Court Opinion

ID: 2918275
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-10 23:13:25.197865+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:38:25.403467
License: Public Domain

NO. 12-07-00312-CV

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

TYLER, TEXAS

JERRY GLASS and TERRI FLETCHER as
the PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES§
	APPEAL FROM THE 369TH
OF THE ESTATE OF HERMAN GLASS
and GLASS TEXACO DISTRIBUTORS, INC.,
APPELLANTS

V.§
	JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF

GARY WILLIAMS,
APPELLEE/CROSS-APPELLANT

V.

MOTIVA ENTERPRISES, L.L.C. and
BORDERS & LONG OIL, INC.,§
	ANDERSON COUNTY, TEXAS
CROSS-APPELLEES

SUPPLEMENTAL MEMORANDUM OPINION ON REHEARING
	We withdraw our supplemental memorandum opinion on rehearing of July 15, 2009 and
issue the following opinion in its place.
	Appellee Gary Williams filed a motion for rehearing, asserting that this court erred by failing
to address the jury's direct negligence finding and in determining that Philip Chang was not acting
in the course and scope of his agency relationship with Herman Glass and Glass Texaco Distributors,
Inc. (collectively Glass) at the time of the shooting.  We overrule Williams's motion for rehearing
and issue this supplemental opinion on rehearing to address the direct negligence finding and
reiterate that the evidence does not support the jury's finding regarding course and scope.

Negligence
	On rehearing, Williams complains that this court failed to address the validity of his recovery
on his direct negligence claims.  He reminds us that the jury apportioned 25% of the responsibility
for his injury to the direct negligence of the Glass defendants.  He references his original brief in
which he argued that Glass exercised extensive control over Chang and the operation of the station. 
He referred to Glass as "the supposed 'landlord,'" asserting that "something more than a landlord-tenant relationship exists" and that Glass owed Williams the duty of ordinary care.  Therefore, he
argues on rehearing, this court should have affirmed the trial court's judgment on the direct
negligence theory.
Prior Proceedings
	In his Seventh Amended Petition, Williams alleged that the Glass defendants were liable for
Chang's actions under the theory of respondeat superior.  He further alleged that all defendants

	were negligent in failing to act in a reasonably prudent manner to insure the subject Texaco gas
station was staffed by qualified, professional, and trained personnel, that agreements concerning the
subject station were read and enforced, and by not having policies and procedures in place concerning
the possession or use of firearms at the subject gas station, including any prohibition or any
requirement for minimal training.

	The jury was asked if the negligence of Chang, Herman Glass, or Glass Texaco Distributors
proximately caused the occurrence in question.  The jury answered yes for each of these defendants. 
In answer to the question "what percentage of the conduct that caused the occurrence do you find
to be attributable to each of those" defendants, the jury answered 75% for Chang, 15% for Herman
Glass, and 10% for Glass Texaco Distributors.  The jury also found that Chang was acting as an
agent or apparent agent for Herman Glass and Glass Texaco Distributors and acting in the scope of
his agency or apparent agency at the time of the occurrence.
	The judgment incorporated the charge of the court, including the jury's answers, in its
entirety.  The trial court ordered the defendants to pay the amounts awarded to Williams jointly and
severally, pursuant to the law of respondeat superior.
	In their seventh issue on appeal, Glass attacked the negligence finding.  They contended that
the trial court erred in submitting Question No. 1 to the jury insofar as it asks whether the negligence
of Herman Glass or Glass Texaco Distributors proximately caused the occurrence in question.  They
also contended that the trial court erred in denying their motion to disregard the jury's finding as to
their negligence and that there is no evidence to support the jury's finding.  They pointed out that
it is difficult to reconcile Williams's  pleading with Question No. 1.  They also argued there is no
evidence to establish the threshold duty element and no evidence that any alleged breach of duty
proximately caused the shooting.
Applicable Law
	The elements of a negligence cause of action are the existence of a legal duty, a breach of that
duty, and damages proximately caused by the breach.  IHS Cedars Treatment Ctr. of Desoto, Texas,
Inc. v. Mason, 143 S.W.3d 794, 798 (Tex. 2004).  The two elements of proximate cause are cause
in fact and foreseeability.  Id.  Cause in fact is established when the act or omission was a substantial
factor in bringing about the injuries, and without it, the harm would not have occurred.  Id. at 799. 
Foreseeability means that the actor, as a person of ordinary intelligence, should have anticipated the
dangers that his negligent act created for others and that the injured party should be so situated with
relation to the wrongful act that injury to him or to one similarly situated might reasonably have been
foreseen.  Rodriguez v. Moerbe, 963 S.W.2d 808, 818 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 1998, pet. denied). 
Although proximate cause may be shown by circumstantial evidence, it cannot be established by
mere conjecture or guess, but rather must be proved by evidence of probative force.  Summers v.
Fort Crockett Hotel, Ltd., 902 S.W.2d 20, 25 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1995, writ denied).
	A landowner who has leased his property to a third party is generally not liable to his or her
tenant or the tenant's invitees for injuries caused by third parties or an unsafe condition.  See Exxon
Corp. v. Tidwell, 867 S.W.2d 19, 21 (Tex. 1993).  The landowner/lessor may be liable for such
injuries if he kept some control over the leased premises.  Id.  In determining the extent of Glass's
duty, we consider the nature of the matters to which their right of control extends.  Id. at 23.  We
consider who had control over the safety and security of the premises, rather than the more general
right of control over operations.  Id.  The focus should be on who had the right to control the factors
that led to Williams's injury.  Id.  The degree of liability on the landowner is therefore in direct
proportion to the amount of control retained.  See Lefmark Mgmt. Co. v. Old, 946 S.W.2d 52, 53-54
(Tex. 1997).  If Glass did not have any right to control the security of the station, they cannot have
had any duty to provide the same.  Tidwell, 867 S.W.2d at 23.  Furthermore, a duty to protect does
not arise in the absence of reasonably foreseeable risk.  See Walker v. Harris, 924 S.W.2d 375, 377
(Tex. 1996).
Analysis
	It is undisputed that Herman Glass owned the land, building, pumps, and underground tanks
comprising the Texaco station at issue.  The record contains a written, but unsigned, lease for the
premises containing terms regarding the physical upkeep of the station.  The lease requires Chang
as lessee to purchase Texaco gas.  The lease does not reference the daily activities involved in
running the station or the issue of security.  Jerry Glass, Herman Glass's son, testified that Chang
operated the gas station that his father owned and it was Chang's responsibility to oversee the
operation of the gas station.  Herman Glass had previously testified by deposition stating that he
leased all of his stations and had no employees working at his stations.  He did not tell Chang there
were certain products he should not carry or that he should keep the store open until a certain time
of night.  He denied knowing that Chang had a gun at the store.  The record includes a copy of the
Texaco Retail Facilities Brand Standards Guide, which includes the statement that all Texaco
facilities are contractually required to adhere to the brand standards in the guide.  While it includes
a short section on customer service, the guide primarily relates to the way the station looks. It
contains nothing on security.
	Chang testified that, before he began to run the Frankston station, he leased a gas station in
Jacksonville from Mr. Glass.  He said that he had a signed lease agreement with Mr. Glass for the
Jacksonville station and ran that station on his own.  Specifically, he explained that "the first three
years he gives me a lease of one years [sic] at a time to renew, but we would automatically renew." 
Chang testified that he asked Herman Glass to let him run the Frankston station.  Chang asked Mr.
Glass for a written lease on the Frankston station and eventually Glass's lawyer drafted a lease. 
However, neither Chang nor Mr. Glass ever signed the lease. Chang testified that they had a verbal
lease pursuant to which he paid Glass $1,150.00 per month.
	 Chang explained that he did not have experience in operating the station so he went to Mr.
Glass's office to ask for instructions and direction.  He testified that he asked Mr. Glass for
permission to buy a gun, but Mr. Glass did not say one way or the other if he could have a gun at the
station.  Later in his testimony, Chang said he let Mr. Glass know about the gun as a courtesy and
Mr. Glass said "o.k."  Chang stated that every time he went to Mr. Glass's office to order gas, he told
Mr. Glass "everything that happened in his store."  Because Mr. Glass instructed him, Chang thought
Mr. Glass was not only the landlord, but also his boss.  If Mr. Glass told him to do anything
regarding operating the station, Chang would do it because he viewed Mr. Glass as his boss.  Chang
testified that he had never seen the brand standards guide.  Chang also explained that the man who
ran the Frankston station before him "ran off" and the bank took it over.  The bank told him he could
"have" the station for $2,000.00.  He made repairs and did some remodeling.  Chang testified that
he did all the hiring, training, and scheduling.  Mr. Glass did not tell him who to hire, what to sell
in the store, or what prices to charge.  Although Mrs. Glass "liked" for him to keep the store open
twenty four hours a day, Chang stated that "wouldn't work."  Chang testified that Mr. Glass did not
tell him what hours to operate.  Chang decided when the store opened and closed.  Mr. Glass had
been to the store only four times in ten years.  Chang did not share profits or losses with Mr. Glass. 
	At trial, Chang declined to call himself the owner of the store, but said he is "alone."  In his
deposition testimony, he said he was the owner, that the business was in his name only, and that the
convenience store is under his control.  At trial, counsel reminded Chang that, in his deposition, he
said no one makes decisions about how to operate the store other than him.  In response, Chang said
he had not been thinking carefully when he said that but actually, he thinks he works for Mr. Glass,
so he has to listen to what Mr. Glass wants.  He went on to say that at the time his deposition was
taken, in July 2005, no one had anything to do with operating that business other than him.  He
testified that he ran the snack shop however he wanted.  Then, he explained that he liked to please
Mr. Glass because Mr. Glass was a very nice person who had helped Chang a lot and as long as Mr.
Glass was happy, Chang would be able to remain there running the station.  Chang testified that,
because there was no signed lease, Mr. Glass could "get rid of" him at any time.  Chang's financial
records reflect that he was self-employed and called his business "Philip Texaco."
	Herman Glass, in his deposition testimony, maintained that he leased all his stations. 
Without doubt, Chang and Mr. Glass had a landlord-tenant relationship with regard to the
Jacksonville station, based first on a written lease and then a verbal lease.  Chang's request for a
written lease on the Frankston station, together with the fact that Glass's lawyer was asked to draft
a lease on the Frankston station, leads to the conclusion that both parties contemplated a landlord-tenant relationship regarding the Frankston station.  The details involving who made decisions for
the station, as well as Chang's financial records, also support the conclusion that this was a landlord-tenant relationship.
	While there is some conflicting evidence concerning who had control over operations, there
is no evidence that Glass had control over security measures for the leased property.  Mr. Glass's
response of "o.k." to Chang's revelation that he intended to keep a gun at the station could be
interpreted as permission, but there is no evidence that Chang needed Mr. Glass's permission to keep
guns on the property.  As there is no evidence that Glass had the right to control security at the
station, they had no duty to provide security.  See Tidwell, 867 S.W.2d at 23.
	Furthermore, there is no evidence that Glass had any reason to believe Chang did not know
how to handle a gun or that Chang's possession of a gun for his personal protection would result in
the accidental shooting of an innocent customer.  Accordingly, there is no evidence of foreseeability. 
See Rodriguez, 963 S.W.2d at 818.  Because there is no evidence to establish the duty element and
no evidence that any alleged breach of duty proximately caused the shooting, the trial court erred in
submitting Question Number 1 as to the Glass defendants and it erred in denying Glass's motion to
disregard the jury's finding as to their negligence.  See Spencer v. Eagle Star Ins. Co. of Am., 876
S.W.2d 154, 157 (Tex. 1994).  We sustain Glass's seventh issue on appeal.

Course and Scope
	In his second issue on rehearing, Williams contends this court misapplied the standard of
review in its analysis of the course and scope finding and invaded the fact finding responsibility of
the jury.  Williams asserts that this court's analysis ignores the charge as given and that the evidence
establishes that Chang was acting in his role as manager of the gas station.  He argues that, based
on the jury charge, the jury could not find that Chang was outside the course and scope of his agency
relationship with Glass unless it also found that his conduct did not further Glass's business interests
and that Chang was acting for his own purposes not connected in any way with his agency duties. 
He argues that the jury's verdict is supported if a reasonable juror could conclude that displaying the
weapon and checking to see if it was loaded were actions connected to the business.  He argues that,
given that Chang was running the gas station as he normally did, that is, he was behind the counter
dealing with customers while the station was open, a reasonable juror could find these activities were
connected with the operation of the station.  Furthermore, Williams asserts this court erred in
"unquestionably" accepting Glass's version of events by including in the background section the
statement that Davis testified that Chang was playing around, drawing his gun as in a western story,
when it went off.  Pointing out that Davis also testified that he could not see what happened when
Williams was shot, Williams argues that if an eyewitness's location renders a clear view of the
accident physically impossible, it is no evidence of what occurred, even if the eyewitness thinks
otherwise.  See City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 812 (Tex. 2005).  Because the police
report stated that Chang was checking to see if the gun was loaded when it discharged, Williams
contends the jury is to decide which facts are most credible.  
	The charge included the explanation that "[a]n agent or apparent agent is not acting within
the scope of his agency or apparent agency if he departs from the furtherance of the principal's
business for a purpose of his own not connected with his agency or apparent agency and has not
resumed the performance of his duties."  Our original opinion relied on a Texas Supreme Court case
that explained that when an agent turns aside from the work of the master "to engage in an affair
wholly his own, he ceases to act for the master and the responsibility for that which he does in
pursuing his own business or pleasure is upon him alone."  Tex. & Pac. Ry. Co. v. Hagenloh, 151
Tex. 191, 201, 247 S.W.2d 236, 241 (1952).  We see no discernible difference between the language
of the charge and the law as explained in Hagenloh.  Williams argues that displaying the weapon
and checking to see if it was loaded were connected to the gas station's business.  As we explained
in our original opinion, under the facts of this case, handling a gun does not further the business of
running Glass's gas station.  When Chang went to the back of the store and retrieved his personally
owned gun, he ceased to act for Glass.  Chang was acting for his own purposes not connected in any
way with his agency.
	Moreover, it simply does not matter if Chang, at the precise moment he shot Williams, was
drawing the gun as in a western story or checking to see if it was loaded.  The question is whether
a reasonable jury could find that showing guns to customers and playing with guns in front of
customers were in the course and scope of Chang's agency relationship with Glass.  Checking to see
if the gun was loaded cannot be construed as an act in furtherance of Chang's responsibilities at the
station.  As we explained in our original opinion, from the moment Chang retrieved the gun from
the back of the store, he departed from the service of Glass and was engaged in an affair wholly his
own.

Disposition
	We overrule Williams's motion for rehearing.

  JAMES T. WORTHEN 
									     Chief Justice

Opinion delivered October 14, 2009.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Griffith, J., and Hoyle, J.
 

 

(PUBLISH)