Opinion issued June 28, 2002
In The
Court of Appeals
For The
First District of Texas
NO. 01-00-00584-CV
FORMOSA PLASTICS CORPORATION, U.S.A., AND FORMOSA PLASTICS CORPORATION, TEXAS, Appellants & Cross-Appellees
V.
MATERIAL PARTNERSHIPS, INC., Appellee & Cross-Appellant
On Appeal from the 113th District Court
Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 9736829
O P I N I O N
Appellants and cross-appellees, Formosa Plastics Corporation, USA, and Formosa Plastics Corporation, Texas (collectively "Formosa"), challenge a judgment in favor of appellee and cross-appellant, Material Partnerships, Inc. ("MPI"), on MPI's claims for fraud and unjust enrichment. In its cross-appeal, MPI challenges the trial court's take-nothing judgment on MPI's claim for lost profits due to Formosa's product deficiencies and the trial court's award of attorney's fees to Formosa for breach of contract.
We review: (1) whether the evidence was legally and factually sufficient to support the trial court's findings of fraud and unjust enrichment; (2) whether the trial court erred by awarding MPI monetary damages up to June 1998, when it bargained for best prices and availability; (3) whether the trial court erred by denying MPI damages based on profits after June 1998; (4) whether the trial court erred by awarding Formosa attorney's fees that included time spent on the defense of MPI's tort claims; and (5) whether the trial court erred by denying MPI recovery for alleged lost profits (MPI's "Exhibit B" claims). We affirm in part, and reverse in part and remand in part.
Facts
MPI is in the business of recycling and trading the following plastic products: (1) certified prime resin; (2) wide-spec or off-grade resin; and (3) scrap. In 1994, MPI had an established base of domestic customers of scrap plastics. MPI also sold prime and wide-spec product exclusively for export. Formosa Plastics Corporation, USA, is the parent company that markets plastic products manufactured at various Formosa facilities throughout the United States. Formosa Plastics Corporation, Texas, owned and operated the Formosa facility at Point Comfort, Texas.
In late 1993, Formosa began producing polyolefins (1) at its Texas plant. The by-products of this production process included scrap plastics. Formosa's vice-president of sales and marketing at that time was Dick Heinle. Heinle was responsible for the sale of polyolefins, even though he lacked experience in that area.
MPI's president, Joel Burgower, met with Heinle in April 1994. At that meeting, Burgower agreed to evaluate Formosa's scrap streams at the Point Comfort facility. Shortly after Burgower completed his inspection at the Point Comfort facility, MPI began purchasing prime and wide-spec product for its export customers from Formosa, as well as smaller quantities of scrap.
In September 1994, Heinle contacted Burgower and offered MPI 100% of the scrap generated in certain areas of the Point Comfort facility. In the same conversation, Heinle mentioned that Formosa was interested in developing direct sales and asked for MPI's help in establishing a sales base in the domestic market. Heinle offered to allow MPI to assist Formosa in securing direct domestic customers in exchange for Formosa's giving MPI direct access and best prices for Formosa's export products. The parties agreed to this proposal and discussed working together in this manner for the next 20 or 25 years. The parties did not agree, however, to compensate Burgower or MPI by commission or an agent's fee.
Following the agreement, MPI identified its previously undisclosed customers to Formosa. Burgower introduced some of MPI's clients to Formosa representatives without compensation and often traveled across the country. (2) During this time, several Formosa officers referred to MPI as Formosa's "partner" and to the relationship between the two entities as a "partnership." Heinle referred to Burgower as his "partner" several times, and Burgower frequently introduced Heinle as his "partner" to new clients without eliciting any complaints. Burgower maintained that he introduced Formosa to his customers without seeking compensation because he believed MPI had a partnership with Formosa. Formosa's sales to customers referred to it by MPI amounted to $53,013,996.51 between 1994 and June 1998.
In late 1994, an accounting dispute that arose between MPI and Formosa, caused Formosa to believe that MPI was in arrears in payments to Formosa. While trying to reconcile MPI's account, the parties continued to conduct business with each other, and Formosa extended MPI a $250,000 line of credit. In March 1997, Formosa stopped providing export product to MPI. During the same year, MPI discovered it had not been receiving the best prices from Formosa.
In July 1997, the parties met, without success, to resolve the dispute over MPI's account. A few weeks later, MPI sued Formosa. MPI claimed Formosa sold defective products between 1994 and 1997 and sought damages. MPI also claimed it lost profits because three companies MPI had provided with Formosa's defective products stopped doing business with MPI. MPI also sought damages for claims made by third parties that had purchased Formosa's defective products. (3) Later, MPI claimed Formosa had committed fraud and had been unjustly enriched because Formosa's representation of a partnership caused MPI not to charge Formosa a commission for the clients it introduced to Formosa. Formosa counterclaimed for breach of contract and sought $611,110.47 for outstanding invoices, plus interest and attorney's fees.
After a bench trial, the trial court awarded MPI approximately $3.8 million on its fraud and unjust enrichment claims. The trial court awarded Formosa $598,000 on its counterclaim and applied this amount as an offset against MPI's award. The trial court also awarded Formosa $280,000 in attorney's fees. Formosa moved to modify the judgment and moved, in the alternative, for a new trial. The trial court denied the motion for new trial, but the trial court reduced MPI's award to $2.9 million. After applying the offset, MPI's award was approximately $2.44 million. MPI filed a motion to modify the reformed judgment, which the trial court denied.
Formosa's Appeal
In five issues, Formosa challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support the trial court's findings of fraud, unjust enrichment, and damages.
Standard of Review
When, as here, the appellate record contains a complete reporter's record of the trial, we review the trial court's findings of fact under the same standards for legal and factual sufficiency as govern review of jury findings. Min v. Avila, 991 S.W.2d 495, 500 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1999, no pet.).
A party challenging the legal sufficiency of an adverse finding on an issue on which it had the burden of proof must show that the evidence, as a matter of law, establishes all vital facts in support of the issue. Dow Chem. Co. v. Francis, 46 S.W.3d 237, 241 (Tex. 2001). In analyzing legal sufficiency, we must first examine the record for evidence that supports the finding while ignoring all evidence to the contrary. Id. If no evidence supports the finding, we then examine the entire record to determine if it establishes the contrary position as a matter of law. Id. The point of error should be sustained only if the contrary proposition is conclusively established. Id.
When a party attacks the factual sufficiency of an adverse finding on an issue on which it has the burden of proof, it must demonstrate on appeal that the adverse finding is against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence. Id. at 242. We must consider and weigh all of the evidence and can set aside a verdict only if the evidence was so weak or if the finding was so against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence that the finding was clearly wrong and unjust. Id.
- Existence of Partnership as Condition of Liability
In its first issue, Formosa contends the evidence was legally and factually insufficient to prove that Formosa had a partnership with MPI. A partnership consists of an express or implied agreement to the following: (1) a community of interest in the venture; (2) an agreement to share profits; (3) an agreement to share losses; and (4) a mutual right of control or management of the enterprise. Schlumberger Technology Corp. v. Swanson, 959 S.W.2d 171, 176 (Tex. 1997) (citing Coastal Plains Dev. Corp. v. Micrea, Inc., 572 S.W.2d 285, 287 (Tex. 1978)).
The trial court found that Formosa fraudulently induced the relationship between it and MPI, and did not find that Formosa and MPI entered into a legal partnership. Nevertheless, both parties agree that some type of business agreement existed between them. Because the trial court found only that Formosa misrepresented the existence of a partnership, we overrule appellant's first point of error to the extent that Formosa claims the trial court erred by not finding that the parties' relationship constituted a legal partnership.
- Fraudulent Misrepresentation
In its second and third issues, Formosa challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support the trial court's finding of fraudulent misrepresentation. The trial court found that Formosa committed fraud by falsely representing to MPI that the companies were "partners." The trial court further found that MPI reasonably relied on Formosa's misrepresentation to its detriment, and that Formosa intended that MPI rely on the misrepresentation. Finally, the trial court found that Formosa would be unjustly enriched unless it paid MPI five percent of the sales it generated from the customers MPI introduced to Formosa through June 5, 1998.
Fraud requires a false material misrepresentation that was either known to be false when made or was asserted without knowledge of its truth. Formosa Plastics Corp. USA v. Presidio Engineers and Contractors, Inc., 960 S.W.2d 41, 47 (Tex. 1998). Fraud also requires intent that another party rely on the misrepresentation and be injured by that reliance. Id. A misrepresentation is a false statement of fact or a promise of future performance made with no intent to perform. Spoljaric v. Pervical Tours, Inc., 708 S.W.2d 432, 434-35 (Tex. 1986). A promise of future performance made with no intention of performing at the time the promise was made is an actionable misrepresentation. Formosa, 960 S.W.2d at 48.
1. Misrepresentation
MPI presented written and oral communications by Formosa in which it referred to MPI as its partner. During one such communication, Gary Mills, a business director for Formosa, stated that MPI had been a good partner and that he looked forward to continuing the partnership for years to come. In another letter, Paul Huang, a vice-president of Formosa, wrote, "our partnership with you has always been based on more than you [sic] being an order taker." Additionally, one of Formosa's legal counsel referred to MPI and Formosa as "business partners." Finally, Heinle testified that he used the term partner when referring to MPI and was aware of the correspondence by his employees that referred to the partnership arrangement. This evidence is legally sufficient to support the trial court's finding that Formosa represented that a partnership existed between the parties.
In support of its factual sufficiency challenge, Formosa points out that Heinle's testimony that Formosa never represented that any special arrangement existed between Formosa and MPI. Although Heinle admitted he had used the term "partner," he also testified that he commonly uses that term to refer to suppliers and customers. Additionally, Kenneth Gross, who owned one of the "Exhibit A" companies that MPI introduced to Formosa, testified that although he did hear Burgower introduce MPI and Formosa as partners in Heinle's presence, people in the plastics industry commonly use the words "partner" and "partnership," but without implicating a legal relationship. We conclude this evidence does not so greatly preponderate against the evidence support the trial court's finding that Formosa represented a partnership existed between the parties, and therefore conclude the evidence is factually sufficient to support that finding.
2. Knowledge
We now turn to Formosa's legal and factual sufficiency challenge to the trial court's finding that Formosa made misrepresentations knowingly or with reckless disregard for the truth.
The evidence shows that Formosa and MPI agreed that MPI would give Formosa its customer list and that MPI would receive best price and availability from Formosa as compensation. There was also evidence that Formosa obtained approximately 59 million dollars worth of business without incurring any substantial expense. Considering only the evidence tending to support the verdict, there is sufficient evidence to support the trial court's finding that Formosa either knew its representations of an agreement were false or acted with reckless disregard of the truth to whether its representations were false.
In support of its factual sufficiency challenge, Formosa points to Heinle's testimony that he denied he had any special arrangements with Mr. Burgower regarding price or anything else. Heinle more specifically denied that he agreed MPI would bring domestic sales to Formosa in exchange for Formosa's available export product at its best price. This evidence does not so greatly preponderate against the evidence to support the finding that Formosa either knew its representations of an agreement were false or acted with reckless disregard of the truth to whether its representations were false. Therefore, we conclude the evidence is factually sufficient to support the trial court's finding.
- Intent
Formosa challenged the sufficiency of the evidence to support the trial court's finding of Formosa's intent necessary to MPI's claim for fraudulent misrepresentation. Formosa claims there was no evidence of its officers' intent at the time the representations were made to MPI. Formosa did offer evidence that it intended to fulfill its duties under the agreement with MPI, which Heinle denied existed, as support for its lack of intent not to perform. A party's denial that he ever made a promise, however, is a factor that can support no intent to perform when the promise was made. Spoljaric, 708 S.W.2d at 435. Fraudulent intent, which is difficult to prove, is usually established by circumstantial evidence. Frost Nat'l Bank v. Heafner, 12 S.W.3d 104, 112 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2000, no pet.). Moreover, to be found liable for fraudulent misrepresentation, a party must have no intent to perform when a promise is made, although intent may be inferred from the party's subsequent acts after the representation is made. Spoljaric, 708 S.W.2d at 434. Intent is a fact question vested with the trier of fact because it depends on the credibility of the witnesses and their testimony. See id.
The evidence is legally sufficient to support the trial court's finding of fraudulent intent. Moreover, Formosa's evidence does not so greatly preponderate against the trial court's finding of fraudulent intent as to render the trial court's finding clearly wrong and manifestly unjust. Accordingly, the evidence was also factually sufficient to support the trial court's finding.
4. Reliance
To establish fraudulent misrepresentation, a party must also prove that it relied on the misrepresentation to its detriment. Formosa Plastics, 960 S.W.2d at 47. In this case, the trial court found that Formosa intended to induce MPI's reliance on the agreement between them in order to gain access to MPI's customers and knowledge of the plastics business, and that MPI reasonably and justifiably relied on Formosa's misrepresentations.
Formosa does not contest MPI's claim that it relied on the existence of a business agreement, but challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support the trial court's finding that the reliance was reasonable. MPI offered evidence that Formosa gained 59 million in sales from the customer MPI introduced to Formosa. MPI also showed that the customary compensation for this service is 5% commission on gross sales price. MPI did not charge the 5% fee because it relied on the agreement between MPI and Formosa that was intended to compensate MPI for the service. MPI offered evidence that it believed it received best prices for some amount of time, but that Formosa stopped making the product available at best prices. As a result, MPI was not fully compensated for its service to Formosa. Moreover, MPI incurred expenses without compensation because it was relying on the partnership. The evidence is legally sufficient to support the trial court's finding that MPI relied on Formosa's misrepresentations and suffered damages as a result of that reliance, and does not so greatly preponderate against that finding as to render it manifestly unjust.
We overrule appellant's second and third issues on appeal.
- Unjust Enrichment
In issues four and five, Formosa challenges the trial court's finding that Formosa was unjustly enriched and the resulting award of damages to MPI. Formosa contends that a valid agreement governing the terms of compensation precludes recovery for unjust enrichment.
The principle of unjust enrichment creates an implied obligation when a party is unjustly enriched in a manner not governed by binding contract. Burlington Northern Railroad Co. v. Southwestern Electric Power Co., 925 S.W.2d 92, 97 (Tex. App.--Texarkana 1996), aff'd, 966 S.W.2d 467 (Tex. 1998).
Recovery for unjust enrichment is appropriate when an agreement is unenforceable, invalid, not fully performed, or void for other legal reasons. Burlington, 925 S.W.2d at 97. Unjust enrichment applies the principles of restitution to disputes that are not governed by contract and is usually found when a party obtains a benefit from another by fraud, duress, or the taking of an undue advantage. Id. at 97. The trial court found that Formosa's fraudulent misrepresentations unjustly enriched Formosa to MPI's detriment and thereby awarded monetary compensation based on the reasonable value of the services MPI rendered to Formosa.
Formosa argues that the finding of unjust enrichment was improper because: (1) the trial court's finding of fraudulent misrepresentation was improper; (2) MPI received what it bargained for, namely best prices and availability for a period of time; and (3) the existence of a binding agreement bars equitable relief under the theory of unjust enrichment.
Because we have already held there was sufficient evidence to support the trial court's finding of fraud, Formosa's first argument, that the trial court's finding of fraudulent misrepresentation was unjust, necessarily fails. Likewise, because we have held that there was no binding agreement, Formosa's third argument fails.
1. MPI Allegedly Received the Benefit of the Bargain
Formosa's second argument is two-pronged. Formosa first contends that, because MPI received best prices and availability for some period of time, it received the benefit of its bargain. Formosa did not present any evidence, however, to support this theory. The nature of the agreement required MPI to disclose its customer list immediately, and Formosa agreed to compensate MPI in the form of best prices and availability for 20-25 years. MPI would not have been fully compensated even if Formosa offered it best prices for three years. Further, Formosa did not present any evidence to show what, if any, compensation MPI did receive for its services by way of best prices that would be necessary to adjust the award for the reasonable value of the service. When one has received or used something that warranted compensation to another, the remedy is money payment for the value of the thing given or the benefit received. City of Harker Heights v. Sun Meadows Land, Ltd., 830 S.W.2d 313, 319 (Tex. App.--Austin 1992, no writ).
Both Formosa and MPI offered evidence that supported the trial court's finding that the customary value of MPI's service is a 5% commission of the gross sale price. The evidence shows that Formosa's sales to "Exhibit A" companies up to June 1998 were approximately 59 million dollars. Based on that number, MPI's damages expert applied the 5% commission to arrive at MPI's damages. The trial court agreed with the damage expert's method of calculation up to June 1998 and awarded damages accordingly. The trier of fact has discretion to award damages within the range of evidence presented. City of Houston v. Harris County Outdoor Advertising Assoc., 879 S.W.2d 322, 334 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1994, writ denied). Based on the evidence presented, the trial court assessed a reasonable award of damages.
- Monetary Compensation Improper
Second, Formosa cites Peko Oil USA v. Evans to supports its contention that, because MPI bargained for a business advantage, monetary compensation is improper. 800 S.W.2d 572, 574 (Tex. App.--Dallas 1990, pet. denied). In Peko Oil, Sunbelt Oil introduced Peko Oil to the Texaco Program, which resulted in Peko Oil's entering the Texaco Program. Id. at 574. After Peko Oil signed a letter of intent with Texaco, Sunbelt Oil demanded to become Peko Oil's exclusive gas marketing agent. Id. Peko Oil refused Sunbelt's demand, but offered an alternate arrangement. Id. Sunbelt Oil refused and sought cash value of the services allegedly provided under the theory of quantum meruit. Id. at 574-75.
Under the principle of quantum meruit, the plaintiff must show that the party sought to be charged had reasonable notice that the plaintiff sought to be paid. Id. at 575. The Peko Oil court held that because Sunbelt Oil was seeking a future business advantage, not compensation, Peko Oil did not have proper notice that Sunbelt Oil expected to be paid, which precluded recovery under the theory of quantum meruit. Id. at 567-577. Peko Oil can be distinguished in two fundamental respects.
First, Sunbelt Oil provided Peko Oil a service before discussing compensation, which would suggests that the service was provided gratuitously. See id. at 577. In this case, however, MPI did not release its customer list to Formosa until an agreement ensured that MPI would be compensated for this service. There is no evidence that MPI gave its personal customer list to Formosa gratuitously.
Second, Sunbelt Oil was attempting to recover under the equitable remedy of quantum meruit, a theory that does not involve the issue of fraud. See id. Quantum meruit is based on a promise implied in law to pay for beneficial services rendered and knowingly accepted. Id. at 575. An element that must be proved to recover under quantum meruit is that the person sought to be charged must have been reasonably notified that the plaintiff, in performing such services, was expecting to be paid by the person sought to be charged. Id. Because Sunbelt Oil was seeking a future business opportunity, and not compensation, Peko Oil was not put on notice that Sunbelt Oil expected to be paid. See Peko Oil USA, 800 S.W.2d at 576-77.
Quantum meruit is an equitable remedy, grounded in principles of unjust enrichment, but is only one of a number of equitable remedies available. City of Harker Heights, Tex. v. Sun Meadows, Ltd., 830 S.W.2d 213 (Tex. App.--Austin 1992, no writ). Unavailability of quantum meruit does not preclude other remedies. See id. Because MPI did not attempt to recover under the principle of quantum meruit, but under an alternative equitable theory of unjust enrichment, Peko Oil does not apply.
MPI is not precluded from recovering under a theory of unjust enrichment because the agreement between MPI and Formosa is not a valid agreement. The trial court did not err, therefore, in awarding damages based on the theory of unjust enrichment. We overrule Formosa's fourth and fifth issues.
MPI's Cross-Appeal
MPI brings a cross-appeal, claiming that: (1) the trial court erred by finding that MPI suffered no recoverable damages after June 1998, based on its fraud and unjust enrichment claims; (2) the trial court erred by awarding Formosa attorney's fees without requiring Formosa to segregate the fees corresponding to defending MPI's claims from the fees corresponding to successfully prosecuting Formosa's counterclaim; and (3) the trial court erred by finding that MPI did not suffer any damages as a result of freight overcharges, lost or damaged freight, or breach of contract that resulted from Formosa's actions.
- MPI's Damages
In its first cross-issue, MPI contends the trial court erroneously cut off MPI's damages after June 1998. The trial court found the reasonable value of the unjust benefit to be 5% of the total sales by Formosa to companies introduced by MPI through June 5, 1998. MPI was awarded approximately 2.9 million dollars in damages. MPI argues that the damages should not have stopped in June 1998, because MPI presented uncontroverted expert testimony establishing damages up to the time of trial. MPI first addresses the trial court's refusal to award past damages from June 1998 up to the time of trial, September 1999, and then MPI turns to future damages.
1. Past Damages: June 1998-September 1999
MPI contends the trial court erred in failing to award MPI past damages from June 1998 to the date of trial in September 1999, as extrapolated by its expert witness and based on the figures from April 1994 through June 1998. MPI asserts that, because the expert testimony it offered was unchallenged and uncontroverted, the trial court was not free to disregard the expert testimony.
The trial court properly awarded MPI damages through June 1998. Recovery of lost profits must be shown with a reasonable degree of certainty, and opinions or estimates must be based on objective facts, figures, or data from which lost profits can be ascertained. Holt Atherton Indus. v. Heine, 835 S.W.2d 80, 84 (Tex. 1992). Although MPI bases its extrapolations on the figures of sales to Exhibit A customers through 1998, sales up to the time of trial could have been proven by exact figures from Formosa. It was reasonable for the court to require actual data instead of extrapolations calculated by MPI's expert witness. In cases involving lost earnings, the burden of proof for past earnings is greater than that for future earning capacity, because evidence of plaintiff's actual past earnings is certain. Strauss v. Continental Airlines, Inc., 67 S.W.3d 428, 435 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 2002, no pet.). Similarly, lost profits could have been accurately shown from actual sales from June 1998 until the time of trial. Therefore, MPI had a higher burden of proof. Because accurate evidence was available, the trial court correctly refused to consider extrapolations based on past profits.
MPI relies on cases that do not involve the reasonably certain establishment of past lost profits. See Ralston Purina Co. v. Barkley Feed & Seed Co., 722 S.W.2d 431, 434 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1986) rev'd on other grounds, 744 S.W.2d 932 (Tex. 1988); Mack v. Moore, 669 S.W.2d 415, 419 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1984, no writ); Schwartz v. Pinnacle Comm., 944 S.W.2d 427, 433-36 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1987, no writ). Furthermore, expert testimony may be conclusive if the nature of the subject matter requires that the fact finder be guided solely by the opinion of experts, and the evidence is otherwise credible and free from contradiction. Mack, 669 S.W.2d at 419. Because MPI could have presented evidence regarding the actual sales Formosa made to the "Exhibit A" companies between June 1998 and the time of trial, the nature of the subject matter did not demand that the fact finder be guided soley by the opinion of experts. For these reasons, the trial court properly found that lost profits were not shown with reasonable certainty from June 1998 until the time of trial.
2. Future Damages: September 1999-2004
MPI contends the trial court erred by not allowing MPI to recover future damages because the expert testimony was clear, direct, positive and uncontroverted.
Our review of the record indicates that MPI's expert witness did not show that lost profits extrapolated through the year 2004 would be reasonable and adequate. Because the expert did not provide a basis for extrapolating a 20- to 25-year agreement through the year 2004, the trial court properly determined that MPI's award of damages should not be extrapolated through the year 2004 .
We overrule MPI's first cross-issue.
- Attorney's Fees
In its second cross-issue, MPI asserts that the trial court erred by awarding Formosa attorney's fees both for successfully prosecuting its counterclaim for breach of contract and for unsuccessfully defending MPI's action. The trial court awarded Formosa $280,000 in attorney's fees. That amount represented compensation for the hours Formosa's law firm spent defending against MPI's fraud and unjust enrichment claims, as well as the hours the firm spent prosecuting Formosa's counterclaim for breach of contract. The trial court did not ask that Formosa to segregate the fees corresponding to defending MPI's claims from the fees corresponding to successfully prosecuting Formosa's counterclaim.
As a general rule, the party seeking to recover attorney's fees carries the burden of proof. Stewart Title Guar. Co. v. Sterling, 822 S.W.2d 1, 10 (Tex. 1991). Attorney's fees are not recoverable from an opposing party unless provided for by statute or by contract between the parties. Travelers Indem. Co. of Connecticut v. Mayfield, 923 S.W.2d 590, 593 (Tex. 1996). Section 38.001 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code authorizes recovery of attorney's fees for suits on a contract, but does not apply to defense of actions for fraud and unjust enrichment. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 38.001 (Vernon 1997). (4)
A party is generally required to segregate fees for claims for which fees are recoverable from fees associated with claims that do not permit recovery. Stewart Title, 822 S.W.2d at 10-11. "A recognized exception to this duty to segregate arises when the attorney's fees rendered are in connection with claims arising out of the same transaction and are so interrelated that their 'prosecution or defense entails proof or denial of essentially the same facts.'" Id. at 11; Flint & Assoc. v. Intercontinental Pipe & Steel, Inc., 739 S.W.2d 622, 624-25 (Tex. App.--Dallas 1987, writ denied). When causes of action involved depend on the same set of facts or circumstances and are thus intertwined to the point of being inseparable, the party suing for attorney's fees may recover the entire amount covering all claims. Stewart Title, 822 S.W.2d at 11 (emphasis added).
In moving for a partial new trial, Formosa claimed that "MPI's unjust enrichment claim and award for commissions do not share the same facts and issues as Formosa's counterclaim to collect an overdue debt." Formosa also contends, and we agree, that its own counterclaim is "factually and legally separable" from MPI's claim. The record shows that Formosa's counterclaim for a breach of contract arising out of unpaid invoices does not share the same facts and issues as MPI's claims for fraud and unjust enrichment. Accordingly, the exception articulated in Stewart Title does not apply, and the trial court erred by not asking Formosa to segregate its attorney's fees. (5)
Because the determination of reasonable attorney's fees is a question for the trier of fact, we remand the cause to the trial court for determination of what portion of the $280,000 awarded to Formosa as attorney's fees is attributable to the successful prosecution of Formosa's counterclaim. See Stewart Title, 822 S.W.2d at 12. The portion of the $280,000 that corresponds to Formosa's defense of MPI's unjust enrichment action cannot be awarded to Formosa and must be deleted. See id.
We sustain MPI's second cross-issue.
- MPI's "Exhibit B" Claims
In its third cross-issue, MPI challenges the findings of the trial court that MPI did not suffer any damages as a result of freight overcharges, lost or damaged freight, or breach of contract. MPI challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support the trial court's findings on MPI's exhibit B claims. Accordingly, we apply the usual standard of review. See Dow Chemical, 46 S.W.3d at 241-42. MPI claims that it presented evidence to prove it was entitled to damages while Formosa offered no controverting evidence. Burgower testified that MPI suffered damages because Formosa either did not perform its part of the agreement with MPI, performed in an untimely fashion, or rendered substandard performance. During Burgower's cross-examination. Formosa repeatedly challenged Burgower on the grounds he did not support his testimony with documentary evidence. Formosa did not offer any controverting evidence to Burgower's claims. The trial court found that MPI did not prove the alleged damages on any of those claims. (6)
Although supporting documentation may affect the weight of the evidence, it is generally not necessary to produce, in court, the documents that support opinions or estimates of damages arising from lost profits. See Holt Atherton Indus., Inc. v. Heine, 835 S.W.2d 80, 84 (Tex. 1992). Accordingly, although Burgower did not support his testimony on transaction numbers 5, 6, 13, 14, 16, 17, 22, 30, and 33 with documentary evidence, his lack of documentation did not automatically invalidate his claims for lost profits damages, but might have affected the weight the trial court placed on this evidence.
The trier of fact, here the trial judge, is the sole determiner of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony, and we may not substitute our judgment for the fact finder simply because we may disagree with the fact finder's conclusions. Pool v. Ford Motor Co., 715 S.W.2d 629, 635 (Tex. 1986). Because they can observe a witness's demeanor, trial courts are given great latitude to believe or disbelieve a witness's testimony, particularly when the witness is interested in the outcome. In re Doe 4, 19 S.W.3d 322, 325 (Tex. 2000). Moreover, a trial judge can reject the uncontroverted testimony of an interested witness unless it is readily controvertible, clear, positive, direct, and there are no circumstances that tend to discredit or impeach it. Id.; Lofton v. Texas Brine Corp., 777 S.W.2d 384, 386 (Tex. 1989).
MPI's lack of written documentation to corroborate Burgower's verbal testimony as to transaction numbers 5, 6, 13, 14, 16, 17, 22, 30, and 33 could have caused the trial court to question the veracity Burgower's testimony and to discredit his testimony. See Heine, 835 S.W.2d at 84. It was, therefore, within the province of the trial judge as the sole fact finder, to reject Burgower's uncontroverted testimony. See id. Accordingly, the evidence was sufficient to support the trial court's findings of fact relating to transaction numbers 5, 6, 13, 14, 16, 17, 22, 30, and 33. (7)
We overrule MPI's third cross-issue.
Conclusion
We affirm the part of the trial court's judgment that awarded MPI damages for fraud and unjust enrichment. We reverse the part of the trial court's judgment that awarded Formosa attorney's fees without requiring Formosa to segregate the fees corresponding to defending MPI's claims from the fees corresponding to successfully prosecuting Formosa's counterclaim. We remand the cause to the trial court for a hearing to determine the portion of Formosa's attorney fees that are recoverable for services rendered to prosecute Formosa's counterclaim successfully . We affirm that part of the trial court's judgment finding that MPI did not suffer any damages as a result of freight overcharges, lost or damaged freight, or breach of contract that resulted from Formosa's actions.
Tim Taft
Justice
Panel consists of Justices Taft, Wilson, (8) and Price. (9)
Justice Wilson dissents without opinion.
Do not publish. Tex. R. App. P. 47.
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