Paragon General Contractors, Inc. v. Larco Construction Inc.

227 S.W.3d 876, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 4949, 2007 WL 1816881
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJune 26, 2007
Docket05-06-00209-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by86 cases

This text of 227 S.W.3d 876 (Paragon General Contractors, Inc. v. Larco Construction 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
Paragon General Contractors, Inc. v. Larco Construction Inc., 227 S.W.3d 876, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 4949, 2007 WL 1816881 (Tex. Ct. App. 2007).

Opinion

OPINION

Opinion By

Justice MAZZANT.

Paragon General Contractors, Inc. appeals the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Larco Construction, Inc. and Guardian Storefront Systems, Inc. Paragon brings four issues asserting the trial court erred in granting Larco’s and Guardian’s motions for summary judgment. We affirm the trial court’s judgment as to Larco, but we reverse the granting of Guardian’s motion for summary judgment and remand four Paragon’s five claims against Guardian to the trial court.

BACKGROUND

Paragon was the general contractor for the construction of an office building in Plano. Paragon engaged various subcontractors, including Larco and Guardian, to construct the building. Paragon’s contracts with Larco and Guardian described the scope of the work of each in “Exhibit A” to each contract and in the “contract documents.” The contracts contained warranty provisions in which the subcontractors warranted their work would be free from defects due to faulty workmanship or materials. The contracts also contained indemnity provisions in which the subcontractors promised to indemnify Paragon from the consequences of the subcontractors’ negligence.

After construction was completed, the owner of the building complained to Paragon that water had penetrated the exterior *881 of the building, resulting in damage to the interior and mold. Investigation of the problem revealed the water penetration was due to the failure to install flashing around the windows and improper caulking of the windows. Paragon concluded that Larco was responsible for installing the flashing and Guardian was responsible for caulking the windows. Paragon settled with the building’s owner before suit was filed by making certain repairs to the building.

After settling with the owner, Paragon sued Larco and Guardian for breach of contract, breach of warranty, negligence, indemnity, and contribution. The breach of contract claim asserted Larco and Guardian breached by not defending and indemnifying Paragon as required by the contract and by not remedying their defective and faulty work as required by the contract. It appears the breach of warranty and- negligence claims were based on Larco and Guardian having duties to install flashing and properly caulk the windows and that they breached those duties. Larco and Guardian moved for summary judgment under'rule 166a(c) and (i), which the trial court granted.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

We review the grant of summary judgment de novo. Tittizer v. Union Gas Corp., 171 S.W.3d 857, 860 (Tex.2005). The standard for reviewing a motion for summary judgment under rule 166a(c) is well established. See Nixon v. Mr. Prop. Mgmt. Co., 690 S.W.2d 546, 548-49 (Tex.1985). The movant has the burden of showing no genuine issue of material fact exists and it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Tex.R. Civ. P. 166a(c); Diversicare Gen. Partner, Inc. v. Rubio, 185 S.W.3d 842, 846 (Tex.2005). After the movant has established a right to summary judgment, the burden shifts to the nonmovant to present evidence creating a fact issue. Phan Son Van v. Pena, 990 S.W.2d 751, 753 (Tex.1999); Troxel v. Bishop, 201 S.W.3d 290, 296 (Tex.App.Dallas 2006, no pet.). When reviewing a summary judgment, we take as true all competent evidence favorable to the non-movant, and we indulge every reasonable inference and resolve any doubts in the nonmovant’s favor. Diversicare Gen. Partner, Inc., 185 S.W.3d at 846; Valence Operating Co. v. Dorsett, 164 S.W.3d 656, 661 (Tex.2005).

A motion for a no-evidence summary judgment under rule 166a(i) is essentially a pretrial motion for directed verdict. Mack Trucks, Inc. v. Tamez, 206 S.W.3d 572, 582 (Tex.2006). Once such a motion is filed, the burden shifts to the nonmoving party to present evidence raising an issue of material fact as to the elements specified in the motion. Id. We review the evidence presented by the motion and response in the light most favorable to the party against whom the summary judgment was rendered, crediting evidence favorable to that party if reasonable jurors could, and disregarding contrary evidence unless reasonable jurors could not. Id.; City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 827 (Tex. 2005).

Because the trial court’s order granting summary judgment does not specify the basis for the ruling, we must affirm the trial court’s judgment if any of the theories advanced are meritorious. W. Invs., Inc. v. Urena, 162 S.W.3d 547, 550 (Tex.2005).

NO-EVIDENCE SUMMARY JUDGMENT

In its first issue, Paragon asserts it presented sufficient evidence of its claims for breach of contract, breach of warranty, and negligence to overcome Larco’s and Guardian’s no-evidence motions for sum *882 mary judgment. 1 Paragon asserted Larco and Guardian were negligent and breached their warranties by failing to install flashing and failing to properly caulk the windows, that they breached the contracts and warranties by failing to remedy their faulty and defective workmanship in not installing flashing and properly caulking the windows, and that they breached the contracts by failing to indemnify Paragon for its cost to repair the building. To overcome the no-evidence motion for summary judgment, Paragon had to present some evidence on each element of its causes of action.

Breach of Contract

The elements for breach of contract are (1) the existence of a valid contract, (2) the plaintiffs performance or tendered performance, (3) the defendant’s breach of the contract, and (4) damages as a result of the breach. Marketshare Tele-com, L.L.C. v. Ericsson, Inc., 198 S.W.Sd 908, 923 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2006, no pet.). Paragon asserted that under the contracts, Larco had the duty to install the flashing that was omitted from the construction and Guardian had the duty to properly caulk the windows. Paragon alleged that Larco and Guardian breached the contract by (1) failing to indemnify Paragon for its repairing their defective work and (2) failing to remedy their defective work as required by the contract. 2 Larco and Guardian asserted in their motions for summary judgment that there was no evidence to prove they breached the contract or that their breach caused damages.

To determine whether Larco and Guardian breached their contracts, we must first determine whether there is some evidence that under the contracts, Larco had the duty to install the flashing and Guardian had the responsibility to properly caulk the windows.

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227 S.W.3d 876, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 4949, 2007 WL 1816881, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/paragon-general-contractors-inc-v-larco-construction-inc-texapp-2007.