Terry A. Leonard, P.A. and April Dawn Hain, M.D. v. Andre Glenn

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: August 17, 2011
• Docket: 04-08-00200-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION No. 04-08-00200-CV

TERRY A. LEONARD, P.A. and April Dawn Hain, M.D., Appellants

v.

Andre GLENN, Appellee

From the 224th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas Trial Court No. 2007-CI-11855 Honorable Barbara Hanson Nellermoe, Judge Presiding

Opinion by: Rebecca Simmons, Justice

Sitting: Sandee Bryan Marion, Justice Rebecca Simmons, Justice Marialyn Barnard, Justice

Delivered and Filed: August 17, 2011

REVERSED & RENDERED

We issued our first opinion in this case on May 20, 2009. While this case was on appeal

from this court, the supreme court decided Franka v. Velasquez, 332 S.W.3d 367 (Tex. 2011),

holding that for purposes of section 101.106(f) of the Civil Practice & Remedies Code, “a tort

action is brought ‘under’ the Texas Tort Claims Act, even if the government has not waived its

immunity for such actions.” Leonard v. Glenn, 332 S.W.3d 403, 403 (Tex. 2011) (per curiam)

(citing Franka, 332 S.W.3d at 370–71). In light of Franka, this case was remanded to us for 04-08-00200-CV

further proceedings. Id. The underlying background and procedural facts of this appeal are

outlined in our May 20, 2009 opinion. See Terry A. Leonard, P.A. v. Glenn, 293 S.W.3d 669

(Tex. App.—San Antonio 2009), rev’d sub nom. Leonard v. Glenn, 332 S.W.3d 403 (Tex. 2011).

Reconsidering this case in light of Franka, we reverse the trial court’s order and render judgment

dismissing Glenn’s claims.

Under section 101.106(f) of the Civil Practice & Remedies Code, a trial court shall

dismiss a suit against an employee of a governmental unit if the suit is “considered to be against

the employee in the employee’s official capacity only” and the plaintiff fails to file amended

pleadings naming the governmental unit as defendant within thirty days of a motion to dismiss.

TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 101.106(f) (West 2005). A suit is “considered to be

against the employee in the employee’s official capacity only” if the suit (1) “is filed against an

employee of a governmental unit based on conduct within the general scope of that employee’s

employment,” and (2) “could have been brought under [the Texas Tort Claims Act] against the

governmental unit.” Id.; Franka, 332 S.W.3d at 369.

We hold that the trial court erred in failing to dismiss Glenn’s suit against Leonard and

Dr. Hain. “There is no question that both Dr. Hain and Leonard were acting within the scope of

their employment.” Glenn, 293 S.W.3d at 681. Under Franka, Glenn’s negligence claims

against Leonard and Dr. Hain could have been brought under the Texas Tort Claims Act

regardless of whether the Act waives immunity. See Franka, 332 S.W.3d at 369. Thus, Glenn’s

claims are against Leonard and Dr. Hain in their official capacities only. See § 101.106(f);

Franka, 332 S.W.3d at 382–83. Because Glenn failed to amend his pleadings to name Bexar

County Hospital District d/b/a University Health Systems (UHS) as a defendant within thirty

days of Leonard’s and Dr. Hain’s motions to dismiss, the trial court should have granted the

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motions. See § 101.106(f); Franka, 332 S.W.3d at 370. We reverse the trial court’s orders and

render judgment dismissing Glenn’s claims.

Rebecca Simmons, Justice

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