B.G.C. v. M.Y.R.

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided October 9, 2020·No. 05-20-00318-CV·Published

Opinion

AFFIRMED and Opinion Filed October 9, 2020

S In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-20-00318-CV

B.G.C., Appellant V. M.Y.R., Appellee

On Appeal from the 429th Judicial District Court Collin County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 429-05292-2018

MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Molberg, Carlyle, and Browning Opinion by Justice Browning In 2013, appellant BGC (an Oregon resident)1 and appellee MYR (a Texas

resident) began a dating relationship. The relationship abruptly ended in 2017.

During the relationship, MYR sent intimate photographs of herself to BGC that she

intended to remain private. Subsequently, MYR discovered BGC’s family viewed

the photographs, and BGC secretly took other intimate photos of her during their

time together.

1 Although MYR’s original and amended petitions stated BGC lived in Washington, he testified during a deposition that he resides in Oregon. MYR brought the underlying lawsuit against BGC for invasion of privacy,

aiding and abetting the invasion of privacy, violating Texas Civil Practice and

Remedies Code sections 98B.002 and 143.001, and intentional infliction of

emotional distress. BGC filed a special appearance challenging personal

jurisdiction. After a hearing, the trial court denied BGC’s special appearance. 2

On appeal, BGC argues the trial court erred by denying his special appearance

because he did not have minimum contacts with Texas, and the exercise of personal

jurisdiction offends the traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice. We

disagree. For the reasons discussed below, we affirm the trial court’s order denying

BGC’s special appearance.3

Background

We begin by acknowledging that the pleadings and evidence in this case

involve facts of a sensitive nature to those involved, some of which are not relevant

to our jurisdictional analysis. We include only the relevant facts necessary to

determine whether BGC’s contacts with Texas support specific jurisdiction over his

person. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1.

2 The original lawsuit also included defendants ABC and KRC, appellant’s adult daughters who both saw one photograph of MYR and allegedly shared it with others. ABC is a resident of Washington, and KRC is a resident of Virginia. The trial court granted their special appearances and dismissed them from the suit. They are not before the Court on appeal. 3 Although BGC challenged both general and specific jurisdiction in the trial court, the parties agree only specific jurisdiction is at issue on appeal. We limit our analysis accordingly. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1. –2– BGC is a wealthy man who has repeatedly traveled to Texas through the years

for various business reasons and for amorous meetings with MYR. The two engaged

in a long-distance relationship for approximately three years. MYR believed the

relationship was monogamous, and they often discussed marriage. She described

the relationship as a “mature, private, long-distance, intimate relationship.”

When BGC visited MYR in Texas, he typically flew on his private jet, which

he landed, stored, and refueled at Dallas Love Field. He reserved and paid for hotel

rooms in Dallas where they met and engaged in intimate activities. When MYR

traveled to meet BGC in other locations, BGC paid for her airfare either through her

use of a credit card he provided to her or by wiring money into her Texas bank

account.

Due to the long-distance nature of the relationship, the two talked on the phone

daily. BGC called and texted MYR in Texas hundreds of times during the three-

year relationship.

As the relationship progressed, BGC encouraged MYR to send him intimate

photos. BGC provided MYR with a phone specifically for the purpose of sending

and receiving private, intimate photos. Although BGC did not remember telling

MYR he wanted a separate phone for sending and receiving pictures, “I did tell her

that I had another phone that I use only as a picture phone, that if she had photos she

wanted to send, she could send them to there.” MYR alleged BGC repeatedly

requested and pressured her to send intimate pictures of herself using the phone. He

–3– claimed he wanted the pictures because he loved her, he missed her, and the photos

would “forever be our private secret.”

MYR eventually acquiesced “because she was in love with BGC, they lived

in different cities, she believed they would be married and she trusted” him. She

believed the personal images “would forever be kept private, secure, and viewed

only” by BGC as he promised. BGC also sent MYR numerous unsolicited

photographs of his genitals with vivid descriptions of sexual acts. He sent the photos

to the phone he provided to her.

MYR later discovered, that in addition to the intimate photographs she sent

BGC, he secretly took naked photos of her while they stayed in hotel rooms in Texas.

In October 2017, MYR received a “Dear John” letter from BGC ending their

relationship. She never saw BGC again.

Two years after the break up, MYR filed suit. Relevant to this appeal, MYR

filed suit alleging (1) invasion of privacy, (2) violation of Texas Civil Practice and

Remedies Code section 98B.002, and (3) intentional infliction of emotional distress.

BGC filed a special appearance. After a hearing, the trial court denied BGC’s special

appearance. This interlocutory appeal followed.

Scope of Pleadings and Fair Notice Pleading Standard

Before considering whether MYR pleaded sufficient facts to bring BGC

within the personal jurisdiction of this state, we must determine the scope of the facts

–4– we may consider and whether her pleadings include the claims upon which her

jurisdictional facts rely.

Because the plaintiff defines the scope and nature of the lawsuit, the

defendant’s corresponding burden to negate jurisdiction is tied to the allegations in

the plaintiff’s pleading. Kelly v. Gen. Interior Const., Inc., 301 S.W.3d 653, 658

(Tex. 2010). The defendant has no burden to negate a potential basis for personal

jurisdiction when the plaintiff failed to plead it. Id.; Stocksy United v. Morris, No.

01-18-00924-CV, 2019 WL 6904546, at *6 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Dec.

19, 2019, no pet.). However, we have held the plaintiff’s original pleading as well

as the response to the defendant’s special appearance can be considered in

determining whether the plaintiff satisfied her burden. See Invasix, Inc. v. James,

No. 05-19-00494-CV, 2020 WL 897243, at *4 (Tex. App.—Dallas Feb. 25, 2020,

no pet.) (mem. op.); see also Flanagan v. Royal Body Care, Inc., 232 S.W.3d 369,

374 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, pet. denied) (considering response to special

appearance rather than limiting review to jurisdictional allegations in third party

petition); see also Alliance Royalties, LLC v. Boothe, 329 S.W.3d 117, 120–21 (Tex.

App.—Dallas 2010, no pet.).

In BGC’s brief, he argues MYR’s first amended petition did not plead a single

fact supporting her allegation that he invaded her privacy by surreptitiously taking

nude photos of her while in hotel rooms in Texas. Rather, MYR first included these

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