Paradigm Insurance Co. v. Texas Richmond Corp.

942 S.W.2d 645, 1997 WL 33944
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedApril 10, 1997
Docket14-95-00747-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by30 cases

This text of 942 S.W.2d 645 (Paradigm Insurance Co. v. Texas Richmond Corp.) 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
Paradigm Insurance Co. v. Texas Richmond Corp., 942 S.W.2d 645, 1997 WL 33944 (Tex. Ct. App. 1997).

Opinions

MAJORITY OPINION ON REHEARING

O’NEILL, Judge.

This case involves a declaratory judgment action regarding the duty to defend under an insurance policy that was decided in favor of the insured on opposing motions for summary judgment. In three points of error, the Paradigm Insurance Company (“Paradigm”), appellant, contends the trial court erred in (1) granting the motion for summary judgment of Texas Richmond Corporation d/b/a The Men’s Club of Houston, Kent Stevens, and David Fairchild (hereinafter collectively “The Men’s Club”), (2) denying its motion for summary judgment, and (3) denying its objections and motion to strike The Men’s Club’s exhibits. By opinion dated July 11,1996, this court affirmed the judgment of the trial court. Paradigm’s Motion for Rehearing was granted. The July 11, 1996 opinion is withdrawn, and this opinion is substituted in its place. We reverse the judgment of the trial court, and render judgment in favor of Paradigm.

Background

Paradigm issued a commercial general insurance policy to The Men’s Club effective from June 30, 1993 to June 30, 1994. The policy provided coverage in relevant part as follows:

COVERAGE A. BODILY INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY
1. Insuring Agreement
a. We will pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of “bodily injury” or “property damage” to which this insurance applies. We will have the right and duty to defend any “suit” seeking those damages. We may at our discretion investigate any “occurrence” and settle any claim or “suit” that may result.

The declarations page of the policy indicates a premium for commercial general liability coverage and does not indicate a premium for liquor liability coverage. In fact, the policy contained a liquor liability exclusion, which expressly excluded from coverage the following:

2. Exclusions
This insurance does not apply to:
******
c. “Bodily injury” or “property damage” for which any insured may be held liable by reason of:
(1) Causing or contributing to the intoxication of any person;
(2) The furnishing of alcoholic beverages to a person under the legal drinking age or under the influence of alcohol; or
(3) Any statute, ordinance or regulation relating to the sale, gift, distribution or use of alcoholic beverages.
This exclusion applies only if you are in the business of manufacturing, distributing, selling, serving or furnishing alcoholic beverages.1

It is undisputed that The Men’s Club sells alcoholic beverages to its patrons.

In a separate cause of action, Majorie Butler filed suit against The Men’s Club and its valet parking service, Five Star Parking. The factual allegations in Butler’s fifth amended petition allege that on the morning of October 2,1993, she was a passenger in an automobile which was struck by a ear driven by Raphael Moraczewski. Butler alleged that The Men’s Club served and continued to serve alcoholic beverages to Moraczewski even though it was apparent he was obvious[648]*648ly intoxicated to the extent that he presented a clear danger to himself and others. Butler claimed that “[s]aid conduct by The Men’s Club contributed to Moraczewski’s state of intoxication and was a proximate cause of the injuries to [Butler].” She further alleged that agents and employees of Five Star and The Men’s Club were employed as parking attendants, and that “[s]aid parking attendants retrieved Moraczewski’s car and negligently permitted MoraczewsM to drive away, even though it was apparent to the parking valets that MoraczewsM was intoxicated.” Butler claimed that “MoraczewsM’s negligence and negligent driving occurred because of his state of intoxication.”

Butler alleged that The Men’s Club was negligent per se for violations of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, and was negligent and grossly negligent in (1) monitoring and failing to monitor MoraczewsM and other patrons for intoxication, (2) failing to deter, restrain, or prevent MoraczewsM and other intoxicated patrons from driving after leaving The Men’s Club, (3) failing to arrange for alternate transportation for MoraczewsM and other intoxicated patrons, and (4) failing to adequately train its employees to recognize intoxicated patrons, to prevent them from driving after leaving the club by arranging for alternate transportation or to otherwise ensure that they would not constitute a danger to the public after leaving the club. Butler also alleged that The Men’s Club was negligent and grossly negligent as follows:

In failing to hire and select competent employees ... who were [sic] be charged with monitoring MoraczewsM’s intoxication, deterring, restraining or preventing MoraczewsM and other intoxicated patrons from driving, and arranging for alternate transportation for MoraczewsM.
In failing to adequately monitor and supervise its employees ... who were charged with monitoring MoraczewsM’s intoxication, deterring, restraining or preventing MoraczewsM and other intoxicated patrons from driving, and arranging for alternate transportation for MoraczewsM.
In failing [to] hire and select a competent valet parking service.
In failing to adequately supervise, monitor, and evaluate the work and services performed by its valet parking service, which was charged with monitoring the intoxication of those patrons requesting retrieval of their automobiles.

In addition, Butler alleged that The Men’s Club was vicariously liable for the acts and omissions of the valet parking service:

The Men’s Club is vicariously liable for the acts and omissions of its agents and employees, including the tortious acts and omissions of its agent Five Star Parking, based on agency, respondeat superior, and non-delegable duty. Five Star Parking is vicariously liable for the acts and omissions of its agents and employees.

Paradigm subsequently instituted a separate suit for declaratory judgment, seeking a determination of its duty to defend The Men’s Club for the claims made the basis of the Butler suit. The parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment. The trial court found that Paradigm had a duty to defend under the policy, and granted The Men’s Club’s motion for summary judgment. Paradigm thereafter perfected this appeal.

Standard of Review

The appropriate standard to be followed when reviewing a summary judgment is well-established:

1. the movant for summary judgment has the burden of showing that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that it is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law;
2. in deciding whether there is a disputed material fact issue precluding summary judgment, evidence favorable to the non-movant will be taken as true; and
3. every reasonable inference must be indulged in favor of the non-movant and any doubts resolved in its favor.

Nixon v. Mr. Property Management Co., 690 S.W.2d 546

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
942 S.W.2d 645, 1997 WL 33944, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/paradigm-insurance-co-v-texas-richmond-corp-texapp-1997.