Court Opinion

ID: 9643727
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 20:38:56.519911+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:05:17.672443
License: Public Domain

PHIL HARDBERGER, Chief Justice,
joined by Justice ALMA L. LÓPEZ.
I would hold that sovereign immunity was waived in this case and respectfully dissent from the majority’s opinion. As the majority states, immunity is waived *646when the plaintiffs injury arises from the operation or use of a motor vehicle. See Tex. Civ. PRAC. & Rem.Code Ann. § 101.021 (Vernon 1997). The majority concludes, however, that Moran’s actions did not relate to the negligent use of a motor vehicle. I disagree.
In order for a claim to fall within the waiver of immunity at issue in this case, the damages suffered by Ransom must have been proximately caused by the negligence of an employee of the Center acting within the scope of his employment and must arise from the operation or use of a motor-driven vehicle. See Mount Pleasant Ind. Sch. Dist. v. Estate of Lindburg, 766 S.W.2d 208, 212 (Tex.1989); Heyer v. North East Ind. Sch. Dist., 730 S.W.2d 130, 131 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1987, writ ref'd n.r.e.). Since the legislature failed to define the phrase “operation or use,” it must be construed according to the ordinary meaning of the terms “operation” and “use.” See Mount Pleasant Ind. Sch. Dist., 766 S.W.2d at 212; Heyer, 730 S.W.2d at 131. “Operation” refers to “a doing or performing of a practical work,” and “use” means “to put or bring into action or service; to employ for or apply to a given purpose.” Mount Pleasant Ind. Sch. Dist., 766 S.W.2d at 212; Heyer, 730 S.W.2d at 131.
The focus in determining whether immunity has been waived should not be on whether the governmental employee was negligently operating or negligently using a motor vehicle at the time of the occurrence giving rise to liability. Rather, the proper focus is whether the governmental employee’s negligent act that proximately caused the occurrence “arose from” the operation or use of the motor vehicle. See, e.g. LeLeaux v. Hamshire-Fannett Ind. Sch. Dist., 835 S.W.2d 49, 51 (Tex.1992) (agreeing with contention that there is no sound reason why the acts of loading and unloading students on and off school buses should not be considered part of the transportation process); City of El Campo v. Rubio, 980 S.W.2d 943, 945-47 (Tex.App.—Corpus Christi 1998, pet. dism’d w.o.j.) (holding that waiver is not dependent on governmental employee being the driver of the vehicle); Contreras v. Lufkin Ind. Sch. Dist., 810 S.W.2d 23, 25 (Tex.App.—Beaumont 1991, writ denied) (holding immunity waived based on bus driver’s negligent action in leaving student at the wrong stop).
In this case, Moran’s decision to drop off Ransom, who has the mental capacity of a four-year-old, across the street from his home at 3:00 a.m. was the pled negligent act. Moran’s decision was made as the driver of a motor vehicle. Only the driver or operator of a motor vehicle transporting a passenger with the mental capacity of a four-year-old can determine the safest location to stop and let off the passenger. I would therefore hold that Moran’s allegedly negligent act arose from the operation of a motor vehicle, and the trial court’s judgment cannot be supported on the basis of immunity.
I recognize this holding is inconsistent with the Houston court’s holding in Goston v. Hutchison, 853 S.W.2d 729, 733-734 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1993, no writ), which criticized the Beaumont court’s holding in Contreras v. Lufkin Ind. Sch. Dist., 810 S.W.2d at 25. However, I believe that the Houston court in Goston misinterprets the meaning of the phrase “arises from.” The TTCA does not expressly require that the act or omission be one carried out solely in the course of driving a vehicle. As long as the governmental employee’s negligent decision arises from the operation or use of the motor vehicle and proximately causes the damages in question, I believe immunity is waived.