State v. Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc.

462 S.W.3d 68, 2012 WL 4465338, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 8111
CourtTexas Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 27, 2012
DocketNo. 01-11-00197-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 462 S.W.3d 68 (State v. Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc., 462 S.W.3d 68, 2012 WL 4465338, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 8111 (Tex. 2012).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

LAURA CARTER HIGLEY, Justice.

The State of Texas, appeals from the trial court’s grant of summary judgment against it on liability and subsequent rendition of judgment against it and in favor of Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc. following a trial on damages in an inverse condemnation proceeding. In three issues, the State argues (1) the trial court erred by ruling as a matter of law that the State had taken Clear Channel’s billboards as part of its condemnation of the land; (2) the trial court abused its discretion by allowing certain testimony from Clear Channel’s expert on valuation of the billboards; and (3) the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support the trial court’s award on damages.

We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Background

In 2001, Clear Channel obtained a leasehold interest in a parcel of land, identified as Parcel 709, located in Harris County within view of the Katy Freeway. In 2004, Clear Channel obtained a leasehold interest in an abutting parcel of land, identified as Parcel 708. Pursuant to the • leases, Clear Channel erected and maintained two billboards on the parcels. The billboards back each other and form a V shape, each being visible to opposing directions of traffic on the Katy Freeway.

In connection with a planned freeway expansion, the State petitioned to condemn Parcels 708 and 709 in separate proceedings and named the landowner and Clear Channel as defendants in each proceeding. Each of the county civil courts appointed a panel of special commissioners to determine the fair market value of the properties. Clear Channel filed objections to the special commissioners’ award in each proceeding and asserted claims of inverse condemnation, seeking compensation for the billboards.

The State brought a plea to the jurisdiction in each proceeding. Each plea was denied, and the State appealed. Each denial was affirmed.1

During the time that the State brought its pleas to the jurisdiction, Clear Channel brought a motion for partial summary judgment on its interest in Parcel 709, arguing that the billboard on Parcel 709 was part of the realty, that the billboard, therefore, had been condemned, and that the State was required to adequately compensate Clear Channel for the condemned property. The trial court for that proceeding granted the motion for summary judgment.

After the denials to the pleas to the jurisdiction were affirmed on appeal, the State had settled most of its condemnation claims for both parcels. The State had resolved the amount of compensation to be paid to the owners of the parcels and had agreed on the amounts owed to Clear Channel on all of its leasehold interests other than the billboards.

After the interlocutory judgments were entered, the trial court in the proceeding for Parcel 708 granted the parties’ agreed motion to consolidate the two proceedings. Clear Channel subsequently brought a partial motion for summary judgment on its interest in the billboard on Parcel 708, arguing the State had condemned its inter[73]*73est in the billboard on that parcel. The trial court granted this motion for summary judgment as well.

The parties tried the remaining damages issues to a jury. Clear Channel presented Rodolfo Aguilar at trial as its expert for valuation of the billboards. Aguilar presented four methods for valuing the billboards: one based on the cost method, two based on the comparable sales method, and one based on the income method. The State objected to and sought to exclude Aguilar’s testimony regarding the comparable sales methods and the income method. The trial court denied these objections and admitted all of Aguilar’s testimony regarding valuation.

Condemnation of Billboards

In its first issue, the State argues the trial court erred by ruling as a matter of law that the State had taken Clear Channel’s billboards as part of its condemnation of the land.

A. Standard of Review

The summary-judgment movant must conclusively establish its right to judgment as a matter of law. See MMP, Ltd. v. Jones, 710 S.W.2d 59, 60 (Tex.1986). Because summary judgment is a question of law, we review a trial court’s summary judgment decision de novo. Mann Frankfort Stein & Lipp Advisors, Inc. v. Fielding, 289 S.W.3d 844, 848 (Tex.2009).

To prevail on a “traditional” summary-judgment motion, asserted under Rule 166a(c), a movant must prove that there is no genuine issue regarding any material fact and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Tex.R. Civ. P. 166a(c); Little v. Tex. Dep’t of Criminal Justice, 148 S.W.3d 374, 381 (Tex.2004). A matter is conclusively established if reasonable people could not differ as to the conclusion to be drawn from the evidence. See City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 816 (Tex.2005).

When a party moves for summary judgment on a claim for which it bears the burden of proof, it must show that it is entitled to prevail on each element of its cause of action. See Parker v. Dodge, 98 S.W.3d 297, 299 (Tex.App.Houston [1st Dist.] 2003, no pet.). The party meets this burden if it produces evidence that would be sufficient to support an instructed verdict at trial. Id.

To determine if there is a fact issue, we review the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmovant, crediting, favorable evidence if reasonable jurors could do so, and disregarding contrary evidence unless reasonable jurors could not. See Fielding, 289 S.W.3d at 848 (citing City of Keller, 168 S.W.3d at 827). We indulge every reasonable inference and resolve any doubts in the nonmovant’s favor. Sw. Elec. Power Co. v. Grant, 73 S.W.3d 211, 215 (Tex.2002).

B. Analysis

Clear Channel sought summary judgment on the liability portion of its inverse condemnation claim. “Inverse condemnation occurs when (1) a property owner seeks (2) compensation for (3) property taken for public use (4) without process or a proper condemnation proceeding.” City of Houston v. Boyle, 148 S.W.3d 171, 178 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, no pet.). The trial court granted Clear Channel’s motion.

On appeal, the State’s challenges to the trial court’s grant of summary judgment fall into three categories: (1) whether the billboards must be considered part of the realty; (2) whether the State intended to condemn the billboards; and (3) whether [74]*74Clear Channel consented to any alleged damages. Before we address each of these matters, however, we must address Clear Channel’s argument that this issue has been waived by the State.

1. Waiver

Clear . Channel argues, “The State has not assigned error to the summary judgments and has therefore waived its right to challenge those judgments.” This is incorrect.

As pointed out by the State, the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure were amended in 1997.

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462 S.W.3d 68, 2012 WL 4465338, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 8111, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-clear-channel-outdoor-inc-tex-2012.