Pamalee Chambers v. Mark Z. Levbarg

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: February 25, 2000
• Docket: 03-98-00138-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-98-00138-CV Pamalee Chambers, Appellant

v.

Mark Z. Levbarg, Appellee

FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 98TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

NO. 97-04769, HONORABLE SUZANNE COVINGTON, JUDGE PRESIDING

Pamalee Chambers appeals pro se from the trial court's rendition of summary judgment against her in her legal malpractice action against appellee Mark Z. Levbarg. We will affirm the trial court's judgment.

Factual and Procedural Background

In 1986, Levbarg won a judgment in Chambers's favor in an employment discrimination-retaliation suit against her former employer. During the pendency of the employer's appeal, the Supreme Court decided a case that the Fifth Circuit found controlling and retroactive in its application, which resulted in a reversal of the judgment that the federal district court had rendered in Chambers's favor. ⁽¹⁾ Chambers then fired Levbarg. Levbarg formally withdrew from representation in November 1990; new counsel represented Chambers on motion for rehearing in the Fifth Circuit and on petition for writ of certiorari.

On April 21, 1997, Chambers sued Levbarg for malpractice. She pleaded the discovery rule. Levbarg answered, filing a verified pleading of limitations. On September 12, 1997, Levbarg moved for summary judgment and filed his affidavit in support of that motion. Chambers tendered a controverting affidavit October 3, 1997. The hearing on Levbarg's motion for summary judgment was set October 6, 1997. After hearing argument, the trial court rendered judgment in Levbarg's favor. Chambers filed a motion for new trial, which the trial court overruled after holding a hearing on the motion.

On appeal, Chambers raises eight issues (labeled A-H). In issue A, Chambers contends that the trial court erred in granting Levbarg's motion for summary judgment, the issue we will address first. We will detail the other issues as we dispose of them.

Discussion

On review of a summary judgment, the movant for summary judgment has the burden of showing that there is no genuine issue of material fact and it is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law. See Nixon v. Mr. Property Management Co., 690 S.W.2d 546, 548-49 (Tex. 1985). The dispositive issue is not whether the summary-judgment proof raises fact issues, but whether the summary-judgment proof establishes as a matter of law that there is no genuine issue of material fact. See Gibbs v. General Motors Corp. 450 S.W.2d 827, 828 (Tex. 1970).

Statute of Limitations for Legal Malpractice

The two-year statute of limitations governs a cause of action for legal malpractice. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 16.003 (West Supp. 2000); Willis v. Maverick, 760 S.W.2d 642, 644 (Tex. 1988); Poth v. Small, Craig & Werkenthin, L.L.P., 967 S.W.2d 511, 514 (Tex. App.--Austin 1998, pet. denied). The discovery rule applies to legal malpractice actions. See Willis, 760 S.W.2d at 646. The statute of limitations for a legal malpractice action does not begin to run until the claimant discovers or should have discovered through the exercise of reasonable care and diligence the facts establishing the elements of claimant's cause of action. See id. The issue of when a cause of action accrues is a question of law for the court. See Moreno v. Sterling Drug, 787 S.W.2d 348, 351 (Tex. 1990).

A defendant who moves for summary judgment based on the affirmative defense of limitations assumes the burden of showing as a matter of law that limitations bar the suit. See KPMG Peat Marwick v. Harrison County Hous. Fin. Corp., 988 S.W.2d 746, 748 (Tex. 1999); Ponder v. Brice & Mankoff, 889 S.W.2d 637, 641 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1994, writ denied). Specifically, the movant must: (1) conclusively prove when the cause of action accrued, and (2) negate the discovery rule, if it applies and has been pleaded or otherwise raised, by proving as a matter of law there is no genuine issue of fact concerning when the plaintiff discovered or should have discovered the nature of its injury. See KPMG, 988 S.W.2d at 748; Burns v. Thomas, 786 S.W.2d 266, 267 (Tex. 1990). A defendant moving for summary judgment based on an affirmative defense, such as limitations, must conclusively prove the defense by uncontradicted summary-judgment proof. See Delgado v. Burns, 656 S.W.2d 428, 429 (Tex. 1983); Kazmir v. Suburban Homes Realty, 824 S.W.2d 239, 242-43 (Tex. App.--Texarkana 1992, writ denied). If a movant establishes that the statute of limitations bars the action as a matter of law, the nonmovant must then adduce summary-judgment proof raising a fact issue in avoidance of the statute of limitations. See KPMG, 988 S.W.2d at 748; Gonzalez v. Phoenix Frozen Foods, Inc., 884 S.W.2d 587, 589 (Tex. App.--Corpus Christi 1994, no writ).

Except with leave of court, affidavits and other written responses to a motion for summary judgment must be filed not later than seven days before the hearing. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 166b(c). For a late affidavit to be considered part of the summary-judgment proof, the record must contain affirmative indication that the trial court permitted late filing. Watkins v. Williamson, 869 S.W.2d 383, 387 (Tex. App.--Dallas 1993, no writ); Texas Airfinance Corp. v. Lesikar, 777 S.W.2d 559, 563 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1989, no writ). If no such indication appears in the record, we must presume that the trial court did not consider a late-filed affidavit. See INA of Tex. v. Bryant, 686 S.W.2d 614, 615 (Tex. 1985); Texas Airfinance, 777 S.W.2d at 563. Assertions of fact in live pleadings, not framed in the alternative, constitute formal judicial admissions. See Houston First Am. Sav. v. Musick, 650 S.W.2d 764, 767 (Tex. 1983); Manahan v. Meyer, 862 S.W.2d 130, 133 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1993, writ denied).

The Summary-Judgment Proceeding

Levbarg filed an affidavit in support of his motion for summary judgment. In the affidavit, he averred that Chambers threatened to sue him for malpractice as early as 1988. Levbarg, in the same affidavit, also stated that Chambers had approached Bert Pluymen, an attorney in Austin, in 1991 about suing Levbarg for malpractice. ⁽²⁾

Chambers did not timely file a controverting affidavit. The record does not show any indication that the trial court allowed late filing. See Watkins, 869 S.W.2d at 387. Thus, the record contains direct uncontradicted evidence that the appropriate statute of limitations bars the claim based on Levbarg's statement that Chambers threatened him with a malpractice suit in 1988. His affidavit also proves that another attorney contacted him in 1991 concerning a possible malpractice suit by Chambers against Levbarg. See INA, 686 S.W.2d at 615 (presume late-filed controverting affidavits not considered). Therefore, we can conclude that Chambers knew or should have known the facts establishing her cause of action not later than the end of 1991. See Willis, 760 S.W.2d at 646. Levbarg's summary-judgment evidence conclusively proved when Chambers's alleged cause of action accrued and negated the discovery rule by proving that Chambers knew about her cause of action for legal malpractice by the end of 1991. See KPMG, 988 S.W.2d at 748.

The summary-judgment record, besides Levbarg's affidavit, otherwise supports the summary judgment. The record shows an August 1988 letter from Chambers to Levbarg expressing dissatisfaction with his representation and accusing him of several mistakes in handling her case even before the Fifth Circuit judgment. Chambers fired Levbarg in 1990. Other counsel represented Chambers on motion for rehearing and on petition for writ of certiorari. The motion for rehearing of the denial of writ of certiorari was overruled in December 1991. ⁽³⁾ At that point, Chambers knew or should have known that she had an adverse result from the litigation in which Levbarg had represented her, Levbarg no longer represented her, and she had other lawyers to consult concerning Levbarg's conduct of the case.

The record contains February 1992 correspondence between Chambers and attorney Elliott Flood concerning Flood's "substituting" for Levbarg. ⁽⁴⁾ Flood informed Chambers that he was representing Chambers only in her claim against her employer. The letter states that he was not representing her with respect to her "other claims" and told her that his advice in a previous letter still held--the statute of limitations was running out and she should seek alternative counsel on her other claims as soon as possible. Finally, Chambers in her pleadings states that she "did not know" of her right to file a grievance or to sue for malpractice before November 1994, more than two years before she sued.

The summary-judgment record supports several possible dates from which the statute of limitations began to run, all of them at least two years before Chambers filed suit in April 1997. Although Chambers asserts concealment of her cause of action, as detailed previously, the record does not support that claim. ⁽⁵⁾ Accordingly, we overrule issue A.

Other Issues Presented

Chambers's other issues have been waived for a variety of reasons (lack of record references, lack of citation of authority, lack of argument, and, in several instances, a statement of the issues appearing in the preliminary list of issues only and nowhere else). See Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(h); In re Williams, 998 S.W.2d 724, 730 (Tex. App.--Amarillo 1999, no pet.); Cherco Properties, Inc. v. Law, Snakard & Gambill, P.C., 985 S.W.2d 262, 266-67 (Tex. App.--Fort Worth 1999, no pet.); see also Tex. R. App. P. 47.1 (opinion to be as brief as practicable to decide issues necessary to final disposition). Nevertheless, we will attempt to address them briefly in the interest of justice.

We note that Chambers has acted pro se. However, litigants choosing to act pro se must comply with the applicable procedural rules and are held to the same standards that apply to licensed attorneys. ⁽⁶⁾ See In re Estate of Dilasky, 972 S.W.2d 763 (Tex. App.--Corpus Christi 1998, no pet.); Greenstreet v. Heiskell, 940 S.W.2d 831, 834 (Tex. App.--Amarillo 1997, no writ). To treat the pro se litigant differently would accord an unfair advantage over litigants represented by counsel. See Mansfield State Bank v. Cohn, 573 S.W.2d 181, 184 (Tex. 1978); Lin v. Houston Community College Sys., 948 S.W.2d 328, 336 (Tex. App.--Amarillo 1997, writ denied). ⁽⁷⁾

In issues F, G and H, Chambers contends Levbarg concealed causes of action, committed malpractice by failing to inform her of her rights under her unions' collective bargaining agreement, and committed malpractice by failing to inform her of her rights under the civil rights act. Issue F has been addressed in the discussion of the summary judgment and is overruled. Issues G and H concern the merits of the malpractice claim, which we do not reach, and are overruled.

In issue B, Chambers complains that one district judge abused his discretion in failing to grant appellant's motion for continuance while discovery was pending. We will not disturb a trial court's denial of a motion for continuance except upon a showing of a clear abuse of discretion. See Villegas v. Carter, 711 S.W.2d 626, 626 (Tex. 1986); Levinthal v. Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, P.A., 902 S.W.2d 508, 509 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, no writ). In this case, any pending discovery was not relevant to the limitations issue, an issue appropriate to resolve by summary judgment before reaching the merits of the underlying claim. Further, Chambers, the plaintiff in the action, did not request any discovery until six months after filing suit. Cf. Levinthal, 902 S.W.2d at 510-11 (plaintiff sought discovery simultaneously with filing of petition, discovery was material to no-evidence summary judgment, and case only on file for three months). We overrule issue B.

In issue D, Chambers complains that a second district judge, during the hearing on motion for new trial, abused her discretion by not admitting into evidence a letter, dated December 15, 1997, from the National Labor Relations Board. The court sustained an objection based on relevance to the summary-judgment proceeding. Chambers furnishes no reason this was an abuse of discretion as the letter did not adduce any new evidence on the issue of limitations. We overrule issue D. Issue E claims the trial court abused her discretion by placing appellant under oath for voir dire examination by Levbarg "but refused to allow Appellant the same opportunity to question Mr. Levbarg under oath during motion for new trial." A review of the record from the hearing on the motion for new trial does not show any request by Chambers to question Levbarg. Accordingly, we overrule issue E.

Finally, in issue C, Chambers complains the trial court abused its discretion in overruling the motion for new trial. In reviewing the overruling of a motion for new trial, an appellate court will not disturb the trial court decision absent a showing of manifest abuse of discretion. See Champion Int'l Corp. v. Twelfth Court of Appeals, 762 S.W.2d 898, 899 (Tex. 1988); Poth v. Small, Craig & Werkenthin, L.L.P., 967 S.W.2d 511, 514 (Tex. App.--Austin 1998, pet. denied). The court held a hearing and considered Chambers's contention that the case should be reopened based on newly discovered evidence. The record does not show any abuse of discretion. We overrule issue C.

Conclusion

After reviewing the record, we conclude that Levbarg met his burden to show that limitations barred Chambers's malpractice suit and have overruled her issue challenging the summary judgment. We have overruled all of her other issues presented. Accordingly, we affirm the summary judgment.

Marilyn Aboussie, Chief Justice

Before Chief Justice Aboussie, Justices B. A. Smith and Yeakel

Affirmed

Filed: February 25, 2000

Do Not Publish

1. See Chambers v. Southwestern Bell Tel. Co., 917 F.2d 5 (5th Cir. 1990), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 900, 900 (1991).

2. Contrary to Chambers's complaint in her brief, Levbarg's affidavit was not made to the "best of his knowledge and belief." Levbarg's affidavit states that after being duly sworn, the statements in the affidavit are "true and correct" and are made from personal knowledge. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(f) (summary-judgment affidavits to be made on personal knowledge).

3. 502 U.S. 1001, 1001 (Dec. 2, 1991).

4. Chambers hired Flood in an attempt to re-open her case based on retroactively applying certain legislative changes. It is unclear whether Flood was aware of Ms. Chambers's representation by Aaron Jackson, then of Ford & Ferraro, during the rehearing and certiorari processes.

5.

Some of her assertions about Levbarg's act of concealment verge on the absurd; for example, she claims he concealed her demotion from her, part of the basis of her original claims against her employer.

6. In various filings in this cause, Chambers had complained about her inability to secure counsel because of a conspiracy against her. However, the record shows she has been represented by numerous counsel. In her lawsuit against her employer, she was represented by counsel before Levbarg and two different counsel after Levbarg. With regard to her malpractice claim, she has consulted several attorneys, as well as filing multiple grievances against Levbarg with the State Bar.

7. Although these cases state the theory, this cause illustrates the practical reality of dealing with pro se litigants. This cause has required extensive delay to bring to submission, caused in part by a reinstatement after a dismissal for want of prosecution for non-payment to consider Chambers's indigence claims under In re Arroyo, 988 S.W.2d 737, 738-39 (Tex. 1998) (challenge sustaining contest to affidavit of indigence reviewed as part of appeal rather than mandamus; record covering indigence proceedings to be prepared without pre-payment). This Court granted several extensions of time to allow appellant to make payment arrangements for the record and to allow her to seek counsel. Further, her initial brief was sixty pages long, and still only briefed one of the issues presented.

ew of the record from the hearing on the motion for new trial does not show any request by Chambers to question Levbarg. Accordingly, we overrule issue E.

Finally, in issue C, Chambers complains the trial court abused its discretion in overruling the motion for new trial. In reviewing the overruling of a motion for new trial, an appellate court will not disturb the trial court decision absent a showing of manifest abuse of discretion. See Champion Int'l Corp. v. Twelfth Court of Appeals, 762 S.W.2d 898, 899 (Tex. 1988); Poth v. Small, Craig & Werkenthin, L.L.P., 967 S.W.2d 511, 514 (Tex. App.--Austin 1998, pet. denied). The court held a hearing and considered Chambers's contention that the case should be reopened based on newly discovered evidence. The record does not show any abuse of discretion. We overrule issue C.

After reviewing the record, we conclude that Levbarg met his burden to show that limitations barred Chambers's malpractice suit and have overruled her issue challenging the summary judgment. We have overruled all of her other issues presented. Accordingly, we affirm the summary judgment.

Before Chief Justice Aboussie, Justices B. A. Smith and Yeakel

1. See Chambers v. Southwestern Bell Tel. Co., 917 F.2d 5 (5th Cir. 1990), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 900, 900 (1991).

2. Contrary to Chambers's complaint in her bri