Metro Aviation, Inc. v. Bristow Offshore Helicopters, Inc.

740 S.W.2d 873, 1987 WL 21349
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedNovember 5, 1987
Docket09 86 211 CV
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 740 S.W.2d 873 (Metro Aviation, Inc. v. Bristow Offshore Helicopters, Inc.) 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
Metro Aviation, Inc. v. Bristow Offshore Helicopters, Inc., 740 S.W.2d 873, 1987 WL 21349 (Tex. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinion

OPINION

BURGESS, Justice.

This is an appeal from a take-nothing judgment in a Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) case. It arose out of the sale of three helicopters and spare parts from Bristow Offshore Helicopters, Inc. (Bris-tow) to Metro Aviation, Inc. and Metro Maintenance, Inc. (Metro). On December 9, 1985, a jury trial commenced in the case. The trial was terminated on December 11, 1985, pursuant to a motion for mistrial filed by Bristow. The second trial commenced on June 16, 1986, and ended six days later when the jury found against Metro on all counts. Metro does not challenge the jury’s findings nor the charge of the court in this appeal. They bring four points of error, although some points are subdivided.

The first point of error alleges the trial court erred “in denying Metro’s motion to continue [sic]” and in refusing to allow Metro to supplement their interrogatories to add a newly discovered fact witness. Metro filed a written motion for continuance on June 11, 1986. A hearing was held on the motion June 12, 1986, and it was denied. The statement of facts does not contain a transcription of that hearing. Where there is no statement of facts before this court, we must presume that there is evidence to support the trial court’s action in overruling the motion. Brown v. Crockett, 601 S.W.2d 188, 190 (Tex.Civ.App.-Austin 1980, no writ). The granting or denial of a motion for continuance is within the sound discretion of the trial court. State v. Crank, 666 S.W.2d 91, 94 (Tex.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 833, 105 S.Ct. 124, 83 L.Ed.2d 66 (1984). Before an appellate court will reverse the trial court’s discretionary ruling, it should appear clearly from the record that there has been a disregard of the rights of a party. Yowell v. Piper Aircraft Corp., 703 S.W.2d 630, 635 (Tex.1986). Metro also made an oral motion for continuance on the morning of trial or at least re-urged their previous written motion. This oral presentation did not comply with TEX.R.CIV.P. 251. When the provisions of rule 251 have not been satisfied, it will be presumed that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying a continuance. Ohlhausen v. Thompson, 704 S.W.2d 434, 436 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1986, no writ). We find no error in either instance.

Metro also complains in this point of error about the trial court refusing to allow it to supplement interrogatories. Metro filed its motion for leave to supplement interrogatory answers on June 12, 1986. The motion was presented to the trial court on June 16, 1986, the day of trial. The motion sought to include the name of a fact witness, Mr. Gordon Stanton. Stanton had previously been designated as an expert witness in January 1986, but was withdrawn on April 14, 1986. TEX.R.CIV.P. 166b(5", requires a party to supplement not less than thirty days prior to the beginning of trial unless the trial court finds that good cause exists for permitting later supplementation. Once the party does not timely supplement its answers to interrogatories, the sanction is *875 automatic against use of the witness. Morrow v. H.E.B., Inc., 714 S.W.2d 297 (Tex.1986). The real complaint then becomes, not in the refusal to allow supplementation, but in the refusal to allow the witness’ testimony. The burden is then upon the movant to show good cause why the answers were not supplemented. Gutierrez v. Dallas Indep. School Dist., 729 S.W.2d 691 (Tex.1987). Metro’s counsel conceded he had known of the witness and had spoken to the witness several times. We find no abuse of discretion by the trial judge in refusing to allow the supplementation. Point of error number one is overruled.

The next point of error complains of the denying of a motion in limine and allowing testimony relating to an “as is” provision in the sales contract. The overruling of a motion in limine, while it may be error, is never reversible error. Hartford Accident & Indem. Co. v. McCardell, 369 S.W.2d 331, 335 (Tex.1963). The party opposing the admission of evidence still has the burden of objecting at the time the evidence is offered. Wilkins v. Royal Indem. Co., 592 S.W.2d 64, 66 (Tex.Civ.App.-Tyler 1979, no writ). Metro does not point to any place in the record where they interposed an objection to the testimony or argument regarding the “as is” disclaimer. This point of error is overruled.

The third point of error claims the trial court erred in requiring Metro to pay all costs associated with the depositions of the expert witnesses who were designated after the mistrial. After the mistrial, Metro filed a supplementation to its interrogatories designating six new expert witnesses. Bristow then filed a motion to strike the supplemental answers and for protective orders. The trial court conducted a hearing and orally ruled that Metro could utilize the experts but granted Bristow a protective order. This order required Metro to produce the experts in Beaumont, Texas, and to pay all the expenses connected with deposing the experts. No record was made of this hearing. Later, Metro filed a motion to reconsider this ruling and an additional hearing was held. A record was made of this hearing. The court then entered a written order reflecting his prior oral pronouncement. Later, Metro filed its second supplemental answers which withdrew the designation for five of the six previously designated experts. Metro produced this witness and paid the expenses required under the protective order.

TEX.R.CIV.P. 166b(4) states:

4. Protective Orders. On motion specifying the grounds and made by any person against or from whom discovery is sought under these rules, the court may make any order in the interest of justice necessary to protect the movant from undue burden, unnecessary expense, harassment or annoyance, or invasion of personal, constitutional, or property rights. Specifically, the court’s authority as to such orders extends to, although it is not necessarily limited by, any of the following:
a. ordering that requested discovery not be sought in whole or in part, or that the extent or subject matter of discovery be limited, or that it not be undertaken at the time or place specified.
b. ordering that the discovery be undertaken only by such method or upon such terms and conditions or at the time and place directed by the court.
c. ordering that results of discovery be sealed or otherwise adequately protected; that its distribution be limited; or that its disclosure be restricted.

This rule is different from its predecessor, Tex.R.Civ.P.

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740 S.W.2d 873, 1987 WL 21349, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/metro-aviation-inc-v-bristow-offshore-helicopters-inc-texapp-1987.