Court Opinion

ID: 4055108
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-29 06:39:34.21362+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:05:31.417206
License: Public Domain

ACCEPTED
                                                                                     01-14-01011-CV
                                                                          FIRST COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                  HOUSTON, TEXAS
                                                                               5/13/2015 10:15:14 PM
                                                                               CHRISTOPHER PRINE
                                                                                              CLERK

                       CASE NO. 01-14-01011-CV

                IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE        FILED IN
                                                1st COURT OF APPEALS
                     FIRST DISTRICT OF TEXAS        HOUSTON, TEXAS
                       AT HOUSTON, TEXAS        5/13/2015 10:15:14 PM
                                                           CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
                                                                  Clerk

                           HOPE THERAPY,
                            Plaintiff-Appellant
                                    vs.
ST. ANTHONY’S HOSPITAL, JASON LEDAY, DERIC OUTLEY, AND
                 VICTORIA BABINEAUX,
                          Defendants-Appellees

  On appeal from the 269th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas
                    Trial Court Cause No. 2012-74149

                          APPELLEES’ BRIEF

                                          Troy Tindal
                                          State Bar No. 24066198
                                          17225 El Camino Real, Ste 190
                                          Houston, Texas 77058
                                          Tel: 832-404-2015
                                          Fax: 832-408-7579
                                          troy@tindallawfirm.com

                                          COUNSEL FOR APPELLEES

               ORAL ARGUMENT NOT REQUESTED
                            PARTIES AND COUNSEL
      The parties to the trial court’s judgment and the names and addresses of all

trial and appellate counsel are listed below. Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(a).

Counsel for Defendants/Appellees:

      Troy Tindal
      State Bar No. 24066198
      17225 El Camino Real, Ste 190
      Houston, Texas 77058
      Tel: 832-404-2015
      Fax: 832-408-7579
      troy@tindallawfirm.com

Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellant Hope Therapy:

      Wayman L. Prince
      9111 Katy Freeway, Suite 301
      Houston, Texas 77024
      Telephone: 713-467-1659
      Facsimile: 713-467-1686
      Email: wayman@wlplaw.com

Appellant Hope Therapy

      Wayman L. Prince
      9111 Katy Freeway, Suite 301
      Houston, Texas 77024
      Telephone: 713-467-1659
      Facsimile: 713-467-1686
      Email: wayman@wlplaw.com

Appellee Jason LeDay

                                          i
     c/o Troy Tindal
     State Bar No. 24066198
     17225 El Camino Real, Ste 190
     Houston, Texas 77058
     Tel: 832-404-2015
     Fax: 832-408-7579
     troy@tindallawfirm.com

Appellee Deric Outley

     c/o Troy Tindal
     State Bar No. 24066198
     17225 El Camino Real, Ste 190
     Houston, Texas 77058
     Tel: 832-404-2015
     Fax: 832-408-7579
     troy@tindallawfirm.com

Appellee Victoria Babineaux

     c/o Troy Tindal
     State Bar No. 24066198
     17225 El Camino Real, Ste 190
     Houston, Texas 77058
     Tel: 832-404-2015
     Fax: 832-408-7579
     troy@tindallawfirm.com

                                     ii
                                           TABLE OF CONTENTS

PARTIES AND COUNSEL ............................................................................................... i
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES...............................................................................................v
STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT ............................................................ vii
STATEMENT OF THE CASE ........................................................................................ vii
STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION .....................................................................................x
ISSUES PRESENTED ......................................................................................................x
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS ..........................................................................................1
SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENTS ..................................................................................2
ARGUMENTS AND AUTHORITIES..................................................................................6
  I. Standards of Review ...........................................................................................6
     a) Traditional Summary Judgment Standard of Review. ...................................6
     b. No-Evidence Summary Judgment Standard of Review. ................................7
  ISSUE ONE: Whether the trial court committed reversible error in granting
  Appellees’ Traditional Motion for Summary Judgment when the summary
  judgment record establishes that at the time its suit was filed, Plaintiff Hope
  Therapy lacked capacity and/or standing to bring this lawsuit. .............................8
     a) Hope Therapy Lacked both Standing and Capacity to Bring Suit ................8
     b) Hope Therapy provided no competent summary judgment evidence
     of its assumed name status...................................................................................9
     c) Hope Therapy was not authorized to sue in the courts of the State of
     Texas. .................................................................................................................11
     d) Hope Therapy lacked standing and/or capacity to bring this lawsuit
     because Hope Therapy was not a party to any of the contracts at issue. ..........13
     e) Appellees-Defendants, who were not parties to the contracts and are
     not named in the contracts, could not be sued in their individual capacities. ...14

                                                             iii
  ISSUE TWO: Whether the trial court committed reversible error in granting
  Appellees’ Traditional and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment on
  Hope Therapy’s breach of contract claims. ..........................................................16
     a) The alleged oral promises made by the Defendants are unenforceable
     under the suretyship provision of the statute of frauds. .. Error! Bookmark not
     defined.
  ISSUE THREE: Whether the trial court committed reversible error in granting
  Appellees’ Traditional Motion for Summary Judgment on Hope Therapy’s
  claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress. .............................................17
     a) Plaintiff’s Emotional Distress Claim Is Not Cognizable under Texas
     Law. .................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
  ISSUE FOUR: Whether the trial court committed reversible error in granting
  Appellees’ No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment, and denying
  Appellant’s Traditional Motion for Summary Judgment, when there was no
  evidence of one or more essential elements of Hope Therapy’s claims for breach
  of contract, unjust enrichment, quantum meruit, common law fraud, negligent
  infliction of emotional distress, and tortious interference with a contract. ..........18
     a) The trial judge properly considered Appellant’s summary judgment
     evidence. ............................................................................................................19
     b) Self-Serving testimony cannot support a motion for summary
     judgment. ...........................................................................................................20
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................22
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ..........................................................................................24

                                                            iv
                                        INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

Cases

Austin Nursing Ctr., Inc. v. Lovato, 171 S.W.3d 845 (Tex. 2005) ..........................21
Benmar Place, L.P. ex rel. Patrick O'Connor & Associates, Inc.
  v. Harris Cnty. Appraisal Dist., 997 S.W.2d 284 (Tex. App.—
  Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no pet.)........................................................................18
Boyles v. Kerr, 855 S.W.2d 593 (Tex.1993)..................................................... 16, 30
Brewer v. College of the Mainland, 441 S.W.3d 723 (Tex. App.—
  Houston [1st Dist.] 2014, no pet.).................................................................. 18, 19
Brown v. Mesa Distributors, Inc., 414 S.W.3d 279 (Tex. App.—
  Houston [1st Dist.] 2013, pet. denied) ..................................................................34
Calvillo v. Gonzalez, 922 S.W.2d 928 (Tex. 1966) .................................................31
Chapa v. Traciers & Assocs., 267 S.W.3d 386 (Tex. App.—Houston
  [14th Dist.] 2008, pet. denied). .............................................................................30
Chrissikos v. Chrissikos, 2002 WL 342653 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2002,
  pet. denied). ...........................................................................................................29
City of Houston v. Clear Creek Basin Auth., 589 S.W.2d 671(Tex. 1979) ............22
Cornelison v. Newberry, 932 S.W.2d 729 (Tex. App.—Waco
  1996, no writ) ........................................................................................................33
Dolcefino v. Randolph, 19 S.W.3d 906 (Tex. App.—Houston
  [14th Dist.] 2000, pet. denied). .............................................................................33
Dynegy, Inc. v. Yates, 422 S.W.3d 638 (Tex. 2013) ................................................29
El T. Mexican Restaurants, Inc. v. Bacon, 921 S.W.2d 247
  (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1995, writ denied) ..............................................24
Ford Motor Co. v. Ridgway, 135 S.W.3d 598 (Tex. 2004) .....................................34
Klentzman v. Brady, 312 S.W.3d 886 (Tex. App. Houston [1st
  Dist.] 2009, pet. granted) ......................................................................................22
Laven v. THBN, LLC, 2014 WL 6998098 (Tex. App.—Houston
  [14th Dist.] Dec. 11, 2014, no pet. h.) (mem op.) ................................................19
May v. Ticor Title Ins., 422 S.W.3d 93 (Tex. App.–Houston
  [14th Dist.] 2014, pet. denied) ....................................................................... 25, 27

                                                             v
Melartin v. CR & R, Inc., No. 14–05–00519–CV, 2009 WL
972484 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] Mar. 24, 2009,
  no pet.) (mem. op.)). .............................................................................................19
Nat’l Family Care Life Ins. Co. v. Fletcher, 57 S.W.3d 662
  (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2001, pet. denied). .................................................. 25, 27
Nixon v. Mr. Property Mgt. Co., 690 S.W.2d 546 (Tex. 1985) ...............................31
Nootsie, Ltd. v. Williamson County Appraisal Dist., 925 S.W.2d
659 (Tex. 1996).....................................................................................................21
OAIC Commercial Assets, L.L.C. v. Stonegate Village, L.P., 234
S.W.3d 726 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, pet. denied).............................................25
Place, L.P. ex rel. Patrick O'Connor & Associates, Inc. v.
  Harris Cnty. Appraisal Dist., 997 S.W.2d 282 (Tex. App.—
  Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no pet.) ......................................................................18
Randall’s Food Mkts., Inc. v. Johnson, 891 S.W2d 640 (Tex. 1995) .....................19
Rizkallah v. Conner, 952 S.W.2d 580 (Tex. App.—Houston
  [1st Dist.] 1997, no pet.) .......................................................................................34
Tex. Ass’n of Bus. v. Tex. Air Control Bd., 852 S.W.2d 440 (Tex. 1993) ...............21
Travis v. City of Mesquite, 830 S.W.2d 94 (Tex.1992) ..........................................22
Wornick Co. v. Casas, 856 S.W.2d 732, 733 (Tex. 1993) ................................ 31, 35
Statutes

TEX. BUS. & COM. CODE ANN. § 26.01 ............................................................. 15, 28
TEX. BUS. ORGS. CODE ANN. § 9.051(b) (West) ......................................................23
Rules

TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(c ................................................................................. 18, 31, 35
TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(i) ...................................................................................... 20, 29

                                                          vi
                STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT
      Oral argument is unnecessary as the issues are uncomplicated and purely

legal in character.

                          STATEMENT OF THE CASE
                               Nature of the Case:

      Appellant sued the Appellees alleging numerous causes of action for breach

of contract, unjust enrichment, quantum meruit, common law fraud, negligent

infliction of emotional distress, and tortious interference with contract arising out

of a transaction between Hope Therapy and St. Anthony’s Hospital, under which

Hope Therapy was allegedly engaged to manage an outpatient program of the

hospital.

              Course of Proceedings and Trial Court’s Disposition:

      Plaintiff, Hope Therapy, sued St. Anthony’s Hospital, a/k/a LTHM Houston-

Operations LLC d/b/a St. Anthony’s Hospital, Jason LeDay, Deric Outley, and

Victoria Mae Babineaux, alleging breach contract arising out of a partial

hospitalization department management agreement.

      On October 13, 2014, Defendants filed a Traditional Motion for Summary

Judgment on the following bases: (1) that Hope Therapy lacked standing to bring

its lawsuit as Hope Therapy was not a validly formed entity authorized to conduct

                                         vii
business in the State of Texas; (2) that Hope Therapy’s breach of contract claim

was barred by the statute of frauds, being a claim in the nature of a suretyship

obligation that was not memorialized in writing; (3) that Hope Therapy’s claim for

negligent infliction of emotional distress was not a cognizable claim under Texas

law.

       On October 13, 2014, Defendants also filed a No-Evidence Motion for

Summary Judgment on the basis that Hope Therapy had produced no evidence to

support its claims for claims for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, quantum

meruit, common law fraud, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and tortious

interference with contract.

       Defendants’ Partial Traditional and No-Evidence Motions for Summary

Judgment were heard by the trial court on or about November 10, 2014.

       On or about November 12, 2014, the trial court signed an order granting

Defendants’ Partial Traditional Motion for Summary Judgment on the basis of lack

of capacity, finding that Hope Therapy was not a validly formed and existing

domestic business entity, nor a foreign entity authorized to conduct business in

Texas, including the right to bring suit in a Texas court. (C.R. 136-37). Also on

November 12, 2014, the court signed an order granting Defendants’ Partial

Traditional and No-Evidence Motions for Summary Judgment, determining that

“fatal defects exist as to one or more essential elements of Plaintiff’s claims for

                                        viii
breach of contract, unjust enrichment, quantum meruit, common law fraud,

negligent infliction of emotional distress, and tortious interference,” and ordering

that Plaintiff Hope Therapy take nothing by its claims for breach of contract, unjust

enrichment, quantum meruit, common law fraud, negligent infliction of emotional

distress, and tortious interference with a contract. (C.R. at 135-35).

      On or about October 29, 2014, Hope Therapy filed a motion to refer the case

to mediation. On or about October 30, 2014, Hope Therapy filed a Motion for No-

Evidence Summary Judgment and a Motion for Final Traditional Summary

Judgment. On November 12, 2014, the trial court denied Plaintiff’s motion to refer

the case to mediation, denied Plaintiff’s Motion for No-Evidence Summary

Judgment, and denied Plaintiff’s Motion for Final Traditional Summary Judgment.

(C.R. at 138).

      On November 19, 2014, Hope Therapy filed a Motion to Vacate, Modify

Correct or Reform the Interlocutory Summary Judgment Granted to Defendants on

November 12, 2014, which the trial court denied pursuant to its order dated

December 2, 2014. (C.R. 139-153; 160).

      On or about November 24, 2014, Hope Therapy filed a “Motion for

Suggestion of Bankruptcy filed by Defendants on July 14, 2014,” seeking to stay

the trial court proceedings in light of the bankruptcy filing by LTHM Houston-

Operations, LLC.

                                          ix
      On December 30, 2014, the trial court granted Hope Therapy’s Motion for

Suggestion of Bankruptcy only as to Defendant LTHM Houston-Operations, LLC

d/b/a St. Anthony’s Hospital, and ordered that proceedings against the remaining

Defendants may continue. (Appellant’s Brief, Exh. I).

      On or about December 18, 2014, Hope Therapy filed a Notice of Appeal.

                        STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION
      This Court has jurisdiction because this appeal is from a final summary

judgment entered in a civil lawsuit before the 269th Judicial District Court of Harris

County, Texas.

                               ISSUES PRESENTED
ISSUE ONE: Whether the trial court committed reversible error in granting
Appellees’ Traditional Motion for Summary Judgment when the summary
judgment record establishes that at the time its suit was filed, Plaintiff Hope
Therapy lacked capacity and/or standing to bring this lawsuit because Hope
Therapy had no corporate charter, and was not authorized to conduct business in
the State of Texas.

ISSUE TWO: Whether the trial court committed reversible error in granting
Appellees’ Traditional Motion for Summary Judgment on Hope Therapy’s breach
of contract claims when the alleged oral promises made by the Defendants are
unenforceable under the suretyship provision of the statute of frauds.

ISSUE THREE: Whether the trial court committed reversible error in granting
Appellees’ Traditional Motion for Summary Judgment on Hope Therapy’s claim
for negligent infliction of emotional distress when such a claim is not cognizable
under Texas law.

ISSUE FOUR: Whether the trial court committed reversible error in granting
Appellees’ No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment, and denying Appellant’s

                                          x
Traditional Motion for Summary Judgment, when there was no evidence of one or
more essential elements of Hope Therapy’s claims for breach of contract, unjust
enrichment, quantum meruit, common law fraud, negligent infliction of emotional
distress, and tortious interference with a contract.

                                      xi
TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS:

      Appellees request that this Court affirm the trial court’s order granting the

Appellee-Defendants’ Partial Traditional and No-Evidence Motions for Summary

Judgment on Appellant Hope Therapy’s claims for breach of contract, unjust

enrichment, quantum meruit, common law fraud, negligent infliction of emotional

distress, and tortious interference with contract.

                             STATEMENT OF FACTS
      St. Anthony’s Hospital entered into an agreement with entities known as

Hope, P.C. and Hope Therapy, LLC, whereby Hope would provide partial

hospitalization department management services contingent upon receipt of certain

Medicaid funding. Because of setoffs and chargebacks, largely attributable to

Plaintiff’s management, the Medicaid funding was much less than the parties

anticipated. Plaintiff was paid its share through the time that the management

agreement was cancelled for inadequate performance.

      Jason LeDay, Deric Outley, and Victoria Babineaux are individuals who

worked for St. Anthony’s Hospital at the time of the transaction at issue. None of

the three individual Defendants are personally named in any of the contracts made

the basis of Hope Therapy’s lawsuit.

                                           1
      At the time its suit was filed, Plaintiff Hope Therapy had no corporate

charter, and was not authorized to conduct business in the State of Texas. (C.R.

(C.R. 136-37). A diligent search of the Texas Secretary of State filing records

shows no filings for any of the entities named in the alleged contracts on which

Plaintiff’s suit is based: “Hope, P.C.” or “Hope Therapy, LLC.” (Id. at Exh. D).

There is no record that Plaintiff has filed a certificate of formation or other

organizational documents as a domestic entity in Texas. Id. There is no record that

Plaintiff has filed a certificate of authority to conduct business as a foreign entity in

the State of Texas.

                        SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
ISSUE ONE. Whether the trial court committed reversible error in granting
Appellees’ Traditional Motion for Summary Judgment when the summary
judgment record establishes that at the time its suit was filed, Plaintiff Hope
Therapy lacked capacity and/or standing to bring this lawsuit.

   a. Hope Therapy provided no competent summary judgment evidence of its

      valid corporate existence or assumed name. Hope Therapy has waived this

      issue by not presenting it to the trial court for consideration at the summary

      judgment stage. Instead, Defendants’ summary judgment evidence showed

      that at the time Hope Therapy filed the lawsuit, it had no corporate charter,

      and was not authorized to conduct business in the State of Texas. Due to its

                                           2
     lack of corporate charter, pursuant to section 9.051(b) of the Texas Business

     Organizations Code, Hope Therapy was not authorized to sue in the courts

     of the State of Texas.

  b. Hope Therapy lacked standing and/or capacity to bring this lawsuit because

     the undisputed evidence shows that “Hope Therapy” was not a party to any

     of the contracts at issue. The contract was executed by St. Anthony’s

     Hospital and by two entities named “Hope, P.C.” and “Hope Therapy,

     LLC.”     Plaintiff provided no evidence, or insufficient evidence, at the

     summary judgment stage to establish that it was a party to any of the

     contracts at issue. Thus, there is no evidence of any privity of contract

     between Plaintiff Hope Therapy and any of the Defendants, and no evidence

     that Hope Therapy may sue to enforce the contracts as a third-party

     beneficiary.

  c. The individual Defendants, Jason LeDay, Deric Outley, and Victoria

     Babineaux, lack the capacity to be sued individually because they were not

     parties to any of the contracts made the basis of Plaintiff’s suit. The

     individual Defendants are not named anywhere in the contracts, and they

     were not intended to be parties to any of the contracts.

ISSUE TWO. Whether the trial court committed reversible error in granting
Appellees’ Traditional Motion for Summary Judgment, and denying Appellant’s
Traditional and No-Evidence Motions for Summary Judgment, on Hope Therapy’s

                                        3
breach of contract claims when the alleged oral promises made by the Defendants
are unenforceable under the suretyship provision of the statute of frauds.

      Hope Therapy presented insufficient evidence to show that Defendants

breached any of the contracts at issue. Further, Defendants negated essential

elements of Hope Therapy’s breach of contract claim by conclusively proving a

statute of frauds defense. Alleged oral promises made by the Defendants are

unenforceable under the suretyship provision of the statute of frauds, which

requires that “a promise by one person to answer for the debt, default, or

miscarriage of another person” is “not enforceable unless the promise or

agreement, or a memorandum of it, is in writing and signed by the person to be

charged with the promise or agreement or by someone lawfully authorized to sign

for him.” TEX. BUS. & COM. CODE ANN. § 26.01(a), (b)(2) (Vernon 2012). Hope

Therapy failed to present any evidence to show that the suretyship provision of the

statute of frauds did not apply.

ISSUE THREE: Whether the trial court committed reversible error in granting
Appellees’ Traditional Motion for Summary Judgment on Hope Therapy’s claim
for negligent infliction of emotional distress when such a claim is not cognizable
under Texas law.

      Plaintiff’s emotional distress claim fails as a matter of law, as such a claim is

not a cognizable cause of action in Texas. The Texas Supreme Court has expressly

declared that “there is no general duty not to negligently inflict emotional distress.”

                                           4
Boyles v. Kerr, 855 S.W.2d 593, 597 (Tex.1993) (overruling St. Elizabeth Hospital

v. Garrard, 730 S.W.2d 649 (Tex. 1987)).

ISSUE FOUR: Whether the trial court committed reversible error in granting
Appellees’ No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment, and denying Appellant’s
Traditional Motion for Summary Judgment, when there was no evidence of one or
more essential elements of Hope Therapy’s claims for breach of contract, unjust
enrichment, quantum meruit, common law fraud, negligent infliction of emotional
distress, and tortious interference with a contract.

      The trial court properly granted Appellees’ No-Evidence Motion for

Summary Judgment because Hope Therapy failed to present legally sufficient

probative evidence to support all elements of the Hope Therapy claims. Aside from

Lily Woldu’s affidavit, and conclusory statements made in Appellants’ summary

judgment filings and responsive pleadings, Appellant failed to attach any evidence

or exhibits that would support any of its claims. Lily Woldu’s deposition testimony

cited in Appellant’s brief, purporting to show Defendants’ acts of fraud and breach

of contract, is insufficient for a reversal of the trial court’s judgment, as the

testimony is self-serving, conclusory, and moreover, was not presented by

Appellant at the summary judgment stage. Lily Woldu’s affidavit is insufficient to

support a summary judgment, or to create genuine issues of material fact to defeat

Defendants’ motion for summary judgment, because it is conclusory and does not

provide specific factual information regarding the circumstances surrounding the

alleged breach and the alleged acts of fraud.

                                          5
                       ARGUMENTS AND AUTHORITIES
I. Standards of Review

      a) Traditional Summary Judgment Standard of Review.

      Review of a trial court’s summary judgment is de novo. Provident Life &

Accident Ins. Co. v. Knott, 128 S.W.3d 211, 215 (Tex. 2003).      The standards of

review are established:

             1. The movant for summary judgment has the burden of
                showing that there is no genuine issue of material fact and
                that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

             2. In deciding whether there is a disputed material fact issue
                precluding summary judgment, evidence favorable to the
                non-movant will be taken as true.

             3. Every reasonable inference must be indulged in favor of the
                non-movant and any doubts resolved in its favor.

Benmar Place, L.P. ex rel. Patrick O'Connor & Associates, Inc. v. Harris Cnty.

Appraisal Dist., 997 S.W.2d 282, 284 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no

pet.); see TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(c).

      “A defendant moving for traditional summary judgment must conclusively

negate at least one essential element of each of the plaintiff's causes of action or

conclusively establish each element of an affirmative defense.” Brewer v. College

of the Mainland, 441 S.W.3d 723, 729 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2014, no

pet.); Park Place Hospital v. Estate of Milo, 909 S.W.2d 508, 510 (Tex. 1995).

                                         6
The reviewing court must indulge every reasonable inference in favor of the

nonmovant and resolve any doubts in its favor. Randall’s Food Mkts., Inc. v.

Johnson, 891 S.W2d 640, 644 (Tex. 1995).

         “If a trial court grants summary judgment [sought on multiple independent

grounds] without specifying the grounds for granting the motion, [reviewing

courts] must uphold the trial court’s judgment if any of the grounds are

meritorious.”     Brewer, 441 S.W.3d at 729.        Thus, when “a separate and

independent ground that supports the trial court’s judgment is not challenged on

appeal, [the court] must affirm the judgment.”    See Laven v. THBN, LLC, 2014
WL 6998098, at *5 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Dec. 11, 2014, no pet. h.)

(mem op.) (citing Melartin v. CR & R, Inc., No. 14–05–00519–CV, 2009 WL
972484, at *4 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] Mar. 24, 2009, no pet.) (mem.

op.)).    Similarly, when a party has filed “both a traditional and no-evidence

summary judgment motion, [the appellate court] typically first review[s] the

propriety of the summary judgment under the no-evidence standard.” Brewer, 441
S.W.3d at 729. If summary judgment was properly granted, then the reviewing

court need not reach the traditional summary judgment and must affirm. Id.

         b. No-Evidence Summary Judgment Standard of Review.

         With respect to a no-evidence motion for summary judgment, an appellate

court reviews “the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-movant,

                                         7
disregarding all contrary evidence and inferences.” TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(i); King

Ranch, Inc. v. Chapman, 118 S.W.3d 742, 751 (Tex. 2003). “A no evidence point

will be sustained when (a) there is a complete absence of evidence of a vital fact,

(b) the court is barred by rules of law or of evidence from giving weight to the only

evidence offered to prove a vital fact, (c) the evidence offered to prove a vital fact

is no more than a mere scintilla, or (d) the evidence conclusively establishes the

opposite of the vital fact.”     Id. “Thus, a no-evidence summary judgment is

improperly granted if the respondent brings forth more than a scintilla of probative

evidence to raise a genuine issue of material fact.”    Id. “Less than a scintilla of

evidence exists when the evidence is so weak as to do no more than create a mere

surmise or suspicion of a fact.” Id. “More than a scintilla of evidence exists when

the evidence rises to a level that would enable reasonable and fair-minded people

to differ in their conclusions.” Id.

ISSUE ONE: Whether the trial court committed reversible error in granting
Appellees’ Traditional Motion for Summary Judgment when the summary
judgment record establishes that at the time its suit was filed, Plaintiff Hope
Therapy lacked capacity and/or standing to bring this lawsuit.

      a) Hope Therapy Lacked both Standing and Capacity to Bring Suit

      To bring suit and recover on a cause of action, plaintiff must have both

standing and capacity; “standing” is a party’s justiciable interest in the suit, and

                                          8
“capacity” is a party’s legal authority to go into court to prosecute or defend the

suit. Austin Nursing Ctr., Inc. v. Lovato, 171 S.W.3d 845, 848 (Tex. 2005).

      A party has capacity when it has the legal authority to act, regardless of

whether he has a justiciable interest in the controversy. Nootsie, Ltd. v. Williamson

County Appraisal Dist., 925 S.W.2d 659, 661 (Tex. 1996).

      A party has standing when it is personally aggrieved, regardless of whether

the party is acting with legal authority. Nootsie, Ltd., 925 S.W.2d at 661. If a party

lacks standing to bring an action, the trial court lacks subject matter jurisdiction.

Tex. Ass’n of Bus. v. Tex. Air Control Bd., 852 S.W.2d 440, 444-45 (Tex. 1993).

      b) Hope Therapy provided no competent summary judgment evidence of its
         entity status.

      Hope Therapy contends that the trial court’s summary judgment and/or

findings for Appellees were reversible error because the trial court failed to review

and consider all of the summary judgment evidence presented by Hope Therapy.

Specifically, Hope Therapy contends that the trial court erred in granting summary

judgment for the Appellees on the basis of Hope Therapy’s lack of capacity to do

business in the State of Texas because it failed to consider evidence of Hope

Therapy’s DBA status. In support thereof, Appellant cites deposition testimony

from Lily Woldu (C.R. 141-143) that Hope Therapy was a valid DBA authorized

to do business in Texas.

                                          9
      However, this deposition testimony was not presented at the summary

judgment stage. Appellant did not raise the issue of Hope Therapy’s assumed name

or DBA status at the summary judgment stage. Plaintiff did not attach any exhibits,

affidavits, or other evidence reflecting its corporate status or authority to do

business in the State of Texas in any of its summary judgment filings. (See

generally C.R.). The only testimony was Lily Woldu’s affidavit stating that “I was

the prior owner of the business known as Hope Therapy,” which does not identify

any of the contracting parties.

      An appellate court may not review an issue unless it was “actually presented

to and considered by the trial court.” Klentzman v. Brady, 312 S.W.3d 886, 900

(Tex. App. Houston [1st Dist.] 2009, pet. granted) (citing Travis v. City of

Mesquite, 830 S.W.2d 94, 100 (Tex.1992)); City of Houston v. Clear Creek Basin

Auth., 589 S.W.2d 671, 677 (Tex.1979) (holding that trial court may not grant

summary judgment on ground not presented by movant in writing).

      Instead, the summary judgment record establishes that at the time its suit

was filed, Plaintiff Hope Therapy had no capacity and/or no standing to bring this

lawsuit because Hope Therapy had no corporate charter, and was not authorized to

conduct business in the State of Texas. (C.R. at Exh. D). A diligent search of the

Texas Secretary of State filing records shows no filings for any of the entities

named in the alleged contracts on which Plaintiff’s suit is based: “Hope, P.C.” or

                                        10
“Hope Therapy, LLC.” There is no record that Plaintiff has filed a certificate of

formation or other organizational documents as a domestic entity in Texas. Id.

There is no record that Plaintiff has filed a certificate of authority to conduct

business as a foreign entity in the State of Texas. Id. Regardless of Appellant’s

argument that “the correct business entity was Hope Therapy DBA,” “Hope

Therapy DBA” was not a party to any of the contracts.

      Therefore, at the time the lawsuit was filed, Hope Therapy lacked capacity

and/or standing to bring this lawsuit because Hope Therapy had no corporate

charter, and was not authorized to conduct business in the State of Texas.

      c) Hope Therapy was not authorized to sue in the courts of the State of
         Texas.

      Section 9.051(b) of the Texas Business Organizations Code provides as

follows:

      “A foreign filing entity or the entity’s legal representative may not maintain
      an action, suit, or proceeding in a court of this state, brought either directly
      by the entity or in the form of a derivative action in the entity’s name, on a
      cause of action that arises out of the transaction of business in this state
      unless the foreign filing entity is registered in accordance with this chapter.
      This subsection does not affect the rights of an assignee of the foreign filing
      entity as:(1) the holder in due course of a negotiable instrument; or(2) the
      bona fide purchaser for value of a warehouse receipt, security, or other
      instrument made negotiable by law.”

      TEX. BUS. ORGS. CODE ANN. § 9.051(b) (West).

                                         11
      In addition, an entity which has forfeited its charter to conduct business in

the State of Texas has no capacity to sue or defend a lawsuit in the state of Texas.

See generally El T. Mexican Restaurants, Inc. v. Bacon, 921 S.W.2d 247, 251

(Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1995, writ denied) (holding that corporation lacked

capacity to sue after forfeiture of corporation’s charter and its privileges to sue).

      At the time Plaintiff’s suit was filed, Plaintiff Hope Therapy had no capacity

and/or no standing to bring this lawsuit because Hope Therapy had no corporate

charter, and was not authorized to conduct business in the State of Texas. See

Exhibit D.

      As noted above, the Texas Secretary of State filing records showed no

filings for any of the entities named in the alleged contracts on which Plaintiff’s

suit was based and no record that Plaintiff has filed a certificate of formation or

other organizational documents as a domestic entity in Texas, or a certificate of

authority to conduct business as a foreign entity in the State of Texas.

      Plaintiff’s claims clearly arise out of the transaction of business in Texas.

Plaintiff’s lawsuit seeks commissions that it alleges are owed under the Partial

Hospitalization Department Management Agreement, whereby Hope Therapy was

allegedly engaged to manage an outpatient program of St. Anthony’s Hospital in

Texas.

                                           12
      Therefore, Defendants are entitled to traditional summary judgment as a

matter of law as to Plaintiff’s claims on the basis that Plaintiff lacks the standing

and/or capacity to sue.

      d) Hope Therapy lacked standing and/or capacity to bring this lawsuit
         because Hope Therapy was not a party to any of the contracts at issue.

      Hope Therapy presented no competent summary judgment evidence to show

that it was a party to the contract such that it had standing and/or capacity to bring

this lawsuit.

      To prevail on a claim for breach of contract, a plaintiff must prove the

following elements: (i) There is a valid contract; (ii) the plaintiff performed or

tendered performance according to the terms of the contract; (iii) the defendant

breached the contract; and (iv) plaintiff sustained damages as a result of the breach.

May v. Ticor Title Ins., 422 S.W.3d 93, 100 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2014,

pet. denied); Nat’l Family Care Life Ins. Co. v. Fletcher, 57 S.W.3d 662, 669 (Tex.

App.—Beaumont 2001, pet. denied).

      In order to establish standing to maintain a breach of contract action, a

plaintiff must show either direct privity or third-party beneficiary status. OAIC

Commercial Assets, L.L.C. v. Stonegate Village, L.P., 234 S.W.3d 726, 738 (Tex.

App.—Dallas 2007, pet. denied). Privity is established by proving the defendant

                                         13
was a party to an enforceable contract with either the plaintiff or someone who

assigned its cause of action to the plaintiff. Id.

      The contracts at issue were executed between St. Anthony’s Hospital, Hope,

P.C., and Hope Therapy, LLC. (Appellant’s Brief, Exhs. A – C). The Partial

Hospitalization Department Management Agreement (Appellant’s Brief, Exh. A)

and the Business Associate Agreement (Appellant’s Brief, Exh. B), were executed

between St. Anthony’s Hospital and Hope P.C.             The Equipment Agreement,

(Appellant’s Brief, Exh. C), was executed between St. Anthony’s Hospital and

Hope Therapy, LLC. Thus, there is no evidence of any privity of contract between

Plaintiff and the Defendants, and Hope Therapy presented no evidence that it is

entitled to enforce the contracts as a third-party beneficiary.

      Therefore, the trial court properly granted traditional summary judgment for

Defendants as a matter of law on all of Plaintiff’s claims on the basis that the

Plaintiff has neither standing nor capacity to bring this lawsuit, not having been a

party to any of the contracts at issue.

      e) Appellees-Defendants, who were not parties to the contracts and are not
         named in the contracts, could not be sued in their individual capacities.

      Defendants lack the capacity to be sued individually because they are not

parties to any of the contracts made the basis of Plaintiff’s suit, they are not named

                                            14
anywhere in the contracts, and they were not intended to be parties to any of the

contracts. (Appellant’s Brief, Exh. A – C).

      To prevail on a claim for breach of contract, a plaintiff must prove the

following elements: (i) There is a valid contract; (ii) the plaintiff performed or

tendered performance according to the terms of the contract; (iii) the defendant

breached the contract; and (iv) plaintiff sustained damages as a result of the breach.

May v. Ticor Title Ins., 422 S.W.3d 93, 100 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2014,

pet. denied); Nat’l Family Care Life Ins. Co. v. Fletcher, 57 S.W.3d 662, 669 (Tex.

App.—Beaumont 2001, pet. denied).

      Plaintiff failed to show the first element required for a breach of contract

claim, having failed to show that Defendants are parties to a valid contract.

Defendants never signed any of the contracts. (Appellant’s Brief, Exhs. A-C

(containing no signatures of any aligned party with the Hospital). Defendants were

never even named as parties to any of the contracts in the documents. Defendants

are former employees of St. Anthony’s Hospital, but were never intended to be

individual parties to any of the purported contracts between St. Anthony’s Hospital

and the Plaintiff.

      Therefore, Defendants cannot be sued in their individual capacities, and the

trial court properly granted traditional summary judgment as a matter of law on

Plaintiff’s breach of contract claim.

                                         15
ISSUE TWO: Whether the trial court committed reversible error in granting
Appellees’ Traditional and No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment on
Hope Therapy’s breach of contract claims.

      Plaintiff alleged that the three Defendants, Ms. Babineaux, Mr. Outley, and

Mr. LeDay, made oral representations to Plaintiff that they would personally and

individually guaranty payment of management fees to Plaintiff under the Partial

Hospitalization Department Management Agreement between Hope P.C. and St.

Anthony’s Hospital. Neither Ms. Babineaux, Mr. Outley, nor Mr. LeDay were

parties to this contract, nor were they named anywhere in it.

      These alleged oral promises made by the Defendants are unenforceable

under the suretyship provision of the statute of frauds, which requires that “a

promise by one person to answer for the debt, default, or miscarriage of another

person” is “not enforceable unless the promise or agreement, or a memorandum of

it, is in writing and signed by the person to be charged with the promise or

agreement or by someone lawfully authorized to sign for him.” TEX. BUS. & COM.

CODE ANN. § 26.01(a), (b)(2) (Vernon 2012); Dynegy, Inc. v. Yates, 422 S.W.3d
638, 641-42 (Tex. 2013); Chrissikos v. Chrissikos, 2002 WL 342653, at *6 (Tex.

App.—Dallas 2002, pet. denied).

      Therefore, Appellees proved a conclusive statute of frauds defense to

Appellant’s claim for breach of contract. After Appellees met their initial burden

                                         16
to prove the applicability of the statute of frauds defense, Appellant failed to meet

its burden to establish any exception that would take the alleged oral promises out

of the statute of frauds. See, e.g., Dynegy, Inc., 422 S.W.3d at 641-42 (stating that

once the moving party meets its initial burden establishing applicability of the

statute of frauds, the burden then shifts to the opposing party to establish an

exception that would take the verbal contract out of the statute of frauds).

      Therefore, the Defendants’ alleged oral promises to personally guaranty

payment of management fees to Plaintiff are unenforceable under the statute of

frauds, and the trial court properly granted Defendants’ Motion for Traditional

Summary Judgment as a matter of law on Plaintiff’s breach of contract claim. The

trial court properly granted Defendants’ Motion for No-Evidence Summary

Judgment, as Hope Therapy failed to come forward with any summary judgment

evidence to raise a genuine issue of material fact on its claim for breach of contract

as required by Rule 166a(i). TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(i).

ISSUE THREE: Whether the trial court committed reversible error in
granting Appellees’ Traditional Motion for Summary Judgment on Hope
Therapy’s claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress.

      The Texas Supreme Court has expressly declared that “there is no general

duty not to negligently inflict emotional distress.” Boyles v. Kerr, 855 S.W.2d 593,

597(Tex.1993) (overruling St. Elizabeth Hospital v. Garrard, 730 S.W.2d 649

(Tex. 1987)). This reasoning has been applied to dismiss claims for negligently

                                          17
inflicted mental anguish and its physical manifestations by our local courts of

appeals. Chapa v. Traciers & Assocs., 267 S.W.3d 386, 398 (Tex. App.—Houston

[14th Dist.] 2008, pet. denied).

   As there is no legal precedent for Plaintiff’s claim for “Negligent Infliction of

Emotional Distress” (Section VI of Plf’s First Amd. Pet.), this claim fails as a

matter of law, and the trial court properly granted traditional summary judgment

for the Appellees-Defendants.

ISSUE FOUR: Whether the trial court committed reversible error in granting
Appellees’ No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment, and denying
Appellant’s Traditional Motion for Summary Judgment, when there was no
evidence of one or more essential elements of Hope Therapy’s claims for
breach of contract, unjust enrichment, quantum meruit, common law fraud,
negligent infliction of emotional distress, and tortious interference with a
contract.

      The trial court properly denied Appellant’s Traditional Motion for Summary

Judgment, and granted Appellees’ No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment,

because Appellant failed to meet its summary judgment burden to establish the

elements of its claims for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, quantum meruit,

common law fraud, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and tortious

interference with contract.

      According to the standard set forth by Texas law, a party moving for

traditional summary judgment carries the burden of establishing that no genuine

                                        18
issues of material fact issue exists and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of

law. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(c); Wornick Co. v. Casas, 856 S.W.2d 732, 733

(Tex. 1993); Nixon v. Mr. Property Mgt. Co., 690 S.W.2d 546, 548 (Tex. 1985);

Calvillo v. Gonzalez, 922 S.W.2d 928, 929 (Tex. 1966).

       a) The trial judge properly considered Appellant’s summary judgment
          evidence.

       There is no basis for Appellant’s contention on appeal that the trial court did

not accurately evaluate Appellant’s summary judgment evidence. In response to

Defendants’ No-Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment, and in its own summary

judgment filings, Appellant did not attach any supporting evidence or exhibits for

the trial court to consider, apart from Lily Woldu’s affidavit attached to Hope

Therapy’s Motion for Traditional Summary Judgment.             Instead, the evidence

sought to be relied upon by Hope Therapy consists of approximately eight (8)

conclusory statements regarding the circumstances of the transaction, which are

outlined in Hope Therapy’s summary judgment filings and responsive filings, self-

serving deposition testimony from Ms. Woldu, and statements in Ms. Woldu’s

affidavit.   In Ms. Woldu’s affidavit, she testified only that she is a licensed

physical therapist, was the owner of the business known as Hope Therapy, that her

agreement to provide PHP services began in April of 2012 and terminated in

November 2012, that she received compensation of over $28,000.00 under the

                                          19
agreement between April and November of 2012, that she has received no other

compensation under the agreement since termination of the agreement, and that she

is familiar with the filings in the trial court including Plaintiff’s Motions for

Traditional and No-Evidence Summary Judgment. The Affidavit did not set forth

or describe any circumstantial or direct evidence of acts of fraud or breach of

contract by the Defendants. There was no documentary evidence attached to the

affidavit. Although Appellant’s brief cites deposition testimony from Lily Woldu

in an attempt to support its contention that Defendants breached the contract and

committed acts of fraud, these excerpts from Lily Woldu’s deposition were not

attached to Hope Therapy’s Traditional Motion for Summary Judgment.

      b) Self-Serving testimony cannot support a motion for summary judgment.

      Further, the deposition excerpts and affidavit of Lily Woldu are conclusory,

self-serving statements from an interested party. See, e.g., Cornelison v. Newberry,

932 S.W.2d 729, 731 (Tex. App.—Waco 1996, no writ) (stating that “[a] statement

of an interested party, testifying as to what he intended, is self-serving, does not

meet the standards for summary judgment proof, and will not support a motion for

summary judgment”). Lily Woldu’s affidavit and deposit testimony are conclusory

and do not provide any specific factual information regarding the circumstances

surrounding the alleged breach or alleged acts of fraud. Lily Woldu’s affidavit

does not explain how the contract was allegedly breached, describe any

                                        20
misrepresentations that were made to her, or even identify how much money Ms.

Woldu claims she is owed.

      A conclusory statement is one that does not provide the underlying facts to

support the conclusion and is not competent summary judgment proof. See, e.g.,

Dolcefino v. Randolph, 19 S.W.3d 906, 930 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]

2000, pet. denied). “An affidavit that states only legal or factual conclusions

without providing factual support is not proper summary judgment evidence

because it is not credible or susceptible to being readily controverted.” Brown v.

Mesa Distributors, Inc., 414 S.W.3d 279, 287 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]

2013, pet. denied) (holding that affidavit did not support summary judgment on a

plaintiff’s breach of contract claim where the affidavit made the conclusory

statement that money was still owed under the lease but did not provide specific

facts regarding the circumstances of the alleged breach); Rizkallah v. Conner, 952
S.W.2d 580, 587 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1997, no pet.).

      Even if the deposition excerpts had been properly presented at the summary

judgment stage, they would be insufficient evidence to support a grant of

traditional summary judgment for Hope Therapy, and would be insufficient to raise

genuine issues of material fact necessary to defeat Defendants’ no-evidence motion

for summary judgment. See, e.g., Brown, 414 S.W.3d at 287; Rizkallah, 952
S.W.2d at 587; see also Ford Motor Co. v. Ridgway, 135 S.W.3d 598, 600 (Tex.

                                       21
2004) (holding that non-movants must produce competent summary judgment

evidence raising a genuine issue of material fact to defeat a no-evidence motion for

summary judgment).

      Therefore, the trial court properly decided traditional summary judgment as

a matter of law in favor of the Appellees because Appellant failed to produce more

than a scintilla of evidence sufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact.

                                   CONCLUSION

      The trial court properly granted summary judgment for Appellees because

they met their burden to prove that no genuine issues of material fact issue exist,

entitling them to summary judgment as a matter of law. See TEX. R. CIV. P.

166a(c); Wornick, 856 S.W.2d at 733. First, Defendants were able to prove, as a

matter of law, that Plaintiff lacked the capacity to sue because Plaintiff was not

properly organized under the laws of the State of Texas. Second, Defendants’

summary judgment evidence proved, as a matter of law, that Plaintiff lacked both

standing and capacity to sue because Hope Therapy was not a party to any of the

contracts made the basis of Plaintiff’s suit. Third, Defendants conclusively proved

that Plaintiff’s claim for breach of contract was barred by the statute of frauds.

Fourth, Plaintiff’s negligent infliction of emotional distress claim failed as a matter

of law, as Texas law does not recognize a cause of action for negligent infliction of

                                           22
emotional distress. In light of the above, the trial court properly granted traditional

summary judgment for Defendants.

                                        Respectfully submitted

                                        /s/ Troy Tindal on May 13, 2015
                                        ___________________________________
                                        Troy Tindal
                                        State Bar No. 24066198
                                        troy@tindallawfirm.com
                                        17225 El Camino Real, Ste 190
                                        Houston, Texas 77058
                                        Tel: 832-404-2015
                                        Fax: 832-408-7579

                                        ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEES

                                          23
                       CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
       This pleading was served upon the following counsel of record
electronically and by regular mail in compliance with Rules 21 and 21a of the
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and Rule 9.5 of the Texas Rules of Appellate
Procedure on the 13th day of May, 2015.

     Wayman L. Prince
     9111 Katy Freeway, Suite 301
     Houston, Texas 77024
     Telephone: 713-467-1659
     Facsimile: 713-467-1686
     Email: wayman@wlplaw.com

                                    /s/ Troy Tindal on May 13, 2015
                                    ___________________________________
                                    Troy Tindal

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