Opinion
No. 14-05-01074-CV
Opinion filed October 5, 2006.
On Appeal from the 212th District Court, Galveston County, Texas, Trial Court Cause No. 01-CV-1068.
Affirmed.
Panel consists of Chief Justice HEDGES and Justices YATES and GUZMAN.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This case involves property damage claims allegedly arising from a seismic survey. Appellants are thirty plaintiffs ("Appellants") who owned homes near land on which defendant Veritas DGC Land Inc. ("Veritas") conducted seismic testing. The trial court granted summary judgment on all of the claims asserted by thirteen plaintiffs, and on all claims except for negligence and gross negligence of the remaining seventeen plaintiffs. The negligence and gross negligence claims were tried to a jury, which returned a verdict for Veritas. The trial court entered a take-nothing judgment, and Appellants appeal. We affirm the trial court's judgment.
Individuals who sued as a couple are treated as a single plaintiff. The thirteen plaintiffs whose claims were dismissed in whole by the trial court are: James Barnett, Sr., Neil G. Baron, Leo Bookman, Odell Broom, Emily Brown, Thomas Cones, Barbara White Cooper, George, Sr. And Irene Goffney, Joseph and Joan Hagler, Lois Height, Estate of Dorothy Henderson, Delma Hill, and Babe White, Jr.
The remaining seventeen plaintiffs are: Joseph and Janice Barnett, Wayne and Janet Bazemore, Theophilus and Jacquelyn Boyce, Josephine Braggs, Pencie Brewington, Scott and Melinda Campbell, Leopoldo and Dianna Castillo, Joe and Sylvia Cerda, Elefterios and Velda Cuclis, Ava Lee Deats, James and Merideth Fisher, David and Mary Guerra, Rhonda Halili, Beth Martin, Rebecca J. Mason, Charlotte Rhodes, and Michael and Rhonda Watkins.
I. Background
In 2000, Veritas conducted a seismic survey of a sixty square mile area in Galveston County. In November 2001, two hundred and sixty-two plaintiffs, all of whom owned property near the seismic activities, filed suit against several defendants, including Veritas, alleging property damage. They asserted claims for private nuisance, negligence, gross negligence, fraud, constructive fraud, "tortious act," and strict liability. Veritas filed a general denial, claiming that: (1) it had not caused any damage to the properties; and (2) all damage was either pre-existing or a consequence of age and wear and tear from the elements.
In addition to Veritas, the original defendants included Enron Corp., EOG Resources, Inc., Ameridian Technologies, Inc., St. Paul Fire Marine Insurance Company, J. Nichols Company L.L.C., and the cities of Friendswood, League City, and Dickinson.
The parties served written discovery and took several depositions. In October 2003, three defendants moved to dismiss on the basis of sovereign immunity, and were ultimately dismissed after an interlocutory appeal. See Cities of Friendswood, League City, and Dickinson v. Adair, No. 01-03-00205-CV, 2003 WL 22457996 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] Oct. 30, 2003, no pet.). After the dismissal of the three defendants, the trial court entered a revised scheduling order with a discovery cutoff of April 1, 2004 and a trial setting of June 21, 2004. After the discovery cutoff, about a month before trial, Veritas filed a no-evidence motion for summary judgment. On June 1, 2004, the trial court reset trial for September 20, 2004. The parties apparently engaged in settlement negotiations, and pursuant to an agreed settlement, in August 2004, all defendants were dismissed from the case except Veritas.
The trial court then ordered the plaintiffs and Veritas to each select fifteen plaintiffs, for a total of thirty, to comprise an initial trial group. On August 17, 2004, approximately one month prior to the new trial setting, Veritas filed an amended no-evidence motion for summary judgment, arguing that Appellants lacked evidence to support their causes of action for private nuisance, negligence, gross negligence, fraud, constructive fraud, "tortious act," and strict liability. Veritas also argued that the claims for "tortious act" and strict liability failed as a matter of law.
In Appellants' first response to Veritas' motion for summary judgment, the only document attached was the affidavit of their lead counsel, which purported to authenticate all documents included in "The Exhibit labeled A." No exhibit A was attached or otherwise submitted. Otherwise, in the body of the motion itself, Appellants sought to incorporate by reference "the pleadings filed in this case, depositions of each Plaintiff, depositions of each and every expert in this case, affidavits on file, and Plaintiffs' various Motions to Compel with attached exhibits and affidavits." Appellants then filed a supplemental response, supported only by their expert's affidavit, two days before the summary judgment hearing. The expert offered his opinion that the seismic activities were conducted in a way that violated the standard of care, causing damages to some of the appellants' property. Appellants also sought a continuance to respond to the summary judgment motion, arguing that they had not conducted all the discovery they needed to respond to the motion.
Appellants moved for a continuance in their response to the motion for summary judgment. This response refers to a verified motion for continuance, which was allegedly contemporaneously filed. The record on appeal does not include this verified motion, and the district clerk has indicated that it is not part of the clerk's record. For the purposes of our analysis, we will simply examine the motion for a continuance discussed in Appellants' summary judgment response. We note, however, that it remains necessary for a party to comply with Tex. R. Civ. P. 252 when moving for a continuance. See infra note 8.
The trial court conducted a two-day hearing on the motion for summary judgment on October 27 and 28, 2004. After hearing from both parties, the trial court issued an oral ruling. The trial court indicated that it would grant summary judgment as to all appellants' claims for private nuisance, constructive fraud, fraud, "tortious act," and strict liability. With respect to the claims for negligence and gross negligence, the court indicated that it would grant summary judgment as to the thirteen appellants for whom Appellants' expert had failed to express an opinion as to causation. In response to Appellants' complaint that they had not received discovery on those thirteen persons until the day of the hearing, the trial court refused any relief.
At the hearing, the trial court indicated that it was granting judgment as to fourteen plaintiffs. The court's reference to fourteen was apparently a mistake arising from a typographical error. On appeal, all parties agree that the trial court actually granted judgment as to only thirteen plaintiffs.
Appellants moved for reconsideration of the trial court's ruling in December and apparently submitted a revised expert affidavit, together with over forty boxes of additional documents scanned to a diskette. Veritas objected to Appellants' attempt to submit additional evidence after the court had already ruled on the motion for summary judgment, and Appellants contended that they were: (1) simply submitting evidence relied upon by their expert in preparing the previous affidavit; and (2) taking an opportunity to "cure" a defect in the form of an affidavit under Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(f). The trial court denied the motion for reconsideration.
Neither Appellants' second supplemental response nor the revised affidavit was made part of the record on appeal.
On January 3, 2005, the trial court entered an order granting summary judgment as to all claims of thirteen appellants, and all claims of the remaining seventeen appellants except for negligence and gross negligence.
The remaining negligence and gross negligence claims were tried to a jury, which returned a verdict for Veritas. The trial court entered a final, take-nothing judgment. Appellants moved for a new trial, alleging jury misconduct, error in handling the exhibits, and evidentiary insufficiency. The trial court denied Appellants' motion. The trial court severed the two judgments disposing of Appellants' claims and Appellants now appeal.
II. Analysis
Appellants present six issues for review. In their first issue, Appellants claim that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment. In their second issue, Appellants claim that the evidence presented genuine issues of material fact and that the trial court misapplied the summary judgment standard. In their third issue, Appellants claim that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to continue the summary judgment hearing, overruling their objection that the summary judgment was premature, refusing to let Appellants "cure," and denying their motion for rehearing. Issue four challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence supporting the jury's findings. In issue five, Appellants contend that the trial court abused its discretion in denying their motion for new trial based on jury misconduct. In their sixth issue, Appellants argue that the trial court's handling of exhibits constitutes reversible error.
We overrule all of Appellants' issues, and affirm the judgment of the trial court. A. The Summary Judgment
Appellees contend that this court lacks jurisdiction because Appellants have failed to include the trial court's summary judgment order as part of the record on appeal. Appellees do not dispute that the trial court entered this order, or that the judgment in this case is final. This court's jurisdiction is not defeated by Appellants' failure to submit a complete record.
Appellants present several different issues arising from the trial court's grant of summary judgment. Some of these issues appear to be duplicative, and others are not briefed. Issues that are not "supported by argument and authorities . . . are waived." King v. Graham Holding Co., Inc., 762 S.W.2d 296, 298 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1988, no writ) (quoting Trenholm v. Ratcliff, 646 S.W.2d 927, 934 (Tex. 1983)); Williamson v. New Times, Inc., 980 S.W.2d 706, 711 (Tex.App.-Ft. Worth 1998, no pet.) (where Appellant "failed to present any argument or to cite any authority . . . points have not been properly presented for our review."). Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 38.1(h) expressly requires a brief to "contain a clear and concise argument for the contentions made, with appropriate citations to authorities and to the record." Tex.R.App.P. 38.1(h).
A review of Appellants' arguments shows that, despite having listed seven different complaints under issues one, two (a) and (b), and three (a) — (d), Appellants have briefed only two issues: subparts (a) and (c) of their third issue, which ask whether the trial court erred in refusing to grant a continuance and whether the trial court erred in refusing to permit them an opportunity to cure by refusing to accept late-submitted evidence. Appellants' remaining issues are waived because Appellants simply have not developed or briefed these issues in a manner permitting our review. See King, 762 S.W.2d at 300; Williamson, 980 S.W.2d at 711.
In particular, Appellants' first issue, and subpart (a) of Appellants' second issue, both of which relate to whether a genuine issue of fact precluded summary judgment, are waived because of deficient development and briefing on appeal. Although Appellants have raised an issue under Malooly Brothers, Inc. v. Napier, 461 S.W.2d 119 (Tex. 1970), they must still support their issue with argument and authority. Cruikshank v. Consumer Direct Mortg., Inc., 138 S.W.3d 497, 502 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, pet. denied); Spera v. Fleming, Hovenkamp Grayson, P.C., 25 S.W.3d 863, 874 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, no pet.). Appellants nowhere explain what they believe the genuine issue of fact is, what particular evidence they believe raises it, or even what particular claim they believe the evidence implicates. Appellants claim that
. . . the Affidavit of [Appellants'] expert Adams established genuine issues of material fact regarding [Appellants'] claims against Veritas (Supp. C/R), as did the Amended Affidavits (Supp. C/R) and the 40 boxes of evidence that he reviewed in reaching his conclusions.
This global reference to all of the material Appellants submitted fails to provide us with a coherent argument explaining why summary judgment was improper. See King, 762 S.W.2d at 300 (failure to "refer to any evidence, much less reference it in the record" waives complaint about summary judgment). We accordingly overrule Appellants' first issue, and subpart (a) of Appellants' second issue.
The other issues that Appellants raise, subpart (b) of their second issue and subparts (b) and (d) of their third issue, appear to merely be duplicative of their complaints about the trial court's failure to grant the continuance or permit a cure when it refused to accept late-submitted evidence. To the extent that these issues are not duplicative, they too have been waived in light of Appellants' failure to explain and brief them adequately.
Subpart (b) of Appellants' second issue alleges, without elaboration, that the trial court "misapplied the summary judgment rules and standards." Subparts (b) and (d) of Appellants' third issue respectively inquire into whether the trial court erred in overruling the objection that the summary judgment was premature and whether the trial court erred in denying the motion to reconsider.
1. The Refusal to Grant a Continuance
In subpart (a) of their third issue, Appellants argue that the trial court abused its discretion by refusing to grant a continuance giving them additional time to respond to the motion for summary judgment. Similarly, subpart (b) of their third issue argues that the court erred in overruling their objection based on the alleged prematurity of the summary judgment hearing. A trial court may order a continuance of a summary judgment hearing if it appears "from the affidavits of a party opposing the motion that he cannot for reasons stated present by affidavit facts essential to justify his opposition." Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(g). Whether to grant a continuance or not is committed to the trial court's discretion.
We review a trial court's denial of a continuance for a clear abuse of discretion on a case-by-case basis. See Joe v. Two Thirty Nine Joint Venture, 145 S.W.3d 150, 161 (Tex. 2004); Wright v. Sydow, 173 S.W.3d 534, 550 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, pet. denied). A trial court abuses its discretion only when it reaches a decision so arbitrary and unreasonable as to amount to a clear and prejudicial error of law. Joe, 145 S.W.3d at 161. The following nonexclusive factors guide our inquiry into whether a trial court abused its discretion in denying a motion for continuance: the length of time the case has been on file, the materiality and purpose of the discovery sought, and whether the party seeking the continuance has exercised due diligence to obtain the discovery sought. Id. If a motion for continuance is not verified or supported by affidavit, we will presume the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion. See Daugherty v. Jacobs, 187 S.W.3d 607, 619 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, no pet.) (quoting Villegas v. Carter, 711 S.W.2d 624, 626 (Tex. 1986)).
The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Appellants' motion for continuance. Appellants' motion did not comply with Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 252. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 252 (stating the requisites of a motion for continuance). Among other inadequacies, Appellants, in that they failed to explain why they did not have the discovery they claim they needed, failed to demonstrate due diligence in attempting to obtain the discovery. See id. This failure is significant because the case had been on file for nearly three years before the summary judgment was set for hearing, and Appellants did not seek the data until almost two years after filing suit. Appellants' claim on appeal that they had been focused on other aspects of the case does not excuse this lapse or demonstrate the diligence that the rule requires. See Carter v. MacFadyen, 93 S.W.3d 307, 310 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2002, pet. denied) (holding failure to grant continuance was not an abuse of discretion where party "gave no explanation for why nine months had passed without any discovery"). The trial court heard the summary judgment motion only weeks before the case was set for trial. It was not unreasonable for the court to conclude that Appellants were not entitled to a continuance. We overrule subparts (a) and (b) of Appellants' third issue. 2. No Opportunity to "Cure" by Submitting Documents Late
We also note that the motion for continuance in the appellate record was not verified as required by Rule 252. This failure provides an independent basis for holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion. Daugherty, 187 S.W.3d at 619.
Aside from Appellants' complaints about the trial court's refusal to grant a continuance, we do not understand Appellants to be independently asserting that Veritas filed the no-evidence portions of its motion for summary judgment before an "adequate time for discovery" had passed under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 166a(i). "An adequate time for discovery is determined by the nature of the cause of action, the nature of the evidence necessary to controvert the no-evidence motion, and the length of time the case had been active in the trial court." Specialty Retailers, Inc. v. Fuqua, 29 S.W.3d 140, 145 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, pet. denied) (holding that sixteen months was adequate under the circumstances of the case). Considering the to evidence supporting those issues. Where the non-movant fails to meet that burden, the trial court is not required to supply.
In subpart (c) of their third issue, Appellants allege error arising from what they contend is the district court's refusal to permit them to "cure" an alleged procedural defect in their expert's affidavit. Subpart (d) of their third issue claims that the district court erred in denying their motion for reconsideration. The gist of Appellants' complaint is a putative requirement imposed on the trial court to consider a revised expert affidavit, in addition to forty boxes of documents submitted over a month after the summary judgment hearing had concluded.
Rule 166a(c) of the Rules of Civil Procedure provides that "[e]xcept on leave of court, the adverse party, not later than seven days prior to the day of hearing may file and serve opposing affidavits or other written response." Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(c). This rule requires a party to seek leave of the court in order to file evidence late. Benchmark Bank v. Crowder, 919 S.W.2d 657, 663 (Tex. 1996) ("Summary judgment evidence may be filed late, but only with leave of the court."). As the rule makes clear, the court has discretion to accept late-filed evidence, but it is not obliged to do so. See Denman v. Citgo Pipeline Co., 123 S.W.3d 728, 734 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2003, no pet.) (finding no abuse of discretion in refusing to consider evidence attached to a motion for reconsideration).
In this case, there is no indication that the trial court considered the documents submitted by Appellants after the hearing, consisting of the revised expert affidavit and the forty boxes of documents submitted on a diskette. The record does not show that Appellants sought leave of the court to file this material late or that they demonstrated good cause for their untimeliness. This lapse is remarkable considering that Appellants did not produce the material upon which they now seek to rely until several weeks after the hearing on the motion for summary judgment. Absent a ruling by the district court permitting late filing, these documents are not properly before us. Benchmark Bank, 919 S.W.2d at 663. Appellants have not shown that the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to consider them. See Denman, 123 S.W.3d at 733; Obregon, 2 S.W.3d at 374-75.
The submission of forty boxes of documents on a diskette was unreasonable in any event. To respond to a no-evidence motion for summary judgment, a party cannot simply dump boxes of documents upon the trial court in an attempt to submit evidence raising a fact issue. Instead, in responding to a no-evidence summary judgment, the non-movant "bears the burden to file a written response that raises issues preventing summary judgment, and that points to evidence supporting those issues. Where the non-movant fails to meet that burden, the trial court is not required to supply the deficiency, but instead must grant the motion." Burns v. Canales, No. 14-04-00786-CV, 2006 WL 461518, at *6 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] Feb. 28, 2006, pet. struck) (mem. op.) ("The issue is whether the trial court must search through all of the non-movant's evidence to determine if a fact issue exists without any guidance concerning what evidence creates an issue on a particular element.").
Contrary to Appellants' characterization of this issue, the submission of numerous untimely documents cannot be characterized as a simple attempt to correct a "defect in the form" of an affidavit under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 166a(f). As the court noted in Baker v. Gregg County, 33 S.W.3d 72, 78 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2000, pet. dism'd), this rule does not operate to require a court to consider evidence that is untimely:
[Plaintiff's] point on appeal does not fall within the rule because she is not seeking to reverse the trial court on the ground that it considered a defective affidavit as summary judgment evidence. To the contrary, [plaintiff's] main point on appeal is that the trial court erred in not considering evidence that she submitted. [Defendants] did properly object to the evidence at the summary judgment hearing, but they were not required to do so by Rule 166a(f). Rule 166a(f) gives [plaintiff], the party against whom summary judgment was granted, no opportunity to amend her own evidence. Further, [plaintiff] never sought an opportunity to amend her evidence; she simply argued that it was proper without asking the court for permission to amend or file an untimely affidavit.
Id. Baker is not materially different from the case before us. Appellants cannot rely on Rule 166a(f) to avoid the clear deadlines applicable to the submission of evidence in summary judgment practice.
We accordingly overrule subparts (c) and (d) of Appellants' third issue.
B. Trial on the Claims for Negligence and Gross Negligence
Appellants' fourth, fifth, and sixth issues relate to the jury's verdict. The claims for negligence and gross negligence of seventeen of the appellants were tried to a jury, which returned a defense verdict. On appeal, Appellants claim that the evidence was legally and factually insufficient to support the jury's verdict; that the jury's verdict was tainted by misconduct arising when some of the jurors "deliberated" outside the presence of the rest of the jury and when the jury failed to consider exhibits in reaching their decision; and that the jury was deprived of access to evidence in reaching its verdict.
1. Legal and Factual Sufficiency
In their fourth issue, Appellants challenge the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence. In challenging the sufficiency of the evidence to support a verdict, a party may raise both legal and factual sufficiency challenges. See Dow Chemical Co. v. Francis, 46 S.W.3d 237, 241-42 (Tex. 2001) (explaining standards as they apply to review of findings on adverse issues upon which the party has the burden of proof). "When a party attacks the legal sufficiency of an adverse finding on an issue on which she has the burden of proof, she must demonstrate on appeal that the evidence establishes, as a matter of law, all vital facts in support of the issue." Id. at 241. To do so, the party must establish that there is no evidence supporting the jury's finding and that the contrary proposition is established as a matter of law. Id.
To attack the factual sufficiency of an adverse finding on an issue for which a party has the burden of proof, the party must show that the adverse finding is against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence. Francis, 46 S.W.3d at 242. Considering all of the evidence in the record, a party must demonstrate that the evidence is so weak or the finding is so against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence that it is clearly wrong and unjust. See id.; see also Pool v. Ford Motor Co., 715 S.W.2d 629, 635 (Tex. 1986) (describing the findings an appellate court must make in order to set aside a verdict on factual sufficiency grounds). It is fundamental that in reviewing the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence, "an appellate court cannot merely substitute its judgment for that of a jury, because the court cannot exercise its constitutional authority to the detriment of the right of trial by jury, which is of equal constitutional stature." Cropper v. Caterpillar Tractor Co., 754 S.W.2d 646, 651 (Tex. 1988).
At trial, structural engineer Ramon Carrasquillo testified for Veritas. According to Carrasquillo, the damage to Appellants' homes was inconsistent with vibration damage. John Thornton, another structural engineer who testified for Veritas, examined one appellant's home and stated that its damage was caused by natural soil movement, not vibrations. Several other defense experts testified that natural soil movement, not vibrations, caused the damage to Appellants' homes. Geophysicist Steve Danborn testified that the Veritas's seismic survey could not have damaged the homes, and geophysicist Joe Austin testified that the survey was one of the safest planned jobs he had ever seen.
Appellants' expert Olan Adams, a geophysical consultant, testified that he could not determine whether ground roll had damaged any of the appellants' homes. He admitted that he could not quantify the amount of ground roll or the amount of vibration in any of the appellants' homes. He also could not quantify the amount of vibration generated by Veritas' trucks. Adams further testified that he did not know the amount of force required to move one of the surface faults. He admitted that he had not investigated whether the damage could have been caused by something other than the seismic testing.
Another of Appellants' experts, civil engineering consultant Samuel Ebo Coleman, admitted that in his deposition, he had attributed the damage to the homes to possible normal soil expansion or contraction. Appellants' expert Charles Jenkins, a structural engineer, testified that he had seen no evidence allowing him to attribute damage to Appellants' homes to seismic vibrations. He stated that he knew nothing about Veritas and had no specific knowledge about the types of vibrations generated by vibroseis trucks.
Having reviewed the record for evidence that supports the jury's finding, we conclude that the evidence is legally sufficient to support the verdict for Veritas. Numerous defense experts testified that the damage to the home was not caused by the seismic vibrations, and Appellants' experts failed to conclusively establish that vibrations from the seismic survey damaged the homes. Therefore, the evidence is legally sufficient to support the defense verdict.
We also find the evidence to be factually sufficient. In addition to the above testimony, Appellants offered expert testimony "describing in detail what Veritas did in contrast to what it should have done." Appellants also testified themselves as to the damage to their property allegedly caused by the seismic testing. Considering all of the evidence, we find that neither the expert testimony nor the lay testimony from Appellants establishes that the evidence is so weak or that the finding for Veritas is so against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence that it is clearly wrong and unjust. Accordingly, we find the evidence to be factually sufficient to support the verdict. We overrule Appellants' fourth point of error.
2. Jury Misconduct
In their fifth issue, Appellants argue that the trial court abused its discretion in failing to grant their motion for new trial due to jury misconduct. Appellants contend that some jurors improperly deliberated without the entire panel present and that the jury reached a verdict without considering any of the exhibits introduced into evidence.
To establish entitlement to a new trial based on jury misconduct, Appellants had to prove: (1) misconduct occurred; (2) the misconduct was material; and (3) the misconduct probably resulted in injury, considering the record as a whole. Tex. R. Civ. P. 327(a); Golden Eagle Archery, Inc. v. Jackson, 24 S.W.3d 362, 372 (Tex. 2000) (interpreting Rule 327). Absent findings to the contrary, we must assume that the trial court made all findings in support of its decision to deny the motion for new trial. Golden Eagle, 24 S.W.3d at 372. We must give considerable deference to the trial court's findings as it is in the best position to evaluate the evidence and draw conclusions therefrom. Shop Rite Foods, Inc. v. Upjohn Co., 619 S.W.2d 574, 582 (Tex.App.-Amarillo 1981, writ ref'd n.r.e.). Accordingly, we reverse the trial court's decision only when there is a clear abuse of discretion. Rankin v. Atwood Vacuum Mach. Co., 831 S.W.2d 463, 467 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1992, writ denied); Golden Eagle 24 S.W.3d at 372 (holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying a new trial due to jury misconduct). A trial court abuses its discretion when it acts in an arbitrary or unreasonable manner, or if it acts without reference to any guiding rules or principles. Downer v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238, 241-42 (Tex. 1985); Law v. William Marsh Rice Univ., 123 S.W.3d 786, 792 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. denied).
Appellants make several allegations of improper jury discussions in their motion for new trial, including jurors discussing the case outside the jury room and deliberating in the jury room when not all of the jurors were present. The only support for their allegations is an affidavit by James Alber, who testified that he overheard several jurors "talking about Ameridan [a former defendant who settled] and laughing as they strolled by." While it is questionable whether Appellants have met their burden in showing misconduct occurred, assuming they had, it is clear that Appellants offered no proof as to the materiality of these discussions, or the harm that probably resulted from them. As a result, Appellants failed to meet their burden in proving jury misconduct. See Golden Eagle, 24 S.W.3d at 372 (stating that the movant must establish the three elements required to prove jury misconduct). Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Appellants' motion for new trial. We overrule Appellants' fifth issue.
There are several reasons why it is questionable whether Appellants could prove that jury misconduct actually occurred: (1) Appellee puts in doubt Mr. Alber's affidavit, the sole support for Appellants' contentions, noting that "Mr. Alber is married to Appellants' counsel's pts further argued in their brief that the jury acted improperly in reaching a verdict without considering exhibits that were introduced into evidence at trial. The thrust of Appellants' legal argument, however, is aimed at Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 281 which places a duty on the trial court to send all exhibits admitted into evidence to the jury room for deliberations. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 281; First Employees Ins. Co. v. Skinner, 646 S.W.2d 170, 171 (Tex. 1983) (holding that Rule 281 places a duty on the trial court tots further argued in their brief that the jury acted improperly in reaching a verdict without considering exhibits that were introduced into evidence at trial. The thrust of Appellants' legal argument, however, is aimed at Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 281 which places a duty on the trial court to send all exhibits admitted into evidence to the jury room for deliberations. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 281; First Employees Ins. Co. v. Skinner, 646 S.W.2d 170, 171 (Tex. 1983) (holding that Rule 281 places a duty on the trial court to send exhibits to the jury room). Rule 281 places no duty on the jury, but rather mandates that the trial court ensure that the jury receives the exhibits. See First Employees, 646 S.W.2d at 171. Therefore, Appellants' argument that the jury acted improperly in failing to consider the exhibits telescopes into and duplicates their argument that the trial court erred in not sending the exhibits to the jury.
3. Exhibits Error
In their sixth issue, Appellants contend that the trial court's failure to submit the exhibits introduced at trial to the jury for deliberations constitutes reversible error. Rule 281 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure provides "the jury may, and on request shall, take with them in their retirement the charges and instructions . . . and any written evidence, except the depositions of witnesses . . ." Tex. R. Civ. P. 281. The Supreme Court has interpreted Rule 281 to be mandatory requiring the trial court to send all exhibits admitted into evidence to the jury room for the jury's deliberations. First Employees Ins. Co. v. Skinner, 646 S.W.2d 170, 172 (Tex. 1983). A trial court's failure to ensure that the jury receives the exhibits during deliberations is error. Id. The trial court's failure to send the exhibits to the jury room is not necessarily reversible error.
In this case, the trial court clearly failed to tender the exhibits to the jury for their deliberations. Thus, we must determine whether this error requires reversal. A trial court error is reversible when the "the error complained of amounted to such a denial of the rights of the petitioner as was reasonably calculated to cause and probably did cause the rendition of an improper judgment in the case . . ." Tex.R.App.P. 44.1(a). Whether to reverse or not "is a judgment call entrusted to the sound discretion and good sense of the reviewing court from an evaluation of the whole case." First Employees, 646 S.W.2d at 172.
Several cases have found a trial court's violation of Rule 281 to be harmless error. See First Employees, 646 S.W.2d at 173; Cruz v. Hinojosa, 12 S.W.3d 545, 550 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 1999, pet. denied); Interstate Northborough P'ship v. State, 66 S.W.3d 213, 227 (Tex. 2001). The common thread in the facts of these cases is that the evidence which was to be submitted to the jury for deliberations was cumulative of evidence already submitted for the jury's examination during trial. See First Employees, 646 S.W.2d at 173 (holding that the jury had sufficiently examined and heard testimony regarding the exhibits); Cruz, 12 S.W.3d at 550 (holding that the jury had heard sufficient testimony regarding certain technical drawings and photographs); Interstate, 66 S.W.3d at 227 (finding that even if there was error in failing to provide an exhibit to the jury for deliberations, it was harmless because it was cumulative). For instance, in First Employees, the exhibits consisted of certain statements against a party's interest. First Employees, 646 S.W.2d at 173. The Supreme Court held that because the jury had examined the exhibits during trial and the party had been cross-examined on the statements made, the absence of the exhibits from the jury room during deliberations was harmless. Id.
In this case, Appellants fail to specify which exhibits harmed them as a result of not being submitted to the jury. Instead, they simply cite to all three volumes of exhibits. It is apparent from the record that the jury was able to examine most of the exhibits, or at least heard testimony regarding the information contained in the exhibits. Appellants generally argue that the failure to tender the exhibits to the jury for deliberations caused harm because it "strongly suggested" that the jury need not consider the exhibits. As support for this contention, Appellants point to the affidavits of several jurors who state that they felt no apparent need to review the exhibits during their deliberations. Appellants conspicuously omitthe remaining portion of the jurors' statements which state that they felt no need to review the exhibits because they had "viewed or considered all of the evidence during the . . . trial." These jurors' statements along with our analysis of the record show that despite the trial court's error in failing to ensure the delivery of the exhibits to the jury for deliberations, the error was harmless because of their cumulative nature. See First Employees, 646 S.W.2d at 173 (holding that error in failing to deliver exhibits was harmless).
Appellants cite Hanzi v. Shelton, No. 14-02-01151-CV, 2003 WL 22232742 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, no pet.) (not designated for publication), for the contention that the trial court's failure to send the exhibits to the jury for deliberations is reversible error. Hanzi is distinguishable from this case for a couple of reasons. First, the exhibits in Hanzi were not cumulative in nature, as they were not published to the jury, and the information contained in them was not presented through testimony. Id. at *2. Additionally, four of the jurors in Hanzi submitted affidavits stating that they would have changed their votes had the missing exhibits been available during deliberations. Id. at *2. Clearly Hanzi is distinct from this case where the evidence from the record and the statements by the jurors make clear that the information in the exhibits was sufficiently available to and considered by the jurors in reaching their verdict. As a result of the cumulative nature of the information in the exhibits in this case, it does not appear that the trial court's error in failing to ensure the delivery of the exhibits to the jury for deliberations probably caused the rendition of an improper judgment in this case. Therefore, we hold that the error was harmless and overrule Appellants' sixth issue.
III. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.