Cheshier v. Home Depot USA Inc
Filing
15
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER granting 6 Motion for Summary Judgment filed by Home Depot USA Inc. (Ordered by Judge Sidney A Fitzwater on 8/28/2017) (Judge Sidney A Fitzwater)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
DALLAS DIVISION
DIANE CHESHIER,
Plaintiff,
VS.
HOME DEPOT U.S.A., INC.,
Defendant.
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
Civil Action No. 3:17-CV-1688-D
MEMORANDUM OPINION
AND ORDER
Defendant Home Depot U.S.A., Inc.’s (“Home Depot’s”) July 18, 2017 motion for
summary judgment—to which plaintiff Diane Cheshier (“Cheshier”) has not responded—is
granted, and this action is dismissed with prejudice by judgment filed today.1
This is a removed action by Cheshier against Home Depot arising out of an incident
at a Home Depot store located on West Wheatland Road in Dallas. Cheshier alleges that she
tripped over lumber on a cart. She seeks to recover for personal injuries and related relief.
Home Depot moves for summary judgment. Cheshier has not responded to the motion.
When, as here, the summary judgment movant will not have the burden of proof on
a claim at trial, it can obtain summary judgment by pointing the court to the absence of
evidence on any essential element of the nonmovant’s claims. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett,
1
Under § 205(a)(5) of the E-Government Act of 2002 and the definition of “written
opinion” adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States, this is a “written opinion[]
issued by the court” because it “sets forth a reasoned explanation for [the] court’s decision.”
It has been written, however, primarily for the parties, to decide issues presented in this case,
and not for publication in an official reporter, and should be understood accordingly.
477 U.S. 317, 325 (1986). Once the movant does so, the nonmovant must go beyond her
pleadings and designate specific facts demonstrating that there is a genuine issue for trial.
See id. at 324; Little v. Liquid Air Corp., 37 F.3d 1069, 1075 (5th Cir. 1994) (en banc) (per
curiam). An issue is genuine if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a
verdict for the nonmovant. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). The
nonmovant’s failure to produce proof as to any essential element of a claim renders all other
facts immaterial. See TruGreen Landcare, L.L.C. v. Scott, 512 F.Supp.2d 613, 623 (N.D.
Tex. 2007) (Fitzwater, J.). Summary judgment is mandatory where the nonmovant fails to
meet this burden. Little, 37 F.3d at 1076.
Home Depot has pointed in its motion to the absence of evidence to support
Cheshier’s claims. See, e.g., D. Br. 2-4. The burden has therefore shifted to Cheshier to
present evidence that creates a genuine issue of material fact. Cheshier has not responded
to Home Depot’s motion.2 Although her failure to respond does not permit the court to enter
a “default” summary judgment, see, e.g., Tutton v. Garland Indep. Sch. Dist., 733 F. Supp.
1113, 1117 (N.D. Tex. 1990) (Fitzwater, J.), “[a] summary judgment nonmovant who does
not respond to the motion is relegated to her unsworn pleadings, which do not constitute
2
Cheshier’s response was due August 15, 2017. Home Depot filed its motion on July
18, 2017. The court on July 19, 2017 ordered Home Depot to file separate tables of contents
and authorities that were not included in its brief, as the local civil rules require. The court
in its order stated that Cheshier’s response was “not due until 21 days after defendant files
the separate document containing the tables of contents and authorities.” July 19, 2017 Order
at 2. Home Depot filed the required separate document containing tables of contents and
authorities on July 25, 2017, making Cheshier’s response due by August 15, 2017.
-2-
summary judgment evidence,” Bookman v. Shubzda, 945 F. Supp. 999, 1002 (N.D. Tex.
1996) (Fitzwater, J.) (citing Solo Serve Corp. v. Westowne Assocs., 929 F.2d 160, 165 (5th
Cir. 1991)). Moreover,
[i]f a party fails . . . to properly address another party’s assertion
of fact as required by Rule 56(c), the court may . . . (2) consider
the fact undisputed for purposes of the motion [and] (3) grant
summary judgment if the motion and supporting
materials—including the facts considered undisputed—show
that the movant is entitled to it[.]
Rule 56(e)(2), (3).
Because Home Depot has pointed to the absence of evidence to support Cheshier’s
claims and she has not produced evidence in response to the motion, Home Depot is entitled
to summary judgment dismissing Cheshier’s action with prejudice.
*
*
*
Accordingly, Home Depot’s July 18, 2017 motion for summary judgment is granted,
and this action is dismissed with prejudice by judgment filed today.
SO ORDERED.
August 28, 2017.
_________________________________
SIDNEY A. FITZWATER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
-3-
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?