University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio v. Bruen

92 S.W.3d 24, 2002 WL 1397085
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedAugust 15, 2002
Docket04-01-00520-CV, 04-01-00792-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 92 S.W.3d 24 (University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio v. Bruen) 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 Health Science Center at San Antonio v. Bruen, 92 S.W.3d 24, 2002 WL 1397085 (Tex. Ct. App. 2002).

Opinions

Opinion by:

SARAH B. DUNCAN, Justice.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio appeals the trial court’s denial of its pleas to the jurisdiction asserting sovereign immunity. We reverse the trial court’s orders and dismiss Bruen’s claims for lack of jurisdiction. Texas Dept. of Transp. v. Ramirez, 74 S.W.3d 864, 866 (Tex., 2002); Texas Dept. of Transp. v. City of Floresville Elec. Power & Light System, 53 S.W.3d 447, 457 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 2001, no pet.).

STANDARD OF REVIEW

We review a trial court’s ruling on a plea to the jurisdiction de novo. See Mayhew v. Town of Sunnyvale, 964 S.W.2d 922, 928 (Tex.1998), cert. denied, 526 U.S. 1144, 119 S.Ct. 2018, 143 L.Ed.2d 1030 (1999). In determining whether jurisdiction exists, we accept the allegations in the pleadings as true and construe them in favor of the pleader. Texas Ass’n of Bus. v. Texas Air Control Bd., 852 S.W.2d 440, 446 (Tex.1993). We must also consider evidence relevant to jurisdiction when it is necessary to resolve the jurisdictional issue raised. Bland I.S.D. v. Blue, 34 S.W.3d 547, 555 (Tex.2000).

Factual and Procedural Background

Linda Bruen sued the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSC) under the Texas Tort Claims Act (TTCA), alleging she slipped and fell off the unprotected edge of a ramp while attending a nursing seminar at UTHSC’s nursing school auditorium. UTHSC filed two pleas to the jurisdiction based on sovereign immunity. The first plea was denied in part, and the second was denied in its entirety. Specifically, the trial court denied UTHSC’s pleas with respect to Bruen’s allegations that UTHSC: (1) “[flailed to have the rope in place that was normally used to warn of and protect others from the ramp’s edge”; and(2) “[t]he ramp and entrance failed to comply with the American’s [sic][w]ith Disabilities Act.” UTHSC filed this interlocutory appeal.

Dangerous Condition of Ramp

UTHSC contends Bruen’s complaints relate to the dangerous condition of the ramp from which she fell. UTHSC therefore asserts it has immunity under section 101.056 of the TTCA, because the design of the auditorium and ramp is a discretionary act. We agree.

Applicable Law

Sovereign immunity is not waived under the TTCA for claims based on discretionary acts and omissions. Tex. Crv. PRAC. & Rem.Code Ann. § 101.056 (Vernon 1997). This discretionary function exception to the waiver of governmental immunity is designed to avoid judicial review of governmental policy decisions. State v. Terrell, 588 S.W.2d 784, 787 (Tex.1979). A governmental unit is immune from liability if damage or injury results from the formulation of policy. Id. Whether a government act is discretionary and within the exception to the waiver of immunity under the Act is a question of law. See State v. Miguel, 2 S.W.3d 249, 251 (Tex.1999) (per curiam).

Discussion

In her petition, Bruen alleged the design of the downward sloping auditorium ramp constituted a dangerous condition and unreasonable risk of harm, because [27]*27there was no differentiation in color between the carpet on the ramp and the carpet covering the rest of the room. She also claimed UTHSC failed to warn of the dangerous condition with a railing or other device to prevent someone from stepping off the side of the ramp. In essence, Bruen’s complaint is that the auditorium ramp as originally designed constituted a dangerous condition. “Texas courts have repeatedly held that ‘design decisions’ are discretionary, and therefore immunity is not waived under the Act.” Ramos v. Texas Dept. of Public Safety, 35 S.W.3d 723, 733 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2000, pet. denied). Therefore, immunity is not waived under the Act. Id.

Bruen, nevertheless, maintains that UTHSC had a legal duty under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to make structural changes to the facility after it was built, ie., installing edge protectors, curbs, walls, railings, or projection surfaces to prevent injuries like the one she suffered. Bruen argues that its failure to do so was negligence per se and actionable under the TTCA regardless of whether she qualifies as a disabled individual. In response, UTHSC argues that Titles I and II of the ADA do not waive a state’s immunity and, alternatively, that Bruen is not qualified to assert a claim under the ADA. We agree.

Title II of the ADA applicable to public entities provides that no “qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity.” 42 U.S.C.A. § 12132 (West 1995). “Thus, to establish a violation of Title II, [plaintiffs] must demonstrate: (1) that they are qualified individuals within the meaning of the Act; (2) that they are being excluded from participation in, or being denied benefits of, services, programs, or activities for which the [public entity] is responsible, or are otherwise being discriminated against ...; and (3) that such exclusion, denial of benefits, or discrimination is by reason of their disability.” Lightbourn v. County of El Paso, 118 F.3d 421, 428 (5th Cir.1997), cert. denied, Lightbourn v. Garza, 522 U.S. 1052, 118 S.Ct. 700, 139 L.Ed.2d 643 (1998). Without deciding whether the ADA waives UTHSC’s sovereign immunity under the TTCA, we conclude Bruen’s argument that the cited provisions of the ADA should apply regardless of whether she is disabled is without merit. We therefore sustain UTHSC’s first point of error.

FailuRE to Use Theater Rope

UTHSC next contends that Bruen’s contentions regarding its failure to use a theater rope allege a non-use of property, which is not actionable under the TTCA. We agree.

“UTHSC, as a branch of the University of Texas system, is a state agency shielded from suit and liability by sovereign immunity.” University of Texas Health Sci. Ctr. at San Antonio v. Mata & Bordini, Inc., 2 S.W.3d 312, 316 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 1999, pet. denied). “[F]or the Legislature to waive the State’s sovereign immunity, it must do so by clear an unambiguous language.” City of LaPorte v. Barfield, 898 S.W.2d 288, 291 (Tex.1995).

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University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio v. Bruen
92 S.W.3d 24 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2002)

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92 S.W.3d 24, 2002 WL 1397085, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/university-of-texas-health-science-center-at-san-antonio-v-bruen-texapp-2002.