Court Opinion

ID: 3083269
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 02:18:58.17813+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:51:07.225134
License: Public Domain

AFFIRM; and Opinion Filed March 27, 2014.

                                          S   In The
                               Court of Appeals
                        Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                        No. 05-13-00351-CV

            NATIONAL HEALTH RESOURCES CORPORATION, Appellant
                                   V.
                       TBF FINANCIAL, LLC., Appellee

                       On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 5
                                   Collin County, Texas
                           Trial Court Cause No. 005-3497-2011

                                           OPINION
                        Before Justices FitzGerald, Fillmore, and Evans
                                 Opinion by Justice Fillmore

       National Health Resources Corporation (NHRC) appeals the trial court’s grant of

summary judgment in favor of TBF Financial, LLC (TBF) asserting, in four issues, that the trial

court did not have subject matter jurisdiction because TBF does not have standing to assert a

breach of contract claim; the trial court erred by granting TBF’s motion for summary judgment

because there are genuine issues of material fact as to the ownership of the breach of contract

claim asserted by TBF and the evidence submitted by TBF was insufficient to support summary

judgment; and the trial court erred by denying NHRC’s motion for summary judgment because

there is no evidence TBF owned the lease that was the subject of the breach of contract claim.

We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
                                            Background

       TBF sued NHRC for breach of an agreement for the lease of a copier. TBF alleged that

NHRC entered into the lease agreement with Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A., Inc.

(KMBS), KMBS assigned the lease to CIT Technology Financing Services, Inc. (CIT), and CIT

assigned the lease to TBF. TBF also alleged NHRC failed to make all payments required under

the lease. NHRC filed an answer that included a verified denial that TBF had legal capacity to

bring the claim. NHRC also filed a motion to dismiss on the ground TBF did not have standing

to assert the breach of contract claim.

       TBF filed a motion for traditional summary judgment. As summary judgment evidence,

TBF relied on the January 25, 2012 affidavit of Brett Boehm, the managing member of TBF.

Boehm stated that, by assignment of the lease, TBF is the owner and holder of the lease between

KMBS and NHRC. Further, as part of his duties, Boehm is responsible for collecting payments

due under the lease. According to Boehm, NHRC has not made all payments due under the lease

and there is an unpaid balance of $4,140.

       Boehm stated he is also the custodian of records for TBF, and seven pages of business

records from TBF were attached to Boehm’s January 25, 2012 affidavit. According to Boehm,

these records were kept by TBF in the regular course of business by an employee or

representative of TBF with knowledge of the event who made the record at or near the time of

the event. Boehm acknowledged that some of the documents attached to the January 25, 2012

affidavit were originally business records of KMBS “and/or” CIT.

       Boehm stated he was responsible for negotiating and completing the purchase by TBF of

thousands of leases owned by KMBS “and/or” CIT. In doing so, he reviewed “numerous

business records” of KMBS “and/or” CIT and became familiar with their systems for keeping

business records.   Boehm indicated that KMBS’s “and/or” CIT’s records relating to the leases

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acquired by TBF were made in the regular course of business by an employee or representative

of KMBS or CIT with knowledge of the event who made the record at or near the time of the

event. Based on Boehm’s experience with KMBS’s “and/or” CIT’s business records, he attested

that KMBS and CIT had a great interest in keeping accurate records of equipment leases and

payments received because, without careful and reliable record keeping procedures, the

businesses would suffer greatly or fail.

          According to Boehm, during and after the purchase of a lease, TBF verified the accuracy

of KMBS’s “and/or” CIT’s business records. After a lease was transferred to TBF, the business

records of KMBS “and/or” CIT were incorporated into, and became an integral part of, TBF’s

business records.            Further, TBF relied on the accuracy of KMBS’s “and/or” CIT’s business

records, and those records form the basis for TBF’s calculation of the amount due on a lease.

          Attached to Boehm’s January 25, 2012 affidavit are an “Accounting Statement” dated

October 26, 2011 regarding TBF File Number 81347 that showed a balance due of $4,140; a

January 24, 2008 copier lease agreement between KMBS and Zybec Corporation (Zybec) with a

term of forty-eight months; 1 and a June 17, 2011 Bill of Sale between CIT and TBF for certain

leases identified in “Exhibit A.” Attached to the Bill of Sale is a redacted copy of “Exhibit A”

identifying a lease with a TBF number of “81347,” a CIT number of “061-0010147-0000,” and a

lessee of “Zybec Corporation.”

          Also attached to Boehm’s January 25, 2012 affidavit is an October 26, 2011 affidavit of

Boehm that states he is a principal and manager of TBF and was TBF’s principal representative

in negotiations with CIT to acquire equipment leases. As part of that process, Boehm reviewed,

or supervised the review of, CIT’s books, records, and documents concerning the leases TBF

acquired, including the lease between KMBS and Zybec. According to CIT’s “books, records,

   1
       The parties do not dispute that NHRC was formerly known as Zybec Corporation.

                                                                  –3–
and documents,” KMBS transferred to CIT “all of its right, title, and interest in and to” the lease

between it and Zybec immediately after the lease was signed.            Boehm attested that the

transaction between CIT and TBF was consummated on June 27, 2011, and TBF is “now the

true, lawful, and absolute owner” of the lease.

       NHRC did not file a response to TBF’s motion and did not object to TBF’s summary

judgment evidence. NHRC did file a motion for no-evidence summary judgment on the ground

that TBF was not a party to the contract and was required to “prove that the cause of action was

in fact assigned via documentary evidence.” TBF responded to NHRC’s motion, arguing it was

insufficient because it failed to identify a specific element of TBF’s claim for which there was no

evidence.   Alternatively, TBF argued the evidence submitted in support of its motion for

summary judgment conclusively established its right to judgment.

       The trial court granted TBF’s motion for summary judgment and denied NHRC’s motion

for summary judgment. The trial court rendered judgment for TBF in the amount of $4,140 and

awarded TBF $1,000 in attorney’s fees and contingent attorney’s fees on appeal.

                                            Jurisdiction

       In its third issue, NHRC asserts TBF failed to show it was an assignee of KMBS, the

party to the contract, and therefore did not have standing to assert the breach of contract claim.

Standing is a component of subject matter jurisdiction. Tex. Ass’n of Bus. v. Tex. Air Control

Bd., 852 S.W.2d 440, 443–44 (Tex. 1993). “A court has no jurisdiction over a claim made by a

plaintiff who lacks standing to assert it.” Heckman v. Williamson Cnty., 369 S.W.3d 137, 150

(Tex. 2012). Whether a party has standing to pursue a cause of action is a question of law

subject to de novo review. Id. at 150–51.

       This Court has concluded that “a challenge to a party’s privity of contract is a challenge

to capacity, not standing.” John C. Flood of DC, Inc. v. SuperMedia, L.L.C., 408 S.W.3d 645,

                                                  –4–
651 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2013, pet. filed) (citing Landry’s Seafood House–Addison, Inc. v.

Snadon, 233 S.W.3d 430, 433 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, pet. denied)). Whether a party is

entitled to sue on a contract “is not truly a standing issue because it does not affect the

jurisdiction of the court; it is, instead, a decision on the merits.” Id. (quoting Heartland Holdings

Inc. v. U.S. Trust Co. of Tex. N.A., 316 S.W.3d 1, 6–7 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2010,

no pet.)). “When it is established that a breach of contract plaintiff lacks entitlement to sue on a

contract, the proper disposition may be summary judgment on the merits, but it is not dismissal

for want of jurisdiction.” Id. (quoting Heartland Holdings Inc., 316 S.W.3d at 7); see also

Yasuda Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Criaco, 225 S.W.3d 894, 898 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th

Dist.] 2007, no pet.) (ability of an entity that is not a party to a contract or a third-party

beneficiary of the contract to sue “goes to the merits and does not deprive courts of

jurisdiction”).

        Whether TBF was the assignee of the lease between NHRC and KMBS is not an issue of

standing. John C. Flood of DC, Inc., 408 S.W.3d at 651. Rather, it is a question of whether TBF

can recover in the capacity in which it sued, an issue that goes to the merits of TBF’s claim. Id.;

see also Nine Greenway Ltd. v. Heard, Goggan, Blair & Williams, 875 S.W.2d 784, 787 (Tex.

App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, writ denied) (whether landlord was successor in interest to

original landlord was issue of “capacity to sue,” not “standing”). We resolve NHRC’s first issue

against it.

                                 Summary Judgment Evidence

        In its fourth issue, NHRC argues TBF’s evidence was insufficient to support summary

judgment because (1) any documents from KMBS or CIT are inadmissible hearsay and were not

properly authenticated as business records, and (2) Boehm’s statement that TBF owned the lease

was not within his personal knowledge. As to NHRC’s first complaint, an objection that an

                                                –5–
affidavit in support of a motion for summary judgment contains hearsay is an objection to the

form of the affidavit. Strother v. City of Rockwall, 358 S.W.3d 462, 469 (Tex. App.—Dallas

2012, no pet.). To preserve this complaint for appellate review, NHRC was required to make the

objection in the trial court and obtain a ruling from the trial judge. Id. NHRC did not make a

hearsay objection in the trial court and, therefore, has waived its complaint on appeal. Id.

       NHRC also asserts that Boehm did not have personal knowledge of whether KMBS

assigned the lease to CIT. NHRC did not raise this complaint in the trial court. However, we

need not address whether the complaint is precluded on appeal because Boehm’s affidavit

sufficiently set out the bases of his knowledge of the assignment from KMBS to CIT.

       For a summary judgment affidavit to have probative value, the affiant must swear that the

facts presented in the affidavit reflect his personal knowledge and explain the basis for personal

knowledge in the affidavit. In re E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 136 S.W.3d 218, 224 (Tex.

2004) (orig. proceeding) (per curiam); Hydroscience Technologies, Inc. v. Hydroscience, Inc.,

401 S.W.3d 783, 791 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2013, pet. denied). Boehm set out two bases for his

personal knowledge that TBF owned the lease. First, Boehm stated in his January 25, 2012

affidavit that he is the managing member of TBF and, in his October 26, 2011 affidavit, that he is

a principal and manager of TBF. In both affidavits, Boehm attested that he was responsible for

negotiating the lease transaction with CIT. During those negotiations, he reviewed CIT’s “book,

records, and documents,” and those records reflected the lease had been assigned by KMBS to

CIT. “An affiant’s position or job responsibilities can qualify him to have personal knowledge of

facts and establish how he learned of the facts.” Hydroscience Technologies, Inc., 401 S.W.3d at

791; see In re E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 136 S.W.3d at 222 (review and comparison of

documents can be sufficient basis for personal knowledge in some circumstances).

                                                –6–
       Second, in his January 25, 2012 affidavit, Boehm stated he is TBF’s business records

custodian.   During the negotiations between CIT and TBF concerning the acquisition of

equipment leases, he became familiar with KMBS’s and CIT’s record-keeping systems. Based

on that experience, Boehm knew the documents reviewed in connection with the lease

transaction that is the subject of this case were kept by KMBS and CIT in a manner that qualified

them as business records. See TEX. R. EVID. 803(6) (excepting business records from hearsay

rule), 902(10) (establishing requirements for records custodian’s affidavit sufficient to render

business records self-authenticating). Further, during and after the purchase of the leases from

CIT, TBF verified the accuracy of KMBS’s and CIT’s records. After the transaction was

completed, the business records of KMBS and CIT were incorporated into TBF’s business

records and relied upon by TBF.       Boehm attested that, based on TBF’s business records,

including the records incorporated from KMBS and CIT, KMBS assigned the lease with NHRC

to CIT, CIT assigned the lease to TBF, and TBF was the current owner of the lease. Boehm’s

acknowledgment of the sources from which he gained his knowledge, in this case KMBS’s and

CIT’s business records, does not violate the personal knowledge requirement. See In re E.I.

DuPont de Nemours & Co., 136 S.W.3d at 224 (rejecting contention affidavit not based on

personal knowledge when affiant stated his determinations were based on his review of

company’s human resources database and comparisons with documents); Asshauer v. Glimcher

Realty Trust, 228 S.W.3d 922, 926–27 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, no pet.) (concluding affiant did

not lack personal knowledge because her knowledge was based on review of her clients’

business records and documents executed as part of transaction at issue).

       Further, even though TBF was not the original party to the lease, KMBS’s and CIT’s

business records may qualify as TBF’s business records if (1) the records are incorporated and

kept in the course of TBF’s business, (2) TBF typically relies upon the accuracy of the records’

                                               –7–
contents, and (3) the circumstances otherwise indicate the document’s trustworthiness. Roper v.

CitiMortgage, Inc., No. 03-11-00887-CV, 2013 WL 6465637, at *11–12 (Tex. App.—Austin

Nov. 27, 2013, no pet.) (mem. op.) (citing Simien v. Unifund CCR Partners, 321 S.W.3d 235,

240–41 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2010, no pet.)). A document created by one business

may become a record of a second business if the second business “determines the accuracy of the

information generated by the first business.” Martinez v. Midland Credit Mgmt., Inc., 250
S.W.3d 481, 485 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2008, no pet.); see also Duncan Dev., Inc. v. Haney, 634
S.W.2d 811, 813–14 (Tex. 1982). When an affiant’s summary judgment affidavit contains

testimony that identifies him as a record custodian and establishes his relationship with the facts

of the case in a manner sufficient to demonstrate the facts at issue, the personal knowledge

requirement for summary judgment affidavits may be satisfied. Rockwall Commons Assoc., Ltd.

v. MRC Mortg. Grantor Trust I, 331 S.W.3d 500, 510 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2010, no pet.).

       Although the documents attached to Boehm’s affidavit do not include a bill of sale

showing the lease was transferred from KMBS to CIT, Boehm attested that, as the person

responsible for negotiating TBF’s purchase of equipment leases from CIT, he reviewed, or

supervised the review of, relevant business records from KMBS and CIT. TBF verified the

accuracy of those records and, following the sale of the leases, incorporated those records into its

business records. Based on the records reviewed during the transaction and incorporated into

TBF’s records, Boehm stated that KBMS assigned the lease with NHRC to CIT, CIT assigned

the lease to TBF, and TBF owned the lease. Boehm was not required to provide supporting

documentation to support his statement that the lease was assigned by KMBS to CIT. See

Ortega v. Cach, LLC, 396 S.W.3d 622, 628 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2013, no pet.)

(officer of bank could testify, based on personal knowledge acquired from bank’s records, that

account was transferred and was not required to provide supporting documentation).              We

                                                –8–
conclude Boehm’s affidavit sufficiently established the basis of his personal knowledge that TBF

owned the lease. We resolve NHRC’s fourth issue against it.

                               Motions for Summary Judgment

       In its first two issues, NHRC contends the trial court erred by granting TPF’s traditional

motion for summary judgment and denying NHRC’s no-evidence motion for summary

judgment. We review a trial court’s decision to grant summary judgment de novo. Travelers

Ins. Co. v. Joachim, 315 S.W.3d 860, 862 (Tex. 2010). The standards of review for traditional

and no-evidence summary judgment are well known. See Timpte Indus., Inc. v. Gish, 286
S.W.3d 306, 310 (Tex. 2009); Nixon v. Mr. Prop. Mgmt. Co., 690 S.W.2d 546, 548 (Tex. 1985).

With respect to a traditional motion for summary judgment, the movant has the burden to

demonstrate that no genuine issue of material fact exists and judgment should be rendered as a

matter of law. TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(c); Nixon, 690 S.W.2d at 548–49. We review a no-evidence

summary judgment under the same legal sufficiency standard used to review a directed verdict.

TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(i); Gish, 286 S.W.3d at 310. To defeat a no-evidence summary judgment,

the nonmovant is required to produce evidence that raises a genuine issue of material fact on

each challenged element of its claim. Gish, 286 S.W.3d at 310; see also TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(i).

       In reviewing both a traditional and no-evidence summary judgment, we consider the

evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmovant. Smith v. O’Donnell, 288 S.W.3d 417,

424 (Tex. 2009); 20801, Inc. v. Parker, 249 S.W.3d 392, 399 (Tex. 2008). We credit evidence

favorable to the nonmovant if reasonable jurors could, and we disregard evidence contrary to the

nonmovant unless reasonable jurors could not. Mann Frankfort Stein & Lipp Advisors, Inc. v.

Fielding, 289 S.W.3d 844, 848 (Tex. 2009); Gish, 286 S.W.3d at 310. When both parties move

for summary judgment and the trial court grants one motion and denies the other, we consider

                                              –9–
both motions, their evidence, and their issues, and we may render the judgment that the trial

court should have rendered. Fielding, 289 S.W.3d at 848.

       The elements of a breach of contract claim are (1) the existence of a valid contract; (2)

performance or tendered performance by the plaintiff; (3) breach of the contract by the

defendant; and (4) damages to the plaintiff resulting from that breach. Woodhaven Partners, Ltd.

v. Shamoun & Norman, L.L.P., No. 05-11-01718-CV, 2014 WL 345649, at *12 (Tex. App.—

Dallas, Jan. 30, 2014, no pet.). TBF’s summary judgment evidence established the existence of

the lease, that NHRC failed to make all payments required by the lease, and the amount unpaid

was $4,140. On appeal, NHRC complains only that TBF failed to establish ownership of the

breach of contract claim asserted by TBF. However, Boehm attested TBF was the owner of the

lease, and NHRC filed no summary judgment evidence that raised a genuine issue of material

fact as to the ownership of the lease. We conclude the evidence conclusively established TBF’s

right to summary judgment on its breach of contract claim. Accordingly, the trial court did not

err by granting TBF’s motion for summary judgment and denying NHRC’s motion for summary

judgment. We resolve NHRC’s first and second issues against it.

       We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

                                                  /Robert M. Fillmore/
                                                  ROBERT M. FILLMORE
                                                  JUSTICE

130351F.P05

                                               –10–
                                         S
                               Court of Appeals
                        Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                       JUDGMENT

NATIONAL HEALTH RESOURCES                            On Appeal from the County Court at Law
CORPORATION, Appellant                               No. 5, Collin County, Texas,
                                                     Trial Court Cause No. 005-3497-2011.
No. 05-13-00351-CV         V.                        Opinion delivered by Justice Fillmore,
                                                     Justices FitzGerald and Evans participating.
TBF FINANCIAL, LLC., Appellee

     In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is
AFFIRMED.

       It is ORDERED that appellee TBF Financial, LLC. recover its costs of this appeal from
appellant National Health Resources Corporation.

Judgment entered this 27th day of March, 2014.

                                                   /Robert M. Fillmore/
                                                   ROBERT M. FILLMORE
                                                   JUSTICE

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