Opinion ID: 1849825
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: whether the trial court erred in granting southwest's motion for summary judgment?

Text: In his Judgment of Dismissal with Prejudice, the trial judge found as a matter of law that the plaintiffs could not have prevailed in their defense against Ellzey's 1979 suit. Consequently, the judge concluded, any injury or damages the plaintiffs suffered could not have been proximately caused by negligence on the part of their attorney. The judgment does not expressly address the plaintiffs' tortious breach of contract claim. It may be presumed, however, that the judgment covers the bad faith count since the judge granted Southwest's summary judgment motion in toto and dismissed the action with prejudice. In the following discussion we shall address the negligence and bad-faith claims separately. We shall also address Southwest's and Burnett's contention that the appellants waived their right to appeal the grant of summary judgment by failing to file a response to the summary judgment motion. Lastly, we shall consider the propriety of hearing a motion for summary judgment after a case is already poised for trial with a jury in place, and where the plaintiff receives no advance notice of the hearing. A.