Frederic Jardin v. Soren Marklund, Douglas Wene and Chem32, LLC
431 S.W.3d 765
Tex. App.
2014
Check Treatment

Frederic JARDIN, Appellant v. Soren MARKLUND, Douglas Wene and Chem32, LLC, Appellees.

No. 14-13-00616-CV.

Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (14th Dist.).

May 6, 2014.

Rehearing Overruled June 3, 2014.

Berens used during the hysterectomy. And although Dr. Schneider denied any liability for using the tools improperly, there is no doubt that she knew that their use of the tools caused the injury. In other words, Dr. Schneider knew that either she or Dr. Berens was responsible for the injury claimed now by Mrs. McQueen, and she actually agrees with one of the two theories of the plaintiff‘s expert as to how the injury occurred. However, she contends that she was not negligent in using the tools. It is undisputed that the sole instrumentality of the harm was the governmental unit itself. See .

Dr. Schneider could not identify any other possible сauses of the bowel injury. There were no abnormalities noted of the uterus as it was removed, and no other adhesions were observed. This is important because a pelvic adhesion can sometimes cause a bowel injury. There were no other problems with the bowel noted during the hysterectomy. There was no infection or inflammation preexisting that could have caused the bowel injury. Dr. Schneider ruled out all of these other causes of injury. Simply put, there was no other possible cause of the injury other than actions taken by the surgeons during the hysterectomy.

Just as in , Dr. Schneider had notice of the injury and the cause of the injury. She had actual notice of fault as defined by . The trial court‘s denial of the plea should be affirmed.

Matthew L. Hoeg, Houston, for Appellant.

Benjamin A. Escobar Jr., Houston, for Appellees.

Panel consists of Chief Justice FROST and Justices JAMISON and WISE.

SUBSTITUTE MAJORITY OPINION

MARTHA HILL JAMISON, Justice.

We issued our original majority opinion in this case on April 10, 2014. Appellant filed a motion for rehearing. We overrule the motion for rehearing, withdraw our previous opinion, and issue this substitute opinion.

In this accelerated appeal, appellant Frederic Jardin challenges the trial court‘s denial of his motion to dismiss the lawsuit under Chapter 27 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code §§ 27.001-27.011. Chapter 27 is the Texas Anti-SLAPP statute, referred to as the Texas Citizens’ Participation Act (TCPA). Concluding that the TCPA does not apply, we dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction.

Background

Two chemical companies, Eurеcat U.S., Inc. and Chem32, are involved in a dispute involving private issues, as discussed below. In a parallel lawsuit, Eurecat sued Chem32 for, among other things, misappropriation of confidential information and breach of fiduciary duties (the Eurecat Lawsuit).1 Jardin is currently Eurecat‘s vice president. Appellee Soren Marklund is Eurecat‘s former president, while appellee Douglas Wene was the plant manager at Eurecat‘s Pasadena facility. Marklund retired from Eurecat in 2011, and Wene resigned shortly thereafter.

Marklund and Wene retained their work computers when they left Eurecat. Jardin alleges that Marklund and Wene stole “comрuters, hard drives, software and files containing Eurecat‘s confidential, proprietary information, and trade secrets.” Marklund and Wene counter that they had permission to take the laptops and a desktop, onto which software licensed to Eurecat that contained proprietary information had been installed. Marklund alleges he was told that the software did not need to be removed from his laptop.

After leaving Eurecat, Marklund and Wene formed appellee Chem32, LLC, a competing company. Eurecat then sued appellees. Eurecat obtained a temporary restraining order enjoining appellees from “using or disclosing any misappropriated computer software or firmware programs and packages that belong to Eurecat or are, or contain, Eurecat‘s confidential and proprietary information” and “intentionally deleting, destroying or discarding any files or other documents that belong to Eurecat or that contain confidential or proprietary information that belongs to Eurecat” and ordering appellees to return “any and all files, property, software, firmware, and equipment that is the property of Eurecat.” The trial court signed an agreed temporary injunction requiring appellees to surrender any documents and intellectual property belonging to Eurecat.

Appellees produced documents in the Eurecat Lawsuit that revealed the company Haldor Topsoe, a client of Eurecat, was also a client of Chem32. Eurecat‘s attorney thereafter sent the representative of Haldor Topsoe a letter in which he alleged, among other things, that appellees—

had taken numerous documents, computers, computer files, and computer programs that belonged to Eurecat and that contain Eurecat‘s proprietary information and wеre using those materials in their competing business. We have obtained restraining orders and an injunction requiring them to return the stolen material, and to not use Eurecat‘s property and information, but they have not fully complied with all of those orders.

Eurecat‘s attorney subsequently emailed Haldor Topsoe, seeking an agreement from Haldor Topsoe not to do business with Chem32 and stating, among other things: “Under the circumstances, we think that continuing to do business with Chem32 ... would be tantamount to participating in the misappropriation of Eurecat‘s confidential and proprietary information.” Haldor Topsoe‘s representative lаter stated that Haldor Topsoe stopped doing business with Chem32 because of these communications.

Appellees then filed this lawsuit, bringing claims against Jardin for defamation, business disparagement, and tortious in-terference.2 Jardin filed a motion to dismiss under the TCPA on the grounds that appellees’ claims were based on the exercise of Jardin‘s constitutionally-protected rights to petition and of association. After a hearing, the trial court denied the motion.

Discussion

Jardin argues the trial court erred by denying his motion to dismiss appellees’ claims for defamation, business disparagement, and tortious interference because (1) the lawsuit was filed in violаtion of Jardin‘s rights to petition and of association, see Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code § 27.005(b)(1), (3); (2) the TCPA‘s commercial activity exemption does not apply; (3) appellees did not establish “a prima facie case for each element of the[ir] claim[s],” see id. § 27.005(c); (4) the judicial proceeding privilege shields Jardin from liability on appellees’ claims; and (5) appellees’ argument that the TCPA is unconstitutional is unmeritorious. Appellees argue (1) the court does not have jurisdiction over this interlocutory appeal; (2) the TCPA does not apply because appellees’ claims arise from commercial activity exempted from the statute; (3) appellees presented sufficient evidence of their claims to overcome dismissal under TCPA section 27.005; (4) the defense of judicial proceeding privilege is not a basis for dismissal under the TCPA and does not apply to all of appellees’ claims; and (5) the TCPA is unconstitutional.

As a threshold matter, we first address whether we have jurisdiction over this interlocutory appeal. Our jurisdiction hinges on whether an interlocutory appeal is available from an express order granting or denying a motion to dismiss under the TCPA and whether the TCPA applies.

I. Review of Express Order Granting or Denying Motion to Dismiss

In asserting that we lack jurisdiction, appellees cite a Fort Worth Court of Appeals opinion that holds a court of appeals has no interlocutory appellate jurisdiction to review an order denying a motion to dismiss under the TCPA. See . However, we have held the opposite. See (holding that the TCPA allows an interlocutory appeal from an express order granting or denying a motion to dismiss); see also ; . Moreover, the Legislature subsequently revised Chapter 51 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to provide for the interlocutory appeal of a trial court‘s denial of a motion to dismiss filed under the TCPA. See Act of May 24, 2013, 83d Leg., R.S., H.B. 2935, § 4 (codified at Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code § 51.014(a)(12)) (the amendment); see also , (mem. op.). This amendment became ‍​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍effective on May 24, 2013. See (noting that since amendment received a vote of two-thirds of the members of each house of the Legislature, it became effective immediately).

The trial court denied the motion to dismiss on June 19, 2013. Thus, the amendment was in effect when the motion was denied. See (“Procedural, remedial, and jurisdictional laws should be enforced as they exist at the time the judgment is rendered.“). Moreover, the amendment is retroactive because it is procedural and does nоt take away or impair the parties’ vested rights: it simply changes the time at which an appellate court can hear a case.4 For these reasons, we have jurisdiction to review the trial court‘s grant or denial of a motion to dismiss under the TCPA.

II. Application of the TCPA

Whether the TCPA applies also implicates our jurisdiction over this matter. See If Jardin failed to invoke the provisions of the TCPA, then this court has no jurisdiction over this interlocutory appeal.5 See H.B. 2935, § 4; see also ; (“This court lacks jurisdiction over an appeal from an interlocutory order unless a statute provides for an appeal from that interlocutory ordеr.“); (noting movant bears initial burden of demonstrating the TCPA‘s applicability).

A. Overview

The TCPA is an anti-SLAPP law, which is an acronym for “Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation.” ; see also . The TCPA‘s purpose “is to encourage and safeguard the constitutional rights of persons to petition, speak freely, associate freely, and otherwise participate in government to the maximum extent permitted by law and, at the same time, protect the rights of a person to file meritorious lawsuits for demonstrable injury.” Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code § 27.002.

The constitutional rights enumerated in the TCPA are found in the Texas and United States Constitutions. See U.S. Const. amend. I (“Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of thе press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.“); Tex. Const. art. I, § 8 (“Every person shall be at liberty to speak, write or publish his opinions on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that privilege; and no law shall ever be passed curtailing the liberty of speech or of the press.“), 27 (“The citizens shall have the right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble together for their common good; and apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances or other purposes, by petition, address or remonstrance.“). The TCPA establishes a mechanism for early dismissal of frivolous lawsuits that threaten the free exercise of these rights. ; . The statute is to be “construed liberally to effectuate its purpose and intent fully.” Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code § 27.011(b).

B. Standard of Review

Section 27.003 of the TCPA provides that a party may file a motion to dismiss if a legal action “is based on, relates to, or is in response to [that] party‘s exercise of the right of free speech, right to petition, or right of association.” Id. § 27.003(a). Section 27.005(b) provides that a court “shall dismiss a legal action against the moving party if the moving party shows by a preponderance of the evidence” that the action is “based on, relates to, or is in response to the party‘s exercise of ... the right of free speech[,] right to petition[,] or right of association.”6 Id. § 27.005(b). We apply a de novo standard of review to the trial court‘s determination regarding the propriety of dismissal under section 27.005. .

We presume when the Legislature enacts a statute that, among other things, “a just and reasonable result is intended,” and “public interest is intended over any private interest.” Tex. Gov‘t Code § 311.021. The words of a statute cannot be examined in isolation, but must be informed by the context in which they are used. . We rely on the plain meaning of the words, unless a different meaning is supplied by Legislative definition or is apparent from context, or unless such a construction leads to “absurd results.” See ; see also Tex. Gov‘t Code § 311.011. “Words and phrases shall be read in context and construed according to the rules of grammar and common usage,” but “[w]ords and phrases that have acquired a technical or particular meaning, whether by legislative definition or otherwise, shall be construed accordingly.” Id. Our analysis of the statutory text may also be informed by such matters as the “object sought to be obtained,” “circumstances under which the statute was enacted,” legislative history, “common law or former statutory provisions, including laws on the same or similar subjects,” and the title of the provision. See id. § 311.023(1)-(4), (7). Similarly, we assume that when enacting a statute, the Legislature was aware of the background law and acted with reference to it. See .

1. Purpose

The purpose of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution is “to assure unfettered interchange of ideas for the bringing about of political and social changes desired by the people.” See . There is a distinction, however, between the protections afforded to private speech versus public speech. See (recognizing “speech solely in the individual interest of the speaker and its specific business audience ... warrants no special protection ... to ensure that debate on public issues will be uninhibited, robust and wideopen“); see also . The rights of association, of free speech, and to petition, as enumerated in the First Amendment, are related forms of speech, as discussed infra.

While we must construe the TCPA liberally, we likewise cannot ignore ‍​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍the Legislature‘s express purpose for enacting it. Compare Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code § 27.011(b) with id. § 27.002. Because the stated purpose of the TCPA (“Texas Citizens’ Participation Act“) includes the phrase “otherwise participate in government,” it appears the Legislature intended to protect only communications that are analogous to participating in government. See . In other words, the сommunication must be in the public interest. See ; see also Tex. Gov‘t Code § 311.021(5). Jardin argues that his exercise of the rights of association or to petition need not be in the public interest in order to invoke the TCPA, as only the “the right of free speech” is defined by the Legislature as “a communication made in connection with a matter of public concern.” See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code § 27.001(3) (emphasis added).

2. Language and Context

Under the TCPA:

“Exercise of the right of association” means a communication between individuals who join together to collectively express, promote, pursue, or defend common interests.

....

“Exercise of the right of free speech” means a communication made in connection with a mаtter of public concern.

....

“Exercise of the right to petition” means any of the following:

  1. a communication in or pertaining to:
    1. a judicial proceeding;
    2. an official proceeding, other than a judicial proceeding, to administer the law;
    3. an executive or other proceeding before a department of the state or federal government or a subdivision of the state or federal government;
    4. a legislative proceeding, including a proceeding of a legislative committee;
    5. a proceeding before an entity that requires by rule that public notice be given before proceedings of that entity;
    6. a proceeding in or before a managing board of an educational or eleemosynary institution supported directly or indirectly from public revenue;
    7. a proceeding of the governing body of any political subdivision of this state;
    8. a report of or debate and statements made in a proceeding described by Subparagraph (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), or (vii); or
    9. a public meeting dealing with a public purpose, including statements and discussions at the meeting or other matters of public concern occurring at the meeting;
  2. a communication in connection with an issue under consideration or review by a legislative, executive, judicial, or other governmental body or in another governmentаl or official proceeding;
  3. a communication that is reasonably likely to encourage consideration or re-view of an issue by a legislative, executive, judicial, or other governmental body or in another governmental or official proceeding;
  4. a communication reasonably likely to enlist public participation in an effort to effect consideration of an issue by a legislative, executive, judicial, or other governmental body or in another governmental or official proceeding; and
  5. any other communication that falls within the protection of the right to petition government under the Constitution of the United States or the constitution of this state.

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code § 27.001(2)-(4).

The clear implication from these definitions is that the Legislature intended to protect communications in the public interest. See . Further, by using particular terms from the Texas and United States Constitutions, the Legislature intended to consider the particular meanings given those terms over centuries of jurisprudence. “In construing statutes [courts] use definitions prescribed by the legislature and consider any technical or particular meaning that the words have acquired.” (emphasis added).

3. Legislative History

“Under the Code Construction Act, we may look to the statute‘s legislative history in gleaning the Legislature‘s intent.” (citing Tex. Gov‘t Code § 311.023(3)). Our reading of the TCPA is bolstered by the sponsor‘s May 14, 2011 statement of intent, which contains the following reasoning for enacting the statute:

Citizen participation is the heart of our democracy. Whether petitioning the government, writing a traditional news article, or commenting on the quality of a business, involvement of citizens in the exchange of idea[s] benefits our society. Yet frivolous lawsuits aimed at silencing those involved in these activities are becoming more common, and are a threat to the growth of our democracy.... Unfortunately, abuses of the legal system, aimed at silencing these citizens, have also grown. These lawsuits are callеd Strategic Lawsuits Against Participation or “SLAP” suits.

Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia have passed similar acts.... The Texas Citizen Participation Act would allow defendants—who are sued as a result of exercising their right to free speech or their right to petition the government—to file a motion to dismiss the suit....

Senate Comm. on State Affairs, Bill Analysis, Tex. H.B. 2973, 82nd Leg., RS (2011); see also . The statement of intent confirms the concept gathered from reading the statute as a whole that the Legislature was attempting by this law to protect communications that may be in the public interest.

4. Particular Meaning of Constitutional Rights

The First Amendment guarantees “the right of the people ... to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” (alteration in original). “The right to petition is cut from the same cloth as the other guarantees of that Amendment, and is an assurance of a particular freedom of expression.” ; see also , cert. denied, . James Madison made clear in the congressional debate on the proposed amendment that people “may ‍​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍communicate their will” through direct petitions to the legislature and government officials. (citing 1 Annals of Cong. 738 (1789)).

The entire text of the First Amendment follows: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of sрeech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” U.S. Const. amend. I (emphasis added). The Petition Clause was inspired by the same ideals of liberty and democracy that gave us the freedoms to speak, publish, and assemble. See . These First Amendment rights are inseparable, id., and there is no sound basis for granting greater constitutional protection to statements made in a petition than other First Amendment expressions. . Moreover, Texas constitutional provisions guaranteeing freedom of expression and assembly are cоextensive with the corresponding federal guarantees. . The right to petition guarantees citizen access to the institutions of government. . In a democracy such as ours, the government acts on behalf of the people, and effective representation depends upon the ability of the people to make their wishes known to government officials.

C. No Invocation of the TCPA

Jardin argues that he has invoked the TCPA because the Legislature defined “[e]xercise of the right to petition” to include, among other things, “communication[s] in or pertaining to ... a judicial proceeding,” and the Legislature similarly dеfined “[e]xercise of the right of association” as “communication[s] between individuals who join together to collectively express, promote, pursue, or defend common interests.” Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code § 27.001(2), (4)(A)(i). Jardin argues Eurecat‘s attorney‘s communications to Haldor Topsoe (the letter and email) invoked the TCPA because they were communications concerning a judicial proceeding. See id. § 27.001(4)(A)(i). Similarly, he argues his allowing or authorizing Eurecat‘s attorney to communicate with Haldor Topsoe invoked the TCPA as these were “communication[s] between individuals who join[ed] together to collectively express, promote, рursue, or defend common interests.” See id. § 27.001(2).

Jardin would have us conclude that, simply by filing a pleading in a lawsuit between private parties, he has invoked the protections of the TCPA, despite the act‘s title, purpose, language and context, legislative history, and the particular meanings of the constitutional rights at issue. Assuming without deciding that the TCPA applies to Jardin‘s private dispute, we conclude that the subject communications were not “based on, relate[d] to, or ... in response” to any communications made by Jardin. See id. § 27.005(b) (requiring court to “dismiss a legal action against the moving party if the moving party shows by a preponderаnce of the evidence” that the action is “based on, relates to, or is in response to the party‘s exercise of ... the right of free speech[,] right to petition[,] or right of association“) (emphasis added). Jardin concedes, Both of the communications cited by [appellees] as the basis for their claim against Jardin [the letter and email] were actually communications involving Eurecat‘s attorney—not Jardin—and representatives of [Haldor Topsoe], and were part of the attorney‘s effort to obtain evidence from [Haldor Topsoe] for purposes of the Eurecat lawsuit. (Emphasis in original.) Accordingly, the claims here are not “based on, relate[d] to, or in response to” Jardin‘s communications such that the exercise of his rights to petition or of association might be implicated, as is required for the TCPA to apply.

Jardin further argues that appellees’ claims are based on, related to, or in response to his exercise of the rights to petition and of association because appellees allege Jardin “allowed” or “authorized” the subject communications. To the extent that these allegations are true, they do not alter the fact that the subject communications were madе by Eurecat‘s attorney and related to the Eurecat Lawsuit—in which Eurecat, not Jardin, is a party.7 Thus, even assuming the claims here are based on, related to, or in response to the exercise of the rights to petition and of association that could be imputed to a nonspeaker, those rights would belong to Eurecat—to the extent that a company may have those rights8—and not to Jardin.

We conclude that Jardin has not shown the claims here are based on, related to, or in response to his exercise of the rights to petition and of association. Accordingly, the TCPA does not apply, and we lack jurisdiction over this interloсutory appeal.9 As our holding is dispositive, we need not reach the other issues raised by Jardin.10

We dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction.11

FROST, C.J., dissenting.

KEM THOMPSON FROST, Chief Justice, dissenting.

SUBSTITUTE DISSENTING OPINION1

Our threshold task is to determine if we have jurisdiction. The proper inquiry is whether this is an appeal from the denial of a motion to dismiss filed under section 27.003 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Appellant Frederic Jardin, the master of his motion,2 clearly and unequivocally stated in form and substance that the relief he requested was dismissal under this statute.3 Even if, as the majority concludes, the Texas Citizens’ Participation Act4 does not apply to the claims in this case, this court still would have jurisdiction over this appeal, and the proper course would be to affirm the trial court‘s order rather than to dismiss for lack of appellate jurisdiction.

The trial court signed an interlocutory order on June 19, 2013, in which it denied Jardin‘s motion to dismiss under section 27.003 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.5 Section 51.014(a)(12),6 which had taken effect just five days before the trial court rendered this order,7 applies to any interlocutory appeal from this order.8 Under this statute, the Texas Legislature provides as follows:

A person may appeal from an interlocutory order of a district court ... that ... denies a motion to dismiss filed under Section 27.003.9

Jardin is a person who has appealed from an interlocutory order of a district court that denied his motion tо dismiss filed under section 27.003. Under the unambiguous language of section 51.014(a)(12), this court has jurisdiction over Jardin‘s appeal from this interlocutory order.10 The basis for appellate jurisdiction under section 51.014(a)(12) is an interlocutory order in which the trial court denies a motion to dismiss filed under section 27.003; the basis for appellate ju-risdiction under this statute is not that the claims in question ‍​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍fall within the scope of the Texas Citizens’ Participation Act.11 Thus, if the appellate court concludes that the claims in question do not fall within the scope of the Texas Citizens’ Participation Act and therefore that the trial court properly denied the motion to dismiss under section 27.003, the proper appellate judgment would be to affirm the trial court‘s order rather than to dismiss the appeal for lack of appellate jurisdiction.12

After determining that the claims of appellees Soren Marklund, Douglas Wene, and Chem32, LLC against Jardin do not fall within the scope of the Texas Citizens’ Participation Act, the majority concludes that this court therefore lacks jurisdiction over this interlocutory appeal. But, presuming for the sake of argument that the appellees’ claims against Jardin do not fall within the scope of the Texas Citizens’ Participation Act, this court still would have jurisdictiоn over this appeal, and the proper course would be to affirm the trial court‘s order.13 Because the majority dismisses for lack of appellate jurisdiction, I respectfully dissent.

LEE HOFFPAUIR, INC., Appellant v. Kenneth KRETZ and Elayne Kretz, Appellees.

No. 03-13-00597-CV.

Court of Appeals of Texas, Austin.

May 6, 2014.

Notes

1
Both companies provide catalyst activation services to refineries and chemical plants. The dissenting opinion issued in this case on April 10, 2014, is withdrawn, and this substitute dissenting opinion is issued in its place.
2
Appellees contend that they filed this lawsuit separately from the Eurecat Lawsuit because the joinder deadline had passed in that case. This lawsuit was initially assigned to the 61st District Court, but it subsequently was transferred to the 133rd District Court, which also presides over the Eurecat Lawsuit. See (“The party who brings a suit is master to decide what law he will rely upon.“), overruled on other grounds by .
3
The majority stands Lincoln‘s famous legand-tail parable on its head in suggesting that the master of the motion is not at liberty to say what relief he seeks. See . It is the majority that is calling the “tail” a “leg” by recasting the nature of the relief sought and denied. Jardin created the motion and the form and substance of what he created is a motion to dismiss undеr section 27.003 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
4
Genеrally, courts presume that the Legislature intends statutes and amendments to operate prospectively unless they are expressly made retroactive. . However, this general rule does not apply when the statute or amendment is procedural, remedial, or jurisdictional because such statutes generally do not affect vested rights. The Texas Citizens’ Participation Act, also known as the Texas Anti-SLAPP statute, is chapter 27 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §§ 27.001-27.011 (West 2014).
5
An interlocutory order is not appealable unless a statute expressly provides for appellate jurisdiction. (citing ). If the statements at issue do not fall within the provisions of the TCPA, then the amendment providing for interlocutory appeal when a trial court denies a motion to dismiss filed under the TCPA cannot apply. Unless otherwise stated, all statutory references in this opinion are to the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
6
However, “[t]he court may not dismiss a legal action ... if the party bringing the legal action establishes by clear and specific evidence a prima facie case for each essential element of the claim in question.” Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 27.005(c). The moving party has the initial burden to show the required elements under subsection (b), and then the burden shifts to the nonmoving party to satisfy subsection (c). (citing Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code § 27.005(b)-(c)). Under current Texas law, section 51.014 has two subsections denominated “(a)(12).” See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code § 51.014 (West 2014). The majority and dissenting opinions address the subsection (a)(12) dealing with interlocutory orders in which the trial court denies a motion to dismiss filed under section 27.003, rather than the subsection (a)(12) dealing with interlocutory orders in which the trial court dеnies a motion for summary judgment filed by an electric utility regarding liability in a suit subject to section 75.0022. See id.
7
The “regarding” subject of the letter indicates the cause number and style of the Eurecat Lawsuit, and in the first paragraph of the body of the letter, the attorney states, “I represent Eurecat ... in a lawsuit that we have filed against [appellees].” Because the statute by which the Texas Legislature enacted this provision received a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this statute took effect immediately upon approval by the Governor, which occurred on June 14, 2013. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code § 51.014; Act of May 24, 2013, 83rd Leg., R. S., H.B. 2935, § 6.
8
See, e.g., (holding the government may not suppress political speech on the basis of the speaker‘s corporate identity). Because section 51.014(a)(12) was in effect when the trial court denied Jardin‘s motion to dismiss and when Jardin filed his notice of appeal, this statute applies prospectively to this appeal. Therefore, it is unnecessary to address, as the majority doеs, whether this statute should be applied retroactively. See .
9
The dissent contends that Jardin‘s motion to dismiss was “filed under section 27.003” because the motion purports to be filed pursuant to the TCPA. However, “calling the tail a leg does not make it a leg.” See (emphasis omitted, recounting a parable attributed to Abraham Lincoln). In the same way, referring to the TCPA in a motion to dismiss does not make the underlying legal action “based on” the exercise of constitutional rights so as to invoke the TCPA. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code § 51.014(a).
10
Appellees argued below and argue on appeal that thе TCPA is unconstitutional. We only decide constitutional questions when we cannot resolve issues on nonconstitutional grounds. See . See
12
See ; (noting that an appellate court has jurisdiction to review an interlocutory order denying a governmental unit‘s plea to the jurisdiction if the plea would deprive the trial court of subjectmatter jurisdiction, if it were sustained, and that the appellate court has appellate jurisdiction even if it concludes all jurisdictional arguments in the plea lack merit); (affirming part of order in which the trial court denied the defendant‘s motion to dismiss under section 27.003, rather than dismissing in part the appeal, in interlocutory appeal under section 51.014(a)(12)) (mem. op.).
13
See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem.Code § 51.014(a)(12); ; .
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