Court Opinion

ID: 9762585
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 02:26:48.212658+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:35.601534
License: Public Domain

OPINION ON MOTION FOR REHEARING
The Appellant reurges the impropriety of the Movant’s reply to the Plaintiffs response to the Motion for Summary Judgment and the affidavit proffered therewith. The chronicle of events is as follows:
February 28, 1989 ... Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment filed.
March 2, 1989 ... A setting order is obtained for March 28, 1989.
March 3, 1989 ... Plaintiff amends his petition.
March 23, 1989 ... A second setting order is obtained for April 10, 1989.
April 3, 1989 ... Plaintiff’s Response to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment is filed.
April 12, 1989 ... Defendant’s reply to Plaintiff’s response is filed, followed by affidavit and exhibits.
April 17, 1989 ... A judgment is signed on this date and recites the Motion for Summary Judgment was heard on this date.
April 19, 1989 ... Plaintiff files a Motion to Strike Defendant’s Reply to Plaintiff’s Response to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment alleging that on April 10, 1989, the trial judge had informed him he had already granted Summary Judgment to the Defendant without hearing.
Whether the hearing was had on April 10, 1989, or April 17, 1989, is of no consequence. Although documents filed after a summary judgment hearing may be considered, they must be specifically shown to have been done with leave of the court. Ossorio v. Leon, 705 S.W.2d 219 (Tex.App.
The Appellant also correctly pleads a cause of action for the negligent infliction of mental anguish as sanctioned in St. Elizabeth Hospital v. Garrard, 730 S.W.2d 649 (Tex.1987). However, even in discount of the photographs of the child, there is un-conflicting evidence of the observations and resulting interpretations of the doctor. The X-rays of the child’s leg had indicated a condition which the doctor stated could have been congenital syphilis. The affidavit by the social worker corresponds to this, except she stated the doctor said that syphilis had progressed so that it was eating up the bone in the child’s left knee. The doctor’s observation of suspicious bone condition which appeared compatible with syphilis is uncontested. The child had a scarred anus and an injured vaginal area, as well as other multiple bruises, burns, tears and abrasions. These matters were not challenged. The facts give rise to probable cause for a belief that an abuse had occurred, sexual and otherwise, even though part of the doctor’s diagnosis was proven incorrect by subsequent X-rays taken by a radiologist and laboratory blood testing. The doctor then informed the authorities of the absence of syphilis. Again, in borrowing from the reasoning established in the law of malicious prosecution, the doctor has established immunity under Tex.Fam.Code Ann. sec. 34.03 (Vernon 1986).
Appellant’s motion for rehearing is overruled and the trial court’s judgment remains affirmed.