Court Opinion

ID: 4766311
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-08-17 14:25:22.977414+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:09:16.778910
License: Public Domain

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

                                      NO. 03-19-00953-CV

                                      Paul Trowe, Appellant

                                                 v.

                       Joseph Johnson & Skydive Lone Star, Appellees

                FROM THE 421ST DISTRICT COURT OF CALDWELL COUNTY
           NO. 19-0-261, THE HONORABLE CHRIS SCHNEIDER, JUDGE PRESIDING

                            MEMORANDUM OPINION

               Paul Trowe appeals from the trial court’s order denying his motion to dismiss

under the Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA).           See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code

§§ 27.001–.011.1 In five issues, Trowe argues that the TCPA applies to the suit against him

brought by appellees Joseph Johnson and Skydive Lone Star (Skydive) and that they did not

establish a prima facie case of their claims. We affirm the trial court’s order.

                                         BACKGROUND

               Johnson is the owner of Skydive, and Trowe was a “fun jumper” there until

Johnson “banned” him from the business in July 2018. Beginning in December 2018, Trowe

       1
           Because the underlying lawsuit was filed in June 2019, references to the TCPA in
this opinion are to its provisions as they existed prior to the 2019 amendments. See Act of
May 17, 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., ch. 378, §§ 11, 12, 2019 Tex. Gen. Laws 684, 687 (stating that
amendments to TCPA apply “only to action filed on or after” September 1, 2019).
made social media posts regarding appellees that form the basis of their underlying suit

against him.

               In response to the online posts, appellees initially demanded that Trowe retract

them. When he refused to do so, they filed the underlying suit. In their petition, appellees allege:

       These postings, in short, implore potential customers of Skydive Lonestar to not
       do business with Skydive Lonestar based on the allegations that: (1) Joe Johnson
       is continually operating under the influence of illegal narcotics; (2) Joe Johnson
       and Skydive Lonestar do not follow the standards of the sport, and therefore,
       Skydive Lonestar had certain licensing revoked; and (3) Joe Johnson and Skydive
       Lonestar fail to run a safe business and put people’s lives at risk.

Based on the online posts, appellees asserted claims of defamation, defamation per se, business

disparagement, and tortious interference with prospective business relations.               Appellees

referenced and attached to their original petition copies of the posts and their attorney’s letter to

Trowe demanding that he retract his December 5, 2018, post, “as well as any subsequent

postings of the same.” Appellees continued to reference the online posts in an amended petition

but did not attach the copies of the posts or their attorney’s letter to the amended petition.

               After appellees filed their amended petition, Trowe filed a TCPA motion to

dismiss. Trowe stated that the “communications forming the basis of [appellees’] claims were

made on [his] Facebook page and on a yelp review and were meant for and seen by various

individuals in the skydiving world” and argued that appellees’ suit should be dismissed because

it was based on Trowe’s exercise of the rights of free speech and association. He also argued

that appellees could not establish a prima facie case to support any of their claims and that his

statements in the online posts were true or expressions of opinion. Trowe filed declarations with

attachments to support his motion. In his declaration, he provided additional facts about his

statements in the online posts. He estimated that he had made 50 jumps at Skydive and declared
                                                  2
that he “personally witnessed Johnson using cocaine and then taking customers on tandem

jumps,” which was “not a safe practice”; that “[i]n [his] opinion, the Skydive planes are poorly

maintained”; and that he “[does] not think that Skydive is a safe place to jump” or that it “[pays]

its employees well.” He explained that he expressed his opinion because he “wanted others

contemplating jumping there to be aware of [his] opinion.”

               Appellees filed a response to Trowe’s motion to dismiss and supporting affidavits.

In their response, appellees summarized and quoted from Trowe’s online posts, including

quoting his statements that Skydive was a “death trap” and that Johnson was “usually high on

coke or meth,” and detailed the facts underlying appellees’ claims. In his affidavit, Johnson

averred that he was the “sole owner” of Skydive and had “banned” Trowe from Skydive in

July 2018; referenced and quoted from Trowe’s posts that began in mid-December 2018,

including his statement that Skydive was a “death trap”; and averred that the posts were false.

He also averred about the factual bases for appellees’ claims, including the following facts in

support of appellees’ position that Trowe’s complained-of statements were false:

       (l) Skydive Lonestar pays its pilots above what is industry standard and any claim
       by Mr. Trowe is false. Furthermore, Mr. Trowe never had access to my business
       records; (2) Skydive Lonestar maintains its planes at a higher standard than most
       in the industry and any claim by Mr. Trowe is false. Furthermore, Mr. Trowe
       never had access to my planes so he could inspect or cause them to be inspected;
       (3) Skydive Lonestar did not have its rating pulled by USPA [United States
       Parachute Association], but rather, Joe Johnson made the decision to terminate his
       affiliation with USPA (Joe Johnson was paying USPA an annual fee for little to
       nothing in return). While Mr. Trowe attempts to put his own spin on the basis for
       this revocation, the minutes Mr. Trowe attached to his motion to dismiss state no
       specific basis for the revocation of Joe Johnson’s credentials; and (4) Skydive
       Lonestar’s instructors are all still USPA affiliated and rated.

                                                3
In other affidavits, individuals who were active in the Central Texas skydiving community

similarly averred about the factual bases for their beliefs that Trowe’s online posts were

“complete lies.”

               As to appellees’ damages, Johnson averred that “there has been a general drop in

business for Skydive Lonestar in 2019” and that, “[f]ollowing Mr. Trowe’s posts, Skydive

Lonestar lost roughly 20 ‘fun jumpers’ who were providing Skydive Lonestar roughly $2,000.00

of income annually (a loss of at least $40,000 annually).” He averred that Trowe “made the

posts in social media forums that are frequented by ‘fun jumpers’ and directly told people to go

to ‘Spaceland’ instead of [his] business.” Some of the other individuals who provided affidavits

similarly averred that, following Trowe’s posts, they had “noticed a drop in business at Skydive

Lonestar” and that based on conversations with others in the community, they believed that the

posts had been “harmful” to Johnson and Skydive.

               Following a hearing on Trowe’s motion to dismiss, the parties filed additional

briefing. The trial court thereafter signed an order denying Trowe’s motion without explanation.

This interlocutory appeal followed.

                                          ANALYSIS

               In five issues, Trowe argues that the TCPA applies to appellees’ suit because it is

based on his exercise of the right of free speech2 and that appellees did not establish a prima

facie case of each element for any of their four causes of action, which are defamation,

       2
           Trowe also contends that the TCPA applies to appellees’ suit based on Trowe’s
exercise of the right of association. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 27.001(2) (defining
“exercise of the right of association”). Because we conclude that appellees’ claims are subject to
the TCPA based on Trowe’s exercise of the right of free speech, we do not address this
alternative ground. See Tex. R. App. P. 47.1.
                                                4
defamation per se, business disparagement, and tortious interference with prospective

business relations.3

Standard of Review and Applicable Law

               Relevant to this appeal, the TCPA authorizes a party to file a motion to dismiss a

“legal action” that “is based on, relates to, or is in response to a party’s exercise of the right of

free speech.” See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 27.003(a). “‘Exercise of the right of free

speech’ means a communication made in connection with a matter of public concern,”

and a “matter of public concern” includes “an issue related to” “health or safety,”

“community well-being,” and “service in the marketplace.” Id. § 27.001(3), (7)(A), (B), (E).

“‘Communication’ includes the making or submitting of a statement or document in any form or

medium, including oral, visual, written, audiovisual, or electronic.” Id. § 27.001(1). The term

“legal action” under the TCPA includes a “lawsuit” and a “cause of action.” Id. § 27.001(6).

               Under the TCPA’s burden-shifting framework, the movant bears the initial burden

to show by a preponderance of the evidence that the “legal action” is subject to the TCPA. See

id. § 27.005(b); Hersh v. Tatum, 526 S.W.3d 462, 466–68 (Tex. 2017) (describing and applying

statutory procedure under TCPA); ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. v. Coleman, 512 S.W.3d 895, 898–

99 (Tex. 2017) (same). Courts generally determine the TCPA’s applicability “based on a holistic

review of the pleadings.” Adams v. Starside Custom Builders, LLC, 547 S.W.3d 890, 897 (Tex.

       3
           In his briefing, Trowe refers to appellees’ defamation claims as claims for libel and
libel per se. A “libel claim is a defamation expressed in written or other graphic form.” Tex.
Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 73.001; see Dallas Morning News, Inc. v. Tatum, 554 S.W.3d 614,
624 (Tex. 2018). Consistent with appellees’ pleadings before the trial court, we refer to the
claims as defamation claims.

                                                 5
2018). “When it is clear from the plaintiff’s pleadings that the action is covered by the [TCPA],

the defendant need show no more.” Hersh, 526 S.W.3d at 467.

               If a movant meets the initial burden to show that the TCPA applies, the burden

shifts to the nonmovant to establish “by clear and specific evidence a prima facie case for each

essential element of the claim in question.” Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 27.005(c). A prima

facie case “refers to evidence sufficient as a matter of law to establish a given fact if it is not

rebutted or contradicted.” In re Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d 579, 590 (Tex. 2015) (orig. proceeding). “It

is the ‘minimum quantum of evidence necessary to support a rational inference that the

allegation of fact is true.’” Id. (quoting In re E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 136 S.W.3d 218,

223 (Tex. 2004) (per curiam) (orig. proceeding)). A court may not dismiss a legal action if the

nonmovant establishes “a prima facie case for each essential element of the claim in question”

unless the movant establishes “by a preponderance of the evidence each essential element of a

valid defense to the nonmovant’s claim.” Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 27.005(c), (d).

               In determining whether the nonmovant has met its burden to establish a prima

facie case, the court views the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmovant. Warner

Bros. Entm’t, Inc. v. Jones, 538 S.W.3d 781, 801 (Tex. App.—Austin 2017), aff’d, 611 S.W.3d 1

(Tex. 2020).   The courts consider as evidence “the pleadings and supporting or opposing

affidavits stating the facts on which the liability or defense is based.” See Tex. Civ. Prac.

& Rem. Code § 27.006(a). Further, because the TCPA does not define “clear and specific

evidence,” we apply the ordinary meanings of “clear” and “specific.”           See In re Lipsky,

460 S.W.3d at 590 (observing that TCPA does not define “clear and specific evidence” and

applying ordinary meanings of words “clear” and “specific”).

                                                6
               We review a trial court’s ruling on a TCPA motion to dismiss de novo. See

Adams, 547 S.W.3d at 897 (deciding whether TCPA applied under de novo standard of review);

Neurodiagnostic Consultants, LLC v. Nallia, No. 03-18-00609-CV, 2019 Tex. App. LEXIS 8156,

at *7 (Tex. App.—Austin Sept. 6, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.) (stating that standard of review is de

novo in appeal from trial court ruling on TCPA motion to dismiss); Long Canyon Phase II & III

Homeowners Ass’n v. Cashion, 517 S.W.3d 212, 217 (Tex. App.—Austin 2017, no pet.) (“We

review de novo whether each party carried its assigned burden [under the TCPA].”).

Applicability of TCPA

               In his first issue, Trowe argues that the TCPA applies to appellees’ suit because it

is based on his exercise of the right of free speech. Specifically, he argues that their suit is a

“legal action” that seeks to recover damages for “alleged statements by Trowe” that related to

health, safety, community well-being, and a “service in the marketplace.” See Tex. Civ. Prac. &

Rem. Code. § 27.001(3) (defining “exercise of the right of free speech” to mean “communication

made in connection with a matter of public concern”), (6) (defining “legal action”), (7)(A), (B),

(E) (including statements regarding health, safety, community well-being, and “service in the

marketplace” within term “matter of public concern”); see Adams, 547 S.W.3d at 892 (“A ‘legal

action’ can consist of an entire lawsuit or a single cause of action.”).

               Appellees’ pleaded claims are based on Trowe’s online posts regarding appellees’

allegedly unsafe business practices, including the condition of Skydive’s planes, regulatory

compliance, and Johnson’s illegal drug use “on tandem jumps.” See Adams, 547 S.W.3d at 897

(determining applicability of TCPA “based on a holistic review of the pleadings”). As such,

Trowe’s complained-of posts that form the basis of appellees’ claims fall squarely within the

                                                  7
TCPA definition of “communication made in connection with a matter of public concern”

because they concern a “service in the marketplace” and “health or safety.” See Creative Oil

& Gas, LLC v. Lona Hills Ranch, LLC, 591 S.W.3d 127, 133–36 (Tex. 2019) (discussing

definition of “matter of public concern” and phrase “good, product, or service in the

marketplace” in TCPA and prior cases that addressed “communications” involving health or

safety concerns).

               Appellees argue that Trowe did not meet his burden to establish that the TCPA

applies because “free speech does not insulate lies” and the “factual circumstances surrounding

this case show that [Trowe] was in no way addressing ‘a matter of public concern.’” The

statutory definition of “exercise of the right of free speech,” however, “is not fully

coextensive with the constitutional free-speech right protected by the First Amendment to the

U.S. Constitution.” Adams, 547 S.W.3d at 892. And appellees’ pleadings make clear that the

online posts raising safety concerns about appellees’ business operations have “some relevance

to a wider audience” of potential customers in the marketplace. See Creative Oil & Gas,

591 S.W.3d at 134 (noting that “‘in the marketplace’ modifier suggests that the communication

about goods or services must have some relevance to a wider audience of potential buyers or

sellers in the marketplace, as opposed to communications of relevance only to the parties to a

particular transaction”).

               Because appellees’ pleadings make clear that their suit is covered by the TCPA,

we conclude that Trowe satisfied his burden. See Hersh, 526 S.W.3d at 467 (explaining that

when plaintiff’s pleadings make clear that suit is covered by TCPA, “defendant need show no

more”). Thus, we sustain Trowe’s first issue.

                                                8
Defamation and Defamation Per Se

               In his second and third issues, Trowe argues that appellees failed to establish a

prima facie case for their claims of defamation and defamation per se. In their pleadings,

appellees alleged that the complained-of statements in Trowe’s posts were “without question

defamatory, and defamatory per se.”

               The elements of a prima facie case for defamation are:        (1) the defendant

published a false statement; (2) that was defamatory concerning the plaintiff; (3) with the

requisite degree of fault regarding the statement’s truth; and (4) damages, unless the statement

constitutes defamation per se. Bedford v. Spassoff, 520 S.W.3d 901, 904 (Tex. 2017); In re

Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d at 593 (citing WFAA-TV, Inc. v. McLemore, 978 S.W.2d 568, 571 (Tex.

1998)). “Defamation per se refers to statements that are so obviously harmful that general

damages may be presumed.” In re Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d at 593; see Dallas Morning News, Inc.

v. Tatum, 554 S.W.3d 614, 624 (Tex. 2018) (discussing difference between defamation per se

and per quod); Hancock v. Variyam, 400 S.W.3d 59, 63–64 (Tex. 2013) (discussing rationale

behind presuming harm in defamation per se cases).          Whether a statement qualifies as

defamatory per se is generally a question of law. In re Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d at 596; Texas

Disposal Sys. Landfill, Inc. v. Waste Mgmt. Holdings, Inc., 219 S.W.3d 563, 581 (Tex. App.—

Austin 2007, pet. denied).

               Trowe argues that appellees “were required to present—for each alleged

publication—clear and specific evidence of when, where, and what was said, the defamatory

nature of the statements, and how they damaged [appellees]” and that appellees only alleged “in

a very conclusory fashion that Trowe published defamatory statements” without providing “what

those allegedly defamatory statements were.” See In re Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d at 591 (stating that

                                               9
“[i]n a defamation case that implicates the TCPA, pleadings and evidence that establishes the

facts of when, where, and what was said, the defamatory nature of the statements, and how they

damaged the plaintiff should be sufficient to resist a TCPA motion to dismiss”). Trowe argues

that there was no evidence of what the statements in the online posts actually were because

appellees failed to attach copies of the posts to their amended petition or to Johnson’s affidavit.

                In appellees’ amended petition and Johnson’s affidavit, however, they referenced

and stated the substance of the complained-of statements in the online posts, identified that the

posts were made in mid-December 2018 through May 2019 and remained online, quoted specific

statements in the posts, and filed a copy of one of the posts in response to the motion to dismiss.4

Further, Trowe admitted in his motion to dismiss that he made the posts on his “Facebook page

and on a Yelp review.” His challenge to appellees’ defamation claims before the trial court was

that appellees “have not and cannot show any proof that Trowe’s statements on social media are

false or have caused them any harm or have resulted in any damages.”                Considering the

pleadings and other evidence, we cannot conclude that appellees failed to establish a prima facie

case because they did not attach copies of the online posts to their amended petition or Johnson’s
       4
           In this online post, Trowe did not recommend Skydive and stated:

       [Skydive] is a death trap waiting to happen. It’s not a USPA [United States
       Parachute Association] drop zone anymore (they pulled their rating in September
       2018 because of a failure to follow the rules of the sport), the DZO doesn’t have a
       Tandem rating because he got busted smuggling drugs (Google Joseph Johnson
       Colorado), and to make matters worse he’s usually high on coke or meth (I’ve
       witnessed it personally). The DZ crashed a Cessna 182 in April 2018 because the
       owner pays shit wages for pilots (and hires people with little to no experience),
       and the landing gear fell off on the King Air right after take off in August because
       he’s too cheap to keep up with the maintenance. Until they switch owners, you’re
       better paying a little more and going to Spaceland, literally right down the road.
       Until something changes, this is my recommendation. I’ve been in the sport since
       2005 and jump all over the place. My skydiving license number is C-36031.

                                                 10
affidavit. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 27.006(a) (requiring courts to consider pleadings

among evidence supporting or opposing motion to dismiss); In re Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d at 591

(explaining that “plaintiff must provide enough detail to show the factual basis for its claim” and

that TCPA “does not impose an elevated evidentiary standard or categorically reject

circumstantial evidence”).

                Trowe also argues that some of his statements in the posts were not actionable

because they were opinions and specifically references his “opinion” that appellees “do not pay

employees well,” that “Skydive was not a safe place to jump,” and that its “airplanes were not

properly maintained.” “If a statement is not verifiable as false, it is not defamatory.” Dallas

Morning News, 554 S.W.3d at 624 (citing Neely v. Wilson, 418 S.W.3d 52, 62 (Tex. 2013)).

“Similarly, even when a statement is verifiable as false, it does not give rise to liability if the

‘entire context in which it was made’ discloses that it is merely an opinion masquerading as a

fact.” Id. (quoting Bentley v. Bunton, 94 S.W.3d 561, 581 (Tex. 2002)). Here, viewing Trowe’s

complained-of statements in the context in which they were made, we cannot conclude that any

of them were “merely an opinion masquerading as a fact.” See id. (explaining that threshold

question of whether words used are capable of defamatory meaning is objective, not subjective

(citing New Times, Inc. v. Isaacks, 146 S.W.3d 144, 157 (Tex. 2004)). For example, whether

Skydive properly maintains its planes, follows the “rules of the sport,” and “hires people with

little to no experience” are all verifiable facts.

                Trowe also argues that appellees failed to produce any evidence of damages or to

establish a prima facie case for defamation per se. He argues that “no actual crime is attributable

to Johnson—being high is not a crime, while possession or sale of drugs is”; that there “is no

statute that makes criminal the act of skydiving while under the influence of narcotics”; and that

                                                     11
“certainly no crime has been attributed to the entity of Skydive Lone Star.” Trowe’s statements

about appellees’ operations and Johnson’s illegal drug use, however, were directed to appellees’

fitness to provide skydiving to the public—the nature of their business—and were “obviously

detrimental to [appellees’] good name.” See Dallas Morning News, 554 S.W.3d at 624, 638

(explaining that “[r]emarks that adversely reflect on a person’s fitness to conduct his or her

business or trade are also deemed defamatory per se” (quoting In re Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d at 596));

In re Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d at 596 (observing that “[a]ccusing someone of a crime” is example of

defamation per se); Hancock, 400 S.W.3d at 64 (“A statement that injures a person in her office,

profession, or occupation is typically classified as defamatory per se.”); Texas Disposal Sys.

Landfill, 219 S.W.3d at 581 (listing examples of statements that are typically classified as

defamation per se); see also Tex. Health & Safety Code §§ 481.102 (classifying cocaine and

methamphetamines within Penalty Group I), .115 (making it felony to possess Penalty Group

I substances).

                 Further, even if we were to assume that Trowe’s complained-of statements about

appellees’ business operations and Johnson’s illegal drug use were not defamatory per se,

appellees presented clear and specific evidence of damages caused by the posts, including

economic harm. See In re Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d at 591 (explaining that although TCPA “initially

demands more information about the underlying claim,” it “does not impose an elevated

evidentiary standard or categorically reject circumstantial evidence”). In his affidavit, Johnson

averred that following Trowe’s posts, Skydive “had lost roughly 20 ‘fun jumpers’ who were each

providing Skydive Lonestar roughly $2,000.00 of income annually (a loss of at least $40,000

annually)” and that he also had been “directly told by different individuals that Mr. Trowe’s

postings caused them to not jump at Skydive Lonestar.” Other individuals who were active in

                                               12
the Central Texas skydiving community averred that Trowe’s “lies” “on social media have been

talked about by those in the local skydiving community” and that following these postings, the

individuals had “noticed a drop in business at Skydive Lonestar” and believed that Trowe’s posts

had been harmful to appellees.

                Trowe also argues that all of Skydive’s claims, including its defamation claims,

must be dismissed because there was no evidence that it was a separate entity from Johnson.

Assuming without deciding that Skydive was required to present evidence that it was a separate

entity to meet its burden to establish a prima facie case under the TCPA, appellees alleged in

their amended petition that Skydive is a “business located in Luling” and that Johnson is an

individual, Trowe’s own evidence refers to Johnson as the “owner” of Skydive, and Johnson

avers in his affidavit that he is the “sole owner” of Skydive and refers to it as his business. In our

TCPA review, we must view the pleadings and other evidence in the light most favorable to

appellees. Jones, 538 S.W.3d at 801; see Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 27.006(a) (stating that

courts consider evidence in form of pleadings and affidavits). Viewing the evidence under this

standard, we conclude that appellees met their burden to establish a prima facie case of

their defamation claims. See In re Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d at 590. We overrule Trowe’s second and

third issues.

Business Disparagement

                In his fourth issue, Trowe argues that appellees failed to establish a prima facie

case of the elements of a business disparagement claim.               “To prevail on a business

disparagement claim, a plaintiff must establish that (1) the defendant published false and

disparaging information about it, (2) with malice, (3) without privilege, (4) that resulted in

                                                 13
special damages to the plaintiff.” Forbes Inc. v. Granada Biosciences, Inc., 124 S.W.3d 167,

170 (Tex. 2003); see In re Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d at 592 & n.11 (stating elements of business

disparagement claim and noting that “special damages are synonymous with economic damages”

and distinguishable from “non-economic losses, such as loss of reputation and mental anguish”).

While defamation chiefly protects the personal reputation of the injured party, business

disparagement protects the economic interests of the injured party against pecuniary loss. Waste

Mgmt. of Tex., Inc. v. Texas Disposal Sys. Landfill, Inc., 434 S.W.3d 142, 155 (Tex. 2014); In re

Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d at 591; Forbes, 124 S.W.3d at 170; see Hurlbut v. Gulf Atl. Life Ins. Co.,

749 S.W.2d 762, 766 (Tex. 1987) (comparing defamation and business disparagement claims).

                   Trowe argues that Johnson cannot establish a claim for business disparagement

because Skydive “is allegedly a separate entity and the ‘business’ was wholly owned by [it].”

Assuming without deciding that Johnson was required to present evidence that he owned the

business, appellees alleged in their amended petition and Johnson averred in his affidavit that he

is the owner of Skydive.        Trowe also relies on appellees’ failure to attach copies of the

complained-of posts to their amended petition and Johnson’s affidavit to argue that, “[s]ince

Skydive has not seen fit to place the actual statements in evidence,” it cannot establish several of

the elements of its business disparagement claim. But, as we observed above, the substance of

the online posts, including quotations of the complained-of statements were contained in the

pleadings and evidence, a copy of one of the posts was attached to appellees’ response to

Trowe’s motion to dismiss, and Trowe admitted that he made the posts in his own filings with

the trial court.

                                                 14
               In his affidavit, Johnson provided the factual basis as to the elements of appellees’

claims, including their business disparagement claims. For example, he averred about the factual

basis underlying appellees’ allegation that Trowe acted with malice when he made the posts:

       [B]etween April and July 2018 (when I banned Paul Trowe), he jumped at
       Skydive Lonestar on 12 separate occasions. If Mr. Trowe truly believed Skydive
       Lonestar to be a ‘deathtrap’ as he claims, I submit he would not have jumped at
       Skydive Lonestar with such frequency (or at all) up to the time of being banned.

        ***

       I believe Mr. Trowe has acted with actual malice in publishing statements about
       my company and me. Consider, as previously stated herein, Mr. Trowe only saw
       fit to make the social media posts after my relationship with Mr. Trowe soured
       and Mr. Trowe was banned from Skydive Lonestar. Apparently, Mr. Trowe was
       content to ignore what he felt was a “death trap” until he was banned from my
       business. That being said, I also believe Mr. Trowe has acted with negligence in
       publishing statements about my company and me. Consider, Mr. Trowe has
       claimed (1) the planes Skydive Lonestar uses are not safe without ever having
       inspected them and with no substantiating proof; (2) Skydive Lonestar’s USPA
       affiliation and ratings were revoked when this is not true; (3) my USPA affiliation
       and ratings were revoked for not being safe when the USPA minutes clearly do
       not reflect this (apparently Mr. Trowe just reached this conclusion). The
       foregoing being true, Mr. Trowe had to know the posts were false, or at the very
       least, he did not have sufficient information to actually make the posts. That
       being true, Mr. Trowe acted with reckless disregard for whether the statement is
       true. The fact that Mr. Trowe only made such statements after he was banned
       from Skydive Lonestar shows he acted with ill will. Mr. Trowe’s intent to
       interfere with my economic interests can effectively be inferred.

See Hurlbut, 749 S.W.2d at 766 (explaining that business disparagement defendant may be held

liable “only if he knew of the falsity or acted with reckless disregard concerning it, or if he acted

with ill will or intended to interfere in the economic interest of the plaintiff in an unprivileged

fashion” (citing Restatement (Second) of Torts § 623A, comment g (1977))).

               Viewing the pleadings and other evidence in the light most favorable to appellees,

see Jones, 538 S.W.3d at 801, we conclude that they met their burden to establish a prima facie

                                                 15
case as to their business disparagement claims, see In re Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d at 590. We overrule

Trowe’s fourth issue.

Tortious Interference with Prospective Business Relations

                In his fifth issue, Trowe argues that appellees failed to establish a prima facie case

of the elements of their claims for tortious interference with prospective business relations. To

prevail on a claim for tortious interference with prospective business relations, the plaintiff must

establish that (1) there was a reasonable probability that the plaintiff would have entered into a

business relationship with a third party; (2) the defendant either acted with a conscious desire to

prevent the relationship from occurring or knew the interference was certain or substantially

certain to occur as a result of the conduct; (3) the defendant’s conduct was independently tortious

or unlawful; (4) the interference proximately caused the plaintiff injury; and (5) the plaintiff

suffered actual damage or loss as a result.           Coinmach Corp. v. Aspenwood Apt. Corp.,

417 S.W.3d 909, 923 (Tex. 2013); see Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Sturges, 52 S.W.3d 711, 726

(Tex. 2001) (addressing requirement of predicate tort or unlawful conduct); Richardson-Eagle,

Inc. v. William M. Mercer, Inc., 213 S.W.3d 469, 474 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet.

denied) (“The classic proximate-cause tests for cause-in-fact and foreseeability apply to claims

for tortious interference.”).

                Trowe argues that the only independent tort alleged is defamation and that

appellees failed to establish a prima facie case for their defamation claims. He also argues that

they failed to show: (i) “any actual damages that resulted from the alleged interference,”

(ii) “any intent on the part of the defendant to bring about any interference,” (iii) “a reasonable

probability that Skydive Lonestar would have entered into business with a third party but for

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Trowe’s statements,” or (iv) “any concrete examples of third parties whose prospective business

was lost other than Johnson’s vague and self-serving observations, which is considered no

evidence.” As we explained above, however, we must view the pleadings and evidence in the

light most favorable to appellees. See Jones, 538 S.W.3d at 801. Under this standard of review,

we have concluded that appellees established a prima facie case of defamation.

              Turning to the pleadings and evidence regarding the other elements of appellees’

intentional interference claims, among the statements that Trowe posted, he urged potential

customers to take their business to “Spaceland, literally right down the road” after making

statements regarding appellees’ unsafe operations, including that Skydive was a “death trap” and

that Johnson was “usually high on coke and meth.” In his motion to dismiss, Trowe admitted

that the “communications forming the basis of [appellees]’ claims were made on Trowe’s

Facebook page and on a yelp review and were meant for and seen by various individuals in the

skydiving world.” In his affidavit, Johnson averred that Trowe “made the posts in social media

forums that are frequented by ‘fun jumpers’ and directly told people to go to ‘Spaceland’ instead

of my business” and that, following Trowe’s posts, “Skydive lost roughly “20 ‘fun jumpers’ who

were providing Skydive Lonestar roughly $2,000.00 of income annually (a loss of at least

$40,000 annually).”

              Viewing the pleadings and evidence in the light most favorable to appellees, we

conclude that they support a rational inference that Trowe intended for his online posts to

interfere with appellees’ prospective business relations, see In re Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d at 591

(explaining that TCPA “does not impose an elevated evidentiary standard or categorically reject

circumstantial evidence”); that there was a reasonable probability that the posts interfered with

those relations, see Richardson-Eagle, Inc., 213 S.W.3d at 474 (explaining that “causation

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requires that the plaintiff bring forth sufficient facts so that the evidence, and logical inferences

drawn from the evidence, support a reasonable probability that the defendant’s acts or omissions

were a substantial factor in bringing about injury”); and that appellees suffered actual damage or

loss, see Coinmach Corp., 417 S.W.3d at 923. Thus, we conclude that appellees met their

burden to establish a prima facie case of tortious interference with prospective business relations.

We overrule Trowe’s fifth issue.

                                         CONCLUSION

               For these reasons, we affirm the trial court’s order.

                                              __________________________________________
                                              Melissa Goodwin, Justice

Before Justices Goodwin, Kelly, and Smith

Affirmed

Filed: August 17, 2021

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