Minshall et al v. Dufurrena et al
Filing
79
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER Granting in Part and Denying in Part 50 MOTION for Summary Judgment on Claims Asserted in Plaintiffs' Second Amended Complaint filed by Hartman Equine Reproduction Center, P.A., Denying 68 MOTION for Summary Judgment on Claims in Plaintiffs' Third Amended Complaint filed by Hartman Equine Reproduction Center, P.A.. Signed by Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on 11/8/16. (cm, )
United States District Court
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
SHERMAN DIVISION
SHAWN MINSHALL, LISA VICTORIA
MINSHALL, LAUREN VICTORIA
MINSHALL
v.
HARTMAN EQUINE REPRODUCTION
CENTER, P.A
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Civil Action No. 4:15-CV-00764-ALM
Judge Mazzant
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Pending before the Court is Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment on Claims
Asserted in Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Complaint (Dkt. #50) and Defendant’s Motion for
Summary Judgment on Claims Asserted in Plaintiffs’ Third Amended Complaint (Dkt. #68).
After reviewing the relevant pleadings, the Court finds that the Motion for Summary Judgment
on Claims Asserted in Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Complaint should be granted in part and
denied in part. Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment on Claims Asserted in Plaintiffs’
Third Amended Complaint should be denied.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiffs are the owners of a thoroughbred racing operation, Minshall Farms. Defendant
Hartman Equine Reproduction Center, P.A. (“Defendant”) is a stallion station and veterinarian
practice operated by Dr. David Hartman (“Dr. Hartman”). In the spring of 2012, Plaintiffs began
searching for a horse to breed with their mare, Miss Tassa Lena. Miss Tassa Lena is a carrier of
Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Asthenia (“HERDA”), a genetic skin disease which results
in large lesions over a horse’s body, as well as hyperextensible skin and scarring. Plaintiffs
sought to breed Miss Tassa Lena with a horse that was not a carrier of the HERDA gene to avoid
any risk of foaling and raising a HERDA affected horse. In April 2012, Lauren Victoria
Minshall (“Lauren”) approached Ed and Shona Dufurrena (the “Dufurrenas”) about breeding
their horse, Auspicious Cat, with Miss Tassa Lena. Auspicious Cat is a descendant of High
Brow Cat, a famous horse known to be a HERDA carrier.
Lauren specifically asked the
Dufurrenas whether Auspicious Cat was a HERDA carrier and they verbally represented to
Lauren that he had a genetic profile of “N/N,” meaning he tested double negative for the
HERDA gene. The Dufurrenas also published advertisements indicating that Auspicious Cat
was not a HERDA carrier.
On or about April 15, 2012, Plaintiffs entered into a Stallion Service Contract with
Defendant to breed Miss Tassa Lena with Auspicious Cat. The Stallion Service Contract does
not contain any terms or representations regarding Auspicious Cat’s or the resulting foal’s
HERDA status. As part of the breeding process, Defendant agreed with the Dufurrenas to collect
the stallion and facilitate the shipment of semen to Plaintiffs. Defendant charged a “chute fee”
for the service of collecting and shipping the semen to Plaintiffs. Defendant did not represent to
Plaintiffs that Auspicious Cat’s HERDA status was double negative.
Defendant’s website
likewise did not contain information regarding Auspicious Cat’s HERDA status. Dr. Hartman
testified that there was a two in three chance Auspicious Cat was a HERDA carrier. Dr.
Hartman twice raised Auspicious Cat’s HERDA status with the Dufurrenas, noting that many of
High Brow Cat’s descendants were HERDA carriers, but the Dufurrenas stated that Auspicious
Cat was not a carrier. Melinda DeFreece (“DeFreece”), Defendant’s office manager, received at
least three inquiries regarding Auspicious Cat’s HERDA status.
DeFreece referred those
inquiries to the Dufurrenas and on one occasion replied to a potential client that Auspicious Cat
was HERDA “N/N.”
Dr. Hartman did not ask the Dufurrenas to test Auspicious Cat for
HERDA.
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On April 25, 2013, Miss Tassa Lena gave birth to the foal, Dr. Ozz. In April 2015,
Plaintiffs received a call from Dr. Ozz’s trainer informing them that after a few saddlings, Dr.
Ozz developed a “large painful area over his back due to an apparent thickening of his skin.”
Plaintiffs tested Dr. Ozz for HERDA and on May 1, 2015, learned that Dr. Ozz has a genetic
profile of “HRD/HRD,” meaning he is affected with HERDA.
During the course of the
litigation, Plaintiffs discovered that in October 2009, the Dufurrenas tested Auspicious Cat for
HERDA and learned he had the genetic profile of “N/HRD,” meaning he is a HERDA carrier.
On February 26, 2016, Plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint alleging (1)
violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act; (2) breach of contract; (3) negligent
misrepresentation and negligence; and (4) fraud by nondisclosure (Dkt. #35). On April 7, 2016,
Plaintiffs filed a Third Amended Complaint additionally alleging (5) fraud; (6) joint enterprise;
(7) civil conspiracy; and (8) aiding and abetting (Dkt. #38). On May 19, 2016, Defendant filed a
Motion for Summary Judgment on Claims Asserted in Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Complaint
(Dkt. #50). 1 On June 6, 2016, Plaintiffs filed a response (Dkt. #54) and on August 19, 2016 filed
an amended response (Dkt. #63). Defendant filed a reply to Plaintiffs’ response on August 26,
2016 (Dkt. #65). On September 9, 2016, Defendant filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on
Claims in Plaintiffs’ Third Amended Complaint (Dkt. #68). On September 23, 2016, Plaintiffs
filed a response (Dkt. #70). Defendant filed a reply to Plaintiffs’ response on September 28,
2016 (Dkt. #72).
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On April 28, 2016, the Court granted Plaintiffs’ Motion for Leave to File Plaintiffs’ Third Amended Complaint
and denied Plaintiffs’ Motion to file Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Original Complaint as moot (Dkt. #42). Rather
than deny Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment on Claims Asserted in Plaintiff’s Second Amended
Complaint (Dkt. #50) as moot, the Court will consider the motion to the extent it addresses claims asserted in
Plaintiffs’ Third Amended Complaint.
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LEGAL STANDARD
The purpose of summary judgment is to isolate and dispose of factually unsupported
claims or defenses. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 327 (1986). Summary judgment
is proper if the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits
“[show] that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law.” FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a). A dispute about a material fact is genuine
“if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.”
Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). The trial court must resolve all
reasonable doubts in favor of the party opposing the motion for summary judgment. Casey
Enters., Inc. v. Am. Hardware Mut. Ins. Co., 655 F.2d 598, 602 (5th Cir. 1981) (citations
omitted). The substantive law identifies which facts are material. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248.
The party moving for summary judgment has the burden to show that there is no genuine
issue of material fact and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Id. at 247. If the
movant bears the burden of proof on a claim or defense on which it is moving for summary
judgment, it must come forward with evidence that establishes “beyond peradventure all of the
essential elements of the claim or defense.” Fontenot v. Upjohn Co., 780 F.2d 1190, 1194 (5th
Cir. 1986). Where the nonmovant bears the burden of proof, the movant may discharge its
burden by showing that there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmovant’s case.
Celotex, 477 U.S. at 325; Byers v. Dall. Morning News, Inc., 209 F.3d 419, 424 (5th Cir. 2000).
Once the movant has carried its burden, the nonmovant must “respond to the motion for
summary judgment by setting forth particular facts indicating there is a genuine issue for trial.”
Byers, 209 F.3d at 424 (citing Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248-49). The nonmovant must adduce
affirmative evidence. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 257. No “mere denial of material facts nor . . .
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unsworn allegations [nor] arguments and assertions in briefs or legal memoranda” will suffice to
carry this burden. Moayedi v. Compaq Comput. Corp., 98 F. App’x 335, 338 (5th Cir. 2004).
Rather, the Court requires “significant probative evidence” from the nonmovant in order to
dismiss a request for summary judgment supported appropriately by the movant. United States
v. Lawrence, 276 F.3d 193, 197 (5th Cir. 2001). The Court must consider all of the evidence, but
must refrain from making any credibility determinations or weighing the evidence. See Turner v.
Baylor Richardson Med. Ctr., 476 F.3d 337, 343 (5th Cir. 2007).
ANALYSIS
Breach of Contract
Plaintiffs contend that Defendant breached the Stallion Service Contract by “failing to
provide a stallion that was free from the HERDA gene.” To succeed on a breach of contract
claim, Plaintiffs must establish (1) a valid contract; (2) performance or tendered performance by
the plaintiff; (3) breach of the contract by the defendant; and (4) damages sustained by the
plaintiff as a result of the breach. Marquis Acquisitions, Inc. v. Steadfast Ins. Co., 409 S.W.3d
808, 813 (Tex. App. 2013). Here, the Stallion Service Contract did not contain any terms or
representations regarding Auspicious Cat’s or the foal’s HERDA status (Dkt. #63, Exhibit 10).
The Stallion Service Contract “contains the entire agreement between the parties and may be
amended only in writing signed by each of the parties.” (Dkt. #63, Exhibit 10). Plaintiffs have
not produced evidence of any additional writing signed by the parties regarding Auspicious Cat’s
or the resulting foal’s HERDA status. Defendant’s motion for summary judgment on Plaintiffs’
breach of contract claim is therefore granted.
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Additional Claims
After a careful review of the record and the arguments presented, the Court is not
convinced that Defendant has met its burden demonstrating that there is no material issue of fact
entitling it to judgment as a matter of law on Plaintiffs’ (1) Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act;
(2) negligent misrepresentation and negligence; (3) fraud by nondisclosure; (4) fraud; (5) joint
enterprise; (6) civil conspiracy; and (7) aiding and abetting claims. The case should proceed to
trial on Plaintiffs’ remaining claims.
CONCLUSION
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It is therefore ORDERED that Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment on Claims
Asserted in Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Complaint (Dkt. #50) is hereby GRANTED in part and
DENIED in part. Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment on Claims Asserted in Plaintiffs’
Third Amended Complaint (Dkt. #68) is hereby DENIED.
SIGNED this 8th day of November, 2016.
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AMOS L. MAZZANT
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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