Court Opinion

ID: 4069576
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-30 00:41:02.64028+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:36:28.317940
License: Public Domain

ACCEPTED
                                                                               04-14-00774-CV
                                                                   FOURTH COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                        SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
                                                                          5/21/2015 2:05:12 PM
                                                                                KEITH HOTTLE
                                                                                        CLERK

                        NO. 04-14-00774-CV

                                                          FILED IN
            IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE        4th COURT OF APPEALS
                                                    SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
                 FOURTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS 5/21/2015 2:05:12 PM
__________________________________________________________________
                                                     KEITH E. HOTTLE
                                                           Clerk
                         RAY BASALDUA,
                                     Appellant,

                                 v.

   GEORGE FARINACCI, LADONA FARINACCI, & JIM HOUSE
                                         Appellees.
__________________________________________________________________

               CORRECTED APPELLEES’ BRIEF
__________________________________________________________________

           From the District Court of Bexar County, Texas,
     408th Judicial District; Trial Court Case No. 2014-CI-05926
__________________________________________________________________

FRANK O. CARROLL III
TBA No. 24082785
MIA B. LORICK
TBA No. 24091415
Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC
2800 Post Oak Blvd, 57th Floor
Houston, Texas 77056
Tel: (713) 840-1666
Fax: (713) 840-9404
fcarroll@rmwbhlaw.com
mlorick@rmwbhlaw.com
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES GEORGE FARINACCI,
LADONA FARINACCI, AND JIM HOUSE
                     IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

Appellant:

RAY BASALDUA, PRO SE

PO Box 1982
Lytle, Texas 78052
Tel: (210) 912-3256

Appellees:

GEORGE FARINACCI
LADONA FARINACCI
JIM HOUSE1

Frank O. Carroll III
Mia B. Lorick
Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC
2800 Post Oak Blvd, 57th Fl.
Houston, Texas 77056
Tel: (713) 840-1666
Fax: (713) 840-9404
fcarroll@rmwbhlaw.com
mlorick@rmwbhlaw.com

1
 Appellees file this Corrected Appellees’ Brief due to inadvertently omitting Appellee Jim House in Appellees’
previously filed Appellees’ Brief. As such, Appellees now file this Corrected Appellees’ Brief to include Jim House.

                                                         ii
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

IDENTITY OF PARTIES & COUNSEL ................................................... ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ..........................................................................iii

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES ...................................................................... v

RECORD REFERENCES ..................................................................... vii

STATEMENT OF THE CASE ............................................................... viii

ISSUES PRESENTED ............................................................................. ix

STATEMENT OF FACTS ......................................................................... 1

PROCEDURAL HISTORY ........................................................................ 3

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT .......................................................... 4

ARGUMENTS AND AUTHORITIES ....................................................... 6

       I.     THE TRIAL COURT PROPERLY GRANTED APPELLEES’
              MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT BASED ON
              VOLUNTEER IMMUNITY AS TO ALL OF BASALDUA’S
              CLAIMS ................................................................................... 6

              A.      Standard of Review ........................................................ 6

              B.      Federal and State volunteer immunity statutes
                      generally ......................................................................... 6

              C.      The Motion for Summary Judgment asserted volunteer
                      immunity as to all of Basaldua’s claims ........................ 9

              D.      The trial court’s Order disposed of all of Basaldua’s
                      claims against Appellees.............................................. 11

                                                  iii
        II.     THE MANNER IN WHICH BASALDUA REFERS TO A
                DEFENDANT DOES NOT REMOVE THE STATUTORY
                PROTECTION OF VOLUNTEER IMMUNITY ................... 12

CONCLUSION ........................................................................................ 15

PRAYER .................................................................................................. 16

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ........................................................ 17

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE................................................................. 17

                                                    iv
                                  TABLE OF AUTHORITIES

Cases

Candlelight Hills Civic Ass’n, Inc. v. Goodwin,
  763 S.W.2d 474, 478-79 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1998, writ
  denied) ................................................................................................... 8

Carr v. Brasher,
  776 S.W.2d 567, 569 (Tex. 1989) ........................................................ 11

Cincinnati Life Ins. Co. v. Cates,
  927 S.W.2d 623, 626 (Tex. 1996) ........................................................ 11

Industrial Co. of N. Am. v. Security Ins. Co.,
  790 S.W.2d 407, 410 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1990,
  no writ) ............................................................................................ 6, 11

Insurance Co. of North America v. Security Ins. Co.,
   790 S.W.2d 407, 410 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1990, no writ) 11

In re Hoa Hao Buddhist Congregational Church Tex. Chptr.,
   2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 13792 (Houston [1st Dist.] December 23, 2014)
   ............................................................................................................... 9

Lang v. City of Nacogdoches,
  942 S.W.2d 752, 757 (Tex. App.—Tyler 1997, writ denied) ........... 6, 11

McCrea v. Cubilla Condominium Corp.,
  685 S.W.2d 755, 757 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1985, writ ref’d
  n.r.e.) ................................................................................................... 11

Rogers v. Ricane Enters. Inc.,
  772 S.W.2d 76, 79 (Tex. 1999) ............................................................ 11

Ryland Enter. v. Weatherspoon,
  355 S.W.3d 664, 666 (Tex. 2011).. ...................................................... 14

                                                         v
State Bar of Texas v. Heard,
  603 S.W.2d 829, 833 (Tex. 1980) ........................................................ 14

State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. S.S.,
  858 S.W.2d 374 (Tex. 1993) ................................................................ 11

Tilotta v. Goodall,
   752 S.W.2d 160, 161 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1988, writ
   denied) ................................................................................................. 11

Walston v. Lockhart,
  62 S.W.3d 257, 258 (Tex. App.—Waco 2001, pet denied) .................... 6

Wilchester W. Concerned Homeowners LDEF, Inc. v. Wilchester W.
  Fund, Inc.,
  177 S.W.3d 552, 566 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2005, pet.
  denied) ................................................................................................... 8

Wrongful Death Beneficiaries of Elliot v. La Quinta Corp.,
  2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16837 at *7 (N.D. Miss. March 8, 2007) ........ 8

Statutes

42 USC § 14503 ................................................................................... 7, 13

42 USC § 14505 ......................................................................................... 7

Tex. Bus. Org. Code § 22.001(5).... ............................................................ 8

Tex. Bus. Org. Code § 22.235 .............................................................. 8, 13

Tex. Prop. Code § 201.002 ......................................................................... 8

Tex. R. Civ. P. 71 ............................................................................... 13, 14

                                                      vi
                       RECORD REFERENCES

Citations in this Appellees’ Brief to the Parties are as follows:

Appellant Ray Basaldua will be referred to as “Basaldua.”

Appellees George Farinacci, LaDona Farinacci, and Jim House will be

referred to collectively as “Appellees.”

Citations in this Appellees’ Brief to the record are as follows:

CR – Clerk’s Record designated by George Farinacci, LaDona Farinacci,

and Jim House and filed in this Court on 12/30/2014 (i.e. CR [page]; e.g.

CR 1)

                                     vii
                      STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Nature of the case:        This appeal arises from a summary
                           judgment proceeding in which the trial
                           court granted Appellees’ Motion for
                           Summary Judgment, dismissing all of
                           Basaldua’s claims.

Trial Court Disposition:   Appellees filed a Motion for Summary
                           Judgment on October 8, 2014. (CR 115–29).
                           On October 22, 2014, Basaldua filed a
                           Response to Appellees’ Motion for Summary
                           Judgment. (CR 163–68). Appellees filed a
                           Reply to Basaldua’s Response on October
                           29, 2014. (CR 175–83). On October 30,
                           2014, the trial court granted Appellees’
                           Motion for Summary Judgment, dismissing
                           all claims. (CR 191).

Trial Court:               408th Judicial District; Trial Court Case No.
                           2014-CI-05926

                                 viii
                       ISSUES PRESENTED

1.   Whether the trial court abused its discretion in granting

     Appellees’ Motion for Summary Judgment based on volunteer

     immunity as to all claims.

2.   Whether the trial court had jurisdiction over the parties when

     Basaldua referred to the board members as “individuals” and not

     as “volunteer board members.”

                                  ix
                      STATEMENT OF FACTS

        This appeal stems from an action brought by Ray Basaldua

against various volunteer members of the Board of Directors of the

Clear     Springs   Park     Property    Owner’s    Association,   Inc.

(the “Association”).2 The Association is a nonprofit homeowners

association located in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, which was

created for civic and public benefit, and to serve the welfare of the

community.3 The Association is operated by the Board of Directors,

comprised of individual volunteer members who are not compensated

for their service.4 This lawsuit is based on Basaldua’s dissatisfaction

with the administration of the Association.5

        Basaldua is a builder who was hired by a Clear Springs

community homeowner, Li Luo Skelton (“Skelton”), to construct an

addition and improvements to her home.6 Although Basaldua and

Skelton agreed on plans and began construction, Skelton failed to

obtain approval of the Association before beginning construction, as

2 CR 1.
3 CR 116–17.
4 CR 116.

5 CR 2–3.
6 CR 2.

                                   1
required by the Association’s Restrictions.7 Construction within the

Clear Springs community requires approval from the Architectural

Control Committee (the “ACC”), prior to beginning work, as all

properties are subject to the Restrictions of Clear Springs Park, Unit 1

(the “Restrictions”) which mandate such requirement.8

      Due to the failure to obtain Association approval, the Association

obtained a temporary restraining order (“TRO”) in 2012 to stop

construction.9 The order required the Skeltons to allow the ACC to

inspect the existing construction, to provide plans and information on

future construction, and to obtain approval from the ACC going

forward.10 The Skeltons agreed to obtain approval prior to moving

forward with construction.

      After the TRO was issued, Basaldua filed suit against the

Skeltons as well as various volunteer board members of the

Association.11 Basaldua alleged that because the volunteer board

members sought and obtained a TRO, he lost income and incurred

7 CR 11.
8 CR 11.
9 CR 35.

10 CR 35–38.
11 CR 1.

                                   2
unnecessary costs.12 Basaldua claimed that the volunteer board

members prevented him from performing work on his contract with

Skelton and that he suffered damages of over one-million dollars.13

Basaldua sued the Board members in their individual capacity.14

      Appellees are members of the Association’s volunteer board of

directors.15 Basaldua alleged fraud, tortious interference with an

existing contract, tortious interference with prospective relations,

breach of contract, and aiding and abetting.16

                      PROCEDURAL HISTORY

      On April 14, 2014, Basaldua filed suit against Defendants George

Farinacci, LaDona Farinacci, Li Luo Skelton, and later, Jim House.17

Appellees filed an Answer on May 12, 2014, and pled volunteer

immunity as a defense.18 On October 8, 2014, Appellees filed a Motion

for Summary Judgment, asserting volunteer immunity as a bar to all of

12 CR 1.
13 CR 1–6.
14 CR 2–3.

15 CR 1–5.

16 CR 1–6.

17 CR 1–6.

18 CR 7–-9.

                                    3
Basaldua’s claims.19 Basaldua filed a Response to the Motion for

Summary Judgment on October 22, 2014; and, Appellees filed their

Reply on October 29, 2014.20 The trial court granted Appellees’ Motion

for Summary Judgment on October 30, 2014, by entering an Order

dismissing all of Basaldua’s claims.21 This appeal followed.

                  SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

     The trial court did not abuse its discretion in granting Appellees’

Motion for Summary Judgment. Under well–established Federal and

Texas volunteer immunity statutes, volunteers are immune from

liability when acting within the scope of their duties as volunteers. As

such, the Federal and Texas volunteer immunity statutes are applicable

to all claims brought by Basaldua because at all relevant times,

Appellees were acting in their volunteer board member capacities.

Appellees asserted volunteer immunity as to all of Basaldua’s claims,

and the trial court properly entered an Order dismissing all claims.

Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion.

19 CR 115–29.
20 CR 175–83; CR 184–88.

21 CR 191–92.

                                     4
     Basaldua argues that the court erred because he sued Appellees

individually, and he did not refer to them as volunteers. However, the

volunteer protection is still triggered as the volunteer immunity

statutes do not look to the title a plaintiff gives a defendant or whether

the word “volunteer” is mentioned, but look to the conduct that is the

basis of the lawsuit. If the conduct complained of is within the scope of

the volunteer’s duties (as is the case here), the volunteer cannot be held

liable as a matter of law. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in

granting Appellees’ Motion for Summary Judgment.

                                    5
                    ARGUMENTS & AUTHORITIES

I.    THE TRIAL COURT PROPERLY GRANTED APPELLEES’
      MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT BASED ON
      VOLUNTEER IMMUNITY AS TO ALL OF BASALDUA’S
      CLAIMS.

      A.    Standard of Review

      Summary judgment is reviewed de novo.22 Where a trial court

does not specify the grounds upon which it granted summary judgment

on each of the causes of action, summary judgment will be affirmed if

any of the theories advanced are meritorious.23

      B.    Federal and         State       volunteer   immunity       statutes
            generally

      The Federal Government created statutory protections for

volunteers in an effort to encourage volunteerism and to limit potential

liability for the volunteer. The relevant portion of the Federal Volunteer

Protection Act (the “Federal Act”) states:

      (a)   Liability protection for volunteers – Except as
            provided in subsections (b) and (d) of this section, no
            volunteer of a nonprofit organization or governmental
            entity shall be liable for harm24 caused by an act or

22 Walston v. Lockhart, 62 S.W.3d 257, 258 (Tex. App.—Waco 2001, pet denied).
23 Lang v. City of Nacogdoches, 942 S.W.2d 752, 757 (Tex. App.—Tyler 1997, writ
denied); Industrial Co. of N. Am. v. Security Ins. Co., 790 S.W.2d 407, 410
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1990, no writ).
24 See 42 USC § 14505. Definitions. For purposes of this chapter, the term “harm”

includes physical, nonphysical, economic, and non-economic losses.

                                        6
              omission of the volunteer on behalf of the organization
              or entity if:

              (1)   The volunteer was acting within the scope of the
                    volunteer’s responsibilities in the nonprofit
                    organization or governmental entity at the time
                    of the act or omission; . . .

              (3)   The harm was not caused by willful or criminal
                    misconduct,       gross   negligence,     reckless
                    misconduct, or conscious, flagrant indifference to
                    the rights or safety of the individual harmed by
                    the volunteer . . .25

The Federal Act defines the term “nonprofit organization” as any not-

for-profit organization, which is organized and conducted for the public

benefit and operated primarily for charitable, civic, educational, or

welfare purposes and which does not practice any action, which

constitutes a hate crime.26

        This definition of a nonprofit organization includes the Clear

Springs Park Property Owner’s Association, Inc. (the “Association”)

because the Association is operated in furtherance of the important

public policy of preventing dilapidation in housing and unhealthful

25   See 42 USC § 14503.
26   See 42 USC § 14505.

                                      7
conditions described in Section 201 of the Texas Property Code.27

Basaldua never contested the nonprofit status of the Association.28

      In addition to the Federal Act, the Texas Non-Profit Corporation

Act (the “Texas Act”) protects volunteers from liability as well. Chapter

22 of the Texas Business and Organizations Code pertains to nonprofit

corporations, which are defined as a corporation in which none of the

income is distributable to a member, director, or officer of the

corporation.29 Officers of a nonprofit corporation are immune from

individual and civil liability under Chapter 22.30 The relevant part of

the Texas Act states:

      (a)    An officer is not liable to the corporation or any person
             for an action taken or omission made by the officer in
             the person’s capacity as an officer unless the officer’s
             conduct was not exercised:

             (1)   in good faith;

27 Tex. Prop. Code § 201.002; Wrongful Death Beneficiaries of Elliot v. La Quinta
Corp., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16837 at *7 (N.D. Miss. March 8, 2007) (stating that
officers of nonprofit corporations are not liable under the Volunteer Protection Act).
28 See Wilchester W. Concerned Homeowners LDEF, Inc. v. Wilchester W. Fund,

Inc., 177 S.W.3d 552, 566 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2005, pet. denied) (stating
in dicta that the homeowners association could enter into contracts because it fit the
definition of a nonprofit corporation under the Texas Non-Profit Corporations Act.);
see Candlelight Hills Civic Ass’n, Inc. v. Goodwin, 763 S.W.2d 474, 478-79
(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1998, writ denied) (stating that the Texas Non-
Profit Corporation Act authorizes certain actions by the homeowners association
because the homeowners association is a nonprofit corporation.).
29 Tex. Bus. Org. Code § 22.001(5).
30 Tex. Bus. Org. Code § 22.235.

                                          8
             (2)   with ordinary care;
             (3)   in a manner the officer reasonably believes to be
                   in the best interest of the corporation.31

      Here, none of the Association’s income was distributable to a

member, director, or officer. And, at all relevant times, Appellees were

officers of the Association. As a result, Appellees are immune from

liability under the Federal Volunteer Protection Act, as well as the

Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act.32

      C.     The Motion for Summary Judgment asserted volunteer
             immunity as to all of Basaldua’s claims

      Basaldua claims “the trial court abused its discretion in granting

Appellees’ Motion For Summary Judgment when the Appellee[s] failed

to establish that all of Appellant’s claims were legally insufficient.”33

Basaldua further claims that Appellees were only seeking relief as to

one claim—breach of contract. However, this is not true. Appellees

asserted the defense of volunteer immunity as to all claims, not just

breach of contract.34 In their Motion for Summary Judgment, Appellees

establish that they are immune from liability under Federal and State

31 Id.
32 In re Hoa Hao Buddhist Congregational Church Tex. Chptr., 2014 Tex. App.
LEXIS 13792 (Houston [1st Dist.] December 23, 2014).
33 See Appellant’s Brief at 2.
34 Appellees attacked the breach of contract claim individually as an alternate

argument in their Motion for Summary Judgment, see CR 115.

                                         9
volunteer immunity statutes for actions taken in their capacity as

volunteer board members—precluding all of Basaldua’s claims against

them.

        Specifically, the Motion for Summary Judgment states:

        In sum, the Association is a non-profit corporation in whose
        service the Volunteer Board Members cannot be held liable.
        Thus the Volunteer Protection Act is a statutory bar to
        Plaintiff’s claims against the Volunteer Board Members.35

        Basaldua erroneously interprets this language to mean that the

Motion for Summary Judgment only addressed breach of contract. The

language does not single out one claim; it states that volunteer

immunity is a bar to all claims. Appellees argued that “the Volunteer

Protection Act is a statutory bar to Plaintiff’s claims against the

Volunteer Board Members,” using the plural of the word “claim,”

thereby indicating that the Volunteer Protection Act is a statutory bar

to all of Basaldua’s claims—fraud, tortious interference with an

existing contract, tortious interference with prospective relations,

breach of contract, and aiding and abetting. Accordingly, Appellees’

Motion for Summary Judgment addressed all claims brought by

35   CR 119.

                                    10
Basaldua and the trial court did not abuse its discretion in granting the

Motion for Summary Judgment as to all of the claims.

      D.     The trial court’s Order disposed of all of Basaldua’s
             claims against the Farinaccis

      The Order signed by the trial court states “this Order disposes of

all Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants.”36 Although the Order does

not state that volunteer immunity precludes all claims, where a court

does not specify the grounds upon which it granted summary judgment,

summary judgment will be affirmed if any of the theories advanced are

meritorious.37 The burden is on the party appealing to show that each

independent argument alleged in the motion for summary judgment is

insufficient to support the trial court’s order.38 Basaldua has not met

(and cannot meet) this burden.

36 CR 191 (emphasis added).
37 Lang v. City of Nacogdoches, 942 S.W.2d 752, 757 (Tex. App.—Tyler 1997, writ
denied); Industrial Co. of N. Am. v. Security Ins. Co., 790 S.W.2d 407, 410
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1990, no writ) (emphasis added); see State Farm
Fire & Casualty Co. v. S.S., 858 S.W.2d 374 (Tex. 1993); Cincinnati Life Ins. Co. v.
Cates, 927 S.W.2d 623, 626 (Tex. 1996); Carr v. Brasher, 776 S.W.2d 567, 569 (Tex.
1989); Rogers v. Ricane Enters. Inc., 772 S.W.2d 76, 79 (Tex. 1999); Insurance Co. of
North America v. Security Ins. Co., 790 S.W.2d 407, 410 (Tex. App.—Houston
[1st Dist.] 1990, no writ).
38 Tilotta v. Goodall, 752 S.W.2d 160, 161 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1988, writ

denied); McCrea v. Cubilla Condominium Corp., 685 S.W.2d 755, 757 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] 1985, writ ref’d n.r.e.).

                                         11
        The Federal and State volunteer immunity statutes bar all claims

against volunteers of nonprofit corporations when the volunteers are

acting in their volunteer capacities. Here, the conduct complained of is

that Appellees stopped construction on the Skeltons’ house because the

Skeltons failed to obtain approval from the ACC, as required under the

deed restrictions for the Clear Springs community. Appellees, acting as

volunteer board members, were enforcing the deed restrictions.39 At all

times relevant to this matter, Appellees were acting on behalf of the

Association and protecting the interests of the homeowners in the

community. Therefore, the volunteer immunity statutes are implicated.

Because the statutes protect volunteers like Appellees, the defense of

volunteer immunity has merit as to all claims brought by Basaldua.

        The granting of Appellees’ Motion for Summary Judgment

disposing of all claims should be affirmed because the trial court did not

abuse its discretion in finding that the Federal and State volunteer

immunity statutes bar Basaldua’s claims.

39   CR 4–5.

                                    12
II.   THE MANNER IN WHICH BASALDUA REFERS TO A
      DEFENDANT DOES NOT REMOVE THE STATUTORY
      PROTECTION OF VOLUNTEER IMMUNITY.

      Basaldua claims “the trial court abused its discretion in granting

Appellees’ Motion for Summary Judgment when the trial court lacked

personal jurisdiction.”40 Basaldua bases this argument on the fact that

he identified Appellees as “individuals” in his pleadings and not

“volunteer board members.”41 Basaldua’s argument is without merit.

      The manner in which Basaldua chooses to refer to a defendant

does not change the underlying conduct that forms the basis of his

complaint – which is what must be considered in applying the volunteer

immunity statutes.42             Basaldua alleged that Appellees—acting as

president and officers of the Association—interfered with his contract to

construct improvements by stopping work because the construction

plans were not submitted for approval.43

      The Federal Act only requires that “the volunteer was acting

within the scope of the volunteer’s responsibilities in the nonprofit

organization or governmental entity at the time of the act or

40 See Appellant’s Brief at 1.
41 Id. at 3.
42 Tex. R. Civ. P. 71.
43 CR 4–5.

                                         13
omission.”44 Likewise, the Texas Act only requires that the “action

taken or omission made by the officer [is] in the person’s capacity as an

officer.”45 Basaldua’s pleadings established that each individual

defendant he sued lives in Texas and is therefore, subject to the

jurisdiction of Texas courts.46 Because Basaldua established personal

jurisdiction over Appellees in his pleadings,47 and he sued for actions

taken as volunteer board members, the court had jurisdiction to find

that the Federal and State volunteer immunity statutes barred

Basaldua’s claims.

      Moreover, it is well settled in Texas that courts look to the

substance of the pleadings and relief sought to determine the nature of

the claim, not merely the form of the title given to it.48 The same is true

regarding the way a plaintiff decides to refer to a defendant.

      Basaldua sued Appellees in their individual capacity for actions

they took in their capacity as volunteer board members. Basaldua

44 See 42 USC § 14503.
45 Tex. Bus. Org. Code § 22.235.
46 CR 4–5.
47 CR 2–3.
48 Tex. R. Civ. P. 71; State Bar of Texas v. Heard, 603 S.W.2d 829, 833 (Tex. 1980);

Ryland Enter. v. Weatherspoon, 355 S.W.3d 664, 666 (Tex. 2011) (holding that a
court will look to the contents of the document and not merely the title giving to the
motion).

                                         14
argues that because he did not sue the Association or say the exact

words “volunteer board members” that the volunteer immunity statutes

are not applicable. Basaldua is wrong. Following Basaldua’s reasoning

would lead to an absurd result. Under Basaldua’s logic, all a plaintiff

would have to do is include the word “individual” in his pleadings and

avoid the term “volunteer” to circumvent the volunteer immunity

statutes. This would allow a plaintiff to circumvent the intended

application of the defense of the immunity statutes when the conduct at

issue is in fact protected—this is not what the legislature intended.

     The trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding that the

defense of volunteer immunity was a bar to all of Basaldua’s claims.

The manner a plaintiff chooses to refer to a defendant does not remove

statutory protection.

                            CONCLUSION

     The trial court did not abuse its discretion in granting Appellees’

Motion for Summary Judgment dismissing all claims because the

Federal Volunteer Protections Act and Texas Non-Profit Corporation

Act bar all of Basaldua’s claims against Appellees. The trial court was

                                   15
correct in entering an Order dismissing all claims, as volunteer

immunity is meritorious as to all claims brought against Appellees.

     In addition the absence of the term “volunteer” in his pleadings is

irrelevant because the volunteer immunity statutes do not look to how a

plaintiff chooses to refer to a defendant, but to the conduct that is the

basis of the lawsuit. Because the conduct complained of by Basaldua is

within the scope of the volunteers’ duties, the volunteers are not liable

as a matter of law and the trial court did not abuse its discretion.

                                PRAYER

     For these reasons, Appellees George Farinacci, LaDona Farinacci,

and Jim House respectfully request this Court affirm the trial court’s

Order dismissing all of Appellant’s claims against them.

                                    16
                      Respectfully submitted,
                      ROBERTS MARKEL WEINBERG BUTLER HAILEY PC

                      ____________________________________
                      FRANK O. CARROLL III
                      TBA No. 24082785
                      MIA B. LORICK
                      TBA No. 24091415
                      2800 Post Oak Blvd, 57th Floor
                      Houston, TX 77056
                      Tel: (713) 840-1666
                      Fax: (713) 840-9404
                      fcarroll@rmwbhlaw.com
                      mlorick@rmwbhlaw.com
                      ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES
                      GEORGE FARINACCI,
                      LADONA FARINACCI, AND JIM HOUSE

                 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

     Pursuant to Rule 9.4 i(3) of the Texas Rules of Appellate

Procedure, I certify that the word count in this Appellees’ Brief is 3,946

words.

                                  _________________________________
                                  FRANK O. CARROLL III

                                   17
                   CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

      I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the      foregoing
instrument was served upon the parties listed below by         facsimile,
messenger, regular U.S. Mail, certified mail, return receipt   requested
and/or electronic service in accordance with the Texas          Rules of
Appellate Procedure on this the 21st day of May, 2015.

     Ray Basaldua
     PO Box 1982
     Lytle, Texas 78052

                           _____________________________________
                           FRANK O. CARROLL III

                                 18