M.E.N. Water Supply Corporation, Angus Water Supply Corporation, Chatfield Water Supply Corporation, Corbet Water Supply Corporation, City of Frost, City of Kerens, and Community Water Company v. City of Corsicana, Texas

564 S.W.3d 474

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: November 14, 2018
• Docket: 10-16-00364-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

No. 10-16-00364-CV

M.E.N. WATER SUPPLY CORPORATION, ANGUS WATER SUPPLY CORPORATION, CHATFIELD WATER SUPPLY CORPORATION, CORBET WATER SUPPLY CORPORATION, CITY OF FROST, CITY OF KERENS, AND COMMUNITY WATER COMPANY, Appellants v.

CITY OF CORSICANA, TEXAS, Appellee

From the 13th District Court Navarro County, Texas Trial Court No. D13-22473-CV

OPINION

In six issues, appellants, M.E.N. Water Supply Corporation, Angus Water Supply

Corporation, Chatfield Water Supply Corporation, Corbet Water Supply Corporation,

the City of Frost, the City of Kerens, and the Community Water Company, complain

about rulings on various motions that comprise the final judgment that was granted in favor of appellee, the City of Corsicana. We affirm, in part, and reverse and remand, in

part.

I. BACKGROUND

In July 2013, appellants filed their original petition against Corsicana, asserting

that Corsicana breached contracts “by charging rates higher than those authorized by the

contracts, and the Ratepayers have incurred damages as a result.”1 Specifically,

appellants complained about Corsicana’s decision, in 2009, to shift from a flat, volumetric

water rate to inclining, block rates for all retail and wholesale customers. Appellants

alleged that this shift resulted in ratepayers “not being charged the rates being charged

general consumers of Seller [Corsicana], within the City of Corsicana.” In their live

pleading, their fourth amended petition, appellants expanded their claims to include

allegations that Corsicana is not immune from breach-of-contract claims with regard to

proprietary functions and a request for specific performance.

Corsicana responded by filing a plea to the jurisdiction, arguing that sovereign

immunity applies to appellants’ breach-of-contract and specific-performance claims.

Corsicana also moved to dismiss the claims filed by Kerens and Frost because the

damages sought by Kerens were not allowed under Chapter 271 of the Local Government

Code, and because Frost cannot recover damages due to a failure to satisfy a condition

The City of Blooming Grove was a named plaintiff in appellants’ original petition; however, 1

Blooming Grove ultimately non-suited its claims against Corsicana and, thus, is not a party to this appeal.

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 2 precedent in the contract between Corsicana and Frost. Additionally, Corsicana filed no-

evidence and traditional motions for summary judgment, asserting numerous grounds.

After a hearing, the trial court granted Corsicana’s no-evidence and traditional

motions for summary judgment and ordered that Kerens take nothing on its claims. The

trial court also granted Corsicana’s plea to the jurisdiction as to the Water Supply

Corporations and motion to dismiss as to Frost. In its final judgment, the trial court

summarized all of its prior rulings, denied all relief requested by appellants, and ordered

that appellants take nothing on their claims. This appeal followed.

II. CORSICANA’S MOTION TO DISMISS

In its first issue, Frost contends that the trial court erred in dismissing its claims

for failure to satisfy a non-existent condition precedent. In particular, Frost argues that

its contract did not limit its right to file suit for breach of contract. We agree.

A. Standard of Review

We review the trial court’s ruling on a motion to dismiss under an abuse-of-

discretion standard. Am. Transitional Care Ctrs. of Tex., Inc. v. Palacios, 46 S.W.3d 873, 875

(Tex. 2001). To determine whether the trial court abused its discretion, we must decide

whether the trial court acted without reference to any guiding rules or principles. Downer

v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238, 241-42 (Tex. 1985). Even if a reviewing court

would have decided the issue differently, it cannot disturb the trial court’s decision,

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 3 unless it is shown to be arbitrary and unreasonable. Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 840

(Tex. 1992).

B. Discussion

In this issue, the parties focus on the contents of Frost’s contract with Corsicana

for water. Specifically, the vital portion of the contract is section 4.06, which provides the

following:

Section 4.06. Disputed Bills. If Purchaser disputes the amount of a bill rendered by Seller pursuant to this Contract, Purchaser shall nevertheless pay such bill in accordance with Section 4.04. If it is subsequently determined by agreement or a final, unappealable court order that the amount of the disputed bill should have been less (or more), the amount of the bill shall be promptly and appropriately adjusted, and the amount of any reimbursement (or additional payment) that is due after the adjustment shall be paid by the owing Party within ten (10) days of such agreement or court order. If not paid when due, such amounts bear interest at the rate of ten percent (10%) per annum from the due date until paid. Provided, however, interest may be waived by the Party to whom the amount is owed.

(Emphasis in original.) In the trial court and on appeal, Corsicana construes this clause

as requiring Frost to satisfy a condition precedent—either obtain an agreement with

Corsicana or a final, unappealable court order finding overpayment—before seeking an

adjustment on their bills. Frost disagrees.

When reviewing a contract, our goal is to determine the parties’ true intentions as

expressed in the instrument. Plains Exploration & Prod. Co. v. Torch Energy Advisors, Inc.,

473 S.W.3d 296, 305 (Tex. 2015); see Coker v. Coker, 650 S.W.2d 391, 393 (Tex. 1983). “We

‘construe contracts from a utilitarian standpoint bearing in mind the particular business

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 4 activity sought to be served,’ and avoiding unreasonable constructions when possible

and proper.” Plains Exploration & Prod. Co., 473 S.W.3d at 305 (quoting Reilly v. Rangers

Mgmt., Inc., 727 S.W.2d 527, 530 (Tex. 1987)). We must “consider the entire writing,

harmonizing and giving effect to all the contract provisions so that none will be rendered

meaningless.” Id. (citing Moayedi v. Interstate 35/Chisam Rd., L.P., 438 S.W.3d 1, 7 (Tex.

2014)). “No single provision taken alone is given controlling effect; rather, each must be

considered in the context of the instrument as a whole,” and we must “give words their

plain, common, or generally accepted meaning unless the contract shows that the parties

used words in a technical or different sense.” Id. If the contract’s language can be given

a definite legal meaning or interpretation, then it is not ambiguous and we will construe

the contract as a matter of law. See El Paso Field Servs., L.P. v. MasTec N. Am., Inc., 389

S.W.3d 802, 806 (Tex. 2012) (citing Italian Cowboy Partners, Ltd. v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am.,

341 S.W.3d 323, 333 (Tex. 2011)).

With regard to conditions precedent, Texas courts have stated:

“A condition precedent may be either a condition to the formation of a contract or to an obligation to perform an existing agreement.” Hohenberg Bros. Co. v. George Gibbons & Co., 537 S.W.2d 1, 3 (Tex. 1976); see II Deerfield Ltd. P’ship v. Henry Bldg., Inc., 41 S.W.3d 259, 264 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2001, pet. denied). As such, a condition precedent may “relate either to the formation of contracts or to liability under them.” Hohenberg Bros., 537 S.W.2d at 3. “Conditions precedent to an obligation to perform are those acts or events, which occur subsequently to the making of a contract, that must occur before there is a right to immediate performance and before there is a breach of contractual duty.” Id.; Deerfield, 41 S.W.3d at 264. Although no words in particular are necessary for the existence of a condition, “such terms as ‘if’, ‘provided that’, ‘on condition that,’ or some M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 5 other phrase that conditions performance, usually connote an intent for a condition rather than a promise.” Hohenberg Bros., 537 S.W.3d at 3; Deerfield, 41 S.W.3d at 264-65. “In the absence of such a limiting clause, whether a certain contractual provision is a condition, rather than a promise, must be gathered from the contract as a whole and from the intent of the parties.” Hohenberg Bros., 537 S.W.3d at 3; Deerfield, 41 S.W.3d at 265. “However, where the intent of the parties is doubtful or where a condition would impose an absurd or impossible result then the agreement will be interpreted as creating a covenant rather than a condition.” Hohenberg Bros., 537 S.W.3d at 3. Because of their harshness and operation, conditions precedent are disfavored. Criswell v. European Crossroads Shopping Ctr., Ltd., 792 S.W.2d 945, 948 (Tex. 1990); Sirtex Oil Indus., Inc. v. Erigan, 403 S.W.2d 784, 787 (Tex. 1966).

Gulf Liquids New River Project, LLC v. Gulsby Eng’g, Inc., 356 S.W.3d 54, 64 (Tex. App.—

Houston [1st Dist.] 2011, no pet.).

After review, we do not agree with Corsicana’s interpretation of section 4.06 of the

contract. Though section 4.06 includes several sentences that begin with “if,” which can

connote a condition precedent, nothing in the section requires an agreement or final,

unappealable court order as a condition precedent to filing suit for breach of contract. In

fact, the operative language does not contemplate the filing of any lawsuit. Rather, the

language relied upon by Corsicana states only that an agreement or final, unappealable

court order adjusting amounts owed creates a contractual obligation for the debtor to pay

the amount due within ten days. And contrary to Corsicana’s assertions, section 4.06

does not mention, much less require, an order from an administrative case as a condition

precedent to the filing of a breach-of-contract suit. Therefore, because conditions

precedent are disfavored, and because the trial court’s dismissal order is premised on an

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 6 erroneous finding that Frost did not satisfy the purported condition precedent outlined

in section 4.06, we conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in granting

Corsicana’s motion to dismiss Frost’s lawsuit on this basis. See Palacios, 46 S.W.3d at 875;

see also Criswell, 792 S.W.2d at 948; Erigan, 403 S.W.2d at 787; Gulf Liquids New River Project,

LLC, 356 S.W.3d at 64. Accordingly, we sustain appellants’ first issue.

III. SUMMARY JUDGMENT

In their second and third issues, Kerens argues that the trial court erred in granting

summary judgment in favor of Corsicana. Specifically, Kerens asserts that it produced

evidence that a valid contract exists; that the contract and pleadings provide a basis for

specific performance; that Corsicana breached that contract; and that the contract was

damaging.

A. Applicable Law

A no-evidence summary judgment is equivalent to a pre-trial directed verdict, and

we apply the same legal sufficiency standard on review. Mack Trucks, Inc. v. Tamez, 206

S.W.3d 572, 582 (Tex. 2006). Once an appropriate no-evidence motion for summary

judgment is filed, the non-movant must produce summary judgment evidence raising a

genuine issue of material fact to defeat the summary judgment. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(i).

“A genuine issue of material fact exists if more than a scintilla of evidence establishing

the existence of the challenged element is produced.” Ford Motor Co. v. Ridgway, 135

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 7 S.W.3d 598, 600 (Tex. 2004). We do not consider any evidence presented by the movant

unless it creates a fact question. Binur v. Jacobo, 135 S.W.3d 646, 651 (Tex. 2004).

More than a scintilla of evidence exists if the evidence would enable reasonable

and fair-minded jurors to differ in their conclusions. Hamilton v. Wilson, 249 S.W.3d 425,

426 (Tex. 2008) (per curiam); see Transp. Ins. Co. v. Moriel, 879 S.W.2d 10 25 (Tex. 1994).

Evidence that is “so weak as to do no more than create a mere surmise or suspicion of

fact” is no evidence and, thus, does not create a fact issue. Kindred v. Con/Chem, Inc., 650

S.W.2d 61, 63 (Tex. 1983); see Ortega v. City Nat'l Bank, 97 S.W.3d 765, 772 (Tex. App.—

Corpus Christi 2003, no pet.) (op. on reh'g). In determining whether the non-movant has

met his burden, we review the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-movant,

crediting such evidence if reasonable jurors could and disregarding contrary evidence

unless reasonable jurors could not. Tamez, 206 S.W.3d at 582; City of Keller v. Wilson, 168

S.W.3d 802, 827 (Tex. 2005).

We review the trial court's grant of a traditional motion for summary judgment de

novo. See Provident Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. Knott, 128 S.W.3d 211, 215 (Tex. 2003). When

reviewing a traditional motion for summary judgment, we must determine whether the

movant met its burden to establish that no genuine issue of material fact exists and that

the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(c); Sw. Elec.

Power Co. v. Grant, 73 S.W.3d 211, 215 (Tex. 2002). The movant bears the burden of proof

in a traditional motion for summary judgment, and all doubts about the existence of a

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 8 genuine issue of material fact are resolved against the movant. See Grant, 73 S.W.3d at

215. We take as true all evidence favorable to the non-movant, and we indulge every

reasonable inference and resolve any doubts in the non-movant's favor. Valence Operating

Co. v. Dorsett, 164 S.W.3d 656, 661 (Tex. 2005). We will affirm a traditional summary

judgment only if the record establishes that the movant has conclusively proved its

defense as a matter of law or if the movant has negated at least one essential element of

the plaintiff's cause of action. IHS Cedars Treatment Ctr. of DeSoto, Tex., Inc. v. Mason, 143

S.W.3d 794, 798 (Tex. 2004); Am. Tobacco Co. v. Grinnell, 951 S.W.2d 420, 425 (Tex. 1997).

When the trial court's judgment does not specify which of several grounds

proposed was dispositive, we affirm on any ground offered that has merit and was

preserved for review. See Joe v. Two Thirty Nine J.V., 145 S.W.3d 150, 157 (Tex. 2004).

Moreover, when a party moves for summary judgment under both rules 166a(c) and

166a(i), “[we] first review the trial court's summary judgment under the standards of rule

166a(i).” Ridgway, 135 S.W.3d at 600.

As noted above, Kerens, along with others, filed suit against Corsicana for breach

of contract. In their live pleading, appellants complained about Corsicana’s decision in

2009 to implement an inclining block rate structure for water sales and alleged that:

Thus, the Ratepayers with standard contracts seek as damages the difference between the amounts actually charged by Corsicana and the amounts that should have been charged based on the “minimum inside city retail water rate.” Kerens seeks as damages the difference between the M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 9 amounts actually charged by Corsicana and the amounts that should have been charged based on the contract requirement that Corsicana charge “a base rate and a volume rate” that are “the rates being charged general consumers of Seller, within the City of Corsicana.”

In its traditional summary-judgment motion, Corsicana asserted that: (1) Kerens

may not seek specific performance under the contract because the contract has expired

and there is no other basis for specific performance; (2) the increase in wholesale water

rates was authorized under the contract; and (3) there is no evidence of breach, damages,

or entitlement to a reduction in rates. Moreover, in its no-evidence summary-judgment

motion, Corsicana challenged three elements of Kerens’s breach-of-contract claim—the

existence of a valid contract, breach, and damages. See Runge v. Raytheon E-Systems, Inc.,

57 S.W.3d 562, 565 (Tex. App.—Waco 2001, no pet.) (noting that the elements of a breach-

of-contract claim are: (1) the existence of a valid contract between plaintiff and defendant;

(2) the plaintiff’s performance or tender of performance; (3) the defendant’s breach of the

contract; and (4) the plaintiff’s damage as a result of the breach); see also Esty v. Beal Bank

S.S.B., 298 S.W.3d 280, 299 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2009, no pet.) (stating that a breach-of-

contract claim occurs when a party fails to perform an act that it has explicitly or

impliedly promised to perform).

Attached to Corsicana’s summary-judgment motion is the water-purchase

contract between Corsicana and Kerens, as well as the affidavit of Corsicana’s City

Manager Connie Standridge and the oral deposition of Kerens’s City Administrator

Cindy Scott. With regard to the rates charged for water, the contract provides as follows: M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 10 1. Rates and Payment Date. To pay Seller, not later than the 20th day following each monthly billing cycle for water delivered in accordance with the “schedule of rates” as hereinafter defined, said rates not be be [sic] altered or amended more than yearly as provided hereinafter. The said “schedule of rates,” as hereinafter defined, shall be the then prevailing rate in effect at the time of initial delivery of water to Purchaser’s meter, said rate yearly established by the City Commission of the City of Corsicana. The rates shall include a base rate and a volume rate (per 1,000 gallons rate).

...

5. Modification of Contract. That the provisions of this contract pertaining to the “schedule of rates” to be paid by Purchaser to Seller for water are subject to modification at the end of every one year period, by Seller, with said one year period construed to be the anniversary date from date of inception of the delivery of water to point of delivery at Purchaser’s clear- well. Any increase or decrease shall be based on system-wide rates for the consumers of Seller within the corporate limits of the City of Corsicana, subject to the definition of “schedule of rates” as hereinafter set forth. Other provisions of this contract may be modified or altered by mutual agreement.

8. Schedule of Rates. Rates shall be interpreted, for all purposes under this contract, as meaning the rates being charged general consumers of Seller, within the City of Corsicana, Texas.

(Emphasis in original.).

Corsicana posits that the only limitation on its right to set rates is that Kerens must

be charged the same rates as other “general consumers” of Corsicana’s water who are

located within Corsicana. On the other hand, Kerens contends that the contract limited

Corsicana’s right to set rates to a base rate and a single volume rate. Kerens complains

that, in 2009, Corsicana breached the contract by establishing an inclining block of three

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 11 volume rates that increased with the amount of water purchased. In support of its

argument, Kerens included the following chart, which is derived from information

received from the Corsicana City Council:

Rate per 1,000 gallons purchased Year Rate 1-10,000 10,001 gallons- More than Set gallons 25,000 gallons 25,000 gallons 2009 $3.00 $3.15 $3.25 2012 $2.80 $3.15 $3.25 2013 $3.00 $3.15 $3.25 2014 $3.45 $3.60 $3.70

Corsicana’s volumetric rates are especially concerning to Kerens because the summary-

judgment evidence demonstrates that Kerens purchases over 99% of its water at the

highest Third-Tier Rates.

In any event, based on our review, we do not agree with Kerens’s interpretation

of the contract. Specifically, the contract allows Corsicana to establish “a base rate and a

volume rate (per 1,000 gallons rate),” so long as the rates charged to Kerens are the same

rates charged to Corsicana’s “general consumers” within Corsicana. The parties do not

dispute the base rate, but rather focus their arguments on the volume rate. The language

of the contract authorizes Corsicana to establish a “volume rate (per 1,000 gallons rate)”

or, in other words, a rate based upon the volume of water purchased. This is precisely

what Corsicana has done. As shown above, the so-called “inclining block rates” provide

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 12 a singular rate that varies based on volume—something that we believe was

contemplated by the language “volume rate (per 1,000 gallons rate).”2

We also cannot say that the summary-judgment evidence establishes that the rates

charged to Kerens and “general consumers” within Corsicana differed. In particular,

Scott testified, in her oral deposition, that: (1) Kerens has always been a major user of

water; (2) it has always been charged the same base rate as many of the people who live

in Corsicana; and (3) the volumetric rate charged to Kerens is the same rate Corsicana

charges its large water users. Scott later admitted that the rates charged to Kerens versus

what has been billed to Corsicana in-city customers has been the same the entirety of the

contract.

Therefore, based on the foregoing and applying the applicable standards, we

cannot say that Kerens has proffered more than a scintilla of evidence that creates a

material fact issue as to the breach element of Kerens’s breach-of-contract action.

Accordingly, we cannot say that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in

favor of Corsicana as to Kerens’s breach-of-contract claims. And because Corsicana

established entitlement to summary judgment on one element of Kerens’s breach-of-

contract claims, we need not address the remaining elements of Kerens’s cause of action.

2 Interestingly, in her testimony, Scott admitted that the 2009 changes did not affect rates, but rather volume.

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 13 See Mason, 143 S.W.3d at 798; Grinnell, 951 S.W.2d at 425. We overrule appellants’ second

and third issues.

IV. CORSICANA’S PLEA TO THE JURISDICTION

In their fourth, fifth, and sixth issues, the Water Supply Corporations challenge

the trial court’s granting of Corsicana’s plea to the jurisdiction. They argue that the trial

court erred in granting Corsicana’s plea to the jurisdiction because: (1) cities are not

immune from breach-of-contract claims arising from the performance of proprietary

functions, such as wholesale water sales; (2) immunity is waived for breach-of-contract

claims pertaining to written contracts for providing goods or services to a local

governmental entity; and (3) specific performance is not an independent claim, but rather

available relief for breach-of-contract claims.

A plea to the jurisdiction based on sovereign immunity challenges a trial court’s

subject-matter jurisdiction. State v. Holland, 221 S.W.3d 639, 642 (Tex. 2007). “A plea

questioning the trial court's jurisdiction raises a question of law that we review de novo.”

Id. The plaintiff must allege facts that affirmatively establish the trial court’s subject-

matter jurisdiction. Id. In determining whether the plaintiff has satisfied this burden, we

construe the pleadings liberally in the plaintiff’s favor and deny the plea if facts

affirmatively demonstrating jurisdiction have been alleged. Tex. Dep’t of Parks & Wildlife

v. Miranda, 133 S.W.3d 217, 227 (Tex. 2004).

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 14 A plea to the jurisdiction may challenge the existence of jurisdictional facts.

Miranda, 133 S.W.3d at 227. In some cases, the challenged jurisdictional facts are distinct

from the merits of the case, but in other cases, the challenged jurisdictional facts are

inextricably intertwined with the merits of the case. Id. “[I]n a case in which the

jurisdictional challenge implicates the merits of the plaintiffs’ cause of action and the plea

to the jurisdiction includes evidence, the trial court reviews the relevant evidence to

determine if a fact issue exists.” Id. Our standard of review on appeal “generally mirrors

that of a summary judgment,” meaning we will take as true all evidence favorable to the

non-movant and indulge reasonable inferences and resolve doubts in the non-movant’s

favor. Id. at 228.

If “the pleadings do not contain sufficient facts to affirmatively demonstrate the

trial court’s jurisdiction but do not affirmatively demonstrate incurable defects in

jurisdiction, the issue is one of pleading sufficiency and the plaintiffs should be afforded

the opportunity to amend.” Id. at 226-27. A court may grant a plea to the jurisdiction

without affording the plaintiff an opportunity to amend only if “the pleadings

affirmatively negate the existence of jurisdiction.” Id. at 227. “A trial court is not required

to deny an otherwise meritorious plea to the jurisdiction or a motion for summary

judgment based on a jurisdictional challenge concerning some claims because the trial

court has jurisdiction over other claims.” Thomas v. Long, 207 S.W.3d 334, 339 (Tex. 2006).

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 15 B. Applicable Law

“Sovereign immunity and its counterpart, governmental immunity, exist to

protect the State and its political subdivisions from lawsuits and liability from money

damages.” Mission Consol. Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Garcia, 253 S.W.3d 653, 655 (Tex. 2008).

Under the common-law doctrine of sovereign immunity, the State cannot be sued

without its consent. City of Houston v. Williams, 353 S.W.3d 128, 134 (Tex. 2011) (citing

Tooke v. City of Mexia, 197 S.W.3d 325, 331 (Tex. 2006)). And like sovereign immunity,

governmental immunity affords similar protection to subdivisions of the State, including

counties, cities, and school districts. LTTS Charter Sch., Inc. v. Palasota, 362 S.W.3d 202,

208 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012, no pet.).

Governmental immunity has two components: (1) immunity from liability, which

bars enforcement of a judgment against a governmental entity; and (2) immunity from

suit, which bars suit against the entity altogether. Id. Immunity from suit deprives the

court of subject-matter jurisdiction and is properly raised in a plea to the jurisdiction,

whereas immunity from liability is asserted as an affirmative defense. See Miranda, 133

S.W.3d at 224; see also Palasota, 362 S.W.3d at 208. “Immunity from suit bars a suit against

the State unless the Legislature expressly consents to the suit.” Tex. Natural Res.

Conservation Comm’n v. IT-Davy, 74 S.W.3d 849, 853 (Tex. 2002). “If the Legislature has

not expressly waived immunity from suit, the State retains such immunity even if its

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 16 liability is not disputed.” Id. “Immunity from liability protects the State from money

judgments even if the Legislature has expressly given consent to sue.” Id.

Section 271.152 of the Local Government Code waives immunity to suit for

qualifying local governmental entities for the purpose of adjudicating a claim for breach

of contract entered into by the local governmental entity. TEX. LOC. GOV’T CODE ANN. §

271.152 (West 2016); see City of Houston, 353 S.W.3d at 134. For section 271.152’s waiver

of immunity to apply, the following elements must be established: (1) the party against

whom the waiver is asserted must be a “local governmental entity” as defined by the

Local Government Code; (2) the entity must be authorized by statute or the Constitution

to enter into contracts; and (3) the entity must in fact have entered into a contract that is

defined by section 271.151(2) of the Local Government Code. See TEX. LOC. GOV’T CODE

ANN. §§ 271.151(2) (West 2016), 271.152; see also City of Houston, 353 S.W.3d at 134-35. For

the purpose of waiving immunity under Chapter 271 of the Local Government Code, a

contract must be written and must state “the essential terms of the agreement for

providing goods or services to the local governmental entity that is properly executed on

behalf of the local governmental entity.” City of Houston, 353 S.W.3d at 135 (citing TEX.

LOC. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 271.151(2)(B)).

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 17 C. Discussion

1. Governmental or Proprietary Function?

Here, the Water Supply Corporations characterize the act of selling water

wholesale to non-resident entities as a proprietary act for which there is no immunity

from suit. We disagree.

Municipalities may exercise broad powers through two different roles—

proprietary or governmental.3 See Wasson Interests, Ltd. v. City of Jacksonville, No. 17-0198,

2018 Tex. LEXIS 999, at * 4 (Tex. Oct. 5, 2018) (citing Gates v. City of Dallas, 704 S.W.2d 737,

738 (Tex. 1986)); see also City of Merkel v. Copeland, No. 11-16-00323-CV, ___ S.W.3d ___,

2018 Tex. App. LEXIS 8501, at *4 (Tex. App.—Eastland Oct. 18, 2018, no pet. h.). The

governmental/proprietary dichotomy, which stems from the common law, “recognizes

that immunity protects a governmental unit from suits based on its performance of a

3 The functions of a municipality fall into one of two categories. Governmental functions are those functions that are enjoined on a municipality by law and are given to it by the state as part of the state’s sovereignty, to be exercised by the municipality in the interest of the general public. A municipality performing a governmental function is afforded sovereign immunity unless immunity has been waived under the Texas Tort Claims Act.

Proprietary functions are those functions that a municipality may, in its discretion, perform in the interest of the inhabitants of the municipality. Proprietary functions are not integral to a municipality’s functions as an arm of the state. The sovereign immunity of the state does not protect a municipality from liability for actions taken in a proprietary capacity because such are undertaken for the benefit of private enterprise or the residents of the municipality rather than for the benefit of the general public.

City of San Antonio v. BSR Water Co., 190 S.W.3d 747, 752 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2005, no pet.) (internal citations & quotations omitted).

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 18 governmental function but not a proprietary function.” Wasson Interests, Ltd., 2018 Tex.

LEXIS 999, at *4. And this dichotomy “is based on the reality that sovereign immunity is

inherent in the State’s sovereignty, and municipalities share that protection when they

act as a branch of the State but not when they act in a proprietary, non-governmental

capacity.” Id. at *5 (internal citations & quotations omitted). Therefore, we must

determine whether Corsicana acted in its governmental or proprietary capacity when it

entered into contracts with the Water Supply Corporations for the sale of wholesale water

to non-residents. And in doing so, the focus of our inquiry is on “whether the

municipality was engaged in a governmental or proprietary function when it entered the

contract, not when it allegedly breached that contract.” Id. at *13.

In the context of contract claims, we must consider the relevant statutory

provisions, as well as the common law, to determine the boundaries of governmental

immunity. Id. at *7. To “aid our inquiry,” we look to the definitions for governmental

and proprietary functions set forth by the Legislature in the Texas Tort Claims Act

(“TTCA”). Id.; see TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 101.0215 (West Supp. 2018). Under

the TTCA, governmental functions are defined as “those functions that are enjoined on a

municipality by law and are given to it by the state as part of the state’s sovereignty, to

be exercised by the municipality in the interest of the general public.” TEX. CIV. PRAC. &

REM. CODE ANN. § 101.0215(a). The TTCA provides a non-exhaustive list of thirty-six

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 19 governmental functions, ranging from “police and fire protection and control” to “animal

control.” Id. § 101.0215(a)(1), (33); see Wasson Interests, Ltd., 2018 Tex. LEXIS 999, at *7.

On the other hand, the TTCA defines proprietary functions as “those functions

that a municipality may, in its discretion, perform in the interest of the inhabitants of the

municipality.” Id. § 101.0215(b). Such functions include “the operation and maintenance

of a public utility,” “amusements owned and operated by the municipality,” and “any

activity that is abnormally dangerous or ultrahazardous.” Id. § 101.0215(b)(1)-(3).

“Proprietary functions, however, do not include any of the Act’s enumerated

governmental functions.” Wasson Interests, Ltd., 2018 Tex. LEXIS 999, at *8 (citing TEX.

CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 101.0215(c)). The Texas Supreme Court has also stated

that a proprietary function may be treated as a governmental action if the proprietary

action is “essential” to a governmental action. Wasson Interests, Ltd., 2018 Tex. LEXIS 999,

at *21.

If the governmental action is not expressly listed in section 101.0215, courts must

apply the general definitions of governmental and proprietary functions. Id. at **14-15.

In doing so, we consider: (1) whether the City’s act of entering into the contract was

mandatory or discretionary; (2) whether the contract was intended to benefit the general

public or the City’s residents; (3) whether the City was acting on the State’s behalf or its

own behalf; and (4) whether the City’s act of entering into the contract “was sufficiently

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 20 related to a governmental function to render the act governmental even if it would

otherwise have been proprietary.” Id. at **14-15.

As noted above, we must determine whether Corsicana acted in its governmental

or proprietary capacity when it entered into contracts with the Water Supply

Corporations for the sale of wholesale water to non-residents. If the City’s actions are

listed as a governmental function under the TTCA, we have no discretion, regardless of

the City’s motives, to declare the actions as proprietary. City of Plano v. Homoky, 294

S.W.3d 809, 814 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2009, no pet.). When reviewing the TTCA’s list of

governmental functions, Corsicana’s sale of wholesale water to both residents and non-

residents falls under the “waterworks” or “water and sewer service” provisions of the

TTCA. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 101.0215(a)(11), (32). Accordingly, we

conclude that Corsicana was acting in its governmental capacity when it entered into the

contracts with the Water Supply Corporations for the sale of wholesale water to non-

residents.4 See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 101.0215(a)(11), (32); see also City of

4 On appeal, the Water Supply Corporations also try to distinguish between providing water to the citizens of Corsicana and to non-residents, arguing that the latter constitutes a proprietary function. However, Texas Courts have noted that a plaintiff may not “‘split various aspects of [the City’s] operation into discrete functions and recharacterize certain of those functions as proprietary.’” City of Plano v. Homoky, 294 S.W.3d 809, 815 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2009, no pet.) (quoting City of San Antonio v. Butler, 131 S.W.3d 170, 178 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2004, pet. denied)). As such, we disagree with the argument that providing water to non-residents somehow transforms Corsicana’s act of providing water into a proprietary function that does not fall within the “waterworks” or “water and sewer service” governmental functions listed in the TTCA. See id.; TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 101.0215(a)(11), (32) (West Supp. 2018); see also City of Texarkana v. City of New Boston, 141 S.W.3d 778, 784 n.3 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2004, pet. denied) (“The introduction of a proprietary element into an activity designated by the Legislature as governmental does not serve to alter its classification.”); Christopher D. Jones, Comment, Texas Municipal Liability: An Examination of the State and Federal Causes of Action, 40 BAYLOR L. REV. 595, 615 (1988) (“If a

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 21 Merkel, ___ S.W.3d ___, 2018 Tex. App. LEXIS 8501, at *8 (concluding that “the City

exercised a governmental function when it contracted to dispose of its treated

wastewater/effluent by sale”); Multi-County Water Supply Corp. v. City of Hamilton, 321

S.W.3d 905, 909 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2010, pet. denied) (concluding that

governmental immunity applied to a breach-of–contract action brought by Multi-County

Water Supply Corporation regarding the City of Hamilton’s decision to increase the rates

it charged Multi-County for treated water); City of San Antonio v. BSR Water Co., 190

S.W.3d 747, 753-54 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2005, no pet.) (concluding that the San

Antonio Water System’s decisions to drill wells, purchase water, and file an application

for a CCN over the Expansion Area cannot be distinguished from the City’s

governmental function to provide “water and sewer service”); City of Texarkana v. City of

New Boston, 141 S.W.3d 778, 783-84 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2004, pet. denied) (rejecting

plaintiffs’ argument that Texarkana’s sale of water to the citizens of the Seven Cities was

proprietary and noting that “[a]lthough waterworks and a number of other municipal

functions have traditionally been considered proprietary under the common law,”

section 101.0215 of the TTCA reclassified these functions as governmental).

proprietary function does not include governmental functions, a function containing a governmental component cannot be considered proprietary, and therefore must be governmental. Thus, in regard to mixed functions, the rule now seems to be that if any one component of a function is governmental, the entire function will be considered governmental, and an action involving that function will have to be brought under the Tort Claims Act.”).

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 22 Despite the foregoing, the Water Supply Corporations rely heavily on a decision

issued by the Eastland Court of Appeals in 2002. See generally City of Ranger v. Morton

Valley Water Supply Co., 79 S.W.3d 776 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2002, pet. denied). We find

this reliance to be misplaced.

In City of Ranger, the Eastland Court of Appeals addressed governmental authority

to regulate water rates and not governmental immunity and noted the following: “To

provide the wholesale supply of water to a nonresident retail supplier is to provide a

proprietary function.” See id. at 779. However, in support of this statement, the Eastland

Court of Appeals relied on City of Big Spring v. Board of Control, 404 S.W.2d 810, 812 (Tex.

1966)—a case that was decided before the 1970 amendment of the Texas Tort Claims Act

and the 1987 amendment reclassifying as governmental a number of activities that were

considered proprietary under the common law. See City of Texarkana, 141 S.W.3d at 784

n.3 (citing Act of June 3, 1987, 70th Leg., 1st C.S., ch. 2, § 3.02, 1987 Tex. Gen. Laws 37, 47-

48). As such, we are not persuaded by the Water Supply Corporations’ reliance on City

of Ranger.

2. Section 271 of the Local Government Code

The Water Supply Corporations also argue that even if their claims involve

governmental functions, immunity is waived for breach-of-contract claims pertaining to

written contracts for providing goods or services to a local governmental entity. See TEX.

LOC. GOV’T CODE ANN. §§ 271.151(2), 271.152. Once again, we disagree.

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 23 Corsicana is a local governmental entity, and therefore, a contract for goods or

services is required under law to waive immunity.5 See TEX. LOC. GOV’T CODE ANN. §§

271.151(3)(A), 271.152. Section 271.152 reads:

A local governmental entity that is authorized by statute or the constitution to enter into a contract and that enters into a contract subject to this subchapter waives sovereign immunity to suit for the purpose of adjudicating a claim for breach of contract, subject to the terms and conditions of this subchapter.

Id. § 271.152. Chapter 271 defines a “contract subject to this subchapter” as a “written

contract stating the essential terms of the agreement for providing goods and services to the

local government entity that is properly executed on behalf of the local governmental

entity.” Id. § 271.151(2) (emphasis added). Thus, there is a waiver of immunity only

when the contract involves the provision of goods or services to a local governmental

entity. See id. §§ 271.151(2), 271.152.

The term “services” is not defined in Chapter 271. However, the Texas Supreme

Court has held that the term “is broad enough to encompass a wide array of activities,”

and “includes generally any act performed for the benefit of another.” Kirby Lake Dev.,

Ltd. v. Clear Lake City Water Auth., 320 S.W.3d 829, 839 (Tex. 2010) (internal citation &

quotations omitted). Furthermore, the services provided “need not be the primary

5It is undisputed that Corsicana is a home-rule municipality within the context of section 5.004 of the Local Government Code. See TEX. LOC. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 5.004 (West 2008) (“A municipality is a home-rule municipality if it operates under a municipal charter that has been adopted or amended as authorized by Article XI, Section 5, of the Texas Constitution.”).

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 24 purpose of the agreement.” Id. However, section 271 does not extend to “‘contracts in

which the benefit that the local governmental entity would receive is an indirect,

attenuated one.’” Id. (quoting Berkman v. City of Keene, 311 S.W.3d 523, 527 (Tex. App.—

Waco 2009, pet. denied) (op. on reh’g)); cf. Lubbock County Water Control & Improvement

Dist. v. Church & Akin, L.L.C., 442 S.W.3d 297, 303 (Tex. 2014) (“When a party has no right

under the contract to receive services, the mere fact that it may receive services as a result

of the contract is insufficient to invoke chapter 271’s waiver of immunity.”). The First

Court of Appeals in East Houston Estate Apartments, L.L.C. v. City of Houston further

explained the limitations on the term “services” in the statute:

If every contract that confers some attenuated benefits on a governmental entity constitutes a contract for a “service,” the limitation of contracts covered by section 271.152 to “contract for goods or services provided to the entity” loses all meaning. Nothing in the statute [or] in its legislative history supports such an interpretation. Had the legislature intended to waive immunity from liability for every contract participated in by the State, it could have done so. We must interpret the limitation as having some meaning.

294 S.W.3d 723, 736 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2009, no pet.).

In this issue, the Water Supply Corporations allege that they provide numerous

services to Corsicana under the contract, including the construction of storage, pumping,

and pressure maintenance or other facilities; agreeing to take appropriate actions to

curtail or limit water usage during times of emergency or shortage; developing a water-

conservation plan; agreeing to adopt and enforce adequate plumbing regulations;

purchasing an air gap and backflow preventer; and agreeing to indemnify Corsicana for M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 25 any losses, damage, or liability caused by the negligence of the Water Supply

Corporations.

Despite the foregoing, the “central purpose” of the contracts between Corsicana

and the Water Supply Corporations is indisputably Corsicana’s sale of wholesale water

to the Water Supply Corporations, not vice versa. See id.; see also Brazos River Auth. v.

Brazos Elec. Power Coop., Inc., No. 10-09-00403-CV, 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 4742, at **9-10

(Tex. App.—Waco June 23, 2010, pet. denied) (mem. op.). Like Berkman and Brazos River

Authority, the “services” purportedly provided by the Water Supply Corporations to

Corsicana are, at best, indirect and attenuated benefits that do not result in a section

271.152 waiver of governmental immunity. See Church & Akin, L.L.C., 442 S.W.3d at 303;

Berkman, 311 S.W.3d at 5266; see also Brazos River Auth., 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 4742, at **9-

10 (“Brazos Electric pleads that because, under the FUA, it will operate, maintain, and

repair the Facility and supply the Facility with electricity, the FUA provides the essential

terms of an agreement for providing goods and services to the Authority. The FUA is in

essence a lease of the Facility—the FUA describes the Facility as the ‘Leased Facility.’

Brazos Electric’s lease of the Facility is not the provision of goods and services to the

6 In Berkman v. City of Keene, 311 S.W.3d 523 (Tex. App.—Waco 2009, pet. denied), the city entered into a contract to provide, among other things, sewer services to a landowner for thirty-five years. Id. at 524-25. The landowner contended that when he used the property as a home for children who were wards of the state and allowed his property to be annexed, he was providing services to the city that caused the contract to fall within the waiver of immunity set forth in section 271.152. See id. at 527. This Court determined that both of these benefits to the city were indirect in nature, and therefore, the contract between the city and the landowner did not fall under section 271.152. See id.

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 26 Authority, and Brazos Electric does not attempt to argue otherwise in this appeal.”). In

fact, these “services” mentioned by the Water Supply Corporations are merely actions

that are necessary to facilitate the procurement of water by the Water Supply

Corporations for their customers. Accordingly, we hold that the Water Supply

Corporations’ claims for breach of contract against Corsicana do not come within section

271.152’s waiver. See TEX. LOC. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 271.152; Berkman, 311 S.W.3d at 526;

E. Houston Estate Apts., L.L.C., 294 S.W.3d at 736; see also Brazos River Auth., 2010 Tex. App.

LEXIS 4742, at **9-10. And given this, we cannot say that the trial court erred in granting

Corsicana’s plea to the jurisdiction as to the Water Supply Corporations. See Holland, 221

S.W.3d at 642; see also Miranda, 133 S.W.3d at 227. We overrule the fourth, fifth, and sixth

issues brought by the Water Supply Corporations.7

V. CONCLUSION

Having sustained Frost’s first issue, we reverse the trial court’s order granting

Corsicana’s motion to dismiss and remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion.

We affirm the final judgment of the trial court in all other respects.

AL SCOGGINS Justice

7And given our conclusions regarding governmental immunity and the lack of a waiver of Corsicana’s immunity, we need not address the Water Supply Corporations’ contention regarding specific performance. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1, 47.4.

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 27 Before Chief Justice Gray, Justice Davis, and Justice Scoggins Affirmed, in part, and reversed and remanded, in part Opinion delivered and filed November 14, 2018 [CV06]

M.E.N. Water Supply Corp., et al. v. City of Corsicana Page 28