Court Opinion

ID: 4072260
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-30 02:47:15.452727+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:36:27.967686
License: Public Domain

ACCEPTED
                                                                                    03-14-00698-CV
                                                                                            6648058
                                                                         THIRD COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                    AUSTIN, TEXAS
                                                                               8/25/2015 4:04:58 PM
                                                                                  JEFFREY D. KYLE
                                                                                             CLERK

                 CAUSE NO. 03-14-00698-CV
               ________________________________________
                                                           FILED IN
                                                    3rd COURT OF APPEALS
        IN   THE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS IN AUSTIN, TEXASAUSTIN, TEXAS
                                                    8/25/2015 4:04:58 PM
               ________________________________________
                                                      JEFFREY D. KYLE
                                                            Clerk
                SHAMARK SMITH LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, ET AL.,

                                                Appellants,

                                      v.

                             MARTIN LONGORIA,

                                           Appellee.
               ________________________________________

    On appeal from the 20th Judicial District Court of Milam County, Texas
               ________________________________________

                     APPELLANTS’ REPLY BRIEF
               ________________________________________

                                   Tracy J. Willi
                                   Texas Bar No. 00784633
                                   Willi Law Firm, P.C.
                                   9600 Escarpment Blvd., Suite 745, PMB 34
                                   Austin, TX 78749-1983
                                   Tel. (512) 288-3200
                                   Fax (512) 288-3202
                                   twilli@willi.com

                                   ATTORNEY FOR SHAMARK SMITH
                                   LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, SHARON D.
                                   MARCUS, AND PAUL J. SMITH

ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED
                                     TABLE OF CONTENTS

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES.................................................................................... iii

I.      RESPONSE TO LONGORIA’S ALLEGATION OF WAIVER OF
        JURY CHARGE ERROR............................................................................. 1 

II.     LONGORIA’S CRITICISM OF BURBAGE IS UNFOUNDED. ............. 2 

III.  UNIFORM DECLARATORY JUDGMENT ACT CANNOT
      FORM A BASIS FOR ATTORNEY’S FEES. ............................................ 2 

IV.     RESPONSE TO LONGORIA’S ALLEGATION OF PROOF OF
        ATTORNEY’S FEES. ................................................................................... 3 

V.      RESPONSE TO LONGORIA’S ALLEGATION OF WAIVER OF
        ERROR FOR THE FAILURE TO CONDITION APPELLATE
        ATTORNEY’S FEES. ................................................................................... 4 

VI.     RESPONSE TO LONGORIA’S ALLEGATION OF WAIVER OF
        ERROR FOR THE REFUSAL TO STRIKE JURORS
        CHALLENGED FOR CAUSE. .................................................................... 5 

VII.  CONCLUSION AND PRAYER. .................................................................. 7 
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ......................................................................... 7

CERTIFICATE OF FILING AND SERVICE .......................................................... 8

                                                      ii
                                       INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

Cases

Burbage v. Burbage,
     447 S.W.3d 249 (Tex. 2014) ........................................................................... 2

Charette v. Fitzgerald,
     213 S.W.3d 505 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, no pet.)
     (mem. op.) ....................................................................................................... 4

Holland v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.,
      1 S.W.3d 91 (Tex. 1999) ................................................................................ 3

In re Lipsky,
       460 S.W.3d 579 (Tex. 2015) .......................................................................... 2

Mancorp, Inc. v. Culpepper,
     802 S.W.2d 227 (Tex. 1990) .......................................................................... 3

MBM Financial v. Woodlands Operating Co.,
    292 S.W.3d 660 (Tex. 2009) .......................................................................... 3

McMillin v. State Farm Lloyds,
     180 S.W.3d 183 (Tex. App.—Austin 2005, pet. denied) ............................... 6

Osterberg v. Peca,
      12 S.W.3d 31 (Tex. 2000) .............................................................................. 2

Rodriguez v. Citimortgage, Inc.,
      No. 03-10-00093-CV (Tex. App.—Austin, January 6, 2011, no pet.)
      (mem. op.) ....................................................................................................... 4

Tom Benson Chevrolet, Inc. v. Alvarado,
     636 S.W.2d 815 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1982, writ ref’d n.r.e.) ................ 1

Statutes and Rules
TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 38.004.................................................................... 4

TEX. R. CIV. P. 278 ..................................................................................................... 1

                                                           iii
                         APPELLANTS’ REPLY BRIEF

I.    RESPONSE TO LONGORIA’S ALLEGATION OF WAIVER OF
      JURY CHARGE ERROR.
      Longoria misapplies the opinion of Tom Benson Chevrolet, Inc. v. Alvarado,

636 S.W.2d 815, 823 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1982, writ ref’d n.r.e.). The issue

in Tom Benson Chevrolet was whether the jury was properly instructed on the

definition of “diminished market value.” Id. at 823. “Tom Benson cannot now

complain that the jury was permitted to find damages based upon an improper, a

wrong or an immaterial instruction on the measure of damages.” Id. The Shamark

Parties do not complain of the instruction on the measure of damages in Question

19. Instead, the Shamark Parties point out that Question 19 only requested the jury

to award damages for the conduct found in Question 14. CR 1052–53 (Question 19

“What sum of money, if paid now in cash, would fairly and reasonably compensate

Martin Longoria for his injuries, if any, that were proximately caused by the

statement in Question 14?”) Thus, damages were requested only for the alleged

publication of the statement found in Question 14, not for the jury’s findings of

intentional infliction of emotional distress or for malicious prosecution which were

submitted in Questions 12 and 13. CR 1052. It is Longoria who waived his right to

recover damages under any theory except defamation. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 278

(failure to submit a jury question in substantially correct form waives the complaint).

Sufficiency of the evidence is measured against the jury charge given by the court,
not some other theoretical charge which should have been given. See Osterberg v.

Peca, 12 S.W.3d 31, 55 (Tex. 2000).

II.    LONGORIA’S CRITICISM OF BURBAGE IS UNFOUNDED.
       Longoria complains that the Texas Supreme Court’s decision in Burbage is

unconstitutional. Appellee’s Brief at 24, citing Burbage v. Burbage, 447 S.W.3d
249, 259 (Tex. 2014). The Texas Supreme Court has recently reaffirmed its

conviction that any award of general damages, such as loss of reputation and mental

anguish, in an amount beyond nominal damages requires evidentiary support.

       Defamation per se refers to statements that are so obviously harmful
       that general damages may be presumed. Hancock, 400 S.W.3d at 63-
       64. General damages include non-economic losses, such as loss of
       reputation and mental anguish. Id. Special damages, on the other hand,
       are never presumed as they represent specific economic losses that must
       be proven. Id. at 65-66. And even though Texas law presumes general
       damages when the defamation is per se, it does not “presume any
       particular amount of damages beyond nominal damages.” Salinas v.
       Salinas, 365 S.W.3d 318, 320 (Tex. 2012) (per curiam). Any award of
       general damages that exceeds a nominal sum is thus reviewed for
       evidentiary support. Burbage, 447 S.W.3d at 259; see also Bentley, 94
S.W.3d at 606-07 (criticizing award of mental anguish damages in
       defamation per se case because it was excessive and beyond any figure
       the evidence supported).

In re Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d 579 (Tex. 2015).

III.   UNIFORM DECLARATORY JUDGMENT ACT CANNOT FORM A
       BASIS FOR ATTORNEY’S FEES.
       Without enlightening the Court as to what was sought to be declared that was

ruled upon in any way, Longoria now claims that attorney’s fees should be awarded

                                         2
to Longoria based upon the Uniform Declaratory Judgment Act (UDJA). Appellee’s

Brief at 47. There was no question submitted to the jury by either party that would

support a declaration under the UDJA. Moreover, if repleading a claim as a

declaratory judgment could justify a fee award, attorney’s fees would be available

for all parties in all cases. That would repeal not only the American Rule but also

the limits imposed on fee awards in other statutes. Accordingly, the rule is that a

party cannot use the Act as a vehicle to obtain otherwise impermissible attorney’s

fees. MBM Financial v. Woodlands Operating Co., 292 S.W.3d 660, 669 (Tex.

2009). When declarations only duplicate issues already before the court, the UDJA

does not support the award of attorney’s fees. Id. at 671.

      Even for causes of action for which attorney’s fees are potentially recoverable,

there can be no award of attorney’s fees without the award of actual damages. See

Mancorp, Inc. v. Culpepper, 802 S.W.2d 227, 230 (Tex. 1990); Holland v. Wal-Mart

Stores, Inc., 1 S.W.3d 91, 94 (Tex. 1999).

IV.   RESPONSE TO LONGORIA’S ALLEGATION OF PROOF OF
      ATTORNEY’S FEES.
      Even considering Longoria’s reliance on the testimony of opposing counsel

on their attorney’s fees, Longoria still insists that his attorney’s fees would be a flat

one-third contingent fee. Appellee’s Brief at 51. One-third of nothing is still

nothing. Longoria presented no evidence to support anything but a one-third

contingent agreement. The only evidence is that Longoria did not accrue attorney’s

                                           3
fees except for a contingent fee that only operates if he recovered damages from the

opposing party. Since Longoria did not win any damages, he did not incur any

attorney’s fees. This is based upon the undisputed evidence that he operated only

pursuant to a contingent fee agreement with his lawyer. RR8 275-77.

      Regardless of the alleged basis that Longoria attempts to rely upon, whether

UDJA or the Texas Theft Liability Act (TTLA), there is no evidence to support the

amount of attorney’s fees. This is not a case under chapter 38 of the Texas Civil

Practice and Remedies Code wherein a trial court is permitted to “take judicial

notice” of usual and customary fees. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 38.004.

A court may not take judicial notice that usual and customary fees are reasonable

unless the trial court awards attorney’s fees under section 38.001 of the Texas Civil

Practice and Remedies Code. Charette v. Fitzgerald, 213 S.W.3d 505, 514-15 (Tex.

App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, no pet.) (mem. op.); Rodriguez v. Citimortgage,

Inc., No. 03-10-00093-CV at 13 (Tex. App.—Austin, January 6, 2011, no pet.)

(mem. op.).

V.    RESPONSE TO LONGORIA’S ALLEGATION OF WAIVER OF
      ERROR FOR THE FAILURE TO CONDITION APPELLATE
      ATTORNEY’S FEES.
      Longoria alleges that the Shamark Parties failed to preserve the trial court’s

error in failing to condition the award of appellate attorney’s fees on a successful

appeal. Appellee’s Brief at 58. The issue was clearly raised in the Shamark parties’

                                         4
Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict and Alternative Motion for New

Trial. CR 1093. The motion was denied by written order. CR 1116.

VI.   RESPONSE TO LONGORIA’S ALLEGATION OF WAIVER OF
      ERROR FOR THE REFUSAL TO STRIKE JURORS CHALLENGED
      FOR CAUSE.

      The 12 member jury consisted of the following jurors from the panel: 1, 2, 4,

7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16, 19, 21, 22, and alternate 25. RR Vol. 4, 147; Supp. CR 20–28.1

The Shamark Parties’ counsel moved to strike jurors 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 24, 26,

31, 32, 33, 27, 49, 50, and 51 for cause based upon the jurors’ statements that they

could not apply the preponderance of the evidence to this case and would instead

require the Shamark Parties to prove that Longoria committed theft beyond a

reasonable doubt. RR Vol. 4, 136. The Shamark Parties’ counsel also moved to

strike jurors 8, 9, 12, 13, 24, 26, 31, 49 for cause based upon the jurors’ statements

that they would require a criminal conviction against Longoria before finding in

favor of the Shamark Parties on the issue of theft in this case. RR Vol. 4, 136. The

trial court denied the challenges for cause on both basis. RR Vol. 4, 141. The trial

1
  The Clerk’s First Supplemental Record is sealed because it contains the jurors’
personal information. The jury cards appear at Supp. CR 20–28 and indicate in the
upper right-hand corner the handwritten juror number with a circle around it. The
handwritten jury number is the number that was used during voir dire. The printed
number on the upper right-hand corner corresponds to the original jury numbers
before the jury was shuffled as requested by Longoria’s counsel. RR Vol. 4, 32.
The original printed numbers on the jury cards correspond to the randomly assigned
numbers shown on the computer generated jury list. Supp. CR 19.

                                          5
court further denied the Shamark Parties’ request for additional strikes against the

jurors. RR Vol. 4, 142. As support for the request for additional strikes, counsel for

the Shamark Parties explained to the Court, “We’re put in a position where I believe

the record is pretty clear about having to accept jurors that require a higher burden

of proof and a criminal conviction.” Id.

      Longoria complains that the Shamark Parties have not preserved the error

because they did not take the last step of identifying the objectionable jurors who

were ultimately placed on the jury so that the trial court would have “notice” of that

event. See McMillin v. State Farm Lloyds, 180 S.W.3d 183, 193 (Tex. App.—Austin

2005, pet. denied). In this case, in the first 24 jurors on the panel, there were 8 jurors

who should have been struck for cause. The Shamark Parties only had 6 preemptory

strikes. Necessarily, the Shamark Parties needed at least two more preemptory

strikes to be able to strike all of the jurors within the strike zone who should have

been struck for cause. The juror numbers were clearly stated on the record and the

fact that objectionable jurors remained after preemptory strikes were exercised was

also clearly evident in the record. Supp. CR 20–28. The trial court had notice of the

presence of objectionable jurors and made it clear to the parties that she would refuse

to strike those jurors for cause. This Court determined in McMillin, where the

McMillins reminded the court that they had challenged thirteen veniremembers for

cause and that the six peremptory challenges were insufficient to strike all of them,

                                            6
the McMillins adequately apprised the court that its denials of the challenges for

cause were forcing the McMillins to accept objectionable jurors. Id. at 195. The

record in this case demonstrates that the Shamark Parties adequately apprised the

court that its denials of the challenges for cause were forcing the Shamark Parties to

accept objectionable jurors.

VII.   CONCLUSION AND PRAYER.
       Shamark Smith Limited Partnership, Paul J. Smith, and Sharon D. Marcus,

Appellants, request this Court to render judgment in favor of Appellants in whole or

in part, or remand this case for a new trial.

                                        /s/ Tracy J. Willi
                                        Tracy J. Willi
                                        Texas Bar No. 00784633
                                        Willi Law Firm, P.C.
                                        9600 Escarpment Blvd., Suite 745, PMB 34
                                        Austin, TX 78749-1983
                                        Tel. (512) 288-3200
                                        Fax (512) 288-3202
                                        twilli@willi.com

                                        ATTORNEY FOR SHAMARK SMITH
                                        LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, SHARON D.
                                        MARCUS, AND PAUL J. SMITH

                       CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

       In accordance with Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.4, I hereby certify
that this document contains 1,712 words.

                                            /s/ Tracy J. Willi
                                            Tracy J. Willi

                                           7
                 CERTIFICATE OF FILING AND SERVICE

      I hereby certify that this document was filed with Clerk of Court through the
Court’s electronic filing system and served on opposing counsel by the same manner
on August 25, 2015 as follows:

      James David Walker
      P.O. Box 41
      Milano, Texas 76556
      (512) 636-9520
      (512) 455-7992 (fax)
      walker@2appeal.com

      Counsel for Martin Longoria

                                         /s/ Tracy J. Willi
                                         Tracy J. Willi

                                        8