CH2M Hill Trigon, Inc. v. J7 Contractors, Inc.--Appeal from 77th District Court of Freestone County
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IN THE
TENTH COURT OF APPEALS
No. 10-10-00058-CV
CH2M HILL TRIGON, INC.,
Appellant
v.
J7 CONTRACTORS, INC.,
Appellee
From the 77th District Court
Freestone County, Texas
Trial Court No. 09-172-A
MEMORANDUM OPINION
J7 Contractors, Inc, a Texas corporation with its principal place of business in
Fairfield, Texas, filed suit against CH2M HILL Trigon, Inc., for fraud and tortious
interference. Trigon, a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in
Colorado, filed a special appearance. After the initial hearing was continued and J7 was
allowed to amend its petition, the trial court conducted another hearing and denied
Trigon’s special appearance. Trigon appealed that decision. Trigon then filed a motion
to dismiss J7’s claims with prejudice pursuant to section 150.002 of the Texas Civil
Practice and Remedies Code. The trial court denied the motion to dismiss. Trigon also
appealed that decision.
Because Trigon’s contacts with Texas were sufficient to support general
jurisdiction, the trial court’s order denying Trigon’s special appearance is affirmed.
Because J7’s claims against Trigon were claims of professional negligence, the trial court
erred in denying Trigon’s motion to dismiss when J7 did not contemporaneously file a
certificate of merit with its petition. The trial court’s order denying Trigon’s motion to
dismiss is reversed and remanded for further proceedings.
SPECIAL APPEARANCE
Under the Texas long-arm statute, the plaintiff has the initial burden to plead
sufficient allegations to confer jurisdiction. Retamco Operating, Inc. v. Republic Drilling
Co., 278 S.W.3d 333, 337 (Tex. 2009); American Type Culture Collection, Inc. v. Coleman, 83
S.W.3d 801, 807 (Tex. 2002). The defendant seeking to avoid being sued in Texas then
has the burden to negate all potential bases for jurisdiction pled by the plaintiff. Id.
When, as here, the trial court does not make findings of fact and conclusions of law in
support of its ruling, "all facts necessary to support the judgment and supported by the
evidence are implied." Retamco, 278 S.W.3d at 337 (quoting BMC Software Belgium, N.V.
v. Marchand, 83 S.W.3d 789, 795 (Tex. 2002) (citations omitted)).
Personal jurisdiction is a question of law which we review de novo. BMC
Software, 83 S.W.3d at 794. "Texas courts may assert in personam jurisdiction over a
nonresident if (1) the Texas long-arm statute authorizes the exercise of jurisdiction, and
(2) the exercise of jurisdiction is consistent with federal and state constitutional dueCH2M HILL Trigon, Inc. v. J7 Contractors, Inc.
Page 2
process guarantees." Moki Mac River Expeditions v. Drugg, 221 S.W.3d 569, 574 (Tex.
2007).
In its first amended petition, J7 generally pled that although Trigon is a Delaware
corporation with its principal place of business in Englewood, Colorado, it has a
registered agent for service of process in Texas, is registered to do business in Texas, has
signed contracts with Texas businesses with Texas forum selection clauses, has
advertised on its website that it has conducted work in Texas and for Texas business,
traveled to Texas to develop work from Texas businesses, and “has otherwise had
continuous and systematic contact with Texas, both in its current and former corporate
incarnations.”
In its response to Trigon’s special appearance, J7 also alleged that Trigon
recruited J7 for the project that is the subject of the proceeding below, the Colorado
project. J7 claimed that Trigon then negligently prepared a bid package and sent it to
Texas and made misrepresentations in the context of negotiations and discussions with
J7 and other suppliers in Texas that were picked to work on the project.
Trigon argues that, in its original petition, J7 failed to allege any basis for specific
or general jurisdiction over Trigon. Trigon makes much on appeal about the fact that J7
was allowed to amend their petition after a continuation of the special appearance
hearing. However, because Trigon assigns no error to this decision by the trial court,
we will not determine the propriety of that decision. Trigon also argues that the trial
court did not have specific jurisdiction because none of J7’s claims pled arose from or
were related to any contact Trigon had with Texas. Trigon contends that J7’s claims
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arose solely from alleged acts that occurred in Colorado. Trigon further argues that the
trial court could not exercise its general jurisdiction because J7 did not prove a pattern
of continuing and systematic activity. Trigon contends that it maintains no office in
Texas, owns no real estate in Texas, and does not conduct regular business in Texas.
STEP ONE—THE LONG ARM STATUTE
The Texas long-arm statute provides:
In addition to other acts that may constitute doing business, a nonresident
does business in this state if the nonresident:
(1) contracts by mail or otherwise with a Texas resident and either party is
to perform the contract in whole or in part in this state;
(2) commits a tort in whole or in part in this state; or
(3) recruits Texas residents, directly or through an intermediary located in
this state, for employment inside or outside this state.
TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 17.042 (Vernon 2008). The statute's broad doingbusiness language "allows the statute to reach as far as the federal constitutional
requirements of due process will allow." Retamco, 278 S.W.3d at 337 (quoting Moki Mac,
221 S.W.3d at 575 (citations omitted)); accord Michiana Easy Livin' Country, Inc. v. Holten,
168 S.W.3d 777, 788 (Tex. 2005). Therefore, we only analyze whether Trigon's acts
would bring it within Texas' jurisdiction consistent with constitutional due process
requirements. See Moki Mac, 221 S.W.3d at 575 (citations omitted).
STEP TWO—CONSTITUTIONAL DUE PROCESS GUARANTEES
Under a constitutional due-process analysis, personal jurisdiction is achieved
when (1) the non-resident defendant has established minimum contacts with the forum
CH2M HILL Trigon, Inc. v. J7 Contractors, Inc.
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state, and (2) the assertion of jurisdiction complies with "traditional notions of fair play
and substantial justice." Moki Mac, 221 S.W.3d at 575 (quoting Int'l Shoe Co. v.
Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 316, 66 S. Ct. 154, 90 L. Ed. 95 (1945)). We focus on the
defendant's activities and expectations when deciding whether it is proper to call the
defendant before a Texas court. Int'l Shoe Co., 326 U.S. at 316.
A.
Minimum Contacts
A defendant establishes minimum contacts with a state when it "purposefully
avails itself of the privilege of conducting activities within the forum state, thus
invoking the benefits and protections of its laws." Hanson v. Denckla, 357 U.S. 235, 253,
78 S. Ct. 1228, 2 L. Ed. 2d 1283 (1958) (citing Int'l Shoe Co., 326 U.S. at 319). "The
defendant's activities, whether they consist of direct acts within Texas or conduct
outside Texas, must justify a conclusion that the defendant could reasonably anticipate
being called into a Texas court." Am. Type Culture Collection, 83 S.W.3d at 806 (citing
World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, 444 U.S. 286, 297, 100 S. Ct. 559, 62 L. Ed. 2d
490 (1980)).
A nonresident's contacts can give rise to either specific or general
jurisdiction. Am. Type Culture Collection, 83 S.W.3d at 806. General jurisdiction arises
when the defendant's contacts with the forum are continuous and systematic. Id. at 807.
Specific jurisdiction arises when (1) the defendant purposefully avails itself of
conducting activities in the forum state, and (2) the cause of action arises from or is
related to those contacts or activities. Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 472,
105 S. Ct. 2174, 85 L. Ed. 2d 528 (1985); National Indus. Sand Ass'n v. Gibson, 897 S.W.2d
769, 774 (Tex. 1995). J7 alleged both general and specific jurisdiction.
CH2M HILL Trigon, Inc. v. J7 Contractors, Inc.
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1.
General Jurisdiction
A general jurisdiction inquiry is very different from a specific jurisdiction inquiry
and involves a "more demanding minimum contacts analysis" with a "substantially
higher" threshold. PHC-Minden, L.P. v. Kimberly-Clark Corp., 235 S.W.3d 163, 168 (Tex.
2007) (citations omitted).
General jurisdiction is described as “dispute-blind;” it
involves a court's ability to exercise jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant based on
any claim, including claims unrelated to the defendant's contacts with the state. Id.
Further, general jurisdiction is based solely on the defendant's "continuous and
systematic" contacts with the forum. Id. at 169. (citing Helicopteros Nacionales de Colombia,
S.A. v. Hall, 466 U.S. 408, 416, 104 S. Ct. 1868, 80 L. Ed. 2d 404 (1984)).
2.
Trigon’s Contacts
At the second hearing on Trigon’s special appearance, J7 relied on many
documents attached to its response to Trigon’s special appearance and documents
attached to its motion to compel discovery. No objection was made to J7’s ability to rely
on any of these documents for the purpose of contesting the special appearance.
Those documents show that Trigon is registered to do business in Texas and has
a registered agent in Dallas. In 2008, Trigon entered into at least three contracts with
companies that were either incorporated in or headquartered in Texas. Two of Trigon’s
employees held professional surveyor licenses in Texas.
In response to interrogatories by J7, Trigon listed written communications and
advertising from Trigon to businesses headquartered or incorporated in Texas. At least
twelve businesses in Texas were contacted by Trigon during 2008 and 2009. Trigon sent
CH2M HILL Trigon, Inc. v. J7 Contractors, Inc.
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a proposal to Blue Source, LLC and for which a power point presentation was created
the month before. Nine emails were sent to Blue Source personnel to discuss the
possibility of working on a project in Kansas.
Trigon sent four emails to Conoco
Phillips for business development. Also, Trigon sent two emails to Cross Tex Energy
for business development. Trigon sent five emails to Kinder Morgan for business
development. It also sent a power point presentation to Kinder Morgan and had a
booth at a Kinder Morgan supplier showcase. A power point presentation was sent to
Spectra Energy. Four emails were sent to Shell Oil for business development. Two
more emails were sent to Kinder Morgan, and Trigon gave a presentation to Kinder
Morgan about a proposal for an eastern shelf CO2 pipeline study. Ten emails were sent
to DCP Midstream, LLC for business development. Trigon also gave a presentation to
Midstream and negotiated a master services agreement with Midstream. Fifteen emails
were sent to Encore Acquisition Co. for business development. Thirty-one emails were
sent to Energy Transfer Transwestern PL for business development and a master
service agreement was negotiated between Trigon and Energy Transfer. Trigon gave a
presentation to ExxonMobil Development Corp. and issued a proposal for a CO2
pipeline study. Trigon also participated in the El Paso EHS Summit for two days in
February of 2009.
Again in response to interrogatories, Trigon stated that .67% of its total gross
income in 2007 was earned from contractual services performed in Texas. Almost 70%
of its total gross income in 2007 was earned from contractual services for entities
incorporated or headquartered in Texas. In 2008, .55% of Trigon’s total gross income
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was earned from contractual services performed in Texas while 39.2% of its total gross
income from the same year was earned from contractual services for entities
incorporated or headquartered in Texas. In 2009, .58% of Trigon’s total gross income
was earned from contractual services performed in Texas while 49.6% of its total gross
income from the same year was earned from contractual services for entities
incorporated or headquartered in Texas.
The only contract with a Texas company that Trigon produced through
discovery was the contract with Kinder Morgan, a company based in Houston. The
contract was a 5-year, $10,000,000 contract for services by Trigon to Kinder Morgan for
whatever services Kinder Morgan wanted Trigon to perform. The contract is set to
expire in 2011. But Trigon has also done business with two more companies in Texas
besides Kinder Morgan and J7; it requested bids from and were supplied parts by SPX
Flow Control and Kidd Pipeline. Both SPX and Kidd Pipeline are Houston companies.
J7 also produced, and included as an attachment to its response to Trigon’s
special appearance, a timeline of Trigon’s contacts in Texas. This summary is based on
documents provided to J7 by Trigon.
Trigon did not object to the trial court’s
consideration of this timeline. In this timeline, J7 detailed when Stu Asselin, Trigon’s
president, was in Texas. In 2008, Asselin was in Texas for business for a total of 19 days
over three non-consecutive months. In 2009, Asselin was in Texas for business for a
total of 31 days over five non-consecutive months. Other Trigon personnel had also
been in Texas for business. From January 26, 2008 through February 8, 2008, Cody
Huffy was in Texas. From May 3, 2008 to May 6, 2008, Mark Hall and Jeff Virdi were in
CH2M HILL Trigon, Inc. v. J7 Contractors, Inc.
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Texas. Hall was in Stonewall County and Verdi was in the cities of Midland, Odessa,
and Snyder. From June to October of 2008 Jeremy and Johnny Prine were in the cities of
Sweetwater, Odessa, and Midland. In June of 2008, Doug Chinn spent time in the cities
of Midland, Snyder, and Austin. Chinn was in Sweetwater in August of 2008. Justin
Sykes was in Texas from September 21 through October 16, 2008. In 2009, John Blakney
attended meetings in Houston for four days in February. John Wanzeck was at a
pipeline conference in Fort Worth for three days in April. Mark Miller spent two days
in Houston for marketing in May, 2009, and Stu Asselin set up a “lunch and learn” for
30 people in Houston during the same timeframe.
In light of these contacts, we conclude that Trigon’s contacts with Texas were
“continuous and systematic” and were more than sufficient to support general
jurisdiction. Accordingly, we need not determine whether Trigon’s contacts with Texas
supported specific jurisdiction.
B.
Traditional Notions of Fair Play and Substantial Justice
Having determined that Trigon has minimum contacts with Texas sufficient to
support general jurisdiction, we must determine whether an assertion of jurisdiction
over Trigon comports with "traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice."
Guardian Royal, 815 S.W.2d at 228. "Only in rare cases, however, will the exercise of
jurisdiction not comport with fair play and substantial justice when the nonresident
defendant has purposefully established minimum contacts with the forum state." Id. at
231 (citing Burger King, 471 U.S. at 477). Nonetheless, we still consider: (1) the burden
on the defendant; (2) the interests of the forum state in adjudicating the dispute; (3) the
CH2M HILL Trigon, Inc. v. J7 Contractors, Inc.
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plaintiff's interest in obtaining convenient and effective relief; (4) the interstate judicial
system's interest in obtaining the most efficient resolution of controversies; and (5) the
shared interest of the several states in furthering fundamental substantive social
policies. Retamco Operating, Inc. v. Republic Drilling Co., 278 S.W.3d 333, 341 (Tex. 2009);
Guardian Royal, 815 S.W.2d at 228, 231.
Trigon contends that it will be unduly burdened to try the case in Texas because
all of it employees who may have knowledge of the relevant facts reside in Colorado.
However, Trigon had no previous problem sending employees to Texas to participate
in training or to gather information. We do not perceive an undue burden, then, in
trying a lawsuit in Texas. Trigon also claims that Texas has no interest in adjudicating
the dispute between Trigon and J7. However, Texas has an interest in adjudicating
disputes involving Texas residents and Texas is a convenient forum to adjudicate this
dispute. See Lewis v. Indian Springs Land Corp., 175 S.W.3d 906, 919 (Tex. App.—Dallas
2005, no pet.). Further, Trigon contends that the most efficient and complete resolution
of the dispute could only happen in Colorado. Notwithstanding that the work was to
be performed in Colorado, the shared interest of other states in furthering fundamental
substantive social policies can be implemented by Texas courts as effectively as the
courts in Colorado. See id.
Weighing the various factors, we find that the exercise of general jurisdiction
over Trigon by a Texas court does not offend traditional notions of fair play and
substantial justice.
Trigon’s first issue is overruled.
CH2M HILL Trigon, Inc. v. J7 Contractors, Inc.
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SECTION 150.002
In its second issue, Trigon argues that the trial court erred in denying its motion
to dismiss J7’s suit due to J7’s failure to file a certificate of merit required by section
150.002 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. At the time J7 filed its suit
against Trigon, section 150.002 required a plaintiff, in a suit for damages arising out of
professional services by a licensed or registered professional, to file with the complaint
a "certificate of merit"—the affidavit of a third-party licensed professional engineer. See
Act of May 18, 2005, 79th Leg., R.S., ch. 208, § 2, 2005 Tex. Gen. Laws 369, 370 (amended
2009) (current version at TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 150.002(a) (Vernon Supp.
2009)). The current version of Section 150.002 applies to a suit filed or commenced on or
after September 1, 2009, the effective date of the amendments. Here, J7 originally filed
its suit against Trigon on May 26, 2009. Accordingly, we apply the former version of
section 150.002 in this case. See Ustanik v. Nortex Found. Designs, Inc., 2010 Tex. App.
LEXIS 4539, *1-2, ___ S.W.3d ___ (Tex. App.—Waco June 16, 2010, pet. filed).
The parties do not dispute that J7 failed to file the certificate of merit with its suit.
The required result of that failure is a “dismissal of the complaint,” with or without
prejudice. See Act of May 18, 2005, 79th Leg., R.S., ch. 208, § 2, 2005 Tex. Gen. Laws 369,
370 (amended 2009) (current version at § 150.002(e)). The trial court denied Trigon’s
motion to dismiss J7’s suit.
Standard of Review
We review a trial court's decision on a motion to dismiss a case for failure to
comply with section 150.002 for an abuse of discretion. Ustanik v. Nortex Found. Designs,
CH2M HILL Trigon, Inc. v. J7 Contractors, Inc.
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Inc., 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 4539, *2, ___ S.W.3d ___ (Tex. App.—Waco June 16, 2010, pet.
filed); Palladian Bldg. Co. v. Nortex Found. Designs, Inc., 165 S.W.3d 430, 433 (Tex. App.—
Fort Worth 2005, no pet.); see also Jernigan v. Langley, 195 S.W.3d 91, 93 (Tex. 2006)
(applying similar statute in context of healthcare liability suits). However, if resolution
of the issue requires us to construe statutory language, we review under a de novo
standard. See Entergy Gulf States, Inc. v. Summers, 282 S.W.3d 433, 437 (Tex. 2009);
Palladian Bldg., 165 S.W.3d at 436 (citing Tex. Dep't of Transp. v. Needham, 82 S.W.3d 314,
318 (Tex. 2002)).
Once we determine the proper construction of the statute, we
determine whether the trial court abused its discretion in the manner in which it
applied the statute to the instant case. See Palladian Bldg., 165 S.W.3d at 436.
Non-negligence Claims
In response to Trigon’s motion to dismiss and on appeal, J7 argues that the trial
court did not err in failing to dismiss its claims because the claims remaining after J7
amended its petition for the second time are non-negligence claims and are not subject
to the requirement for a certificate of merit. J7 alleged in its second amended petition
claims for tortious interference and fraud.
Some courts have held that, under the 2005 version of section 150.002, the filing
of a certificate of merit is not required for non-negligent claims. See Landreth v. Las
Brisas Council of Co-Owners, Inc., 285 S.W.3d 492, 500 (Tex. App—Corpus Christi 2009,
no pet.); Consol. Reinforcement v. Carothers Exec. Homes, Ltd., 271 S.W.3d 887, 894 (Tex.
App.—Austin 2008, no pet.); Kniestedt v. Sw. Sound & Elecs., 281 S.W.3d 452, 455 (Tex.
App.—San Antonio 2007, no pet.). In 2009, the statute was amended to specifically
CH2M HILL Trigon, Inc. v. J7 Contractors, Inc.
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address this determination which had been initiated by the San Antonio Court in 2007.
See 2009 Legis. Bill Hist. TX S.B. 1201 (“This issue arose out of a couple of 2007 court
cases from the San Antonio 4th Court of Appeals, which said that although the statute
was broadened in 2005 from ‘negligence’ actions to ‘any action arising out of the
provision of professional services,’ the affidavit requirement still spoke only to
negligence. Therefore, the court did not agree that it applied to actions other than
negligence, despite clear language in the statute and the fact that it was specifically
amended to broaden it in 2005 (HB 1573)”).
As we discussed in Ustanik, under a proper analysis of the 2005 act, it may be
that if there is not a certificate of merit filed with the petition, the trial court is required
to dismiss not only any negligence claim but also “any action arising out of the
provision of professional services.” See Ustanik v. Nortex Found. Designs, Inc., 2010 Tex.
App. LEXIS 4539, *11, ___ S.W. 3d ___, (Tex. App.—Waco June 16, 2010, pet. filed). At
this time, we find it unnecessary in this proceeding to resolve that question.
In Ustanik, we determined that, like the First Court in Ashkar, we look to the
plaintiff’s pleadings to determine whether the additional claims asserted were nonnegligence claims and are not bound by the labels of the claims used by the plaintiff.
See id. at *12; Ashkar Eng'g Corp. v. Gulf Chem. & Metallurgical Corp., No. 01-09-00855-CV,
2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 769, *22 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist] Feb. 4, 2010) (mem.)
(appeal dism'd, 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 2807, April 15, 2010). Contra Consol. Reinforcement,
271 S.W.3d at 894; Gomez v. STFG, Inc., No. 04-07-00223-CV, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 7860,
*6-7 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Oct. 3, 2007, no pet.) (both cases holding that claims
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merely labeled as non-negligence claims were not subject to the requirement of a
certificate of merit). Accordingly, we look to J7’s pleadings to determine if its claims
are, in fact, non-negligence claims.
Factual Allegations
According to the second amended petition, OneOK, a subsidiary of a company
involved in the natural gas business, hired Trigon to provide engineering services for
and supervise production of a natural gas pipeline in Colorado. The two companies
sent bid requests to Texas. J7 was one of the pipeline companies that responded.
J7 based its bid on the information provided by Trigon. After reviewing the bid,
Trigon asked J7 to lower its bid. The contract was awarded to J7 based on the lowered
bid.
According to the provided bid information, the project was to begin around
August 4, 2008 and be completed by November 2008. J7 began moving personnel and
equipment in early August but because of delays in the procurement of materials, as
well as other issues with Trigon, work was delayed. Trigon did not tell J7 why the start
date was delayed or disclose that materials were not going to be timely provided.
Trigon insisted, however, that J7 increase its personnel and equipment.
Delays continued to occur on the project.
There were delays in receiving
necessary materials, surveys and X-ray inspections were not timely completed by
Trigon, and Trigon required J7 to follow improper specifications and procedures. One
survey provided by Trigon placed a pipeline through old bridge pilings in a river that
could not be penetrated by drilling equipment. J7 had to drill significantly deeper to go
under the pilings. When it was time for hydrostatic testing, OneOK refused to provide
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the water it had previously agreed to provide. After 21 days of delay and after refusing
alternative suggestions by J7, Trigon instructed J7 to use irrigation water pumped from
area canals.
The water was unclean and needed filtration.
Filters were replaced
“constantly.” After filtration, the water was still fouled which required J7 to perform
extensive “dewatering” to clean out the pipes.
Hydrotesting revealed that gaskets provided by Trigon were inadequate to hold
the pressure. The specifications that Trigon required J7 to use in tightening the gaskets
were incorrect and damaged the gaskets. J7 was forced to replace these and other parts.
J7 incurred “massive” additional expenses on the project due to delays by Trigon
and due to the changes and increases to the scope of J7’s work beyond what was
stipulated in the contract. Expenses caused by downtime, improper engineering and
surveying, faulty equipment and other changes greatly increased J7’s damages.
Claims Against Trigon
Before Trigon filed its motion to dismiss pursuant to section 150.002 of the Texas
Civil Practice and Remedies Code, J7 alleged claims of negligence, negligent
misrepresentation, and tortious interference.
Each of these claims were based on
inaccurate or misrepresented information provided by Trigon about the project and the
plans for completing the project. Four days after Trigon filed its motion to dismiss and
three months after J7 filed its first amended petition, J7 dropped its negligence and
negligent misrepresentation claims, added more to the tortious interference claim, and
added a fraud claim.
CH2M HILL Trigon, Inc. v. J7 Contractors, Inc.
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Tortious Interference
In its second amended petition, J7 alleges that Trigon was aware of the contract
between OneOK and J7 and that Trigon willfully and intentionally interfered with the
contract by misrepresenting facts, failing to disclose facts, providing false information,
and delaying J7’s performance under the contract.
Fraud
J7 also alleges that Trigon misrepresented or failed to disclose material
information to J7 regarding the project and the contract in both procuring the contract
and in altering goods and services provided under the contract. J7 alleges that Trigon
knew the information was false or was reckless in regard to the falsity of the
information and failed to disclose critical information or made representations with the
intention that J7 rely on those representations. J7 further alleges that Trigon knew that
pipe bends, valves, and necessary pieces of equipment would not be delivered to the
jobsite in a timely manner and did not disclose the delays to J7.
In reviewing the claims and factual allegations in J7’s second amended petition,
we conclude the underlying complaint of J7 against Trigon is that J7 was injured by
Trigon’s failure to disclose information and in providing inaccurate information, such
as incorrect surveys. Thus, we believe that J7’s claims of tortious interference and fraud
constitute claims of professional negligence within the meaning of the statute and as
such require a certificate of merit. Accordingly, the trial court abused its discretion in
failing to dismiss J7’s claims against Trigon due to J7’s failure to file the required
certificate of merit. Trigon’s second issue is sustained.
CH2M HILL Trigon, Inc. v. J7 Contractors, Inc.
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Good Cause
J7 argues that even if Chapter 150 applies, it should be given an extension of time
for good cause to comply with the certificate of merit requirement. J7 relies on the last
sentence of section 150.002(b) where the statute provides, “The trial court may, on
motion, after hearing and for good cause, extend such time as it shall determine justice
requires.”
TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 150.002(b) (Vernon Supp. 2009)
(emphasis added). However, the phrase “such time” refers to the 30 days given a
plaintiff who has not complied with the contemporaneous filing requirement of
subsection (a) because the limitation period for the filing of the suit expires within 10
days of the date of filing and because of that time constraint, a certificate of merit cannot
be prepared and timely filed. In those cases, the trial court may grant an extension for
good cause. J7 has not alleged that it could not provide a certificate of merit because the
limitation period for filing its suit would have expired within 10 days from the filing of
the suit. Therefore, this “good cause” exception is not available to J7.
CONCLUSION
Having overruled Trigon’s issue regarding its special appearance but sustained
its issue regarding the certificate of merit, the trial court’s order denying Trigon’s
special appearance is affirmed and the trial court’s order denying Trigon’s motion to
dismiss is reversed. This case is remanded for further proceedings.
TOM GRAY
Chief Justice
CH2M HILL Trigon, Inc. v. J7 Contractors, Inc.
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Before Chief Justice Gray,
Justice Reyna, and
Justice Davis
(Justice Davis concurring and dissenting with a note)*
Affirmed in part and reversed and remanded in part
Opinion delivered and filed September 15, 20101
[CV06]
*(“Justice Davis concurs with this Court’s judgment on the first issue.
dissents to this Court’s judgment on the second issue.”)
He
Due to a typographical error, the Memorandum Opinion, but not the judgment, issued September 1,
2010 is withdrawn and replaced with this opinion issued on September 15, 2010.
1
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