Kyle Stawarczik v. Kenneth M. Weaver, NAC BCH Social Club, Inc., D/B/A Banita Creek Hall, Bamboozled, Inc., D/B/A Banita Creek Hall

CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedDecember 12, 2012
Docket12-12-00145-CV
StatusPublished

This text of Kyle Stawarczik v. Kenneth M. Weaver, NAC BCH Social Club, Inc., D/B/A Banita Creek Hall, Bamboozled, Inc., D/B/A Banita Creek Hall (Kyle Stawarczik v. Kenneth M. Weaver, NAC BCH Social Club, Inc., D/B/A Banita Creek Hall, Bamboozled, Inc., D/B/A Banita Creek Hall) 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
Kyle Stawarczik v. Kenneth M. Weaver, NAC BCH Social Club, Inc., D/B/A Banita Creek Hall, Bamboozled, Inc., D/B/A Banita Creek Hall, (Tex. Ct. App. 2012).

Opinion

NO. 12-12-00145-CV

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

TYLER, TEXAS

KYLE STAWARCZIK, § APPEAL FROM THE 145TH APPELLANT

V.

KENNETH M. WEAVER, NAC BCH § JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT SOCIAL CLUB, INC., d/b/a BANITA CREEK HALL, BAMBOOZLED, INC., d/b/a BANITA CREEK HALL, APPELLEE § NACOGDOCHES COUNTY, TEXAS

MEMORANDUM OPINION Kyle Stawarczik appeals from take nothing summary judgments in favor of Kenneth M. Weaver, NAC BCH Social Club, Inc., d/b/a Banita Creek Hall, and Bamboozled, Inc., d/b/a Banita Creek Hall, alleging that the trial court improperly granted the motions.1 Because Banita Creek Hall’s no evidence motion for summary judgment did not address Stawarczik’s Dram Shop Act cause of action, we reverse the trial court’s order granting its motion for summary judgment on that cause of action.2 In all other respects, the summary judgments granted to Weaver and Banita Creek Hall are affirmed.

1 Both NAC BCH Social Club, Inc. and Bamboozled, Inc. were doing business as Banita Creek Hall. Banita Creek Hall was a club selling alcoholic beverages pursuant to authority from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission located at 401 West Main Street, Nacogdoches, Texas. In this opinion, we will refer to these two corporations as Banita Creek Hall.

2 The trial court first issued an order granting Weaver’s motion for summary judgment. A few days later, the trial court issued another order granting Banita Creek Hall’s motion for summary judgment. In the second order, the trial court also ordered that Stawarczik take nothing and that costs of suit were assessed against him. It is clear that the trial court and the parties believed that the orders disposed of all issues and all parties. See Lehmann v. Har–Con Corp., 39 S.W.3d 191, 195 (Tex. 2001). Therefore, based on the facts in this proceeding, the judgment is final for purposes of appeal, and we will address the merits of the issues raised in this appeal.

1 BACKGROUND Kenneth M. Weaver was the sole owner of two corporations that operated Banita Creek Hall. Following the opening night of a rodeo in Nacogdoches, Banita Creek Hall hosted a popular local band. An estimated five hundred people attended the concert. Banita Creek Hall’s bar was also open. Stephanie Manning, a Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) student, served as one of Banita Creek Hall’s bartenders that evening. During the course of the evening, Manning was slapped on her rear end by Mickey Gee, a professional rodeo steer wrestler. Manning asked Stawarczik, also a student at SFASU, to confront Gee about this unwanted attention. When Stawarczik verbally confronted Gee, another professional steer wrestler, Tyler Pearson, pushed Stawarczik away from Gee. Gerald Smith, a Nacogdoches County constable who had been hired by Weaver to police the event, immediately separated the two steer wrestlers and Stawarczik. No one was hurt in this brief confrontation. Weaver, who was next to the stage where the concert was being performed, noticed the commotion in the bar area and immediately went to see Constable Smith to find out what had occurred. Constable Smith informed Weaver that two men had ―bowed up against each other,‖ but he had separated them, and no further action had been needed. Banita Creek Hall closed at midnight. Gee, Pearson, and Stockton Graves, another professional steer wrestler, rode in Weaver’s vehicle with him to Weaver’s home.3 Stawarczik left Banita Creek Hall with Manning and another mutual friend from SFASU, Rachael Rice. As they were driving to the Pike House, a fraternity house at the university, Weaver called Manning inviting her to his home to enjoy some of the shrimp that he was cooking. Manning responded that she had Rice and Stawarczik in the vehicle with her and asked if they could accompany her to his home. Weaver told her that would be fine since he had plenty of food. When the three university students arrived at Weaver’s home, Stawarczik quickly noticed the three steer wrestlers. He immediately approached Gee and told him that he was not there to cause any trouble and wanted to keep the peace in Weaver’s home. Stawarczik stated in his summary judgment evidence that he also made Weaver aware of the incident at the club and told him that he and Gee agreed they did not want to cause any trouble for Weaver in his home.

3 The summary judgment evidence shows that Gee actually drove Weaver’s vehicle and Weaver was a passenger. 2 Stawarczik and Weaver then went to the backyard to play a game of washers. As they played, the steer wrestlers were sitting on the back porch, and Stawarczik became uncomfortable because of the looks they gave him during the game. At the end of the game, Stawarczik informed Weaver that he felt uncomfortable with the three steer wrestlers and wished to leave. Stawarczik also informed Manning and Rice that he wanted to leave. While Manning and Rice prepared to leave and then said their goodbyes to Weaver in his living room, Stawarczik attempted to make his way to Manning’s vehicle by going through Weaver’s garage. In the garage, he was physically attacked by Gee, Pearson, and Graves. He suffered severe head and facial injuries as a result of this assault. Stawarczik filed this suit against Weaver, Banita Creek Hall, Gee, Pearson, and Graves. Following the severance of Gee, Pearson, and Graves from the suit, the trial court granted Weaver’s no evidence and traditional motions for summary judgment and Banita Creek Hall’s no evidence motion for summary judgment. Stawarczik appealed, challenging the trial court’s grant of Weaver’s and Banita Creek Hall’s motions for summary judgment.

STANDARD OF REVIEW The standard for reviewing a traditional summary judgment is well established. See Sysco Food Servs. v. Trapnell, 890 S.W.2d 796, 800 (Tex. 1994); Nixon v. Mr. Prop. Mgmt. Co., 690 S.W.2d 546, 548–49 (Tex. 1985); First Union Nat’l Bank v. Richmont Capital Partners I, L.P., 168 S.W.3d 917, 923 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2005, no pet.). The movant for traditional summary judgment has the burden of showing that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(c); Nixon, 690 S.W.2d at 548. When the movant seeks summary judgment on a claim in which the nonmovant bears the burden of proof, the movant must either negate at least one essential element of the nonmovant’s cause of action or prove all essential elements of an affirmative defense. See Randall’s Food Mkts., Inc. v. Johnson, 891 S.W.2d 640, 644 (Tex. 1995). Once the movant has established a right to summary judgment, the burden shifts to the nonmovant to respond to the motion and present to the trial court any issues that would preclude summary judgment. See City of Hous. v. Clear Creek Basin Auth., 589 S.W.2d 671, 678–79 (Tex. 1979). Additionally, after an adequate time for discovery has passed, a party without the burden of proof at trial may move for summary judgment on the ground that the nonmoving party lacks 3 supporting evidence for one or more essential elements of its claim. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(i). 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 Ford Motor Co. v. Ridgway, 135 S.W.3d 598, 600 (Tex. 2004). We review a no evidence motion for summary judgment under the same legal sufficiency standards as a directed verdict. King Ranch, Inc. v. Chapman, 118 S.W.3d 742, 750–51 (Tex. 2003).

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

Related

Ford Motor Co. v. Ridgway
135 S.W.3d 598 (Texas Supreme Court, 2004)
Western Investments, Inc. v. Urena
162 S.W.3d 547 (Texas Supreme Court, 2005)
Chon Tri v. J.T.T.
162 S.W.3d 552 (Texas Supreme Court, 2005)
20801, INC. v. Parker
249 S.W.3d 392 (Texas Supreme Court, 2008)
City of Dallas v. Reed
258 S.W.3d 620 (Texas Supreme Court, 2008)
TXI Operations, L.P. v. Perry
278 S.W.3d 763 (Texas Supreme Court, 2009)
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Miller
102 S.W.3d 706 (Texas Supreme Court, 2003)
Southwest Key Program, Inc. v. Gil-Perez
81 S.W.3d 269 (Texas Supreme Court, 2002)
Mott v. Red's Safe and Lock Services, Inc.
249 S.W.3d 90 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2007)
Holloway v. Texas Electric Utility Construction, Ltd.
282 S.W.3d 207 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2009)
Randall's Food Markets, Inc. v. Johnson
891 S.W.2d 640 (Texas Supreme Court, 1995)
Motel 6 G.P., Inc. v. Lopez
929 S.W.2d 1 (Texas Supreme Court, 1996)
City of Houston v. Clear Creek Basin Authority
589 S.W.2d 671 (Texas Supreme Court, 1979)
Marathon Corp. v. Pitzner
106 S.W.3d 724 (Texas Supreme Court, 2003)
Lear Siegler, Inc. v. Perez
819 S.W.2d 470 (Texas Supreme Court, 1991)
Osadchy v. Southern Methodist University
232 S.W.3d 844 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2007)
Firestone Steel Products Co. v. Barajas
927 S.W.2d 608 (Texas Supreme Court, 1996)
Burton Construction & Shipbuilding Co. v. Broussard
273 S.W.2d 598 (Texas Supreme Court, 1954)
Doe v. Boys Clubs of Greater Dallas, Inc.
907 S.W.2d 472 (Texas Supreme Court, 1995)
State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. S.S.
858 S.W.2d 374 (Texas Supreme Court, 1993)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
Kyle Stawarczik v. Kenneth M. Weaver, NAC BCH Social Club, Inc., D/B/A Banita Creek Hall, Bamboozled, Inc., D/B/A Banita Creek Hall, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kyle-stawarczik-v-kenneth-m-weaver-nac-bch-social--texapp-2012.