Court Opinion

ID: 3109762
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 06:38:16.13781+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:52:15.345177
License: Public Domain

REVERSE, RENDER, and REMAND; and Opinion Filed May 15, 2013.

                                       S  In The
                              Court of Appeals
                       Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                    No. 05-12-00575-CV

    BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OF METROPOLITAN DALLAS, INC., Appellant
                                V.
                        LLOYD WARD, Appellee

                      On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 3
                                  Dallas County, Texas
                          Trial Court Cause No. CC-11-03357-C

                                         OPINION
                        Before Justices Moseley, Fillmore, and Myers
                                 Opinion by Justice Fillmore
       This accelerated interlocutory appeal arises from a defamation and negligence action

brought by Lloyd Ward (Ward) against the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Dallas, Inc.

(the BBB). The BBB moved to dismiss the action pursuant to the Texas Citizens Participation

Act (TCPA) which provides a means for dismissal of actions involving the exercise of certain

constitutional rights. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. §§ 27.001–.011 (West Supp.

2012). In a written order, the trial court denied the motion to dismiss. We conclude we have

jurisdiction over this appeal, and that the trial court erred by denying the BBB’s motion to

dismiss. We reverse the trial court’s order and render judgment granting the BBB’s motion to

dismiss pursuant to the TCPA. We remand this case to the trial court for further proceedings

consistent with section 27.009(a) of the civil practice and remedies code and for further

proceedings relating to the claims of Lloyd Ward & Associates, P.C. (the Ward Law Firm).
                                         Background

       The BBB, a nonprofit corporation founded in 1920, states that its goal and primary

mission is to promote ethical business practices through voluntary self-regulation by businesses.

The BBB provides several services to the general public, including publication of consumer

alerts, publication of business reviews, and complaint processing.        The BBB states the

information it provides to the general public enables consumers to make informed decisions in

marketplace transactions.

       The BBB publishes business reviews relating to both accredited and non-accredited

businesses in its territory.   According to Christopher Burgess, vice president and chief

compliance officer of the BBB, a business review may contain a letter grade rating of the

business ranging from “A+” to “F,” representing the BBB’s opinion of the business. The rating

is the computer-generated product of a “grading system” comprised of sixteen elements,

including the number of complaints against the business, whether the business responds to the

complaints, and whether the complaints are resolved. Under the “grading system,” points are

deducted when a business fails to respond to or to resolve a complaint. A business rating may

change as new data is added to the BBB computer program.

       According to Lee Stallings, vice president–director of the complaint resolution

department of the BBB, if a consumer complaint satisfies the BBB’s intake procedures, the

complaint will be forwarded to the business for a response. Under the BBB’s policies, the

business has twenty-two days to respond to the complaint. Between June 21, 2010 and February

11, 2011, the BBB received eighteen complaints concerning the Ward Law Firm. Of those

complaints, six did not meet the BBB’s intake procedures, were determined to be invalid, were

not forwarded to the Ward Law Firm, and did not factor into the BBB’s business rating of the

Ward Law Firm. The remaining twelve complaints were forwarded by the BBB to the Ward

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Law Firm. The BBB received responses to eleven of those complaints from the Ward Law Firm,

and the BBB closed eight complaints as either resolved or assumed resolved. Three of the

twelve complaints were closed as unresolved.

           According to Burgess, on January 6, 2010 and January 25, 2010, the BBB made a

standard business inquiry to the Ward Law Firm but no response was received from the firm.

Stallings stated that, based “primarily” on the one unanswered complaint and the three

unresolved complaints, the BBB assigned a business rating of “F” to the Ward Law Firm on

February 11, 2011. According to Burgess, the “F” rating was published in the BBB’s business

review of the Ward Law Firm, with “standardized text used for this situation.” The business

review stated that factors that lowered the business rating included one or more unanswered

complaints. According to Stallings, between the BBB’s business review of the Ward Law Firm

on February 11, 2011 and May 4, 2011, the BBB received thirteen more complaints concerning

the firm. The BBB did not receive a response from the Ward Law Firm to two of those

complaints.

           On May 13, 2011, the Ward Law Firm filed a lawsuit against the BBB based upon the

BBB’s business rating of “F” assigned to the firm. On January 25, 2012, an amended petition

was filed in which Ward was added as a plaintiff. 1 The Ward Law Firm and Ward asserted

causes of action against the BBB for statutory and common law libel, common law slander,

negligence, and gross negligence and sought a permanent injunction preventing the BBB from

including the Ward Law Firm or Ward in the BBB’s business listing service, “electronic or

otherwise.” The BBB filed a motion to dismiss Ward’s claims under the TCPA. The BBB

argued it was entitled to dismissal of Ward’s individual lawsuit because (1) Ward’s claims are

     1
       According to Ward’s response to the BBB’s motion to dismiss, “Plaintiff instituted a civil action” against the BBB in March 2010 based
upon the BBB’s “F” business rating of the Ward Law Firm, and in April 2010, the BBB and “Plaintiff” entered into a settlement, the BBB
removed the “F” business rating of the Ward Law Firm, and “Plaintiff” dismissed that lawsuit. It is unclear whether the “plaintiff” in the prior
lawsuit was the Ward Law Firm or Ward.

                                                                     –3–
based on, related to, or in response to the BBB’s exercise of its right of free speech, and (2) Ward

could not establish by clear and specific evidence a prima facie case for each element of his

claims. Without stating the basis for the ruling, the trial court signed a written order denying the

BBB’s motion to dismiss Ward’s claims.

                                           Jurisdiction

       Ward filed a motion to dismiss this interlocutory appeal.           Relying on Jennings v.

Wallbuilder Presentations, Inc., 378 S.W.3d 519 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2012, pet. filed), Ward

contends chapter 27 of the civil practice and remedies code does not provide for an interlocutory

appeal from a trial court’s written ruling on a motion to dismiss and, as a result, this Court does

not have jurisdiction to consider the BBB’s appeal. In our opinion in Better Business Bureau of

Metropolitan Dallas, Inc. v. BH DFW, Inc., No. 05-12-00587-CV, slip op. at 9–11 (Tex. App.—

Dallas May 15, 2013, no pet. h.), issued contemporaneously with our opinion in this case, we

disagreed with Jennings and concluded we have jurisdiction over an interlocutory appeal from a

timely signed order denying a motion to dismiss under the TCPA. Therefore, we reject Ward’s

argument to the contrary.

       Ward further argues in support of his motion to dismiss this interlocutory appeal that the

BBB’s motion to dismiss pursuant to chapter 27 was untimely filed because it was not filed

within sixty days of service of the legal action filed by the Ward Law Firm against the BBB. See

TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 27.003(b) (motion to dismiss a legal action under this

section must be filed not later than the sixtieth day after the date of service of the legal action).

We are not persuaded by Ward’s second argument.

       The Ward Law Firm’s original petition against the BBB was filed on May 13, 2011, prior

to the June 17, 2011 effective date of chapter 27. See Act of June 17, 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., ch.

341, § 3, 2011 Tex. Gen. Laws 960, 963 (“The change in law made by this Act applies only to a

                                                –4–
legal action filed on or after the effective date [June 17, 2011] of this Act. A legal action filed

before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before that date,

and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.”). After the effective date of the TCPA,

Ward was added as a party plaintiff in the amended petition filed January 25, 2012. The

definition of “legal action” in the statute is broad and evidences a legislative intent to treat any

claim by any party on an individual and separate basis. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN.

§ 27.001(6) (“Legal action” means a lawsuit, cause of action, petition, complaint, cross-claim, or

counterclaim or any other judicial pleading or filing that requests legal or equitable relief.”).

Accordingly, when Ward served the BBB with an amended petition asserting his individual

claims, the BBB had sixty days from service to seek dismissal of Ward’s individual claims

pursuant to chapter 27. The record confirms that the BBB’s motion to dismiss sought dismissal

of Ward’s individual claims and did not seek dismissal of the Ward Law Firm’s claims against

the BBB. It is undisputed that the BBB filed its motion to dismiss Ward’s individual claims

within sixty days of service of the amended petition which added Ward as a plaintiff. We

conclude this Court has jurisdiction over this interlocutory appeal of the trial court’s order

denying the BBB’a motion to dismiss Ward’s individual claims under the TCPA.

                                             Analysis

       In its sole issue, the BBB argues the trial court erred by denying the BBB’s motion to

dismiss under the TCPA. Resolution of this issue turns on whether the TCPA applies to business

ratings made by the BBB.

                                       Standard of Review

       We review questions of statutory construction de novo. Molinet v. Kimbrell, 356 S.W.3d
407, 411 (Tex. 2011). When construing a statute, our primary objective is to ascertain and give

effect to the Legislature’s intent. TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 312.005 (West 2005); Molinet, 356

                                                –5–
S.W.3d at 411. “We look first to the statute’s language to determine that intent, as we consider it

‘a fair assumption that the Legislature tries to say what it means, and therefore the words it

chooses should be the surest guide to legislative intent.’” Leland v. Brandal, 257 S.W.3d 204,

206 (Tex. 2008) (quoting Fitzgerald v. Advanced Spine Fixation Sys., Inc., 996 S.W.2d 864, 866

(Tex. 1999)); see also Molinet, 356 S.W.3d at 411. We consider the statute as a whole rather

than focusing upon individual provisions. TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co. v. Combs, 340 S.W.3d
432, 439 (Tex. 2011). If a statute is unambiguous, we adopt the interpretation supported by its

plain language unless such an interpretation would lead to absurd results. Id. (citing Tex. Dep’t

of Protective & Regulatory Servs. v. Mega Child Care, 145 S.W.3d 170, 177 (Tex. 2004)).

                    Applicability of the TCPA to the BBB’s Business Review

       In our opinion in BH DFW, Inc., issued contemporaneously with this opinion, we

concluded the BBB’s business review, including an “F” rating of a business, related to a good,

product, or service in the marketplace and, therefore, related to a matter of public concern as

defined by the TCPA. See BH DFW, Inc., No. 05-12-00587-CV, slip. op. 12; see also TEX. CIV.

PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 27.001(7)(E). We further concluded the BBB’s communication of

the business review to the public was an exercise of the BBB’s right to free speech as defined by

the TCPA. See BH DFW, Inc., No. 05-12-00587-CV, slip. op. 13; see also TEX. CIV. PRAC. &

REM. CODE ANN. § 27.001(3) (“‘Exercise of right to free speech’ means a communication made

in connection with a matter of public concern.”); Avila v. Larrea, No. 05-11-01637-CV, 2012
WL 6633994, at *8 (Tex. App.—Dallas Dec. 18, 2012, pet. filed) (applying TCPA to defamation

claim brought by attorney against television station and reporter); Newspaper Holdings, Inc. v.

Crazy Hotel Assisted Living, Ltd., No. 01-12-00581-CV, 2013 WL 1867104, at *7 (Tex. App.—

Houston [1st Dist.] May 2, 2013, no pet. h.) (applying TCPA to claims for defamation, business

                                               –6–
disparagement, and tortious interference with contract against newspaper and source for

information contained in newspaper articles).

       Because the TCPA applies to a business review communicated to the public by the BBB,

Ward had the burden of establishing by clear and specific evidence a prima facie case for each

essential element of his claims. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 27.005(c). The

TCPA provides no guidance as to the quantum of proof necessary to constitute clear and specific

evidence of a prima facie case for each essential element of a claim. Ward, however, failed to

argue in his appellate brief that he established by clear and specific evidence a prima facie case

for each essential element of any of his claims for statutory and common law libel, common law

slander, negligence, and gross negligence in response to the BBB’a motion to dismiss before the

trial court. Rather, he contends on appeal that “[b]ecause the BBB was not entitled to seek

protection under Chapter 27 from [Ward’s] claims, [Ward] was not required to demonstrate the

essential elements” of his claims. Ward’s argument is that the BBB did not meet its burden to

show by a preponderance of the evidence that Ward’s claims are based on, relate to, or are in

response to the BBB’s exercise of its right of free speech, and, therefore, the burden did not shift

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

of his claims. Further, in his response in the trial court to the BBB’s motion to dismiss, Ward

included no argument pertaining to his negligence or gross negligence claims or his request for a

permanent injunction. In support of his defamation claims, he merely set out the elements of the

claims, and concluded after a discussion of the elements of defamation that “the actions by [the

BBB] are defamation per se, and [the BBB is] liable for damages as a jury may determine are

appropriate.” He cited no evidence to support each element of his defamation claims.

       We conclude the TCPA applied to Ward’s claims against the BBB. Further, we conclude

Ward failed to carry his burden under the TCPA to establish by clear and specific evidence a

                                                –7–
prima facie case for each essential element of his claims. Accordingly, the trial court erred by

denying the BBB’s motion to dismiss under the TCPA.

                                          Conclusion

       We conclude we have jurisdiction over this interlocutory appeal.       Additionally, we

resolve the BBB’s sole issue in its favor. We reverse the trial court’s order, render judgment

dismissing Ward’s claims against the BBB pursuant to the TCPA, and remand this case to the

trial court for further proceedings consistent with section 27.009(a) of the civil practice and

remedies code, see TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 27.009(a), and for further proceedings

relating to Lloyd Ward & Associates, P.C.’s claims against the BBB.

                                                    /Robert M. Fillmore/
                                                    ROBERT M. FILLMORE
                                                    JUSTICE

120575F.P05

                                              –8–
                                         S
                                Court of Appeals
                         Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                        JUDGMENT

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OF                            On Appeal from the County Court at Law
METROPOLITAN DALLAS, INC.,                           No. 3, Dallas County, Texas
Appellant                                            Trial Court Cause No. CC-11-03357-C.
                                                     Opinion delivered by Justice Fillmore,
No. 05-12-00575-CV          V.                       Justices Moseley and Myers participating.

LLOYD WARD, Appellee

        In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, we REVERSE the trial court’s order
denying the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Dallas, Inc.’s motion to dismiss, RENDER
judgment dismissing this case pursuant to the Texas Citizens Participation Act, and REMAND
this case to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with section 27.009(a) of that act,
see TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 27.009(a) (West Supp. 2012), and for further
proceedings relating to the claims of Lloyd Ward & Associates, P.C.

       It is ORDERED that appellant Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Dallas, Inc.
recover its costs of this appeal from appellee Lloyd Ward.

Judgment entered this 15th day of May, 2013.

                                                     /Robert M. Fillmore/
                                                     ROBERT M. FILLMORE
                                                     JUSTICE

                                               –9–