Newman v. Tropical Visions, Inc.

891 S.W.2d 713, 1994 Tex. App. LEXIS 3254, 1994 WL 681966
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedNovember 30, 1994
Docket04-93-00671-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by65 cases

This text of 891 S.W.2d 713 (Newman v. Tropical Visions, 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
Newman v. Tropical Visions, Inc., 891 S.W.2d 713, 1994 Tex. App. LEXIS 3254, 1994 WL 681966 (Tex. Ct. App. 1994).

Opinions

OPINION

RICKHOFF, Justice.

At issue in this wrongful death and survival action is the effectiveness of a pre-injury liability release. The case arises from the death of Jean Hunter Newman on May 6, 1990, during completion of a scuba certification course at Lake Travis. Appellants, Ab-ney Lee Newman, individually, and James Daniel Newman, individually and as the executor of the estate of Jean Hunter Newman, appeal a summary judgment rendered in favor of appellees, Tropical Visions, Inc., d/b/a Tropical Divers, and Bob Lake. We affirm the judgment in part, and reverse and remand it in part.

BACKGROUND

On January 2, 1990 Jean Newman enrolled in an “open water” scuba certification course — purchased by her son — at the defendants’ place of business. On January 29, 1990, prior to the first class, she signed (1) an enrollment application, (2) a “Statement of Understanding for Skin and Scuba Diving,” (3) a medical statement, (4) a “Standard Safe Diving Practices Statement of Understanding,” and (5) an “Affirmation and Liability Release.”

The last document, entitled “PADI [Professional Association of Diving Instructors] Affirmation and Liability Release,” reads as follows:

PADI AFFIRMATION AND LIABILITY RELEASE
(read carefully before signing)
I, (1) Jean Newman, hereby affirm that I have been well advised and thoroughly informed of the inherent hazards of skin and scuba diving.
Further, I understand that diving with compressed air involves certain risks, and injuries can occur that require treatment in a recompression chamber. I further understand that the open water diving trips, which are necessary for training and for certification, may be conducted at a site that is remote, either by time or distance or both, from such a reeompression chamber, and nonetheless agree to proceed with such instructional dives. I hereby personally assume all risk in connection with said course for any harm injury, or damage that may befall me as a result of my participation in the course, whether fore[716]*716seen or unforeseen, and I still wish to proceed with the course in spite of the possible absence of a recompression chamber in proximity of the site. I understand and agree that neither (2) Tropical Divers/Bob Lake located in the city of (3) SAT [sic] and state of Tx may be held liable in any way for any occurrence with this diving class that may result in injury, death, or other damages to me or my family, heirs, or assigns, and in consideration of being allowed to enroll in this course, I hereby personally assume all risks in connection with said course, for any harm, injury or damage that may befall me while I am enrolled as a student of the course, including all risks connected with therewith, whether foreseen or unforeseen; and further to save and hold harmless said program and persons from any claim by me, or my family, estate, heirs, or assigns, arising out of my enrollment and participation in this course.
I further state that I am of lawful age and legally competent to sign this affirmation and release, or that I have acquired the written consent of my parents or guardians; that I understand the terms herein are contractual and not a mere recital; and that I have signed this document of my own free act.
It is the intention of (1) Jean Newman by this instrument to exempt and release (2) Tropical Divers/Bob Lake from all liability whatsoever for personal injury, property damage or wrongful death caused by negligence.

I HAVE FULLY INFORMED MYSELF OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS AFFIRMATION AND RELEASE BY READING IT BEFORE I SIGNED IT.

Beneath this last line appears the signature and address of Jean Newman. The form also asked her age, which is listed on the document as “65”.

Plaintiffs sued for negligence, gross negligence, and violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act (“DTPA”). Defendants moved for summary judgment based upon the defenses of release and “consent/express assumption of the risk.” Their summary judgment proof included the documents mentioned above and an affidavit from Bob Lake, Newman’s diving instructor. Plaintiffs filed a written response but offered no summary judgment evidence of their own. On July 7, 1993, the trial court granted the defendants’ motion, concluding:

1) Decedent Jean Newman executed a valid release on or about January 29,1990; 2) This release specifically named the defendants as parties released by Decedent Jean Newman for any harm, injury or damage, including death, that might befall Ms. Newman during participation in the course. 3) The release was clear and unambiguous. 4) The release bars plaintiffs’ causes of action in the above-entitled and numbered cause. 5) There exists no genuine issue of material fact as to any element of Defendants’ affirmative defense of release. 6) Decedent Jean Newman voluntarily executed a document by which she expressly consented to her participation in the scuba course and expressly assumed the risks associated therewith, which risks Ms. Newman knew included injury and/or death. 7) The express consent and assumption of the risks of scuba diving executed by Ms. Newman bars Plaintiffs’ causes of action in the above-entitled and numbered case. 8) There exists [sic] no genuine issue of material fact as to any element of Defendants’ affirmative defense of consent/express assumption of the risk.

The court denied plaintiffs’ motion for a new trial. They perfected this appeal, asserting nine points of error.

DISCUSSION

As a general rule, the movant for summary judgment has the burden of showing there are no genuine issues of material fact and that he is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Nixon v. Mr. Property Management Co., 690 S.W.2d 546, 548-49 (Tex.1985). In deciding whether there is a disputed material fact issue precluding summary judgment, we take evidence favorable to the nonmovant as true. Id. We also indulge every reasonable inference in favor of the nonmovant and resolve doubts in his or her favor. Id.

[717]*717A defendant moving for summary judgment must either (1) disprove at least one of the elements of each of the plaintiffs causes of action, or (2) plead and conclusively establish each essential element of an affirmative defense, thereby rebutting the plaintiffs causes of action. Montgomery v. Kennedy, 669 S.W.2d 309, 310-11 (Tex.1984); Liggett v. Blocker, 849 S.W.2d 846, 850 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1993, no writ).

Once a movant has established a right to a summary judgment, the burden shifts to the nonmovant. Houston v. Clear Creek Basin Authority, 589 S.W.2d 671, 678 (Tex.1979). The nonmovant must then respond to the motion and present the trial court with any issues that would preclude summary judgment. Id.

Because the summary judgment order expressly states the grounds on which it was granted, we are precluded from determining any other ground when reviewing that summary judgment. S.S. v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Co., 808 S.W.2d 668, 672 (Tex.App.—Austin 1991, writ denied).

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Bluebook (online)
891 S.W.2d 713, 1994 Tex. App. LEXIS 3254, 1994 WL 681966, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/newman-v-tropical-visions-inc-texapp-1994.