At page 865 Reviewing directed verdict for plaintiff's theories of recovery75 citing cases“the purpose of res ipsa is to relieve the plaintiff of the burden of proving a specific act of negligence by the defendant when it is impossible for the plaintiff to determine the sequence of events, or when the defendant has superior knowledge or means of information, to determine the cause of the…”
- Flores v. Furniture Indus. Serv., Inc., No. 7:24-cv-00195 (W.D. Tex. July 10, 2025).Co., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex. 1982)); Lowe v. Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., No. 16-CV-3067, 2018 WL 3803921 , at *3 (N.D.
- Osvanis Lozada & Tels, Inc. v. Cesar R. Posada, 718 S.W.3d 262 (Tex. 2025).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex. 1982).
- City of Huntsville, Texas v. Lucio Castilleja & Laura Castilleja, No. 15-25-00070-CV (Tex. App.—15th Dist. May 27, 2025).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex. 1982).
- Cantu v. Harris Cnty., Texas, No. 4:24-cv-02447, 2025 WL 786617 (S.D. Tex. Mar. 12, 2025).Co., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex. 1982)).
- Bellamy v. Ford Motor Co., No. 5:22-cv-00941 (W.D. Tex. Jan. 6, 2025). Co., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex. 1982).
- Robert Steven Ritchey v. Am. Airlines Grp., Inc. & Am. Airlines, Inc., No. 02-23-00215-CV (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Feb. 8, 2024).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex. 1982).
- Folusho K. Peters v. Volkswagen Grp. of Am., Inc. D/B/A Audi of Am., Inc, & Sewell Corp. D/B/A Sewell Audi North Houston, No. 01-21-00634-CV, 2023 WL 5436383 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 24, 2023).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex. 1982)).
- Schindler Elevator Corp. v. Darren Ceasar, 670 S.W.3d 577 (Tex. 2023).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex. 1982). 6 See Bell, 517 S.W.2d at 250 (“[M]eaning ‘the thing speaks for itself,’ . . . [res ipsa] has come to signify that in certain limited types of cases[,] 4 that “invite[s] res ipsa loquitur treatment” is…
- Garen Keith Wyatt v. Turbo Restaurants, LLC, No. 05-20-00456-CV (Tex. App.—Dallas Aug. 31, 2022).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex. 1982)).
- Furniture Procurement Servs., LLP v. Nat'l Container Grp., LLC, No. 4:19-cv-03290 (S.D. Tex. July 5, 2022).Co., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex. 1982).
Show 62 more citing cases
- Schindler Elevator Corp. v. Darren Ceasar, 666 S.W.3d 25 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2021).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex. 1982).
- Jackie Womack, Individually, & Jackie Womack Drilling Co. Willard Cogdell & La Nell Cogdell & James R. Cavender, Individually & D/B/A James R. Cavender Inv. Co., Ltd. v. Oncor Elec. Delivery Co. LLC, No. 11-17-00233-CV, 2019 WL 3023516 (Tex. App.—Eastland July 11, 2019).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex. 1982); see also Cabanas, 553 S.W.3d at 570 .
- Lilian Garrick v. Autoliv ASP, Inc., Autoliv Saf. Tech., Inc., Kia Motors Am., Inc., & Kia Motors Corp., No. 14-17-00818-CV, 2018 WL 3385159 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] July 12, 2018).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex. 1982).
- Sanders v. Naes Cent., Inc., 498 S.W.3d 256 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2016).published Co., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex.1982).
- in the Interest of K.I.B.C., a Child, No. 14-15-00882-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Dec. 28, 2015).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex.1982); Collora v. Navarro, 574 S.W.2d 65, 68 (Tex. 1978); Henderson v. Travelers Ins.
- in the Interest of C.M. & C.F., Child., No. 01-15-00830-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Oct. 29, 2015).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex.1983); Collora v. Navarro, 574 S.W.2d 65, 68 (Tex.1978).
- in the Interest of A.G. & F.G., Child., No. 01-15-00571-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Sept. 24, 2015).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex.1982); Collora v. Navarro, 574 S.W.2d 65, 68 (Tex. 1978); Henderson v. Travelers Ins.
- in the Interest of S. R.- M. C., No. 01-15-00556-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Sept. 21, 2015).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex.1982); Collora v. Navarro, 574 S.W.2d 65, 68 (Tex. 1978); Henderson v. Travelers Ins.
- Todd Enright v. Asclepius Panacea, LLC Asclepius Panacea GP, LLC Daily Pharmacy, LLC Daily Pharmacy GP, LLC & Toth Enter. II, P .A. D/B/A Victory Med. Ctr., No. 03-15-00348-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 24, 2015).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex.1982); Collora v. Navarro, 574 S.W.2d 65, 68 (Tex.1978); Henderson v. Travelers Ins.
- Dos Republicas Coal P'ship v. David Saucedo, as Floodplain Adm'r & Cnty. Judge of the Maverick Cnty. Commissioners Court, & the Maverick Cnty. Commissioners Court, No. 13-14-00725-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi July 23, 2015).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex.1982); Collora v. Navarro, 574 S.W.2d 65, 68 (Tex.1978); Henderson v. Travelers Ins.
- Judy Weirich v. IESI Corp. & Southside Wrecker, Inc., No. 03-14-00819-CV (Tex. App.—Austin June 16, 2015).published Co., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex. 1982) 13 Madison v. Williamson, 241 S.W.3d 145, 155 (Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, pet. denied) 19 Marathon Oil Co. v. Sterner, 632 S.W.2d 571, 573 (Tex. 1982) 13 Nixon v. Mr. Prop.
- Enbridge Pipelines (East Texas) L.P. v. Gilbert Wheeler, Inc., No. 12-11-00303-CV (Tex. App.—Tyler Mar. 13, 2015).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (emphasis added); Dowling v. NADW Mk- (Tex.1982); Collora v. Navarro, 574 tg., Inc., 631 S.W.2d 726, 728 (Tex.1982) S.W.2d 65, 68 (Tex.1978); Henderson v. (same); Douglass v. Panama, Inc., 504 S.W.2d 776, 777 (Tex.…
- City of Plainview Texas, William Mull, in His Off. Capacity as Chief of Police of the City of Plainview Police Dep't, & Ken Coughlin, Capacity as Chief of Police of the City of Plainview Police Dep't v. Korey Ferguson, No. 07-14-00405-CV (Tex. Crim. App. Feb. 18, 2015).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex.1982); Collora v. Navarro, 574 S.W.2d 65, 68 (Tex.1978); Henderson v. Travelers Ins.
- Aaron Garner v. Bp Amoco Chem. Co., No. 10-40442 (5th Cir. Nov. 10, 2011).unpublishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex. 1982).
- Pearson v. BP Prods. North Am., Inc., 449 F. App'x 389 (5th Cir. 2011).unpublishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex.1982).
- Roberto Diaz-Rohena, M.D. v. Cynthia S. Melton, No. 02-06-00315-CV (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Aug. 29, 2008).publishedCo. , 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex. 1982).
- Lori Carlson & Shannon Carlson v. Remington Hotel Corp. D/B/A Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake New Clear Lake Hotel D/B/A Nassau Bay Hilton & New Clear Lake Grp., GP, LLC, No. 01-07-00376-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] May 22, 2008).publishedCo. , 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex. 1982).
- Valley Baptist Med. Ctr. v. Maria C. Gonzales, No. 13-06-00371-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Feb. 8, 2007).publishedCo. , 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex. 1982).
- Mitchell Parks v. Steak & Ale of Texas, Inc., & Greg Lacy, No. 01-04-00080-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Jan. 12, 2006).publishedCo. , 638 S.W.2d 862, 865 (Tex.1982).
- prod.liab.rep.(cch)p 11,871 Dean Garrett & Lyone Garrett v. Hamilton Stand. Controls, Inc., 850 F.2d 253 (5th Cir. 1988).published
- W. Greenhouses v. United States, 878 F. Supp. 917 (N.D. Tex. 1995).published
- Riley v. Powell, 665 S.W.2d 578 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1984).published
- Victor M. Solis Underground Util. & Paving Co. v. City of Laredo, 751 S.W.2d 532 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1988).published
- Parsons v. Ford Motor Co., 85 S.W.3d 323 (Tex. App.—Austin 2002).published
- Taylor v. Bonilla, 801 S.W.2d 553 (Tex. App.—Austin 1990).published
- St. James Transp. Co. v. Porter, 840 S.W.2d 658 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1992).published
- City of Fort Worth v. Holland, 748 S.W.2d 112 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1988).published
- Tony's Tortilla Factory, Inc. v. First Bank, 857 S.W.2d 580 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1993).published
- Hycarbex, Inc. v. Anglo-Suisse, Inc., 927 S.W.2d 103 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1996).published
- Boswell v. Farm & Home Sav. Ass'n, 894 S.W.2d 761 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1994).published
- Merchants Fast Motor Lines, Inc. v. State, 917 S.W.2d 518 (Tex. App.—Waco 1996).published
- Bailey v. Arlington Bank & Trust Co., 693 S.W.2d 787 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1985).published
- Martin v. United States Trust Co. of New York, 690 S.W.2d 300 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1985).published
- Garza v. Maverick Mkt., Inc., 768 S.W.2d 273 (Tex. 1989).published
- Trans Am. Holding, Inc. v. Mkt.-Antiques & Home Furnishings, Inc., 39 S.W.3d 640 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2001).published
- City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802 (Tex. 2005).published
- Haddock v. Arnspiger, 793 S.W.2d 948 (Tex. 1990).published
- ITT Consum. Fin. Corp. v. Tovar, 932 S.W.2d 147 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1996).published
- Brandon v. Am. Sterilizer Co., 880 S.W.2d 488 (Tex. App.—Austin 1994).published
- Duff v. Yelin, 721 S.W.2d 365 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1986).published
- Anderson v. Vinson Expl., Inc., 832 S.W.2d 657 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1992).published
- Stegman v. Chavers, 704 S.W.2d 793 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1985).published
- Schorlemer v. Reyes, 974 S.W.2d 141 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1998).published
- Valdina Farms, Inc. v. Brown, Beasley & Assocs., Inc., 733 S.W.2d 688 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1987).published
- Kite v. City of Westworth Vill., 853 S.W.2d 200 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1993).published
- Texas Employers Ins. Ass'n v. Duree, 798 S.W.2d 406 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1990).published
- Galvan v. Pub. Utils. Bd., 778 S.W.2d 580 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1989).published
- Capital Title Co., Inc. v. Donaldson, 739 S.W.2d 384 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1987).published
- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Lerma, 749 S.W.2d 572 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1988).published
- Hayles v. Gen. Motors Corp., 82 F. Supp. 2d 650 (S.D. Tex. 1999).published
- Harris v. Nat'l Passenger RR Corp., 79 F. Supp. 2d 673 (E.D. Tex. 1999).published
- Genell Brandon & Earl H. Staelin v. Am. Sterilizer Co., No. 03-92-00554-CV (Tex. App.—Austin June 29, 1994).published
- Hellen Reasoner Hutchison, Milburn E. Nutt, & Susan McRae v. Tex-Lee Drilling & Dev. Co., Inc., Jimmie Luecke, Willingham Oil & Gas, Inc., Russell Willingham, Forrest R. Stewart, Unicorn Oil Corp., L. & R. Drilling Co., Tex-Lee Operating Co., Union Pac. Resources Co., Browning, No. 03-96-00453-CV, 1997 Tex. App. LEXIS 5877 (Tex. App.—Austin Nov. 13, 1997).published
- Harold Parsons & Peggy Parsons v. Ford Motor Co. & SRH, Inc. D/B/A Billy Young Isuzu Billy Young Lincoln Mercury & Billy Young Suzuki, No. 03-01-00127-CV (Tex. App.—Austin June 21, 2002).published
- William A. MacFarlane, Individually & as Tr. for the MacFarlane 1995 Child.'s Trust v. Daniel Nelson Barry Bishop & Clark, Thomas & Winters, P.C., No. 03-04-00488-CV, 2005 WL 2240949 (Tex. App.—Austin Sept. 15, 2005).published
- Wanda Allen, Tr. of the Alton E. Allen Revocable Living Trust v. Shawnye King, No. 12-03-00140-CV, 2004 WL 252097 (Tex. App.—Tyler Feb. 11, 2004).published
- Wimberly, Steve, D/B/A Wimberly Erection Co. v. Contractors Bldg. Supply, Co., No. 13-99-00722-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi July 12, 2001).unpublished
- Lee, Varrie v. Huntsville Livestock Servs., Inc., No. 14-02-00182-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 3, 2003).published
- Lubel v. J.H. Uptmore & Assocs. & J.H., 680 S.W.2d 518 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1984).published
- Garza ex rel. Garza ex rel. de la Rosa v. Maverick Mkt., Inc., 744 S.W.2d 286 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1987).published
- Soc'y of Mary's Stars, Inc. v. State, 748 S.W.2d 320 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1988).published
- Lawrence v. Coastal Marine Serv. of Texas, Inc., 983 S.W.2d 757 (Tex. App. 1997).published
At page 866 Establishing negligence and duty under res ipsa loquitur57 citing cases“Specifically, the court held that the cause in fact of damage to the skating rink had not been established beyond the point of conjecture.”
- In the Interest of A. J., a Child v. the State of Texas, No. 12-23-00079-CV (Tex. App.—Tyler Aug. 23, 2023).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 866 (Tex. 1982).
- Lisa Ann Hoffman & David Hoffman v. Cecilia Mena, Sheila L. Adams, & JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 03-19-00409-CV, 2021 WL 2460637 (Tex. App.—Austin June 17, 2021).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 866 (Tex. 1982)).
- Barbara Thompson v. Noah Davis, No. 03-19-00285-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Jan. 22, 2020).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 866 (Tex. 1982).
- Austin Tapas, LP D/B/A Malaga Tapas & Bar, & Greg Schnurr v. Performance Food Grp., Inc., No. 03-18-00680-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 1, 2019).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 866 (Tex. 1982)).
- Martha H. Sanchez v. Hugo C. Balderrama & Merika H. Sanchez, 546 S.W.3d 230 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2017).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 866 (Tex. 1982).
- Paul Edward Hudson v. Dallas Cnty., No. 07-14-00444-CV (Tex. Crim. App. Aug. 3, 2015).published Hutton & Co. v. Youngblood, 741 S.W.2d 363, 34 (Tex. 1987) .................................... 6 Escamilla v. City of Laredo, 9 S.W.3d 416, 421 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 1999, pet. denied) ....................................................…
- Telesis/Parkwood Ret. I, Ltd. v. Anderson, 462 S.W.3d 212 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2015).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 866 (Tex.1982).
- Maria G. Thompson/Luis Marioni, D.C. v. Jaime Stolar, M.D., Alivio Med. Ctr., Alivio Treatment Centers, P.A. & Luis Marioni, D.C./Maria G. Thompson, No. 08-11-00264-CV (Tex. App.—El Paso Oct. 8, 2014).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 866 (Tex. 1982).
- Thompson v. Stolar, 458 S.W.3d 46 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2014).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 866 (Tex.1982).
- Andres Lozano, Individually & D/B/A Sandia Depot v. Susan Yeary & Ray Yeary, Individually & D/B/A Sky Farms, No. 13-11-00136-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Jan. 24, 2013).published Co., 638 S.W.2d 862, 866 (Tex. 1982)).
Show 43 more citing cases
- C.C. Carlton Indus., Ltd. v. Blanchard, 311 S.W.3d 654 (Tex. App.—Austin 2010).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 866 (Tex.1982).
- L.B. v. Texas Dep't of Fam. & Prot. Servs., No. 03-09-00429-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Apr. 9, 2010).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 866 (Tex. 1982).
- C. C. Carlton Indus., Ltd. & KB Homes Lone Star, L.P. v. Kirk Blanchard, Tina Blanchard, Aleyda B. Sosa & Maribel Rivera, No. 03-07-00688-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Apr. 9, 2010).publishedCo. , 638 S.W.2d 862, 866 (Tex. 1982).
- Robert Puckett & James Julius Puckett, Jr., Individually & D/B/A Puckett Ranch Props., Merrill John Stokes, A/K/A Butch Stokes, & Cbm Comfort, Inc., D/B/A Ranchbuyers Real Est., A/K/A ranchbuyers.com v. Quint Burris, Individually & D/B/A Qb Props., No. 13-07-00703-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Nov. 24, 2009).publishedCo. , 638 S.W.2d 862, 866 (Tex. 1982)) (per curiam). 56.
- Great W. Drilling, Ltd. v. Alexander, 305 S.W.3d 688 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2009).published City of Keller, 168 S.W.3d at 819 ; Jones v. Tarrant Utility Co., 638 S.W.2d 862, 866 (Tex. 1982).
- Grimes Cnty. Bail Bond Bd. v. Ellen, 267 S.W.3d 310 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2008).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 866 (Tex.1982).
- Grimes Cnty. Bail Bond Bd. v. Sonny Ellen D/B/A Sonny Ellen Bail Bonds, No. 14-06-00906-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] July 22, 2008).publishedCo. , 638 S.W.2d 862, 866 (Tex. 1982).
- Andrews v. DT Constr., Inc., 205 S.W.3d 4 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2006).publishedCo., 638 S.W.2d 862, 866 (Tex.1982). *7 Legal Sufficiency of the Evidence on Contributory Negligence In Andrews’s first issue, he contends that there was no probative evidence to support the jury’s finding of contributory negligence on his…
- Golden Eagle Archery, Inc. v. Jackson, 116 S.W.3d 757 (Tex. 2003).published
- Dillard Dep't Stores, Inc. v. Silva, 148 S.W.3d 370 (Tex. 2004).published
- Vingcard A.S. v. Merrimac Hosp. Sys., Inc., 59 S.W.3d 847 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2001).published
- Carousel's Creamery, L.L.C. v. Marble Slab Creamery, Inc., 134 S.W.3d 385 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2004).published
- Wigfall v. Texas Dep't of Crim. Just., 137 S.W.3d 268 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2004).published
- Houston R.E. Income Props. XV, Ltd. v. Waller Cnty. Appraisal Dist., 123 S.W.3d 859 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2003).published
- Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. v. Lenape Resources Corp., 870 S.W.2d 286 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1993).published
- D & M Vacuum Serv., Inc. v. Zavala Cnty. Appraisal Dist., 812 S.W.2d 435 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1991).published
- Dillard Dep't Stores, Inc. v. Silva, 106 S.W.3d 789 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2003).published
- Schwartz v. Forest Pharm., Inc., 127 S.W.3d 118 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2003).published
- Novosad v. Mid-Century Ins. Co., 881 S.W.2d 546 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1994).published
- Bard v. Charles R. Myers Ins. Agency, Inc., 811 S.W.2d 251 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1991).published
- In Re Commitment of Mullens, 92 S.W.3d 881 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2002).published
- Anderson, Greenwood & Co. v. Martin, 44 S.W.3d 200 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2001).published
- In Re Commitment of Martinez, 98 S.W.3d 373 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2003).published
- Carr v. Jaffe Aircraft Corp., 884 S.W.2d 797 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1994).published
- USX Corp. v. Salinas, 818 S.W.2d 473 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1991).published
- Mitchell v. S. Pac. Transp. Co., 955 S.W.2d 300 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1997).published
- Matter of G.M.P., 909 S.W.2d 198 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1995).published
- Newton B. Schwartz, Sr. v. Forest Pharm., Inc. & Kristen Wilson, No. 01-02-00882-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Oct. 16, 2003).published
- William Henry Markwardt, Sr., & Elizabeth Markwardt v. Texas Dep't of Prot. & Regulatory Servs., No. 01-00-01396-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Oct. 2, 2003).published
- Patricia Adlong v. San Jacinto Methodist Hosp., No. 01-02-00847-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Apr. 15, 2004).published
- Jerry Wigfall v. Tdcj, No. 01-02-01264-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Apr. 15, 2004).published
- Carousel's Creamery, L.L.C. v. Marble Slab Creamery. Inc., No. 01-02-00690-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Jan. 15, 2004).published
- Butterfly Kisses Four, Inc. v. Eric & Kendall Scheffey, No. 01-02-01211-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Mar. 10, 2005).published
- Virginia Tovar & Herodes Albino Tovar, Individually & as Next Friend of Damaris Amanda Tovar v. Rosa Maria Mazza, No. 04-98-00387-CV, 1999 WL 174064 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Mar. 31, 1999).unpublished
- Dillard Dep't Stores, Inc. v. Lyndon Silva, No. 06-02-00041-CV (Tex. App.—Texarkana May 13, 2003).published
- in Re: The Commitment of Boyd Mullens, No. 09-01-00534-CV (Tex. App.—Beaumont Dec. 19, 2002).published
- in Re: The Commitment of George Corliss, No. 09-02-00294-CV (Tex. App.—Beaumont Feb. 20, 2003).published
- in Re: The Commitment of Adolph Martinez, No. 09-02-00199-CV (Tex. App.—Beaumont Jan. 30, 2003).published
- Ira Lee Holt, Curtis Holt & Dennis Holt, Individually & as Representatives of the Est. of Murvel Holt v. Vijay R. Pokala, M.D., No. 12-02-00056-CV (Tex. App.—Tyler Oct. 22, 2003).published
- Massachusetts Indem. & Life Ins. Co. v. Morrison, 745 S.W.2d 461 (Tex. App. 1988).published
- City of Webster v. City of Houston, 855 S.W.2d 176 (Tex. App. 1993).published
- G.M.P., Matter Of, 909 S.W.2d 198 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1995).published
- Jackson v. Golden Eagle Archery, Inc., 29 S.W.3d 925 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2000).published
“Time limits . . . accomplish an important purpose by fixing the date a judgment becomes final.”
- Pac. Employers Ins. Co. v. Twelve Oaks Med. Ctr., No. 03-08-00059-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Apr. 16, 2010).published“Time limits . . . accomplish an important purpose by fixing the date a judgment becomes final.”
v.
TARRANT UTILITY COMPANY, Respondent
Earl and Lucille Jones brought this suit against Tarrant Utility Company (hereinafter T. U. C.) to recover damages allegedly caused by water overflowing from two T. U. C. water storage tanks. The trial court directed a verdict in favor of T. U. C. The court of appeals affirmed. 626 S.W.2d 912. We reverse the judgments of both courts and remand the cause to the trial court for new trial. The issue before us is whether the trial court correctly withdrew the case from the jury and rendered judgment as a matter of law for T. U. C.
In 1962 Mr. Jones built a skating rink in Rendon, Texas. A year later, Jones donated several lots behind the rink to T. U. C. so that a water system for Rendon could be constructed. T. U. C. accepted the lots and built a large well and tank storage system which they completed by 1965.
T. U. C. erected two storage tanks on a slightly elevated area directly behind the skating rink. One storage tank was situated on the ground; the other tank was built on a tower. According to the Joneses and several other witnesses, the tanks began to overflow frequently sometime in 1974. The water flowed down the small hill and directly toward the rink. Jessie Graham, T. U- C.’s general manager, testified that from sixty to one hundred gallons of water a minute could flow from the tanks. Jones testified that from 1974 to 1979, the tanks would overflow sixty or sixty-five times a year.
At first, the Joneses’ drainage system diverted the water. Sometime in 1976 or[*865] 1977, however, the drainage ditch system “collapsed” and the water began to flow directly to the rink. Some of the water would gather against the skating rink where it would stand until it evaporated. The remainder of the water would flow past the rink into the road. Jones soon began to notice cracks in the walls of the rink. Soon after that, the maple skating floor began to swell and buckle. Eventually Jones was forced to close the skating rink to the public.
The Joneses brought suit against T. U. C. alleging trespass, nuisance, negligence and res ipsa loquitur. After the close of evidence, the trial court withdrew the case from the jury and rendered judgment for T. U. C. as a matter of law. The court of appeals affirmed, holding: (1) there was no evidence of trespass because there was no evidence that T. U. C. intentionally caused and allowed the water to flow onto the property; (2) the doctrine of res ipsa loqui-tur was inapplicable because there was no evidence that the overflow normally would not occur in the absence of negligence, or that the instrumentality causing the accident was in the control of T. U. C.; (3) the Joneses failed to prove that the overflowing water caused the damage to the rink; (4) there was no evidence of a specific act of negligence; and (5) the theory of nuisance was inapplicable because there was no evidence of a specific act of negligence.
A defendant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law only when reasonable minds cannot differ in their decision. On appeal, the appellate court must determine if there is any evidence of probative force to raise a fact issue on any theory of recovery. The court must consider all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, disregarding all contrary evidence and inferences. If there is any evidence of probative force on any theory of recovery, that issue must go to the jury. Collara v. Navarro, 574 S.W.2d 65 (Tex.1978).
We hold the Joneses produced some evidence on the issues of res ipsa loquitur and intentional trespass, and therefore these theories of recovery should have been sub-, mitted to the jury.
The Joneses pled res ipsa loquitur which is simply a rule of evidence by which negligence can be inferred by the jury. It is not a separate cause of action from negligence and does not become inapplicable if proof of specific acts of negligence is introduced. Mobil Chemical Co. v. Bell, 517 S.W.2d 245 (Tex.1974). The purpose of res ipsa is to relieve the plaintiff of the burden of proving a specific act of negligence by the defendant when it is impossible for the plaintiff to determine the sequence of events, or when the defendant has superior knowledge or means of information to determine the cause of the accident. Mobil Chemical Co. v. Bell, supra; Owen v. Brown, 447 S.W.2d 883 (Tex.1969).
The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur is applicable only when: (1) the character of the accident is such that it would not ordinarily occur in the absence of negligence; and (2) the instrumentality causing the injury is shown to be under the management and control of the defendant. Marathon Oil Co. v. Sterner, 632 S.W.2d 571 (Tex.1982).
As to the first requirement, the court of appeals held that the Joneses needed to introduce expert testimony that water continuously overflowing from water tanks was the type of accident that normally would not occur without negligence. We disagree. In many res ipsa cases, expert testimony is not necessary to establish the inference of negligence because the jury can rely on their own general knowledge. Mobil Chemical Co. v. Bell, supra at 252. In Harmon v. Sohio Pipeline Co., 623 S.W.2d 314 (Tex.1981), we held that oil spilling out of an oil pipeline was the type of accident that does not normally occur in the absence of negligence. Similarly, in the case before us, water should not continuously overflow from water tanks. Even T. U. C.’s general[*866] manager testified that it “wasn’t good business to have water overflowing from the tanks.” Water repeatedly overflowing from a water tank, like oil spilling out of an oil pipeline, is the type of accident that normally would not occur absent negligence.
The second requirement — that the instrumentality be in the control of the defendant — is necessary to support the inference that the defendant was the negligent party. Jessie Graham, T. U. C.’s general manager, testified that the water tanks were equipped with a sensing unit in the top of the tank. When the water reached the top of the tank, a short would occur in the circuit and a signal then would be relayed back to the main control center so the pumping system would shut off. T. U. C. used telephone lines and cable for their relay system. The court of appeals held that because the sensory system employed telephone company cables and lines, the instrumentality was not in the control of T. U. C.
Graham could trace the cause of only one instance of flooding back to the sensory device. He offered no explanation for the numerous other instances of flooding to which the Joneses and other witnesses testified. However, even if all of the instances were caused by a malfunction of the sensory unit, T. U. C. would still be responsible. T. U. C. stipulated that they owned and operated the water system. It is not clear from the record whether T. U. C. owned the sensory device; however, it is inferable that T. U. C. made a conscious decision to employ the system in question. T. U. C. owed the public a duty to prevent water from continuously overflowing and damaging the property of others. Turner v. Big Lake Oil Co., 96 S.W.2d 221 (Tex.1936). It was their responsibility to select a system that would be dependable. Since the Joneses introduced evidence of both requirements of res ipsa loquitur, the trial court erred in withdrawing the issue from the jury.
The court of appeals also held that the Joneses failed to introduce any evidence that the damage to the skating rink was proximately caused by T. U. C.’s negligence. Specifically, the court held that the cause in fact of damage to the skating rink had not been established beyond the point of conjecture. In so holding, the court incorrectly applied the “no evidence” standard of review.
In the present case, Kenneth Groves, the Joneses’ expert witness, testified that the damage was directly caused by the repeated overflow from T. U. C.’s water tanks. This testimony directly conflicted with the testimony of Bruce Martin, T. U. C.’s expert witness, who stated that the 'building’s leaky roof, its age, its lack of adequate foundation, the soil and normal rainwater runoff caused the damage to the rink.
Under the “no evidence” test, the court of appeals should have disregarded Martin’s testimony and considered Groves’ testimony in the light most favorable to the Joneses. Under that test, Groves’ testimony constituted some evidence from which the jury could reasonably conclude that the overflow caused the damage to the skating rink.
It is immaterial that T. U. C. introduced conflicting testimony. When the parties introduce conflicting testimony in a jury trial, as the parties did in this case, it is the duty of the jury to determine which witness is more credible.
The court of appeals held that there was no evidence of intentional trespass because there was no evidence that T. U. C. intentionally caused and allowed the water to flow from the tanks onto the Joneses’ property. Mr. Jones testified that he made at least fifty complaints about the flow of water but that these were ignored by T. U. C. or that T. U. C. would deny the water was running. He also testified that once the water continued to flow for two weeks before T. U. C. shut it off, that he asked T. U. C.’s field supervisor to correct the problem, and that T. U. C. refused to[*867] accept responsibility for the overflows or to do anything to correct the problem. We hold that Mr. Jones’ testimony raised a fact issue that T. U. C. intentionally permitted the water to overflow from the tanks onto the Joneses’ property.
The court of appeals also held that intentional trespass would not have been a proper theory to submit to the jury. The court cites Turner v. Big Lake Oil Co., supra, for the proposition that recovery of damages for the escape of stored waters can be predicated only on the theory of negligence. Turner v. Big Lake Oil Co. simply states that a plaintiff cannot recover damages under a theory of strict liability; it does not hold that a plaintiff cannot recover under a theory of intentional tort.
In view of our holding, we find it unnecessary to address the other issues raised. We reverse the judgments of both courts below and remand the cause to the trial court for new trial.