Malone v. Sewell

168 S.W.3d 243, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 4811, 2005 WL 1477790
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJune 23, 2005
Docket2-03-080-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by28 cases

This text of 168 S.W.3d 243 (Malone v. Sewell) 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
Malone v. Sewell, 168 S.W.3d 243, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 4811, 2005 WL 1477790 (Tex. Ct. App. 2005).

Opinion

OPINION

ANNE GARDNER, Justice.

I. Introduction

Shaun Malone appeals from the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Barbara Sewell on Malone’s claims *247 for sexual exploitation, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and sexual assault. We will affirm in part and reverse and remand in part.

II. Factual and procedural background

Sewell was Malone’s psychotherapist from November 1995 until June 1996. Shortly after their therapeutic relationship ended, Malone and Sewell commenced a sexual relationship. The sexual relationship began in Fort Worth, then continued when Malone and Sewell moved to Seattle in late 1996. It ended when Malone moved back to Texas in April 1998.

Malone sued Sewell in August 2001 for sexual exploitation, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and sexual assault. Sewell filed a traditional motion for summary judgment, primarily on limitations grounds. The trial court granted Sewell’s motion. Malone filed this appeal.

III. Standard of review

In a summary judgment case, the issue on appeal is whether the movant met his 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. Crv. P. 166a(c); S.W. 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 movant. S.W. Elec. Power Co., 73 S.W.3d at 215; Sci. Spectrum, Inc. v. Martinez, 941 S.W.2d 910, 911 (Tex.1997); Great Am. Reserve Ins. Co. v. San Antonio Plumbing Supply Co., 391 S.W.2d 41, 47 (Tex.1965). Therefore, we must view the evidence and its reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmov-ant. Great Am., 391 S.W.2d at 47.

In deciding whether there is a material fact issue precluding summary judgment, all conflicts in the evidence are disregarded and the evidence favorable to the nonmovant is accepted as true. Har-well v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 896 S.W.2d 170, 173 (Tex.1995). Evidence that favors the movant’s position will not be considered unless it is uncontroverted. Great Am., 391 S.W.2d at 47.

A defendant is entitled to summary judgment on an affirmative defense if the defendant conclusively proves all the elements of the affirmative defense. Rhone-Poulenc, Inc. v. Steel, 997 S.W.2d 217, 223 (Tex.1999). To accomplish this, the defendant-movant must present summary judgment evidence that establishes each element of the affirmative defense as a matter of law. Ryland Group, Inc. v. Hood, 924 S.W.2d 120, 121 (Tex.1996).

IV.Discussion

In four issues, Malone asserts that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment. Each issue addresses one of Malone’s four causes of action. We will examine each in turn.

A. Sexual exploitation

In her first issue, Malone asserts that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment on her sexual exploitation claim. Sewell argued in her summary judgment motion that Malone’s sexual exploitation claim was barred by limitations because Malone filed suit in August 2001, more than five years after the sexual relationship began and more than three years after it ended. Malone contends that the summary judgment evidence raises a fact issue as to whether limitations was tolled until 1999 under section 81.009(a) of the civil practice and remedies code.

*248 Sexual exploitation is a cause of action created by chapter 81 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Tex. Civ. PRAC. & Rem.Code Ann. § 81.001-81.010 (Vernon 2005). Under section 81.002, a mental health services provider is liable to a patient or former patient for damages arising from sexual contact between the patient and the mental health services provider or from sexual exploitation of the patient by the mental health services provider. Id. § 81.002. “Sexual exploitation” means a pattern, practice, or scheme of conduct, which may include sexual contact, that can reasonably be construed as being for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification or sexual abuse of any person. Id. § 81.001(5).

Section 81.009 defines a three-year limitations period for a sexual exploitation claim:

Except as otherwise provided by this section, an action under this chapter must be filed before the third anniversary of the date the patient or former patient understood or should have understood the conduct for which liability is established under Section 81.002 or 81.003.

Id. § 81.009(a). But the next subsection contains a tolling provision:

If a patient or former patient entitled to file an action under this chapter is unable to bring the action because of the effects of the sexual exploitation, continued emotional dependence on the mental health services provider, or threats, instructions, or statements by the mental health services provider, the deadline for filing an action under this chapter is tolled during that period, except that the deadline may not be tolled for more than 15 years.

Id. § 81.009(b).

A party moving for summary judgment on the basis of limitations must conclusively establish the bar of limitations. Jennings v. Burgess, 917 S.W.2d 790, 793 (Tex.1996). If the nonmovant asserts that a tolling provision applies, the movant must conclusively negate the tolling provision’s application to show her entitlement to summary judgment. Id. Therefore, the real issue here is whether Sewell conclusively negated the application of section 81.009’s tolling provision.

Both parties relied solely on Malone’s deposition testimony and deposition exhibits as summary judgment evidence. Malone points to the following testimony as relevant to the tolling question:

A.... I knew there were prohibitions against me speaking [about the sexual relationship],
Q. What do you mean there were prohibitions against you speaking?
A. I mean I had been convinced that I was not supposed to ever tell anyone.
Q.

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Bluebook (online)
168 S.W.3d 243, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 4811, 2005 WL 1477790, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/malone-v-sewell-texapp-2005.