Court Opinion

ID: 9665852
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 00:58:16.864064+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:19.543910
License: Public Domain

TAFT, Justice,
dissenting.
As indicated in Justice Cohen’s opinion, I agree with the decision that the corporate survival statute controls. However, I disagree that appellant created a fact issue about whether TWH knew of his claim; therefore, because I would affirm the summary judgment, I respectfully dissent.
Appellant candidly pleaded that he was a “known potential claimant.” Justice Cohen’s opinion appears to agree that article 6.04 did not require a dissolving corporation to notify known potential claimants. Nevertheless, by treating the variance as a pleading problem, Justice Cohen’s opinion holds that it was waived by TWH’s failure to object or specially except, and by allowing the issue to be tried by consent. If the problem was only a pleading problem, I would agree.
However, I believe the problem here is more serious than a mere pleading problem. Appellant made no showing that he ever made a claim against TWH prior to its dissolution, much less that TWH knew about any such claim. Thus, appellant never raised a fact issue that he was a known claimant. I agree that appellant raised a fact issue that he was a “known potential claimant,” but, as Justice Cohen’s opinion appears to acknowledge, being a known potential claimant is not sufficient to require a dissolving corporation to give one notice.
Accordingly, I would affirm the trial court’s judgment. To the decision of a majority of this Court to reverse, I respectfully dissent.