DeGrate v. Executive Imprints, Inc.

261 S.W.3d 402, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 5880, 2008 WL 3020739
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedAugust 6, 2008
Docket12-07-00244-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by44 cases

This text of 261 S.W.3d 402 (DeGrate v. Executive Imprints, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
DeGrate v. Executive Imprints, Inc., 261 S.W.3d 402, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 5880, 2008 WL 3020739 (Tex. Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

OPINION

BRIAN HOYLE, Justice.

Frenchelle DeGrate and his wife, Dorris DeGrate (collectively the “DeGrates”), appeal the trial court’s summary judgment entered in favor of Appellee Executive Imprints, Inc. In one issue, the DeGrates argue that the trial court erred in granting Executive Imprints’ no evidence motion for summary judgment. We affirm.

Background

On January 20, 2001, Ms. DeGrate lit a gel candle allegedly marketed by Executive Imprints, but manufactured by another entity. After allowing the candle to burn for approximately one hour, Ms. De-Grate blew on the flame in an attempt to extinguish it. Rather than being snuffed out, however, the size of the candle’s flame increased dramatically. Ms. DeGrate reacted by dropping the candle into her kitchen sink and, as a result of her contact with the hot gel, suffered burns to her hands, her eyelid, and her body generally.

The DeGrates filed suit against Executive Imprints and others contending that *406 Executive Imprints was liable to Ms. De-Grate under theories of negligence, negligence per se, gross negligence, design defect, manufacturing defect, marketing defect, and breach of express and implied warranties. The DeGrates further alleged that Executive Imprints was liable to Mr. DeGrate for his loss of consortium. After adequate time for discovery had passed, Executive Imprints filed a no evidence motion for summary judgment as to all of the DeGrates’ claims. The DeGrates responded, 1 arguing that more than a scintilla of evidence had been presented in support of their claims that Executive Imprints was negligent and that the candle was defectively designed and defectively marketed.

In support of their response, the De-Grates relied heavily on the affidavit and report of Harold Zeliger, Ph.D., a chemist. In his affidavit, Dr. Zeliger stated, in pertinent part, as follows:

1. The candle was dangerous and defective for the following reasons: (a) Its propensity to form a large hot molten liquid layer when burning [and] (b) [w]hen burning, the flame and the top part of the container were sufficiently hot, i.e., above the flash point of the candle, to result in the ignition and eruption of the molten liquid when it splashed against the hot container walls and/or the candle flame.
2. A method of producing scented candles is well known and established. Paraffin wax and other waxes, (beeswax, for example), burn safely without producing hot liquid layers that can splash and erupt.
3. The manufacturer could have tested the candle under actual use conditions to ascertain the dangers associated with the candle. Such testing would have readily revealed the problems with the candle that injured Ms. DeGrate.

Dr. Zeliger’s affidavit testimony supplemented the opinions he provided by way of his report, which was also part of the summary judgment record. Dr. Zeliger’s report stated, in pertinent part, as follows:

The following opinions are offered to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty:

1. The fact that Ms. DeGrate’s first blow did not extinguish the flame indicates that the fire was a hot one. This is consistent with the inches high flame reported by Ms. De-Grate.
2. The eruption that occurred when the second extinguishing attempt was made further supports the hot fire opinion.
3. The flash point of the candle was measured at 320 degrees F. This is lower than the greater than 340 degrees F flash point on the Penreco MSDS. The lower flash point can be attributed either to addition of lower flash additives to the basic gel material, to a bad batch of gel or both.
4. The eruption of fire in the glass container is due to the splashing of the molten gel onto the hot surface of the glass above the liquid line when Ms. DeGrate attempted to blow the candle out. The glass above the liquid fine was in the area of the high flame and subject to being heated above the 320 degree flash point. Upon contact with the hot glass, the liquid vaporized, was subjected to a temperature that exceeded the flash point and ignited spontaneously.
*407 5. The warning label on the gel candle failed to warn Ms. DeGrate that an eruption such as that she was subjected to could occur. The directions for use did not warn her of the potential for eruption when the candle was being moved.
6. The manufacturer and suppliers of the various components failed to properly test the gel candle before its sale. Flash point testing alone is insufficient to establish safety.

Subsequently, the trial court granted Executive Imprints’ no evidence motion for summary judgment. Thereafter, the trial court severed the DeGrates’ claims against Executive Imprints from the remaining claims against the other defendants. This appeal followed.

Standard of Review

After adequate time for discovery, a party, without presenting summary judgment evidence, may move for summary judgment on the ground that there is no evidence of one or more essential elements of a claim or defense on which an adverse party would have the burden of proof at trial. Tex.R. Civ. P. 166a(i). The motion must state the elements as to which there is no evidence. Id. The court must grant the motion unless the respondent produces summary judgment evidence raising a genuine issue of material fact. Id. The mov-ant need not produce any proof in support of its no evidence claim. See id.; see also Judge David Hittner and Lynne Liberato, Summary Judgments in Texas, 34 Hous. L.Rev. 1303, 1356 (1998). The motion must be specific in alleging a lack of evidence on an essential element of a cause of action, but need not specifically attack the evidentiary components that may prove an element of the cause of action. See Denton v. Big Spring Hosp. Corp., 998 S.W.2d 294, 298 (Tex.App.-Eastland 1999, no pet.). Once a no evidence motion has been filed in accordance with Rule 166a(i), the burden shifts to the nonmovant to bring forth evidence that raises a fact issue on the challenged evidence. See Macias v. Fiesta Mart, Inc., 988 S.W.2d 316, 316-17 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no pet.). A no evidence motion is properly granted if the nonmovant fails to bring forth more than a scintilla of probative evidence to raise a genuine issue of material fact as to an essential element of the nonmovant’s claim on which the nonmovant would have the burden of proof at trial. See Merrell Dow Pharms., Inc. v. Havner, 953 S.W.2d 706, 711 (Tex.1997). If the evidence supporting a finding rises to a level that would enable reasonable, fair minded persons to differ in their conclusions, then more than a scintilla of evidence exists. See Havner, 953 S.W.2d at 711.

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Bluebook (online)
261 S.W.3d 402, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 5880, 2008 WL 3020739, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/degrate-v-executive-imprints-inc-texapp-2008.