Gallo v. Union Pac. R.R. Co.

372 F. Supp. 3d 470
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Texas
DecidedFebruary 19, 2019
Docket1:17-CV-854-RP
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 372 F. Supp. 3d 470 (Gallo v. Union Pac. R.R. Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gallo v. Union Pac. R.R. Co., 372 F. Supp. 3d 470 (W.D. Tex. 2019).

Opinion

ROBERT PITMAN, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Before the Court are two motions for summary judgment, one filed by Defendant Union Pacific Railroad Company ("Union Pacific"), (Dkt. 54), and another filed by Plaintiffs Cameron Beasley, Karis Beasley, William Beck, Brandy Beck, Jonathan Clayton, Stephanie Clayton, Teresa Derickson, Kathleen Fernandez, Linda Fiedler, Michael Finney, Rizalina Finney, Bruce Frankland, Margaret Frankland, Robert Frithiof, Jimmy Gable, Dayna Gable, Chris Gallo, Carmen Gallo, David Gattis, Yvette Gattis, James Hammond, Hattie Hammond, Mike Herbin, Jennifer Herbin, William Hockaday, Jereka Hockaday, Michael Huber, Joan Hamilton-Huber, Cecil Impson, Jr., Juanita Impson, Matthew Lafoon, Pedro Limon, Deanna Limon, Aaron Lovell, Emily Lovell, Timothy Malech, Jennifer Baggarly, Joseph O'Neal, Victoria Barnes, Arm Robinson, Darcy Robinson, Paul Ruiz, Crispin Ruiz, Richard Seaward, Nathan Sexton, David Thurman, Susan Thurman, Dave White, Sharon White, Kolby White, and Erica White (collectively, "Plaintiffs"), (Dkt. 56). Each party argues that it is entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiffs' sole claim: Union Pacific was negligent in the design, construction, inspection, and maintenance of the railroad embankment adjacent to Plaintiffs' subdivision. Having considered the parties' arguments, the evidence, and the relevant law, the Court finds that neither party has shown that it is entitled to summary judgment, and the motions should be denied.

I. BACKGROUND

This is a negligence case brought by owners of homes in the Arroyo Doble subdivision located in Manchaca, Texas ("Arroyo Doble" or the "neighborhood"). (See 2d Am. Compl., Dkt. 42, at 2, 4-5). Arroyo Doble is bordered by two waterways: Bear Creek to the north and Onion Creek to the east. (Arroyo Doble Map, Dkt. 54-2, at 2).

*475The creeks converge just northeast of the neighborhood. To the west, Arroyo Doble is bordered by an embankment of railroad tracks between Hosrethief Trail at milepost 190.92 and Bear Creek at milepost 191.39. (Id. ). These tracks form a section of a mainline railroad track owned by Union Pacific that runs through several counties in central Texas, including Travis County (the "Austin Subdivision").

The Austin Subdivision was built in 1881. (Union Pacific Track Profile, Dkt. 54-4). Because the tracks are elevated, there are no ditches or culverts alongside the tracks between mileposts 190.92 and 191.39. (See id. ; Garcia Dep., Dkt. 54-14, at 16:10-21; Freeman Dep., Dkt. 54-25, at 25:14-24). But there are several drainage ditches throughout the Arroyo Doble property. One runs parallel to Union Pacific's tracks and the homes on the western border of the subdivision. (See id. ; Ditch Easement, Dkt. 54-3, at 2-3). Another runs perpendicular to Union Pacific's tracks. (See Topographic Survey, Dkt. 54-9).

In recent years, this area has experienced a series of flooding events. In October 2013, there were two significant storms. (See Meteorological Analysis, Dkt. 54-11, at 29). On October 13-14, 2013, a storm produced more than five inches of rain in one hour, correlating to a 325-year rainfall event. (Id. at 22-25). The storm washed out a portion of Union Pacific's Austin Subdivision around milepost 191.3. (Incident Summ., Dkt. 54-7, at 2). The washout was described as a "side wash," about ten feet long and four feet deep, though the parties dispute the extent to which the tracks were damaged. (Incident Rep., Dkt. 54-8, at 3; Lydick Dep., Dkt. 56-15, at 49:11-24). The washout was repaired by October 14, and the track was returned to service. (Incident Rep., Dkt. 54-8, at 3-4; Ashworth Rep., Dkt. 56-3, at 7). On October 30-31, 2013, another storm produced more than nine inches of rain over three hours, correlating to a 500-year rainfall event. (See Meteorological Analysis, Dkt. 54-11, at 15-19). There is no evidence that the Austin Subdivision was affected during this storm. And although each storm was significant, there is no evidence that any property in the neighborhood was flooded as a result of either event.

Two years later, on October 30, 2015, a record-setting storm hit the area, causing significant flooding throughout central Texas. (See KXAN Rep., Dkt. 54-28, at 1; Meteorological Analysis, Dkt. 54-11, at 7-11). Experts for both parties estimated that the October 30 storm correlated to at least a 250-year rainfall event. (See Williams Assessment, Dkt. 54-10, at 5; Meteorological Analysis, Dkt. 54-11, at 8-9). During the storm, a flashflood warning was issued for Travis County, and Union Pacific sent track inspectors to inspect the Austin Subdivision. (Ashmore Dep., Dkt. 54-15, at 31:7-32:19; Castillo Dep., Dkt. 54-19, at 13:16-23).

Due to the severity of the storm, the entire Austin Subdivision was taken out of service. (Ashmore Dep., Dkt. 54-15, at 31:19-24). Eventually, water levels overtopped most of the track adjacent to Arroyo Doble between milepost 191.39 (Bear Creek) and milepost 190.92 (Horsethief Trail). (See CDM Smith Rep., Dkt. 54-6; Williams Dep., Dkt. 54-17, at 39:3-42:18). A portion of the track washed out,1 and water flowed over the tracks and into Arroyo Doble, flooding some of the neighborhood and damaging homes in the process. (Williams Dep., Dkt. 54-17, at 39:3-42:18; Benedict Rep., Dkt. 54-26, at 5).

*476Twenty-nine Arroyo Doble homeowners sued Union Pacific, alleging that it was negligent in its design, construction, inspection, and maintenance of the railroad embankment and ballast that aligns the neighborhood's western border. (2d Am. Compl., Dkt. 42, at 4-5). Plaintiffs allege that Union Pacific's negligence enabled the washout, caused the flood of the Arroyo Doble neighborhood, and damaged their homes and property as a result. (Id. at 4).

II. LEGAL STANDARD

Summary judgment is appropriate under Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure only "if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A dispute is genuine only if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc. , 477 U.S. 242, 254, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). "A fact issue is 'material' if its resolution could affect the outcome of the action." Poole v. City of Shreveport , 691 F.3d 624, 627 (5th Cir. 2012).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
372 F. Supp. 3d 470, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gallo-v-union-pac-rr-co-txwd-2019.