Christopher Richard Smith and The City of Schertz, Texas v. Delbert Janda, as Next Friend of Hannah Janda, a Minor--Appeal from 37th Judicial District Court of Bexar County

OPINION
No. 04-03-00131-CV
Christopher Richard SMITH and the City of Schertz,
Appellants
v.
Delbert JANDA, as Next Friend of Hannah Janda, a Minor,
Appellee
From the 37th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2001-CI-14836
Honorable Andy Mireles, Judge Presiding

Opinion by: Sarah B. Duncan, Justice

Dissenting opinion by: Alma L. L pez, Chief Justice

Sitting: Alma L. L pez, Chief Justice

Sarah B. Duncan, Justice

Phylis J. Speedlin, Justice

Delivered and Filed: November 5, 2003

REVERSED AND RENDERED

Christopher Richard Smith and the City of Schertz appeal the trial court's denial of their motion for summary judgment on the grounds of sovereign immunity. We hold the City and Smith are immune from suit and therefore reverse the trial court's order and render judgment dismissing the cause for lack of jurisdiction.

Factual and Procedural Background

Delbert Janda, as next friend of Hannah Janda, sued the City of Schertz and Christopher Richard Smith for damages arising out of a collision between Hannah Janda's automobile and the ambulance being driven by Smith. The City and Smith filed a motion for summary judgment on grounds of official and sovereign immunity. See Bland Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Blue, 34 S.W.3d 547, 553-54 (Tex. 2000) (trial court's subject matter jurisdiction may be raised by motion for summary judgment). After the trial court denied their motion, Smith and the City filed this interlocutory appeal. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. 51.014(a)(5), (8) (Vernon Supp. 2002).

Standard of Review

We review a summary judgment de novo. Valores Corporativos, S.A. de C.V. v. McLane Co.,945 S.W.2d 160, 162 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 1997, writ denied). Accordingly, we will uphold a traditional summary judgment only if the summary judgment record establishes the absence of a genuine issue of material fact, and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law on a ground set forth in the motion. Id.; Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(c). In deciding whether the summary judgment record raises a genuine issue of material fact, "we view as true all evidence favorable to the [respondent] and indulge every reasonable inference, and resolve all doubts, in its favor." Valores, 945 S.W.2d at 162.

Discussion

The City and Smith argue the trial court erred in denying their motion for summary judgment because they are immune from suit. We agree.

A governmental unit is immune from both suit and liability unless its immunity has been waived. See Texas Dep't of Transp. v. Garza, 70 S.W.3d 802, 806 (Tex. 2002). Section 101.021(1) of the Texas Tort Claims Act waives immunity for claims arising from the use of a motor-driven vehicle by a governmental unit's employee. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. 101.021(1) (Vernon 1997). However, the governmental unit retains its immunity from suit if one of the exceptions to the waiver of immunity in the Act applies. See, e.g., Garza, 70 S.W.3d at 806 (State retains immunity from suit if the exception in section 101.056 for discretionary acts and omissions applies).

Among the grounds urged by the City in its motion for summary judgment is the exception to the waiver of sovereign immunity contained in section 101.055(2), which provides that the Act "does not apply to a claim arising ... from the action of an employee while responding to an emergency call or reacting to an emergency situation if the action is in compliance with the laws and ordinances applicable to emergency action ....." Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. 101.055(2) (Vernon 1997). The "law[] applicable to emergency action" in this context is section 546.005 of the Texas Transportation Code, which provides that, although the driver of an emergency vehicle must drive "with appropriate regard for the safety of all persons," he is not relieved of "the consequences of reckless disregard for the safety of others." Tex. Transp. Code Ann. 546.005 (Vernon 1999). Interpreting the uncodified predecessor of section 546.005, the Supreme Court of Texas held that this provision "imposes a duty to drive with due regard for others by avoiding negligent behavior, but it only imposes liability for reckless conduct." City of Amarillo v. Martin, 971 S.W.2d 426, 431 (Tex. 1998). Thus, a governmental entity is immune from suits to recover damages resulting from the emergency operation of an emergency vehicle unless the operator acted recklessly; that is, "committed an act that the operator knew or should have known posed a high degree of risk of serious injury." Id. at 430.

In its motion for summary judgment, the City sought to establish that Smith was not reckless as a matter of law and therefore the City retains its sovereign immunity. In considering whether the City was successful in doing so, we consider only the City's summary judgment evidence that Janda did not dispute and to which Janda did not object. This evidence establishes that Smith was driving the ambulance in an emergency situation with the lights and sirens activated as he approached the intersection where the accident occurred. Other drivers at the intersection could hear and see the sirens and lights. At the intersection, Smith slowed down and looked around. Then, seeing that all traffic had stopped or yielded to him, he proceeded into the intersection without coming to a complete stop. As Smith entered the intersection, Janda pulled out in front of him from the right; and Smith hit the drivers' side of Janda's car. We hold this evidence is sufficient to establish that Smith was not reckless as a matter of law.

Because the motion for summary judgment established Smith was not reckless as a matter of law, the burden shifted to Janda to raise a genuine issue of material fact on this issue. In responding to the City's motion for summary judgment, Janda submitted evidence that Smith's light was red when he entered the intersection and argued that the "question of who had a red light ... cannot be answered and remains a genuine issue of material fact." We disagree. "Proceeding through a red light is a specifically enumerated privilege of emergency vehicles in emergency situations." Martin, 971 S.W.2d at 431 (citing Tex. Transp. Code Ann. 546.001(2)). Thus, "an emergency vehicle operator responding to an emergency call is allowed to proceed against a red traffic light after slowing for safe operation." Flores v. City of San Antonio, No. 04-99-00555-CV, 2000 WL 767871, at *4 (Tex. App.-San Antonio June 14, 2000, pet. denied) (not designated for publication); id. ("As noted by the court in Hale, emergency vehicle operators are insulated under Chapter 546 from conduct short of recklessness, for proceeding through a red light after slowing for safe operation with audible or visual signals activated.") (citing Hale v. Pena, 991 S.W.2d 942, 946-47 (Tex. App.-Fort Worth 1999, no pet.). It is undisputed Smith had activated his lights and siren, slowed the ambulance, and ascertained that traffic was yielding to him before he proceeded into the intersection; accordingly, that Smith entered the intersection against a red traffic light is insufficient, in and of itself, to raise a genuine issue of material fact as to whether he acted recklessly.

Conclusion

The summary judgment evidence conclusively establishes that Janda's claim arises "from the action of an employee while responding to an emergency call or reacting to an emergency situation" and that the employee's "action [was] in compliance with the laws and ordinances applicable to emergency action ....." Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. 101.055(2) (Vernon 1997). Consequently, the waiver of sovereign immunity in the Tort Claims Act therefore "does not apply," id., and the City retains its immunity from suit arising from Smith's actions. Cf. Garza, 70 S.W.3d at 806. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court's order denying summary judgment and render judgment dismissing the cause for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. 101.106 (Vernon 1997) (rendition of judgment or settlement in action against governmental entity action bars action against employee as a matter of law).

Sarah B. Duncan, Justice