G.T. Management, Inc. v. Gonzalez

106 S.W.3d 880, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 4512, 2003 WL 21223312
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMay 28, 2003
Docket05-02-01164-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by44 cases

This text of 106 S.W.3d 880 (G.T. Management, Inc. v. Gonzalez) 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
G.T. Management, Inc. v. Gonzalez, 106 S.W.3d 880, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 4512, 2003 WL 21223312 (Tex. Ct. App. 2003).

Opinion

OPINION

Opinion by

Justice ROSENBERG (Assigned).

This case arose from injuries Michael Gonzalez sustained on the premises of G.T. Management, Inc. d/b/a Club 2551 (G.T. Management). After a trial to the court, judgment was rendered for Gonzalez. In five points of error, G.T. Management (1) challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence supporting liability; (2) contends the trial court improperly allowed a chiropractor to testify as to the reasonableness and necessity of hospital charges; and (3)argues it is entitled to remittitur. For the reasons below, we affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

About 11:00 p.m. on October 11, 1998, Gonzalez went to Club 2551, a dance club in Dallas. According to Gonzalez, about 1:00 a.m., a Club 2551 bouncer grabbed Gonzalez and asked him whether he had thrown a bottle. When Gonzalez denied it, the man called more bouncers over. The bouncers grabbed Gonzalez from behind, pinning his arms. When Gonzalez told them that they “had the wrong guy,” the bouncers began hitting Gonzalez in the face with their flashlights. Gonzalez fell against a wall and was thrown down the steps at the club entrance. Ray Vasquez, the club manager, testified that the bouncers grabbed Gonzalez’s arms after Gonzalez swung at Vasquez and Gonzalez and a bouncer fell against a wall and then fell down. Vasquez denied that any bouncers hit Gonzalez with flashlights or threw him down the steps. It was undisputed that Gonzalez was injured as a result of this *883 incident. He was taken by ambulance to Parkland Hospital and received medical treatment.

Gonzalez sued the club owner, Luis Alberto Garza, individually, and G.T. Management. Gonzalez alleged negligence and gross negligence. He pleaded that he suffered damages for past and future physical pain and mental anguish. He requested damages for medical expenses and exemplary damages.

The case was submitted to the court, and a verdict was rendered for Gonzalez against G.T. Management. The court found no liability as to Garza. 3 The court awarded Gonzalez $80,000, costs, and pre- and postjudgment interest. G.T. Management’s motion for new trial was overruled by operation of law. G.T. Management appeals the judgment.

LIABILITY

In points of error one through three, G.T. Management challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence on liability pursuant to respondeat superior and other negligence theories. G.T, Management argues that, even if the theory of respondeat superior applies here, this theory will not support a finding of liability because Gonzalez did not plead it and the trial court indicated in its oral comments that it found liability only for negligent screening and hiring.

First, we liberally construe pleadings in favor of the pleader, particularly when, as here, the complaining party did not file special exceptions. Horizon/CMS Healthcare Corp. v. Auld, 34 S.W.3d 887, 897 (Tex.2000); Favaloro v. Comm’n for Lawyer Discipline, 13 S.W.3d 831, 837 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2000, no pet.). Pleadings shall give fair notice of the claim asserted to provide the opposing party with enough information to enable him to prepare a defense. Tex. Rs. Civ. P. 45(b), 47(a). A petition is sufficient if a cause of action may be reasonably inferred from the facts specifically stated. Auld, 34 S.W.3d at 897; Favaloro, 13 S.W.3d at 837-38. Gonzalez pleaded respondeat superior because his first amended petition alleged that he was injured by bouncers who were “agents, servants, and[/]or employees” of G.T. Management and who “were acting within the course and scope of their employment.” Second, we do not consider any oral comments by the trial judge made at the conclusion of a bench trial as a substitute for findings of fact and conclusions of law. In re W.E.R., 669 S.W.2d 716, 716 (Tex.1984) (per curiam). No findings of fact or conclusions of law were requested or filed. See Tex. Rs. Civ. P. 296, 299a.

When findings of fact and conclusions of law are not properly requested and none are filed, the judgment of the trial court must be affirmed if it can be upheld on any legal theory that finds support in the evidence. In re W.E.R., 669 S.W.2d at 717. In the absence of findings and conclusions, the judgment of the trial court implies all necessary fact findings in support of the judgment. Id. When a reporter’s record is brought forward, these implied findings may be challenged by factual sufficiency and legal sufficiency points the same as jury findings or a trial court’s findings of fact. Roberson v. Robinson, 768 S.W.2d 280, 281 (Tex.1989) (per cu-riam). In reviewing a no evidence claim, we must consider only the evidence and inferences tending to support the trial court’s finding, disregarding all contrary evidence and inferences. Cont'l Coffee Prods. Co. v. Cazarez, 937 S.W.2d 444, 450 (Tex.1996). Anything more than a scintilla *884 of evidence is legally sufficient to support the finding. Id. In reviewing a factual insufficiency claim, we consider and weigh all the evidence, including any evidence contrary to the trial court’s judgment. Burnett v. Motyka, 610 S.W.2d 735, 736 (Tex.1980) (per curiam). The factfinder is the sole judge of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony. Durand v. Moore, 879 S.W.2d 196, 200 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1994, no writ).

Because Gonzalez pleaded a re-spondeat superior theory, we consider whether the evidence supports the trial court’s implied findings that G.T. Management was liable for Gonzalez’s injuries under this theory. An employee’s tortious conduct will be found to be within the scope of employment when the tortious conduct is of the same general nature as that authorized or incidental to the conduct authorized. Id. at 199. An employer will be held liable for the act of his employee, even if the act is contrary to express orders, if it is done within the general authority of the employee. Id. Thus, an employer may be vicariously hable for an intentional tort when the act, although not specifically authorized by the employer, is closely connected with the employee’s authorized duties, that is, if the intentional tort is committed in the accomplishment of a duty entrusted to the employee, rather than because of personal animosity. GTE Southwest, Inc. v. Bruce, 998 S.W.2d 605, 617-18 (Tex.1999).

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Bluebook (online)
106 S.W.3d 880, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 4512, 2003 WL 21223312, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gt-management-inc-v-gonzalez-texapp-2003.