Court Opinion

ID: 3105998
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 05:52:05.712634+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:35:58.632826
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-10-0043-CV

                            IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                      FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                    AT AMARILLO

                                       PANEL C

                                  AUGUST 17, 2011

                   UNITED SUPERMARKETS, L.L.C., APPELLANT

                                           v.

                           SANDRA RAMIREZ, APPELLEE

             FROM THE 99TH DISTRICT COURT OF LUBBOCK COUNTY;

          NO. 2005-545,560; HONORABLE WILLIAM C. SOWDER, JUDGE

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

                              MEMORANDUM OPINION

      Appellant, United Supermarkets, L.L.C., appeals the trial court's order denying its

application to vacate, modify, or correct an arbitration award in favor of Appellee,

Sandra Ramirez. In a single issue, United asserts the trial court erred in entering an

award premised on the finding by Arbitrator Frank E. Murchison that United was liable

for Ramirez's injuries under a premises liability theory without also finding United had

actual or constructive knowledge of a dangerous condition. We affirm.
                                       Background

       In December 2008, Ramirez filed her original petition asserting United was liable

for injuries she sustained when she slipped on ice while stocking a freezer. Thereafter,

Ramirez and United agreed to arbitration.

       In November 2009, an arbitration proceeding was held, and in December, the

Arbitrator issued his report and award. The Arbitrator found in Ramirez's favor and

awarded damages to Ramirez because United was negligent (1) under a business

invitee premises liability theory and (2) in failing to provide Ramirez a safe place to work

in connection with the risk of slipping on ice buildup in the walk-in freezer.

       In January 2010, United filed an application to vacate, modify or correct the

Arbitrator's award. In its application, United only asserted that the Arbitrator's award

was contrary to Texas law asserting that actual or constructive knowledge is necessary

to support Ramirez's claim of negligence under a premises liability theory. The trial

court denied United's application and this appeal followed.

                                         Analysis

       Rule 33.1(a) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure requires, among other

things, that the record show that the trial court "ruled on [a] request, objection, or

motion, either expressly or implicitly" before a complaint may be presented for appellate

review. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a)(2)(A). If an argument is presented for the first time on

appeal, it is waived. See Marine Transport Corp. v. Methodist Hospital, 221 S.W.3d
138, 147 n.3 (Tex.App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.).               Because United's

                                              2
application did not challenge the Arbitrator's determination that United was negligent in

failing to provide Ramirez a safe place to work in connection with the risk of slipping on

ice buildup in the walk-in freezer, this issue was not preserved our review.

       Because the trial court's denial of United's application, as well as the Arbitrator's

award, may have been based upon a single ground not specifically challenged by

United before the trial court and, therefore, waived on appeal, the trial court's order must

stand. See Malooly Brothers, Inc. v. Napier, 461 S.W.2d 119, 121 (Tex. 1970); Reese

v. Beaumont Bank, N.A., 790 S.W.2d 801, 804-05 (Tex.App.--Beaumont 1990, no pet.);

Rodriguez v. Morgan, 584 S.W.2d 558, 559 (Tex.Civ.App.--Austin 1979, writ ref'd n.r.e.).

Accordingly, United's single issue is overruled.

                                        Conclusion

       The trial court's denial of United's application is affirmed.

                                                   Patrick A. Pirtle
                                                       Justice

                                              3