Court Opinion

ID: 2758693
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-12-09 18:08:02.313174+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:36:40.193813
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS
                          SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
                               FORT WORTH

                               NO. 02-13-00227-CV

THE STATE OF TEXAS AND GREG                        APPELLANTS AND APPELLEES
ABBOTT, IN HIS OFFICIAL
CAPACITY AS ATTORNEY
GENERAL OF THE STATE OF
TEXAS

                                         V.

VALERIE SAXION, INC. AND                           APPELLEES AND APPELLANTS
VALERIE SAXION, INDIVIDUALLY

                                      ----------

        FROM THE 348TH DISTRICT COURT OF TARRANT COUNTY
                  TRIAL COURT NO. 348-254931-11

                                      ----------

                                    OPINION

                                      ----------

                                 I. Introduction

      In two issues in this accelerated interlocutory appeal, Appellants the State

of Texas and Greg Abbott, in his official capacity as Attorney General of the State

of Texas (collectively, the State) argue that the trial court erred by denying their
plea to the jurisdiction on the Free Exercise and federal Religious Freedom

Restoration Act (RFRA) claims of Appellees Valerie Saxion, Inc. and Valerie

Saxion, individually (collectively, Saxion). See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann.

§ 51.014(a)(5), (8) (West 2008 & Supp. 2014). The State presents this as a case

about false and misleading labeling made in connection with the sale of dietary

supplements in the Texas market.

      In two issues in her cross-appeal, Saxion counters that the trial court erred

by denying her motion for summary judgment on her counterclaims and

affirmative defenses and characterizes the case as one involving religious

speech infringed upon by government persecution.

      Concluding that Saxion’s cross-appeal does not fall under civil practice and

remedies code section 51.014(a)(6), we dismiss the cross-appeal for want of

jurisdiction. See id. § 51.014(a)(6) (West 2008 & Supp. 2014). And we reverse

the trial court’s judgment on the State’s plea to the jurisdiction with regard to

Saxion’s free exercise and federal RFRA claims, render a judgment of dismissal

for the State on these claims, and remand this case to the trial court for further

proceedings.

                   II. Factual and Procedural Background

      The State sued Saxion for violations of the Texas Food, Drug, and

Cosmetic Act (TFDCA) and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA), listing

page after page of allegations regarding Saxion’s explicit and implicit

statements—“on the internet, in labeling, and in promotional materials, including

                                        2
product   catalogues    and    newsletters”—about     the   ability of   her   dietary

supplements to diagnose, mitigate, treat, cure, and prevent disease.1 See Tex.

Health & Safety Code Ann. §§ 431.047, .0585 (West 2010); Tex. Bus. & Com.

Code Ann. §§ 17.41, .46(a)–(b) (West 2011). The State also alleged that Saxion

promoted herself as a “naturopathic” doctor, which Texas does not recognize,

and stated that

      any use of terms like “Doctor” or “Dr.” with VALERIE SAXION’S
      name or derivative of her name on the label, in labeling, or in
      advertising in Texas constitutes false advertising under both the

      1
       In the State’s original petition, filed August 29, 2011, and in its first
amended petition, filed April 11, 2012, the State alleged in paragraph 14 that
Saxion promoted her products “through a television show entitled ‘Alternative
Health,’” and asked in paragraph 42(j) that Saxion be enjoined from “[m]aking
claims, either explicitly or implicitly, to diagnose, mitigate, treat, cure, or prevent
disease for dietary supplements through any means, including, but not limited to,
websites, product labels and brochures, catalogs, television programs or
advertisements, radio programs or advertisements; third party vendors; and third
party websites.” [Emphasis added.]

       However, television and radio were not mentioned in the State’s live
pleading, filed January 11, 2013, which was before the trial court at the time of
the April 5, 2013 hearings on the various motions at issue here. Paragraph 14 of
the live pleading stated, “Defendant VALERIE SAXION promotes VALERIE
SAXION, INC.’S products on the internet, in labeling, and in promotional
materials, including product catalogues and newsletters.” Paragraph 47(j) of the
live pleading asked that Saxion be enjoined from

      [m]aking claims, either explicitly or implicitly, to diagnose, mitigate,
      treat, cure, or prevent disease for dietary supplements through any
      means, including, but not limited to, websites, product labels and
      brochures, catalogs, advertisements, third party vendors, and third
      party websites unless the claims meet the requirements of a health
      claim or qualified health claim, structure/function claim, or nutrient
      claim authorized by federal regulation or are otherwise permitted by
      the Federal Food and Drug Administration.

                                          3
      TFDCA and the DTPA as this use implies directly or indirectly that
      Defendant VALERIE SAXION is a degreed doctor and/or authorized
      to practice medicine in Texas.

The State concluded its petition with the allegation that

      [b]ased on the findings in paragraphs 16 through 27 above,
      incorporated herein by reference, Defendants have manufactured,
      held, offered for sale, distributed, sold, and/or introduced into
      commerce in Texas unapproved new drugs, misbranded drugs and
      foods, and falsely represented that these unapproved new drugs or
      misbranded foods could treat, mitigate, cure, or prevent various
      diseases. Defendants have also manufactured foods within Texas
      without a food manufacturer’s license for each name listed as a
      manufacturer on the label.

The State contended in its petition’s conclusion that Saxion’s products fell under

the auspices of the TFDCA and violated it because they had not been approved

by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they were misbranded, and

their labels were false or misleading. And it contended that in the course of trade

and commerce, Saxion had engaged in false, misleading, and deceptive acts and

practices that were unlawful under the DTPA.

      The State sought an injunction against Saxion to stop her from engaging in

the practices set out in its petition—a comprehensive list of twenty-four activities

pertaining to, among other things, misbranding, misrepresentation, and

mislabeling by failing to disclose that claims to diagnose, mitigate, treat, cure, or

prevent disease cannot legally be made for dietary supplements2 and in other

      2
      The State included in its petition the following claims by Saxion with
regard to her products, and Saxion admitted in her responses to the State’s
requests for admissions that she had made these statements:

                                         4
manners; representing that a person has a sponsorship, approval, status,

affiliation, or connection that she does not have by using the title “Doctor,” or the

abbreviation “Dr.”; making misleading claims, either explicitly or implicitly, to

diagnose, mitigate, treat, cure, or prevent disease for dietary supplements

through any means, “including, but not limited to, websites, product labels and

brochures, catalogs, advertisements, third party vendors, and third party

websites unless the claims meet the requirements of a health claim or qualified

    “CLA has been shown to have strong anti-cancer properties.
     Especially in inhibiting breast and prostate tumors as well as
     colorectal, stomach and skin cancer, including melanoma . . . . CLA
     even lowered cancer cell growth. CLA is an excellent inhibitor of
     tumor growth.”

    “The primary therapeutic applications for 5-HTP is [sic] low serotonin
     states. Conditions associated with low serotonin levels helped by 5-
     HTP are Depression, Obesity, Carbohydrate craving, Bulimia,
     Insomnia, Narcolepsy, Sleep apnea, Migraine headaches, Tension
     headaches, Chronic daily headaches, Premenstrual syndrome, and
     Fibromyalgia.”

    “A partial list of bacteria/viruses tested and neutralized with Colloidal
     Silver in the laboratory were: Lyme disease, Herpes, Legionnaire,
     Staphylococcus[,] Aureas, Salmonella, Choleraesuis, Streptococci,
     Warts, Pseudomonas[,] Aeruginosa, Neisseria, Gonorrhea,
     Gardnerella Vaginalis, Gangrene and Candida. It is great for
     BURNS and CUTS, too.”

    Regarding “Dr. Val’s JC360 Graviola”: “Derived from the Soursop
     tree, research indicates this is a nutrient that can help the body fight
     inferior cells, making it a great addition to a complete cancer
     program. It has many other uses, including fever, influenza, and
     immune support.”

                                         5
health claim, structure/function claim, or nutrient claim authorized by federal

regulation or . . . otherwise permitted by” the FDA; and disseminating false

advertisements.

      Saxion counterclaimed for declaratory and injunctive relief against the

State of Texas and against Gregg Abbott “in his official capacity as Attorney

General,” asserting that her statements were based on her sincerely held

religious beliefs and arguing, among other things, that the State’s suit implicated

her free exercise and free speech rights and her corresponding rights under the

state constitution. Saxion nonetheless admitted in her pleadings that the speech

to which she referred was “not contained on the labels of her products.”

      In support of her religious-message argument, Saxion pointed to certain

passages from a book she had authored:

      1. Realize there is a problem! The first step to utilizing your spiritual
      authority over food or whatever has a hold on you is admitting you
      have a problem.

      2. Ask for the Holy Spirit’s help! Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal
      anything that is not pleasing to Him. If you really want to be free,
      listen when he answers. You may be surprised what he reveals to
      you.

      3. Repent! Ask the Lord to forgive you for allowing food to have
      such a strong hold on your life, and thank Him for [s]howing you this
      area of your life that needs work. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Just
      repent and receive God’s forgiveness and love.

      ....

      God has placed herbs, minerals and vitamins for us to understand
      and utilize to maintain health and regain health[.] He [h]as instructed

                                         6
      man through His Word on how to utilize these for our personal
      wellness. [Emphasis added.]

Saxion contended that she needed protection from state action that deprived or

substantially burdened her free exercise of religion under the First Amendment,

under the federal RFRA, and under the state constitution.

      Saxion sought a declaratory judgment that her statements were not illegal

under the TFDCA, DTPA, or any state law; that the “Federal FDCA as amended

by DSHEA [the Dietary Supplemental Health Education Act]” expressly or

impliedly preempted the State’s TFDCA and DTPA claims; that her due process

rights would be violated if civil monetary penalties or an injunction were imposed

on her under the TFDCA or DTPA; and that her equal protection and First

Amendment rights would be violated by an injunction for the State. She also

sought a prohibitory injunction against the attorney general “in his official

capacity, and officers, agents[,] appointees[,] and employees of the State of

Texas from enforcing Tex. Pen[al] Code [section] 31.52” against her; from

censoring or threatening to censor her by prior restraint; or from imposing or

threatening to impose civil monetary penalties or damages with regard to her

rights of free speech, free press, and free exercise. The State raised sovereign,

official, and qualified immunity defenses in response to Saxion’s claims.

      Saxion filed a combined traditional and no-evidence motion for summary

judgment, arguing that the State’s lawsuit violated the federal RFRA and, for the

                                        7
first time, the Texas RFRA, and her constitutional rights to freedom of religion,

free exercise, and free speech.

       To her motion, Saxion attached her eleven-page affidavit. In her affidavit,

Saxion averred that she promoted dietary supplements to be used in conjunction

with faith in God, that she was a regular on TBN’s Praise the Lord and hosted

TBN’s Alternative Health, and that the attorney general’s office intended to

silence her ministry and destroy her business. Saxion also stated in her affidavit

that

       when ministering on TV or in person, any reference to any
       ingredient(s) that may be found in a dietary supplement(s) or food(s)
       was/were always referenced by an ingredient’s common or scientific
       name and never in the mentioning or promotion of a specific brand.
       For example, if I spoke on vitamin C, I called it vitamin C[,] which is
       readily available for purchase in multitudes of stores and countless
       websites.

Saxion incorporated portions of one of her books, which included the following

statement:

       Let me assure you, when I talk about feeling great all the time, there
       are no magic vitamins or minerals or hormones that do the trick . . .
       No amount of cleansing and detoxifying will remove bitterness,
       unforgiveness [sic], fear, or any other bad attitude that shouldn’t be
       there. Ask our wonderful heavenly father for wisdom so that you can
       pluck out the real root and be free and healthy all the time.

       Saxion also contended in her affidavit that an assistant attorney general

had ridiculed her religious beliefs, that the State had demanded that she lie about

her degree in naturopathy based on its allegation that she had improperly

represented that she had sponsorship, approval, status, affiliation, or connection

                                         8
by using the title “Doctor,” or the abbreviation “Dr.,” and that she had never held

herself out to be a medical doctor or practitioner and then quoted the disclaimer

in her books:

      The information in this book is for educational purposes only and is
      not recommended as a means of diagnosing, or treating an illness.
      Neither the publisher nor author is engaged in rendering
      professional advice or services to the individual reader. All matters
      regarding physical and mental health should be supervised by a
      health practitioner knowledgeable in treating that particular
      condition. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable for any
      loss, injury or damage allegedly arising from any information or
      suggestion in this book.

      Saxion also attached excerpts from her book, The Gospel of Health: The A

to Z Guide to Vibrant Health . . . God’s Way, which included in its “About the

Author” section that Saxion was the host of TBN’s On Call, a weekly television

program “dedicated to bringing [the] most up-to-date health and nutritional

information” and that she had made numerous other radio and television

appearances. And Saxion attached excerpts from her book, How to Feel Great

All the Time. However, none of the excerpts specifically mention her products at

issue in the State’s lawsuit.

      Saxion also attached the affidavit of George Herbison, her compliance

manager, who claimed that Saxion had made efforts to comply with all of the

dietary supplement regulations and corrections in response to a Texas

Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) inspection and that her efforts

made no difference to the State because “[t]hey wanted to silence Valerie’s

messages on television, radio and in her books,” per its proposed injunction.

                                        9
Herbison averred that the State had sued Saxion for refusing to sign the

injunction and sent the lawsuit to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, resulting in a

news editorial entitled, “State Tells Bogus Doctor to Cut it Out.”3 Saxion did not

attach a copy of the alleged proposed injunction to her motion.

      In its response to Saxion’s motion, the State argued that Saxion could not

satisfy the elements of her claims and had not pleaded a Texas RFRA claim, that

she had failed to state a cognizable free speech claim, and that her free exercise

claim under the federal and state constitutions and her federal RFRA claim failed

as a matter of law.    To its response, the State attached e-mails and other

correspondence pertaining to the injunction and the injunction’s revised drafts.

The first mention of any speech restriction was in an email from Saxion’s new

counsel in September 2012; the State’s documents make clear that the drafted

injunction was a “Final Judgment and Agreed Permanent Injunction,” to close the

existing case, which the State filed in August 2011.      The emails included a

December 14, 2011 email that Saxion forwarded to the State regarding TBN’s

decision to cancel her alternative health programs “due to legal matters that are

taking place within your ministry.” They also included an October 2011 email that

Herbison sent to the State, in which he said, “I appreciate your [October 14,

2011] email regarding Texas[’s] desire to not have business[es] shut down but

      3
       Saxion attached two August 31, 2011 Star-Telegram articles—an editorial
and a news article—to her reply to the State’s response to her motion, but she
did not bring a defamation counterclaim or a counterclaim under civil practice and
remedies code chapter 27 for the statements contained in the articles.

                                       10
rather comply with the law,” and his October 12, 2011 email in which he thanked

one of the State’s attorneys for speaking with him and specifically referenced

passing along his thanks to the State’s attorney who Saxion, in her affidavit,

alleged had ridiculed Saxion’s beliefs.4 They also included Saxion’s letters in

2010 regarding proposed settlements prior to the State’s filing suit.

      The State filed a combined plea to the jurisdiction and motion for summary

judgment on Saxion’s counterclaims, arguing that Saxion had not pleaded any

elements or carried her burden of proof on her counterclaims and affirmative

defenses and that her failure to plead a viable constitutional claim was fatal as a

matter of law. The State further argued that it had sovereign immunity from

Saxion’s counterclaims and that Saxion’s failure to plead a proper ultra vires

claim against an appropriate state official in his official capacity for

nondiscretionary acts required dismissal of her claims. And the State argued that

the only speech at issue was commercial speech and that no underlying facts

supported Saxion’s contention that it sought to enjoin religious speech.

      Saxion responded to the State’s motion by arguing that she was immune

from prosecution because her statements rested upon religious doctrine or belief,

her speech was not just commercial speech, and the State’s TFDCA and DTPA

      4
        This attorney also filed an affidavit, stating that she had never ridiculed
Saxion’s beliefs and that Saxion had never brought up her religious beliefs in any
of their meetings.

                                        11
enforcement action violated the federal and Texas RFRAs as a matter of law.5

Saxion incorporated by reference the evidence attached to her own motion for

summary judgment.

      The trial court held a hearing on all of these motions and the plea to the

jurisdiction, as well as the State’s motion for partial summary judgment on

liability, which is not a part of this appeal. The trial court denied all of the motions

and the plea. These appeals followed.

                                   III. Jurisdiction

      In two issues, the State argues that Saxion’s free exercise claim is barred

by sovereign immunity because she failed to allege a valid ultra vires claim

against a state official and cannot bring one against the State and that the trial

court erred by denying its plea to the jurisdiction on Saxion’s federal RFRA claim.

Saxion responds that she sufficiently pleaded and supported her allegations with

proof of an unconstitutional ultra vires state action and that the trial court did not

err by denying the State’s plea on her RFRA claim.

      5
       In her response, Saxion stated,

      It strains credulity to imagine a person would dedicate her life to a
      theology contained in the book, The Gospel of Health, the A – Z
      Guide to Vibrant Health God’s Way, yet market her vitamins
      independent of any religious motivation. She does attempt to keep
      health claims off the labels. But maybe some do technically cross a
      line. She nevertheless cannot be stopped or punished. She avoids
      health claims on the labels to be respectful, not because she must.

                                          12
      In two issues in her brief as cross-appellant, Saxion argues that the trial

court erred by denying her motion for summary judgment. In its brief as cross-

appellee, the State contends that we do not have jurisdiction over Saxion’s cross-

appeal.      See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 51.014(a)(6); Kaufman v.

Islamic Soc’y of Arlington, 291 S.W.3d 130, 142 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2009,

pet. denied).

A. “Media Defendant”

      We must determine the issue of our jurisdiction over Saxion’s appeal

before reaching the merits of the remaining issues. See Royal ISD v. Ragsdale,

273 S.W.3d 759, 763 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2008, no pet.) (stating

that jurisdiction is fundamental, may not be ignored, and requires dismissal of an

appeal over which it is lacking). The standard of review—de novo—is the same

with regard to jurisdictional issues and their statutory underpinnings.      Tex.

Natural Res. Conservation Comm’n v. IT–Davy, 74 S.W.3d 849, 855 (Tex. 2002)

(stating that subject matter jurisdiction is a question of law); Tarrant Cnty. v.

McQuary, 310 S.W.3d 170, 172 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2010, pet. denied)

(same); see also City of Rockwall v. Hughes, 246 S.W.3d 621, 625 (Tex. 2008)

(setting out statutory construction standard of review).

      Under section 51.014(a)(6), a person may appeal from an interlocutory

order that

      denies a motion for summary judgment that is based in whole or in
      part upon a claim against or defense by a member of the electronic
      or print media, acting in such capacity, or a person whose

                                         13
      communication appears in or is published by the electronic or print
      media, arising under the free speech or free press clause of the First
      Amendment to the United States Constitution, or Article I, Section 8,
      of the Texas Constitution, or Chapter 73.

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 51.014(a)(6).           The supreme court has

interpreted subsection (a)(6) as limiting interlocutory appeals to

      “members of the electronic or print media” in certain instances
      involving the “free speech or free press clause of the First
      Amendment to the United States Constitution.” It can only be read
      as allowing appeals by members of the media “or a person whose
      communication appears in or is published by” the media. No other
      person would typically have standing to appeal a denial of “a motion
      for summary judgment that is based in whole or in part upon a claim
      against or defense by a member of the electronic or print media . . .
      or a person whose communication appears in or is published by the
      electronic or print media.”

Tex. A&M Univ. Sys. v. Koseoglu, 233 S.W.3d 835, 843 (Tex. 2007). We strictly

construe civil practice and remedies code section 51.014(a) as a narrow

exception to the general rule that only final judgments are appealable. Id. at 841.

      To bring an interlocutory appeal from the denial of her motion for summary

judgment, Saxion must meet section 51.014(a)(6)’s status requirement that, with

regard to the State’s claims against her and her counterclaims and defenses, she

is either a member of the electronic or print media and acting in that capacity, or

a person whose communication at issue appears in or is published by the

electronic or print media. See id. at 843; Hotze v. Miller, 361 S.W.3d 707, 711–

12 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2012, pet. denied) (applying section 51.014(a)(6) media-

defendant status to individual whose allegedly defamatory statements were

published as editorials in traditional newspapers, on internet websites, and during

                                         14
radio       broadcast   because   that   subsection     “applies      to   anyone   whose

communication appears in electronic or print media when the claims or defenses

involved arise under the free speech clause of the First Amendment”); Scripps

Tex. Newspapers, LP v. Carter, No. 13-09-00655-CV, 2012 WL 5948955,

at *1 n.2 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Nov. 21, 2012, pet. denied) (mem. op.)

(stating that section 51.014(a)(6), an exception to the general rule that a motion

denying summary judgment is not appealable, applies to a media defendant “in a

defamation case”).

        Saxion must also meet section 51.014(a)(6)’s requirement that her claim or

defense arises under the Free Speech or Free Press Clause of the First

Amendment,6 or civil practice and remedies code chapter 73 (which pertains to

libel actions), or article I, section 8 of the state constitution.7

        6
       The First Amendment provides, “Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging
the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
U.S. Const. amend. I (emphasis added).
        7
        Article I, section 8 provides:

               Every person shall be at liberty to speak, write or publish his
        opinions on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that
        privilege; and no law shall ever be passed curtailing the liberty of
        speech or of the press. In prosecutions for the publication of papers,
        investigating the conduct of officers, or men in public capacity, or
        when the matter published is proper for public information, the truth
        thereof may be given in evidence. And in all indictments for libels,
        the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the facts, under
        the direction of the court, as in other cases.

                                            15
      Saxion attached some evidence to her summary judgment motion showing

that she is a published author of at least two books, but she is not being sued by

the State in the capacity of an author or with regard to the statements made in

her books and other media-related presentations but rather in the capacity of the

owner of a business that manufactures and sells products that the State

regulates.   Cf. Serv. Emps. Int’l Union Local 5 v. Prof’l Janitorial Serv. of

Houston, Inc., 415 S.W.3d 387, 395 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2013, pet.

filed) (stating, in defamation suit, that “[t]he right of interlocutory appeal under

section 51.014(a)(6) depends on who speaks, not on how they speak”).

      Further, the “communication” in the State’s lawsuit pertains to labeling, not

libel,8 Saxion has not shown that her products’ allegedly improper and misleading

labels appeared in or were published by the electronic or print media, and her

own evidence shows that she kept her supplements business separate from her

media activities. Cf. Kaufman, 291 S.W.3d 137–43 (concluding, in defamation

suit, that author of an Internet article was a section 51.014(a)(6) media defendant

Tex. Const. art. I, § 8.
      8
       Subsection (a)(6) was added to the interlocutory appeal statute in 1993 in
response to lobbying efforts by members of the print media in response to “some
highly publicized plaintiffs’ libel verdicts in cases that had been believed to be of
doubtful merit.” Thomas J. Williams, Media Law: Interlocutory Appeal, 67 Tex.
B.J. 760, 760 (2004) (characterizing the addition of subsection (a)(6) as “[o]ne of
the most significant developments affecting media law in Texas” because it
allows “a media libel defendant to take an immediate, interlocutory appeal from
the denial of a motion for summary judgment”); see also Act of May 25, 1993,
73rd Leg., R.S., ch. 855, § 1, 1993 Tex. Gen. Laws 3365, 3365–66.

                                         16
based on his journalistic background and notoriety outside the parameters of the

internet article at issue and his publisher’s broad readership and existence as a

“news/commentary medium” independent from his articles); New Times, Inc. v.

Doe, 183 S.W.3d 122, 123–24 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2006, no pet.) (allowing

interlocutory   appeal   in   wrongful-disclosure-of-test-results   suit   in   which

defendants published plaintiff’s HIV-positive status in a newspaper article).

      None of Saxion’s First-Amendment-based defenses or counterclaims are

made with regard to libel, slander, or other defamation-based claims, to wrongful

disclosure, or to invasion of privacy. Cf. Hotze, 361 S.W.3d at 711–12 (holding,

in libel and slander suit, that statements made by political writer and journalist

were those of a section 51.014(a)(6) media defendant); Main v. Royall, 348
S.W.3d 381, 384–85, 387 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2011, no pet.) (holding, in libel suit

brought against author and book publisher for statements about appellant in their

book, that appellees were “member[s] of the electronic or print media”); Brock v.

Tandy, No. 02-08-00400-CV, 2009 WL 1905130, at *1, 4 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth

July 2, 2009, pet. denied) (mem. op. on reh’g) (holding, on interlocutory appeal

under section 51.014(a)(6), that appellant’s paid advertisement in local

newspaper was capable of being defamatory); Cox Tex. Newspapers, L.P. v.

Wootten, 59 S.W.3d 717, 725 (Tex. App.—Austin 2001, pet. denied) (op. on

reh’g) (holding that plaintiff’s artful pleading against media-defendant newspaper

that published his dead wife’s photo failed to state any viable cause of action).

Compare Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 51.014(a)(6) (applying generally to

                                         17
media defendants facing defamation complaints), with id. § 27.001(1) (West

Supp. 2014) (defining “communication” for purposes of the Texas Citizen

Participation Act as “includ[ing] the making or submitting of a statement or

document in any form or medium, including oral, visual, written, audiovisual, or

electronic”). And section 51.014(a)(6)’s plain language does not include the Free

Exercise Clause, the Freedom of Religion Clause, or the Texas or federal RFRAs

as the basis for either a claim or a defense. Cf. Holly Corp. v. Longhorn Partners

Pipeline, L.P., No. 08-02-00186-CV, 2002 WL 1929493, at *1 (Tex. App.—El

Paso Aug. 21, 2002, pet. dism’d) (not designated for publication) (dismissing

interlocutory appeal when appellants were not members of the electronic or print

media and the only First-Amendment-related defenses asserted by them with

regard to their lobbying activities were the rights of association and to petition).

We conclude that we lack jurisdiction over Saxion’s interlocutory cross-appeal

under section 51.014(a)(6), and we dismiss her cross-appeal.

B. Plea to the Jurisdiction

      With regard to our review of a plea to the jurisdiction, if the plea challenges

the pleadings, we construe the pleadings liberally in favor of the nonmovant and

look to the pleader’s intent. City of El Paso v. Heinrich, 284 S.W.3d 366, 378

(Tex. 2009).     If the plea to the jurisdiction challenges the existence of

jurisdictional facts, we consider relevant evidence submitted by the parties when

necessary to resolve the jurisdictional issue and take all evidence favorable to

the nonmovant as true, indulging every reasonable inference and resolving any

                                        18
doubts in the nonmovant’s favor. Id. If the jurisdictional evidence creates a fact

question, then the trial court cannot grant the plea to the jurisdiction, and the

issue must be resolved by the fact finder. Id.

      1. Ultra Vires

      In its first issue, the State contends that Saxion’s Free Exercise claim is

barred because she has failed to allege a valid ultra vires claim against a state

official and cannot pursue such action directly against the State. See id. at 368–

69, 372–73 (setting out ultra vires exception for official-capacity suits against

government actors but reiterating that “as a technical matter, the governmental

entities themselves—as opposed to their officers in their official capacity—remain

immune from suit”); see also Lowell v. City of Baytown, 356 S.W.3d 499, 502

(Tex. 2011) (restating that claims for prospective declaratory and injunctive relief

must be brought against the relevant government officials rather than the

governmental entity itself).

      The supreme court has stated that

      suits to require state officials to comply with statutory or
      constitutional provisions are not prohibited by sovereign
      immunity . . . . To fall within this ultra vires exception, a suit must not
      complain of a government officer’s exercise of discretion, but rather
      must allege, and ultimately prove, that the officer acted without legal
      authority or failed to perform a purely ministerial act. . . . Stated
      another way, these suits do not seek to alter government policy but
      rather to enforce existing policy.

Heinrich, 284 S.W.3d at 372 (footnote omitted) (citations omitted). “Conversely,

if the plaintiff alleges only facts demonstrating acts within the officer’s legal

                                          19
authority and discretion, the claim seeks to control state action, and is barred by

sovereign immunity.” Creedmoor-Maha Water Supply Corp. v. Tex. Comm’n on

Envtl. Quality, 307 S.W.3d 505, 515–16 (Tex. App.—Austin 2010, no pet.).

Likewise, if the claimant attempts to restrain a state officer’s conduct on the

grounds that it is unconstitutional, the claimant must allege facts that actually

constitute a constitutional violation. Id. at 516; see also Tex. Dep’t of Transp. v.

Sefzik, 355 S.W.3d 618, 621 (Tex. 2011) (stating that claims may be brought

under the ultra vires exception “against a state official for nondiscretionary acts

unauthorized by law”); Andrade v. NAACP of Austin, 345 S.W.3d 1, 11 (Tex.

2011) (requiring claimant to plead a “viable” constitutional claim); Price v. Tex.

Alcoholic Beverage Comm’n, No. 01-12-01164-CV, 2014 WL 3408696, at *3

(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] July 10, 2014, pet. denied) (mem. op.) (“To state

a claim within the waiver of sovereign immunity, the plaintiff must plead a facially

valid constitutional claim.”).

      Saxion challenged the attorney general’s discretion or authority to enforce

the TFDCA and DTPA against her as infringing on her right to free exercise of

religion under the state and federal constitutions.9

      If government action burdens the free exercise of religion by interfering

with an individual’s observance or practice of a central religious belief, see

      9
       When, as here, neither party argues that the state constitution offers
greater protection, we treat the state and federal free exercise guarantees as
coextensive. HEB Ministries, Inc. v. Tex. Higher Educ. Coordinating Bd., 235
S.W.3d 627, 649–50 (Tex. 2007).

                                         20
Westbrook v. Penley, 231 S.W.3d 389, 395 (Tex. 2007), the issue is whether the

burden is a substantial one, and if so, whether it is justified by a compelling

governmental interest. Jimmy Swaggart Ministries v. Bd. of Equalization of Calif.,

493 U.S. 378, 384–85, 110 S. Ct. 688, 693 (1990) (citing Hernandez v. Comm’r

of Internal Revenue, 490 U.S. 680, 699, 109 S. Ct. 2136, 2148 (1989)).

      The twenty-four “practices in pursuit and conduct of trade or commerce”

listed by the State in its live pleading do not seek to restrain Saxion from

practicing any religious beliefs or expressing any religious opinions. Cf. Tilton v.

Marshall, 925 S.W.2d 672, 677 (Tex. 1996) (orig. proceeding) (op. on reh’g)

(noting that Texas Constitution article I, section 6’s interpretive commentary

reflects that conduct “even under religious guise remains subject to regulation for

the protection of society”).10 Rather, the relief sought by the State attempts to

      10
        Although Saxion relies on Tilton to support her arguments, it is inapposite
on the facts and record before us. In Tilton, the relator—a televangelist—in
addition to relators Word of Faith World Outreach Center Church, Inc. and Word
of Faith World Outreach Center Church, was sued for fraud, conspiracy, and
intentional infliction of emotional distress by the real parties in interest, who had
sent money and prayer requests to the relator as a result of his television
programs. 925 S.W.2d at 675. The relator filed a petition for writ of mandamus,
arguing that the trial court had no jurisdiction because the state and federal
constitutions and the federal RFRA barred the real parties’ causes of action
against him. Id. at 676.

        The court granted mandamus relief as to the real parties’ intentional-
infliction-of-emotional-distress and related conspiracy claims but denied relief
with regard to the fraud claims that did not involve allegedly fraudulent and
deceitful presentations of religious doctrine or belief. Id. at 678–79, 682
(concluding that the truth or falsity of a religious representation is beyond the
scope of judicial inquiry). The plurality cautioned that the trial court had to
carefully consider each alleged misrepresentation and determine which fraud
                                         21
regulate the advertising and sale of certain dietary supplements as a proper

restraint on commercial speech necessary to protect the public. See AEP Tex.

Comm. & Indus. Retail Ltd. P’ship v. Pub. Util. Comm’n of Tex., 436 S.W.3d 890,

924 (Tex. App.—Austin 2014, no pet.) (“[T]here is no value to consumers or

society for misleading or deceptive commercial speech.”).          Although Saxion

contends in her affidavit that the State’s employees threatened her and mocked

her beliefs—evidence that the State contested—she failed to show how her

religious calling to educate others on the health benefits of vitamins was

substantially burdened when the part of her evidence that was undisputed by the

State showed that she was able to separate her general message about vitamins

and minerals from any promotion of a specific brand from her dietary-supplement

business. Therefore, because Saxion has failed to allege a viable ultra vires

claim with regard to her free-exercise-of-religion rights and the attorney general’s

discretion and authority to enforce the TFDCA and DTPA, we sustain the State’s

first issue.

claims, if any, involved religious doctrines or beliefs, to ensure that the trier of
fact did not hear evidence on them or pass on their veracity. Id. at 680. None of
the labeling or other product-related issues listed by the State in its live pleading
involve any statements of religious belief.

                                         22
      2. Federal RFRA Claim

      In its second issue, the State argues that the trial court erred by denying its

plea to the jurisdiction as to Saxion’s federal RFRA claim. As pointed out by the

State, the federal RFRA is inapplicable to governmental action by a state instead

of the federal government. See City of Boerne v. Flores, 521 U.S. 507, 527, 532,

536, 117 S. Ct. 2157, 2167, 2170, 2172 (1997) (holding that the federal RFRA

could not be considered remedial, preventive legislation and that Congress did

not have a substantive, non-remedial power under the Fourteenth Amendment to

enforce the federal RFRA against the states); see also Burwell v. Hobby Lobby

Stores, Inc., 134 S. Ct. 2751, 2759 (2014) (stating that the federal RFRA

“prohibits the Federal Government from taking any action that substantially

burdens the exercise of religion unless that action constitutes the least restrictive

means of serving a compelling government interest”); Barr v. City of Sinton, 295
S.W.3d 287, 295 (Tex. 2009) (noting that as originally enacted, the RFRA applied

to the states as well as the federal government but that after the Supreme Court

held that Congress had exceeded its authority in extending the RFRA to the

states in City of Boerne, Congress amended the RFRA to limit its application to

the federal government, federal territories and possessions, the District of

Columbia, and Puerto Rico). Therefore, we sustain the State’s second issue.

                                 IV. Conclusion

      We dismiss Saxion’s cross-appeal for want of jurisdiction. See Tex. R.

App. P. 43.2(f). Having sustained both of the State’s issues, we reverse the trial

                                         23
court’s denial of the State’s plea to the jurisdiction as it pertains to these two

issues, render judgment dismissing Saxion’s free exercise and federal RFRA

claims,11 and remand the case to the trial court for further proceedings.

                                                   /s/ Bob McCoy

                                                   BOB MCCOY
                                                   JUSTICE

PANEL: DAUPHINOT, WALKER and MCCOY, JJ.

DELIVERED: December 4, 2014

      11
         Although Saxion contends that she sufficiently alleged a claim under the
Texas RFRA by mentioning the federal RFRA and the state constitution, even if
this were sufficient to plead a Texas RFRA claim, the record does not reflect that
she also complied with the Texas RFRA’s pre-suit notice requirement. See Tex.
Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 110.006(a) (West 2011); see also Morgan v.
Plano ISD, 724 F.3d 579, 586 (5th Cir. 2013) (concluding that the Texas RFRA’s
pre-suit notice requirement is jurisdictional).

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