ACCEPTED
14-14-00731-CV
FOURTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS
HOUSTON, TEXAS
3/19/2015 4:08:45 PM
CHRISTOPHER PRINE
CLERK
NO. 14-14-00731-CV
FILED IN
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE 14th COURT OF APPEALS
HOUSTON, TEXAS
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
3/19/2015 4:08:45 PM
CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE
Clerk
JOSEPH PRESSIL,
Appellant,
v.
JASON A. GIBSON, JASON A. GIBSON, P.C. D/B/A THE GIBSON LAW
FIRM, CLIFFORD D. PEEL, II AND ANDREW C. SMITH,
Appellees.
ON APPEAL FROM THE 55TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COURT OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
BRIEF FOR APPELLEES JASON A. GIBSON, ET AL.
Richard A. Sheehy
State Bar No. 18178600
Sheehy Ware & Pappas, P.C.
2500 Two Houston Center
909 Fannin Street
Houston, Texas 77010-1003
(713) 951-1000 – Telephone
(713) 951-1199 – Facsimile
E-mail: rsheehy@sheehyware.com
Attorneys for Defendants and Appellees
Jason A. Gibson, Jason A. Gibson, P.C.,
The Gibson Law Firm, Clifford D. Peel, II
Oral Argument Requested and Andrew C. Smith
Identity of Parties and Counsel
Pursuant to Rule 38.2(a), Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, the following
is a list of all parties and counsel involved in this case. This list is included so that
the Justices of this Court may evaluate possible disqualification or recusal from
participation in the decision of this case on appeal:
Trial and Appellate Counsel for Plaintiff and Appellant Joseph Pressil:
Lance Christopher Kassab
State Bar No. 00794070
Email: lck@texaslegalmalpractice.com
David Eric Kassab
State Bar No. 24071351
Email: dek@texaslegalmalpractice.com
The Kassab Law Firm
1420 Alabama
Houston, Texas 77004
Telephone: (713) 522-7400
Facsimile: (713) 522-7410
Trial and Appellate Counsel for Defendants and Appellees Jason A. Gibson,
Jason A. Gibson, P.C. d/b/a The Gibson Law Firm, Clifford D. Peel, II and
Andrew C. Smith
George A. Pappas
State Bar No. 15454800
Email: gpappas@sheehyware.com
Charmaine A. Ferguson
State Bar No. 24012616
Email: cferguson@sheehyware.com
ii
Richard A. Sheehy
State Bar No. 18178600
Email: rsheehy@sheehyware.com
Sheehy, Ware & Pappas, P.C.
2500 Two Houston Center
909 Fannin Street
Houston, Texas 77010
Telephone: (713) 951-1000
Facsimile: (713) 951-1199
iii
Table of Contents
Identity of Parties and Counsel ................................................................................. ii
Table of Contents ..................................................................................................... iv
Table of Authorities ...................................................................................................v
Statement of the Case.................................................................................................2
Statement Regarding Oral Argument ........................................................................3
Issues Presented .........................................................................................................3
Statement of Facts ......................................................................................................3
Summary of the Argument.........................................................................................8
Argument..................................................................................................................10
I. Defendants were not required to present any expert testimony in
support of their motion for summary judgment on professional
negligence. ...........................................................................................12
II. Plaintiff could not recover damages in the underlying case. ..............14
III. Plaintiff may not recover against the lawyers because the clinic
and the laboratory owed him no duty. .................................................26
Conclusion ...............................................................................................................32
Certificate of Compliance ........................................................................................32
Certificate of Service ...............................................................................................33
iv
Table of Authorities
Cases
Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld v. National Development
& Research Corp.,
299 S.W.3d 106 (Tex. 2009) ..............................................................................11
Alexander v. Turtur & Associates,
146 S.W.3d 113 (Tex. 2004) ....................................................................... 10, 13
Ballesteros v. Jones,
985 S.W.2d 485 (Tex. App. – San Antonio 1998, pet. denied) ..........................11
Bird v. W.C.W.,
868 S.W.2d 767 (Tex. 1994) ..............................................................................27
Brewer v. Standefer,
366 S.W.3d 326 (Tex. App. – Dallas 2012, no pet.) ............................................7
Burns v. Rochon,
190 S.W.3d 263 (Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.) .......................31
Carr v. Brasher,
776 S.W.2d 567 (Tex. 1989) ..............................................................................26
City of Tyler v. Likes,
962 S.W.2d 489 (Tex. 1997) ..............................................................................23
Cockrum v. Baumgartner,
447 N.E.2d 385 (Ill. App. 1983), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 846 (1983) .................22
Cosgrove v. Grimes,
774 S.W.2d 662 (Tex. 1989) ..............................................................................12
Crawford v. Kirk,
929 S.W.2d 633 (Tex. App. – Texarkana 1996, writ denied) ..................... 16, 24
Del Lago Partners v. Smith,
307 S.W.3d 762 (Tex. 2010) ....................................................................... 24, 25
v
Diversicare General Partner v. Rubio,
185 S.W.3d 842 (Tex. 2005) ..............................................................................30
Diversified Financial Systems v. Hill, Heard, O’Neal, Gilstrap & Goetz,
63 S.W.3d 795 (Tex. 2001)...................................................................................2
Escabedo v. Haygood,
283 S.W.3d 3 (Tex. App. – Tyler 2009), affirmed,
356 S.W.3d 390 (Tex. 2011) ..............................................................................14
Farmer v. Ben E. Keith Co.,
919 S.W.2d 171 (Tex. App. – Fort Worth 1996, no writ) ..................................26
FFE Transportation Services v. Fulgham,
154 S.W.3d 84 (Tex. 2004).................................................................................27
Fifth Club Inc. v. Ramirez,
196 S.W.3d 788 (Tex. 2006) ..............................................................................23
Flanary v. Mills,
150 S.W.3d 785 (Tex. App. – Austin 2004, pet. denied) ...................................14
Flax v. McNew,
896 S.W.2d 839 (Tex. App. – Waco 1995, no writ) .................................... 16, 17
Fleming v. Kenney ex rel. Shelton,
395 S.W.3d 917 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.] 2013, pet. denied) ..............14
Ford Motor Co. v. Miles,
967 S.W.2d 377 (Tex. 1998) ..............................................................................16
Freeman v. City of Pasadena,
744 S.W.2d 923 (Tex. 1988) ..............................................................................23
Garwood v. Locke,
552 S.W.2d 892 (Tex. Civ. App. – San Antonio 1977, writ ref’d n.r.e.) ...........16
Greenberg Traurig v. Moody,
161 S.W.3d 56 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, no pet.).......................14
Hays v. Hall,
488 S.W.2d 412 (Tex. 1972) ..............................................................................15
vi
Hickman v. Myers,
632 S.W.2d 869 (Tex. App. – Fort Worth 1982, writ ref’d n.r.e.) .............. 17, 21
Hoover v. Larkin,
196 S.W.3d 227 (Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet. denied) ................10
Horizon Shipbuilding v. Blyn II Holding,
324 S.W.3d 840 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.] 2010, no pet.) ....................31
Hunsaker v. Fustok,
238 S.W.3d 421 (Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, no pet.) .........................7
In re: H.C.S.,
219 S.W.3d 33 (Tex. App. – San Antonio 2006, no pet.) ..................................29
Jacobs v. Theimer,
519 S.W.2d 846 (Tex. 1975) ....................................................................... 15, 24
Johnston v. Sibley,
558 S.W.2d 135 (Tex. Civ. App. – Tyler 1977, writ ref’d n.r.e.).......................28
K.B. v. N.B.,
811 S.W.2d 634 (Tex. App. – San Antonio 1991, writ denied),
cert. denied, 504 U.S. 918 (1992) .......................................................................31
Kelley & Witherspoon, LLP v. Hooper,
401 S.W.3d 841 (Tex. App. – Dallas 2013, no pet.) ................................... 10, 11
Moore v. Lillebo,
722 S.W.2d 683 (Tex. 1986) ..............................................................................23
Nelson v. Krusen,
678 S.W.2d 918 (Tex. 1984) ....................................................................... 16, 24
Park v. Exxon Mobil Corp.,
429 S.W.3d 142 (Tex. App. – Dallas 2014, pet. denied)....................................13
Parkway Co. v. Woodruff,
901 S.W.2d 434 (Tex. 1995) ..............................................................................23
Phillips v. Irons,
2005 WL 4694579 (Ill. App. 2005) ....................................................................31
vii
Planned Parenthood v. Danforth,
428 U.S. 52 (1976) ..............................................................................................29
Progressive County Mutual Ins. Co. v. Delgado,
335 S.W.3d 689 (Tex. App. – Amarillo 2011, pet. denied) ...............................14
Ramirez v. Carreras,
10 SW.3d 757 (Tex. App. – Corpus Christi 2000, pet. denied) .........................28
Reagan v. Vaughn,
804 S.W.2d 463 (Tex. 1990) ..............................................................................16
Rose v. First American Title Ins. Co.,
907 S.W.2d 639 (Tex. App. – Corpus Christi 1995, no writ) ............................31
Salas v. Gamboa,
760 S.W.2d 838 (Tex. App. – San Antonio 1988, no writ) ................................27
Service Corp International v. Guerra,
348 S.W.3d 221 (Tex. 2011) ..............................................................................23
Silva v. Howe,
608 S.W.2d 840 (Tex. Civ. App. – Corpus Christi 1980, writ ref’d n.r.e.) ........17
St. John v. Pope,
901 S.W.2d 420 (Tex. 1995) ..............................................................................27
Sutkin v. Beck,
629 S.W.2d 131 (Tex. App. – Dallas 1982, writ ref’d n.r.e.) ................ 15, 17, 21
Taylor v. Alonso, Cersonsky & Garcia,
395 S.W.3d 178 (Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.] 2012, no pet.) .......................11
Terrell v. Garcia,
496 S.W.2d 124 (Tex. Civ. App – San Antonio 1973, writ ref’d n.r.e.),
cert. denied, 415 U.S. 927 (1974) ................................................................ 15, 17
Timberwalk Apartments v. Cain,
972 S.W.2d 749 (Tex. 1998) ..............................................................................13
Tobin v. Grossman,
24 N.Y.2d 609, 249 N.E.2d 419 (1969)..............................................................24
viii
Torrington Co. v. Stutzman,
46 S.W.3d 829 (Tex. 2000).................................................................................27
Trammell Crow Central Texas v. Gutierrez,
267 S.W.3d 9 (Tex. 2008)...................................................................................13
Turtle Healthcare Group v. Linan,
337 S.W.3d 865 (Tex. 2011) ..............................................................................30
Unifund CCR Partners v. Weaver,
262 S.W.3d 796 (Tex. 2008) ..............................................................................12
Walden v. Affiliated Computer Services,
97 S.W.3d 303 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. denied) ................13
Washington v. Glucksberg,
521 U.S. 702 (1997) ............................................................................................30
Williams v. Briscoe,
137 S.W.3d 120 (Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, no pet.) .......................11
Wilson v. Ferguson,
747 S.W.2d 499 (Tex. App. – Tyler 1988, writ denied).....................................23
Zapata v. Rosenfeld,
811 S.W.2d 182 (Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.] 1991, writ denied)......... 15, 17
Statutes
TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 74.001(a)(2)(13) ..................................................28
TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 74.351....................................................................7
TEX. FAM. CODE § 160.7031 ....................................................................................28
TEX. FAM. CODE § 160.7031(b) ...............................................................................28
TEX. FAM. CODE § 160.704(a) .................................................................................28
TEX. FAM. CODE § 160.702 ......................................................................................28
TEX. FAM. CODE § 160.703 ......................................................................................29
ix
Rules
TEX. R. APP. P. 9.4(i)(3) ...........................................................................................32
TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(g) ...............................................................................................4
TEX. R. APP. P. 38.2(a) ...............................................................................................2
TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a .................................................................................................12
TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(c).............................................................................................12
Other Authorities
20 Dorsaneo, Texas Litigation Guide § 322.02[1][c] ..............................................11
4 Mallen & Smith, Legal Malpractice § 33.17 (2007) ............................................13
Adams, From Babel to Reason: An Examination of the Duty Issue,
31 McGeorge L. Rev. 25, 53 (1999) ........................................................................24
Annot., “Recoverability of cost of raising normal healthy child born
as a result of physician’s negligence.” 89 A.L.R. 4th 632 (1991 and Supp.) ...........17
Annot., “Rights and Obligations Resulting from Human Artificial
Insemination,” 83 A.L.R. 4th 295 .............................................................................29
x
NO. 14-14-00731-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
JOSEPH PRESSIL,
Appellant,
v.
JASON A. GIBSON, JASON A. GIBSON, P.C. D/B/A THE GIBSON LAW
FIRM, CLIFFORD D. PEEL, II AND ANDREW C. SMITH,
Appellees.
ON APPEAL FROM THE 55TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COURT OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
BRIEF FOR APPELLEES JASON A. GIBSON, ET AL.
To the Honorable Court of Appeals:
Defendants and Appellees Jason A. Gibson, Jason A. Gibson, P.C. d/b/a The
Gibson Law Firm, Clifford D. Peel, II, and Andrew C. Smith (“Defendants” or
“lawyers”) file this brief in support of a summary judgment entered in their favor
in Cause No. 2013-51350A; Joseph Pressil v. Jason A. Gibson, et al.; in the 55th
Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas, before the Honorable Jeff
Shadwick, Judge Presiding.
Statement of the Case
Plaintiff Joseph Pressil (“Plaintiff”) brought this action against Defendants
to recover damages allegedly sustained as a result of legal malpractice. (C.R. 5,
183). Plaintiff claims generally that the lawyers were negligent in the handling of a
lawsuit against a fertility clinic for inseminating Plaintiff’s former girlfriend with
his sperm without his knowledge or consent. (Id.; Brief for Plaintiff at 1). See (C.R.
332)(Original Petition in underlying case). Plaintiff based his claims against the
lawyers on theories of negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and gross negligence.
(C.R. 5, 183).
The trial court granted Defendants’ motion for summary judgment on the
claim for professional negligence, but denied the motion on the claims for breach
of fiduciary duty and gross negligence. (C.R. 18, 472). The court then granted
Plaintiff’s motion to sever the claim based on professional negligence to make the
summary judgment on that claim final. (C.R. 480); see Diversified Financial
Systems v. Hill, Heard, O’Neal, Gilstrap & Goetz, 63 S.W.3d 795 (Tex. 2001)(“As
a rule, the severance of an interlocutory judgment into a separate cause makes it
final.”). Plaintiff took this appeal from that judgment. (C.R. 490).1
1
The claims for breach of fiduciary duty and gross negligence are still pending but the trial court
abated them while this case is on appeal. (C.R. 482). The trial court decided it was “too early” in
the case to deal with the issue of fiduciary duty. (R.R. 25).
2
Statement Regarding Oral Argument
The lawyers would welcome the chance to present oral argument to the
Court if the Court believes that oral argument would be helpful to resolve the
issues in this case. However, the lawyers also submit that the Court can affirm the
summary judgment based on settled principles of Texas law.
Issues Presented
(1) The lawyers were not required to present expert testimony in support
of their motion for summary judgment because the issue before the trial court was
whether Plaintiff could recover against the fertility clinic in the underlying case as
a matter of law.
(2) The trial court properly held that Plaintiff could recover no damages
against the fertility clinic in the underlying case as a matter of law.
(3) The trial court properly held that Plaintiff could not recover against
the fertility clinic in the underlying case because the clinic owed him no duty.
Statement of Facts
The facts that support the summary judgment in this case are not really in
dispute. They can be easily and simply stated. As a result, Plaintiff’s rambling
statement of facts for fourteen (14) pages in his brief is not relevant in large part to
any issue before this Court. (Brief for Plaintiff at 3-16). In particular, Plaintiff
argues at length his version of the facts to support his claim for breach of fiduciary
3
duty which is not part of this appeal. (Id. at 7, 9-10, 11, 13). He also argues facts
that he claims show that the lawyers were negligent. (Id. at 8-9, 10-12, 14). The
lawyers deny strongly that they breached any duty or standard of care but this
appeal is not about the lawyers’ conduct; it is about Plaintiff’s inability to recover
in the underlying case. (C.R. 472)(order on motion for summary judgment).
The lawyers can only assume that Plaintiff included the discussion about
these issues in an attempt to prejudice the Court against them. The Court may
properly wonder if Plaintiff spent so much space in his brief writing about
irrelevant issues because he wants to avoid the relevant ones. Contra TEX. R. APP.
P. 38.1(g)(brief should state concisely and without argument the facts that are
pertinent to the issues on appeal). The issues before the Court are narrow and the
relevant facts are also narrow.
Plaintiff met Anetria Burnette in Miami and began a romantic relationship
with her in May 2006. (C.R. 73, 249). He later bought a home in Houston and
allowed her to live there. (C.R. 66, 68, 73). He was working in New York during
the week at the time but planned to move to Houston and open a nightclub. (C.R.
77). The couple was sexually active during their relationship although Plaintiff said
that they used birth control to avoid pregnancy. (C.R. 73, 75, 184).
Burnette apparently had medical issues related to cysts on her ovaries. (C.R.
75, 250). Plaintiff added her to his health insurance soon after they began dating.
4
(C.R. 74, 279). He had done so in the past for at least one previous girlfriend. (Id.;
Brief for Plaintiff at 3). The claim forms for the insurance reflect that Burnette was
Plaintiff’s spouse. (C.R. 159-62). Plaintiff was aware that Burnette called herself
Anetria Pressil during their relationship. (C.R. 67).
The couple ended their relationship after about four (4) months in September
2006. (C.R. 73, 279). Plaintiff allowed Burnette to live in the house even after the
couple broke up. (C.R. 80). The couple continued to have sexual relations after
September while she was still living in the house. (Id.). Burnette even remained on
his insurance plan until September 2007. (C.R. 81, 203, 279). Eventually, Plaintiff
sold the house in 2012 at about the time Burnette moved out. (C.R. 67, 83).
In February 2007, Burnette told Plaintiff that she was pregnant. (C.R. 80,
204). Plaintiff did not agree that he was the father of Burnette’s children during her
pregnancy. (C.R. 78); but see (C.R. 280)(Plaintiff’s affidavit contradicts deposition
testimony about acceptance of paternity before birth). Burnette gave birth to twins
in November 2007. (C.R. 68). Plaintiff accepted paternity of the children after they
were born. (C.R. 78). Plaintiff provided some voluntary support for the children in
the form of monthly payments. (C.R. 89). The twins are doing well. (C.R. 68).2
2
Although Plaintiff states in his pleadings that he told Burnette that he did not want children, he
testified under oath that he did not discuss children with her. Compare (C.R. 184)(Second
Amended Petition) with (C.R. 74)(deposition). Burnette said that she thought Plaintiff knew
about her efforts to get pregnant. (C.R. 86). She considered the children “a gift from God.” (C.R.
279, 309).
5
A friend went to the house to gather Plaintiff’s belongings in January 2011.
(C.R. 83-84). When his friend brought his mail to him, Plaintiff saw a receipt from
Omni-Med Laboratory which is associated with Advanced Fertility Clinic of
Texas. (C.R. 82, 111, 185). The receipt indicated that Pressil had a diagnosis of
male infertility and had preserved his sperm through cryopreservation, that is,
storage at low temperatures. (C.R. 111, 257, 286). He did not call Burnette but
contacted the laboratory which referred him to the fertility clinic. (C.R. 84-85). He
went to the fertility clinic about a month after he saw the receipt and the clinic in
turn referred him to its legal counsel. (C.R. 85-86, 280). It appears that Burnette
may have used Plaintiff’s sperm from a used condom for the in vitro procedure.
(C.R. 78). The clinic noted that it received the sample from a woman purporting to
be Plaintiff’s wife. (C.R. 205, 280; Brief for Plaintiff at 5).3
Plaintiff contacted several law firms in Texas to file a lawsuit for fraud
against the fertility clinic but he was not successful in retaining counsel. (C.R. 87,
91). He then contacted the Gibson Law Firm through its website on November 6,
2011. (C.R. 87-88, 186). That same day, Jason Gibson spoke with Plaintiff about
potential representation. (Id.; Brief for Plaintiff at 7). Ultimately, on November 21,
2011, Plaintiff signed a power of attorney and fee agreement and hired the firm to
3
Plaintiff filed the underlying case against both the laboratory and the fertility clinic.(C.R. 332).
The issues in this Court are the same as to both parties so the lawyers will refer to them jointly as
the “fertility clinic” or “clinic” as a matter of convenience.
6
represent him. (C.R. 92, 115, 186).
Gibson filed the lawsuit on Plaintiff’s behalf against the fertility clinic on
November 21, 2011, the same day Plaintiff signed the agreement with the law firm.
(C.R. 115, 120, 332). The basis of the claim was that the fertility clinic failed to
obtain Plaintiff’s consent before using the sample. (Id.; Brief for Plaintiff at 6). The
clinic filed a motion to dismiss the case because Plaintiff did not serve an expert
report pursuant to TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 74.351. (C.R. 129, 187). The
law firm responded to the motion on Plaintiff’s behalf, but the trial court in the
underlying case granted the motion and dismissed the case with prejudice. (C.R.
144, 151). Plaintiff did not appeal that decision although there is some dispute
about the reason why.4
Plaintiff then brought this action against the lawyers for negligence, breach
of fiduciary duty, and gross negligence. (C.R. 5, 181). The claim for negligence
was based on the dismissal of the underlying case for failing to serve an expert
report. (Id.). The claim for breach of fiduciary duty was based on Plaintiff’s theory
4
Although the issue is not relevant in this appeal, Plaintiff claims that one reason he did not
appeal was because Gibson told him in error that he would have to pay the clinic’s attorneys’
fees on appeal. (C.R. 97, 188; Brief for Plaintiff at 12). However, Gibson’s advice, if he in fact
gave it, may well have been correct. (C.R. 261)(clinic asks for all relief to which it was entitled);
Brewer v. Standefer, 366 S.W.3d 326 (Tex. App. – Dallas 2012, no pet.)(award of attorneys’ fees
mandatory when medical defendant asked for all relief to which it was entitled); Hunsaker v.
Fustok, 238 S.W.3d 421 (Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, no pet.)(award of fees for appeal
appropriate under statute). There was also evidence that the fertility clinic had no insurance so an
appeal made no sense anyway. (C.R. 94, 96-97, 296, 396; Brief for Plaintiff at 13).
7
that Gibson sought media coverage for this case for the benefit of the law firm and
contrary to Plaintiff’s interests. (Id.; C.R. 202).
The lawyers filed a motion for summary judgment on all theories of liability.
(C.R. 18). The court granted the motion for the claims based on negligence, that is,
for all claims in which Plaintiff had to prove a “case within a case” to recover.
(C.R. 472). The court denied the motion on the claim for breach of fiduciary duty,
finding that the record had not been developed fully enough for the court to grant
that motion. (Id.; see also R.R. 25). Plaintiff then asked the court to sever his claim
for professional negligence to make the order on that claim final. (C.R. 486). The
court granted the motion and Plaintiff filed an appeal from the partial summary
judgment. (Id.; C.R. 490).5
Summary of the Argument
(1) Defendants did not have to present expert testimony in support of
their motion for summary judgment. The issue before the Court is not whether
Defendants were negligent, although they deny that they were, but whether
Plaintiff can show that he could have recovered a judgment in the underlying case
but for Defendants’ negligence. The court below found that Plaintiff could not
recover damages based on the birth of healthy children and that the fertility clinic
5
The Court also denied Defendants’ motion for summary judgment based on limitations. (C.R.
472). Again, the issue of limitations is not before the Court but Plaintiff insisted on discussing it
in his brief. (Brief for Plaintiff at 6).
8
owed him no duty. Both issues are questions of law that are not the proper subject
of testimony by an expert. The trial court’s ruling was based on the nature of the
case and settled Texas law; it did not depend on a breach of a standard of care.
(2) Plaintiff could not recover any damages against the fertility clinic as a
matter of law so any negligence by the lawyers could not have caused any damage
to him. He may not recover any costs or expenses to raise children who are born
healthy. He essentially concedes that he is not able to do so, but seeks to recover
damages for mental anguish for having to “deal with” their Mother. Texas law
does not recognize a claim for such damages under essentially the same reasoning
that Plaintiff cannot recover expenses after the birth of a healthy child. Plaintiff’s
theory would extend recovery of damages for mental anguish far beyond any
reasonable limit. If Plaintiff has a problem with actions taken by the Mother, he
has legal and personal options to address the problem. The damages against the
fertility clinic were simply too speculative.
Plaintiff also may not recover any damages for medical expenses for the
birth of the children. There were no complications to either the children or the
Mother. This pregnancy was not wrongful in any way. It was fully planned and
intended by the Mother. Plaintiff had no compensable loss because the expenses
would have been incurred anyway given that the Mother intended her pregnancy
and the birth of the children.
9
(3) Plaintiff also cannot recover against the lawyers because the fertility
clinic owed no duty to him. The fertility clinic may have had guidelines for its own
operations but those guidelines are not the legal standard for medical negligence.
The Mother had the right to decide if she was going to get pregnant. Even more
compelling, a sperm donor is not considered a parent by statute. The Court need
not reach the issue because the Court can affirm the summary judgment on other
grounds, but the fertility clinic has no duty to notify any donor that his sperm was
going to be used for in vitro fertilization. Plaintiff’s claims in the underlying case
were doomed to failure.
Argument
The trial court granted summary judgment to the lawyers on Plaintiff’s claim
for legal malpractice in the handling of the underlying litigation. For Plaintiff to
prevail on that claim against the lawyers, he must show that the lawyers’ acts or
omissions proximately caused his injury. Alexander v. Turtur & Associates, 146
S.W.3d 113 (Tex. 2004); Hoover v. Larkin, 196 S.W.3d 227 (Tex. App. – Houston
[1st Dist.] 2006, pet. denied). In this context, Plaintiff can prove causation only if
he can show that he would have prevailed in the underlying case but for the
Defendants’ negligence. Alexander, supra at 117; Kelley & Witherspoon, LLP v.
Hooper, 401 S.W.3d 841 (Tex. App. – Dallas 2013, no pet.). The courts refer to
10
this concept as plaintiffs proving a “case within a case.” Hooper, supra at 847;
Taylor v. Alonso, Cersonsky & Garcia, 395 S.W.3d 178 (Tex. App. – Houston [1st
Dist.] 2012, no pet.); see also (R.R. 6)(Plaintiff agrees he has to prove “case within
a case”). Stated another way, if Plaintiff could not recover against the clinic in the
underlying case, any negligence by the lawyers could not have been a proximate
cause of damages to him as a matter of law. Hooper, supra at 847; Williams v.
Briscoe, 137 S.W.3d 120 (Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, no pet.).
When the malpractice claim has to do with negligence, however, the
plaintiff must prove that “but for” the attorney’s negligence, it was
more likely than not that the plaintiff would have both won the
underlying suit and obtained a collectible judgment against another
party.
20 Dorsaneo, Texas Litigation Guide § 322.02[1][c], citing Ballesteros v. Jones,
985 S.W.2d 485, 489 (Tex. App. – San Antonio 1998, pet. denied); see also Akin,
Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld v. National Development & Research Corp., 299
S.W.3d 106 (Tex. 2009).
The trial court here specifically granted summary judgment using the
common phrase “case within a case” clearly intending to grant summary judgment
on all causes of action arising out of the lawyers’ handling of Plaintiff’s claims in
the underlying case. As the trial court concluded, Plaintiff cannot prove that he
would have prevailed in that case for two separate and independent legal reasons:
(1) he could not recover any damages; and (2) the fertility clinic owed him no duty.
11
I. Defendants were not required to present any expert testimony in
support of their motion for summary judgment on professional
negligence.
At the onset, Plaintiff makes a procedural argument that the trial court
should not have granted the lawyers’ motion for summary judgment because the
motion was not supported by expert testimony. (Brief for Plaintiff at 22). This
argument is based on a flawed reading of Defendants’ motion and Rule 166a.
Defendants filed the motion under the traditional standard in Rule 166a(c) relying
primarily on Plaintiff’s own deposition testimony and pleadings. (C.R. 18). The
issue in the motion was not whether Defendants were negligent, although they
were not, but whether Plaintiff could have recovered any money against the
fertility clinic in the underlying case. Certainly, lawyers cannot be held liable “for
all of their clients’ unfulfilled expectations.” Cosgrove v. Grimes, 774 S.W.2d 662,
665 (Tex. 1989).
(1) Plaintiff waived this argument by not raising it in the trial court. (C.R.
198)(response to motion); (C.R. 475)(post-submission letter brief to the court).
Under Rule 166a(c), “Issues not expressly presented to the trial court by written
motion, answer or other response shall not considered on appeal as grounds for
reversal.” See also Unifund CCR Partners v. Weaver, 262 S.W.3d 796 (Tex. 2008).
Plaintiff never gave the trial court the chance to consider this argument so he has
waived it in this Court.
12
(2) Regardless, Plaintiff also fails on the merits. Defendants recognize
that expert testimony is sometimes necessary in claims involving professional
negligence. E.g., Alexander v. Turtur & Associates, 146 S.W.3d 113 (Tex. 2004);
see generally 4 Mallen & Smith, Legal Malpractice § 33.17 (2007). However,
expert testimony was not necessary or even proper here because the measure of
damages and existence of a duty in the underlying case were questions of law for
the court based on the pleadings and nature of the case. The Court need not decide
whether any act or omission by the lawyers fell below the standard of care; the
Court need only decide if Plaintiff could have succeeded in the underlying case
against the clinic. That question does not deal at all with the lawyers’ conduct.
Both bases for the trial court’s decision are questions of law. First, it is well
settled under Texas law that the existence of a duty is a question of law for the
court. Trammell Crow Central Texas v. Gutierrez, 267 S.W.3d 9 (Tex. 2008);
Timberwalk Apartments v. Cain, 972 S.W.2d 749 (Tex. 1998). “The existence of a
duty is a matter for the court, rather than an expert witness to decide.” Park v.
Exxon Mobil Corp., 429 S.W.3d 142, 156 (Tex. App. – Dallas 2014, pet. denied).
Second, it is equally well settled that whether Plaintiff can recover damages
is also a question of law for the court, even though the amount of damages may be
a question of fact for the jury. Walden v. Affiliated Computer Services, 97 S.W.3d
303 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. denied); Escabedo v. Haygood,
13
283 S.W.3d 3 (Tex. App. – Tyler 2009), affirmed, 356 S.W.3d 390 (Tex. 2011);
Progressive County Mutual Ins. Co. v. Delgado, 335 S.W.3d 689 (Tex. App. –
Amarillo 2011, pet. denied); Flanary v. Mills, 150 S.W.3d 785 (Tex. App. – Austin
2004, pet. denied).
The arguments in the lawyers’ motion for summary judgment on the
malpractice claim were based on questions of law. It was not necessary for
Defendants to present any expert evidence to support those arguments; indeed, it
would not have been proper for them to do so. Experts may not testify on questions
of law because that testimony interferes with the court’s role to decide what the
law is. Greenberg Traurig v. Moody, 161 S.W.3d 56 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th
Dist.] 2004, no pet.); Fleming v. Kenney ex rel. Shelton, 395 S.W.3d 917 (Tex.
App. – Houston [14th Dist.] 2013, pet. denied). See also (R.R. 8)(trial court points
out and Plaintiff agrees that: “The report of an expert on a legal issue is just your
belief.”). Expert testimony was neither necessary nor appropriate.
II. Plaintiff could not recover damages in the underlying case.
At the onset, it may be helpful to note other cases that involve claims for
damages based on the birth of children and their effect on the family. Although
Plaintiff cannot assert these claims, the reasoning of these cases is instructive:
Plaintiff’s children were born healthy and without any complications.
Plaintiff cannot assert a claim for “wrongful birth” which is usually brought by
14
parents for their own damages for negligence leading to the birth of a child with
medical problems. Plaintiffs in such cases often argue the defendant negligently
administered or omitted fetal testing. E.g., Jacobs v. Theimer, 519 S.W.2d 846
(Tex. 1975)(court recognizes cause of action but limits damages to costs to treat
child’s mental or physical impairment); Hays v. Hall, 488 S.W.2d 412 (Tex.
1972)(parents of impaired child born due to negligence may only recover costs of
child’s care and treatment).
Burnette’s pregnancy was not unexpected but planned. She wanted to
get pregnant and delivered healthy children. Plaintiff cannot assert a claim for
“wrongful pregnancy” which is usually brought by parents of a healthy but
unplanned child for negligence leading to conception or pregnancy. The birth often
happens after an unsuccessful sterilization procedure. E.g., Zapata v. Rosenfeld,
811 S.W.2d 182 (Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.] 1991, writ denied)(Texas does
not recognize a cause of action for wrongful pregnancy); citing Sutkin v. Beck, 629
S.W.2d 131 (Tex. App. – Dallas 1982, writ ref’d n.r.e.); Terrell v. Garcia, 496
S.W.2d 124, 128 (Tex. Civ. App. – San Antonio 1973, writ ref’d n.r.e.), cert.
denied, 415 U.S. 927 (1974)(“Who can place a price tag on a child’s smile or the
parental pride in a child’s achievement?”).
Because the children were born healthy, and remain healthy, Plaintiff
cannot assert a claim for “wrongful life” which is an action brought by or on behalf
15
of a child with a physical or mental deficiency for her own damages for negligence
that caused her impaired life. E.g., Nelson v. Krusen, 678 S.W.2d 918, 925 (Tex.
1984)(court rejects cause of action for wrongful life because “it is impossible to
rationally decide whether the plaintiff has been damaged at all”).
The Mother here did not suffer any health issues or complications as a
result of the pregnancy or birth of the children. She is not a party to this case. She
does not claim that the children were unwanted or that her pregnancy or the birth
of the children caused her any unnecessary pain, suffering or disability. As a result,
this case does not involve a claim by the Mother for any adverse health effects to
her caused by a wrongful pregnancy or birth of the children. E.g., Flax v. McNew,
896 S.W.2d 839 (Tex. App. – Waco 1995, no writ); Garwood v. Locke, 552
S.W.2d 892 (Tex. Civ. App. – San Antonio 1977, writ ref’d n.r.e.). Plaintiff would
not be able to collect damages anyway based on any injuries to Burnette because
he was not her spouse. See Reagan v. Vaughn, 804 S.W.2d 463 (Tex. 1990); Ford
Motor Co. v. Miles, 967 S.W.2d 377 (Tex. 1998)(limiting loss of consortium
claims to spousal and parent-child relationships).6
Plaintiff is correct that no case in Texas has allowed a cause of action for the
damages that he is claiming in this case. See (C.R. 219, 459; Brief for Plaintiff at
6
Whether Flax and Garwood are still viable is an open question but Defendants cite them for
purposes of illustration. See Crawford v. Kirk, 929 S.W.2d 633 (Tex. App. – Texarkana 1996,
writ denied)(court questions whether the cases are good law).
16
29). Certainly, Plaintiff may not recover any damages based on the expenses of
raising and educating his children. Such recovery has been rejected continuously
and unanimously by the Texas courts. Zapata v. Rosenfeld, supra (court rejects
claim for the cost of raising an unwanted child); Sutkin v. Beck, supra (court relies
on precedent to reject claim for damages); Silva v. Howe, 608 S.W.2d 840, 842
(Tex. Civ. App. – Corpus Christi 1980, writ ref’d n.r.e.)(“A parent is not entitled to
recover damages from a physician for the projected expenses of rearing and
educating an unwanted child.”); Hickman v. Myers, 632 S.W.2d 869, 870 (Tex.
App. – Fort Worth 1982, writ ref’d n.r.e.)(“Public policy deems the birth of a
healthy child a precious gift rather than a compensable wrong.”); Terrell v. Garcia,
supra at 128 (“the satisfaction, joy and companionship which normal parents have
in rearing a child make such economic loss worthwhile”); Flax v. McNew, supra at
840 (“All parties recognize that damages related to the education and maintenance
of a normal, healthy child are not recoverable.”). Texas law is clearly the majority
view. See generally Annot., “Recoverability of cost of raising normal healthy child
born as a result of physician’s negligence,” 89 A.L.R. 4th 632 (1991 and Supp.).
Plaintiff appears to agree with this line of cases, although his position is
confusing on this issue. Compare (C.R. 222)(“Plaintiff is not seeking mental
anguish damages or damages for the maintenance or rearing his children.”) and
(Brief for Plaintiff at 50)(financial burden on Plaintiff may be outweighed by the
17
joy he receives from his children) and (Id. at 48)(children are not causing Plaintiff
mental anguish) with (Id. at 44)(“This lawsuit is not necessarily about the damages
for the maintenance of rearing the children.”)(emphasis added) and (Id. at 40)
(Plaintiff argues that “nine out of ten” Texas courts of appeals have recognized a
cause of action for wrongful pregnancy).
Regardless, there is little question that Plaintiff has no claim for the expenses
associated with raising the children. Plaintiff’s citation to these “nine out of ten”
courts is misleading at best. This case does not involve a “wrongful pregnancy”
because Burnette fully intended the pregnancy and birth. Further, not one of these
courts has allowed a parent to recover the expenses of raising a healthy child or the
mental anguish damages that Plaintiff seeks here.
The analysis is the same whether a child is born because of a failed
sterilization procedure or an in vitro fertilization that the father did not want. The
conclusion that a father may not recover the costs of raising a healthy child is
equally compelling under either scenario. Plaintiff argues that the long line of cases
that denies him recovery do not apply because the case does not involve “wrongful
pregnancy.” (Brief for Plaintiff at 48-51). That argument flatly misses the point.
Regardless of the term for his claim, the question is whether he can collect the
costs and expenses of raising the twins under any theory. Texas law does not allow
such recovery for reasons unrelated to the actual cause of action. As a matter of
18
strong public policy, a plaintiff may not recover the cost of raising healthy children
regardless of how they are conceived or how Plaintiff describes his claim.
Although it is also not clear, it appears that Plaintiff is making a claim for
two categories of damages. First, he argues that he should be allowed to recover
the medical costs related with the children’s birth. (C.R. 221; Brief for Plaintiff at
42-43). Some Texas courts have recognized a claim for such expenses when a
child is born after a failed sterilization procedure. (Supra at 15). Here, however, the
fundamental premise for the award of such damages is missing. The pregnancy and
birth were not unplanned, unwelcome, or based on a failed procedure. Burnette
wanted these children and she fully intended to become pregnant. The expenses of
pregnancy and childbirth would have been incurred once Burnette decided that she
wanted to have children. The doctors who cared for the Mother provided services
that were necessary based on a conscious decision by the Mother to have children.
They should be compensated for their services which were performed properly.
The cases that have allowed the recovery of such medical expenses as
damages are all situations where parents would not have incurred those expenses
but for the negligence of doctors who were supposed to prevent the pregnancy.
The costs of the pregnancy and birth here were not incurred because of fault but
were the reasonable and necessary costs of a medical procedure that the Mother
voluntarily wanted. Even if Plaintiff paid those expenses, which is doubtful on this
19
record, the expenses were expected and intended. Plaintiff simply suffered no
compensable wrong.
Second, Plaintiff argues that he is entitled to recover mental anguish for
having to “deal with the mother of his children,” and that he should be allowed to
decide “who the mother of his children would be.” “The evidence presented
demonstrates that he has suffered nothing but distress and anguish from the
children’s Mother, a woman Pressil would have never consented to having children
with.” (Brief for Plaintiff at 50). Plaintiff wanted the trial court to award him
“damages for having to live his life with Burnette as the mother of his children.”
(Id. at 44). Remarkable. The claim fails legally for several reasons.
(1) The damages for “having to deal with his children’s Mother” are still
based fundamentally on the birth of the children. He would not have to deal with
her except for the boys. The theory of recovery is essentially the same as having to
deal with children, wanted or not, which every parent faces. The reasoning of the
courts that refuse any recovery for the birth of healthy but unwanted children
applies equally to Plaintiff’s claim for mental anguish damages. Plaintiff
apparently believes that the fertility clinic, and the lawyers here, should have to
pay him money because has a strained relationship with a former girlfriend who
may or may not have been his wife. Defendants do not condone Burnette’s
conduct, but any problems between them should be up to them to resolve.
20
The reasoning of the courts in the cases rejecting recovery of expenses to
raise unwanted children defeats Plaintiff’s claim. The courts that have reached the
issue have held flatly that the intangible benefits of a child to parents outweigh the
parents’ economic loss in rearing that healthy child. Sutkin v. Beck, supra at 131;
Hickman v. Myers, 632 S.W.2d 869 (Tex. App. – Fort Worth 1982, writ ref’d
n.r.e). Certainly, those intangible benefits also outweigh Plaintiff’s problems with
the children’s Mother. These children will encourage responsible parenting. A
court and jury simply cannot weigh the benefits of these children against any
inconvenience or frustration that Plaintiff may have with their Mother.
In Hickman v, Myers, supra, the Court discussed policy issues that are
applicable here. There, an unwanted child was born after a failed tubal ligation.
Rejecting the parents’ claim for damages, the Court pointed out that an award of
damages would mean that the doctor would have to pay for the benefits to the
parents in raising a healthy child. Here, Plaintiff will come into contact with the
Mother because of the children. He is essentially asking Defendants to pay for him
being with his children. Dealing with their Mother and raising the children are
necessarily intertwined. To award damages against the lawyers because Plaintiff
has to deal with the children’s Mother is “to inflict a penalty on the defendant that
is all out of proportion to the amount of his culpability.” (Id. at 871).
21
Some courts have also expressed concern about the effect of Plaintiff’s claim
on the children in cases of this type. See generally Cockrum v. Baumgartner, 447
N.E.2d 385 (Ill. App. 1983), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 846 (1983)(collecting cases).
These children may learn that their father did not want them and sought damages
for dealing with their Mother. Plaintiff’s claim could certainly have an adverse
effect on these children. The legal analysis is the same whether a child is born
because of a failed sterilization procedure or an in vitro insemination without the
father’s consent. Texas law does not allow a recovery of damages based on strains
on the family relationship caused by a child’s birth. The child deserves better.
Finally, Plaintiff argues that Burnette has made his life miserable and
Defendants should have to pay for that misery. (Brief for Plaintiff at 48). But, his
major complaints about her would have happened without the children, e.g., a
claim for domestic violence, filing false policy reports, and fraudulent use of a
credit card. (C.R. 280; Brief for Plaintiff at 47). Plaintiff has judicial and personal
options available to him to deal with the boys’ Mother. What he cannot do it is use
the boys’ birth as the basis for a claim of mental anguish because he has to deal
with their Mother who makes him miserable when he is involved with the boys.7
7
Plaintiff also phrases his claim as a right to decide who will be the Mother of his children. This
claim is essentially the same as the claim for damages because the Mother is making his life
miserable. (Brief for Plaintiff at 48). The same analysis applies. Certainly, a parent of a child
born after a failed sterilization procedure could argue that he or she should be able to decide
when and under what circumstances to have children. The courts have not allowed damages
sought by plaintiff in those cases and the result is the same here.
22
(2) Texas law does not recognize a claim for mental anguish damages
under these facts. Mental anguish damages are recoverable only in certain cases.
City of Tyler v. Likes, 962 S.W.2d 489 (Tex. 1997). The most common case
involves a claim for personal injury or wrongful death. Fifth Club Inc. v. Ramirez,
196 S.W.3d 788 (Tex. 2006); Moore v. Lillebo, 722 S.W.2d 683 (Tex. 1986).
Texas law also allows a recovery for mental anguish damages for a bystander who
witnesses a serious injury to a victim closely related to her and, in the classic
example, when the defendant mishandles a corpse. Freeman v. City of Pasadena,
744 S.W.2d 923 (Tex. 1988)(bystander); Wilson v. Ferguson, 747 S.W.2d 499
(Tex. App. – Tyler 1988, writ denied)(mishandling of coffin). Even then, as in all
cases for mental anguish, the claim must involve a relatively high degree of mental
pain and distress, Disappointment, anger, resentment or embarrassment is not
enough. Parkway Co. v. Woodruff, 901 S.W.2d 434 (Tex. 1995); Service Corp
International v. Guerra, 348 S.W.3d 221 (Tex. 2011).
Plaintiff’s claim against the fertility clinic for “having to deal with Burnette”
did not fall into any of the allowable categories for recovery of mental anguish.
Plaintiff suffered no injury as a result of Burnette’s pregnancy or the boys’ birth.
Perhaps he could make an argument that he can recover mental anguish damages
against his former girlfriend, which would still be doubtful, but he did not and has
not sued her. Regardless, Texas law would not have allowed him to recover any
23
mental anguish damages against the fertility clinic under these facts.
(3) “Tort law does not provide a remedy for every harm.” Del Lago
Partners v. Smith, 307 S.W.3d 762, 777 (Tex. 2010); citing Adams, From Babel to
Reason: An Examination of the Duty Issue, 31 McGeorge L. Rev. 25, 53 (1999).
While it may seem that there should be a remedy for every wrong, this
is an ideal limited perforce by the realities of this world. Every injury
has ramifying consequences, like the rippling of the waters, without
end. The problem for the law is to limit the legal consequences of
wrongs to a controllable degree.
Tobin v. Grossman, 24 N.Y.2d 609, 249 N.E.2d 419 (1969).
Plaintiff’s claim for mental anguish damages is simply far too speculative.
Defendants recognize that juries often make difficult decisions about damages but
no reasonable juror could balance the joy of children against Plaintiff’s “mental
anguish” for dealing with the boy’s Mother. “But this is not a case in which the
damages evade precise measurement. Here, it is impossible to rationally decide
whether the plaintiff has been damaged at all. That is a mystery more properly to
be left to the philosophers and the theologians.” Nelson v. Krusen, supra at 925.
The courts have uniformly denied recovery in these cases for damages other
than medical costs for unwanted pregnancies, expenses for unexpected injuries to
the Mother during childbirth, and medical costs when a child is born with medical
conditions. (Supra at 14-16). None of those situations is present here. See also
Crawford v. Kirk, 929 S.W.2d at 637 (Supreme Court in Jacobs rejected as
24
speculative the parents’ claim for mental anguish). Certainly, if damages for
mental anguish for parents of an impaired child are too speculative, Plaintiff’s
claim for mental anguish because he has to deal with his children’s Mother should
suffer the same fate.
If Plaintiff has a problem with Burnette, he can deal with those problems
either on a personal or legal level. If she commits a wrongful act against him, he
can go to court for a remedy. However, he may not use any problems that he has
with the Mother of his children as a basis for mental anguish damages against these
lawyers.
(4) Finally, Plaintiff’s theory would expand a recovery of mental anguish
damages beyond any reasonable limit. As mentioned above, “tort law does not
provide a remedy for every wrong.” Del Lago Partners v. Smith, 307 S.W.3d at
777. Plaintiff wants money because he now has to “deal with” his boys’ Mother, a
woman with whom he had an intimate relationship even after they broke up. Under
his theory, a spouse might have a claim against his divorce lawyer based on the
terms of a custody order that required too much contact with the other spouse. Or,
a psychiatrist or marriage counselor could be open to suit if she advises a patient to
try to spend more time with a separated spouse. Or, the parents of an unwanted
child may want money because of the strain the child put on the spousal
relationship. The possibilities are endless and would expand claims for mental
25
anguish beyond any limit set by any court in Texas.
Plaintiff’s children were born alive and healthy. Many other children are not.
The pregnancy and their birth were fully expected and wanted by the Mother.
There were no adverse medical consequences to the Mother or the boys as a result
of the pregnancy. Plaintiff would not have been able to recover any damages
against the clinic in the underlying case so he cannot assert a successful claim
against these lawyers for professional negligence.
III. Plaintiff may not recover against the lawyers because the clinic and the
laboratory owed him no duty.
The trial court granted summary judgment on the claims of professional
negligence on two grounds. First, as discussed above, the court found that Plaintiff
could not have recovered any damages against the clinic. Second, the court held
that the clinic owed Plaintiff no duty as a matter of law. This Court need not reach
the issue of duty because the Court can affirm the summary judgment based on the
first argument on damages. Farmer v. Ben E. Keith Co., 919 S.W.2d 171 (Tex.
App. – Fort Worth 1996, no writ); Carr v. Brasher, 776 S.W.2d 567 (Tex. 1989).
Even so, the lack of duty is a second and independent reason why Plaintiff may not
recover against the lawyers in this case.
Plaintiff claims that he suffered mental anguish damages because the clinic
failed to notify him or obtain his consent when the clinic performed the in vitro
fertilization procedure for Burnette. (Brief for Plaintiff at 6, 23, 30); see also (C.R.
26
355)(allegations in underlying case). Thus, the simple question is whether the
clinic owed Plaintiff a duty to do so. “Texas law generally imposes no duty to take
action to prevent harm to others absent certain special relationships or
circumstances.” Torrington Co. v. Stutzman, 46 S.W.3d 829, 837 (Tex. 2000). As
Plaintiff admits: “There is no Texas case recognizing a duty owed by a fertility
clinic to a non-patient but known sperm owner under these specific facts.” (Brief
for Plaintiff at 29); see also (R.R. 11, 12)(Plaintiff agrees that he cannot point to
any authority that holds clinic had a duty). There is no authority because there is no
duty.
The question whether a duty exists must be answered before the issue of
standard of care even arises. St. John v. Pope, 901 S.W.2d 420, 424 (Tex. 1995);
Salas v. Gamboa, 760 S.W.2d 838, 840 (Tex. App. – San Antonio 1988, no writ).
Thus, Plaintiff’s tirade against the clinic about what the clinic should have done is
not relevant to the discussion. (Brief for Plaintiff at 6-7, 1-32). Even so, the
question of duty is a matter of law; the clinic’s policies and procedures do not set
the legal duty or the standard of care. Bird v. W.C.W., 868 S.W.2d 767 (Tex.
1994); FFE Transportation Services v. Fulgham, 154 S.W.3d 84 (Tex. 2004).
Plaintiff claims that if he was a patient of the clinic, then the clinic owed him
a duty of care. (Brief for Plaintiff at 23). He then assumes that the clinic owed him
a general duty not to injure or damage him. (Id. at 28). To the contrary, he “had the
27
burden of alleging and proving a state of facts showing he had a substantive right
entitling him to maintain an action.” Johnston v. Sibley, 558 S.W.2d 135, 137 (Tex.
Civ. App. – Tyler 1977, writ ref’d n.r.e.)(rejecting claim that doctor had a general
duty not to injure Plaintiff during a medical exam for workers’ compensation
purposes); see also Ramirez v. Carreras, 10 SW.3d 757, 764 (Tex. App. – Corpus
Christi 2000, pet. denied)(a claim that a doctor breached a duty not to injure is not
a claim that the doctor departed from an accepted standard of care).8
Plaintiff argues that the Family Code required the clinic to obtain Plaintiff’s
consent. (Brief for Plaintiff at 31), citing TEX. FAM. CODE §§ 160.704(a),
160.7031(b). The Family Code does no such thing; indeed, the Code suggests the
opposite. Section 160.7031 provides the legal process by which an unmarried man
can establish paternity when he intends to be the legal father of a child born by
artificial insemination. Section 160.704(a) outlines the procedure for consent by a
married woman to assisted reproduction. Neither section applies here.
Perhaps it is not surprising that Plaintiff failed to refer the Court to Section
160.702 of the Family Code which specifically provides that: “A donor is not a
8
Plaintiff presumes that he was a “claimant” who could bring a “health care liability claim”
against the clinic. (Brief for Plaintiff at 23); TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 74.001(a)(2),(13)
(statutory definitions). He relies on a receipt from the laboratory listing him as the “patient.”
(Brief for Plaintiff at 25; C.R. 271). Even if that designation is relevant, which is doubtful, the
receipt is not from the clinic which actually performed the in vitro procedure but from the
laboratory that froze the sample. Burnette, not Plaintiff, was the patient, and neither of them was
injured by the procedure as required by the definition of “health care liability claim.” Plaintiff
had no derivative claim because he insists the couple was not married. See (Supra at 16). If
Plaintiff was not a “claimant,” the duty issue becomes even more simple.
28
parent of a child conceived by means of assisted reproduction.” A donor may
establish paternity through Sections 160.703 and 160.7031 which Plaintiff did not
do. See generally In re: H.C.S., 219 S.W.3d 33 (Tex. App. – San Antonio 2006, no
pet.)(unmarried man who provided sperm for assisted reproduction who did not
follow statutory procedure does not have standing to pursue a suit to establish
paternity of the child). The statutes support the argument that Plaintiff had no right
to insist that Burnette’s procedure required notice and his consent. See generally
Annot., “Rights and Obligations Resulting from Human Artificial Insemination,”
83 A.L.R. 4th 295. Plaintiff was not even considered a parent by law.9
Plaintiff’s argument that the clinic owed him a duty of notice and consent
also necessarily means that he could deny Burnette her wish to become pregnant or
could force her to have an abortion if she became pregnant with his sperm. The
argument raises significant constitutional and privacy issues about Burnette’s right
of control over her own body. E.g., Planned Parenthood v. Danforth, 428 U.S. 52
(1976)(spousal approval requirement for abortion unconstitutional because it
allows a husband to wield a veto over his wife’s decision); Planned Parenthood v.
9
Plaintiff claims that he is asserting his claims “on behalf of all single men in Texas” who may
be “on the hook” to pay support for children they do not want. (Brief for Plaintiff at 19, 50).
Again, the Court need not reach the issue but Section 160.702 may cast doubt on Plaintiff’s duty
to pay support under these specific facts because he is not considered the father by law.
Regardless, Plaintiff may not recover the cost of supporting the children anyway in the same way
that a father cannot recover those costs after a failed sterilization procedure. Even Plaintiff
concedes that the joy he receives from his children outweighs any financial burden. (Id. at 50).
29
Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992)(Court strikes down spousal notice requirement for
abortion because it unduly burdens woman’s right to make decisions affecting her
own body); Washington v. Glucksberg, 521 U.S. 702, 719-20 (1997)(listing of
liberty interests in personal contexts). Texas law does not recognize a duty on the
part of a doctor or a clinic to notify a donor or obtain his consent. Through its laws,
the State cannot interfere with these personal and intimate family decisions. See
(Brief for Plaintiff at 44)(discussion of privacy cases).10
Finally, Plaintiff argues that he could have asserted other claims against the
clinic that did not require a duty. (Brief for Plaintiff at 17, 32-36). The first and
more simple response is that other theories of liability were not available to him.
He argued at length that he was a patient of the clinic and that he had a cause of
action for medical malpractice. (Brief for Plaintiff at 23-32, 45). Such a claim is
based only in negligence. Diversicare General Partner v. Rubio, 185 S.W.3d 842
(Tex. 2005); Turtle Healthcare Group v. Linan, 337 S.W.3d 865 (Tex. 2011); see
also (C.R. 358)(cases cited in motion to dismiss); (R.R. 15)(Plaintiff agrees that he
could not assert tort claims other than negligence).
Second, Plaintiff’s premise is incorrect. A claim for fraud by nondisclosure
still requires a duty to disclose facts. (Brief for Plaintiff at 33), citing Horizon
10
Defendants agree with the fundamental premise that the State should not interfere with certain
personal family decisions, but the cases on reproduction issues do not support the view in any
way that Pressil could have forced Burnette to end a pregnancy.
30
Shipbuilding v. Blyn II Holding, 324 S.W.3d 840 (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.]
2010, no pet.). A claim for conversion requires that Plaintiff have a right to
immediate possession of property. Burns v. Rochon, 190 S.W.3d 263 (Tex. App. –
Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.). As the Court pointed out in Phillips v. Irons,
2005 WL 4694579 (Ill. App. 2005), a case cited by Plaintiff in his Brief, Irons
could not meet this element of conversion when he intended that his partner
discard the sample, not return it to him. The same reasoning applies here.
Finally, the clinic could hardly have intentionally inflicted emotional distress
on Plaintiff by failing to contact him or get his consent if the clinic had no duty to
do so. See Rose v. First American Title Ins. Co., 907 S.W.2d 639 (Tex. App. –
Corpus Christi 1995, no writ); K.B. v. N.B., 811 S.W.2d 634 (Tex. App. – San
Antonio 1991, writ denied), cert. denied, 504 U.S. 918 (1992).
Burnette went to the clinic to become pregnant through an in vitro
fertilization. She had the right to do so. Whether she had Plaintiff’s permission to
use his sperm is between Burnette and Plaintiff. The clinic was under no obligation
to interfere with the Mother’s decision or to act as a referee between Plaintiff and
Burnette. Those decisions must be left to the parents of a child and not to an
outside clinic.
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Conclusion
The summary judgment should be affirmed.
Respectfully submitted,
SHEEHY, WARE & PAPPAS, P.C.
By:
Richard A. Sheehy
State Bar No. 18178600
2500 Two Houston Center
909 Fannin Street
Houston, Texas 77010-1003
(713) 951-1000 – Telephone
(713) 951-1199 – Facsimile
Email: rsheehy@sheehyware.com
Attorneys for Appellees
Jason A. Gibson, Jason A. Gibson, P.C.,
The Gibson Law Firm, Clifford D. Peel, II,
and Andrew C. Smith
Certificate of Compliance
Pursuant to Rule 9.4(i)(3), I certify that this Brief for Appellees, beginning
with the Statement of Facts, and ending after the Conclusion, contains 7,629
words, as measured by a computer program used to prepare the brief.
____________________________
Richard A. Sheehy
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Certificate of Service
This will certify that a true and correct copy of this document has been
forwarded to all counsel of record pursuant to the Texas Rules of Appellate
Procedure on the 19th day of March 2015.
Via E-Service and Facsimile (713) 522-7400
Lance Christopher Kassab
David Eric Kassab
The Kassab Law Firm
1420 Alabama
Houston, Texas 77004
Richard A. Sheehy
2226426
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