IN THE

TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

No. 10-08-00122-CV

PREFERRED FUEL DISTRIBUTORS, LP,

Appellant

v.

AMIDHARA, LLC, ET AL.,

Appellee

From the 19th District Court

McLennan County, Texas

Trial Court No. 2006-1396-1

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Preferred Fuel Distributors, L.P. (Preferred) appeals the trial court’s summary 

judgments in favor of Amidhara, L.L.C. (Amidhara), Bhaveshkumar P. Savalia a/k/a 

Bhavesh Savalia (Savalia), Kamlesh Limbabhai Gajera a/k/a Kamlesh Gajera (Gajera), 

Krishna Krupa, Inc. (Krishna Krupa), Texas Oil Products, Inc. (TOP), Classic Star 

Group, LP f/k/a Classic Star Group, Inc. (Classic), Chowdhury M. Hossain a/k/a 

Tippoo Hossain or Sam S. Hossain (Hossain), Panamerican Fuel Distributors, LLC 

(Panamerican LLC), Panamerican Fuel Distributors, Inc. (Panamerican Inc.), and USA 
Preferred Fuel Distribs., LP v. Amidhara, L.L.C. Page 2

Developers, LLC (USA Developers). We will affirm in part and reverse and remand in 

part.

BACKGROUND

USA Developers sold a Diamond Shamrock gas station to Krishna Krupa. The 

Purchase and Sale Agreement signed by the parties states in pertinent part:

“Gasoline Supply Agreement” means, as a part of this Agreement. Buyer 

shall execute a separate agreement with the Seller for supply of petroleum 

fuel products to the subject location. Seller shall furnish the “Gasoline 

Supply Agreement” within 5 days of the execution of this agreement for 

Buyer to review. Buyer must accept or reject the GSA prior to expiration 

of the Inspection Period. This Purchase and Sale Agreement of the 

property is contingent upon acceptance of the Gasoline Supply Agreement 

by the Buyer and shall be enforceable if the sale closes.

Thereafter, Krishna Krupa entered into a Gasoline Supply Agreement (GSA) with USA 

Fuel Distributors, LLC (USA Fuel). USA Fuel’s interests in the GSA were later acquired 

by Panamerican LLC and then assigned to Preferred. Preferred subsequently filed suit 

against Amidhara, Savalia, Gajera, Krishna Krupa, TOP, Classic, Hossain, Panamerican 

LLC, Panamerican Inc., and USA Developers.

The Allegations

Preferred made the following allegations in its live petition: When USA Fuel and 

Panamerican1 had each possessed the rights and obligations under the GSA, Krishna 

Krupa had been obligated to exclusively purchase gasoline from them. Hossain, 

Panamerican’s principal and the person who assigned Panamerican’s rights under the 

GSA to Preferred, had represented to Preferred that Panamerican was Krishna Krupa’s 

 

1

Preferred does not distinguish between Panamerican LLC and Panamerican Inc. in making 

these allegations in its petition.
Preferred Fuel Distribs., LP v. Amidhara, L.L.C. Page 3

exclusive gasoline supplier. Krishna Krupa and its principals, Gajera and Savalia, who 

had both guaranteed the GSA, knew of this fact.

After receiving the assignment of Panamerican’s interests in the GSA, Preferred

was ready, willing, and able to supply Diamond Shamrock and/or Valero-branded 

gasoline to Krishna Krupa, but Krishna Krupa refused to accept delivery of gasoline 

from it. Preferred notified Krishna Krupa that it was Krishna Krupa’s authorized 

exclusive gasoline supplier and provided Krishna Krupa with the necessary paperwork 

to begin the supply of gasoline to the gas station. Hossain also notified Krishna Krupa’s 

principals that Panamerican had assigned its rights under the GSA to Preferred and that 

the assignment of the GSA to Preferred rendered Preferred as Krishna Krupa’s 

authorized exclusive gasoline supplier. However, Krishna Krupa, by and through its 

principals Savalia and Gajera, represented to Preferred that it had an exclusive gasoline 

supply contract with USA Fuel, not Preferred, and it thus had no obligation to purchase 

gasoline from Preferred.

Although the gas station was imaged as a Diamond Shamrock gas station, 

Krishna Krupa then opened the gas station for business, selling unbranded gasoline that 

it had purchased not from Preferred, but from TOP and/or Classic. This violated 

Diamond Shamrock’s branding agreement, and Diamond Shamrock thus stripped the 

gas station of all Diamond Shamrock brand signage and images. Preferred nevertheless 

made every effort to salvage the situation by trying to re-brand the gas station as 

Diamond Shamrock, but Diamond Shamrock declined to do so because Krishna Krupa 
Preferred Fuel Distribs., LP v. Amidhara, L.L.C. Page 4

had commingled Diamond Shamrock gasoline with an unbranded gasoline product 

that it had purchased through Classic.

Causes of Action

Preferred initially sought a declaratory judgment against Krishna Krupa and 

Panamerican that (1) Preferred has the exclusive right to sell gasoline to Krishna Krupa 

under the GSA; (2) Krishna Krupa was obligated to purchase gasoline exclusively and 

solely from Preferred during the term of the GSA; and (3) Preferred, under the 

assignment and for consideration paid, acquired all rights and interests to exclusively 

supply gasoline under the GSA to Krishna Krupa. Preferred also asserted a breach of 

contract cause of action against Krishna Krupa.

Preferred alleged claims for breach of guarantee and tortious interference with a 

contractual relationship against Savalia and Gajera. Preferred also alleged claims for 

tortious interference with a contractual relationship against Amidhara, TOP, and 

Classic. Preferred asserted claims for common-law fraud and fraudulent 

misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, and violation of the Texas Deceptive 

Trade Practices Act (DTPA) against Hossain, Panamerican LLC, Panamerican Inc., and 

USA Developers (collectively, the Panamerican defendants).

2

 

2

In both their no-evidence and traditional motions for summary judgment, the Panamerican 

defendants treat fraudulent concealment and unjust enrichment as independent causes of action. 

However, as noted by Preferred in its brief, these are not independent causes of action. See R.M. Dudley 

Constr. Co. v. Dawson, 258 S.W.3d 694, 703 (Tex. App.—Waco 2008, pet. denied) (“Unjust enrichment, 

itself, is not an independent cause of action.”); Argyle ISD ex rel. Bd. of Trustees v. Wolf, 234 S.W.3d 229, 246 

(Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2007, no pet.) (same); Carone v. Retamco Operating, Inc., 138 S.W.3d 1, 10 (Tex. 

App.—San Antonio 2004, pet. denied) (“Fraudulent concealment . . . is not an independent cause of 

action.”).
Preferred Fuel Distribs., LP v. Amidhara, L.L.C. Page 5

Motions for Summary Judgment & Trial Court Rulings

Krishna Krupa first moved for what appears to be a traditional summary 

judgment, asserting that, as a matter of law, the GSA did not set out an exclusive 

arrangement or require Krishna Krupa to purchase fuel solely from Preferred. 

Thereafter, the Panamerican defendants filed both no-evidence and traditional motions 

for summary judgment. In their no-evidence motion, they challenged whether there 

was evidence to support any of the elements of any of the causes of action alleged 

against them. In their traditional motion, they stated that the GSA did not set out an 

exclusive agreement nor did it require Krishna Krupa to buy fuel solely from Preferred; 

therefore, all of Preferred’s causes of action against them must fail. After a hearing on 

the motions, the trial court granted summary judgments in favor of all ten defendants. 

AMIDHARA, SAVALIA, GAJERA, TOP & CLASSIC

In its first issue, Preferred contends that the trial court erred in granting 

summary judgments for Amidhara, Savalia, Gajera, TOP, and Classic because none of 

them moved for summary judgment.

In Teer v. Duddlesten, 664 S.W.2d 702, 702-03 (Tex. 1984) (op. on reh’g), two of the 

City of Bellaire’s co-defendants moved for summary judgment, which the trial court 

granted. The trial court’s judgment, however, was drawn as a final judgment for all 

three defendants, despite the fact that the City “filed no motion, gave no notice, 

produced no affidavits, and made no showing.” Id. The supreme court subsequently 

reversed the trial court’s judgment, holding that it was error to render a final judgment 

for the City when it had made no motion for summary judgment. Id. at 702; accord Sw. 
Preferred Fuel Distribs., LP v. Amidhara, L.L.C. Page 6

Invs. Diversified, Inc. v. Estate of Mieszkuc, 171 S.W.3d 461, 468 n.15 (Tex. App.—Houston 

[14th Dist.] 2005, no pet.); Williams v. Bank One, Tex., N.A., 15 S.W.3d 110, 116 (Tex. 

App.—Waco 1999, no pet.) (“A trial court cannot grant summary judgment for a party 

which has not filed a motion therefor.”).

In this case, like the City in Teer, Amidhara, Savalia, and Gajera filed no motion 

for summary judgment, gave no notice, produced no evidence, and did not participate 

in a summary judgment hearing; thus, the trial court erred in rendering summary 

judgment in their favor. Similarly, Classic and TOP filed no motion for summary 

judgment and gave no notice, but they contend that Teer is distinguishable because, 

unlike the City which “did nothing” and “made no showing,” they appeared and 

argued at the hearing on the motions for summary judgment filed by Krishna Krupa 

and the Panamerican defendants. See Teer, 664 S.W.2d at 703. Classic and TOP argue 

that they merely failed to file a written motion and to give notice, neither of which were 

objected to by any party. However, we conclude that Teer cannot be distinguished 

based on the limited arguments made by Classic and TOP at the hearing on the motions 

for summary judgment filed by Krishna Krupa and the Panamerican defendants. The 

trial court thus erred in rendering summary judgment in favor of Classic and TOP 

because neither moved for summary judgment. See id. at 702. We sustain Preferred’s 

first issue.
Preferred Fuel Distribs., LP v. Amidhara, L.L.C. Page 7

KRISHNA KRUPA, HOSSAIN, PANAMERICAN LLC, 

PANAMERICAN INC. & USA DEVELOPERS

In its second issue, Preferred contends that the trial court erred in granting 

summary judgments for Krishna Krupa and the Panamerican defendants.

Standard of Review

The standard of review in traditional summary judgment cases is well settled. 

The issue on appeal is whether the movant met its summary judgment burden of 

establishing that no genuine issue of material fact exists and that it is entitled to 

judgment as a matter of law. TEX. R. CIV. PROC. 166a(c); Sw. Elec. Power Co. v. Grant, 73 

S.W.3d 211, 215 (Tex. 2002). A defendant may meet this burden by conclusively 

negating an essential element of the plaintiff’s case or conclusively establishing all of the 

necessary elements of an affirmative defense. Cathey v. Booth, 900 S.W.2d 339, 341 (Tex. 

1995).

When reviewing a traditional summary judgment, we take as true all evidence 

favorable to the nonmovant. Rhone-Poulenc, Inc. v. Steel, 997 S.W.2d 217, 223 (Tex. 1999); 

Science Spectrum, Inc. v. Martinez, 941 S.W.2d 910, 911 (Tex. 1997). We indulge every 

reasonable inference and resolve any doubts in the nonmovant’s favor. Rhone-Poulenc, 

Inc., 997 S.W.2d at 223; Science Spectrum, Inc., 941 S.W.2d at 911. When the trial court 

does not specify the grounds upon which it ruled, the traditional summary judgment 

may be affirmed if any of the grounds stated in the motion is meritorious. W. Invs., Inc. 

v. Urena, 162 S.W.3d 547, 550 (Tex. 2005).
Preferred Fuel Distribs., LP v. Amidhara, L.L.C. Page 8

We review a no-evidence summary judgment under the same legal sufficiency 

standard used to review a directed verdict. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(i); Gen. Mills Rests., 

Inc. v. Tex. Wings, Inc., 12 S.W.3d 827, 832-33 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2000, no pet.). After an 

adequate time for discovery has passed, a party without the burden of proof at trial 

may move for summary judgment on the ground that the nonmoving party lacks 

supporting evidence for one or more essential elements of its claim. See TEX. R. CIV. P.

166a(i); Espalin v. Children’s Med. Ctr. of Dallas, 27 S.W.3d 675, 682-83 (Tex. App.—Dallas 

2000, no pet.). Once a proper motion is filed, the burden shifts to the nonmoving party 

to present evidence raising any issues of material fact. Murray v. Ford Motor Co., 97 

S.W.3d 888, 890-91 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.). We review the evidence in the 

light most favorable to the nonmovant. See Johnson v. Brewer & Pritchard, P.C., 73 S.W.3d 

193, 208 (Tex. 2002). 

A no-evidence summary judgment is properly granted if the nonmovant fails to 

bring forth more than a scintilla of probative evidence to raise a genuine issue of 

material fact as to an essential element of the nonmovant’s claim on which the 

nonmovant would have the burden of proof at trial. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(i); Merrell 

Dow Pharms., Inc. v. Havner, 953 S.W.2d 706, 711 (Tex. 1997). If the evidence supporting 

a finding rises to a level that would enable reasonable, fair-minded persons to differ in 

their conclusions, then more than a scintilla of evidence exists. Havner, 953 S.W.2d at 

711.

When a successful summary judgment movant presents both traditional and noevidence grounds, we must uphold the summary judgment if it can be sustained under 
Preferred Fuel Distribs., LP v. Amidhara, L.L.C. Page 9

either method. Bradford Partners II, L.P. v. Fahning, 231 S.W.3d 513, 517 (Tex. App.—

Dallas 2007, no pet.).

Krishna Krupa

Preferred contends that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in 

favor of Krishna Krupa because the GSA unambiguously required Krishna Krupa to 

purchase all of the gas station’s gasoline from Preferred. We disagree.

In construing a written contract, the primary concern is to ascertain and give 

effect to the parties’ intentions as expressed in the document. Frost Nat’l Bank v. L & F 

Distribs., Ltd., 165 S.W.3d 310, 311-12 (Tex. 2005). We consider the entire writing and 

attempt to harmonize and give effect to all the contract’s provisions so that none are 

rendered meaningless. Id. at 312; J.M. Davidson, Inc. v. Webster, 128 S.W.3d 223, 229 

(Tex. 2003). Contract terms are given their plain, ordinary, and generally accepted 

meaning, unless the instrument shows the parties used them in a technical or different 

sense. Dynegy Midstream Servs., L.P. v. Apache Corp., 294 S.W.3d 164, 168 (Tex. 2009);

Heritage Res., Inc. v. Nations Bank, 939 S.W.2d 118, 121 (Tex. 1996).

Preferred argues that the GSA unambiguously required Krishna Krupa to 

purchase all of the gas station’s gasoline from it because the GSA states, 

“WHOLESELLER [sic] shall deliver the gasoline at Diamond Shamrock Station#1380, 

located at 1624 West Waco Drive, Waco, Texas.” Preferred reasons that, if the parties had 

intended for the contract to be nonexclusive, the agreement would have stated “that the 

specified wholesaler shall deliver the gasoline at the gas station if Krishna Krupa decides 

to buy the gasoline from the specified wholesaler” or “that the specified wholesaler and/or 
Preferred Fuel Distribs., LP v. Amidhara, L.L.C. Page 10

some other wholesaler of Krishna Krupa’s choosing shall deliver the gasoline at the gas 

station.” However, this interpretation of the contract ignores the heading immediately 

above the relevant contract provision, which states “POINT OF DELIVERY.” When the 

heading is considered together with the contract provision, it becomes clear that the 

parties simply intended for the provision to specify where any gasoline supplied by 

Preferred must be delivered, not that Preferred is the sole supplier of gasoline to the gas 

station.

We turn then to Preferred’s alternative argument that the GSA is ambiguous and 

that its interpretation was thus a fact issue improper for summary judgment.

Whether a contract is ambiguous is a legal question for the court. Dynegy 

Midstream Servs., 294 S.W.3d at 168. If the written instrument is so worded that it can be 

given a definite or certain legal meaning, then it is not ambiguous. Coker v. Coker, 650 

S.W.2d 391, 393 (Tex. 1983). A contract is ambiguous when its meaning is uncertain and 

doubtful or is reasonably susceptible to more than one interpretation. Dynegy 

Midstream Servs., 294 S.W.3d at 168. A contract is not ambiguous simply because the 

parties disagree over its meaning. Id. If the contract is ambiguous, summary judgment 

is improper because the interpretation of the instrument becomes a fact issue. Coker, 

650 S.W.2d at 394.

Nowhere in the GSA does it state that it is an exclusive fuel supply agreement. 

Under the section of the GSA entitled “PRODUCT PRICE TERMS,” it states, 

During the term of this contact [sic], the product price to [Krishna Krupa] 

will be one and one-half (1.5c) cents over the “Rack Price” (as the term is 

understood in the industry) . . . . [Krishna Krupa] must purchase a 
Preferred Fuel Distribs., LP v. Amidhara, L.L.C. Page 11

volume of 40,000 gallons of fuel per month, for the one and one-half cents 

per gallon price to stay in effect till the end of the contract duration.

However, purchasing 40,000 gallons of fuel per month is not a minimum requirement. 

The result if the volume of fuel purchased falls below 40,000 gallons of fuel per month is

simply that “the price per gallon will be adjusted up to two (2.0c) cents per gallon over 

‘Rack Price’.” The GSA does not state that Krishna Krupa must purchase a minimum

volume of fuel per month. This supports interpreting the GSA as a nonexclusive fuel 

supply agreement.

On the other hand, nowhere in the GSA does it state that it is a nonexclusive fuel 

supply agreement. In fact, the GSA provides Preferred extensive authority to inspect 

Krishna Krupa’s records in relation to the gas station’s motor fuel dispensing operation. 

The GSA includes a term requiring Krishna Krupa to fax the tank readings, stick 

readings and meter readings to Preferred daily, if requested. The GSA also contains a 

section entitled “INSPECION [sic] OF RECORDS: AUDIT,” which states as follows:

[Krishna Krupa] acknowledges that [Preferred] and OIL CO have the right 

to inspect [Krishna Krupa]’s operation of the motor fuel dispensing 

business conducted at the premises, and in particular have the right to 

verify that [Krishna Krupa] is complying with all its contractual 

obligations contained in this agreement. [Krishna Krupa] agrees that in 

order to verify standards compliance, [Preferred] and OIL CO shall be 

allowed to freely review all station records, including, but not limited to, 

all records, deliveries, sales, and inventory reconciliation. [Krishna 

Krupa] also agrees that [Preferred] and OIL CO may, at any time upon 

notice, conduct walk-through and visual inspections of the premises.

One could reasonably conclude that these terms would not be included in the GSA if it 

“[did] not require any purchase nor [did] it limit Krishna Krupa’s rights to purchase 
Preferred Fuel Distribs., LP v. Amidhara, L.L.C. Page 12

fuel from other sources,” as Krishna Krupa contended in its motion for summary 

judgment.

Because its meaning is uncertain, doubtful, and reasonably susceptible to more 

than one interpretation, we conclude that the GSA is ambiguous. Moreover, since the 

GSA is ambiguous, summary judgment as to the declaratory judgment and breach of 

contract claims against Krishna Krupa was improper; the interpretation of the GSA is a 

fact issue. See Coker, 650 S.W.2d at 394. We sustain Preferred’s second issue to the 

extent it challenges the trial court’s granting of summary judgment in favor of Krishna 

Krupa.

Hossain, Panamerican LLC, Panamerican Inc. & USA Developers

Preferred next argues that the trial court erred in granting both the traditional 

and no-evidence summary judgments in favor of the Panamerican defendants.

Declaratory Judgment

The Panamerican defendants moved for summary judgment on Preferred’s cause 

of action for a declaratory judgment, arguing that the GSA did not set out an exclusive 

agreement, nor did it require Krishna Krupa to buy fuel only from Preferred. However, 

for the reasons explained above, the GSA is ambiguous as to whether it is an exclusive 

agreement, and its interpretation is thus a fact issue. See Coker, 650 S.W.2d at 394. 

Therefore, the trial court erred in granting summary judgment against Preferred on its 

declaratory judgment cause of action.

Common-Law Fraud and Fraudulent Misrepresentation
Preferred Fuel Distribs., LP v. Amidhara, L.L.C. Page 13

A fraud claim is comprised of the following elements: (1) the defendant made a 

material representation; (2) the representation was false; (3) when the defendant made 

the representation, he knew it was false or made it recklessly without any knowledge of 

its truth and as a positive assertion; (4) the defendant made the representation with the 

intent that the plaintiff should act upon it; (5) the plaintiff acted in reliance on the 

representation; and (6) the plaintiff thereby suffered injury. Matis v. Golden, 228 S.W.3d 

301, 305-06 (Tex. App.—Waco 2007, no pet.). The Panamerican defendants challenged 

all of these elements in their no-evidence motion. In their traditional motion, they 

stated that they are entitled to judgment as a matter of law because they did not 

misrepresent any information to Preferred.

Defendant made a material representation: Preferred presented evidence that in 

early 2006, it entered into negotiations to purchase and seek assignment of twenty fuel 

contracts, including the GSA, from Panamerican Inc. On behalf of Preferred, 

shareholders and principal owners Aziz Dharani and Salim Dossani attended several 

meetings with Hossain as a representative for Panamerican Inc. During these meetings, 

Hossain stated that all twenty fuel contracts, including the GSA, were exclusive 

gasoline supply contracts and that, under these contracts, the twenty retail gas stations 

involved could only purchase fuel and petroleum products from Panamerican Inc. 

Hossain further stated that the sale of the underlying real estate to the various buyers, 

including that of the gas station in this case, had been contingent upon the buyers 

executing exclusive gasoline supply agreements with Panamerican Inc.
Preferred Fuel Distribs., LP v. Amidhara, L.L.C. Page 14

Preferred presented evidence that, as a result, and relying on Hossain’s

representations, it agreed to purchase the twenty fuel supply agreements, including the 

GSA, from Panamerican Inc. for a substantial price. USA Developers and Panamerican 

Inc. were both parties to the Agreement for Sale & Purchase of Motor Fuel Supply 

Contract(s), with Hossain signing on behalf of each.

Preferred presented evidence that, subsequent to signing the purchase and sale 

agreement, Preferred also executed an Assignment and Assumption Agreement for the 

twenty gasoline supply agreements and that, leading up to its execution, Hossain again 

stated and reinforced that all twenty gasoline supply agreements that Preferred 

purchased were exclusive. The Assignment and Assumption Agreement was signed by 

Dharani as president of Preferred and Hossain as president of Panamerican LLC.

Based on this evidence, there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the 

Panamerican defendants made a material representation to Preferred. See NationsBank 

v. Dilling, 922 S.W.2d 950, 952-53 (Tex. 1996) (stating that a principal may be vicariously 

liable for the fraudulent conduct of its agent if the agent acted with actual or apparent 

authority); Kingston v. Helm, 82 S.W.3d 755, 759 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2002, pet. 

denied) (“The law is well-settled that a corporate agent can be held individually liable 

for fraudulent statements or knowing misrepresentations even when they are made in 

the capacity of a representative of the corporation.”); Brush v. Reata Oil & Gas Corp., 984 

S.W.2d 720, 727 (Tex. App.—Waco 1998, pet. denied) (“A misrepresentation is material 

if it induces a party to enter a contract.”).
Preferred Fuel Distribs., LP v. Amidhara, L.L.C. Page 15

The representation was false: In their traditional motion, the Panamerican 

defendants take the position that the “contract does not set out an exclusive agreement 

between the parties nor require Krishna Krupa to buy fuel from Plaintiff only.” 

(Emphasis added.) Furthermore, Preferred produced the GSA as evidence, and we 

have already concluded that the GSA is ambiguous as to whether it is an exclusive fuel 

supply agreement and that its interpretation is thus a fact issue. Thus, there is a 

genuine issue of material fact as to whether the representation was false.

When defendant made the representation, he knew it was false or made it recklessly 

without any knowledge of its truth and as a positive assertion: Preferred presented testimony 

from Hossain’s deposition in which he indicated that the GSA was an exclusive 

agreement. However, the Panamerican defendants’ traditional motion stated that the 

GSA is unambiguous in that it does not set out an exclusive agreement between the 

parties nor require Krishna Krupa to buy fuel from Preferred only. Thus, there is a 

genuine issue of material fact as to whether the Panamerican defendants made the 

representations knowing they were false or made them recklessly without any 

knowledge of their truth and as positive assertions.

Defendant made the representation with the intent that plaintiff should act upon it: 

Preferred presented evidence that Hossain made the representations during the 

meetings in which Preferred was negotiating to purchase the twenty fuel contracts and 

then reinforced the representations just before the execution of the Assignment and 

Assumption Agreement. This is sufficient to raise a genuine issue of material fact as to 
Preferred Fuel Distribs., LP v. Amidhara, L.L.C. Page 16

whether the Panamerican defendants made the representations with the intent that 

Preferred act upon them.

Plaintiff acted in reliance on the representation: The plaintiff’s reliance must be both 

actual and justifiable. Atlantic Lloyds Ins. Co. v. Butler, 137 S.W.3d 199, 225-26 (Tex. 

App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, pet. denied). Preferred presented evidence that, as a 

result, and relying on the representations Hossain made, it agreed to purchase the 

twenty fuel supply agreements, including the GSA, for a substantial price. Preferred 

also presented evidence that, in this industry, fuel contracts like the GSA are generally 

exclusive to prevent commingling of petroleum products with other branded and 

unbranded petroleum products and to enforce compliance with the Federal Petroleum 

Marketing Practices Act. Thus, Preferred has raised a genuine issue of material fact as 

to whether it acted in reliance on the representations.

Plaintiff thereby suffered injury: Preferred presented evidence that once it acquired 

the twenty gasoline supply agreements, including the GSA, Krishna Krupa, the owner 

of the gas station, never purchased any petroleum products from Preferred and that this 

failure to purchase fuel from Preferred caused substantial damage, including loss of 

profits, which continue to incur. Thus, Preferred has raised a genuine issue of material 

fact as to whether it suffered injury because of the representations.

Because a genuine issue of material fact exists as to every element of Preferred’s 

claim for common-law fraud and fraudulent misrepresentation, the trial court erred in 

granting summary judgment in favor of the Panamerican defendants on the cause of 

action, and, to that extent, Preferred’s second issue is sustained.
Preferred Fuel Distribs., LP v. Amidhara, L.L.C. Page 17

Negligent Misrepresentation

The elements of negligent misrepresentation are: (1) a defendant provided 

information in the course of his business, or in a transaction in which he had a 

pecuniary interest; (2) the information supplied was false; (3) the defendant did not 

exercise reasonable care or competence in obtaining or communicating the information; 

(4) the plaintiff justifiably relied on the information; and (5) the plaintiff suffered

damages proximately caused by the reliance. Larsen v. Carlene Langford & Assocs., 41 

S.W.3d 245, 249-50 (Tex. App.—Waco 2001, pet. denied). The Panamerican defendants 

challenged all of these elements in their no-evidence motion. In their traditional 

motion, they stated that they are entitled to judgment as a matter of law because they 

did not supply false information to Preferred.

Based on all the evidence detailed above with regard to Preferred’s cause of 

action for common-law fraud and fraudulent misrepresentation, a genuine issue of 

material fact exists as to every element of Preferred’s claim for negligent 

misrepresentation. Thus the trial court also erred in granting summary judgment in 

favor of the Panamerican defendants on Preferred’s negligent misrepresentation cause 

of action.

Violation of the DTPA

Although Preferred states generally in its brief that the Panamerican defendants 

were not entitled to summary judgment on either of their motions, Preferred does not

make any specific argument regarding the granting of summary judgment in favor of 

the Panamerican defendants on Preferred’s cause of action for violation of the DTPA. 
Preferred Fuel Distribs., LP v. Amidhara, L.L.C. Page 18

“The brief must contain a clear and concise argument for the contentions made, with 

appropriate citations to authorities and to the record.” TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(i). A brief’s 

issues that do not contain such argument “are inadequately briefed and present nothing 

for review.” Dorton v. Chase, 262 S.W.3d 396, 400 (Tex. App.—Waco 2008, pet. denied); 

see TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(h), (i). Preferred fails to point to any specific evidence in the 

record that might raise a genuine issue of material fact as to the essential elements of its 

DTPA claim. Thus, to the extent Preferred challenges the trial court’s granting of 

summary judgment in favor of the Panamerican defendants on Preferred’s cause of 

action for violation of the DTPA, Preferred’s second issue is inadequately briefed, 

presents nothing for review, and is overruled.

CONCLUSION

We reverse that portion of the trial court’s judgment granting summary 

judgment in favor of Amidhara, Savalia, Gajera, TOP, Classic, and Krishna Krupa; we 

reverse that portion of the trial court’s judgment granting summary judgment on 

Preferred’s declaratory judgment, common-law fraud and fraudulent 

misrepresentation, and negligent misrepresentation claims against Hossain, 

Panamerican LLC, Panamerican Inc., and USA Developers. We remand this cause to 

the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. We affirm the trial 

court’s judgment in all other respects.

REX D. DAVIS

Justice
Preferred Fuel Distribs., LP v. Amidhara, L.L.C. Page 19

Before Chief Justice Gray,

Justice Reyna, and

Justice Davis

Affirmed in part; reversed and remanded in part

Opinion delivered and filed January 13, 2010

[CV06]