Dukes v. Philip Johnson/Alan Ritchie Architects, P.C.

252 S.W.3d 586, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 2235, 2008 WL 820516
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMarch 27, 2008
DocketNo. 2-07-095-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by44 cases

This text of 252 S.W.3d 586 (Dukes v. Philip Johnson/Alan Ritchie Architects, P.C.) 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
Dukes v. Philip Johnson/Alan Ritchie Architects, P.C., 252 S.W.3d 586, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 2235, 2008 WL 820516 (Tex. Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

OPINION

BOB McCOY, Justice.

I. Introduction

In eleven issues, Stephanie Dukes, Individually; Stephanie Dukes, as Independent Executor of the Estate of Myron Dukes, Deceased; Stephanie Dukes, as Independent Executor of the Estate of Christopher Dukes; Stephanie Dukes, as Independent Executor of the Estate of Lauren Dukes, Deceased; Lottie Jaqueszi-an Dukes, Individually; Myron Jamal [590]*590Dukes, Individually, by his Mother and Next Friend, Glenda Maghett; Alexandra Deadmon, Individually; Fruenze Dead-mon, Individually; Alexandra Deadmon and Fruenze Deadmon, as Independent Co-Executors of the Estate of Juanitrice Deadmon, Deceased; Fruenze Deadmon, Jr., Individually, by his Parents and Next Friends, Alexandra Deadmon and Fruenze Deadmon; Cameron Deadmon, Individually, by his Parents and Next Friends, Alexandra Deadmon and Fruenze Deadmon; Gemmia Deadmon, Individually, by her Parents and Next Friends, Alexandra De-admon and Fruenze Deadmon, (hereinafter “Dukes”) appeals the trial court’s granting of summary judgment to Philip Johnson/Alan Ritchie Architects, P.C., Philip Johnson, Ritchie & Fiore Architects, P.C., David G. Whitney and Alan Ritchie, Alan Ritchie/David Fiore Architects, P.C. and David Fiore (collectively “Johnson/Rit-chie”); Huitt-Zollars, Inc. and Emile Keller (collectively “Huitt/Keller”); Peter Jo-hantgen and Peter Johantgen Consulting, Inc. (collectively “Johantgen”); and Austin Commercial, Inc. (hereafter “Austin”).

II. Factual History

This case involves the tragic drowning deaths of Myron Dukes, Christopher Dukes, Lauren Dukes, and Juanitrice De-admon on June 16, 2004 in the Fort Worth Water Gardens. No one knows exactly how Lauren and Juanitrice initially entered the Active Water Pool. Lauren was reportedly the first to enter the water, and Juanitrice reportedly tried to help her out and either fell in or jumped in the pool. Both Myron and Christopher Dukes drowned after entering the Active Water Pool in an effort to save the girls.

Since 1974, the Fort Worth Water Gardens, an outdoor urban park and water sculpture, have been an architectural favorite and a source of pride for the City of Fort Worth (“City”). The City has owned and controlled the Water Gardens since the 1970s. Prior to this accident, there had been no previous drowning deaths in the Water Gardens.

The Water Gardens were originally designed by architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee and were not intended for swimming. In the 1990s, the City determined that it would engage in a restoration and renovation of the Water Gardens in conjunction with the Fort Worth Convention Center Renovation Project (“Project”). The City contracted with Huitt/Keller from 1994-2000 to perform an architectural assessment of the Water Gardens. In 1999, the City also contracted with Johnson/Ritchie and Johantgen as consulting architects. In 2001 through 2002, the City contracted with Austin to act as a project manager for the Project, adjacent to the Water Gardens.

Shortly after the accident, Dukes filed suit against the City and a number of architectural firms and engineering firms, as well as individual architects, engineers, and contractors. Dukes asserted wrongful death, survival, and bystander claims against multiple defendants. Dukes settled with the City in 2005. The remaining Appellees are comprised of architectural firms, engineering firms, and individual architects and engineers who have been involved over the years with the design or restoration of the Water Gardens.

III. Procedural Background

All of the nonsettling defendants in the underlying case, including those involved in this appeal, filed motions for summary judgment. Each of the defendants asserted that they owed no duty to the Dukes. In addition, Johnson/Ritchie asserted that there was no proximate cause between their actions and the incident in question and that the Dukes’s claims were barred by limitations. On April 10, 2007, the trial court granted summary judgment to all of the aforementioned parties without speci[591]*591fying the grounds therefor. This appeal followed.

IY. Standard of Review

In a summary judgment case, the issue on appeal is whether the movant met the summary judgment burden by establishing that no genuine issue of material fact exists and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Tex.R. Civ. P. 166a(c); Sw. Elec. Power Co. v. Grant, 73 S.W.3d 211, 215 (Tex.2002); City of Houston v. Clear Creek Basin Auth., 589 S.W.2d 671, 678 (Tex.1979). The burden of proof is on the movant, and all doubts about the existence of a genuine issue of material fact are resolved against the mov-ant. Sw. Elec. Power Co., 73 S.W.3d at 215.

When reviewing a summary judgment, we take as true all evidence favorable to the nonmovant, and we indulge every reasonable inference and resolve any doubts in the nonmovant’s favor. Valence Operating Co. v. Dorsett, 164 S.W.3d 656, 661 (Tex.2005). Evidence that favors the mov-ant’s position will not be considered unless it is uncontroverted. Great Am. Reserve Ins. Co. v. San Antonio Plumbing Supply Co., 391 S.W.2d 41, 47 (Tex.1965). But we must consider whether reasonable and fair-minded jurors could differ in their conclusions in light of all of the evidence presented. See Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Spates, 186 S.W.3d 566, 568 (Tex.2006); City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 822-24 (Tex.2005).

The summary judgment will be affirmed only if the record establishes that the mov-ant has conclusively proved all essential elements of the movant’s cause of action or defense as a matter of law. Clear Creek Basin, 589 S.W.2d at 678.

A defendant who conclusively negates at least one essential element of a cause of action is entitled to summary judgment on that claim. IHS Cedars Treatment Ctr. of DeSoto, Tex., Inc. v. Mason, 143 S.W.3d 794, 798 (Tex.2004). Once the defendant produces sufficient evidence to establish the right to summary judgment, the burden shifts to the plaintiff to come forward with competent controverting evidence raising a genuine issue of material fact with regard to the element challenged by the defendant. Centeq Realty, Inc. v. Siegler, 899 S.W.2d 195, 197 (Tex.1995).

When a trial court’s order granting summary judgment does not specify the ground or grounds relied on for its ruling, summary judgment will be affirmed on appeal if any of the theories presented to the trial court and preserved for appellate review are meritorious. Provident Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. Knott, 128 S.W.3d 211, 216 (Tex.2003); Star-Telegram, Inc. v. Doe, 915 S.W.2d 471, 473 (Tex.1995).

V. Duty

The primary question in this case is whether Johnson/Ritchie, Johantgen, Huitt/Keller, and Austin owed a duty to the decedents.

A. General Negligence Law

The common law doctrine of negligence consists of three elements: (1) a legal duty owed by one person to another; (2) a breach of that duty; and (3) damages proximately resulting from the breach. Greater Houston Transp. Co. v. Phillips,

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Bluebook (online)
252 S.W.3d 586, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 2235, 2008 WL 820516, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dukes-v-philip-johnsonalan-ritchie-architects-pc-texapp-2008.