Court Opinion

ID: 4857663
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-08-25 06:25:02.153141+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:11:53.768446
License: Public Domain

DISSENT; Opinion Filed August 20, 2021

                                   S  In The
                            Court of Appeals
                     Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                No. 05-20-00050-CV

                          WINSTEAD PC, Appellant
                                  V.
                       DEWEY M. MOORE, JR., Appellee

                On Appeal from the 44th Judicial District Court
                            Dallas County, Texas
                     Trial Court Cause No. DC-19-15858

                           DISSENTING OPINION
                            Opinion by Justice Schenck
      While I agree with the majority that the TCPA applies to Moore’s legal-

malpractice and equitable-indemnification claims, I do not agree with the majority’s

conclusion that the TCPA does not apply to Moore’s negligent-misrepresentation

claim, and I do not agree with the majority’s decision to remand the remaining claims

to the trial court for a legal determination we would review de novo. For the

following reasons, I dissent.
I.    Moore’s Negligent-Misrepresentation Claim Alleges Communications
      “in Connection with” an Issue Under Consideration or Review by a
      Governmental Body.

      As a Chapter 27 movant, Winstead had the initial burden of showing by a

preponderance of the evidence that the legal action is based on or is in response to

the party’s exercise of the right of free speech, the right to petition, or the right of

association. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 27.005(b). I begin with the

TCPA’s definition of the “[e]xercise of the right to petition” and whether Winstead

showed the statements alleged in Moore’s petition met that definition, as that

definition appears to be the sole dispositive point of disagreement in addressing

Winstead’s first issue. See id. § 27.001(4).

      The TCPA defines the “[e]xercise of the right to petition” as including “a

communication in connection with an issue under consideration or review by a

legislative, executive, judicial, or other governmental body or in another

governmental or official proceeding” or as “a communication that is reasonably

likely to encourage consideration or review of an issue by a legislative, executive,

judicial, or other governmental body or in another governmental or official

proceeding.” See id. § 27.001(4)(B),(C) (emphasis added). Winstead argues both

definitions apply to Moore’s claims for negligent misrepresentation. I agree at least

as far as sub-paragraph (B) and thus will pretermit discussion of sub-paragraph (C).

      As noted by the majority and according to Moore’s petition, Moore’s

negligent-misrepresentation claim alleges numerous misrepresentations by

                                          –2–
Winstead, including “representations to Plaintiff . . . that it had met its legal standard

of care” and representations that “supplied false information for the guidance of

[Plaintiff] in his business transactions.” The majority does not appear to contest that

those alleged statements are “communications” as required for application of the

TCPA. Because I find that conclusion to be implied by its reasoning and, in all

events, obvious,1 I will move on to address my first point of contention, which is the

majority’s conclusion that Winstead’s statements to Moore were “too remote” from

the SEC’s review of the documents prepared by Winstead to constitute exercises of

its right to petition under the TCPA.

        This Court has previously held the exercise of the right to petition merely

requires a communication that “pertains to” governmental or public proceedings.

See BusPatrol Am., LLC v. Am. Traffic Sols., Inc., No. 05-18-00920-CV, 2020 WL

1430357, at *8 (Tex. App.—Dallas Mar. 24, 2020, pet. denied) (mem. op.) (citing

Gaskamp v. WSP USA, Inc., 596 S.W.3d 457, 474 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]

2020, pet. dism’d) (en banc)). No one questions that the securities documents at

issue were to be reviewed by a governmental body, the SEC. But, what did this

review entail? According to the letter from the SEC that Moore himself attached to

    1
       In order for a movant to invoke the TCPA, there must first be a communication. See CIV. PRAC. &
REM. § 27.001(2)–(4) (the rights of association, of free speech, and to petition are defined in the TCPA to
include a communication). The TCPA defines “communication” to include “the making or submitting of
a statement or document in any form or medium, including oral, visual, written audiovisual, or electronic.”
See id. § 27.001(1). Moore’s negligent-misrepresentation claim alleges affirmative misrepresentations to
Moore, and, as such, the claim falls within the TCPA’s broad definition of “communication.” See Adams
v. Starside Custom Builders, LLC, 547 S.W.3d 890, 894 (Tex. 2018) (“Almost every imaginable form of
communication, in any medium, is covered.”).
                                                   –3–
his amended petition, the SEC “conducted examinations . . . which evaluated

compliance with certain provisions of the federal securities laws or other applicable

rules and regulations.”

        The majority concludes Winstead’s representations to Moore regarding its

legal standard of care in assisting its client with the preparation of these same

documents for the SEC to review for “compliance” with applicable law are “too

remote” to be “in connection with” the issues under consideration and review by the

SEC. See CIV. PRAC. & REM. § 27.001(4)(B). The majority does not explain why

or offer its understanding of what “in connection with” would mean.2 I cannot see

how the majority reaches this conclusion and have not found any relevant authority

to support it.

        I believe words have meaning. And, where they are used in a statute and form

the basis for our decision, we should explain what that meaning is. I understand the

phrase “in connection with” to be one of “intentional breadth” that does not imply

any material or significant connection although context may indicate otherwise.

Titan Transp., LP v. Combs, 433 S.W.3d 625, 637 (Tex. App.—Austin 2014, pet.

denied); see also Tarrant Cty. v. Bonner, 574 S.W.3d 893, 898 (Tex. 2019) (noting

“phrase ‘in connection with’ does not imply a material or significant connection . . .

[and is] error to construe the phrase as requiring more than a tangential, tenuous, or

    2
      Indeed, the majority states that these facts do not meet the statutory language of “in connection with”
but does not otherwise provide any guidance of what that phrase means. Cf. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1.
                                                    –4–
remote relationship”) (citing ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. v. Coleman, 512 S.W.3d 895,

900–01 (Tex. 2017)). Indeed, one authority has referred to the phrase as “a vague,

loose connective.” BRYAN A. GARNER, GARNER’S DICTIONARY OF LEGAL USAGE

287 (1st ed. 1987). Thus, as I see it, the phrase “in connection with” as used in the

Texas Citizens Participation Act is an effective synonym of “relates to.” In all

events, I believe it would be error to construe the phrase as requiring something more

than a tangential, tenuous, or remote relationship between the connected items, as

the majority does. See Bonner, 574 S.W.3d at 898.

      I find further support for my view for how to interpret “in connection with” in

the TCPA from a sister court of appeals and federal courts. In Enterprise Crude GP

LLC v. Sealy Partners, LLC, 614 S.W.3d 283, 295 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]

2020, no pet.), the court considered the appellant’s alleged false representations and

promises regarding research of the applicable requirements to obtain a permit that

were made in the course of the permit–application process. The court concluded

these alleged representations and promises were made “in connection with an issue

under consideration or review by a . . . governmental body.” See id.

      Meanwhile, the Fifth Circuit and other federal courts, in the context of

multiple statutes, have defined the phrase “in connection with” to mean “related to.”

See, e.g., Conn. Bank of Commerce v. Republic of Congo, 309 F.3d 240, 255 (5th

Cir. 2002); In re Newton, 292 B.R. 563, 568 n.7 (Bankr. E.D. Tex. 2003). Similarly,

here, I would conclude Winstead’s statements regarding whether it had met its legal

                                         –5–
standard of care in preparing the same securities documents it forwarded to the SEC

would be material to the SEC’s review of those same securities documents for legal

compliance. Otherwise, the submission would have been pointless.

        In any event, I would conclude Moore’s claims allege that Winstead made

communications “in connection with” issues under consideration and review by a

governmental body and thus the alleged statements meet the definition of exercise

of right to petition. See CIV. PRAC. & REM. § 27.001(4)(B).

        Having concluded Winstead showed Moore’s claims allege communications

that constitute an exercise of Winstead’s right to petition, I now address whether

Winstead met the rest of its burden under the first step of the TCPA to show that

Moore’s legal action is “based on or is in response to” Winstead’s exercise of the

right of petition. See id. §§ 27.003(a), 27.005(b).

        Moore himself alleges that because of representations Winstead made, the

SEC found the PPM and Offering Circular contained material misstatements.3 And,

as I noted above, the SEC’s letter documenting those findings stated its review of

the submitted securities documents was for compliance with applicable laws and

regulations.       Indeed, Moore’s alleged damages trace directly to the alleged

    3
         Attached to Moore’s petition was a copy of the SEC’s letter containing its examination findings and
the statement: “The examination disclosed that the Offering Memoranda contained material misstatements
. . . .”
                                                   –6–
inadequacy of the securities documents submitted for SEC review.4 Therefore, the

alleged communications proximately caused Moore’s damages, and thus I would

conclude his claims are “based on” these miscommunications. See Safeco Ins. Co.

of Am. v. Burr, 551 U.S. 47, 49 (2007) (“In common talk, ‘based on’ indicates a but-

for causal relationship and thus a necessary logical condition.”).

          For the reasons stated above, I dissent from the majority’s decision to overrule

Winstead’s first issue as to Moore’s negligent-misrepresentation claim and would

instead conclude Winstead met its initial burden to show all of Moore’s claims were

based on Winstead’s exercise of its right to petition.

II.       The Second Step of the TCPA Analysis Requires a Legal Conclusion that
          We May Reach Without Remanding to the Trial Court.

          In its second issue, Winstead argues Moore failed to meet his burden to

establish by clear and specific evidence a prima-facie case for each essential element

of his causes of action. Moore responds, “[T]he record demonstrates that Moore

presented clear and specific evidence for each element of [his] claims.” The majority

relies on a prior panel opinion of this Court to conclude remand is appropriate. I

would conclude otherwise relying on the authority cited herein.

          The trial court’s order denying Winstead’s motion to dismiss expressly stated,

“As the Court has ruled on the applicability of the TCPA, it does not reach . . . the

      4
      I cannot help but question the effect of the majority’s conclusion that these alleged communications
are “too remote” from the SEC’s review of the securities documents. For instance, would the trial court
then be justified in granting a motion in limine to exclude those same securities documents from
consideration of Moore’s damages if they are not connected with Moore’s claim for damages?
                                                  –7–
second step of the TCPA analysis.” Rule 43.3 directs this Court to render the

judgment the trial court should have entered unless remand for further consideration

is “necessary.” See TEX. R. APP. P. 43.3. Whether an appellate court remands to the

trial court for further proceedings depends on the facts and issues presented in each

specific case. Thus, in some cases, typically those involving legal issues we would

review de novo in any subsequent appeal, this Court has rendered the decision we

concluded the trial court should have entered. Therefore, in several TCPA cases, we

have resolved the prima-facie case question notwithstanding that the trial court had

not addressed the second step of the TCPA analysis. See, e.g., Better Bus. Bureau

of Metro. Dallas, Inc. v. BH DFW, Inc., 402 S.W.3d 299, 304, 309 (Tex. App.—

Dallas 2013, pet. denied). In other cases, we have remanded. See, e.g., Dorfman v.

Proactive Inventory, Inc., No. 05-16-01286-CV, 2017 WL 2953058, at *2 (Tex.

App.—Dallas July 11, 2017, no pet.) (mem. op.). Here, I cannot see any facts or

issues requiring further consideration by the trial court such that remand would be

“necessary.” See Brenner v. Centurion Logistics LLC ex rel. Centurion Pecos

Terminal LLC, No. 05-20-00308-CV, 2020 WL 7332847, at *3 (Tex. App.—Dallas

Dec. 14, 2020, no pet. h.) (mem. op.) (de novo appellate standard of review); see

also, e.g., Coleman, 512 S.W.3d at 902 (reversing and remanding to this Court—not

the trial court—for consideration of step two where trial court denied motion to

                                        –8–
dismiss “indicating it did not believe chapter 27 applied”).5 Accordingly, I would

reach Winstead’s second issue and address it as follows.

III.    Moore Failed to Establish a Prima-Facie Case for His Claims.

        Once a TCPA movant satisfies step one, the burden shifts to the nonmovant

to establish by clear and specific evidence a prima-facie case for each essential

element of the claim in question. CIV. PRAC. & REM. § 27.005(c). “Clear” means

unambiguous, sure, or free from doubt. S&S Emergency Training Sols., Inc. v.

Elliott, 564 S.W.3d 843, 847 (Tex. 2018). “Specific” means explicit or relating to a

particular named thing. Id. A prima-facie case is the minimum amount of evidence

necessary to support a rational inference that a fact is true. Id.

        Bare, baseless opinions do not meet the clear and specific evidence

requirement. In re Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d 579, 592 (Tex. 2015) (orig. proceeding).

Similarly, conclusory statements are not probative and will not suffice to establish a

primafacie case. Dobrott v. Jevin, Inc., No. 05-17-01472-CV, 2018 WL 6273411,

at *6 (Tex. App.—Dallas Nov. 30, 2018, no pet.) (mem. op.).

        Moore’s petition alleges claims against Winstead for legal malpractice,

negligent misrepresentation, and equitable indemnification.                        Moore alleges he

    5
       To the extent the majority might argue any inconsistency between our prior panel decisions exists,
the former panel opinion controls under the rule of orderliness. See MobileVision Imaging Servs., L.L.C.
v. LifeCare Hosps. of N. Tex., L.P., 260 S.W.3d 561, 566 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008, no pet.) (“We may not
overrule a prior panel decision of this Court absent an intervening change in the law by the legislature, a
higher court, or this Court sitting en banc.”). And, of course, I have no doubt the Texas Supreme Court has
the power to take up this case to resolve any inconsistencies among this Court’s opinions or failures to
adhere to the supreme court’s prior holdings. See, e.g., Bonner, 574 S.W.3d at 898; Coleman, 512 S.W.3d
at 900–01.
                                                   –9–
retained Winstead to represent both IWH and himself personally for the securities

offerings and that Winstead owed a duty of care to him “due to their 20-year ongoing

attorney–client relationship” and that he justifiably relied on Winstead’s

representations.

        A legal-malpractice claim requires evidence the defendant owes a duty to the

plaintiff. See Alexander v. Turtur & Assocs., Inc., 146 S.W.3d 113, 117 (Tex. 2004)

(elements of legal-malpractice claim include plaintiff’s showing “the attorney owed

the plaintiff a duty”). The attorney–client relationship is a principally contractual

one that arises from a lawyer’s agreement to render professional services to a client.6

See Kiger v. Balestri, 376 S.W.3d 287, 290–91 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012, pet.

denied). We have held there must be evidence both parties intended to create an

attorney–client relationship and that one party’s subjective belief is insufficient to

raise a question of fact. See id. at 291. Moreover, representation of a corporation

does not by itself create privity—or representation—between the attorney and the

corporation’s officers, directors, or shareholders. See Pennington v. Fields, No. 05-

17-00321-CV, 2018 WL 3989537, at *5 (Tex. App.—Dallas Aug. 21, 2018, no pet.)

(mem. op.).

    6
      In the context of determining whether communications are privileged, communications with counsel
made in the course of preliminary discussions with a view to employing the lawyer are privileged. See
TEX. R. EVID. 503(a)(1) (evidentiary rule titled “Lawyer–Client Privilege” defining “client” as “a person .
. . who consults with a lawyer with a view to obtaining professional legal services from that lawyer.”).
                                                  –10–
      The engagement letter was addressed to Moore as “Dear Rusty” and was

signed by Moore without indicating any representative capacity. However, the

subject–line of the letter reads:

      Engagement of Winstead PC (the “Firm”) by Institute for Wealth
      Holdings, Inc. (“You” or “you”)

The first sentence of the letter defines “Matter” to be the Firm’s representation of

“you in connection with (a) a private placement of a to-be-created class of preferred

securities to accredited investors, and (b) a Tier II Regulation A+ offering of

preferred securities.” The letter also provides, “The person or party whom we

represent in the Matter is limited to the person or party specifically identified above

and does not include an affiliates or other persons or parties.” The letter further

limits the scope of Winstead’s representation to the “Matter” but allows for

amendment via written request and response. See Barrow-Shaver Res. Co. v.

Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc., 590 S.W.3d 471, 483 (Tex. 2019) (parol-evidence rule bars

consideration of evidence contradicting, varying, or adding to terms of unambiguous

written agreement). Therefore, I would conclude the letter does not provide clear

and specific evidence of an attorney–client relationship between Winstead and

Moore individually and personally. See Elliott, 564 S.W.3d at 847.

      Although the engagement letter allows for amendment via written request and

response, no such written request or response exists in the record. Instead, Moore

attempts to rely on an exchange of emails, which he attached to his affidavit and

which he argues demonstrate clear and specific evidence of Winstead’s personal
                                    –11–
representation of him. However, none of these emails proposes—much less requests

and responds with acceptance of—a representation of Moore in his personal

capacity. Instead, these emails simply discuss the role Moore has with IWH’s

placement agent and what actions Moore would be permitted to take in the securities

offerings.7 Again, Moore’s attempts to create a fact question to the contrary would

be barred by the parol-evidence rule. See Barrow-Shaver Res. Co., 590 S.W.3d at

483; see also TEX. R. EVID. 1002 (best evidence rule requires original writing to

prove content).

          Moore relies on his affidavit in which he describes the twenty years of earlier

representations Winstead provided to him both personally and professionally before

and during the events at issue here.8 In that affidavit, Moore states, “No one at

    7
      For example, in an email dated February 13, 2018, Williams stated that “we will need to remove the
paragraph re Rusty being a registered representative . . . .” In an email dated February 14, 2018, the
placement agent’s CEO stated that it’s “[c]lear [FINRA] do[es]n’t know precisely what Rusty can or cannot
do.” Williams responded, “[W]hat we really need to focus on is what would [Moore] be permitted to do or
not do.” Williams later asked the placement agent’s CEO questions about Moore’s association with the
placement agent in order to advise whether Moore would be permitted to be involved in selling securities
in the offerings.
    8
        Moore lists the following examples of personal representations:
          In 2007, Winstead represented me personally in my Form A hearing in Austin before the
          Texas Insurance Department related to my approval as a Director of a life insurance
          company. Winstead also represented me personally in various arbitrations and mediations,
          as well as in my negotiations related to my employment agreement and individual stock
          options and grants with Puritan Financial Group. Other Winstead attorneys who performed
          legal services for me over that 20-year period, in addition to Talmage Boston, included
          Lori T. Oliphant, Ben Allen, Bruce Cheatham, Henry “Bud” Ehrlich, Alex Gonzales, David
          Knoll, Jay Madrid, Christopher J. Volkmer, and Christopher Williams, who each in their
          areas of specialty represented me in various capacities, both individually and with my
          former companies. In all these years, no one at Winstead ever told me that I needed
          separate representation for issues that related to me personally. Therefore, I relied on
          Winstead over these past 20 years to have both my personal and my companies’ best
          interests in mind in their provision of legal services to me.

                                                   –12–
Winstead ever told me that I could not rely on Winstead to protect my personal legal

interests in the legal work they were performing” for IWH or its related entities, and

he never had separate legal representation to protect his personal interests.

Additionally, Moore opines, “Because the majority of my personal net worth and

life savings were invested in IWH, Winstead, and Christopher Williams knew or

should have known my personal and financial interest were almost completely

aligned with IWH as it related to their representation.” However, I would conclude

these statements amount to no more than Moore’s subjective belief that Winstead

owed him a professional duty and represented him personally in the 2017 and 2018

Offerings and are by no means clear and specific evidence of an attorney–client

relationship between Winstead and Moore individually and personally in connection

with the firm’s work in this matter, particularly when viewed in light of the

controlling, written terms of the engagement. See Elliott, 564 S.W.3d at 847; Kiger,

376 S.W.3d at 290–91.

      It is also significant that none of the damages Moore alleges in his petition are

related to his personal liability for noncompliance with SEC or FINRA regulations.

Instead, he alleges Winstead’s legal representation led to the material misstatements

the SEC found in the PPM and that because of those Moore was required to resign

his employment positions. Accordingly, I cannot conclude these emails support the

element of legal malpractice that Winstead owes a duty to Moore personally and

individually. See Alexander, 146 S.W.3d at 117.

                                        –13–
        As for Moore’s claim of negligent misrepresentation, he argues in the

alternative that, even if he was not a client of Winstead, Winstead nevertheless owed

him a duty of care and he justifiably relied on false information Winstead provided.

See Kastner v. Jenkens & Gilchrist, P.C., 231 S.W.3d 571, 577 (Tex. App.—Dallas

2007, no pet.) (elements of negligent misrepresentation include proof plaintiff

justifiably relied on false information supplied by defendant). Of course, the “false

information” Moore alleges is that Winstead “had met its legal standard of care in

preparing said Memoranda and Opinion Letter.” Moore contends that an email from

Williams stating he did not have a copy of the final PPM demonstrated Winstead

failed to review the final version of the PPM before it was sent to the SEC. However,

what that email actually states is, “if someone can send us a final copy of the PPM

which is going to be sent to the SEC, we would appreciate it.” (Emphasis added).

Thus, that email is neither “clear” nor “specific” evidence that Winstead failed to

meet its legal standard of care to anyone, much less Moore. Nor does the remaining

record contain any clear and specific evidence that Winstead did not meet its legal

standard of care. Accordingly, I would sustain Winstead’s second issue.9

    9
       Moore’s equitable-indemnification claim is derivative of his other two claims, seeking “equitable
indemnification from Winstead for any losses he may incur from future lawsuits as a result of Winstead’s
breach of its duty to Plaintiff.” See Equitable Recovery, L.P. v. Heath Ins. Brokers of Tex., L.P., 235 S.W.3d
376, 387 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, pet. dism’d); cf. Gunn v. McCoy, 554 S.W.3d 645, 677–78 (Tex. 2018).
Thus his failure to satisfy his burden as to those two claims necessarily means he cannot meet his burden
as to his claim for equitable indemnification. See Equitable Recovery, 235 S.W.3d at 387.
                                                   –14–
      Because I would conclude Moore did not meet his burden to produce clear

and specific evidence sufficient to establish a prima-facie case regarding his legal-

malpractice and negligent-misrepresentation claims, I do not address Winstead’s

third issue in which it argues it established the affirmative defense of attorney

immunity. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1.

                                   CONCLUSION

      Because I cannot join the majority’s judgment affirming the trial court’s

judgment as to Moore’s negligent-misrepresentation claim and remanding his legal-

malpractice and equitable-indemnification claims to the trial court for further

consideration of a legal conclusion we would review de novo on appeal, I dissent.

                                           /David J. Schenck/
                                           DAVID J. SCHENCK
                                           JUSTICE

200050DF.P05

                                       –15–