NO. 03-14-00795-CV

 

IN THE 

THIRD COURT OF APPEALS 

AT AUSTIN 

 

Jennifer Samaniego 

Appellant 

v.

Alieda Silguero 

Appellee 

 

On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 2, 

Travis County, Texas 

 

BRIEF OF APPELLEE 

 

NADIA RAMKISOON 

State Bar No. 24076635 

e-mail: 

nadia.ramkissoon@famersinsurance.com

CLARK, TREVINO & ASSOCIATES 

1701 Directors Blvd. Ste. 920

Austin, Texas 78744 

(512) 445-1591 

(512) 383-0503 (Facsimile) 

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE

ACCEPTED

03-14-00795-CV

6167020

THIRD COURT OF APPEALS

AUSTIN, TEXAS

7/21/2015 11:29:56 PM

JEFFREY D. KYLE

CLERK

 FILED IN 3rd COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 7/21/2015 11:29:56 PM JEFFREY D. KYLE Clerk
TABLE OF CONTENTS

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES.......................................................................................i

STATEMENT OF THE CASE..................................................................................2

ISSUE PRESENTED.................................................................................................2

The trial court did not err when granting Appellee Alieda 

Silguero’s motion for summary judgment. Appellant has failed to 

sustain her burden of proof regarding the delay in serving 

Appellee Alieda Silguero and lack due diligence was established as 

a matter of law. 

STATEMENT OF FACTS ........................................................................................2

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT ........................................................................3

ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES........................................................................4

CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................6

PRAYER....................................................................................................................6

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE.........................................................................7

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ..................................................................................7
i

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

CASES

First Gen. Realty Corp. v. Maryland Caus. Co, 981 S.W.2d 465 (Tex. App—

Austin 1998, pet. denied)...........................................................................................6

Sanchez v. Providence Memorial Hospital; 679 S.W.2d 732, 732-733 (Tex. App.—

El Paso 1984, no writ)................................................................................................6

Dura-Stitlts Com. v. Zachry, 697 S.W.2d 658, 659, (Tex. App.—Houston [1st

Dist.]1985, writ refused, n.r.e) ..................................................................................6

Carter v. MacFadyen, 93 S.W.3d 307 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2002, pet. 

denied)....................................................................................................................7, 8

Parson v. Turley, 109 S.W.3d 804, 808-809 (Tex. App.—Dallas, 2003, no pet.)....7

Murray v. San Jacinto Agency, Inc., 800 S.W.2d 826 (Tex.1990)............................7

Zacharie v. U.S. Nat. Resources, Inc., 94 S.W.3d 748 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 

2002, no pet.) .........................................................................................................7, 8

Instrument Specialties Co. v. Texas Employment Comm'n, 924 S.W.3d 420 (Tex. 

App.—Fort Worth 1996, pet. denied)........................................................................7

Rodriguez v. Tinsman & Houser, 13 S.W.3d 47, 49-52 (Tex. App.--San Antonio 

1999, pet. denied).......................................................................................................8

Broom v. McMaster, 992 S.W.2d 659 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1999, no pet.)...............8

McGuire v. Federal Dep. Ins. Corp., 561 S.W.2d 213 (Tex. Civ. App.—Houston 

[1st dist.] 1997, no writ)..............................................................................................8

Holt v. D’Hanis State Bank, 993 S.W.2d 237 (Tex. App—San Antonio 1999, no 

pet.) .........................................................................................................................8

Webster v. Thomas, 5 S.W.3d 287, 290-291 (Tex. App.—Houston, [14th Dist.] 199, 

no pet.)........................................................................................................................8
ii

Roberts v. Padre Island Brewing, Inc., 28 S.W.3d 618, 621 (Tex.App.—Corpus 

Christi 2000, pet denied)............................................................................................9

Gant v. De Leon, 786 S.W.2d 259 (Tex. 1990)(per curiam)...................................12

STATUTES AND RULES

TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. §16.003(A) VERNON 2003 ...............................6
NO. 03-14-00795-CV

IN THE

THIRD COURT OF APPEALS

AT AUSTIN

Jennifer Samaniego

Appellant

v.

Alieda Silguero

Appellee

On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 2,

Travis County, Texas

BRIEF OF APPELLEE

TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS:

Alieda Silguero respectfully asks the Court to dismiss Appellant’s appeal for 

due diligence and the judgment of the trial court that Appellant Jennifer Samaniego

take nothing on her claims and respectfully shows the following:
2

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Plaintiff/Appellant Jennifer Samaniego sued Defendant/Appellee Alieda 

Silguero for personal injury damages allegedly arising from an automobile 

accident that occurred on May 2, 2011. (CR 7) Appellee filed a Motion for 

Summary Judgment on June 26, 2014 based on Appellant’s failure to exercise due 

diligence in serving Appellee. (CR 33-37) Appellee’s Motion for Summary 

Judgment was granted by the trial court on November 18, 2014. (CR 81)

ISSUE PRESENTED

The trial court did not err when granting Appellee Alieda Silguero’s motion 

for summary judgment. Appellant Jennifer Samiengo has failed to sustain her 

burden of proof regarding the delay in serving Appellee Alieda Silguero and lack 

due diligence was established as a matter of law. 

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The Appellant seeks damages allegedly arising from an automobile accident 

occurring on May 2, 2011. (CR 7) The Appellant alleges that she was rear ended 

by Appellee. (CR 7) Appellant alleges that her damages were proximately caused 

by Appellee’s negligence. The original petition was filed on May 2, 2013. (CR 6, 

34). The attorney for the Appellant at the time, Steve White, filed the lawsuit. 

(CR6) A citation was issued for Appellee on May 2, 2013. (CR 50) Appellee 
3

received a letter dated October 1, 2013 from her attorney stating that he suffered a 

stroke and that her case would be given to Thomas Crosley. (CR 66) Before 

Appellant’s attorney suffered a stroke no attempts of substitute service were made 

on Appellee. In April of 2014, Appellant hires Anthony Colton as her attorney. 

(CR 85) An amended petition was filed by Appellant on April 23, 2014 which now

untimely included Paulino Silguero, III, Appellee’s father. (CR 19) He was joined 

into the lawsuit almost a year after the statute of limitations had expired. A new 

citation was issued for Appellee and her father on April 24, 2014. (CR 44) Service 

of process was not accomplished until June 16, 2014 on Appellee. (CR 44) This 

was over a year after the expiration of the statute of limitations. 

Appellee and her father filed their Answer on June 26, 2014 asserting a 

general denial, affirmative defense of statute of limitations, and a motion for 

summary judgment. (CR 33) Appellant filed a notice of nonsuit as to her claims 

against Paulino Silguero, III on October, 10, 2014. (CR 71) Appellee’s Motion for

Summary Judgment was heard on October 17, 2014. (CR 70) On November 18, 

2014, Appellee’s Motion for Summary Judgment was granted by the trial court. 

(CR 81)

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

Appellant filed suit on the last day before the statute of limitations tolled. 

Appellant failed to exercise due diligence in serving Appellee with process. 
4

Appellee filed her answer raising due diligence as an issue and sought Summary 

Judgment. Upon filing for Summary Judgment, the burden of proof shifted to 

Appellant to explain the delay. Appellant failed to sustain the burden of proof by 

asserting a reasonable explanation for the delay in service, and Appellants lack of 

due diligence was established as a matter of law. Therefore this Court should 

affirm the summary judgment in favor of Appellee. 

ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES

A. Due Diligence was not exercised by Appellant

The Appellant had two years from the date of the accident to bring her 

action against Appellee. The Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code sets the 

limitations period for tort claims based on negligence at two years. Tex. Civ. Prac. 

& Rem Code Ann. §16.003(a) (Vernon 2003). In order for a suit to be timely filed 

under a two year limitations period, it must be filed within two years of the date 

when an alleged wrongful act causes a legal injury. First Gen. Realty Corp. v. 

Maryland Cas. Co., 981 S.W.2d 465, 501 (Tex. App—Austin 1998, pet. denied). 

Mere filing of a lawsuit does not alone toll limitations; an action is timely 

brought only when the Plaintiff both files a petition and exercises due diligence in 

having the Defendant served. Sanchez v. Providence Memorial Hospital; 679

S.W.2d 732, 732-733 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1984, no writ); Dura-Stitlts Com. v. 

Zachry, 697 S.W.2d 658, 659, (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1985, writ refused, 
5

n.r.e.). Due diligence is determined by looking at the time taken and the effort 

expended by the plaintiff in securing service. Carter v. MacFadyen, 93 S.W.3d 

307, 313 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2002, pet. denied). The test for due 

diligence is whether a Plaintiff acted (1) as an ordinary prudent person would act 

under the same circumstances and (2) was diligent up until the time the Defendant 

was served. Parson v. Turley, 109 S.W.3d 804, 808-809 (Tex. App.—Dallas, 2003, 

no pet.). Even a considerable amount of ineffective activity does not constitute due

diligence if easily available and more effective alternatives are ignored. Carter v. 

MacFadyen, 93 S.W.3d 307, 314-315 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2002, pet. 

denied).

When a defendant raises the defense of limitations and the failure to timely 

serve the defendant, the burden shifts to the plaintiff to explain any delay. Murray 

v. San Jacinto Agency, Inc., 800 S.W.2d 826, 830 (Tex. 1990); Carter v. 

MacFadyen, 93 S.W.3d 307, 313 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2002, pet. 

denied). A lack of diligence may be found as a matter of law if no excuse is offered 

for a delay or if the plaintiff's acts conclusively negate diligence. Zacharie v. U. S. 

Nat. Resources, Inc., 94 S.W.3d 748, 754 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2002, no pet.); 

Instrument Specialties Co. v. Texas Employment Comm 'n, 924 S.W.3d 420, 422 

(Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1996, pet. denied). 
6

Further, merely offering an explanation does not necessarily raise a fact 

issue precluding summary judgment; the explanation must be one that is 

reasonable and valid. Rodriguez v. Tinsman & Houser, 13 S.W.3d 47, 49-52 (Tex. 

App.—San Antonio 1999, pet. denied). The plaintiffs excuse must show a bona 

fide intent that process be issued and served and must demonstrate how due

diligence was exercised in the issuance and service of citation. Broom v. 

McMaster, 992 S.W.2d 659, 664 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1999, no pet.); McGuire v. 

Federal Dep. Ins. Corp., 561 S.W.2d 213, 215- 216 (Tex. Civ. App.—Houston [1st

Dist.] 1977, no writ). Further, the evidence presented must explain every period of 

delay. Carter v. MacFadyen, 93 S.W.3d 307, 313 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 

2002, pet. denied). “An invalid explanation of delay, like no explanation for delay, 

constitutes lack of diligence as a matter of law.” Rodriguez v. Tinsman & Houser,

13 S.W.3d 47, 49-51 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1999, pet. denied).

Texas courts have held that unjustified delays of as little as one month, 

Rodriguez v. Tinsman & Houser, 13 S.W.3d 47 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1999, 

pet. denied), three months, Holt v. D'Hanis State Bank, 993 S.W.2d 237 (Tex.

App.—San Antonio 1999, no pet.), four months, Webster v. Thomas, 5 S.W.3d 

287, 290-291 (Tex. App.—Houston, [14th Dist.] 199, no pet.), and five months, 

Zacharie v. U. S. Nat. Resources, Inc., 94 S.W.3d 748, 754 (Tex. App.—San

Antonio 2002, no pet. h.), constitute a lack of due diligence as a matter of law.
7

Plaintiff cannot rely on the process server’s attempts to personally serve 

Defendant. It is the responsibility of the person requesting service, and not the 

process server, to see that service is properly accomplished. Roberts v. Padre 

Island Brewing, Inc., 28 S.W.3d 618, 621 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2000, pet 

denied), citing Tex. R. Civ. Proc. 9(a) and Gonzalez v. Phoenix Foods, supra.

The original petition was filed on May 2, 2013 with a citation issued by the 

Travis County Clerk on May 2, 2013. Appellant wants the court to believe that 

because of the insurance company she had to seek counsel. She insinuates an idea 

that she sought counsel right before the statute tolled. This is simply not the case. 

Appellant was represented by an attorney previous to the expiration of the statute 

of limitations a year prior. The insurance company’s knowledge is not relevant to 

the due diligence of the Appellant serving the Appellee. There is no evidence that 

the insurance company had anything to do with the Appellant filing the lawsuit on 

the day of the statute. The duty is on the Appellant not only to file a timely lawsuit 

but also to see that service is properly accomplished. 

After the lawsuit was filed, Appellant claims that service was attempted 

twice on May 9, 2013, but there is no evidence that such service was attempted by 

a private process server. There is no affidavit from the private process server. 

Neither the private process server nor the private process server’s agency is named 

and there is no information about the attempt to locate or serve Appellee. There is 
8

no reason given by the process server as to why the Appellee could not be served. 

From May 2, 2013 up until October of 2013, when Appellant receives the letter 

from her attorney’s office, there is no attempt of service on the Appellee nor any 

evidence to demonstrate how due diligence was exercised in the service of citation 

or an explanation of this period of delay. Furthermore, there is no evidence that 

there was an attempt for substitute service at this time either. The Appellant failed 

to satisfy her burden of offering a reasonable and valid excuse of the five month 

delay in serving Alieda Silguero from May 2, 2013 to October of 2013.

Appellant wants this court to believe that her attorney was incapacitated for 

the entire eleven months. This is simply not the case and there is no evidence to 

support this suggestion. There was a five month time period between when the 

lawsuit was filed and her attorney’s letter about the stroke in which time nothing 

was done to serve the citation to Appellee and there is no reasonable explanation of 

such. Then after the Appellant receives notice of her attorney’s condition, she still 

does not attempt to serve Appellee until she engages a new attorney on April 29, 

2014. Appellant claims that in November 2013 attorney Crosby would not take her 

case. From October 2013 until April of 2014, Appellant became ProSe, but still 

had the duty to act as ordinary prudent person would have acted under the same or 

similar circumstance as she was the person requesting service. Between October 

2013 and April of 2014, Appellant’s explanation that she was trying to find a new 
9

attorney is not a reasonable and valid explanation for the delay. There is no 

evidence that the Appellant attempted to find another attorney except for a selfserving affidavit by Appellant. Then on June 3, 2014 a motion for substitute 

service was filed twelve months after the original lawsuit. 

Appellant claims that it only took six weeks after substitute service was filed 

on the amended petition to serve Appellee. Appellant relies on this six week period 

to attempt to show due diligence. However, this still doesn’t explain or account for 

the time period between May 2, 2013 and October 1, 2013 where there is no 

evidence of an attempt of service or substitute service. Nor does it account for any 

service attempts during October 1, 2013 to April 2014; there were not any 

attempts.

B. Appellant’s cases relied upon are not analogues to this case

Proulx v. Wells1-The Appellant relies on this case as mentioned in her brief, 

however, the Appellant fails to note that the Plaintiff in the Proulx case attempted 

to serve the Defendant over thirty times in a nine month period. Additionally there 

was evidence that the Defendant in Proulx was actively avoiding service.2 The 

Plaintiff in the Proulx case went so far as to hire a private investigator.3 There was 

actual summary judgment evidence that demonstrated the service, attempts on 

 

1 Proulx v. Wells 235 S.W. 3rd 213 (Tex. 2007)

2

Id. at 216

3

Id.
10

service, and the Defendant’s avoidance. The court noted that the circumstances 

presented in the case was far different from those in which court have found lack 

of diligence as a matter of law.4 The Court even distinguished in the Proulx 

opinion that they have previously held, such as in the Gant5case, against a Plaintiff 

who failed to provide explanations for three service periods tolling for thirty eight 

months.6 The Appellant in this case has no evidence of the attempts of service nor 

any evidence that the Appellee was avoiding service, nor has provided any 

evidence explaining delay of service between May 2, 2013 to October 2013, 

October 2013 to November 2013 and November 2013 to April of 2014. Appellant 

cannot rely on the Proulx case because the facts are not analogous and the 

Appellant did not make continuous service attempts on the Appellee nor was the 

Appellee avoiding service. 

Next the Appellant relies on NETCO, Inc. v. Montemayor.

7 Again, the 

Plaintiffs in this case made numerous attempts to serve the Defendant. Again, the 

court held that it is the Plaintiff’s burden to explain every lapse of effort or period 

of delay.

8 The court’s determination on diligence against NETCO relied on the 

fact that NETCO failed to maintain a correct address for their registered agent with 

 

4

Id. at 217

5 Gant v. DeLeon 786 S.W. 2nd 259 (Tex. 1990)

6 Proulx at 217

7 NETCO, Inc. v. Montemayor 352 S.W. 3d 733 (Tex. App.−Houston [1st Dist.] 2011, no pet.)

8

Id. at 739
11

the Secretary of State as required by law.9 The court stated that the evidence 

showed that Plaintiffs attempted to serve NETCO four times at the address they 

had with the Secretary of State and that service for corporations is guided by the 

Texas Business Organization Code.10 It was NETCO’s duty to maintain a proper 

address with the Secretary of State in order to do business in the State of Texas. 

The NETCO case is not analogous to Appellant’s case because there is no evidence 

of attempts of service, nor is there an explanation for the lapse of delay between 

May 2, 2013 and October 2013, nor is the Appellee required to keep an address 

with the Secretary of State. Furthermore, service on Appellee is not guided by the 

Texas Business Organization Code nor did the secretary of state become agent for 

service for Appellee.

Lastly, Appellant relies on Auten v. DJ Clark.

11 In Auten the court held for 

the Plaintiffs as they were able to show an explanation for three periods of a delay 

in service. The process server for the Plaintiffs in the Auten case provided three 

affidavits of his attempt of service and detailed his attempts.

12 The affidavits were 

also prepared because counsel for the Plaintiffs was going to file a motion for 

substitute service.13 The second delay, while counsel did become incapacitated, he 

 

9

Id. at 740

10 Id. at 741

11 Auten v. DJ Clark, Inc. 209 S.W. 3d 695 (Tex. App.−Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, no pet.)

12 Id. at 699, 700

13 Id.at 700, 701
12

did not release the Plaintiffs as his clients.14 The third delay was due to the clerk’s 

office and order of the court on substitute service. This case is distinguishable from 

Appellant’s case because there is no affidavit from the process server which 

attempted service on Appellee from May 2, 2013 to October 2013, no attempt to 

file a motion for substitute service until June 3, 2014, and the court did not hold up 

or delay service on the Appellee. 

CONCLUSION

Appellant failed to show that she used due diligence in her attempt to serve 

Appellee. There was a time period before her attorney became ill in which no 

attempts of service or substitute service were made on Appellee. By the time 

Appellee was served there was an eleven month delay in service. Therefore, the 

appellate court should dismiss this appeal for want of prosecution or affirm the 

final summary judgment in Appellee’s favor because Appellant failed to meet her 

burden.

PRAYER

WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Alieda Silguero respectfully 

asks the appellate court to affirm the judgment of the trial court that Appellant take 

nothing on her claim against Alieda Silguero, and for all other relief to which 

Alieda Silguero may be justly entitled, at law or in equity.

 

14 Id. at 702
13

Respectfully submitted,

CLARK, TREVINO & ASSOCIATES

1701 Directors Blvd. Ste. 920

Austin, Texas 78744

(512) 445-1591

(512) 383-0503 (Facsimile)

By: /s/Nadia Ramkissoon____

Nadia Ramkissoon

State Bar No.24076635

E-mail: 

nadia.ramkissoon@farmersinsuarnce.com

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

I certify by my signature above that I have reviewed Brief of Appellee and 

have concluded that every factual statement in it is supported by the Clerk’s 

Record and that the number of words in this document as allowed by TEX. R. APP.

P. 9.4(i)(2) (B) is 2,564.

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify by my signature above that a true and correct copy of the 

document has been delivered by certified mail, return receipt requested, and or 

facsimile and or e-mail to the attorneys of record as listed below on the 21st day of

July, 2015:

Leif A. Olson

Attorney at Law

PMB 188

4830 Wilson Road, Suite 300

Humble, Texas 77396

(281) 849-8382

/s/Nadia Ramkissoon

Nadia Ramkissoon