University of Texas at Austin v. Hinton

822 S.W.2d 197, 1991 WL 259862
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJanuary 29, 1992
Docket3-90-226-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by74 cases

This text of 822 S.W.2d 197 (University of Texas at Austin v. Hinton) 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
University of Texas at Austin v. Hinton, 822 S.W.2d 197, 1991 WL 259862 (Tex. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

OPINION

POWERS, Justice.

Tracy Hinton sued the University of Texas at Austin and the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System to recover damages for injuries allegedly caused by their negligence. She recovered judgment on the jury verdict as provided in the Texas Tort Claims Act. 1 The University and the Board of Regents appeal. 2 Hinton appeals from that part of the trial-court judgment that denies her claim for prejudgment interest. We will affirm the judgment.

THE CONTROVERSY

In 1978 Hinton was an undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Austin. As she studied in the Academic Center on the University campus, a plastic grate from a light fixture fell about five feet and struck Hinton in the head. She received emergency treatment for cuts and bruises, *200 but did not require hospitalization or sutures.

Hinton sued the University and Board of Regents, alleging their negligent failure to secure the plastic grate proximately caused her physical and psychological injury. She complained in particular of continuous headaches, a diminished ability to concentrate, changes in personality, pain and suffering, and other problems.

The jury found that $800,000 would reasonably compensate Hinton for past and future injuries proximately caused by the negligence of the University. This sum, along with $394,847.33 in prejudgment interest, exceeded the $100,000 recovery limit imposed by the Texas Tort Claims Act. 3 The Defendants appeal from the resulting judgment awarding Hinton $100,000, court costs, and postjudgment interest. In a cross-appeal, Hinton complains the trial court erred in denying her claim for prejudgment interest.

THE PARTIES

The first jury question inquired concerning the negligence of “the Defendant.” The third question asked whether “the University of Texas” was negligent. In their first two points of error, the University and the Board of Regents allege the trial court erred in rendering a joint and several judgment against the Defendants based on these findings. The Defendants argue that the University and the Board of Regents are separate legal entities; therefore, to impose liability on both, Hinton had to obtain jury findings that each entity was negligent, and that the negligence of each was a proximate cause of her injury. The questions, as submitted, treated the University and Board of Regents as one entity.

We may not reverse the trial-court judgment on the ground that Hinton failed to obtain a separate set of negligence findings as to each Defendant. The record reveals that the parties uniformly pleaded the case just as the charge was submitted to the jury — that “the University of Texas” and “Defendant” were terms that encompassed both defendants. The jury finding of negligence on the part of the “Defendant” and “the University of Texas” necessarily encompassed both Defendants in their own usage of the term. Cf. Walsh v. University of Texas, 169 S.W.2d 993, 993 (Tex.Civ.App.1942, writ ref'd n.r.e.) (stating that the University and the Board of Regents are institutions of the state, and neither has any existence independent of the state; therefore, any suit against either is in reality a suit against the state).

If either contended for a misjoinder of parties, the obligation lay upon them to raise and present the contention before the case was submitted to the jury; failing that, any complaint was waived. Tex. R.Civ.P.Ann. 41 (Supp.1991); see Barton v. Farmers’ State Bank, 276 S.W. 177, 179 (Tex.1925) (An objection to misjoinder of parties “should be pleaded in limine ... or at the first reasonable opportunity in any event [or] the right to make it is waived.”); Dairyland County Mut. Ins. Co. v. Estate of Basnight, 557 S.W.2d 597, 602 (Tex.Civ.App.1977, writ ref’d n.r.e.) (where plaintiff sued the “estate” of the deceased instead of the administrator of the estate, the latter was bound by the judgment owing to his active participation in the ease, notwithstanding that the “estate” of a deceased person is not a legal entity). Neither Defendant assailed its joinder or that of the other throughout the course of trial; it is a matter raised for the first time on appeal. We hold the Defendants waived the complaint.

DISCUSSION OF INSURANCE

During the voir dire examination by Hinton’s attorney, a panel member asked about Hinton’s insurance coverage. The trial court instructed the panel that it was not to consider insurance for any purpose during the trial. Nevertheless, some members of the panel expressed concern that Hinton might be “double-dipping,” that is, *201 receiving payment from her insurance company while attempting to recover from the Defendants as well. Hinton’s attorney informed the panel that Hinton had insurance coverage at the time of the accident, but that she would have to repay the insurance company for any amounts recovered from the Defendants. Arguing that this left the impression that Hinton owed the insurance company money, the Defendants objected and moved for a mistrial. The trial judge overruled the Defendants’ motion for mistrial. In their third, fourth and fifth points of error, the Defendants complain the trial court erred by allowing Hinton’s attorney to discuss Hinton’s insurance coverage during the voir dire examination.

We do not agree that the trial court erred by allowing Hinton’s counsel to state the effect of insurance subrogation rights. It is true that a plaintiff may not inform the jury that the defendant has insurance coverage, and a defendant may not inform the jury that a plaintiff has insurance protection. Ford v. Carpenter, 147 Tex. 447, 216 S.W.2d 558, 559 (Tex.1949). We have found no authority, however, for the proposition that a party may not inform the jury of his or her own insurance coverage. We hold the trial court did not abuse its discretion by allowing Hinton’s attorney to inform the panel of the relative rights of Hinton and her insurance company.

Even if the trial court erred, we do not see how the Defendants were harmed. The mention of insurance before a jury is not always reversible error. Dennis v. Hulse, 362 S.W.2d 308, 309 (Tex.1962). The party appealing must show: (1) that the reference to insurance probably caused the rendition of an improper judgment in the case; and (2) that the probability that the mention of insurance caused harm exceeds the probability that the verdict was grounded on proper proceedings and evidence. Id.; cf. Reviea v. Marine Drilling Co., 800 S.W.2d 252, 256 (Tex.App.1990, writ denied) (holding that no harm was shown when a prospective juror spontaneously brought up the issue of a party’s insurance coverage). The logic behind the rule excluding evidence of liability insurance is that a jury is more likely to find against a party who is insured. Pride Transp. Co. v. Hughes,

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Bluebook (online)
822 S.W.2d 197, 1991 WL 259862, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/university-of-texas-at-austin-v-hinton-texapp-1992.