Opinion ID: 2459736
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Celanese

Text: Celanese manufactured the polybutylene compound, Celcon, and supplied Celcon pellets to U.S. Brass for its use in molding the plumbing system fittings. Celanese promoted the use of Celcon in plumbing applications to U.S. Brass and other manufacturers, and knew that U.S. Brass used Celcon to make fittings for its plumbing systems. Celanese did not control U.S. Brass' selection of raw materials, did not design the parts or tools, and did not instruct or train the homebuilders' plumbers. Celanese told U.S. Brass that it should mold prototype components from Celcon and subject them to the most severe anticipated end-use conditions. Celanese also informed U.S. Brass of Celcon's potential limitations in high-chlorine conditions. Celanese's marketing efforts were limited to promoting its material to the manufacturers of the plumbing systems. It did not market the systems to homebuilders or building code officials, or market the finished homes to the consumers. The manufacturers of the plumbing systems and the building code officials, and to a lesser degree the homebuilders, were intermediaries capable of assessing the suitability of Celcon for use in the systems. None of these facts supports the conclusion that Celanese's misrepresentations were made in connection with the plaintiffs' purchase of their homes. Celanese exercised little or no control over the manufacture and installation of the finished plumbing systems, much less the manufacture and sale of the homes. Celanese had no influence over the terms of the sales to the homeowners. At most, Celanese enjoyed the benefit of selling a raw material to a downstream manufacturer. We hold that, under these circumstances, Celanese's conduct did not occur in connection with the plaintiffs' purchase of their homes; consequently, that conduct cannot support DTPA liability. Therefore, we reverse the court of appeals' judgment in Andraus permitting recovery under the DTPA against Celanese. (Celanese had no judgment rendered against it in either Knowlton/Kochie or Barrett. )