Swate v. Medina Community Hospital

966 S.W.2d 693, 1998 Tex. App. LEXIS 1710, 1998 WL 121816
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMarch 18, 1998
Docket04-97-00435-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by42 cases

This text of 966 S.W.2d 693 (Swate v. Medina Community Hospital) 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
Swate v. Medina Community Hospital, 966 S.W.2d 693, 1998 Tex. App. LEXIS 1710, 1998 WL 121816 (Tex. Ct. App. 1998).

Opinion

OPINION

STONE, Justice.

This case arises from the trial court’s denial of Tommy Swate’s application for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief based on appellees’ alleged violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act. Swate also appeals the trial court’s grant of appellees’ motion for attorney’s fees. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

The Medina Community Hospital (the “Hospital”), under the independent action of Hospital Administrator Richard Arnold, hired Dr. Tommy Swate as an independent contractor to provide medical services to inmates at several prison units in and around Hondo, Texas. Swate and Arnold executed a written agreement evidencing this relationship. After Swate’s employment, several members of the Medina Community Hospital Board of Managers (the “Board”) learned that the Texas and Louisiana Medical Boards had suspended Swate’s license to practice medicine and had placed him on probation allowing him to practice only under strict guidelines. The Board members were concerned that Swate’s employment with the Hospital violated those guidelines. The Board called a special meeting and posted public notice that it would hold an “executive session” 1 on November 14,1996, to “[cjonsider personnel matters” and “[cjonsult with Attorney/Potential Litigation matters.” After convening at the November 14th meeting, the Board recessed into executive session. Following the discussion in executive session, the Board did not vote, in open or closed session, regarding Swate’s employment status with the Hospital. The meeting was concluded with “no action taken” as reflected in the minutes. On November 22,1996, Troy E. Scarborough, Assistant Hospital Administrator of Prison Health Services under Arnold, terminated Swate’s employment. Scarborough memorialized the termination in a memorandum to Arnold, stating “I informed Dr. Swate that the Medina Community Hospital Board of Managers had directed that he be terminated from employment....”

After his termination, Swate requested that the Hospital pay him additional compensation. The Board posted notice of a meeting to be held on December 9, 1996, to discuss “personnel matters” and “consult with attorney” in executive session. Swate was sent notice that his money demand would be considered at this meeting. The December 9,1996, meeting concluded in open session with no action taken on Swate’s money demand. The Board posted notice of a meeting on December 20, 1996, to discuss “personnel matters” in executive session. Swate’s money demand was again considered during this executive session. The meeting concluded in open session during which the Board voted to deny Swate’s request for additional compensation.

*696 Swate filed an application for writ of injunction requesting that the court enjoin the Hospital and other defendants 2 from violating the Texas Open Meetings Act by withholding compensation and benefits under the parties’ employment contract. Swate also sought judgment that his termination was void because the Board violated the Texas Open Meetings Act. Swate did not challenge the substantive basis of his termination, but challenged only the Hospital’s compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. The trial court held a bench trial, after which it orally denied the relief sought and dismissed the case. On April 18, 1997, before final judgment was entered, the Hospital filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs. The trial court entered final judgment on April 21, 1997, and granted the motion for attorney’s fees on May 7, 1997. The trial court filed findings of fact and conclusions of law on July 10,1997. Swate appeals the trial court’s judgment and award of attorney’s fees in eighteen points of error.

The Open Meetings Act

Under the Texas Open Meetings Act, “[ejvery regular, special, or called meeting of a governmental body shall be open to the public.” Tex Gov’t Code Ann. § 551.002 (Vernon 1994). A governmental body is excepted from holding an open meeting “to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee.” Id. at § 551.074. However, a final action or vote must be conducted in open session on any matter excepted from the open meeting requirement. Id. at § 551.102. Specific notice of any meeting by a governmental body must be posted in a place accessible to the general public at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Id. at §§ 551.041, 551.043. Actions “taken by a governmental body” in violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act are voidable by court action. Id. at § 551.141.

The parties do not dispute that (1) the actions of the Hospital and the Board are governed by the Texas Open Meetings Act; (2) Swate was an independent contractor; and (3) the Board did not take a formal vote regarding Swate’s employment status, in open or executive session.

Swate’s Termination

In his first and second points of error, Swate argues that the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support the trial court’s findings that the decision to terminate him was administrative, as decided by Arnold, and that the Board did not order Arnold to terminate Swate. In his third point of error, Swate contends the trial court’s conclusion that the Board did not take any action is incorrect as a matter of law. Swate argues that by expressing its views to Arnold regarding Swate’s employment, the Board essentially took action to terminate him. Swate relies on the memorandum written by Scarborough as evidence that the Board ordered Swate’s termination, even though it did not take an official vote. Swate contends the Board attempted to circumvent the purpose and intent of the Texas Open Meetings Act by discussing the matter, but not taking a formal vote to avoid “action.” Swate argues that the Board took a “straw vote” or “secret ballot,” which is prohibited under the Texas Open Meetings Act. Because the Board’s actions were taken in an illegal executive session, Swate contends the trial court erred by failing to declare his termination void. Swate contends the trial court’s findings to the contrary are not supported by the evidence, and he established as a matter of law that the Board acted to terminate him even though it never took an official vote.

The Hospital contends Arnold made this administrative decision, taking into account the Board’s will as expressed in the November 14th meeting. Because Scarborough was not present at this meeting, the Hospital argues that he had no personal knowledge regarding any discussions at the meeting, and, therefore, his memo carries little weight as to what actually transpired. Because the Board took no action at the November 14th meeting and had no authority to fire Swate, the Hospital argues there is no action for the court to declare void and that substantial *697 evidence supports the court’s findings and conclusions.

The trial court found that the Board did not terminate or order the termination of Swate’s employment with the Hospital, and the Board did not take any action in this regard at any “closed, special meeting.” The court found that Swate’s termination was an administrative decision.

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Bluebook (online)
966 S.W.2d 693, 1998 Tex. App. LEXIS 1710, 1998 WL 121816, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/swate-v-medina-community-hospital-texapp-1998.