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holding party failed to preserve issue for appellate review because it did not raise the issue with the trial court
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Nos. 14–12–00506–CV, 14–12–00524–CV.
2013-11-14
HOUSTON MEDICAL TESTING SERVICES, INC., Appellant v. Rand MINTZER, Appellee. Rand Mintzer, Appellant v. Houston Medical Testing Services, Inc., Appellee.
Dawn Renee Meade, Houston, for Houston Medical Testing Services, Inc. Luis Alberto Fabrega Jr., Houston, for Rand Mintzer.
Dawn Renee Meade, Houston, for Houston Medical Testing Services, Inc.Luis Alberto Fabrega Jr., Houston, for Rand Mintzer.
Panel consists of Chief Justice FROST and Justices BOYCE and BUSBY.
OPINION
J. BRETT BUSBY, Justice.
Appellant/cross-appellee Houston Medical Testing Services, Inc. (the Service) sued Rand Mintzer seeking recovery under theories of quantum meruit and contract. The jury found that the parties had a contract and that Mintzer did not “fail to comply with [it],” but awarded the Service damages in quantum meruit. The trial court signed a judgment on the verdict. Because the existence of a contract bars recovery in quantum meruit, we reverse and render judgment that the Service take nothing.
The Service has filed a cross-appeal seeking attorney's fees based on the judgment in its favor. Because we reverse this judgment and render a judgment in favor of Mintzer, the Service is not entitled to fees. See In re Nalle Plastics Family Ltd. P'ship, 406 S.W.3d 168, 172 (Tex.2013) (“Civil Practice and Remedies Code chapter 38 ... allows a prevailing party to ‘recover reasonable attorney's fees ....’ ” (emphasis added) (quoting Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code Ann. § 38.001 (West 2008)). We therefore overrule the Service's issues in its cross-appeal.
Background
Mintzer is an attorney. One of the cases Mintzer handled was the defense of a man charged with sexually assaulting a minor. State forensic tests showed that Mintzer's client fathered a child with the client's minor step-daughter. Both Mintzer and his client believed a successful defense would require challenging these test results. Mintzer's staff contacted the Service to arrange a review of the State's tests. The Service arranged the review, which confirmed the State's results. It later sent Mintzer multiple invoices requesting payment, but Mintzer did not pay the Service. Instead, he forwarded these invoices to his incarcerated client, who also did not pay.
This appeal arises from the Service's suit seeking payment from Mintzer under theories including breach of contract and, in the alternative, quantum meruit. The trial focused upon whether Mintzer or his client was liable for the Service's work. Mintzer contended he was not liable because he acted as the agent of a disclosed principal, his client, and “an agent of a disclosed principal is not liable in contract.” Robert L. Crill, Inc. v. Bond, 76 S.W.3d 411, 423 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2001, pet. denied).
The trial court's charge asked the jury to determine Mintzer's personal liability for both breach of contract and quantum meruit. In response to Question 1, the jury found that Mintzer and the Service had a contract “with regard to the provision of DNA testing services,” but it answered “No” when asked in Question 2 whether Mintzer failed to comply with the contract. In answer to Question 6 regarding quantum meruit, the jury found that the Service performed compensable work for Mintzer—that is, in the words of the instruction, that “valuable services [we]re rendered or materials furnished for [Mintzer] who knowingly accept[ed] and use[d] them and ... should [have] know[n] that the [Service] expect[ed] to be paid for the work.” The jury also found in Question 7 that the reasonable value of the work was $2,200.
Mintzer moved for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV), arguing among other things that the Service was barred from recovering in quantum meruit because the jury found an agreement between Mintzer and the Service with regard to the testing services. The trial court denied the motion and signed a judgment on the verdict. This appeal followed.
Analysis
In two issues, Mintzer argues that the trial court erred by awarding the Service damages in quantum meruit. First, he contends that the jury's findings regarding the contract preclude quantum meruit liability. Second, he argues that insufficient evidence supports the jury's quantum meruit findings. Because we sustain Mintzer's first issue, we need not address his second.
I. Standard of review
Mintzer challenged the jury's verdict in a motion for JNOV, which the trial court denied. JNOV is proper when the evidence is conclusive and one party is entitled to prevail as a matter of law, or when a legal principle precludes recovery. Autry v. Dearman, 933 S.W.2d 182, 190 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1996, writ denied). The latter circumstance can occur when the record demonstrates that a theory of liability found by the jury is barred as a matter of law. Id. at 191.
II. Because the jury found that a contract covered the testing services, as a matter of law, the Service cannot recover in quantum meruit.
Quantum meruit is an equitable remedy based on an implied promise to pay for benefits received. Bluelinx Corp. v. Texas Constr. Sys., Inc., 363 S.W.3d 623, 627 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2011, no pet.). To recover in quantum meruit, a claimant must prove that (1) valuable services were rendered or materials furnished; (2) for the person sought to be charged; (3) and were accepted by the person sought to be charged; (4) under circumstances that reasonably notified the person sought to be charged that the plaintiff, in performing the services or furnishing the materials, expected to be paid by the person sought to be charged. Weaver v. Jamar, 383 S.W.3d 805, 811 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, no pet.). The measure of recovery for quantum meruit is the reasonable value of the services. Hudson v. Cooper, 162 S.W.3d 685, 688 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2005, no pet.).
Quantum meruit implies a contract in circumstances where the parties neglected to form one, but equity nonetheless requires payment for beneficial services rendered and knowingly accepted. In re Kellogg Brown & Root, Inc., 166 S.W.3d 732, 740 (Tex.2005). As a result, “[a] party generally cannot recover under quantum meruit where there is a valid contract covering the services or materials furnished.” Id.; see also Truly v. Austin, 744 S.W.2d 934, 936 (Tex.1988); Gen. Homes, Inc. v. Denison, 625 S.W.2d 794, 796 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1981, no writ) (describing the rule as “well settled law”). When the parties themselves create a valid contract, there can be no recovery under a contract implied by law. Union Bldg. Corp. v. J & J Bldg. & Maint. Contractors, Inc., 578 S.W.2d 519, 520 (Tex.Civ.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1979, writ ref'd n.r.e.). The jury must determine any contested fact issues that would bear on a quantum meruit claim, but the ultimate question “of how much, if any, equitable relief should be awarded, must be determined by the trial court.” Hudson, 162 S.W.3d at 688.
There are exceptions to this general rule, see Bluelinx Corp., 363 S.W.3d at 629, but neither party contends that they apply here.
Here, the jury found in Question 1 that the parties had an agreement with regard to the provision of testing services, and neither party challenges that finding on appeal. Because a contract covered the services at issue, the Service cannot recover in quantum meruit. Instead, the contract defines the Service's rights.
Moreover, because the jury answered “No” when asked whether Mintzer failed to comply with the contract, and did not answer the damages question regarding breach of contract, the Service cannot recover under a breach of contract theory. The Service also has not challenged this finding on appeal. As a result, the Service should take nothing. Cf. Christus Health v. Quality Infusion Care, Inc., 359 S.W.3d 719, 725 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2011, no pet.) (where jury implicitly found that express contract existed, trial court erred by awarding quantum meruit damages); Kittyhawk Landing Apartments III v. Anglin Constr. Co., 737 S.W.2d 90, 94 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1987, writ ref'd n.r.e.) (where existence of contract barred quantum meruit and plaintiff failed to submit contract claim to jury, judgment was rendered that plaintiff take nothing).
The Service disagrees with this analysis, arguing that the jury's response to Question 1 does not necessarily represent a finding that an express contract covered the subject of the parties' agreement. The jury answered “Yes” to this question, which asked: “Did [the Service] and RAND MINTZER have an agreement with regard to the provision of DNA testing services?” The Service contends this does not amount to a finding that an “express contract” existed because: (1) whatever agreement the jury found was not a “contract” as it did not include a consideration term; and (2) the jury could have found that the parties had an “implied” contract, which the Service distinguishes from an “express” contract and which, the Service contends, would not bar its quantum meruit claim.
To address these arguments, which we ultimately reject, we must review the jury's findings. When reviewing jury findings, we must try to interpret them in a manner that supports the judgment. W & F Transp., Inc. v. Wilhelm, 208 S.W.3d 32, 44 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, no pet.). To do so, we may examine the record in order to ascertain the jury's intent. Id. We may not, however, speculate about what the jury intended in reaching a particular verdict or create certainty out of jury findings that are ambiguous. Id.
A. The Service failed to preserve its argument that the agreement found by the jury was unsupported by consideration.
In its first argument, the Service contends that the agreement found by the jury could not have been supported by consideration. Its argument is as follows: The jury found that there was an agreement and failed to find a breach even though undisputed evidence established that Mintzer did not pay for the Service's work; thus, whatever the agreement's substance, it could not have required the payment of consideration and therefore is not a contract barring recovery in quantum meruit.
As an initial matter, it was unnecessary for the jury to find that consideration supported the parties' agreement because the question of consideration, while sometimes based upon ultimate facts found by the jury, is generally a question of law. Schepps Grocery Co. v. Burroughs Corp., 635 S.W.2d 606, 608 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1982, no writ). Moreover, to the extent the Service contends there was legally insufficient evidence of consideration, it failed to preserve this issue in the trial court. Following the jury's verdict, Mintzer filed his JNOV motion arguing that the jury's finding of a contract precluded recovery in quantum meruit. If the Service wanted to eliminate the legal effect of the contract finding to clear the way for a quantum meruit recovery, the preferable course would have been to file a motion to disregard the contract finding as unsupported by legally sufficient evidence because consideration was lacking. But the Service never argued below that the contract found by the jury was unsupported by consideration. Because the Service failed to raise this issue in the trial court, it is not preserved for our review. SeeTex.R.App. P. 33.1; Watts v. Oliver, 396 S.W.3d 124, 132 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2013, no pet.) (“As a general rule, an appellant must first complain to the trial court by a timely request, objection, or motion and obtain a ruling as a prerequisite for appellate review of that complaint.”).
Even if the Service had preserved this issue, however, we conclude that it fails on the merits. The undisputed evidence at trial showed that if a contract existed, it was supported by consideration. The parties both understood someone would pay for the Service's work. The Service's theory was that Mintzer would pay. Mintzer's theory was that only Mintzer's client—not Mintzer himself—was obliged to pay. See Robert L. Crill, Inc., 76 S.W.3d at 423.
As part of the contract question, the jury was instructed:
When an attorney contracts with a third party for the benefit of a client for goods or services to be used in connection with the attorney's representation of a particular client and the third party is aware of these facts, the attorney is not liable on the contract unless he expressly or impliedly assumes some type of liability.
Based upon this instruction, the jury could have found that although Mintzer did contract with the Service, he did so for his client's benefit without assuming personal liability. Such a finding would be consistent with evidence offered at trial and also explains the jury's answers to the contract questions: “Yes,” the Service and Mintzer had an agreement regarding the provision of testing services, and “No,” Mintzer did not “fail to comply with [it]” because the jury concluded that only his client was liable. See id. Regardless of whether Mintzer or his client was bound to pay under the contract, however, the existence of a contract covering the services at issue bars recovery in quantum meruit. See Hester v. Friedkin Cos., 132 S.W.3d 100, 107 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, pet. denied) (holding existence of contract barred quantum meruit recovery against nonparty to the contract).
No party challenges the correctness of this instruction, so we express no opinion on that issue.
In sum, there was no evidence that the Service's agreement to provide testing services was “a mere promise of a gift.” See Roark v. Stallworth Oil & Gas, Inc., 813 S.W.2d 492, 496 (Tex.1991). Rather, the undisputed evidence established that if there was a contract, it was supported by consideration. We therefore reject the Service's argument that the contract was unsupported by consideration and does not bar recovery in quantum meruit.
B. Even if the jury found an “implied-in-fact” rather than an “express” contract, that finding bars recovery in quantum meruit.
The Service also argues that the contract found by the jury in Question 1 was likely an “implied contract.” The Service contends that, unlike an “express contract,” an implied contract does not preclude the application of quantum meruit.
The law recognizes different types of implied contracts. Quantum meruit is one type of “implied-in-law” or “quasi-” contract. Excess Underwriters at Lloyd's, London v. Frank's Casing Crew & Rental Tools, Inc., 246 S.W.3d 42, 49 (Tex.2008). These contracts, properly speaking, “[are] not ... contract[s] at all.” Fortune Prod. Co. v. Conoco, Inc., 52 S.W.3d 671, 684 (Tex.2000) (quoting Calamari et al, The Law of Contracts, § 1–12 (3d ed. 1987)). No agreement is required, so the parties need not have a meeting of the minds. See id. Instead, the law imposes obligations “to do justice even though it is clear that no promise was ever made or intended.” Id. Because the imposition of an implied-in-law contract is ultimately a legal question for the court, see Hudson, 162 S.W.3d at 688, we do not understand the Service to argue that the jury found an implied-in-law contract in this case.
In Ramirez Co. v. Housing Authority of City of Houston, we described the different types of contracts, saying, “[T]here is the implied [-]in[-]fact contract, called quantum meruit, wherein there is no express agreement but the conduct of the parties implies an agreement to contract from which an obligation in contract exists.” 777 S.W.2d 167, 173 n. 12 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1989, no writ). Ramirez Co.'s description of quantum meruit as a species of implied-in-fact contract contradicts language in several supreme court opinions. See, e.g., In re Kellogg Brown & Root, Inc., 166 S.W.3d at 740 (“ Quantum meruit is an equitable remedy that is based upon the promise implied by law to pay for beneficial services rendered and knowingly accepted.” (quoting Vortt Exploration Co. v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc., 787 S.W.2d 942, 944 (Tex.1990)) (internal quotation marks omitted)); Campbell v. Nw. Nat'l Life Ins. Co., 573 S.W.2d 496, 498 (Tex.1978) (“[T]he right to recover in quantum meruit does not grow out of the contract, but is independent of it. This right is based upon [a] promise implied by law....”); Davidson v. Clearman, 391 S.W.2d 48, 50 (Tex.1965) (same). We also note that the treatise Ramirez Co. cited for support does not characterize quantum meruit as a type of implied-in-fact contract. See17 C.J.S. Contracts §§ 2, 4, 6. Because Ramirez Co.'s treatment of quantum meruit departs from these authorities, we do not view it as controlling.
Instead, the Service appears to contend that the jury could have found an “implied-in-fact” contract, which is really just a contract. “[T]he distinction between an express and an implied[-in-fact] contract is of little importance, if it can be said to exist at all.” Haws & Garrett Gen. Contractors, Inc. v. Gorbett Bros. Welding Co., 480 S.W.2d 607, 609 (Tex.1972). The only difference is that an express contract “arises when the contractual terms are stated by the parties,” and an implied-in-fact contract “arises from the acts and conduct of the parties, it being implied from the facts and circumstances that there was a mutual intention to contract.” Id. In both cases, “[the] contractual duty is imposed by reason of a promissory expression.” Id.; see also Mann Frankfort Stein & Lipp Advisors, Inc. v. Fielding, 289 S.W.3d 844, 850 (Tex.2009). Thus, “[t]he legal effect of [express and implied-in-fact] contracts are identical; the distinction is based on the way in which mutual assent is manifested.” 1 Williston, A Treatise on the Law of Contracts § 1:5 (Richard Lord ed., 4th ed. 1990); see alsoRestatement (Second) Contracts § 4 cmt. a (1981), quotedin Mann Frankfort Stein & Lipp Advisors, Inc., 289 S.W.3d at 850.
As a result, although many Texas cases speak of an “express” contract barring recovery in quantum meruit, courts have recognized that contracts in which some or all of the terms are implied-in-fact will also bar recovery in quantum meruit. As Williston explains, “in situations involving true contracts”—those created by “promise or mutual assent of the parties, express or implied”—“the parties' rights are determined by law and by the terms of the contract; by contrast, when quasi-contract [i.e. quantum meruit] is involved, liability is determined by principles of equity and justice and the intent of the parties is immaterial.” Williston, supra § 1:6; see Ferrous Prods. Co. v. Gulf States Trading Co., 323 S.W.2d 292, 296–97 (Tex.Civ.App.-Houston, 1959), aff'd, 160 Tex. 399, 332 S.W.2d 310, 312 (1960). Thus, “[a] court properly resorts to quasi-contract only in the absence of an express contract or contract implied-in-fact.” Williston, supra § 1:6.
E.g., Fortune Prod. Co., 52 S.W.3d at 684;Truly, 744 S.W.2d at 936. These cases did not address whether an implied-in-fact contract will bar quantum meruit.
See, e.g., Pepi Corp. v. Galliford, 254 S.W.3d 457, 462 & n. 4 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, pet. denied) (where party denied existence of a contract, but contended he had agreed to do work and expected recompense, contract barring quantum meruit existed); Double Diamond, Inc. v. Hilco Elec. Coop., Inc., 127 S.W.3d 260, 267, 268 (Tex.App.-Waco 2003, no pet.) (where summary judgment established that either an express or implied contract existed, quantum meruit was barred); see also WPS, Inc. v. Expro Americas, LLC, 369 S.W.3d 384, 410–11 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2012, pet. denied) (H. Brown, J., dissenting) (agreeing with majority that conduct of parties demonstrated a contract, and noting that quantum meruit would therefore generally be precluded); Freeman v. Carroll, 499 S.W.2d 668, 670 (Tex.Civ.App.-Tyler 1973, writ ref'd n.r.e.) (in case where evidence would have supported, but did not conclusively establish, existence of a contract, court noted in dicta that, had the jury returned a finding that a contract existed, quantum meruit claim would have been barred).
See also New Econ. Capital, LLC v. New Mkts. Capital Grp., 881 A.2d 1087, 1095 (D.C.2005); Weichert Co. Realtors v. Ryan, 128 N.J. 427, 608 A.2d 280, 285 (1992).
See also David Dittfurth, Restitution in Texas: Civil Liability for Unjust Enrichment, 54 S. Tex. L.Rev. 225, 246 (2012) (“[T]he quantum meruit cause of action allows recovery only when no valid, express or implied-in-fact agreement exists between the parties.”).
This rule makes jurisprudential sense because “mutual assent” is present in a contract “[r]egardless of whether [it] is based on express or implied promises,” and courts will not override this mutual assent by imposing a different bargain on the parties in quantum meruit. Excess Underwriters at Lloyd's, London, 246 S.W.3d at 50;Dallas Elec. Supply Co. v. Branum Co., 143 Tex. 366, 185 S.W.2d 427, 429 (1945). Moreover, a contrary rule that only express contracts in which every single term is stated by the parties can bar recovery in quantum meruit would be extremely difficult to administer. Under that rule, parties seeking an alternative recovery in quantum meruit would have an incentive to contend that at least one term of the contract—however minor or inconsequential to the dispute—was supplied by the parties' conduct rather than by an oral or written statement. We see no reason to force courts or juries to engage in such murky and burdensome line-drawing exercises.
Mann, Frankfort, Stein & Lipp Advisors, Inc., 289 S.W.3d at 850.
Cf. Dallas Joint Stock Land Bank v. Colbert, 127 S.W.2d 1004, 1008 (Tex.Civ.App.-Eastland 1939) (noting plaintiff's alternative liability theories based upon (1) an express contract, (2) “an express contract, except as to one provision relating to the rate of compensation which was implied (in fact),” and (3) quantum meruit), rev'd, 136 Tex. 268, 150 S.W.2d 771 (1941).
In this case, the Service contends the jury's finding that a contract existed does not bar recovery in quantum meruit because the jury likely found an implied-in-fact contract. We agree it was possible for the jury to answer “Yes” to Question 1 if it found either an express or an implied-in-fact contract. This possibility does not affect our analysis, however. For the reasons just discussed, even if the jury did find a contract based in whole or part upon the “acts and conduct of the parties” rather than “contractual terms ... stated by the parties,” Haws & Garrett Gen. Contractors, 480 S.W.2d at 609, the terms of the contract would still govern the parties' remedies and quantum meruit would still be barred. We therefore reject the Service's argument that it could recover quantum meruit damages notwithstanding an implied-in-fact contract.
Our dissenting colleague attributes this possibility to an instruction accompanying Question 1 that we quoted previously, which explains that an attorney may “expressly or impliedly” assume liability. But a standard instruction from the Texas Pattern Jury Charges also accompanied Question 1, and it likewise provides for a “Yes” answer if the jury finds an implied-in-fact contract. See Comm. on Pattern Jury Charges, State Bar of Tex., Texas Pattern Jury Charges: Business, Consumer, Insurance, Employment PJC 101.3 (2012) (“In deciding whether the parties reached an agreement, you may consider what they said and did in light of the surrounding circumstances ....” (emphasis added)). If the Service were correct that an implied-in-fact contract does not bar recovery in quantum meruit, then an affirmative finding in response to the pattern question and instructions on contract formation would be insufficient to trigger the bar—a result that would likely come as a surprise to courts and litigants across Texas. As explained above, however, we conclude that such a finding does trigger the bar.
Our dissenting colleague contends that we are rejecting the Service's argument based on error that Mintzer did not preserve in the trial court or argue on appeal. We respectfully disagree because our analysis relies on the jury's unchallenged finding that a contract existed, just as Mintzer has throughout. In the trial court, Mintzer's motion for JNOV asserted that the trial court should “disregard the jury's answers to the quantum meruit questions because those answers are inconsistent as a matter of law with the jury's answers to the contract questions”—particularly the jury's finding “that there was an agreement” between the parties. “Based on the jury's answers,” Mintzer contended, “the [Service] is barred from recovery in this case under the theory of quantum meruit.” See Fortune Prod. Co., 52 S.W.3d at 683 (holding effect of contract on claim for unjust enrichment is question of law).
We do not understand the dissent to contend that this argument could not be preserved in a JNOV motion. The dissent points out that Mintzer included a footnote in his motion stating that he did not concede the existence of a contract, but Mintzer did not move to disregard the jury's finding of a contract. Rather, as the language quoted above shows, he sought to use that finding to bar the Service from recovering in quantum meruit as a matter of law.
Similarly, on appeal, Mintzer argues in his first issue that “[t]he contract found by the jury covers the same services alleged in the quantum meruit action” and thus bars the Service from recovering in quantum meruit. He also cites cases, as he did in the trial court, holding that an express contract bars recovery in quantum meruit. In its appellee's brief, the Service asserts in passing—and for the first time in this litigation (as far as our record shows)—that the jury “more likely” found an “implied contract.” Given the supreme court's consistent directive that “appellate courts should reach the merits of an appeal whenever reasonably possible,” Perry v. Cohen, 272 S.W.3d 585, 587 (Tex.2008), we do not see how the Service's appellate characterization of the jury's finding can retroactively “unpreserve” Mintzer's consistent position that this finding bars quantum meruit. Accordingly, it is proper for this Court to consider Mintzer's position, and we conclude that his position has merit as explained above.
The Service cites no cases holding that the contract bar to quantum meruit does not encompass implied-in-fact contracts, nor does it explain why that should be the rule.
Conclusion
Because the parties' contract bars recovery in quantum meruit, the trial court erred in denying Mintzer's motion for JNOV. We therefore sustain Mintzer's first issue, reverse the judgment, and render judgment that the Service take nothing. FROST, C.J., dissents.
KEM THOMPSON FROST, Chief Justice, dissenting.
At the threshold of appellate analysis is the consideration of whether an issue is open for review and whether it is being urged on appeal. Subject to a few exceptions not in play in today's case, unpreserved error is not open for review. Yet, today's decision turns on unpreserved error not argued on appeal.
Appellee/plaintiff Houston Medical Testing Services, Inc. (“the Service”) sued appellant/defendant Rand Mintzer seeking to recover on a quantum-meruit claim. Under Texas law, a quantum-meruit claimant generally may not recover the reasonable value of services rendered or materials supplied if there is an express contract covering those services or materials. Notably, to prove its quantum-meruit claim, the Service need not prove that the services it rendered are not covered by an express contract. Instead, the existence of an express contract covering these services is an affirmative defense that Mintzer had the burden to plead and prove. Mintzer raised this express-contract defense in his motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (“JNOV Motion”) and in his first issue on appeal.
The Service is the appellant, and Mintzer is the appellee in Cause No. 14–12–00506–CV, which is part of these consolidated appeals. But, the main focus of the majority's analysis is Cause No. 14–12–00524–CV, in which Mintzer is the appellant and the Service is the appellee.
See Truly v. Austin, 744 S.W.2d 934, 936 (Tex.1988); Hester v. Friedkin Cos., 132 S.W.3d 100, 106–07 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, pet. denied). Though there are a few exceptions to this rule, they do not apply in today's case. See id. at 936–37.
See Weaver v. Jamar, 383 S.W.3d 805, 811 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, no pet.).
See Fortune Prod. Co. v. Conoco, Inc., 52 S.W.3d 671, 683–85 (Tex.2000); Freeman v. Carroll, 499 S.W.2d 668, 670 (Tex.Civ.App.-Tyler 1973, writ ref'd n.r.e.).
In sustaining Mintzer's first issue, the majority addresses whether a plaintiff may recover the reasonable value of services rendered or materials supplied under a quantum-meruit claim if there is an implied contract covering those services or materials. The parties have not cited, and research has not revealed, any Texas cases holding that a plaintiff may not recover the reasonable value of services rendered or materials supplied under a quantum-meruitclaim if there is an implied contract covering those services or materials. None of the cases cited by the majority so hold. This implied-contract issue appears to be one of first impression in Texas.
See ante at pp. 697–700.
Before considering whether the express-contract defense should be extended to include implied contracts, as a first principle this court must consider whether these arguments were made in the trial court. If they were not, then this court should not entertain them. As demonstrated below, Mintzer did not raise the implied-contract issue either in the trial court or on appeal.
On appeal Mintzer argues that the jury's finding in response to Question 1 entitled him to judgment notwithstanding the verdict as to the quantum-meruit claim, based upon the express-contract affirmative defense.
In his first issue, which the majority sustains, Mintzer asserts that “[t]he trial court should not have rendered judgment against [him] because an express contract for the services provided by [the Service] bars it from recovering in quantum meruit.” Mintzer summarizes his argument under this issue as follows: “Because there is an express contract regarding [the Service's] services it can not [sic] recover under quantum meruit.” In making this argument, the legal principle on which Mintzer relies is “[a]n express contract between the parties precludes a plaintiff from recovering for services rendered in quantum meruit if the contract covers those services and if no exception to the general rule applies.” Mintzer concludes that “the subject matter of the express contract covers the services provided by [the Service] and the equitable remedy of quantum meruit is unavailable.” Both in his summary of the argument and in his argument under the first issue Mintzer consistently asserts a straightforward argument: the express-contract defense applies and precludes judgment in the Service's favor on the quantum-meruit claim based on the jury's finding in response to Question 1. On appeal, Mintzer does not assert or argue that (1) a plaintiff may not recover the reasonable value of services rendered or materials supplied under a quantum-meruit claim if there is an implied contract covering those services or materials or (2) the express-contract defense should be extended to include implied contracts.
In the trial court, Mintzer argued that the jury's finding in response to Question 1 entitled him to judgment notwithstanding the verdict as to the quantum-meruit claim, based upon the express-contract affirmative defense.
In the trial court, Mintzer did not plead the express-contract affirmative defense, nor did he plead that the Service may not recover the reasonable value of its services under a quantum-meruit claim because there was an implied contract covering those services. Mintzer did not prove at trial that an express contract covered the services allegedly rendered by the Service. Under the familiar standard of review, the trial evidence is legally insufficient to support a finding that an express contract covering these services existed between the Service and Mintzer. Not only was there no pleading or proof of an express contract, but Mintzer made no argument that there was. Indeed, far from asserting that the trial evidence conclusively proved the existence of an express contract covering these services, in his JNOV Motion, Mintzer stated that he did not concede the existence of such a contract and that there was no evidence at trial of such a contract. Instead, Mintzer based this part of his JNOV Motion on the jury's finding in response to Question 1, which no party moved to set aside. In his JNOV Motion, Mintzer asserted that this jury finding entitled him to judgment notwithstanding the verdict as to the quantum-meruit claim, based upon the express-contract affirmative defense. In the trial court, Mintzer did not assert or argue that (1) a plaintiff may not recover the reasonable value of services rendered or materials supplied under a quantum-meruit claim if there is an implied contract covering those services or materials or (2) the express-contract defense should be extended to include implied contracts.
In the JNOV Motion, Mintzer asserted that (1) there was no evidence that the Service ever asked Mintzer to pay for the services to be rendered for the benefit of Mintzer's client; (2) neither Mintzer nor any member of his staff ever promised to pay the Service; and (3) there was no evidence that special arrangements were made for Mintzer to pay the Service or that Mintzer undertook liability for payment of any fees associated with the services to be provided by the Service for the benefit of Mintzer's client.
In the JNOV Motion, Mintzer also asserted that the trial evidence was legally insufficient to support the jury's liability finding as to the quantum-meruit claim. On appeal, Mintzer raises this complaint in his second issue. The majority does not address this issue, and it is not addressed in this dissenting opinion.
The argument asserted by Mintzer in the trial court and on appeal regarding the express-contract defense lacks merit.
In Question 1 regarding contract formation, the trial court instructed the jury as follows:
When an attorney contracts with a third party for the benefit of a client for goods or services to be used in connection with the attorney's representation of a particular client and the third party is aware of these facts, the attorney is not liable on the contract unless he expressly or impliedly assumes some type of liability.
The evidence at trial conclusively established the factual predicate in this instruction; therefore, the trial court effectively instructed the jury that Mintzer could form a contract with the Service either expressly or impliedly. Thus, the jury's affirmative finding in response to Question 1 is a finding that the Service and Mintzer had either an express contract or an implied contract regarding the DNA testing services. Because the evidence did not conclusively prove the express-contract defense, Mintzer had the burden to obtain a jury finding that an express contract existed between the Service and Mintzer covering these services. But, the jury's unchallenged finding in response to Question 1 is not a finding of an express contract; rather, it is a finding of either an express contract or an implied contract. By failing to conclusively prove or obtain a jury finding as to the express-contract defense, Mintzer waived this defense. Consequently, the argument in Mintzer's first appellate issue and in the corresponding part of his JNOV Motion lacks merit. The trial court correctly overruled this part of the JNOV Motion, and this court should overrule the first issue.
See Fortune Prod. Co., 52 S.W.3d at 683–85;Freeman, 499 S.W.2d at 670.
See Fortune Prod. Co., 52 S.W.3d at 683–85;Freeman, 499 S.W.2d at 670.
See Fortune Prod. Co., 52 S.W.3d at 683–85;Freeman, 499 S.W.2d at 670.
This court should not reverse the trial court's judgment based on an issue of first impression that was neither preserved in the trial court nor argued on appeal.
The majority relies upon an implied-contract defense to a quantum-meruit claim in sustaining the first issue and reversingthe trial court's judgment. But, this issue of apparent first impression was not preserved in the trial court or presented in this court. And, even if Mintzer had raised this issue on appeal, he has not provided any argument, analysis, or citations to show that the trial court erred in denying his JNOV Motion based upon this implied-contract defense. Thus, even under a liberal construction of Mintzer's brief, he has failed to brief this issue adequately.
SeeTex.R.App. P. 38.1(i); San Saba Energy, L.P. v. Crawford, 171 S.W.3d 323, 337 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2005, no pet.).
A timely and specific argument alerts the trial court and the adversary to the alleged error, giving both an opportunity to fix the problem and thereby avert the need to raise the issue on appeal. Requiring error preservation avoids unfairness to the other party, gives deference to the trial court, and encourages the proper administration of justice by having the parties and the trial court focus the issues before they reach the appellate level. In this way, imposing a preservation requirement fosters the efficient resolution of the case, saves time and money, and conserves appellate resources. Requiring parties to preserve error also discourages “lying behind the log” and other forms of gamesmanship. For these and other reasons, as a general policy matter, Texas appellate courts will not review non-jurisdictional legal arguments raised for the first time on appeal.
See Mansions in the Forest, L.P. v. Montgomery County, 365 S.W.3d 314, 317 (Tex.2012) (per curiam).
See id.
See id.
See id.
See id.
This court should not base today's decision on unpreserved error not argued by the parties on appeal. Because it does, I respectfully dissent.