Cowboys Concert Hall-Arlington v. Bruce Jones

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: May 1, 2014
• Docket: 02-12-00518-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS FORT WORTH

NO. 02-12-00518-CV

COWBOYS CONCERT HALL- APPELLANT ARLINGTON, INC.

V.

BRUCE JONES APPELLEE

----------

FROM THE 17TH DISTRICT COURT OF TARRANT COUNTY

MEMORANDUM OPINION 1

Appellant Cowboys Concert Hall–Arlington, Inc. (Cowboys) appeals from

the trial court’s judgment entered in favor of appellee Bruce Jones (Bruce) after a

jury verdict. We affirm the trial court’s judgment in part but reverse the trial

court’s gross-negligence and exemplary-damages judgment and render a take-

nothing judgment on those issues. We also reverse the trial court’s judgment

1 See Tex. R. App. P. 47.4. awarding past-medical expenses and render a judgment in the appropriate

amount. See Tex. R. App. P. 43.2(a), (c), 43.3.

I. BACKGROUND

A. COWBOYS AND ITS BOUNCERS

Cowboys is a large dance hall and nightclub in Arlington that has a dance

floor, a mechanical bull, a gaming area, a performance stage, and five bars

located on three levels. On a busy night, Cowboys draws approximately 1,500

people. Cowboys employees routinely ask an average of three to four people to

leave the club each night, and fights occur on a nightly basis. Further, the Texas

Alcohol and Beverage Commission (the TABC) has investigated multiple

“problems” at Cowboys, including employees possessing marijuana on the

premises and minors drinking alcohol in the parking lot.

All Cowboys employees are trained through the TABC to recognize when

customers have consumed too much alcohol. As part of its staff, Cowboys hires

“floormen,” which are commonly referred to as “bouncers.” Although Cowboys’

owner Michael Murphy stated that Cowboys tries to conduct background checks

on any bouncer it hires, a background check was not a part of the personnel file

of any of Cowboys’ employees. However, one bouncer had been told that a

background check had been completed before he was hired. The bouncers’

duties were to keep the facility clean, talk with the customers, maintain the “party

atmosphere through control,” and “watch for situations where people might be

getting a little heated and trying to start something.” Bouncers also were

2 required to break up fights in the club and to ask patrons that were “out of

control” to leave the club. The bouncers, who wear identifiable uniforms,

communicate with each other and local police by radio. Arlington required

Cowboys to have two uniformed police officers in the parking lot during business

hours.

As part of their training, bouncers were supposed to review Cowboys’

policy manual and then would be assigned to accompany a head bouncer for two

to three weeks, “and he would show them how to work their sections and what to

look for and what to do.” 2 The policy manual cautioned employees that physical

contact with customers should be avoided. Further, if an employee believed that

a customer must be physically removed, that employee was instructed to consult

with the manager about the next appropriate step. One of Cowboys’ former head

bouncers stated that he had never received a copy of the policy manual and that

he had not given one to the bouncers he trained.

B. BRUCE AND HIS FAMILY ARRIVE AT COWBOYS

On April 5, 2008, at approximately 10:15 p.m., Bruce and several of his

family members arrived at Cowboys: Kim Jones (Kim), Bruce’s wife; Jeremy

Jones (Jeremy), Bruce’s son; Brenda Long (Brenda), Bruce’s sister; Darren Long

(Darren), Brenda’s husband; and four of Bruce’s nieces and nephews. That

night, the lead bartender at Cowboys was Melany Jacoby, the head bouncer was

2 A Cowboys bouncer testified that this tag-along training lasted only one to two nights.

3 Randy Anderson, and the bouncers were Christopher McElroy, Chris Duncan,

and Aaron Transome. McElroy previously had voiced “concerns” to the

manager, Ryan Gurland, that Anderson “touched the patrons too much”;

however, Anderson continued to work at Cowboys as a head bouncer.

When Bruce and his family arrived at Cowboys, they decided not to start a

tab at the large bar by the entrance because they got a table near the dance

floor, which was closer to a different bar. Each table located in the dance-floor

area was near a small, elevated platform, which the drink waitresses occasionally

would dance on. The group had been drinking before they left for Cowboys and

continued drinking once they arrived. Jacoby noted that the group was happy

and laughing when they arrived. Once the group sat at the table, Bruce jokingly

pretended to try to get on the platform to dance with the drink waitress. The drink

waitress told him to stop, which Bruce did. 3 Bruce spent the majority of the night

at the table near the dance floor with Kim, Brenda, and Darren. Jeremy and the

other nieces and nephews did not stay at the table and were in other areas of the

club.

At approximately 11:15 p.m., Bruce and Jeremy approached the bar

Jacoby was stationed at. Jacoby noticed that they were “agitated” but she

served them two beers. After they left the bar area, she notified the bouncers to

3 Bruce testified that the drink waitress did not tell him to stop, and Darren stated that he did not hear the drink waitress say anything to Bruce. Brenda, however, heard the drink waitress tell Bruce to stop.

4 keep an eye on them because they seemed upset. Around that same time,

Bruce had returned to the table and expressed that he was ready to leave;

however, Darren convinced the group to stay until midnight.

C. JEREMY’S THREE STRIKES

McElroy averred that Jeremy was a problem that evening. At some point,

McElroy was called to a table near the dance floor because Jeremy was dancing

on the platform with a drink waitress. McElroy went to the platform and told

Jeremy to get down, which he did. Later, McElroy received a second call about

Jeremy again being on the platform. McElroy again got Jeremy to climb down

and told Jeremy if he did it again, the whole group would be asked to leave

Cowboys. The group told McElroy, “[I]t’s not a problem, we’ve got him.” A short

time later, however, McElroy again was called to the platform because Jeremy

had climbed back up to dance. When he got this third call, McElroy was “out

back” smoking marijuana with the mechanical-bull operator. McElroy went back

inside to the table and saw Jeremy “coming down” from the platform. Jeremy

told McElroy, “It’s going to take more than you to get me out of here.” When

Jeremy began to walk off, McElroy told Anderson and Duncan that Jeremy

“needed to call it a night” and asked them to escort Jeremy out of Cowboys.

D. DUNCAN CONFRONTS THE GROUP

No other evidence indicated that Jeremy’s behavior was the reason the

group was asked to leave Cowboys, and Jeremy denied being approached by a

bouncer that night. At some point, Bruce had left the foursome’s table to watch

5 the mechanical bull, which was on a different level of the club. When Bruce

returned to the table, which was about ninety minutes after Bruce’s previous

attempt to dance with the drink waitress, Duncan approached Bruce and asked

him to step off to the side. Duncan stated that he approached Bruce because he

had received a report that a man had fallen near the mechanical bull. Duncan

said that when he told Bruce that he needed to stop drinking, Bruce and his

family became hostile and cursed at him. Duncan then told them that they had to

leave the club.

Bruce, Kim, Darren, and Brenda all testified that Duncan approached

Bruce, asked Bruce to accompany him alone into a room, and would not explain

what the problem was. Bruce refused because he felt like “something was not

right.” Bruce, Brenda, Kim, and Jeremy felt threatened and decided to voluntarily

leave to avoid any trouble. Indeed, Darren believed the bouncers “were wanting

something to happen here.” Duncan used his radio to call for backup in escorting

the group out. Jeremy approached the table at this point, and Brenda told him

they all needed to leave. 4

The group (which included Bruce, Kim, Darren, Brenda, Jeremy, Duncan,

Anderson, and McElroy) began to head for the exit. Jeremy and Brenda walked

ahead of the others. Bruce and Kim followed approximately ten to thirty feet

4 Some testimony indicated that Bruce asked Brenda to find Jeremy and bring him to the exit. Either way, it was undisputed that Jeremy joined the group shortly after Bruce told Duncan they would leave.

6 behind Jeremy and Brenda, and Darren was in the rear. McElroy and Jacoby

stated that Anderson and Duncan were behind Jeremy. Bruce saw four

bouncers, including Duncan, walking with Jeremy and Brenda.

E. THE FIGHT5

As the group got close to the exit and the large bar near the door, Jeremy

mistakenly thought he needed to return to that bar to get his credit card. Duncan

testified that when Jeremy turned to go back to the bar, he hit Duncan in his left

eye. No one, including McElroy, saw Jeremy hit Duncan, and Jeremy denied

hitting Duncan. Indeed, pictures of Duncan taken after the fight did not show any

injury to Duncan’s eye. Jeremy testified that he raised his arm to point “like I got

to turn around and get the debit card.” Duncan tackled Jeremy down to the

ground. McElroy stated that when he assisted Duncan in stopping Jeremy from

“charging,” they fell to the ground. Anderson came in to help and restrained

Jeremy. At this point, Kim grabbed McElroy and yelled either “why are y’all doing

this to us” or “what did you do.” Duncan stated that he saw Kim “jumping on top

of” Anderson to get “them” off Jeremy, which Kim denied. Another bouncer came

to restrain Kim and remove her from Cowboys.

5 Of course, details of the fight vary widely from witness to witness. The events happened quickly and, presumably, adrenaline, alcohol, and marijuana played a large part, which do not lead to exactitude. Indeed, Cowboys describes the fight as a “chaotic situation.” Adding to this problem is the fact that the trial did not occur until four years after the event. We have attempted to point out major factual differences but it would be impossible and fruitless to point out each and every variance in an emotionally charged situation.

7 Anderson handcuffed a struggling Jeremy, 6 and Duncan got up to tell

Bruce to stay back. Duncan testified that Bruce then aggressively grabbed

Duncan’s shirt, Duncan grabbed Bruce’s hand, and they tumbled to the ground

together with Bruce landing on his back and Duncan landing on top of Bruce.

There was no testimony that Bruce ever hit, pushed, or kicked anyone. Jacoby,

Bruce, Kim, Brenda, and Darren all testified that when Bruce stepped forward to

tell Jeremy not to go back to the bar, Duncan tackled Bruce to the ground.

Likewise, Jacoby, who was standing near the incident, did not see Bruce grab

Duncan’s shirt. From this point forward, Bruce remembers nothing more of the

fight. Duncan turned Bruce over to his stomach, held his hands behind his back,

and kept his knee in Bruce’s back. At this point, Brenda, Jeremy, and Jacoby

saw that Bruce did not have any injuries.

Darren and Jeremy saw an unidentified person kicking at Bruce while he

was on the ground, but neither saw any actual contact because other patrons

had begun to congregate around the area. When Bruce was hauled up, Jeremy

saw that Bruce was “extremely bloody, and his eye was swollen.” Likewise,

Duncan noticed Bruce “was bleeding from multiple places” when he helped get

6 Because the bouncers were not allowed to carry handcuffs, the handcuffs belonged to the on-site police officers.

8 Bruce off the floor. 7 McElroy later noticed blood on the floor where Bruce had

been.

By the time the group finally was forced out of Cowboys, Jeremy was in

handcuffs in the back of a patrol car, Kim was in handcuffs, and Bruce was in

handcuffs sitting on the back of a golf cart. 8 It was disputed whether Bruce was

handcuffed inside Cowboys or after he was in the parking lot. Bruce suffered a

broken nose, some eye damage, and a head gash. Pictures taken of Bruce after

he was taken to the hospital showed that he had been badly battered. It was

discovered at the hospital that Bruce’s blood-alcohol content was above the legal

limit. A subsequent TABC investigation into the incident found that an

“aggravated breach of the peace” had occurred and that the TABC believed the

breach “could have been prevented by proper actions” by Cowboys.

F. THE LAWSUIT

Bruce filed suit against Cowboys based on allegations of negligence; gross

negligence; negligent hiring, supervision, and training; assault; and false

imprisonment. 9 During trial, Cowboys’ corporate representative could not

appear, which caused the parties to enter into an agreement and stipulation

7 Jacoby stated that McElroy helped Bruce up, while McElroy testified that he was with Jeremy the entire time. 8 No charges were filed against any of the three. 9 Bruce also raised claims under the Dram Shop Act and for intentional infliction of emotional distress but dismissed those claims before they were submitted to the jury.

9 regarding the jury charge on gross negligence. In short, Cowboys agreed not to

object to the wording of the gross-negligence jury question if Duncan and

Anderson were specifically named as the parties through whom gross negligence

could be imputed to Cowboys. Cowboys stated that it was “not agreeing . . . that

there’s proof for [the gross-negligence] submission” but that the agreement went

solely to the wording of the gross-negligence question.

The jury found that Duncan and Anderson were acting in the scope of their

employment during the incident and that the negligence of Cowboys, Bruce, and

Jeremy proximately caused the incident. These parties’ percentages of

responsibility were Cowboys at 70%, Bruce at 5%, and Jeremy at 25%. The jury

found that Duncan, while in the course and scope of his employment, assaulted

and falsely imprisoned Bruce. The jury found that Anderson did not assault or

falsely imprison Bruce but found that Anderson was grossly negligent and

imputed liability for Anderson’s gross negligence to Cowboys. The jury did not

find that gross negligence could be imputed to Cowboys through Duncan’s

actions. The jury calculated Bruce’s damages as follows:

● Physical pain and mental anguish sustained in the past: $125,000

● Loss of earning capacity sustained in the past: $12,000

● Disfigurement sustained in the past: $5,000

● Physical impairment sustained in the past: $10,000

● Medical-care expenses incurred in the past: $14,500

● Exemplary damages based on gross negligence: $225,000

10 Cowboys filed a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. See Tex.

R. Civ. P. 301. The trial court granted the motion in part, lowered the jury’s

exemplary-damages award to the applicable $200,000 statutory limit, and

entered final judgment on the jury’s remaining findings. See Tex. Civ. Prac. &

Rem. Code Ann. § 41.008(b) (West Supp. 2013). Cowboys then filed a motion

for new trial. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 320. The trial court granted the motion in part

and modified the amount of past medical expenses to $11,916.96. Cowboys

filed a second motion for new trial and a motion to modify the judgment, which

were overruled by operation of law. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 329b(c), (g).

Cowboys timely filed a notice of appeal from the trial court’s judgment and

now raises twelve issues arguing that it is entitled to a take-nothing judgment, a

modified judgment, or a new trial. In two issues, Cowboys argues the jury charge

contained reversible error because it contained no indication of the basis upon

which the jury predicated its finding of gross negligence and because it failed to

include a definition of physical impairment. In four issues, Cowboys argues there

was legally or factually insufficient evidence to support the jury’s findings that:

(1) Bruce was entitled to exemplary damages based on Anderson’s actions,

(2) Cowboys was negligent, (3) Duncan falsely imprisoned Bruce, (4) Duncan

assaulted Bruce, and (5) Duncan was acting in the course and scope of his

employment. Cowboys asserts in four issues that the jury’s individual damages

awards were supported by insufficient evidence. In their final two issues,

Cowboys contends that the trial court erred by admitting evidence of the TABC’s

11 investigation into the fight and that Bruce’s closing jury arguments were improper

and prejudicial.

II. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE

As indicated above, Cowboys challenges the sufficiency of the evidence

on all bases upon which Cowboys’ liability to Bruce was predicated and upon

which Bruce bore the burden of proof at trial. 10

A. STANDARDS AND SCOPE OF REVIEW

1. Preponderance of the Evidence

The majority of Bruce’s claims were required to be proven by a

preponderance of the evidence. As such, we may sustain a legal sufficiency

challenge only when (1) the record discloses a complete absence of evidence of

a vital fact; (2) the court is barred by rules of law or of evidence from giving

weight to the only evidence offered to prove a vital fact; (3) the evidence offered

to prove a vital fact is no more than a mere scintilla; or (4) the evidence

establishes conclusively the opposite of a vital fact. Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Co.

v. Martinez, 977 S.W.2d 328, 334 (Tex. 1998), cert. denied, 526 U.S. 1040

(1999). In determining whether there is legally sufficient evidence to support the

finding under review, we must consider evidence favorable to the finding if a

reasonable fact-finder could and disregard evidence contrary to the finding

10 Cowboys additionally challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support the jury’s implicit negative finding on an issue upon which it had the burden of proof—legal authority to justify false imprisonment. We will state the applicable standard of review when discussing that issue.

12 unless a reasonable fact-finder could not. Cent. Ready Mix Concrete Co. v.

Islas, 228 S.W.3d 649, 651 (Tex. 2007); City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802,

807, 827 (Tex. 2005).

When reviewing an assertion that the evidence is factually insufficient to

support a finding, we set aside the finding only if, after considering and weighing

all of the evidence in the record pertinent to that finding, we determine that the

credible evidence supporting the finding is so weak, or so contrary to the

overwhelming weight of all the evidence, that the answer should be set aside and

a new trial ordered. Pool v. Ford Motor Co., 715 S.W.2d 629, 635 (Tex. 1986)

(op. on reh’g). “Factual sufficiency points of error concede conflicting evidence

on an issue, yet maintain that the evidence against the jury’s finding is so great

as to make the finding erroneous.” See Raw Hide Oil & Gas, Inc. v. Maxus

Exploration Co., 766 S.W.2d 264, 275 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1988, writ denied).

2. Clear and Convincing Evidence

In challenging the jury’s gross-negligence finding, Cowboys implicates an

issue that Bruce had the burden to prove by clear and convincing evidence. See

U-Haul Int’l, Inc. v. Waldrip, 380 S.W.3d 118, 137–38 (Tex. 2012). Clear and

convincing evidence is that measure or degree of proof that will produce in the

mind of the trier of fact a firm belief or conviction as to the truth of the allegations

sought to be established. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 41.001(2) (West

2008); Waldrip, 380 S.W.3d at 137. This intermediate standard of proof falls

between the preponderance standard of proof of most civil proceedings and the

13 reasonable doubt standard of proof of most criminal proceedings. In re G.M.,

596 S.W.2d 846, 847 (Tex. 1980); State v. Addington, 588 S.W.2d 569, 570

(Tex. 1979). While the proof must be of a heavier weight than merely the greater

weight of the credible evidence, there is no requirement that the evidence be

unequivocal or undisputed. Addington, 588 S.W.2d at 570.

In evaluating the evidence for legal sufficiency, we must determine

whether the evidence is such that a fact-finder could reasonably form a firm belief

or conviction that its finding was true. State v. K.E.W., 315 S.W.3d 16, 20 (Tex.

2010); Columbia Med. Ctr. of Las Colinas, Inc. v. Hogue, 271 S.W.3d 238, 248

(Tex. 2008). We review all the evidence in the light most favorable to the finding.

Waldrip, 380 S.W.3d at 138; Hogue, 271 S.W.3d at 248. We resolve any

disputed facts in favor of the finding if a reasonable fact-finder could have done

so. K.E.W., 315 S.W.3d at 20; Hogue, 271 S.W.3d at 248. We disregard

evidence contrary to the finding unless a reasonable fact-finder could not.

K.E.W., 315 S.W.3d at 20; Hogue, 271 S.W.3d at 248. That is, we consider

undisputed evidence even if it is contrary to the finding. Hogue, 271 S.W.3d at

248; Wilson, 168 S.W.3d at 817. The fact-finder, not this court, is the sole judge

of the credibility and demeanor of the witnesses. In re J.O.A., 283 S.W.3d 336,

346 (Tex. 2009).

In evaluating the evidence for factual sufficiency, we determine whether,

on the entire record, a fact-finder could reasonably form a firm conviction or belief

that its finding was true. In re H.R.M., 209 S.W.3d 105, 108 (Tex. 2006). If, in

14 light of the entire record, the disputed evidence that a reasonable fact-finder

could not have credited in favor of the finding is so significant that a fact-finder

could not reasonably have formed a firm belief or conviction in the truth of its

finding, then the evidence is factually insufficient. Id. But we must not supplant

the jury verdict with our own. Id.; see also Barker v. Eckman, 213 S.W.3d 306,

314 (Tex. 2006). The fact-finder is the sole judge of the credibility of witnesses

and the weight to be given their testimony. H.R.M., 209 S.W.3d at 109; Golden

Eagle Archery, Inc. v. Jackson, 116 S.W.3d 757, 761 (Tex. 2003).

B. NEGLIGENCE

1. Breach

Cowboys asserts that there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of

negligence against Cowboys. 11 To prove negligence by Cowboys, Bruce had to

produce evidence showing (1) a legal duty owed by Cowboys to Bruce, (2) a

breach of that duty, and (3) damages proximately caused by the breach. IHS

11 As we discuss below, Cowboys does not appropriately attack the sufficiency of the evidence to support the jury’s negligence finding as to Cowboys regarding Bruce’s allegations that Cowboys negligently hired, trained, or supervised its employees. In its attack on the jury’s gross-negligence finding, Cowboys does assert that there was “no evidence that Cowboys negligently hired an unfit agent in Mr. Anderson.” But this argument is cursory at best and fails to account for the admitted evidence that Cowboys did not conduct background checks of its employees and that Anderson had a criminal record. In any event, these unchallenged theories of negligence liability are enough to support the jury’s negligence finding as to Cowboys. In an abundance of caution, however, we will address the sufficiency of the evidence to support the theories of negligence liability argued by Cowboys in its brief, which focus solely on the bouncers’ actions during the fight.

15 Cedars Treatment Ctr. of DeSoto, Tex., Inc. v. Mason, 143 S.W.3d 794, 798

(Tex. 2004). Cowboys first contends the evidence failed to sufficiently show that

Cowboys breached any duty to Bruce or that Bruce’s injuries were proximately

caused by any action by Cowboys or its employees.

Regarding evidence of breach, Cowboys states that the “precipitating

event” was Jeremy’s “decision to either go back to a bar to retrieve a credit card

he already had or to strike . . . Duncan. . . . Up until that point, there is no

evidence to show that Cowboys or any of its employees had breached any duties

to [Bruce].” In its reply, Cowboys merely states that Bruce “has still not shown

that Cowboys breached any duty owed to him.” This is the entirety of Cowboys’

appellate argument on breach regarding the jury’s negligence finding. As Bruce

points out, any actions by Jeremy do not directly relate to the determination of

whether Cowboys breached a duty to Bruce, who was located approximately ten

to thirty feet away from Jeremy. Further, the jury was free to disbelieve Duncan’s

testimony that Jeremy hit him based on the picture of Duncan showing he had no

injury after the fight and on the testimony of other eyewitnesses, including

McElroy, who stated Jeremy did not hit Duncan. In the absence of careful

briefing on this issue, we are not willing to discuss in the first instance the

applicable law regarding a breach of duty to a business invitee by that business’s

employees or how the evidence did or did not show such a breach in this case.

See, e.g., Fulgham v. Fischer, 349 S.W.3d 153, 158 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2011, no

pet.); Ratsavong v. Menevilay, 176 S.W.3d 661, 665–66 (Tex. App.—El Paso

16 2005, pet. denied), cert. denied, 549 U.S. 886 (2006). It is enough to say that the

evidence, while conflicting, was legally and factually sufficient to show Cowboys

breached a duty to Bruce. See, e.g., Kroger Co. v. Betancourt, 996 S.W.2d 353,

359–60 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, pet. denied).

2. Proximate Cause

Cowboys next asserts proximate causation was not shown through legally

or factually sufficient evidence because “no one testified that they saw how

[Bruce] was injured”; thus, “the causal link is . . . too attenuated to support the

jury’s finding of negligence.” Indeed, proximate causation is an essential

ingredient of a finding of negligence. Proximate cause requires cause-in-fact and

foreseeability. 12 IHS Cedars, 143 S.W.3d at 798. If a defendant’s actions merely

furnish a condition that make the injury possible, there can be no cause-in-fact.

W. Invs., Inc. v. Urena, 162 S.W.3d 547, 551 (Tex. 2005). However, there may

be more than one cause-in-fact for a single injury. Travis v. City of Mesquite, 830

S.W.2d 94, 98 (Tex. 1992); Morrell v. Finke, 184 S.W.3d 257, 284 (Tex. App.—

Fort Worth 2005, pet. denied). As with the other elements of a negligence claim,

proximate causation must be supported by evidence that goes beyond mere

conjecture, guess, or speculation. IHS Cedars, 143 S.W.3d at 798–99. But a

plaintiff is not required to exclude the possibility that the event that caused

damage was brought about by some factor other than the defendant’s conduct,

12 Cowboys does not clearly raise a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence to show foreseeability.

17 as long as the plaintiff shows that it is more probable than not that the

defendant’s conduct was a cause of the injury. 1 J. Hadley Edgar Jr. et al.,

Texas Torts & Remedies § 1.04[2][a] (2013).

Cause-in-fact includes a but-for element and a substantial-factor element:

Cause-in-fact is present if the act or omission was a substantial factor in bringing

about the injury, without which the harm would not have occurred. Rodriguez-

Escobar v. Goss, 392 S.W.3d 109, 113 (Tex. 2013); see also Univ. of Tex. Sw.

Med. Ctr. v. Nassar, 133 S. Ct. 2517, 2524–25 (2013). Cowboys’ appellate

argument, by concentrating on the attenuation between its conduct and Bruce’s

injury, necessarily challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to meet the

substantial-factor test. The substantial-factor test concerns how close in the

causal chain the defendant’s actions are to the plaintiff’s injury. Rodriguez-

Escobar, 392 S.W.3d at 113. Thus, an actor’s negligence “may be too

attenuated from the resulting injuries to the plaintiff to be a substantial factor in

bringing about the harm.” Providence Health Ctr. v. Dowell, 262 S.W.3d 324,

328 (Tex. 2008). A defendant’s conduct is considered a substantial factor in

causing the event if the conduct had such an effect in producing the harm as to

lead reasonable people to regard it as a cause. Lear Siegler, Inc. v. Perez, 819

S.W.3d 470, 472 (Tex. 1991).

We cannot agree with Cowboys that the lack of direct testimony that a

Cowboys employee was actually seen hitting or kicking and making contact with

Bruce equates to insufficient evidence that Cowboys’ actions or inactions were a

18 substantial factor in causing Bruce’s injury. See J.K. & Susie L. Wadley

Research Inst. & Blood Bank v. Beeson, 835 S.W.2d 689, 698 (Tex. App.—

Dallas 1992, writ denied) (recognizing proximate cause is issue for fact-finder

that may be inferred from accident’s surrounding circumstances in absence of

direct proof). It is undisputed that Duncan and Bruce fell to the ground after

Bruce attempted to get to Jeremy. Bruce had no injuries before Duncan landed

on top of Bruce. Bruce was flipped to his stomach and restrained on the ground

with his hands behind his back. Once Bruce was lifted up from the floor, he was

severely injured. Although Duncan testified that no one ever hit or kicked Bruce,

Jeremy and Darren stated that they saw someone kick Bruce. Darren averred

that it was a bouncer that was kicking at Bruce.

This evidence, which was more than mere evidence that an accident

occurred and was not impermissibly speculative, allowed a reasonable fact-finder

to determine that while Bruce was restrained by an employee of Cowboys and

defenseless, another person kicked Bruce. The causal chain linking Cowboys to

Bruce’s injury is not so attenuated that its actions or inactions could not be

considered a legal cause. See J. Wigglesworth Co. v. Peeples, 985 S.W.2d 659,

663–64 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1999, pet. denied). Cowboys’ conduct, through

the actions of its employees, did more than merely furnish the condition that

made Bruce’s injury possible. See Lear Siegler, 819 S.W.2d at 472; J.

Wigglesworth, 985 S.W.2d at 663–64. The evidence was legally and factually

sufficient to allow the jury to infer that Cowboys’ actions did more than furnish a

19 condition allowing Bruce’s injuries to occur and were not too remote in the causal

chain, which is all that the substantial-factor test requires. See McClure v. Allied

Stores of Tex., Inc., 608 S.W.2d 901, 903–05 (Tex. 1980) (holding store security

guard’s negligence in pursuing shoplifter reasonably could be regarded as

substantial factor in bringing about injury to shopper pushed to ground by

shoplifter because fact-finder could reasonably infer that shoplifter began to run

as result of unsuccessful arrest attempt).

C. INTENTIONAL TORTS: FALSE IMPRISONMENT AND ASSAULT

Cowboys argues that the evidence was legally and factually insufficient to

support the jury’s finding that Duncan falsely imprisoned or assaulted Bruce.

Cowboys also asserts that it cannot be held vicariously liable for Duncan’s

actions because the evidence was insufficient to show Duncan was acting in the

course and scope of his employment or authority.

1. Course and Scope of Employment

To impose liability on Cowboys for Duncan’s intentional torts under the

doctrine of respondeat superior, Bruce was required to show that Duncan’s

actions fell within the scope of his general authority in furtherance of Cowboys’

business and for the accomplishment of the object for which Duncan was hired.

See Commonwealth of Mass. v. Davis, 168 S.W.2d 216, 225 (Tex. 1942), cert.

denied, 320 U.S. 210 (1943); Wrenn v. G.A.T.X. Logistics, Inc., 73 S.W.3d 489,

493 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2002, no pet.) (op. on reh’g). “An employee’s

tortious conduct is within the scope of employment when that conduct is of the

20 same general nature as that authorized or incidental to the conduct authorized.”

Wrenn, 73 S.W.3d at 494. Conduct that is of the same general nature as that

authorized or that is incidental to the authorized conduct falls within the scope of

employment even if the act is contrary to express orders. Id. But if Duncan

deviated from the performance of his duties for his own purposes, then Cowboys

is not responsible for what occurred during the deviation. ITT Consumer Fin.

Corp. v. Tovar, 932 S.W.2d 147, 158 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1996, writ denied).

Whether Duncan was acting within the scope of his employment and whether he

deviated from his duties are questions to be determined by the fact-finder. See

Durand v. Moore, 879 S.W.2d 196, 199 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1994,

no writ).

Ordinarily, intentional torts such as false imprisonment or assault are not

within an employee’s course and scope of employment. Wrenn, 73 S.W.3d at

494. But intentional torts committed in the accomplishment of a duty entrusted to

the employee, and not because of personal animosity, may render the employer

liable. Id. Cowboys asserts that “[t]here is no evidence on the record to show

that getting into a fight with patrons somehow advances or assists Cowboys’

business. . . . Cowboys’ written policy was to refrain from even touching patrons,

let alone striking them.” The policy, while stressing the importance of courtesy

and maintaining a “party atmosphere,” expressly dictated that crowd “control”

was an essential job duty:

21 As a floorman at Cowboys, your purpose is to maintain excellent customer service and the party atmosphere through control. In order to maintain this control, the floormen must be able to develop a positive relationship with the customers and his fellow employees, in particular, the waitresses. You must have command of presence and the respect of everyone you come in contact with. . . .

....

. . . All situations must be handled as consistently, quickly, and professionally as possible without disturbing the flow or party atmosphere of Cowboys. . . . No floorman will provoke a fight under any circumstances! . . . The important thing is that the party atmosphere is not disturbed. . . . If you feel physical removal is going to be necessary; consult with a manager, calling the police for assistance might be in order, bu[t] this is a decision for management. . . . Remember, your job is customer service through control.

In addition to the policy, bouncers were instructed that they could restrain

patrons if necessary. Fights were a nightly occurrence at Cowboys, which the

bouncers were required to handle. Further, Anderson, the lead bouncer, was

present at the time of the fight and assisted in restraining Jeremy. McElroy

testified that he and Duncan talked with Anderson before deciding that the group,

specifically Jeremy, needed to be removed from Cowboys. The evidence

sufficiently showed that Duncan’s actions were within the course and scope of

his employment as a bouncer. See G.T. Mgmt., Inc. v. Gonzalez, 106 S.W.3d

880, 884–85 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003, no pet.); Durand, 879 S.W.2d at 199–201.

2. False Imprisonment

The elements of false imprisonment are (1) a willful detention, (2) without

consent, and (3) without justification or authority of law. Dangerfield v. Ormsby,

264 S.W.3d 904, 909 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2008, no pet.).

22 Cowboys first asserts that the testimony shows Duncan was with Jeremy

and not Bruce; thus, there is insufficient evidence that Duncan willfully detained

Bruce. But the record shows that Duncan testified he left Jeremy, after Anderson

had Jeremy under control, and went to where Bruce was. He specifically stated

that he fell to the floor with Bruce and restrained Bruce by himself. There is no

merit to this argument.

Second, Cowboys argues that any detention was legally authorized based

on Texas law that allows citizens’ arrests for offenses against the public peace,

including public intoxication. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 14.01(a) (West

2005); Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 49.02(a) (West 2011). Cowboys asserts that

because Bruce’s blood-alcohol content was above the legal limit and because he

was seen “getting out of hand,” Duncan’s detention of Bruce was under authority

of law.

In the absence of an arrest warrant, “a detention or imprisonment is

presumed to be without justification or adequate legal authority unless the

contrary appears. The burden is on the defendant to go forward with evidence

that the arrest or detention was legally justified.” 4 J. Hadley Edgar Jr. et al.,

Texas Torts & Remedies § 51.02[2][a] (2013) (footnotes omitted); cf. Wal-Mart

Stores, Inc. v. Odem, 929 S.W.2d 513, 519 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1996, writ

denied) (op. on reh’g) (recognizing burden on defendant to show justification for

unlawful arrest under statutory shopkeeper’s privilege). Because Cowboys bore

the burden of proof at trial on this element and now challenges the legal

23 sufficiency of the evidence, we must review all the evidence to determine if the

contrary proposition—the presence of legal authority to restrain Bruce—was

established as a matter of law. Dow Chem. Co. v. Francis, 46 S.W.3d 237, 241

(Tex. 2001). The standard of review for Cowboys’ factual-sufficiency challenge is

the same even though it had the burden of proof: we weigh all the record

evidence and determine whether it is so weak, or so contrary to the

overwhelming weight of all the evidence, that the answer should be set aside and

a new trial ordered. See Blonstein v. Blonstein, 831 S.W.2d 468, 473 (Tex.

App.—Houston [14th Dist.]) (recognizing same factual-sufficiency standard

applies “regardless of whether the court of appeals is reviewing a negative or

affirmative jury finding and regardless of which party had the burden of proof”),

writ denied, 848 S.W.2d 82 (Tex. 1992).

The evidence showed that Bruce only tried to get on the dance platform

once and immediately stopped when the drink waitress told him to. Duncan and

Jacoby testified that Bruce never hit or kicked anyone. Multiple witnesses

testified that Bruce voluntarily said he and the group would leave when told to do

so by Duncan. Duncan testified that Bruce had fallen near the mechanical bull

and that Bruce and his family became verbally hostile when Duncan said the

family needed to leave, but that they voluntarily began to move toward the exit.

As shown by the evidence recited above, the evidence did not establish as

a matter of law that Duncan was legally authorized to restrain Bruce. Cf. Brice v.

Hanna, No. 03-09-00454-CV, 2010 WL 5019468, at *5 (Tex. App.—Austin Dec.

24 10, 2010, no pet.) (mem. op. on reh’g) (concluding fact issues regarding legal

authority to arrest plaintiff for public intoxication precluded summary judgment).

Public intoxication requires evidence that Bruce was so intoxicated he could

endanger himself or another, which is more than Cowboys’ assertion that “a

reasonable person could have anticipated [Bruce] would become disorderly.”

See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 49.02(a). Although there was evidence that Bruce

fell down, had tried to get on a dance platform, and had a blood-alcohol content

above the legal limit, the evidence also showed that Bruce volunteered to leave

when confronted by Duncan because he “did not want any trouble” and that

Bruce never hit or kicked anyone. Jacoby testified that Bruce did not cause any

trouble that night. Likewise, the evidence reveals that the jury’s implicit finding

that Duncan’s restraint was without legal authority is not so weak, or so contrary

to the overwhelming weight of all the evidence, that the answer should be set

aside. Cf. Davis v. State, 576 S.W.2d 378, 380 n.2 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978)

(finding insufficient facts to justify warrantless arrest for public intoxication).

3. Assault

Cowboys contends that the evidence did not support a finding that Duncan

assaulted Bruce:

[N]o one testified that Mr. Duncan struck [Bruce] and caused him injuries. . . . Even if it is inferred that Mr. Duncan did strike [Bruce], that inference is equally as plausible as any number of scenarios, including those of accidental injury by another patron. The fact that [Bruce] received injuries when the melee broke out, involving not just Cowboys’ staff but other patrons, is not sufficient evidence to support the jury’s verdict.

25 In its reply brief, Cowboys asserts that Bruce’s argument that Duncan’s restraint

was the operative assaultive conduct “does not link the injuries sustained by

[Bruce] to Chris Duncan’s actions during the fracas that had broken out, and

therefore does not establish the essential element of proximate cause.” This is

the entirety of Cowboys’ appellate argument. We will be just as brief.

An assault occurs if a person:

(1) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another, including the person’s spouse;

(2) intentionally or knowingly threatens another with imminent bodily injury, including the person’s spouse; or

(3) intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another when the person knows or should reasonably believe that the other will regard the contact as offensive or provocative.

Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 22.01(a) (West Supp. 2013); see Loaisiga v. Cerda, 379

S.W.3d 248, 256 (Tex. 2012) (recognizing civil-assault elements mirror criminal-

assault elements). The evidence shows that after Bruce either tried to stop

Jeremy from returning to the bar or grabbed Duncan’s shirt, Duncan fell on top of

Bruce, flipped him onto his stomach, held Bruce’s arms behind his back, and

held Bruce to the ground. This was legally and factually sufficient evidence to

support the jury’s finding that Duncan caused physical contact with Bruce of such

a nature that Duncan should reasonably have known that Bruce would consider it

offensive or provocative. See Soon Phat, L.P. v. Alvarado, 396 S.W.3d 78, 107–

08 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2013, pet. denied); Scott v. Christian

26 Methodist Episcopal Church, No. 02-10-00434-CV, 2012 WL 42991, at *2–3

(Tex. App.—Fort Worth Jan. 5, 2012, no pet.) (mem. op.); cf. Umana v. Kroger

Tex., L.P., 239 S.W.3d 434, 436 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, no pet.) (holding

summary-judgment evidence raised genuine issue of material fact regarding

whether actions constituted assault). Although Cowboys attempts to argue that

Bruce did not argue to the jury that the assault was Duncan’s take down and

restraint of Bruce (instead of the assault being someone kicking him), the jury

was instructed that assault could be found upon evidence of “offensive or

provocative” physical contact. Thus, the jury was free to find an assault based

on the evidence of offensive or provocative physical contact by Duncan.

D. GROSS NEGLIGENCE

Cowboys asserts that liability for Anderson’s gross negligence, as found by

the jury, cannot be imputed to Cowboys because there was no predicate finding

that Anderson was negligent. As stated above, the jury found that Bruce had

shown by clear and convincing evidence that his injuries were a result of

Anderson’s gross negligence and, consequently, liability for Anderson’s gross

negligence was imputed to Cowboys. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann.

§ 41.003(a) (West Supp. 2013). However, the jury found that Bruce’s injuries

were proximately caused by the negligence of Cowboys, Bruce, and Jeremy.

There was no negligence finding as to Anderson. Further, the jury specifically

found that Anderson did not commit assault or false imprisonment. A finding of

negligence is a necessary prerequisite to a finding of gross negligence. Hall v.

27 Stephenson, 919 S.W.2d 454, 467 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1996, writ denied).

Here, because there was no negligence finding as to Anderson or any finding

that Anderson was liable for any claim for actual damages that would support an

award of exemplary damages, there can be no finding that Cowboys was grossly

negligent based on the actions of Anderson. See Supreme Court of Tex. Admin.

Order, Amendments to Texas Rules of Civil Procedure 281 and 284 and to the

Jury Instructions under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 226A, Misc. Docket No.

11-9047 (Mar. 15, 2011) (“If exemplary damages are sought against a

defendant, the jury must unanimously find, with respect to that defendant,

(i) liability on at least one claim for actual damages that will support an award of

exemplary damages, (ii) any additional conduct, such as malice or gross

negligence, required for an award of exemplary damages, and (iii) the amount of

exemplary damages to be awarded.”) (text also included as historical note to

Tex. R. Civ. P. 226a).

Cowboys argues that the negligence question, as posed in the charge,

provided “no indication of the basis on which the jury predicated its finding of

gross negligence by . . . Anderson.” We agree that the negligence finding as to

Cowboys cannot be construed to be an implied finding that Anderson was

negligent because Bruce alleged other bases to support a negligence finding

other than negligence based on the bouncers’ actions, i.e., negligent hiring,

supervision, and training. These are negligence allegations independent from

any action of Anderson.

28 Bruce did not request a jury submission that would have allowed the jury to

find that Anderson was negligent; all of Bruce’s proposed negligence questions

pertained solely to Cowboys’ alleged negligence. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 273, 274.

Bruce also did not object to the lack of a question regarding whether Anderson

was negligent. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 272, 274. Because Bruce alleged that

Cowboys was negligent based on its hiring, supervision, and training of the

bouncers, we cannot assume that the jury’s negligence finding was based on

Anderson’s negligent actions found by the jury. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 277; Vincent

Lee “Tripp” Marable III, Crafting a Charge From the Plaintiff’s Perspective, 29

The Advoc. (Tex.) 29, 31–32 (2004); cf. Tex. Dep’t of Human Servs. v. E.B., 802

S.W.2d 647, 649 (Tex. 1990) (op. on reh’g) (holding trial court is not required to

ask jury to specify ground on which it relied to answer question in jury charge);

Wackenhut Corr. Corp. v. de la Rosa, 305 S.W.3d 594, 622 (Tex. App.—Corpus

Christi 2009, no pet.) (holding defendant’s failure to object to form of jury

questions limited appellate review to whether any of plaintiff’s theories were

supported by sufficient evidence); Fort Worth Hotel Ltd. P’ship v. Enserch Corp.

977 S.W.2d 746, 753 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1998, no pet.) (holding because

jury was instructed that corporate defendant was negligent and that negligence

was proximate cause of damages, jury was not required to make new causation

finding in order to find or not find gross negligence by defendant). Cowboys does

not challenge on appeal the sufficiency of the evidence to support a negligence

finding as to Cowboys based on negligent hiring, training, or supervision.

29 Indeed, the testimony at trial showed that no Cowboys employee had a

background check included as part of his or her personnel file; the training for

bouncers was brief, haphazard, and superficial; and Anderson had a criminal

record.

Therefore, Cowboys’ negligence, as found by the jury, could have been

based on Cowboys’ actions that were separate and apart from Anderson’s

actions. We cannot determine which of Bruce’s multiple, alleged negligence

theories was the theory under which Cowboys was found negligent; thus, we

cannot assume that the negligence finding as to Cowboys was based on

Anderson’s actions committed during the course and scope of his employment.

Bruce’s pleadings alleged gross negligence solely arising out of the actions of the

bouncers. Therefore, Bruce is not entitled to exemplary damages based on

Anderson’s gross negligence when Anderson was not specifically found to be

negligent. In short, the negligence finding as to Cowboys cannot support the

gross negligence finding as to Anderson.

Even if the negligence finding as to Cowboys could be considered a finding

of negligence upon which a gross-negligence finding as to Anderson could be

based, we would conclude that the evidence was legally and factually insufficient

to support the jury’s finding that Anderson was grossly negligent.

Gross negligence includes an act or omission

(A) which when viewed objectively from the standpoint of the actor at the time of its occurrence involves an extreme degree of

30 risk, considering the probability and magnitude of the potential harm to others; and

(B) of which the actor has actual, subjective awareness of the risk involved, but nevertheless proceeds with conscious indifference to the rights, safety, or welfare of others.

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 41.001(11) (West 2008). “Under the

objective component, ‘extreme risk’ is not a remote possibility or even a high

probability of minor harm, but rather the likelihood of the plaintiff’s serious injury.”

Waldrip, 380 S.W.3d at 137. “The subjective prong . . . requires that the

defendant knew about the risk, but that the defendant’s acts or omissions

demonstrated indifference to the consequences of its acts.” Id.

The key difference between negligence and gross negligence is the

element of intent, i.e., it is the mental state that justifies the penal nature of the

imposition of exemplary damages. Burk Royalty Co. v. Walls, 616 S.W.2d 911,

922 (Tex. 1981); see, e.g., Int’l Armament Corp. v. King, 686 S.W.2d 595, 597–

99 (Tex. 1985). This mental component may be shown indirectly through

conduct. See Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Alexander, 868 S.W.2d 322, 326 (Tex.

1993); Burk Royalty, 616 S.W.2d at 922. In our legal-sufficiency review, we must

consider all the evidence, particularly all actions or circumstances indicating a

state of mind amounting to conscious indifference, in the light most favorable to

the finding. King, 686 S.W.2d at 597; Burk Royalty, 616 S.W.2d at 922.

31 To counter Cowboys’ argument that the evidence was insufficient to

support the jury’s gross-negligence finding, Bruce relies on the following

evidence:

● Anderson had his hand on Jeremy while Jeremy was walking toward the exit;

● Anderson had a prior criminal history;

● Anderson was involved in restraining and handcuffing Jeremy;

● Darren saw a bouncer with “long, stringy hair” standing by Bruce and kicking; and

● Jeremy saw someone kick Bruce.

Other evidence was admitted that also tended to show Anderson’s state of mind

amounting to conscious indifference. Duncan testified that Anderson trained him

when he was first hired as a bouncer. Anderson discussed his criminal history

with McElroy. McElroy thought Anderson “touched the patrons too much” and

complained to Gurland, but Anderson continued to work at Cowboys as the head

bouncer. McElroy testified that he conferred with Anderson and Duncan when

Jeremy continued to dance on the platform and that he told Anderson and

Duncan that Jeremy needed to leave Cowboys. 13 Anderson and Duncan

escorted Jeremy out. When Jeremy turned to go back to the bar, McElroy stated

that Jeremy “charged” before Duncan and McElroy stopped him.

13 As pointed out by Cowboys, there was no jury issue submitted on negligent supervision by Anderson.

32 It is not disputed that Anderson was not involved in knocking Bruce to the

floor or restraining him. The only evidence that Anderson was involved in the

injuries to Bruce is Darren’s testimony that he saw “[t]he [bouncer] with the long,

stringy hair . . . make a motion, like kicking motion” while Bruce was on the floor.

Bruce avers that because only three bouncers were involved in the fight

(Anderson, Duncan, and McElroy) and because neither Duncan nor McElroy

have long and stringy hair, Darren necessarily was referring to Anderson. The

only evidence in the record regarding the bouncers’ hair is testimony that Duncan

had red hair and pictures showing that his hair was short. Anderson did not

testify at trial. No evidence shows that Anderson had long and stringy hair at the

time of the fight or that McElroy’s hair was not long and stringy at the time of the

fight. 14 Further, another bouncer was on duty the night of the fight: Transome.

Although there is no direct testimony that Transome was in the area of the fight,

multiple witnesses stated that Bruce was on the floor in a “pile” and that a

“jumble” of people were gathered around, which included more than Jeremy,

Bruce, Duncan, Anderson, and McElroy.

Even viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the jury’s gross-

negligence finding, the evidence is legally insufficient to support a finding that

Anderson’s actions, when viewed objectively, involved an extreme degree of risk.

See, e.g., Matbon, Inc. v. Gries, 288 S.W.3d 471, 488–89 (Tex. App.—Eastland

14 McElroy testified at trial, but there is no record evidence about his hair.

33 2009, no pet.). Further, there is no direct or indirect evidence that Anderson

subjectively knew about an extreme risk but demonstrated that he did not care.

See, e.g., Waldrip, 380 S.W.3d at 139–41; Graham v. Adesa Tex., Inc., 145

S.W.3d 769, 774–75 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2004, pet. denied). Thus, a reasonable

fact-finder could not have formed a firm belief or conviction that the gross-

negligence finding was true. See Diamond Shamrock Refining Co. v. Hall, 168

S.W.3d 164, 170–73 (Tex. 2005); cf. Sw. Bell Tel. Co. v. Garza, 164 S.W.3d

607, 628–29 (Tex. 2004) (holding evidence legally insufficient to support jury

finding of actual malice). We must reverse and render a take-nothing judgment

on Bruce’s claims for gross negligence and the attendant exemplary-damage

award. See Safeshred, Inc. v. Martinez, 365 S.W.3d 655, 665–66 (Tex. 2012). 15

E. DAMAGES

Cowboys argues that there was no evidence, i.e., legally insufficient

evidence, to support the jury’s compensatory-damage award for lost earning

capacity. Similarly, Cowboys argues that the jury’s medical-expenses award was

excessive or, in other words, that the amount was supported by factually

insufficient evidence. Cowboys argues the following damages awards were

15 Because of our conclusion that the gross-negligence finding must be reversed, we need not address Cowboys’ arguments that gross negligence cannot be imputed to Cowboys for the actions of Anderson because Anderson was not a manager and because Cowboys did not authorize Anderson’s negligent actions.

34 supported by legally and factually insufficient evidence: physical pain and mental

anguish and past physical impairment.

1. Loss of Earning Capacity Sustained in the Past

The jury found that Bruce had sustained $12,000 in “[l]oss of earning

capacity sustained in the past.” Loss of past earning capacity is a plaintiff’s

diminished ability to work during the period between the injury and the date of

trial. Bituminous Cas. Corp. v. Cleveland, 223 S.W.3d 485, 491 (Tex. App.—

Amarillo 2006, no pet.); see Koko Motel, Inc. v. Mayo, 91 S.W.3d 41, 51 (Tex.

App.—Amarillo 2002, pet. denied) (explaining difference between lost wages and

lost earning capacity). To support such an award, the plaintiff must introduce

evidence sufficient to allow the fact-finder to reasonably measure earning

capacity before injury in monetary terms. Bituminous Cas., 223 S.W.3d at 491.

A plaintiff may include evidence of past earnings, time missed from work, and

any other factors that illustrate the plaintiff’s reduced ability to perform work in the

past. See Big Bird Tree Servs. v. Gallegos, 365 S.W.3d 173, 178 (Tex. App.—

Dallas 2012, pet. denied); Koko Motel, 91 S.W.3d at 51–52. Because such proof

is largely uncertain, any award is left to the discretion of the jury but must be

shown with reasonable certainty. McIver v. Gloria, 169 S.W.2d 710, 712 (Tex.

1943); Rigdon Marine Corp. v. Roberts, 270 S.W.3d 220, 232–33 (Tex. App.—

Texarkana 2008, pet. denied).

Nevertheless, evidence of the loss of earning capacity must be “in the form

of a net loss after reduction for income tax payments or unpaid tax liability

35 pursuant to any federal income tax law,” and the trial court “shall instruct the jury

as to whether any recovery for compensatory damages . . . is subject to federal

or state income taxes.” Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 18.091 (West 2008)

(emphasis added). The purpose of this statute appears to be the prevention of a

plaintiff obtaining a windfall by being awarded pretax income on awards that are

not subject to taxation. Big Bird, 365 S.W.3d at 179; Claudia Wilson Frost & J.

Brett Busby, Charging the Jury in the Wake of HB 4, 67 Tex. B.J. 276, 279 (Apr.

2004) (“For example, because a plaintiff’s wages would have been taxed once if

earned but are not taxed when received as damages, Section 18.091(a) requires

that evidence of wages after taxes be presented.”). Thus, the trial court under

section 18.091(a) is required to instruct the jury that any recovery for certain

compensatory damages, such as lost earning capacity in the past, is not subject

to taxation. See Jennifer Bruch Hogan & Richard P. Hogan Jr., Charging the

Jury in Changing Times, 46 S. Tex. L. Rev. 973, 1002 (2005).

It is important to clarify that Cowboys is not arguing that the trial court

erred by failing to include, sua sponte, a tax-consequences instruction in the jury

charge. Cowboys only asserts that the evidence is legally insufficient to support

the jury’s $12,000 award for loss of past earning capacity. See Tex. R. Civ. P.

272; cf. Interconex, Inc. v. Ugarov, 224 S.W.3d 523, 532–33 (Tex. App.—

Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, no pet.) (op. on reh’g) (holding appellant waived

complaint that appellee’s testimony as to gross earnings insufficient to support

award for past and future lost earnings under section 18.091 because appellant

36 did not object to charge’s instruction to not consider taxes in determining

damages). In any event, Cowboys waived any complaint that it was harmed by

the absence of an instruction under section 18.091 by failing to object to its

absence. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 272, 274; Ugarov, 224 S.W.3d at 532–33. But

because Cowboys attacks the legal sufficiency of the evidence to support the

award, we look to whether the award was within the jury’s discretion to

reasonably measure Bruce’s earning capacity before he was injured.

Bruce stated he owned a “dirt contracting business” that does “agriculture

work mainly, build terraces, tanks, ponds.” His business is “a one-man show,”

and he frequently works “seven days a week to try to stay caught up” for “14 to

15 hours a day.” He testified that at the time of the accident, he was making

approximately $1,000 a day and that he missed approximately twelve working

days because of the damage to his eye and his other physical injuries. Bruce

was unable to take a few new jobs while he was injured. During the year that the

accident occurred, Bruce earned a gross amount of approximately $400,000 but

he stated that he did not “net near what people think.” Bruce testified that he

made “around [$]280,000” in 2011. There was no instruction regarding the tax

consequences of any award, and none was requested.

Here, the jury was presented with evidence that allowed them to measure

Bruce’s past earning capacity. The jury heard that although Bruce grossed

$400,000, his net was substantially less than that amount. Bruce was a sole

proprietor and frequently worked seven days a week for up to fifteen hours per

37 day. He typically made approximately $1,000 a day before he was injured. The

injuries he sustained caused him to miss approximately twelve days of work and

he had to turn down jobs that he previously would have been able to accept. The

jury had legally and factually sufficient evidence to determine that Bruce lost

approximately $12,000 of earning capacity for his missed work. See Big Bird,

365 S.W.3d at 179.

2. Medical Expenses

Cowboys next attacks the evidence to support the jury’s medical-expenses

award. Before the charge was read to the jury, the parties stipulated to the

“authenticity and admissibility” of three of Bruce’s medical bills 16 “for purposes of

proving medical damages.” The jury awarded Bruce $14,500 in past medical-

care expenses. Cowboys filed a motion for new trial and urged the trial court to

modify this award to be the amount reflected in the admitted bills: “roughly

$11,800.00, not the $14,500.00 awarded.” The trial court granted this portion of

Cowboys’ motion and modified the medical-expenses award to $11,916.96.

Cowboys filed a second new-trial motion and argued that the medical-expense

amount was incorrect because “[w]hen the admitted affidavits of medical costs

are examined and amounts written off by the providers are taken into account,

the amount paid and incurred . . . totals to less than the $11,916.96 currently

awarded.” Cowboys now argues that the admitted evidence supports only an

16 One of Bruce’s medical bills had already been admitted; thus, the stipulation did not include that exhibit.

38 award of $2,525.50: “[T]here is insufficient evidence of the reasonableness and

necessity of the medical expenses incurred for at least $9,391.46 of the amount

awarded.”

Cowboys focuses its argument on the fact that the only evidence that any

medical expenses were reasonable and necessary was for expenses totaling

only $2,525.50, which were the amounts shown on two medical bills that were

accompanied by a business-records affidavit specifying that “[t]he service

provided was necessary and the amount charged for the service was

reasonable.” By filing a motion for new trial and asserting that the evidence was

insufficient to support the medical-damages award based on “the admitted

affidavits,” Cowboys has preserved error on this issue. See Tex. R. Civ. P.

324(b)(4).

As Cowboys points out, an award of past medical expenses must be

supported by evidence that the expenses were reasonable and necessary. See

Texarkana Mem’l Hosp., Inc. v. Murdock, 946 S.W.2d 836, 840 (Tex. 1997).

Such an award is “readily capable of measurement by a certain standard”;

therefore, a jury’s discretion is not as broad as it is with other measures of

damages such as pain and suffering. Id. at 841. Mere evidence showing that

medical expenses were incurred, the nature of the injury, the character of the

treatment received, and the amount charged for treatment is not sufficient to

prove the expenses were reasonable or necessary. See Jackson v. Gutierrez,

77 S.W.3d 898, 902 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2002, no pet.); Delta Air

39 Lines, Inc. v. Gibson, 550 S.W.2d 310, 314 (Tex. Civ. App.—El Paso 1977, writ

ref’d n.r.e.). The reasonableness and necessity of medical expenses may be

established either by (1) expert testimony on those topics or (2) a sufficient

affidavit. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 18.001 (West Supp. 2013);

Whitaker v. Rose, 218 S.W.3d 216, 223 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2007,

no pet.).

Bruce did not offer expert testimony of his medical expenses, but he

introduced into evidence several past medical bills:

● Bills from the hospital totaling $16,062.90 and accompanied by an affidavit of the hospital’s custodian of records stating that the “records are kept in the regular course of business . . . [and] made at or near the time of the act, event, condition, opinion, or diagnosis, or reasonably soon thereafter.”

● A bill from the ambulance service totaling $1,142.50 and accompanied by an affidavit of the service’s custodian of records stating that “[t]he service provided was necessary and the amount charged for the service was reasonable at the time and place that the service was provided.”

● Two bills from one of Bruce’s treating physicians totaling $884.61 accompanied by an affidavit of the physician’s custodian of records stating that the records are kept “in the regular course of business.”

● A bill from a radiologist totaling $1,383.00 accompanied by an affidavit of the “person in charge” of billing records stating “[t]he service provided was necessary and the amount charged for the service was reasonable at the time and place that the service was provided.”

Cowboys does not dispute that the bills accompanied by affidavits attesting that

the attached expenses were reasonable and necessary are sufficient to support

$2,525.50 of the awarded amount. We agree that the remaining bills are not

40 sufficient evidence that the remaining portion of Bruce’s past medical expenses

were reasonable and necessary.

3. Physical Pain and Mental Anguish

Cowboys contends that the evidence does not sufficiently support the

jury’s $125,000 award to Bruce for past physical pain and mental anguish.

Cowboys agrees that matters of pain and suffering are necessarily speculative

and are within the jury’s province; however, Cowboys asserts that the amount

awarded “is grossly disproportionate to any injury or suffering [Bruce] suffered.”

Indeed, a jury’s discretion in determining the amount of such an award is not

unlimited; thus, the award must be based on evidence that the awarded amount

would provide fair and reasonable compensation for the pain and anguish.

For a mental-anguish award, this includes evidence of the nature, duration,

and severity of the mental anguish, which substantially disrupted his daily routine

or caused a high degree of mental pain and distress. Hancock v. Variyam, 400

S.W.3d 59, 68 (Tex. 2013); Serv. Corp. Int’l v Guerra, 348 S.W.3d 221, 231 (Tex.

2011). When a plaintiff fails to introduce such evidence, we must determine

whether there is “any evidence of a high degree of mental pain and distress that

is more than mere worry, anxiety, vexation, embarrassment, or anger to support

any award of damages.” Parkway Co. v. Woodruff, 901 S.W.2d 434, 444 (Tex.

1995). Damages for physical pain and suffering may be established by

circumstantial evidence and may be inferred from the nature of the injury or the

medical treatment received. See HCRA of Tex., Inc. v. Johnston, 178 S.W.3d

41 861, 871 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2005, no pet.); Country Roads, Inc. v. Witt, 737

S.W.2d 362, 365 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1987, no writ); Lyons v. Ayala,

723 S.W.2d 254, 257 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1986, no writ).

Here, the jury saw pictures of Bruce’s broken nose, the staples that were

put in his head to seal the wound that caused his concussion, and the damage to

his left eye. Bruce, Kim, and Brenda testified to the pain and depression Bruce

experienced after the attack. Bruce stated that he was “bothered” for a long time

after the fight, was depressed, and would have nightmares that “these guys are

going to come back and get me again.”

Cowboys did not object to the joint submission of the mental-anguish

damages with the physical-pain damages. Although Bruce’s mental-anguish

evidence was not as particularized as is required to support the sufficiency of a

mental-anguish award, 17 the evidence of Bruce’s past physical pain and suffering

was more than sufficient to support such an award. See Flynn v. Racicot, No.

09-11-00607-CV, 2013 WL 476756, at *6–7 (Tex. App.—Beaumont Feb. 7, 2013,

no pet.) (mem. op.). We cannot segregate the propriety of the award between

the two measures of damages when Cowboys did not object to the joint

submission. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 272; City of Waco v. Fuentes, No. 10-09-00126-

17 See Klentzman v. Brady, No. 01-11-00765-CV, 2013 WL 5655845, at *19–20 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Oct. 17, 2013, no pet.) (discussing specific evidentiary requirements to support mental-anguish damages award).

42 CV, 2011 WL 817418, at *7 (Tex. App.—Waco Mar. 9, 2011, pet. denied) (mem.

op.).

4. Past Physical Impairment

Cowboys argues that the jury’s $10,000 award for Bruce’s past physical

impairment is not supported by the evidence: “[T]he question is whether there is

evidence to show [Bruce] suffered a restriction of his lifestyle that would not

otherwise be compensated by the monetary awards for loss of earning capacity,

physical pain, and mental anguish.” However, the jury charge informed the jury

that, in determining damages, it could not award a double recovery:

Consider the elements of damages listed below and none other. Consider each element separately. Do not award any sum of money on any element if you have otherwise, under some other element, awarded a sum of money for the same loss. That is, do not compensate twice for the same loss.

We presume the jury followed this instruction. Golden Eagle, 116 S.W.3d at 771.

Even so, we must consider whether the losses Bruce experienced are distinct

from losses compensable under other damages categories. See Thomas v.

Martinez, 217 S.W.3d 680, 684 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, pet. struck); Patlyek v.

Brittain, 149 S.W.3d 781, 787 (Tex. App.—Austin 2004, pet. denied) (op. on

reh’g).

It is difficult to specifically classify losses into different damage categories

without substituting our judgment for that of the jury in evaluating in which

category, if any, a plaintiff should be compensated. Patlyek, 149 S.W.3d at 787.

Therefore, we focus on “actual impediments to the plaintiffs’ activities.” Id. We

43 recognize that the majority of Bruce’s evidence of physical impairment appears

indistinguishable from past pain and suffering and lost earning capacity.

However, there was evidence that Bruce’s left eye caused him pain for at least

two years after the attack. In fact, Bruce occasionally had to use his finger to

open that eye, and the eye would not open at all “at night at times.” This loss of

use of his left eye was separate and apart from the pain and suffering and lost

earning capacity he experienced in the immediate weeks after the fight. Further,

this difficulty with his left eye continued for two years after the fight, unlike his

pain and suffering and lost earning capacity. As we did in Patlyek, we hold this

evidence sufficient to support the jury’s physical-impairment award. Id. at 787–

88.

III. JURY CHARGE

Cowboys asserts the trial court erred by failing to include a definition of

physical impairment in the jury charge. As part of the question on the amount of

damages, the jury charge asked the jury to enter an amount for Bruce’s

“[p]hysical impairment sustained in the past.” In order to prevent a double

recovery, Cowboys requested that the trial court include a definition of physical

impairment to clarify that it is “something beyond physical pain, mental anguish,

loss of incapacity, et cetera, and relates instead to the loss of the capacity to

enjoy life.” See Golden Eagle, 116 S.W.3d at 772–73. The trial court denied the

request.

44 We review a trial court’s decision to refuse a particular jury instruction

under an abuse-of-discretion standard. Thota v. Young, 366 S.W.3d 678, 687

(Tex. 2012). When a trial court refuses to submit a requested instruction on an

issue raised by the pleadings and evidence, we must determine whether the

instruction was reasonably necessary to enable the jury to render a proper

verdict. Shupe v. Lingafelter, 192 S.W.3d 577, 579 (Tex. 2006). If so, the refusal

to submit a requested instruction will constitute reversible error only if the

omission probably caused the rendition of an improper judgment. Tex. R. App.

P. 44.1; see also Thota, 366 S.W.3d at 687.

As quoted above, the jury charge instructed that a double recovery was not

permitted. This instruction informed the jury of the very thing that Cowboys was

trying to prevent. Thus, the requested instruction was not reasonably necessary

for the jury to render a proper verdict.

IV. ADMISSION OF ADMINISTRATIVE EVIDENCE

Cowboys argues that the trial court reversibly erred when it admitted into

evidence the TABC’s civil-penalty order and testimony by the TABC agent who

investigated the incident, William Feick. At trial, Bruce offered into evidence the

TABC’s conclusion that an “aggravated breach of the peace” had occurred, the

TABC’s belief that the breach “could have been prevented by proper actions” by

Cowboys, and the TABC’s investigation of the incident and order for Cowboys to

pay a civil penalty. Cowboys objected to the admission of the administrative

materials relied on by the TABC in reaching its decision because they were

45 unduly prejudicial and because testimony by the sponsoring witness, Feick,

constituted impermissible testimony by an undisclosed expert. The trial court

agreed that the bulk of the administrative materials were inadmissible. Bruce

then offered only the TABC’s civil-penalty order, without the supporting

documentation, which Cowboys objected to solely on the basis that the exhibit

was not relevant. The trial court overruled the objection and admitted the

TABC’s civil-penalty order. Before Feick testified that the civil-penalty order was

based on a finding that a preventable “aggravated breach of the peace had

occurred on a licensed premises,” Cowboys objected that the testimony was

inadmissible opinion evidence.

Even assuming that admission of the civil-penalty order and Feick’s

testimony was erroneous, Cowboys has failed to show the requisite harm arising

from the error. We will not reverse a trial court’s judgment because of an

erroneous evidentiary ruling unless the ruling probably, though not necessarily,

caused the rendition of an improper judgment. Waldrip, 380 S.W.3d at 136;

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. v. Sevcik, 267 S.W.3d 867, 871 (Tex. 2008); see

also Tex. R. App. P. 44.1(a). We examine the entire record in making this

determination of harm, considering the evidence, strengths and weaknesses of

the case, and the verdict. Waldrip, 380 S.W.3d at 136; Guerra, 348 S.W.3d at

236. We consider whether the admission of the evidence was calculated or

inadvertent, whether counsel emphasized the erroneous evidence, and whether

46 contrary evidence existed that the improperly admitted evidence was calculated

to overcome. Waldrip, 380 S.W.3d at 136; Guerra, 348 S.W.3d at 236.

Cowboys’ only attempt to show harm is its statement that prejudice is

shown “by the various verdicts reached by the jury that were against Cowboys

yet not supported by competent evidence.” Cowboys has failed to meet its

burden on appeal to show harm arising from the admission of the disputed

evidence. See In re M.S., 115 S.W.3d 534, 538 (Tex. 2003) (citing City of

Brownsville v. Alvarado, 897 S.W.2d 750, 753–54 (Tex. 1995)).

But we have reviewed the entirety of the record and conclude that

admission of the evidence did not cause the rendition of an improper judgment.

Feick’s testimony regarding the breach of the peace was contained on 2 pages of

the approximately 700 pages of testimony. Bruce did not stress this evidence

and referred to it only once in his closing argument to the jury. Further, this

evidence was not crucial to prove any element of Bruce’s case. Indeed, we have

held the evidence sufficient on many of Bruce’s claims and measures of

damages without reference to the administrative evidence. The requisite harm

from the admission of the evidence is not shown. See, e.g., Mason v. Wells

Fargo Bank, N.A., No. 05-12-01590-CV, 2013 WL 5948077, at *4 (Tex. App.—

Dallas Nov. 5, 2013, no pet. h.) (mem. op.); Citigroup Global Mkts. Realty Corp.

v. Stewart Title Guar. Co., 417 S.W.3d 592, 602 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]

2013, no pet.); Gutierrez v. Martinez, No. 01-07-00363-CV, 2008 WL 5392023, at

*10 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Dec. 19, 2008, no pet.) (mem. op.).

47 V. JURY ARGUMENTS

In their final issue, Cowboys argues that several portions of Bruce’s closing

jury arguments were improper and prejudicial, “[w]hether taken individually or

collectively.” Cowboys specifies twelve statements made by Bruce during his

closing argument. Cowboys objected to none of these statements at trial but did

raise the argument in its motions for new trial; thus, it has preserved error only to

the extent the argument constituted incurable error. See Tex. R. Civ. P.

324(b)(5); Warrantech Corp. v. Computer Adapters Servs., Inc., 134 S.W.3d 516,

531 n.10 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2004, no pet.).

Incurable jury argument occurs when comments are so inflammatory that

their harmful nature cannot be cured by an instruction to disregard. Columbia

Med. Ctr. of Las Colinas v. Bush, 122 S.W.3d 835, 862 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth

2003, pet. denied). The complaining party must show, based on the record as a

whole, that the offensive argument was so extreme that a juror of ordinary

intelligence could have been persuaded by that argument to agree to a verdict

contrary to that to which he would have agreed but for such argument. 18 Phillips

v. Bramlett, 288 S.W.3d 876, 883 (Tex. 2009). It is rare for this showing to be

made. Id.

18 Jury argument that “strikes at the appearance of and the actual impartiality, equality, and fairness of justice rendered by courts” is not subject to this harm analysis. Living Ctrs. of Tex., Inc. v. Peñalver, 256 S.W.3d 678, 681 (Tex. 2008). Cowboys does not assert that any of the complained-of arguments rise to this level and, indeed, none do.

48 We have reviewed the complained-of arguments in light of the entire

record. Although some of the arguments were erroneous, Cowboys has failed to

show that the arguments, viewed collectively or individually, struck at the integrity

of the verdict. See, e.g., id. at 882–83; Rhey v. Redic, 408 S.W.3d 440, 465–66

(Tex. App.—El Paso 2013, no pet.); Gordon v. Leasman, 365 S.W.3d 109, 117–

18 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2011, no pet.).

VI. CONCLUSION

We overrule the majority of Cowboys’ issues. 19 However, we have

concluded that the gross-negligence finding as to Anderson and attendant

exemplary-damage award must be reversed. 20 Therefore, we reverse the trial

court’s judgment to the extent it provided that Anderson committed gross

negligence, imputed liability to Cowboys, and awarded exemplary damages. We

render a take-nothing judgment on Bruce’s claims for gross negligence and

exemplary damages. See Tex. R. App. P. 43.2(c), 43.3. We also concluded that

the jury’s award for past medical expenses was excessive. 21 Thus, we reverse

that portion of the trial court’s judgment awarding $11,916.96 for past medical

expenses and render a judgment for $2,525.50 as damages for Bruce’s past

medical expenses. See Tex. R. App. P. 43.2(c), 43.3. We affirm the remainder

19 Specifically, we overrule issues three, four, five, six, eight, nine, ten, eleven, and twelve. 20 Thus, we sustain issues one and two. 21 Accordingly, we sustain issue seven.

49 of the trial court’s judgment. See Tex. R. App. P. 43.2(a). We further conclude

that there is good cause to apportion costs of this appeal equally against

Cowboys and Bruce; thus, each party to this appeal shall pay one-half of the

appellate costs. See Tex. R. App. P. 43.4; Bus. Staffing, Inc. v. Viesca, 394

S.W.3d 733, 753 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2012, no pet.); Wrenn, 73 S.W.3d at

501.

PER CURIAM

PANEL: GABRIEL, MCCOY, and MEIER, JJ.

DELIVERED: May 1, 2014