Court Opinion

ID: 2896069
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-08 00:05:34.133635+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:44:37.813100
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-05-0283-CV

                            IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                      FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                    AT AMARILLO

                                       PANEL D

                               FEBRUARY 2, 2007
                        _______________________________

    CHARLES EMMANUEL BOSLER, AS SURVIVING PARENT OF COURTNEY
        NICOLE HILDA BOSLER AND CHARLES EMMANUEL BOSLER,
         AS GUARDIAN OF COLTON ETHAN C. BOSLER, APPELLANT

                                           V.

             TRAVIS RIDDLE AND THE CITY OF LUBBOCK, APPELLEE

                       _________________________________

            FROM THE 237TH DISTRICT COURT OF LUBBOCK COUNTY;

              NO. 2003-522,646 ; HONORABLE SAM MEDINA, JUDGE

                        _______________________________

Before QUINN, C.J., and CAMPBELL and PIRTLE, JJ.

                              MEMORANDUM OPINION

      Appellant, Charles Emmanuel Bosler, as surviving parent of Courtney Nicole Hilda

Bosler and as guardian of Colton Ethan C. Bosler (Bosler), appeals from a summary

judgment entered in favor of Appellees, The City of Lubbock (City), and one of its

employees, Officer Travis Riddle (Riddle), based upon a failure to comply with the notice
provisions of the Texas Tort Claims Act (TCCA).1 Finding error, we reverse and remand

for further proceedings.

                                           Facts

       On December 7, 2002, a police cruiser being driven by Riddle collided with a motor

vehicle being driven by Theresa Cameron, as she attempted to make a left-hand turn in

front of Riddle. Cameron’s children, Courtney and Colton, were in the vehicle with her at

the time of the collision. Courtney and Colton both sustained injuries in the accident;

however, Courtney did not survive. Four days later, Kevin Glasheen, a Lubbock personal

injury attorney, sent a letter to the Lubbock City Police Department indicating that he had

been retained to represent Cameron and her minor children “regarding injuries to Ms.

Cameron and Colton and the death of Courtney as a result of the . . . referenced

automobile accident.” The letter indicated the accident involved a police cruiser and it

identified the date of accident as December 7, 2002. Theresa Cameron never filed suit;

however, the children’s biological father, Charles Emmanuel Bosler, brought suit on July

2, 2003, seeking recovery of damages for the wrongful death and survivorship claims of

Courtney and the personal injury claims of Colton. Eight months later, both the City and

Riddle sought summary judgment claiming that Bosler did not give notice of his claims

within six months of the incident giving rise to the claims as required by § 101.101(a) of the

       1
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. §§ 101.001-.109 (Vernon Supp. 2006). All
section references herein are references to the Texas Tort Claims Act.

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TTCA. The trial court agreed and granted summary judgment in favor of both the City and

Riddle.

                                  Bosler’s Contentions

       Bosler contends the trial court erred in granting summary judgment because the

Glasheen letter of December 11 constituted formal written notice in compliance with

§101.101(a). Alternatively, he contends the City had actual notice of the claims sufficient

to avoid summary judgment as per §101.101(c). Finally, Bosler claims the trial court erred

in granting summary judgment because it denied his motion to compel discovery, which,

if allowed, would have established a fact issue with regard to actual notice.

                The City of Lubbock and Officer Riddle’s Contentions

       The City and Riddle contend that summary judgment was proper because Bosler

failed to give notice of “any claim that he might have, on his own behalf or on behalf of his

son . . . .” The City and Riddle assert they were entitled to summary judgment because the

affirmative defense of lack of notice was established as a matter of law.

                                   Standard of Review

       In reviewing a summary judgment, this Court must apply well-established standards

which are: (1) the movant for summary judgment has the burden of showing that there is

no genuine issue of material fact and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law; (2)

in deciding whether there is a disputed material fact issue precluding summary judgment,

evidence favorable to the non-movant will be taken as true; and (3) every reasonable

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inference must be indulged in favor of the non-movant and any doubts resolved in its favor.

Am. Tobacco Co. v. Grinnell, 951 S.W.2d 420, 425 (Tex. 1997); Nixon v. Mr. Prop. Mgmt.

Co., 690 S.W.2d 546, 548-49 (Tex. 1985). For a party to prevail on a motion for summary

judgment, he must conclusively establish the absence of any genuine question of material

fact and that he is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(c). A

movant must either prove all essential elements of his claim, MMP, Ltd. v. Jones, 710
S.W.2d 59 (Tex. 1986), or negate at least one essential element of the non-movant's

cause of action. Randall's Food Mkts, Inc. v. Johnson, 891 S.W.2d 640, 644 (Tex. 1995).

Once the movant has established a right to summary judgment, the non-movant has the

burden to respond to the motion for summary judgment and present to the trial court any

issues that would preclude summary judgment. City of Houston v. Clear Creek Basin

Auth., 589 S.W.2d 671, 678 (Tex. 1979); Barbouti v. Hearst Corp., 927 S.W.2d 37, 64

(Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1996, writ denied). Issues that the non-movant contends

preclude the granting of a summary judgment must be expressly presented to the trial court

by written answer or other written response to the motion and not by mere reference to

summary judgment evidence. McConnell v. Southside Indep. Sch. Dist., 858 S.W.2d 337,

341 (Tex. 1993). Issues not expressly presented to the trial court in writing shall not be

considered on appeal as grounds for reversal. Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(c).

                                     Right to Notice

       At the outset, we distinguish the City’s contentions that they are entitled to notice

from Riddle’s contentions that he is entitled to notice. The notice requirements of

§101.101(a) apply only to governmental units and do not apply to claims against an

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employee based upon individual liability. Bozeman v. Trevino, 804 S.W.2d 341, 342

(Tex.App.–San Antonio 1991, no writ).         Because Bosler contends that Riddle was

individually liable for his negligence, those claims would not be barred by failing to provide

notice pursuant to § 101.101(a), and the trial court erred in so finding.

                                  Formal Written Notice

       Next we must consider whether the City received adequate statutory notice as

required by § 101.101(a). The TTCA requires a claimant to provide a governmental unit

with formal, written notice of a claim against it within six months of the incident giving rise

to the claim. Such notice must reasonably describe (1) the damage or injury claimed; (2)

the time and place of the incident; and (3) the incident.

       The record shows that four days after the accident giving rise to the underlying

litigation, a local personal injury attorney informed the City, in writing, that he represented

the driver of the vehicle and her minor children “regarding injuries to Ms. Cameron and

Colton and the death of Courtney as a result of the . . . referenced automobile accident.”

The letter indicated that the accident involved a police cruiser and it identified the date of

accident as December 7, 2002. The City argues that this notice is insufficient to apprize

it of its fault in causing the alleged injuries.    The City further argues that notice is

insufficient as to the survivorship and personal injury claims of Courtney and Colton

because those claims are being brought on behalf of the minor children by their father,

Bosler, as opposed to being brought by their mother, Theresa Cameron. Still further, the

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City argues that said notice is insufficient as to the wrongful death claims of Bosler

because the notice clearly does not mention him.

       The purpose of the notice requirement is to ensure prompt reporting of claims in

order to enable governmental units to gather information necessary to guard against

unfounded claims, settle claims, and prepare for trial. City of Houston v. Torres, 621
S.W.2d 588, 591 (Tex. 1981). Formal written notice does not require the claimant specify

the capacity in which a claim may be made; therefore, it is irrelevant whether the notice

originated from the mother or the father. The Glasheen letter of December 11 reasonably

described (1) the damage or injury claimed (“injuries to . . . Colton and the death of

Courtney), (2) the time and place of the incident (“the above referenced automobile

accident”, “D/accident: December 7, 2002", and “cruiser involved in this accident” -

referring to accident with Theresa Cameron), and (3) the incident (“the above referenced

automobile accident”). The letter provided the City with information sufficient to meet the

purpose of the notice provision as it pertained to the survivorship and personal injury

claims of Courtney and Colton. As to the wrongful death claims, the City received sufficient

information to put it on notice that a wrongful death claim might be asserted. For purposes

of the notice provisions of § 101.101(a), it is immaterial whether Cameron or Bosler

ultimately asserted those claims. Because the City received formal written notice, the trial

court erred in granting summary judgment pursuant to § 101.101(a) as to the City.

       Bosler further argues that, even assuming arguendo that the Glasheen letter did not

constitute formal written notice, the City did have actual notice sufficient for purposes of

§ 101.101(c).

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                                      Actual Notice

       The formal notice requirements of § 101.101(a) do not apply if the governmental unit

has actual notice that death has occurred or that the claimant has received some injury.

§ 101.101(c). Actual notice to a governmental unit requires knowledge of (1) death, injury,

or property damage; (2) the governmental units’s alleged fault producing or contributing to

the death, injury, or property damage; and (3) the identity of the parties involved. Cathey

v. Booth, 900 S.W.2d 339, 340 (Tex. 1995). Actual notice under this provision of the TTCA

requires that the governmental unit have the knowledge or information that it would have

had under the Act’s notice provision and a subjective awareness that its alleged or possible

fault could have produced or contributed to the death or claimed injury. Tex. Dep’t of

Criminal Justice v. Simons, 140 S.W.3d 338 (Tex. 2004). Mere investigation of an incident

does not provide a governmental unit with the requisite knowledge; however, absolute

certainty is not required. See id. at 339.

       The City had actual notice that a police cruiser was involved in a motor vehicle

accident, involving a fatality, that occurred on December 7, 2002. Bosler’s response to the

City’s motion for summary judgment further establishes that officers investigating the

accident were told by an eye-witness, Nakeesha Turner, that immediately prior to the

accident the officer was speeding and “appeared to be traveling at 60 to 65 mph” in a 45

mph zone. Regardless of whether this information was subjectively believed to be true, it

can reasonably be assumed that such information, if pursued, would reveal the City’s

alleged or possible fault producing or contributing to the injury. The fact that the City

conducted an extensive investigation, which they believe exonerated Riddle of any

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wrongdoing, is evidence itself that the City was on notice of its possible fault. The

investigation in the underlying case is distinguishable from the investigation in Simons. In

the Simons case the investigation gave no indication that the governmental unit was at

fault; whereas, the investigation in this case revealed disputed allegations of fault. The City

cannot simply ignore those facts indicating possible culpability for purposes of claiming lack

of notice pursuant to § 101.101(c). Actual notice is a fact question precluding summary

judgment, whenever the evidence is disputed. Simons, 140 S.W.3d at 348.

       Because the City was aware of the death of Courtney and the injuries to Colton,

they had actual notice of (1) the death or injuries, and (2) the identity of the parties

involved. Furthermore, because the City was aware of the governmental unit’s alleged or

possible fault producing or contributing to the death or injury, they had actual notice for

purposes of § 101.101(c). See Cathey, 900 S.W.2d at 340.

                                        Conclusion

       We hold that Officer Riddle was not entitled to notice pursuant to § 101.101(a). We

further hold that the City of Lubbock received formal written notice of Bosler’s claims

pursuant to § 101.101(a), and imputed actual notice pursuant to § 101.101(c). The trial

court erred by granting both the City and Riddle’s Motion for Summary Judgment based

upon a lack of notice. Accordingly, the trial court’s judgment is reversed and this cause is

remanded for further proceedings.

                                                   Patrick A. Pirtle
                                                       Justice

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