Jimmy Tullos v. Jo Dean Jones

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: January 24, 2013
• Docket: 01-11-00425-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

Opinion issued January 24, 2013

In The

Court of Appeals For The

First District of Texas ———————————— NO. 01-11-00425-CV ——————————— JIMMY TULLOS, Appellant V. JO DEAN JONES AND PROGRESSIVE COUNTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Appellees

On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 3 Galveston County, Texas Trial Court Case No. 62,063

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Appellant, Jimmy Tullos, sued appellee Jo Dean Jones for personal injuries

arising out of a car accident. Approximately fourteen months after Tullos filed

suit, the trial court dismissed his case with prejudice. Tullos argues that the trial court abused its discretion in dismissing the case with prejudice as a “death penalty

sanction” for discovery abuse because he lacked adequate notice, the sanctions

order was inadequate, and the evidence was insufficient to support the trial court’s

imposition of sanctions.1

We reverse and remand.

Background

On December 23, 2009, Tullos filed a personal injury claim asserting

negligence, negligence per se, gross negligence, and statutory violations against

Jones for damages arising out of an automobile crash that occurred in December

2007.

Jones answered, and, on February 8, 2010, she served Tullos with requests

for disclosure, interrogatories, and requests for production.

On April 29, 2010, the trial court entered a docket control order in

anticipation of a bench trial set for March 14, 2011. The April 29, 2010 docket

control order provided that Tullos and Jones were to have joined and served new 1 Tullos’s issues as enumerated in his brief are that the trial court: (1) erred in entering “a sua sponte death penalty sanctions order without notice of the hearing prior to it being conducted”; (2) erred by failing to state in the order the reasons for the sanction and the analysis required by TransAmerica Natural Gas Corp. v. Powell; (3) abused its discretion by dismissing the case with prejudice on March 4, 2011; (4) abused its discretion by considering missed deadlines under a “superseded” docket control order as evidence that Tullos disregarded a court order; (5) abused its discretion by considering Tullos’s failure to comply with the court order to contact a mediator as evidence that Tullos disregarded a court order, because none of the parties contacted the mediator; and (6) erred in failing to properly apply the test for sanctions set forth in TransAmerica. 2 parties by April 9, 2010.2 It further required that the parties complete mediation by

August 11, 2010, that Tullos designate his experts by December 14, 2010,3 and that

both parties conclude discovery by February 14, 2011. The April 29, 2010 docket

control order further specified that amendments to the pleadings must be filed “per

Rules.”

The trial court amended the docket control order on May 24, 2010,

following Jones’s request for a jury trial. That docket control order extended the

deadlines for attending mediation and for designating experts to January 21, 2011.

The order likewise extended the discovery deadline to February 28, 2011. This

docket control order also provided that amendments to pleadings must be filed by

March 10, 2011, and it set a trial date of March 21, 2011.

On August 16, 2010, Jones filed a motion to compel discovery responses

from Tullos, stating that, as of the date of the motion, Jones had not received any

responses from Tullos on the requests for disclosure, interrogatories, and requests

for production that she had served on February 8, 2010.

2 The date for joining and serving new parties had already passed at the time the trial court signed the docket control order. 3 The docket control order actually provides the date December 14, 2011. However, as per the amended docket control order, the year appears to be a typo, and both parties and the trial court referred to the proper deadline for designating experts under that order as December 14, 2010. 3 On November 17, 2010, the trial court signed a mediation order granting the

parties’ request to designate Greenway Mediation Group as the agreed mediator.

The parties filed an agreed motion for continuance on January 14, 2011,

stating that “[d]iscovery has not been sufficiently completed to allow the parties to

argue their case adequately” and that the case had not been mediated. Jones sought

to depose Tullos, but, on January 20, 2011, Tullos moved to quash the deposition

notice. Tullos argued that he was not available to appear on the date noticed by

Jones. The motion to quash also stated that Tullos had responded to Jones’s

requests for disclosure and detailed various difficulties in complying with the

remainder of Jones’s discovery requests, such as difficulties in obtaining medical

records. Tullos also stated that it was “best to wait until newly added defendant

Progressive answers” so that the deposition need not be taken twice.

On January 25, 2011, the trial court issued an order denying the motion for

continuance. The trial court ordered the parties to mediation by March 11, 2011

and appointed Nancy Huston as the mediator. The trial court’s order reiterated the

March 21, 2011 trial date and stated, “Sanctions may be imposed for failure to

comply with this Order.”

Also on January 25, 2011, Tullos filed, without leave of court, an amended

original petition naming Progressive County Mutual Insurance Company

(“Progressive”) as a defendant. Progressive answered on January 27, 2011.

4 Progressive filed an agreed motion for continuance on January 31, 2011, asserting

that it had not been able to adequately prepare for trial.

On January 31, 2011, Tullos moved for “pretrial orders pursuant to Rule

166.” This motion stated that “[a] considerable portion of [Tullos’s] medical care

and treatment for injuries . . . occurred in Austin” and that Tullos moved to

Colorado “for a period of time.” The motion further stated, “Due to the logistics

involved . . . the medical discovery is not complete and [Tullos] is scheduling a

follow up appointment with his Neurosurgeon, Dr. John Stokes in Austin. Despite

diligent efforts to obtain the medical records the Court Reporting Company has

had difficulty in obtaining some medical records.” The motion stated that Tullos

believed liability would not be contested and that he intended to file a no-evidence

motion for summary judgment on that issue, and it asked the trial court to hold a

pre-trial conference to address these discovery issues, deadlines, mediation, and

other issues.

On February 7, 2011, Jones filed an amended motion to compel Tullos to

respond to the interrogatories and requests for production served on February 8,

2010. The motion stated that Tullos “has failed to answer the Interrogatories or

Requests for Production, other than recently providing some photographs of [his]

vehicle, and providing signed HIPAA authorizations.” The motion stated that the

trial court “should compel [Tullos] to fully respond to [Jones’s]” interrogatories

5 and requests for production and prayed, “Wherefore, premises considered, [Jones]

prays that the Motion to Compel be granted, and that the Court grant such other

further relief, both general and special, at law and in equity, to which [Jones] may

be justly entitled.”

Jones also filed a no-evidence motion for summary judgment “based on

[Tullos’s] lack of evidence to support his claims of gross negligence and

diminution of value of his vehicle.”

The trial court issued an order granting Progressive’s requests for a hearing

on its motion for continuance, and it set the date of the hearing as March 4, 2011.

On February 25, 2011, Tullos filed a motion for an amended docket control

order and for leave to designate additional non-retained experts. In this motion,

Tullos’s attorney explained that discovery was not yet complete, that he had

recently added Progressive as a party because he just learned that Tullos had

under-insured motorist coverage through Progressive, and that “the

parties . . . chose to wait on incurring the expense of mediation until all of the

medical records could be obtained[,] depositions of the parties taken[,] and

Progressive added to the lawsuit.” Tullos asked the trial court to grant him leave to

designate new treating physicians as non-retained experts, to enter an amended

docket control order, and to grant the pending motion for continuance.

6 Also on February 25, 2011, Tullos filed a supplemental petition, in which he

waived his claim of gross negligence against Jones and took “a voluntary non suit,

without prejudice, as to any and all claims of gross negligence and requests for

punitive damages.”

Tullos subsequently filed an amended motion for an amended docket control

order, informing the trial court that the parties had scheduled mediation for March

21, 2011 with Norman Roser of Greenway Mediation Group.

At the March 4, 2011 hearing, Tullos appeared through his counsel. The

trial court began by asking questions to obtain “background.” It confirmed that the

accident occurred on December 27, 2007; that Tullos filed suit December 23,

2009; and that Jones was served on January 18, 2010. The trial court also

confirmed that the following deadlines had not been met: (1) the docket control

order’s April 9, 2010 deadline for naming new parties; (2) the February 14, 2011

deadline for completing discovery; (3) the trial court’s order to complete mediation

by August 11, 2010; and (4) the docket control order’s deadline to designate

experts by December 14, 2010.

Tullos’s attorney explained some of the difficulties the parties had faced in

completing discovery and scheduling mediation. Toward the end of the hearing,

the trial court stated that it was “beyond concerned with [Tullos’s] inability to

comply with any Court order, any mediation order, including the last mediation

7 order [that] notified [Tullos] that sanctions would be imposed for failure to

comply.” The trial court stated that it would “issue an order today on whether the

case will be dismissed for want of prosecution for failure to comply with Court

orders.” Tullos’s counsel stated, “I thought up until this morning that that was not

an issue.” Tullos’s counsel also stated on two occasions that he did not bring the

information he needed to address the trial court’s concerns.

That same day, the trial court signed an order dismissing the case with

prejudice “based on the pleadings on file and the testimony of counsel on this

date.” The order stated that it was issued under the trial court’s authority “to

impose sanctions for a party’s failure to comply with . . . pretrial orders and

discovery obligations.” It stated, “In light of Plaintiff’s systemic and absolute

refusals to comply with virtually all aspects of all prior Orders, and Plaintiff’s

refusal to timely comply with his discovery obligations, dismissal in this matter is

both just and reasonable. The Court finds that no lesser sanction would promote

compliance.” The order stated that it “fully disposes of all issues and parties in this

matter.”

On April 4, 2011, Tullos filed a verified motion for new trial complaining

that he had no notice regarding a sanctions hearing and that he was “denied the

opportunity to respond to any of the claims . . . that [his] conduct was ‘systemic

and absolute.’” Tullos also argued that there was no evidence that he had failed to

8 comply with “virtually all aspects of all prior orders,” as found in the trial court’s

order, and that the trial court had abused its discretion in failing to consider lesser

sanctions. He attached exhibits showing his compliance with discovery and his

communications with other attorneys regarding scheduling of mediation and other

matters.

The trial court denied the motion for new trial, stating in its order, “Amongst

other things, Plaintiff’s Motion fails to comply with the Galveston County Local

Rules, including Local Rule 3.24. . . . The Court also FINDS that the time period

for filing a proper Motion for New Trial has expired.”

This appeal followed.

Analysis

In his first issue, Tullos argues that he did not receive adequate notice of the

sanctions hearing and that, therefore, his case should not have been dismissed

either as a sanction or for want of prosecution.

A. Notice of Dismissal as “Death Penalty” Sanction

Jones argues that Tullos had adequate notice of the March 4, 2011 hearing.

However, Tullos does not argue that he did not receive notice of the March 4

hearing. Tullos argues that he had no notice that the subject matter of the hearing

would encompass assessment of sanctions and that, therefore, the trial court’s

dismissal of his suit as a sanction was an abuse of its discretion.

9 Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 215 allows a trial court to order sanctions

when a litigant or his attorney abuses the discovery process. TEX. R. CIV. P. 215.

In addition, a trial court possesses the inherent power to discipline an attorney’s

behavior through the imposition of sanctions in appropriate cases. In re Bennett,

960 S.W.2d 35, 40 (Tex. 1997); see also Clark v. Bres, 217 S.W.3d 501, 512 (Tex.

App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, pet. denied) (“Even in the absence of an

applicable rule or statute, [a court has] the authority to sanction parties for bad faith

abuses if it finds that to do so will aid in the exercise of its jurisdiction, in the

administration of justice, and the preservation of its independence and integrity.”)

(quoting Roberts v. Rose, 37 S.W.3d 31, 33 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2000, no

pet.)). Such sanctions are discretionary and are reviewed on appeal for an abuse of

discretion. Am. Flood Research, Inc. v. Jones, 192 S.W.3d 581, 583 (Tex. 2006)

(sanctions under Rule 215); Ezeoke v. Tracy, 349 S.W.3d 679, 685 (Tex. App.—

Houston [14th Dist.] 2011, no pet.) (sanctions under court’s inherent power). A

trial court abuses its discretion when it acts without reference to guiding rules and

principles. Downer v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238, 241–42 (Tex.

1985). When imposing sanctions for discovery abuses, a trial court must look to

the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure for guiding rules and principles. Id. at 242. In

reviewing an order imposing sanctions, we must independently review the entire

10 record, and we are not bound by the trial court’s findings of fact and conclusions of

law. Am. Flood Research, Inc., 192 S.W.3d at 583.

The Due Process Clause of the United States Constitution limits a trial

court’s power to sanction. In re Bennett, 960 S.W.2d at 40; Clark, 217 S.W.3d at

513; Greene v. Young, 174 S.W.3d 291, 298 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]

2005, pet. denied). Likewise, the due course of law provision in Article I, Section

19 of the Texas Constitution limits the power to sanction. TEX. CONST. art. I § 19.

“For this reason, the imposition of sanctions requires . . . ‘notice reasonably

calculated, under the circumstances, to apprise interested parties of the pendency of

the action and [to] afford them the opportunity to present their objections.’”

Greene, 174 S.W.3d at 298. Rule 215 expressly requires notice and a hearing

before sanctions may be imposed on a party. See, e.g., TEX. R. CIV. P. 215.2

(allowing sanctions for failure to comply with court order or discovery request

after notice and hearing); 215.3 (“[T]he court in which the action is pending may,

after notice and a hearing, impose any appropriate sanction. . . .”). Likewise, “[t]he

traditional due process protections of notice and hearing are also required before a

trial court can impose sanctions on a party pursuant to its inherent power to

sanction.” Greene, 174 S.W.3d at 298 (citing Kutch v. Del Mar College, 831

S.W.2d 506, 511 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1992, no writ)).

11 At the time of the March 4 hearing, no motions or requests for sanctions

were pending before the trial court. The trial court did not provide any notice to

Tullos that it intended to sanction him sua sponte under Rule 215 or under its

inherent power. Tullos was not put on notice that sanctions would be imposed

against him, nor was he put on notice regarding the conduct ultimately sanctioned

by the trial court. Thus, we conclude that Tullos was denied adequate notice of the

imposition of sanctions. See Greene, 174 S.W.3d at 299–300 & n.4 (reversing

sanctions order of trial court because court relied on grounds not included in notice

in imposing sanctions and stating, “[T]he court must provide notice to the party

that it intends to rely on its inherent authority to sanction to allow the party to

prepare a defense”); see also Clark, 217 S.W.3d at 513 (“Imposing sanctions on a

party without notice and an opportunity to be heard would violate the requirements

of due process.”); Bisby v. Dow Chem. Co., 931 S.W.2d 18, 21 (Tex. App.—

Houston [1st Dist.] 1996, no writ) (“Because Bisby was not put on notice that

sanctions would be imposed upon her for filing the three above-described

pleadings, the trial court erred in assessing sanctions.”).

Jones points out that her motion to compel contained a general prayer for

relief. However, here, as in Greene, such a general prayer is not adequate to

provide notice of the bases for sanctions awarded by the trial court. See Greene,

174 S.W.3d at 300 (“The question is not whether appellants had notice of the

12 particular “relief” that was awarded to [the appellee]; rather, it is a question of

whether appellants were afforded notice of the bases for the sanctions imposed

against them to enable them to mount an adequate defense.”).

We also observe that the trial court stated in its January 25, 2011 order that

sanctions might be imposed for failure to comply with that order, which denied the

parties’ motion for continuance and ordered them to complete mediation by March

11, 2011. However, the trial court dismissed the case on March 4, 2011, before the

March 11, 2011 deadline for complying with its order to mediate. Thus, this order

does not provide notice of any basis on which the trial court could have relied in

dismissing the case on March 4, 2011.

We hold that the trial court abused its discretion to the extent it dismissed

Tullos’s suit as a sanction under Rule 215 or under its inherent power to discipline

an attorney’s behavior.

B. Dismissal for Want of Prosecution

Progressive argues in its brief that the trial court’s dismissal was proper as a

dismissal for want of prosecution. See MacGregor v. Rich, 941 S.W.2d 74, 75

(Tex. 1997) (per curiam) (“When an ambiguous order is susceptible to two

reasonable constructions, an appellate court should adopt the construction that

correctly applies the law.”). We review a dismissal for want of prosecution for an

abuse of discretion. Id.

13 The trial court’s authority to dismiss for want of prosecution stems from two

sources: (1) Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 165a, and (2) the court’s inherent

power. Villarreal v. San Antonio Truck & Equip., 994 S.W.2d 628, 630 (Tex.

1999). However, a party must be provided with notice and an opportunity to be

heard before a court may dismiss a case for want of prosecution under either Rule

165a or its inherent authority. Id.; see also TEX. R. CIV. P. 165a (“Notice of the

court’s intention to dismiss and the date and place of the dismissal hearing shall be

sent by the clerk to each attorney of record. . . .”). The failure to provide adequate

notice of the trial court’s intent to dismiss for want of prosecution requires

reversal. See Villarreal, 944 S.W.2d at 630.

Here, nothing in the record indicates that Tullos received notice that the trial

court intended to dismiss his case for want of prosecution. Thus, the order is not

supported on this ground. See id.

We hold that the trial court abused its discretion to the extent it dismissed

Tullos’s suit for want of prosecution.

We sustain Tullos’s first issue. 4 Tullos’s remaining issues are not dispositive and need not be addressed.

See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1.

4 Progressive asserts an alternative ground for affirming the trial court’s dismissal of Tullos’s claims against it. Progressive argues that it “was not properly before the trial court because [Tullos] amended his petition adding Progressive as a 14 Conclusion

We reverse the judgment of the trial court dismissing Tullos’s case and

remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Evelyn V. Keyes Justice

Panel consists of Justices Keyes, Massengale, and Brown.

defendant after the deadline to add new parties, without requesting leave to amend his petition from the court.” After Tullos amended his pleadings adding Progressive as a party, Progressive answered and filed a motion for continuance. The motion for continuance did not raise this issue. Nor did Progressive file a motion to strike or otherwise present this issue to the trial court. Thus, we conclude that this argument is not preserved for consideration on appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1 (requiring that complaint be presented to trial court as prerequisite for raising issue on appeal). 15