Dallas National Insurance Company v. Calitex Corp., Elshir Enterprises, L.P. and Thomas, L.P.

458 S.W.3d 210, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 2002, 2015 WL 968308
Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided March 3, 2015·No. 05-13-01505-CV·Published·Cited by 22 cases

Opinion

OPINION

Opinion by

Justice Lang

This is an insurance coverage case. Appellees Calitex Corporation; Elshir Enterprises, L.P.; and Thomas, L.P. (collectively, “Calitex”) filed this lawsuit against appellant Dallas National Insurance Company (“DNIC”) seeking, in part, a declaration that DNIC owes a duty to indemnify Calitex respecting a judgment Calitex obtained (the “underlying judgment”) in a separate underlying lawsuit against a third party insured by DNIC (the “underlying lawsuit”).

On cross-motions for summary judgment, the trial court granted both motions in part and denied both motions in part. Specifically, the trial court ordered that Calitex’s motion for summary judgment “should be granted to award [Calitex] the amount of $500,000.00” as reflected in the underlying judgment; an additional $193,000 in attorney’s fees awarded in the underlying judgment; and attorney’s fees in this case in an amount to be determined by a jury. Following a jury trial respecting Calitex’s attorney’s fees incurred in this case, the trial court signed a final judgment (the “final judgment”) awarding Calitex “the principle amount of $693,000” and attorney’s fees in this case in the amount of $135,250.

In five issues on appeal, DNIC contends (1) the trial court erred by “denying [DNIC’s] special exceptions to [Calitix’s] cross-motion for summary judgment and granting summary judgment in favor of [Calitex]”; (2) Calitex did not conclusively prove that all damages awarded against the insured in the underlying lawsuit are covered by the insurance policy in question; (3) genuine issues of material fact exist as to whether the damages awarded against the insured in the underlying lawsuit are “property damage” or whether such damages are excluded by the insurance policy in question; (4) the attorney’s fees awarded to Calitex against the insured in the underlying lawsuit were not covered by the insurance policy in question; and (5) DNIC conclusively proved that the damages awarded in the underlying lawsuit were not covered by the insurance policy in question and therefore DNIC is entitled to a take-nothing judgment.

We decide in favor of DNIC on portions of its first, second, and fifth issues. We need not reach DNIC’s remaining issues. We reverse the trial court’s judgment and render a take-nothing judgment in favor of DNIC.

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

The insurance policy in question in this case (the “policy”) is a commercial general liability insurance policy issued by DNIC to Turnkey Residential Group, Inc. (“Turnkey”). The initial policy period was August 2, 2006, to August 2, 2007, and the policy was renewed for an additional period of August 2, 2007, to August 2, 2008. The pertinent provisions of the initial policy and the renewal policy are identical.

In October 2006, Turnkey and Calitex entered into a written contract (the “contract”) under which Turnkey, described in the contract as “the contractor,” was to be paid by Calitex, described as “the owner,” to construct a twelve-unit townhome complex in Dallas, Texas (the “Project”). Pur *214 suant to that contract, the Project was to be completed by Turnkey no later than October 26, 2007. Construction of the townhomes began in November 2006.

On February 10, 2008, Calitex filed the underlying lawsuit against three defendants: (1) Turnkey; (2) Integrated Builders, Inc. (“Integrated”), described by Cali-tex as a subcontractor of Turnkey; and (3) David Hurst, an individual described by Calitex as Turnkey’s “owner.” In its March 11, 2011 “second amended petition” in the underlying lawsuit, which was the live petition at the time of the judgment in that case, Calitex asserted it “began to encounter problems with Defendants’ execution and performance in or around February of 2007.” According to Calitex, among those problems were (1) “the stone exterior ... was not properly treated, leaked, or entire areas were left uncovered with stone (a problem that still exists)” and (2) “windows, once installed, leaked.” Further, Calitex asserted in its petition (1) “[a]s of February 10, 2008, over half of the Project units had not reached substantial completion and were not ready for use and/or occupancy” and (2) “[t]oday the Project is substantially complete,” but “the quality of materials, labor and craftsmanship do not satisfy the standards required of Defendants under the [cjontract” and have resulted in “damages.” Those damages were described as follows:

The original value of the planned Project was Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) per unit, resulting in a total Project value of Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000.00). Due to the poor quality of materials, craftsmanship, and construction, the Project units are only valued at Four Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars (S450,000.00). The resulting damage for loss of valuation is Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($600,000.00).

Calitex asserted causes of action for breach of contract, breach of warranty, and negligence. Additionally, Calitex requested attorney’s fees pursuant to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code section 38.001. See Tex. Civ. Prao. & Rem. Code Ann. § 38.001 (West 2015) (providing in part for recovery of attorney’s fees pertaining to contract claims).

On February 14, 2008, Turnkey sent DNIC a notice of claim and a copy of Calitex’s live. petition at that time. In a March 4, 2008 letter to Turnkey, DNIC stated it “has concluded that it has no obligation to defend or indemnify Turnkey as a result of the factual allegations asserted against Turnkey ... by Calitex.” Following a jury trial, the jury found liability against Turnkey and Integrated. 1 The un *215 derlying judgment, dated March 15, 2011, awarded Calitex (1) $500,000 in damages and $193,500 in attorney’s fees against Turnkey and (2) $500,000 in damages against Integrated.

Calitex filed this lawsuit against DNIC on November 7, 2011. 2 In its live petition at the time of the judgment complained of in this appeal, Calitex stated in part,

The [Project] ... was to be completed over an 11 month period with a commencement date of October 2006.... Due to unusually heavy rains in Dallas, Texas in the winter of 2006/2007, the [Pjroject was delayed for approximately 3 months. After the building was put to its intended use, Calitex Corp. began noticing severe water infiltration in all of the condominium units. An investigation uncovered shoddy construction means and methods, including the failure to adequately waterproof the exteri- or sheathing of the building, improper installation of doors and windows, lack of adequate window/door flashings, improper sealing of exterior joints, [and] improper installation/application of exterior cladding — stone fagade.

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Dallas National Insurance Company v. Calitex Corp., Elshir Enterprises, L.P. and Thomas, L.P., 458 S.W.3d 210, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 2002, 2015 WL 968308 (Tex. Ct. App. 2015).

458 S.W.3d 210 (Dallas National Insurance Company v. Calitex Corp., Elshir Enterprises, L.P. and Thomas, L.P.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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