W e d enyt he r em ai nde rofhi s or i gi nalm ot i on. E v e n ifw e w e r e t o g r a n t h is m o t io n a n d s u p p le m e n t a l m o t io n a st o a rt ic le 4, w hi ch he di d no tp r ese nt to t he t r i alco urt , i n l i ghtofourr es ol ut i on a bove w i t h r egar d t o t he i m putat i on of of f i ci al di shonest y, w e need not al so addr ess h i s a rgu m e n t t h a t, a l th o u g h T a n d yall e g e d l yv i o l a ted arti c l e 4 , sh e fai l e d to s h o w th a t b a c k d a ti n g w a sa b a s i s to re m o v e h e r fro m h e r o ffice a sm a y o r. S ee T e x . R . A p p . P . 4 7 .1 ; see al soTex . Pen a l C od e Ann . § 37 . 10( a ) ( 1) –( 3) , ( c ) ( 1) (V e rno n S u p p . 2 0 0 8 ) (de fi n i n g tam p e ri n g w i th g o v e rnm e n tal rec o rds as a s tate j a i l fe l o n yw h e n c o m m i tted w i th inte n t to d e fr a u d ), a n d K e l l e r, T e x ., C h a rt e r art. I I I , § 3 . 02 ( 20 08 ) ( st at i ng t hat“[ a] m em beroft he coun ci l . . . w ho i s convi ct ed ofa f el ony w hi l e i n of f i ces hal l i m m edi at el y f or f ei thi s of f i ce ”) . And al t hough 11 A re a s o n a b l e p e rs o n c o u l d v i e w th e A d a sa p p e a ri n g to i m p e a c h T a n d y ’s hon est y orr eputat i on and t o expose herto pu bl i c hat r ed, cont em pt , orr i di cul e. S ee T e x . C i v . P ra c . & R e m . C o d e A n n . § 7 3 .0 0 1 ; Isaacks , 146 S. W . 3d a t155; Tur ner, 3 8 S .W .3 d a t 1 1 4

– 1 5 ; Musser, 72 3 S . W . 2d at65 4– 55 . Furt her m or e, th e A d te n d sto i m p u te o fficia l d i s h o n e s tya n d c o rru p t i o n to T a n d y . S ee Ben tley , 9 4S .W .3 d a t 5 8 2 ; Brasher, 7 4 3 S . W . 2 d at 6 7 7 . T he r efore , w e concl ude t hatt he pub l i cat i on as a w hol e, as w el l as atl eastone of i t s i ndi vi dual st at em ent s, 8i s capabl e ofbei ng defam at or y, and w e ove rr u l e B r ock’ s f i r st i ssue. 9hi s s up pl e m e nt a l m ot i on p ur po rt st o s ub m i ts e c t i on 16

- 204o f th e C i ty ’s

Sub di vi s i on O r di na nc e , t hese c t i on a c t ua l l y s ub m i t t e d a nd c e rt i f i e d i s16- 240 . W e d enyhi s su ppl em ent alm ot i on i n i t s ent i r et y. 12 2. A ct ualM al i ce To es t abl i sh ac t ualm al i ce , t he pl ai nt i f fm us tpr ovet hatt he def end ant p u b l i sh e d a d e fam a to ry fa l se h o o d “w i th kn o w l e d g e tha t i t w a s fa l se o r w i th
r eckl ess di sr egar d of w het her i t w as f al se ornot . ” W FAA- TV, 9 78 S . W . 2d at 573 – 74 ( quot i ng NewY or k Ti m es Co. v. Sul

l ivan , 376 U. S. 254, 279– 80, 84 S . C t . 71 0, 72 6 ( 19 64 ) ) . Reckl ess di sr egar d i s a s ubj ect i ve st andar d t hat
r equi r es t he pl ai nt i f ft o br i n g fort h evi dence t hatt he def endan tent ert ai ned
se r i ousdoub t s ast o t he t r ut h oft he publ i ca t i on a tt he t i m e i tw aspubl i sh ed. Hear stCor p. v. Skeen , 159 S . W . 3d 633, 637 ( Tex. 2 005 ) . A pr es ent at i on of f act s t hati s m i sl eadi ng, even negl i gentl y so, w i l l notconst i t ut e a “cal cul at ed f al se hood”unl es s t hos e f ac t s ar e publ i sh ed w i t h k now l edg e o rs t r ong s us pi ci on b yth e p u b l i s h e r th a t th e ya re m i s l e a d i n g . S ee Tur ner, 38 S . W . 3d a t120. A c t u a l m a lic e f o c u s e so n t h e d e f e n d a n t ’s s t a t e o fm in d , p a rt ic u la r lyh is att i t udet ow ar d t he t r ut h ofw hather epo rt ed, w hi ch a p l ai nt i f fca n pr ove t hr ough obj ec t i ve evi den ceab outt he publ i ca t i on’ s ci r cum st anc esan d t he d e fe n d a n t’sc o n d u c t a t th e t i m e o f p u b l i c a ti o n . Id. ; W FAA- TV, 97 8 S . W . 2d at 5 7 3

– 7 4 ; see al

so Ben tley , 9 4S .W .3 d a t 5 9 1 , 5 9 6 . W h e n th e d e fe n d a n t’s13

w or ds l end t hem sel ves t o m or e t han one i nt er pr et at i on, t he pl ai nt i ff m ust es t abl i sh ei t hert hatt he def end antkn ew t hatt he w or dsw oul d c onve y a d e fa m a to rym e s s a g e o r th a t h e h a d re c k l e s sd i s re g a rd fo r th e i r e ffe c t. Isaacks , 14 6 S . W . 3d at16 2. Publ i cat i ons al l eged t o be def am at or y m ustb e v i ew ed as
a w hol e— i ncl udi ng a cc om pan yi ng s t at em ent s, he adl i nes , pi ct ur es , an d t he gener a l t e no ra nd r e pu t a t i on o ft hes ou r c e i t s e l f , a nd w e c on s i de rt hea c t ual
m a l i c e i s s u e w i th i n th i sc o n te x t. S ee City of Kel ler, 168 S. W . 3d at811 ( ci t i ng Isaacks , 146 S . W . 3 d at 158–5 9, f ort he pr opos i t i on, w i t h r ega r d t o a no e v i d e n c e as se rt i o n , th a t l e g a l su ffi c i e n c yc a n n o t disreg a rd p a rt s o f a publ i ca t i on, cons i der i ng onl y f al sest at em ent s t o s upporta pl ai nt i f f ’ s ver di ctor onl y t r ue one s t o s upporta def ens e v er di ct ) . And, ast he Supr em e Courtof Texa s hass t at ed: To di sp r oveac t ualm al i ce , a def end antm ay ce rt ai nl y t es t i f y a bout h iso w n t h in k in g a n d t h e re a s o n sf o rh isa c t io n s , a n d m a y b e a b le t o ne gat e a ct ualm al i ce co ncl us i vel y. Buthi s t es t i m ony t hathe bel i eved w hathe sai d i s notconcl usi ve, i r r espect i ve ofal l o ther evi den ce . The evi den cem us tbevi ew ed i n i t s ent i r et y. The def end ant ’ s st at e ofm i nd can— i nde ed, m us tus ual l y— be pr ove d by c ir c u m s t a n t ia l e v id e n c e . A la c ko fc a r e o ra n in ju r io u sm o t iv e in m a k i n g a s ta te m e n t i sn o t a l o n e p ro o fo fa c tu a l m a l i c e , b u t c a re a n d m o t iv e a r e f a c t o r st o b e c o n s id e r e d . A n u n d e r s t a n d a b le m i si nt er pr et at i on of am bi guo us f act s does notshow act ual m al i ce, buti nhe r ent l y i m pr oba bl e a ss ert i onsan d s t atem ent s m adeon i n fo rm a ti o n th a t i so b v i o u s l yd u b i o u sm a ys h o w a c tu a l m a l i c e . A fa i l u re to i n v e s ti g a te fu l l yi sn o t e v i d e n c e o f a c t u a l m a li c e ; a pur posef ul avoi dance of t he t r ut h i s. I m agi ni ng t hatsom et hi ng m ay b e tr u e i s n o t t h e sa m e as b e l i e f.10 ... B ro c ka l s o s ta te d i n h i sa ffid a v i t a tta c h e d t o h i sm o ti o n fo r s u m m a ry

j u d g m e n t th a t a t th e ti m e h e p u b l i s h e d th e A d , h e “ b e l i e v e d i tsc o n te n ts .”

11 ... Br ock r eappl i ed f ora z oni ng chan ge f ort he R aceTrac gas st at i on af t er Tan dy l ostt he m ayor al el ect i on and o n e oft he coun ci l m em ber s had been r epl ac ed. 14 Ben tley , 9 4S .W .3 d a t 5 9 6 (i n te rn a l c i ta ti o n so m i tte d ).

a. Br ock ’ s Tes t i m ony Tandyatt ac hed Br ock ’ s de po si t i on t o he rr es pons e t o hi s m ot i on f or su m m a ry j u d g m e n t. B roc kte sti fi e d th a t h e d i d n o t n e e d to re se a rch th e fac ts i n t he A d be ca us e t heyw er e k no w n t o hi m pe r so nal l y, 10an d hega ve t he f ol l ow i ng e xpl ana t i on: Q . O k a y . D id y o u i n ten d the rea d e rs o f T h e K e l l e r C i ti ze n to unde r st and t he m ea ni ng oft hi s [ A ] d, t hati tw asaboutco r r upt i on, t hati tw asab outf r aud ? A . Y e s, b e c a u se ev e ry w e e ki n T h e K e l l e r C itiz e n [, ] th e C i ty M a n a g e r h a d t h e — h a d t h e As s i s t a n t Ci t y M a n a g e r . . . go do w n t her e a nd t el l t hem t hatt he onl y r ea so n t hatt he w at erw asbe i ng f l ood ed on W hi t l ey R oad bym e w as bec a u se ofsom e RaceT r ac gas ol i ne [ st at i on] t hatw asr ej ec t ed, 11 a n d t h e f in a l b lo w o n t h isis w hen t heys atup her e a nd— w i t h Ju l i e Ta ndy asm ayo ran d sign a tu re o f t h e C i ty o f K e l l e r t o si t up h e re a n d too ka v o te to cond em n m y pr opert y w hen t hey ar e i l l egal l y putt i ng w at ero n m e. H e tes ti fi e d tha t he h a d n e v e r m e t T a n d y p ri o r to h i s d e p o sit i o n , a n d tha t w i th
r ega r d t o t he A d, “ [ t ] hi s w asnota per so nalatt ac k o n Jul i e Tandy asa per so n, onl y as t he si gnatur e f ort he C i t y of K el l er . ” H e al so t est i f i ed t hatt he m ayor al el ec t i on da t e h ad not hi ng t o do w i t h t he dat e t hather an t he A d.12 ... Br ockt es t i f i ed t hatO t i s W el ch, t he cha i r m an oft he pl ann i ng a nd

z oni ng c om m i ss i on w ho al so si gne d t he pl ati n 2004, di d notco m m i ta f el ony “b e c a u se , a c tu a l l y , h e p rob a b l yd i d n ’tk n o w ” th a t his si g n a tu re w a s g o i n g to be bac kda t ed.

13 ... B ro c kc l a i m e d th a t th e C i tyd e s tro y e d h i sP h a s e II I p l a t, h a v i n g “ h e a rd f r om oneoft he C i t y e m pl oye est hats om e l adyw entdow n t he r e w her e t he p la t s a n d e v e ry t h in g w a sk e p tw it h a g a r b a g e c a n a n d t h r e w e v e ryp la tin itin t he gar bag e, ” buthedi d notr em em berw ho t he C i t y e m pl oye e w asorw ho t he “l ady ” w asw ho a l l ege dl y t hr ew t he pl at s aw ay. B roc kalso tes ti fi e d tha t he d i d n o t r e c a l l rec e i v i n g a l e tter fr o m the C i ty i n S ept em ber19 99 , aft erthe app r oval o fh i s f i nal P hase I I I pl at , r equest i ng t hat he subm i tr equi r ed i nf or m ati o n forf i l i ng w i t h T ar r antC oun t y, buthe l at er t e s t if ie d t h a th e h a n d -c a r r ie d a ll o ft h e re q u ir e m e n t sw it h in t h e t h irt y -d a yt im e l i m i tsetouti n t he l et t er . H e al so di d not r ecal l re c e i v i n g a second noti ce r e qu e s t i ng t hes a m e i nf or m a t i on i n Fe br ua ry 2000. 15 Br ockad m i t t ed t hatheas su m ed t hatT and y k new ab outt he bac kda t i ng b e c a u s e s h e w a sth e m a y o r. 12He di d nott ry t o f i nd ou tw ho ha d don e t he ba c k da t i ng . He t e s t i f i e d t ha the as s um e d t ha tt heC i t y ha d de s t r oy e d t he1999 p l a t be c a u se the yh a d n o rec o rd o f i t w h e n h e as k e d for i t. 13H e adm i t t ed t hat he di d notr es ea r ch w het herr ec or di ng a f r aud ul entdoc um enti s a f el ony, an d h e s ta te d , “I j u s t k n o w th a t i t’sfra u d u l e n t, a n d y o u g o d o w n t h e re a n d re c o rd
a — a d o c u m e n tt h a t ’s f r a u d u le n tisa f e lo n y .” H e a ls o s t a t e d t h a t h e w o u ld c a ll t hatac t i on a f el ony w het her i t w as or w asnot , an d t hat , w i t h r ega r d t o hi s A d, “a s fa r as [ h e w a s] co n c e rne d , i t i s a l l fac t, ” a n d tha t he d i d n o t i m a g i n e i t. Brock gave t he f ol l ow i ng t est i m ony ab out w het herTan dy r ef used t o m eet wi t h h i m:14 ... T he D ec em be r 2 2 , 2 0 0 6 l ett er f r om t he C i t y A t t orne y t o B ro c k ’s

a ttorn e ysta ted , i n p e rt i n e n t pa rt : A s you ar e aw ar e, the [ C i t y] h as i ni t i at ed pr oceedi ngs t o acqui r e a d rai nage easem entacr oss [ Brock’ s] pr opert y. I n a good f ai th a t t e m p tt o d is c u s sa n d p o s s ib lyre s o lv e t h e is s u e sre la t in g t o t h is ac qui si t i on, I ha ve bee n i ns t r uct ed t o c onve y t o yo u t hatt he M ayo r a n d t w o C it yC o u n c il m e m b e r sw o u ld b e w illin g t o m e e tp e r s o n a lly w i t h your cl i ent at To w n H al l ata m ut ual l y conven i entt i m e. A s a pr er equ i si t e t o t he m ee t i ng, you rcl i ent , asa sh ow ofgood f ai t h, m u st rem o v e the ex i sti n g “d a m ” a n d o th e r f i l l o r m a teri a l s so a s to al l ow f ul l f l ow ofw at erac r os s t he cur r entdr ai nag e d i t ch. 15 ... I n hi s af f i dav i t , Br ocks t at ed, “ I w asunw i l l i ng t o ha ve t he m ee t i ng u n d e r th e s e c o n d i ti o n s .” 16 Q . I sn ’ ti tt r ue t hatt heyof f er ed t o m ee tw i t h yo u? A . O n l yi f I w o u l d tak e an d g i v e the m an ea se m e n t. Q . A nd y ou r ef us ed? A . I h ave a l et t erfr om the C i t y A t t or ney, st at i ng t he onl y w ay t hat t hey w oul d m eetw i t h m e i s i fI w entahead and g a ve t hem an ea se m entt o t ak e i l l ega l w at erac r os s m y pr ope rt y a nd t r es pas s on m e. 14 Q . So w hen yo u say t hey r ef used t o m eetw i t h you , t hati sn’ tt r ue, i s i t? A . T h e y w o u l d n ’t m e e t w i th m e u n l e ss the sti p u l a ti o n s w e n t w i th i t. Q . So t heyw oul d m ee tw i t h yo u. . . . i fyou m ett he st i pul at i on. A . I can’ tm eett hose st i pul at i ons. 1516 ... B r oc k t esti f i ed , “[ W ] he n I w as m ay or, i f an ythi ng w as w ro n g , I

w oul dn’ tl eti th appen . ” H e st at ed i n hi s af f i davi tt hathe hel d “m ul t it er m s as th e [C i ty ’s ] m a y o r.” 17 W i t h r egar d t o t he vot e t o cond em n hi s pr opert y, Brock expl ai ned t hat “a nd he rf r i end s”r ef er r ed t o t he C i t y Counci l , butheac kno w l edg ed t hatTandy , a s ma y o r , d i d n o tc a s ta v o t e o n t h e d e c i s i o n t o c o n d e m n t h e e a s e me n t . He fa u l te d T a n d yfo r n o t b e h a v i n g th e w a yh e h a d w h e n h e w a sm a y o r. 16 W i t h r ega r d to hi s sta t em entab outi ns t r uct i ng hi s att or neyt o t ak e t he pl att o t he Tar r antCount y di st r i ctatt or ney , B r ockgave t he f ol l ow i ng t es t i m ony: Q . . . . W h e n y o u p u tt h a tin t h ea d , d id y o u i n t e n d f o rp e o p le r ea di ng i tt o under st and t hatJul i e Tandy had com m i t t ed f r aud an d r ecor ded f al si f i ed l egal docum ent s? A . T h e C i ty o f K e l l e r an d sta ff. . . . T h e m a y o r an d sta ff i nve st i gat ed. . . . I w ant ed t o under st and t hatI w asgoi ng t o ha ve i ti n v e s t i g a t e d b yt h e DA .

. . . . Q . A nd di dn’ tyou w antt hem t o bel i eve i tw as t r ue? A . T h a t w o u ld b e u p to th e in d iv id u a l . . . h o w th e yta k e it. If you’ r e b ei ng i nve st i gat ed[ , t hat ] doe sn ’ tm ea n t hatyou ’ r e g ui l t y of anyt hi ng. . . . I w ant ed t hem t o bel i eve t hat I w as m ad abou tt hi s, a b o u t ge tti n g m yp rop e rtyf l o o d e d . . . . I w a n ted the rea d e rs to bel i eve i tt hati tw as go i ng t o be i nvest i gat ed t o see i fi tw as t r ue.

. . . . Q . W hatw as youri n ten t w hen yo u at t r i buted t hese f ourcr i m i nal act s, co m m i t t i ng f r aud and r ecor di ng f al si f i ed l egal docum ent s,18

c o n sp i ra c yt o d e n ym e the u se o f m yp rop e rt y , v i o l a ti o n o f state and c i t y w at erl aw s, t r es pas s on pr i vat e p r ope rt y bydi vert i ng c o n tr o l l e d w a te r o n to m yp rop e rt y , y o u attri b u te th o se fou r ac ts t hatyou s ay you w anti nve st i gat ed t o M ayo rTandy . D i d you i nt end f ort he r eader s to b e l i eve t hatshe had com m i t t ed t hose act s? A . N o t t h a t sh e co m m i tted i t. Q . W hatdi d you i nt end f ort hem t o bel i eve? A . Th att he C i t y w as com m i t t i ng f r aud, r ecor di ng f al si f i ed d o c u m e n ts . I

kn o wsh ed

i d n ’t g o do wnthere a n dre c o rd it. C ons pi r ac y t o de ny m e t he us e o fm y pr ope rt y. Q . D i d sh e — d i d sh e d o tha t? A . S h e d i d n ’t

— no, she didn ’t do that, butt he C i t y di d. . . . A nd vi ol at e st at e and ci t y w at erl aw s. I t ’ s on t he boo ks. Q . S o y o u h a v e n o w g o n e t h r o u g h t h o s e f o u r it e m s a n d s a id J u lie T a n d yd i d n ’td o an yo f t h o se thing s, co rr e c t? A . N o, I s ai d t he C i t y di d. . . . A nd s he i s t he— partoft he C i t y. Q . So w hen yo u say you w antt o have t he f ol l ow i ng char ges aga i ns tt he m ayo ran d s t af fi nve st i gat ed . . . . i s i tyou rt es t i m ony t hatt he m ayorcom m i t t ed t hose act s? A . I w antt he m ayo ran d t he st af fi nve st i gat ed t o s eew hi ch oneof t ho s e a c t s s he ’ s gu i l t y of a nd t he Ci t y s t a f f , a nd by “ he r ” I m ean t he C i t y. Q . A nd di d you i nt end f ort he r eadert o bel i eve t h a t s h e had c o mmi t t e d t h e m? A . N o.19

Q . W el l , ea r l i eri n t he ad and ea r l i eri n yo urt es t i m on y t od ay you st at ed t hats he di d c om m i tf r aud by r ec or di ng a f r aud ul ent d o c u m e n t. A . M m - hm m . . . . I s ai d t hatw hen you t ak e and r ec or d s om et hi ng l i ket hi s, i t ’ s f r aud . Q . So i t ’ s yourt es t i m ony t hatJul i e Ta ndy di d c om m i tf r aud ? A . The m ayo rco m m i t t ed f r aud . Q . M ayo rJul i e Ta ndy? A . Y e s . [E m p h a s i sa d d e d .] Brock t e sti f i ed t hathe had no tt hou ght abou torl ooked i nt o w het her
a c c u s in g T a n d yo fa f e lo n yr e la t e d t o h e rf it n e s sf o ro f f ic e o rw h e t h e rs h e c o u ld be r e m o v e d f r o m o f f i c e , b u tt h a th e d i d n o ti n t e n d t o i m p e a c h h e rr e p u t at i on ori nj ur e heri n herof f i c e , al t hou gh he ackno w l edged t hati nj ur y t o her
r eputat i on “coul d be one eff ectofi t . ” H e al so tes t i f i ed t hath e d i d not bother t o i nvest i gat e w het her Tan dy knew t hat her si gnatur e w as backdat ed, because

“ [a ]sfa r a s[h e ] w a sc o n c e rn e d , i t w a sd o n e b yth e C i ty .” B r o c kt e s t if ie d t h a th e h a d k n o w n J a m e sC a r s o n , a K e lle rC it yC o u n c il
m em ber , f ors i x t o e i ghtm ont hs , t hatCar so n ha d vi si t ed hi s hom e, an d t hathe
s p o k e w it h C a r s o n o n t h e p h o n e p r o b a b lyt h r e e t o f o u rt im e s , a lt h o u g h h e d id17 ... C a rs o n w a so n th e K e l l e r C i tyC o u n c i l d u ri n g th e l a s t y e a r o f T a n d y ’s

s e c o n d t e r m.

18 ... I n t he m em o, t he ci t y m ana gers t at est hatt he pl anni ng a nd z oni ng com m i ssi on secr et ar y ( a ci t y st af fm em ber ) d a t ed al l oft he C i t y of f i ci al si gnatur es w i t h t he act ual dat e ofappr oval oft he pl at because he t hou ght t hat both t he si gnatur e dat e oft he pl atand t he r esol u ti o n dat e appr ovi ng t he pl at in 1 9 9 9 s h o u l d b e t h e s a m e . H e a ls o s t a t e st h a tt h e b a c k d a t in g d id n o tv o id t he pl atbecause al l si gnatur es and ot her essent i al docu m ent at i on w er e i n or der w hen f i l ed i n 20 04 , al t hou gh t he ci t y st af fm em bersho ul d not have backd at ed t he si gnatur es. C ar son t est i f i ed t hatt he ci t y m anager ’ s expl anat i on i n r esponse t o t he A d w as “t he m os tl i ke l y t r ut hf ul ex pl ana t i on. ” Car so n t es t i f i ed t hathe di d notr ec al l gi vi ng Br ocka cop y oft he m em o.

19 ... C a rso n w a s d e p o se d b e c a u se o f his r o l e as a m e m b e r of the C i ty C oun ci l and because of hi s r el at i onshi p w i t h B r ock. 20 not keep t r ack. 17He den i ed r em em ber i ng a ny c onve r sa t i onsw i t h Car so n di sc us si ng m et hodst o unse atT and y as m ayo r . He ac kno w l edg ed r ec ei vi ng a c o p y o f th e M a y4 , 2 0 0 7 m e m o fr o m the C i ty M a n a g e r t o the m a y o r an d C i ty C ounc i l ab outt he A d f r om Car so n. 18

b. Car so n’ s Tes t i m ony Tandyatt ac hed Car so n’ s dep os i t i on t o he rr es pons e t o Br ock ’ s m ot i on f or su m m a ry j u d g m e n t. 19C a rso n te s tifie d tha t w h i l e h e w a s o n the K e l l e r C i ty C ounc i l , heha d c onve r sa t i onsw i t h Br ockab outt he pl atan d a sk ed O t i s W el ch,
one oftheo t he rs i gn a t or i e s , a bo utt heb a c k da t i ng . He l e a r ne d f r om W e l ch ( w ho l ea r ned f r om s om eon e a tTow n Hal l ) t hati tw ascust om ary “t o da t e t he pl atw henever i t w as act ual l y appr oved by t he Pl anni ng & Zo ni ng and w henever21

i tw asap pr ove d byt he C i t y C ounc i l , ” and t hatw asal l t he i nve st i gat i on heor W el ch di d. C ar so n t es t i f i ed t hath e r ecei ved a cop y oft he A d f r om Br ock ’ s so n bef or e i tw aspubl i sh ed, an d he gav e t he f ol l ow i ng t es t i m ony abo utBr ockan d t he A d: Q . . . . So ea r l y 2007, [ Br ock ] t el l s you he i nt end s t o pub l i sh t he p l a t. W h a t i s y o u r r e sp o n se to th a t? A . “W hy?” M y— I gave h i m m y i nt er pr et at i on of t he pl at , w hi ch w as t hat , “Yes, [ Brock] , i tcoul d be w hat you say i ti s. But i t ’ s al so v e ry l i k e l ytha t i t’ s a si m p l e m i sta k e .” . . . A n d h i s re p l yb a c kto th a t w a s , “It c a n ’t b e .” Q . O ka y. So hi s i nt er pr et at i on i s w hat ? W hen he com est o t el l you abou t i t i n ear l y ‘ 07 , w hatdoes he say hi s i nt er pr et at i on of t he pl at i s? A . H e h a s re p e a ted l ym a d e the ch a rg e t h a t t h i s p l a t r e p res e n ts f r aud , de l i ber at e f r aud . Q . A nd yo urr esponse i s? A . “Yo u can’ tpr ove i t , [ Brock] . ” . . . W hat m y t hou ght w as, w as t hatt he exp l ana t i on t hatt hi s i s cus t om ary i s j us tw r ong, an d w hoe verw r ot e t he dat esi n w asope r at i ng un dert he er r one ous assum pt i on t hati ti s cust om ary t o backdate. T h a t’ s— t hatw as w h a t I co n side red the m o st l i k e l yex p l a n a ti o n . . . o f t h i s p l a t. C ar son est i m at ed t hat he had t hi s conver sat i on w i t h B r ock t w o ort hr ee t i m es, a n d h e t e s t if ie d t h a tB r o c kc o u ld n o tf a t h o m t h a titc o u ld b e ju s ta s im p le
m i st ak e a nd t hatBr ock w as a dam antt hati tw asnot . He t es t i f i ed t hathe22

e n c o u r a g e d Br o c k n o t t o r u n t h e Ad , t h a t h e n e v e r a s k e d Ta n d y w h e t hers he knew hersi gnatur e had been b ackdat ed, and t hat , t o hi s kn o w l e dge, Br ock
neverasked herei t her . C ar son al so tes t i f i ed t hat , to hi s know l edge, t her e w as nev eran y c ons pi r ac y t o de ny Br ockt he us e o fhi s pr ope rt y, an d t hathet hough t Br ockr an t he A d t o expos e w hatB r ockcons i der ed f r aud and t o c aus e Ta ndy t o l os e v ot esi n t he m ayo r alel ec t i on, ba se d on t he t i m i ng oft he publ i ca t i on a nd hi s conver sat i ons w i t h B r ock. C ar son t est i f i ed t hatal t hou gh he vo t ed t o use em i nent dom ai n t o t ake t he easem enton B r ock’ s l and, he r egr et t ed t hatvot e. C a rso n also ad m i tted d ra fti n g the foll o w i n g l a n g u a g e o f a res p o n se to T a n d y ’s o p e n rec o rds req u e st: Though notr equ i r ed by an y l aw , you m ay al so i nf or m M s. Tandy t hatco m m uni cat i ons by and bet w een Ji m C ar son and Jack B r ock orany of h i s busi ness ass oci at es can be gener al l y cl assi f i ed as ei t her1) Ji m C ar so n l i st eni ng t o JackB r ock ’ s t el l i ng orr et el l i ng of t he r ea l orpe r ce i ved w r ongspe r pet r at ed by t he C i t y of K el l er — pa rt i c ul a r l y C i t y M anagerLyl e D r esher

— agai nstJack Br ock, h i s fa m i l y , a n d /o r h is p r o p e rty , o r 2 ) Ji m Car son and Jack Brock di sc ussi ng ( butnot alwaysagreei

ng on)m ethodsto uns ea tMayo r Jul i e Tandy and other s. [ Em pha si s add ed. ] H e t es t i f i ed t hathi s con ver sa t i onsw i t h B r ockab out uns ea t i ng Tan dy w er e d i f f er entf r om t hei rco nve r sa t i onsab outt he A d. Car so n i s th e p u b l i sh e r an d p ri m a ry e d i to r of a w e b l o g ( “b l o g ”) n a m e d “ K e ll e r C i ty Li m i t s. ” H e p os t ed t he dr aftr es pons e o n hi s bl og.23 c . A n a ly s is Less t han a sci nt i l l a ofev i dence exi st s w hen t he evi dence i s so w eak t hat i t d o e s n o th i n g m o re th a n c re a te a m e re s u rm i s e o r s u s p i c i o n o f a fa c t. K i ndred
v. Con/Chem , I

nc. , 650 S. W . 2d 61, 63 ( Tex. 1983 ) . M or e t han a sc i nt i l l a o f evi dence exi st s w hen t he evi dence w oul d enabl e r easonabl e and f ai r - m i nded p e o p l e to re a c h d i ffe re n t c o n c l u s i o n s . Ford Motor Co. , 135 S. W . 3d a t601; Mer rel l D owPhar

m . , I nc. v. Havner, 9 5 3 S .W .2 d 7 0 6 , 7 1 1 (T e x . 1 9 9 7 ). A gen ui ne i ss ue ofm at er i alf ac ti s r ai se d bypr es ent i ng e vi den ceon w hi ch a re a s o n a b l e j u ryc o u l d re tu rn a v e rd i c t i n th e n o n m o v a n t’sf a v o r. Mo o re , 981 S. W . 2d a t269. A l t hough Br ocks t at ed i n hi s af f i dav i t t hathebe l i eve d t he con t ent s oft he A d a t th e ti m e th a t h e p u b l i s h e d i t, T a n d yp r e s e n t e d e v i d e n c e fro m B ro c k ’s depo si t i on t hathe knew atl eastt w o ofhi s st at em ent s w er e f a l se ( i . e. , t hat Tan dy di d not act ual l y vot e o n t he deci si on t o cond em n t he easem entand t hat T a n d yd id n o tre c o r d t h e a lle g e d lyf r a u d u le n tp la t ); t h a ta tle a s to n e o fh is st at em ent s w asnoten t i r el y t r ue ( i . e. , t hatTandyof f er ed t o m ee tw i t h hi m , but
w i t h cond i t i ons he f oun d unaccep tab l e ); and t hathe act ed w i t h r eckl ess d is r e g a rd a sto th e e ffe c t o f h i sw o rd s . S ee I saacks , 1 4 6 S . W . 3 d a t162; W FAA- TV, 978 S. W . 2d a t571.24

Furt her m or e, Tandypr es ent ed evi den cet hat Br ock ac t ed w i t h a l ac k o f
ca r e w i t h r ega r d t o t he t r ut h orf al si t y ofhi s st atem en t s i n t hathedi d no
r es ea r ch on w het her Tandy bac kda t ed t he pl at( al t hough hew asw i l l i ng t o gi ve t he ben ef i toft he doubtt o oneoft he ot hers i gna t or i es ) an d w het herr ec or di ng a f r aud ul entdocum entw asact ual l y a f el ony; t hatBr ockha d a m ot i ve t o ha ve Tan dy r epl aced as m ayor ; and t hatBr ock r ef used t o c o n siderany ot her pos si bi l i t y bes i desf r aud , even w hen pr es ent ed w i t h t hatposs i bi l i t y byCar so n. S ee Ben tley , 94 S. W . 3d at59 1, 59 6. Ther ef or e, w e concl ude t hatt he t r i al
courtdi d not e rrb yd enyi ng B r ock’ s m ot i on f orsum m ary j udg m entbecause Tandypr es ent ed m or e t han a sc i nt i l l a o fev i den ceofac t ualm al i ce , an d w e over r ul e Br ock’ s t hi r d i ssue. I V . Concl us i on H a v i n g o v e rru l e d B ro c k ’sd i s p o s i ti v e i s s u e s , w e a ffir m th e tri a l c o u rt’s
o rd e r, a n d w e o rd e r B ro c k to p a y T a n d y ’s c o u rt c o s ts a n d re a s o n a b l e a tto rn e y ’s fe e s in c u rre d in t h i sa p p e a l , to b e d e te rm i n e d b yt h e tri a l c o u rt. S eeTex. Ci v. Pr ac . & Rem . C ode A nn. § 51. 015 ( V er non 200 8) . W e g r anti n pa rtan d de ny i n pa rtBr ock ’ s m ot i on f orj udi ci alnot i ce , and w e d enyhi s su ppl em ent alm ot i on f orj udi ci al not i ce.
B OBM CC OY J U S T I C E PA N EL: CA YC E, C. J. ; M C C O Y and M EI ER, JJ. DEL I VERE D: J ul y 2, 2009