Betty Sue Chavez v. Lisa Monique Davila and Juan Ortega

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: June 2, 2004
• Docket: 04-03-00377-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

DISSENTING OPINION No. 04-03-00377-CV Betty Sue CHAVEZ, Appellant v. Lisa Monique DAVILA and Juan Ortega, Appellees From the 73rd Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas Trial Court No. 2002-CI-06033 Honorable Pat Boone, Judge Presiding

Opinion by: Karen Angelini, Justice

Dissenting opinion by: Alma L. López, Chief Justice

Sitting: Alma L. López, Chief Justice

Paul W. Green, Justice

Karen Angelini, Justice

Delivered and Filed: June 2, 2004

I disagree with the majority's reliance on Zale Corp. v. Rosenbaum, 520 S.W.2d 889 (Tex. 1975), to support the proposition that Chavez had the burden to prove that she was of unsound mind. In Zale Corp., the court was commenting on a distinction made in Oram v. General Am. Oil Co., 513 S.W.2d 533 (Tex.1974). In Oram, the court noted a different burden of proof would be applicable if the non-movant had interposed an estoppel to avoid the limitations defense. 513 S.W.2d at 534. The court cited two cases in support of this proposition. In one case, the court held that the non-movant was required to come forward with proof raising a fact issue regarding fraudulent concealment. Nichols v. Smith, 507 S.W.2d 518, 521 (Tex. 1974). In the other case, the court held that the non-movant had the burden of producing evidence to raise a fact issue regarding its promissory estoppel defense. "Moore" Burger, Inc. v. Phillips Petroleum Co., 492 S.W.2d 934, 936-37 (Tex. 1973). None of these cases support the proposition that a non-movant has the burden of proving a tolling defense. In fact, the Texas Supreme Court has explained the reason the burden of proof is different in the summary judgment context.

In Woods v. William M. Mercer, Inc., 769 S.W.2d 515, 518 (Tex. 1988), the court noted that in a trial on the merits, the party asserting a tolling defense, like the discovery rule, has the burden of proving that defense because that party "will generally have greater access to the facts necessary to establish that it falls within the rule." Id. However, the court noted that this burden does not apply in summary judgment cases. Id. at 518 n.2. The court explained that the movant is required to conclusively negate the tolling provision in the summary judgment context because "'[t]he presumptions and burden of proof for an ordinary or conventional trial are immaterial to the burden that a movant for summary judgment must bear.'" Id. (quoting Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad Co. v. City of Dallas, 623 S.W.2d 296, 298 (Tex. 1981)). Moreover, in Woods, the court was commenting on the burden of proof in regard to the discovery rule, which the court expressly noted is a plea in confession and avoidance. 769 S.W.2d at 518. Therefore, the majority's reliance on the statement made in Zale Corp. to support the proposition that Chavez had the burden of proof is, in my opinion, misplaced.

The Texas Supreme Court has repeatedly stated that the movant has the burden of conclusively negating a tolling provision's application to show his entitlement to summary judgment. Diaz v. Westphal, 941 S.W.2d 96, 97 (Tex. 1997); Jennings v. Burgess, 917 S.W.2d 790, 793 (Tex. 1996); Woods, 769 S.W.2d at 518 n.2; see also DeRuy v. Garza, 995 S.W.2d 748, 751 (Tex. App.--San Antonio 1999, no pet.); see generally Timothy Patton, Summary Judgments in Texas § 9.04[2] (3rd ed. 2003) (noting limitations defense is not conclusively established until movant meets his burden of negating applicability of statute that tolls or suspends the running of limitations). The Texas Supreme Court has explained the reason the burden of proof is different in the summary judgment context. Woods, 769 S.W.2d at 518 n.2. Because the majority applies a burden of proof that is contrary to existing Texas Supreme Court precedent, I respectfully dissent.

Alma L. López, Chief Justice