Court Opinion

ID: 9755552
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 20:42:40.421513+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:09.096015
License: Public Domain

CHARLES SEYMORE, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. The majority would toll the limitations period because Wright sued an employee of TDCJ-ID (who was TDCJ-ID’s agent for service of process) within the period of limitations. I would not extend the equitable principle of Hilland and Enserch to cases involving individual employees of another related business or governmental entity. Continental Southern Lines, Inc. v. Hilland, 528 S.W.2d 828 (Tex.1975); Enserch Corp. v. Parker, 794 S.W.2d 2 (Tex.1990); Cortinas v. Wilson, 851 S.W.2d 324, 327 (Tex. *793App. — Dallas 1993, no writ). Unlike the intended defendants in Hilland who “made a conscious effort” to hold themselves out to the public under a different name, TDCJ-ID made no representations that it was the same legal entity as its director, James A. Collins. 528 S.W.2d at 830. There is little basis for confusion. Mr. Collins is not a related legal entity and does not use a “trade name” similar to TDCJ-ID. Chilkewitz v. Hyson, 22 S.W.3d 825, 830 (Tex.1999). I would affirm the trial court’s decision to dismiss Wright’s suit because it is barred by the statute of limitations.