Court Opinion

ID: 9400012
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-06-07 06:09:29.350567+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:41.624505
License: Public Domain

Dissenting Opinion Filed May 31, 2023

                                           In The
                                Court of Appeals
                         Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                   No. 05-21-00092-CV

            SIDNEY AND SHATIKA DAVIS, Appellants
                            V.
    HOMEOWNERS OF AMERICA INSURANCE COMPANY, Appellee

                On Appeal from the 160th Judicial District Court
                             Dallas County, Texas
                     Trial Court Cause No. DC-20-10727

                            DISSENTING OPINION
                               Justice Pedersen, III
      The majority reverses the trial court’s considered judgment on a basis not raised

before the trial court and not raised, much less briefed, before this Court. The majority

opinion is based on the trial court’s consideration of evidence attached to the parties’

pleadings. These attachments provide the only basis to determine when the appellants’

causes of action accrued and, therefore, when limitations expired. However, (1) any

objection to such consideration was waived in the trial court and not raised by any

party before this Court, (2) the majority improperly assigns error itself, holding that

the evidence should not be considered, and (3) the majority impermissibly reverses
the trial court’s judgment based on such unassigned error. I would affirm the trial

court’s judgment. I respectfully dissent.

        Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 33.1 Applies to Rule 91a Motions

        Rule 91a prohibits a trial court from considering evidence when ruling on a

Rule 91a motion, it but authorizes consideration of exhibits permitted by Rule 59. See

TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a.6 (“Except as required by 91a.7, the court may not consider

evidence in ruling on the motion and must decide the motion based solely on the

pleading of the cause of action, together with any pleading exhibits permitted by Rule

59.”); TEX. R. CIV. P. 59.1

        Nonetheless, both appellants and appellee attached documents to their Rule 91a

filings, some of which were not permitted by Rule 59.2 Moreover, both sides argued

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1
   Rule 59 provides: “Notes, accounts, bonds, mortgages, records, and all other written instruments,
constituting, in whole or in part, the claim sued on, or the matter set up in defense, may be made a part of the
pleadings by copies thereof, or the originals, being attached or filed and referred to as such, or by copying the
same in the body of the pleading in aid and explanation of the allegations in the petition or answer made in
references to said instruments and shall be deemed a part thereof for all purposes. Such pleadings shall not
be deemed defective because of the lack of any allegations which can be supplied from said exhibit. No other
instrument of writing shall be made an exhibit in the pleading.” TEX. R. CIV. P. 59.
2
  Appellee attached exhibits to its consolidated general denial and motion to dismiss for baseless causes of
action, including: (1) the insurance policy on which appellants base their claims; (2) a November 20, 2017
letter from appellee to appellants, including an adjustor’s estimate and appellee’s payment to appellants; (3)
a March 1, 2018 letter from appellee to appellants, including an adjustor’s revised estimate and appellee’s
supplemental payment to appellants; (4) a March 14, 2018 letter from appellants’ counsel to appellee; (5) a
March 16, 2018 letter from appellee to appellants addressing appellants’ claim for additional policy benefits
including replacement of foam insulation in their attic; (6) a March 23, 2018 email from appellee’s vice
president to appellants’ counsel; (7) a July 21, 2020 demand letter and invocation of appraisal from appellants’
counsel to appellee; (8) a July 27, 2020 letter from appellee’s legal counsel to appellants’ counsel setting forth
the policy’s limitations provision and stating, “Your appraisal request is beyond the two years and one day
required by the Policy for filing suit and HOAIC declines to open the Claim at this time.”; (9) an August 5,
2020 email from appellee, copying appellants’ counsel and stating, “It has been over two (2) years (emphasis
added) since HOAIC anticipated moving forward with the appraisal process. . . Please also note that
contractual limitations have expired in terms of pursuing litigation on behalf of Sidney and Shatika Davis. . .

                                                     –2–
the evidentiary value of those attachments, without objection, in the hearing on the

motion to dismiss, and both sides requested the trial court to rule based on the

evidentiary value of the attachments.

        Appellants failed to object to appellee’s attaching evidence to its motion, to

appellee’s arguing the evidence at the hearing, or to the trial judge’s consideration of

the evidence. Indeed, the record demonstrates appellants themselves argued from the

beginning—in their court filings and at the hearing—that they should prevail based

on the evidentiary value of those attachments. Their motion for new trial contains

eight pages of argument—again based on the evidentiary value of those attachments—

that their claims are not barred by the statute of limitations.

        Issues not timely preserved for appeal are waived. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1

(requiring a timely request, objection, or motion that states the grounds for the ruling

with sufficient specificity to make the trial court aware of the complaint to preserve

error for appeal); see also Bay Area Healthcare Grp., Ltd., v. McShane, 239 S.W.3d

231, 235 (Tex. 2007) (per curiam) (to preserve error for appellate review, the

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
.”; (10) five petitions filed in other lawsuits; and (11) an affidavit signed by appellee’s general counsel with
attached resume addressing attorney’s fees.

  With their response to the motion to dismiss, appellants attached exhibits, including: (1) a May 9, 2018
demand letter and invocation of appraisal from their attorney to appellee; (2) an April 27, 2018 letter from
appellee’s attorney, Michael S. Wilson, to appellants’ counsel; (3) a July 21, 2020 demand letter and
invocation of appraisal from appellants’ counsel to appellee; (4) an August 4, 2020 email from appellants’
counsel to appellee’s vice president concerning appraisers and an umpire; (5) an October 6, 2020 invoice of
Gary Boyd for umpire services; and (6) the insurance contract upon which appellants’ lawsuit is based.

  Appellee attached an affidavit to its objections and reply in support of its motion to dismiss. The affidavit
asserted facts and stated the policy’s “suit against us” provision bars appellants’ claims against appellee.
                                                    –3–
complaining party must timely and specifically object and obtain a ruling.); Enriquez

v. Crain, No. 03-17-00363-CV, 2018 WL 3320986, at *2 (Tex. App.—Austin July

6, 2018, no pet.) (mem. op.) (rejecting effort by plaintiff to overturn Rule 91a

dismissal based on unpreserved complaint that Rule 91a did not apply to the

litigation).

       A party seeking to complain on appeal that a trial court improperly considered

evidence in a Rule 91 proceeding must preserve error in the trial court. Our sister court

in Amarillo addressed a trial court’s consideration of evidence in a Rule 91a

proceeding. See Owings v. Kelly, No. 17-20-00115-CV, 2020 WL 6588610, at *2 &

n.1 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Nov. 10, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.). The defendant therein

moved for dismissal based on res judicata. See id. at *1–2. The trial court asked for

the prior judgment at the hearing. See id. at *2 n.1. The appellant in Owings argued

on appeal that “Rule 91a was never intended to resolve factual and legal issues related

to an affirmative defense [i.e., res judicata] presented by a Defendant, especially when

the Defendant carries the burden of proof, thus requiring evidence—that is not allowed

in a Rule 91a Motion to Dismiss.” Id. at *2. The court of appeals held the plaintiffs

waived any complaint about the trial court’s consideration of evidence:

       That the court requested evidence (i.e., the prior judgment) at the hearing
       is rather clear. Equally clear is that the Owingses failed to object to the
       request. So, any complaint they had regarding the court’s request was and
       is waived.

                                         –4–
Id. at *2 n.1. As in Owings, the trial court here heard unobjected-to evidence on an

affirmative defense in a Rule 91a proceeding before dismissing the case. Here, the

majority should have similarly concluded that any issue concerning unobjected-to

evidence is waived.

      Similarly, this Court has recognized the requirement of preserving error when

a trial court considers evidence in a Rule 91a proceeding. See Sw Airlines Pilots Ass’n

v. Boeing Co., No. 05-21-00598-CV, 2022 WL 16735379, at *7 (Tex. App.—Dallas

Nov. 7, 2022, pet. filed) (mem. op.). The defendant argued the plaintiff “did not

preserve its assertion that the trial court could not consider the exhibits to

[defendant’s] answer because [plaintiff] did not object to [defendant’s] argument that

the trial court could consider the exhibits.” Id. at *7 (citing TEX. R. APP. P 33.1(a)(1)

(to preserve error, party must object in trial court and obtain a ruling on the objection)).

We held the plaintiff preserved error by merely providing the trial court with the

standard of review in its Rule 91a response. See id. That didn’t happen in this case.

Unlike the plaintiff’s response in Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, appellants’

response to the motion to dismiss did not “notify the trial court” of the standard of

review. Also, it is impossible to read Southwest Airlines Pilots Association’s generous

preservation option as creating an exception to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure

33.1. Indeed, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association establishes that error must be

preserved.

                                           –5–
       I would follow this Court’s precedent in Southwest Airlines Pilots Association,

find guidance in Owings, and apply the law that appellants must preserve the issue for

appellate review. See Sw Airlines Pilots Ass’n., 2022 WL 16735379 at *7; Owings,

2020 WL 6588610, at *2 & n.1. Because appellants failed to object in the trial court,

I would find the issue was not preserved for review and is therefore waived.

               The Majority Impermissibly Reverses the Trial Court’s
                          Judgment on Unassigned Error

       The Supreme Court of Texas has consistently held that the court of appeals may

not reverse a judgment on error not assigned by a party. See Pike v. Tex. EMC Mgmt.,

LLC, 610 S.W.3d 763, 782 (Tex. 2020) (“A court of appeals may not reverse a trial

court judgment on a ground not raised.”); see also TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(f).3 “Our

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
3 See also, e.g., Sw. Energy Prod. Co. v. Berry–Helfand, 491 S.W.3d 699, 726 (Tex. 2016) (“error in
the measure of contract damages, if any, was not properly before the court of appeals, and reversal
of the trial court’s judgment on that basis was improper.”); Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Murphy, 458
S.W.3d 912, 916 (Tex. 2015) (“A court of appeals commits reversible error when it sua sponte raises
grounds to reverse a summary judgment that were not briefed or argued in an appeal.”); Sonat Expl.
Co. v. Cudd Pressure Control, Inc., 271 S.W.3d 228, 236 (Tex. 2008) (“It is of course true that an
appellate court cannot reverse on a ground an appellant has never raised.”); Banda v. Garcia, 955
S.W.2d 270, 272 (Tex. 1997) (per curiam) (“Because Banda did not make this argument in the trial
court or in his brief in the court of appeals, the court of appeals could not reverse on this point.”);
Walling v. Metcalfe, 863 S.W.2d 56, 58 (Tex. 1993) (per curiam) (“We have held repeatedly that the
courts of appeals may not reverse the judgment of a trial court for a reason not raised in a point of
error.”); Garcia v. Robinson, 817 S.W.2d 59, 60 (Tex. 1991) (per curiam) (“The court of appeals
should not have reached this issue because the Robinsons did not raise it in the trial court or brief it
on appeal.”); Vawter v. Garvey, 786 S.W.2d 263, 264 (Tex. 1990) (per curiam) (“By reversing the
summary judgment on grounds which were neither raised at trial nor briefed or assigned as error on
appeal, the court of appeals created a conflict with this court’s decisions . . . . A court of appeals
may not reverse a trial court’s judgment in the absence of properly assigned error.”); San Jacinto
River Auth. v. Duke, 783 S.W.2d 209, 210 (Tex. 1990) (per curiam) (“A court of appeals may not
reverse a trial court’s judgment in the absence of properly assigned error.”); State Bar of Tex. v.
Evans, 774 S.W.2d 656, 658 n.5 (Tex. 1989) (per curiam) (“None of the arguments were raised by
Evans at trial or on appeal, and the court of appeals thus erred in raising these arguments sua sponte

                                                –6–
adversary system of justice generally depends ‘on the parties to frame the issues for

decision and assign[s] to courts the role of neutral arbiter of matters the parties

present.’” Pike, 610 S.W.3d at 782. “The rule that points not argued will not be

considered is more than just a prudential rule of convenience; its observance, at least

in the vast majority of cases, distinguishes our adversary system of justice from the

inquisitorial one.” Id. Appellate courts are authorized to consider unassigned

fundamental error, but the majority does not argue fundamental error exists. See Mack

Trucks, Inc. v. Tamez, 206 S.W.3d 572, 577 (Tex. 2006) (stating proposition and

noting, “We have described fundamental error as those instances in which error

directly and adversely affects the interest of the public generally, as that interest is

declared by the statutes or Constitution of our State, or instances in which the record

affirmatively and conclusively shows that the court rendering the judgment was

without jurisdiction of the subject matter.”).

       Accordingly, this Court’s precedent also prohibits our panels from reversing

trial court judgments based on unassigned, nonfundamental error. See Dall. Cnty. v.

Crestview Corners Car Wash, 370 S.W.3d 25, 56 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012, pet.

denied) (“Except for rare instances of fundamental error . . . an appellant complaint,

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
and basing its reversal on these grounds.”); Cent. Educ. Agency v. Burke, 711 S.W.2d 7, 9 (Tex.
1986) (per curiam) (stating, “The court of appeals reversed the trial court’s summary judgment on
grounds not properly before it” and remanding to the court of appeals “for review of the only point
of error properly before it.”); Samples Exterminators v. Samples, 640 S.W.2d 873, 875 (Tex. 1982)
(per curiam) (“The court of appeals erred in reversing the trial court’s judgment in the absence of
properly assigned error.”).

                                              –7–
must be assigned as error on appeal”); Selz v. Friendly Chevrolet, Ltd., 152 S.W.3d

833, 838 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2005, no pet.) (“We may not reverse a trial court’s

judgment in the absence of properly assigned error.”); Gallas v. Car Biz, Inc., 914

S.W.2d 592, 594 n.5 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1995, writ denied) (“An appellate court may

not reverse a judgment of a trial court for a reason not raised in a point of error.”).

      The Seventh Court of Appeals has recognized that the prohibition of reversing

on unassigned error applies to Rule 91a:

      Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 91a permits the dismissal of a lawsuit on
      the grounds that it has no basis in law or fact. TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a.1.
      However, it specifies that it is not applicable to actions brought under the
      Family Code or “a case governed by Chapter 14 of the Texas Civil
      Practice and Remedies Code.” Id. The latter encompasses civil actions
      initiated by prisoners who seek to prosecute their suit as paupers. TEX.
      CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 14.002. Ramirez and Herrod fell within
      that category. So, the TBPP could not invoke, nor could the trial court
      utilize Rule 91a to dismiss the action. Yet, because we cannot consider
      unassigned error, Pat Baker Co. v. Wilson, 971 S.W.2d 447, 450 (Tex.
      1998), and no one complains of this defect, we cannot rely on it to reverse
      the dismissal order.

Owens v. Ramirez, No. 07-15-00152-CV, 2015 WL 7422890, at *1 n.1 (Tex. App.—

Amarillo Nov. 19, 2015, pet. denied) (mem. op.). Consequently, the Seventh Court of

Appeals affirmed a Rule 91a dismissal in a case in which Rule 91a did not apply

because complaint of the “defect” was not assigned. The Supreme Court denied the

petition for discretionary review in Owens. If unassigned error could not be raised in

Owens to reverse a Rule 91a dismissal in which Rule 91a was inapplicable, then the

                                          –8–
unassigned error here—unobjected-to consideration of evidence—may not be a basis

for reversal by the majority.

      Owings, supra, correctly stated and applied the law:

      [I]t is not our job to develop arguments for the litigants, Sister Initiative,
      LLC v. Broughton Maint. Ass'n, Inc., No. 02-19-00102-CV, 2020 WL
      726785, at *29, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 1243, at *85 (Tex. App.—Fort
      Worth Feb. 13, 2020, pet. denied) (mem. op.), or figure out ways which
      may lead to a better ending for them. Instead, we are “‘constrained by
      what arguments appear in the parties' briefs.’” Ridge Nat. Res., L.L.C. v.
      Double Eagle Royalty, L.P., 564 S.W.3d 105, 125 (Tex. App.—El Paso
      2018, no pet.) (quoting Hogg v. Lynch, Chappell & Alsup, P.C., 553
      S.W.3d 55, 65 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2018, no pet.)).

Owings, 2020 WL 6588610, at *2 & n.1; see also Craaybeek v. Craaybeek, No. 02-

20-00080-CV, 2021 WL 1803652, at *5 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth May 6, 2021, pet.

denied) (mem. op.) (“[A]ppellate courts have no duty—or even the right—to perform

an independent review of the record and the applicable law to determine whether there

was error”; we cannot ‘make the party’s arguments for [hi]m, and then adjudicate the

case based on the arguments we have made on [his] behalf.’”); Gonzales v. Thorndale

Coop. Gin & Grain Co., 578 S.W.3d 655, 657 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2019,

no pet.) (“As the appellant, Gonzales bore the responsibility to frame the issues and

argument for his appeal; and we have no discretion to create an issue or argument not

raised in appellant’s brief.”).

      The Texas Supreme Court has admonished that “we should not stretch for a

reason to reverse that was not raised.” See Del Lago Partners, Inc. v. Smith, 307

S.W.3d 762, 776 (Tex. 2010) (even if petitioner had preserved ground for reversal in
                                         –9–
the trial court, the ground was not mentioned in petitioner’s appellate briefing and

“was waived.”). Contrary to Del Lago Partners, Inc., the majority does exactly that.4

                                     The Merits of the Appeal

          This appeal involves the denial and handling of a claim made under a

homeowner’s insurance policy. Appellants complain the trial court abused its

discretion by (1) dismissing their claims pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure

91a and (2) denying their motion for new trial.5 We should overrule both of appellants’

issues and affirm the trial court’s judgment.

          Appellee Homeowner of America Insurance Company issued a homeowner’s

insurance policy to appellants Sidney and Shatika Davis. The policy was effective

March 1, 2017, to March 1, 2018. Hail damaged appellants’ property on May 30, 2017.

Appellants made a claim for the hail damage to appellee on November 6, 2017.

          Appellee’s independent adjuster met with appellants’ contractor and inspected

the property. The inspection revealed hail damage to the exterior of the property.

There is no record of damage to foam insulation in the attic. Appellee paid the claim

and provided appellants a copy of the independent adjustor’s estimate with a

November 20, 2017 claim-decision letter. The letter stated the estimate was “for the

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
4
  The majority repeatedly claims the appellee failed to plead the affirmative defense of limitations. The
appellee certainly did so in a single nine-page pleading containing both the answer (a garden variety general
denial) and the 91a motion. This is expressly permitted by Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 85 and provided
sufficient “fair notice” for the issue to have been joined without objection. See Thomas v. 462 Thomas Family
Props., LP, 559 S.W.3d 634, 639 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2018, pet. denied).

5
    See TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a.

                                                  –10–
loss caused by hail.” The estimate made no reference to interior damage or to damage

to foam insulation in the attic.

      Following a reinspection, appellee issued a supplemental payment of

$11,591.53 and an estimate to appellants on March 1, 2018. The estimate addressed

“hail to roof,” “dwelling exterior,” “other structures/shed,” and “dwelling attic spray

foam.” Two handwritten notations accompanied the estimate for attic insulation. One

notation stated “subject to change” and was under an arrow pointing to the estimated

amount of $12,826.60 to remove and install “attic sprayed foam insulation.” Also

handwritten on the estimate was “need insulation bid + written stmt saying re-roof

will compromise foam currently in attic.” Appellee’s supplemental payment did not

include payment for removing and installing attic insulation.

      On March 16, 2018, appellee sent a letter to appellant Sidney Davis. The letter

stated the March 1, 2018 supplemental payment of $11,591.53 excluded payment of

$12,826.60 for attic insulation. Appellee stated it was investigating appellants’ claim

for additional policy benefits including replacement of foam insulation in the attic.

The letter addressed the claim for damage to attic insulation:

      We disagree that foam replacement is a reasonable and necessary cost of
      repair on your claim. Photos show spray foam insulation adhered to the
      roof decking and framing. There was no water damage. We have no
      reliable evidence that the foam insulation was reasonably expected to
      “fall part” or that it actually did fall apart during replacement of roof
      covering. If you have photos or evidence otherwise, please provide it to
      us. We will review any information you submit and determine if it
      changes our assessment.
                                              ...

                                        –11–
      We do not intend to waive any rights under the policy, at law or in equity,
      whether or not specifically addressed in this or our prior correspondence.

      On July 21, 2020, appellants’ attorney sent appellee a “demand letter and

invocation of appraisal.” On July 27, 2020, appellee responded to appellants’

correspondence and stated,

      Homeowners of America Insurance Company (“HOAIC”) previously
      accepted the Claim in part as set out in the adjuster’s estimate and Claim
      correspondence dated 03/01/2018. It rejected the Claim in part with
      respect to foam insulation as explained in correspondence dated
      03/16/2018.
                                             ...
      The loss adjustment remains as it was on 03/01/2018. HOAIC asserts that
      any loss adjustment should have been brought within the period provided
      by the Policy. Specifically, under Section I – Conditions, part 11, the
      Policy states:

      11. SUIT AGAINST US.

     No suit or action can be brought unless the policy provisions have been
     complied with. Suit or action brought against us must be started by the
     earlier of:

     a. Two years and one day from the date the claim is accepted or rejected
        by us; or

     b. Three years and one day from the date of the loss that is the subject of
        the claim.

      Your appraisal request is beyond the two years and one day required by
      the Policy for filing suit and HOAIC declines to open the Claim at this
      time. . . .

      On August 5, 2020, appellants filed this lawsuit against appellee for breach of

contract and anticipatory breach of contract, breach of the duty of good faith and fair

                                        –12–
dealing, violations of the Texas Insurance Code and the Texas Deceptive Trade

Practices–Consumer Protection Act (DTPA), fraud, and conspiracy.

      Appellee filed a motion pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 91a seeking

dismissal of all appellants’ claims subject to two-year periods of limitations. Appellee

also sought dismissal of appellants’ fraud claim. On October 21, 2020, the trial court

granted appellee’s motion, providing in its order, “Plaintiffs’ suit is dismissed in

whole.” On January 29, 2021, the trial court denied appellants’ motion for new trial.

This appeal followed.

      Under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 91a, “a party may move to dismiss a cause

of action on the grounds that it has no basis in law or fact.” TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a.1;

Okere v. Dall. Area Rapid Transit, No. 05-20-00489-CV, 2022 WL 500026, at *2

(Tex. App.—Dallas Feb. 18, 2022, no pet.) (mem. op.). Dismissal is appropriate under

Rule 91a “if the allegations, taken as true, together with inferences reasonably drawn

from them, do not entitle the claimant to the relief sought.” TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a.1; see

also Okere, 2022 WL 500026, at *2. “In ruling on a Rule 91a motion to dismiss, a

court may not consider evidence but ‘must decide the motion based solely on the

pleading of the cause of action, together with any [permitted] pleading exhibits.’” In

re Farmers Tex. Cnty. Mut. Ins. Co., 621 S.W.3d 261, 266 (Tex. 2021) (orig.

proceeding) (quoting TEX. R. CIV. P. 91a.6); Renate Nixdorf GMBH & Co. KG v. TRA

Midland Props., LLC, No. 05-17-00577-CV, 2019 WL 92038, at *4 (Tex. App.—

Dallas Jan. 3, 2019, pet. denied).

                                        –13–
      Rule 91a “permits motions to dismiss based on affirmative defenses.” Bethel

v. Quilling, Selander, Lownds, Winslett & Moser, P.C., 595 S.W.3d 651, 656 (Tex.

2020); see also In re Springs Condos., L.L.C., No. 03-21-00493, 2021 WL 5814292,

at *3 (Tex. App.—Austin Dec. 8, 2021, orig. proceeding) (mem. op.) (trial court could

grant Rule 91a motion to dismiss claims based on “limitations grounds”). When a

defendant alleges an affirmative defense as the basis for a motion to dismiss under

Rule 91a, the court may examine the defendant’s answer to determine whether the

defense is properly before the court. See Bethel, 595 S.W.3d at 656. If an affirmative

defense cannot “be conclusively established by the facts in [the] plaintiff[s’] petition”

and requires consideration of evidence, “such [a] defense[ ] [is] not a proper basis for

a [Rule 91] motion to dismiss.” Bethel, 595 S.W.3d at 656; see also In re Springs

Condos, L.L.C., 2021 WL 5814292 at *3. However, to complain on appeal that the

trial court considered evidence not authorized by Rule 91a, the complaining party

must timely object or the complaint is not preserved for appeal and is waived. See

Owings, 2020 WL 6588610, at 2 n.1.

      Appellate courts review the merits of a Rule 91a motion de novo because the

availability of a remedy under the facts alleged is a question of law, and the rule’s

factual-plausibility standard is akin to a legal-sufficiency review. See City of Dallas

v. Sanchez, 494 S.W.3d 722, 724-25 (Tex. 2016); Okere, 2022 WL 500026, at *2. In

conducting this review, appellate courts must construe the pleadings liberally in favor

of the plaintiff, look to the pleader’s intent, and accept as true the factual allegations

                                         –14–
in the pleadings to determine whether the cause of action has a basis in law and fact.

See Sanchez v. Striever, 614 S.W.3d 233, 239 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2020,

no pet.).

      In their first issue, appellants complain that the trial court abused its discretion

in granting appellee’s motion to dismiss their claims.

      Generally, the statute of limitations for a breach-of-contract action is four years

from the day the cause of action accrues. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN.

§ 16.051; Target Strike, Inc. v. Strasburger & Price, L.L.P., No 05-18-00434-CV,

2018 WL 6040022, at *13 (Tex. App.—Dallas Nov. 19, 2018, pet. ref’d.) (mem. op.).

The limitations period on a first-party insurance claim begins to run at the time the

insurer denies the claim under the policy. See Mangine v. State Farm Lloyds, 73

S.W.3d 467, 470 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2002, pet. denied) (citing Murray v. San Jacinto

Agency, Inc., 800 S.W.2d 826, 829 (Tex. 1990)). Parties may contract for a different

period of time in which a party may file a breach of contract action. See Jett v. Truck

Ins. Exch., 952 S.W.2d 108, 109 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1997, no writ).

      Here, the policy contained a contractual limitations period. The policy required

that appellants file a lawsuit by the earlier of (1) two years and one day from the date

the claim is accepted or rejected by appellee or (2) three years and one day from the

date of the loss that is the subject of the claim.

      According to appellants’ brief, “Here, Appellee Insurer rendered Appellee

Insurer’s final decision on the claim November 20, 2017.” Appellee also argues it

                                          –15–
denied appellants’ claim on November 20, 2017, and adds that the limitations period

began on that date.6 See Murray, 800 S.W.3d at 820; Mangine, 73 S.W.3d at 470.

Consequently, November 21, 2019, was the last day for appellants to file suit under

the policy’s two-years-and-one-day period. See Mangine, 73 S.W.3d at 470 (citing

Murray, 800 S.W.3d at 829).

        The policy’s alternate three-years-and-one-day limitation period began on the

date of loss, May 30, 2017, making May 31, 2020, the last day for appellants to file

their lawsuit under that provision. The policy specifies the earlier of the two dates, as

calculated under its alternate provisions—here, November 21, 2019—as the final date

on which appellants could file this lawsuit. Appellants concede that “appellants sued

after two years and one day after Appellee Insurer sent Appellants a settlement Letter.”

Appellants filed their lawsuit after November 21, 2019, on August 5, 2020, barring

their claim for breach of contract pursuant to the policy’s limitations provisions.

        Appellants argue the policy’s two-years-and-a-day limitations period is void

and that the statutory four-year contract limitations period applies. TEX. CIV. PRAC. &

REM. CODE ANN. § 16.051. They argue they filed their breach of contract claim within

four years of the date of loss. They rely on an opinion by the Third Court of Appeals.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
6
  Because the parties agree the claim was denied November 2, 2017, that issue is not raised for decision on
appeal. See Knox Mediterranean Foods, Inc. v. Amtrust Fin. Servs., No. 05-21-00296-CV, 2022 WL 2980705,
at *3 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 28, 2022) (mem. op.) (“To establish a limitations defense, the defendant must
(1) conclusively prove when the cause of action accrued, and (2) negate the discovery rule if it applies.”).
                                                 –16–
See Spicewood Summit Office Condos. Ass’n, Inc. v. Am. First Lloyd’s Ins. Co., 287

S.W.3d 461 (Tex. App.—Austin 2009, pet. denied). In Spicewood, a policy provided,

      No one may bring a legal action against [America First] under this policy
      unless:

      There has been full compliance with all the terms of this insurance, and

      a. The action is brought within 2 years and one day after the date on which
         the direct physical loss or damage occurred.

Id. at 465. The Spicewood court construed the policy in light of section 16.051(a) of

the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, which provides:

      [A] person may not enter a stipulation, contract, or agreement that purports
      to limit the time in which to bring suit on the stipulation, contract, or
      agreement to a period shorter than two years. A stipulation, contract, or
      agreement that establishes a limitations period that is shorter than two years
      is void in this state.

TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 16.051(a) (emphasis added); Spicewood, 287

S.W.3d at 464-65. The Spicewood court stated that a contractual limitations period, to

comply with Section 16.070(a), cannot end until after two years after the day the cause

of action for breach of the agreement had accrued. Spicewood, 287 S.W.3d at 465.

The policy in Spicewood provided its limitations period began on the date of loss—

not on the date the insurer denied a covered claim when a claim for breach of contract

would later accrue. Id. at 465-66. The policy also required the insured to provide the

insurer with notice of loss or damage and provided the insurer had fifteen days to

begin investigation of the claim. Id. at 466. “Therefore, Spicewood was not entitled to

file suit against America First under the policy on the date on which the direct physical

                                         –17–
loss or damage occurred because, without more, no breach of the insurance agreement

by America First had yet occurred, and Spicewood did not yet have a cause of action

for breach of contract.” Id. (quoting Murray, 800 S.W.2d at 828 (“[A] cause of action

generally accrues at the time when facts come into existence which authorize a

claimant to seek a judicial remedy.”). A trigger date, such as the date of loss, for a

two-year contractual limitations provision that precedes the date the cause of action

accrues will result in a “time in which to bring suit” that is shorter than two years in

violation of section 16.070(a) of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Id.

(citing TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 16.070(a)). The court held the

contractual limitations provision was void. Id. As a result, the court held that the four-

year statute of limitations governed Spicewood’s breach of contract claim. Id.

       Unlike Spicewood, the policy’s limitations period here did not facially shorten

the minimum contractual limitations period required by section 16.070(a). See TEX.

CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 16.070(a). In Spicewood the trigger date was the date

of loss, not the later accrual date of when the claim was denied. Here, the policy’s

trigger date on which the agreed limitations period begins is the earlier of (1) two

years and one day from the date the claim is accepted or rejected by appellee or (2)

three years and one day from the date of the loss that is the subject of the claim.

Appellants fail to explain why the policy language here, unlike the different policy

language in Spicewood, facially provides a limitations period of shorter than two

years, as prohibited by section 16.070(a) (providing that agreed limitations on a

                                         –18–
contract claim that is shorter than two years is void). The Spicewood problem—a

trigger date that begins the agreed limitations period on the date of loss rather than on

the date the claim is denied—is not presented by the policy here.7

          We should reject appellants’ argument that Spicewood and section 16.070(a)

are implicated here. The agreed limitations period here is not facially violative of

section 16.070(a), unlike the agreed period in Spicewood, and is not void.

Consequently, the four-year statute of limitations for a claim of breach of contract is

inapplicable.

          Appellants argue that the policy prohibited them from filing suit sooner than

they did. They argue the policy required them to complete an appraisal process before

filing suit and that the appraisal process was not completed.8 Appellants argue,

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
7
  Similarly distinguishable is Douskos v. Eden Park Ins. Co., No. CIV.A. A-01-CV-192 JRN, 2001 WL 99092
(W.D. Tex. 2001). The policy in Douskos contained an agreed limitations period similar to, but possibly more
restrictive, than that addressed in Spicewood. Id. at *2 (requiring full compliance with all terms of policy and
that action be brought within two years after date of loss or damage).
8
    The policy provides,

          Before you file or proceed with a suit or action against us concerning the amount of a loss
          payment

          a. You must provide us with written notice of your dispute and a copy of all existing repair
             bids estimates invoices receipts expense records inventories and photos that relate to the
             dispute

          b. You must make a written demand to use for appraisal of the amount of loss under Section
             I–Conditions part 7 and

          c. The appraisal must be completed as required by Section I–Conditions part 7

          These conditions precedent to suit or action may be waived only by a written agreement signed
          by you and us. If suit is filed prior to compliance with these precedent the parties agree to
          abatement of the lawsuit until these conditions precedent are fulfilled . . . .

                                                   –19–
         Here, Appellee Insurer rendered Appellee Insurer’s final decision on the
         claim November 20, 2017. However, Appellants were required to
         participate in appraisal prior to bringing suit—a remedy afforded to both
         parties. . . . A two-year contractual limitations provision trigger date
         preceding the date the cause accrues, as Appellee Insurer contends here,
         will result in a ‘time in which to bring suit’ shorter than two years, which
         violates the civil practice and remedies code section 16.070(a)

        We should reject appellants’ argument that the policy prohibited them from

filing their cause of action earlier than they did. The parties agree that appellee

denied appellants’ claim for damage to attic insulation on November 20, 2017.9 The

agreed limitations period began on that date. See Mangine, 73 S.W.3d at 470 (the

limitations period on a first-party insurance claim begins to run at the time the insurer

denies the claim under the policy) (citing Murray, 800 S.W.2d at 829). The appraisal

associated with the denial of appellants’ claim for damage to attic insulation

occurred November 15, 2017, five days before appellee denied the claim for

damages to attic insulation. The November 20, 2017 denial was based on the earlier

November 15, 2017 appraisal. We should conclude the policy’s requirement of an

appraisal was satisfied prior to the first day of the limitations period, unlike the

policy in Spicewood, and did not preclude appellants from timely filing suit.

Moreover, this Court has held that continued conduct or communications after denial

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
9
   As noted, appellee reiterated its denial in later correspondence with appellants or their attorney on March
1, 2018 (denying claim), March 16, 2018 (denying claim), April 27, 2018 (“HOAIC disputes Mr. Davis’s
allegations, including the amount of loss, and intends to proceed on a reservation of rights.”), and July 27,
2020 (asserting continued denial of claim, and declining request for appraisal because the request was made
after the policy’s period of limitations).
                                                  –20–
of an insured’s claim could not forestall or renew the limitations period. See Knox

Mediterranean Foods, Inc., 2022 WL 2980705, at *4.

      We should conclude the trial court did not err by dismissing appellants’ breach

of contract claim.

      The trial court also dismissed appellants’ claims for violations of the Texas

Insurance Code and the DTPA, for breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing,

and for conspiracy.

      The question of when a cause of action accrues is a question of law for the trial

court. See Ehrig v. Germania Farm Mut. Ins. Ass’n, 84 S.W.3d 320, 323 (Tex. App.—

Corpus Christi–Edinburg 2002, pet. denied) (citing Moreno v. Sterling Drug, Inc., 787

S.W.2d 3348, 351 (Tex. 1990)). A cause of action generally accrues, and the statute

of limitations begins to run, when facts come into existence that authorize a claimant

to seek a judicial remedy. Id. (citing Johnson & Higgins of Tex., Inc. v. Kenneco

Energy, Inc., 962 S.W.2d 507, 514 (Tex. 1998)). Appellants’ causes of action for

breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing and for violation of the Insurance

Code and the DTPA accrued when appellee denied coverage. See id.

      Appellants’ claims for breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing and for

violations of the DTPA and Texas Insurance Code are governed by two-year statutes

of limitations. See Ryan v. TX RCG, LLC, No. 05-21-00382-CV, 2022 WL 17261158,

at *3 (Tex. App.—Dallas Nov. 29, 2022, no pet.) (mem. op) (DTPA, citing TEX. BUS.

& COM. CODE ANN. § 17.563); Provident Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. Knott, 128

                                       –21–
S.W.3d 211, 221 (Tex. 2003) (breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing);

Jackson v. Gainsco, Inc., No. 05-16-01190-CV, 2018 WL 2979960, at *3 (Tex.

App.—Dallas June 14, 2018, no pet.) (mem. op.) (breach of duty of good faith and

fair dealing, citing TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 16.003(a), and violations of

the Texas Insurance Code, citing TEX. INS. CODE ANN. art. 541.162). Civil conspiracy

is not an independent tort, and its statute of limitations is that of the underlying tort.

Agar Corp., Inc. v. Electro Circuits Int’l, LLC, 580 S.W.3d 136, 143 (Tex. 2019)

(“[W]e hold civil conspiracy is not an independent tort and its statute of limitations is

that of the underlying tort[.]”).

        Appellants’ two-year claims accrued November 20, 2017. Appellants filed suit

August 5, 2020. Appellants’ two-year claims are barred because they filed them after

the periods of limitations had ended.

        We should reject appellants’ arguments that the trial court erred in dismissing

their claims for breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing; violations of the

DTPA and Texas Insurance Code; and conspiracy to commit these claims.

        Appellants complain the trial court erred in dismissing their fraud claim because

(1) appellee’s motion to dismiss did not address the fraud claim and (2) the breach of

contract claim should have remained viable.10

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
10
    A claim for fraud is governed by a four-year statute of limitations. See, e.g., Prime United Petroleum
Holding Co., LLC v. Malameel, LLC, No. 05-20-00032-CV, 2021 WL 3732668, at *3 (Tex. App.—Dallas
Aug. 24, 2021, no pet.) (mem. op.). Appellee did not seek dismissal of the fraud claim based on the four-year
statute.
                                                  –22–
        First, appellee’s motion to dismiss expressly addressed appellants’ fraud claim.

Paragraph 26 of the motion recites Rule 91a’s legal standards and concludes, “As

discussed in the preceding paragraphs, the Davis’ causes of action for . . . fraud . . .

have no basis in law or fact.” In Paragraph 24, appellee argued that “because the

Davises have asserted no independent injury, aside from the loss of benefits under the

Policy, their other causes of action which are derivative of the breach of contract, are

likewise invalid and should be dismissed with prejudice.”11 We should reject

appellants’ assertion that appellee failed to seek dismissal of the fraud claim.

        Second, appellants assert that the trial court abused its discretion in dismissing

the fraud claim “[b]ecause the breach of contract claim should remain viable[.]” As

concluded above, the trial court did not err by dismissing the contract claim due to

appellants’ filing the claim beyond the agreed period of limitations. That conclusion

refutes and is dispositive of appellants’ assertion that the fraud claim should survive

because the contract claim should survive.

        The record does not support either of appellants’ assertions concerning

dismissal of the fraud claim. We should reject appellants’ arguments that the trial court

erred by dismissing the fraud claim and the conspiracy claim related to the fraud claim.

We should conclude that the trial court did not err by dismissing those claims.

        We should overrule appellants’ first issue.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
11
  Appellee also attacked the fraud claim in its response brief in support of their motion to dismiss and at the
hearing on the motion to dismiss.
                                                   –23–
      In their second issue, appellants argue the trial court abused its discretion in

denying their motion for new trial.

      The standard of review of the denial of a motion for new trial is abuse of

discretion. See J & M Sales of Tex., LLC v. Sams, No. 05-15-00937-CV, 2016 WL

4039250, at *1 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 26, 2016, no pet.) (mem. op.) (citing Dugan

v. Compass Bank, 129 S.W.3d 579, 582 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.)) A trial

court abuses its discretion when it acts in an arbitrary or unreasonable manner, or if it

acts without reference to any guiding rules or principles. See id. Every reasonable

presumption will be made on review in favor of the trial court’s refusal of a new trial.

See El Dorado Motors, Inc. v. Koch, 168 S.W.3d 360, 368 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2005,

no pet.).

      Appellants argue the trial court abused its discretion in denying their motion for

new trial “since it granted Appellee Insurer’s Motion to Dismiss erroneously and

Appellants filed a Motion for New Trial timely.” They assert, “The court may grant a

Motion for New Trial without stating any reason other than ‘in the interest of justice.’”

They generally assert the trial court abused its discretion in denying their motion for

new trial because the trial court erroneously dismissed their claims.

      We should reject appellants’ assertion and conclude the trial court did not err

by dismissing appellants’ claims. That conclusion is dispositive of appellants’ general

assertion that the trial court abused its discretion in denying their motion for new trial

because the trial court erroneously dismissed their claims. Appellants fail to

                                         –24–
demonstrate good cause for granting a new trial. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 320 (“New trials

may be granted and judgment set aside for good cause . . . .”).

         The trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying appellants’ motion for

new trial.

         We should overrule appellants’ second issue and affirm the judgment of the trial

court.

         Accordingly, I respectfully dissent.

                                                    /Bill Pedersen, III/
210092df.p05                                        BILL PEDERSEN, III
                                                    JUSTICE

                                          –25–