*1 R E V E R S E , R E ND E R a nd R E M AND ; O p i n i on F il e d D ece m b e r 18 , 2012 .
I n T h e Q t r n i r t f pp ea h i F If t I i 1 it r i r t n f i x az a t O a t 1 aa N o . 05 - 1 1 - 01637 - C V V I R G I L I O AV I L A AND UN I V I S I ON TELE V I S I ON G R OU P , I N C ., A pp e ll a n t s V . F . B . L A RR E A , A pp e ll ee O n A pp ea l fr o m t h e 95 t h J ud i c i a l D i s t r i c t C ou r t D a ll a s C oun t y , T e x a s T r i a l C ou r t C a u s e N o . D C - i 1 - 10828 O P I N I ON B e f o r e J u s ti ce s B r i dg e s , R i c h t e r , a nd L a ng O p i n i on B y J u s ti ce L a ng T h i s acce l e r a t e d i n t e r l o c u t o r y a pp ea l a r i s e s fr o m a d e f a m a ti on ac ti on by a pp e ll ee F . B . L a rr ea a g a i n s t a pp e ll a n t s V i r g ili o A v il a a nd U n i v i s i on T e l e v i s i on G r oup , I n c . ( “ U n i v i s i on ” ) . A pp e ll a n t s m ov e d t o d i s m i ss t h e ac ti on pu r s u a n t t o t h e T e x a s C iti ze n s P a r ti c i p a ti on A c t ( “ T C P A ” ) , w h i c h p r ov i d e s f o r d i s m i ss a l o f ac ti on s i nvo l v i ng t h e e x e r c i s e o f ce r t a i n c on s tit u ti on a l r i gh t s . S ee TE x . C i v . PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 27 . 001 — 27 . 011 ( W e s t S upp . 2012 ) . T h e t r i a l c ou r t h e l d a h ea r i ng on a pp e ll a n t s ’ m o ti on t o d i s m i ss a nd , i n a n o r d e r d a t e d w it h i n t h i r t y d a y s a f t e r t h a t h ea r i ng , s t a t e d i n p a r t ( 1 ) li m it e d d i s c ov e r y s hou l d b e a ll o w e d on ce r t a i n i ss u e s , t o b e c o m p l e t e d w it h i n n i n e t y d a y s o f t h e d a t e o f t h e o r d e r , a nd ( 2 ) “a c on ti nu a ti on o f t h e c u rr e n t h ea r i ng s h a ll b e s e t w it h i n 30 d a y s t h e r ea f t e r , o r a s s oon t h e r ea f t e r a s t h i s C ou r t ’ s do c k e t c ond iti on s w ill p e r m it . ” S ub s e qu e n tl y , *2 a pp e ll a n t s f il e d t h i s a pp ea l pu r s u a n t t o t h e T C P A ’ s p r ov i s i on t h a t s t a t e s , i n p a r t , i f a t r i a l c ou r t do e s no t “ r u l e on ” a m o ti on t o d i s m i ss und e r t h e s t a t u t e w it h i n t h i r t y d a y s a f t e r t h e h ea r i ng on t h e m o ti on , “ t h e m o ti on i s c on s i d e r e d t o h a v e b ee n d e n i e d by op e r a ti on o f l a w a nd t h e m ov i ng p a r t y m a y a pp ea l . ” I d . § 27 . 008 .
I n t w o i ss u e s on a pp ea l , a pp e ll a n t s a ss e r t t h e t r i a l c ou r t r e v e r s i b l y e rr e d by ( 1 ) f a ili ng t o g r a n t a pp e ll a n t s ’ m o ti on t o d i s m i ss on t h e m e r it s a nd ( 2 ) a u t ho r i z i ng d i s c ov e r y on a pp e ll a n t s ’ m o ti on t o d i s m i ss a nd c on ti nu i ng t h e h ea r i ng on t h e m o ti on a f t e r t h e t h i r t y - d a y p e r i od p r e s c r i b e d by t h e T C P A . A dd iti on a ll y , L a rr ea c h a ll e ng e s t h i s C ou r t ’ s j u r i s d i c ti on ov e r t h i s a pp ea l )
W e c on c l ud e t h i s C ou r t h a s j u r i s d i c ti on ov e r t h i s a pp ea l . F u r t h e r , w e d ec i d e i n f a vo r o f a pp e ll a n t s on t h e i r f i r s t i ss u e . T h e r e f o r e , w e n ee d no t a dd r e ss a pp e ll a n t s ’ s ec ond i ss u e . T h e t r i a l c ou r t ’ s o r d e r i s r e v e r s e d a nd w e r e nd e r j udg m e n t g r a n ti ng a pp e ll a n t s ’ m o ti on t o d i s m i ss pu r s u a n t t o t h e T C P A a nd r e m a nd t h i s ca s e t o t h e t r i a l c ou r t f o r c on s i d e r a ti on o f d a m a g e s a nd c o s t s pu r s u a n t t o t h a t ac t . S ee i d . § 27 . 009 ( a ) .
I . F A C T UA L AND P R O C E DU R A L B A C KG R OUND U n i v i s i on i s a S p a n i s h - l a ngu a g e t e l e v i s i on s t a ti on g r oup t h a t , t h r ough a s ub s i d i a r y , o w n s a nd op e r a t e s a l o ca l s t a ti on , KUVN C h a nn e l 23 ( “ KUVN ” ) , w h i c h b r o a d ca s t s i n t h e D a ll a s / F o r t W o r t h a r ea . A v il a i s a r e po r t e r f o r KUVN . L a rr ea , a n a tt o r n e y w ho p r ac ti ce s l a w i n D a ll a s , a ss e r t e d i n h i s p e titi on t h a t d e f a m a t o r y s t a t e m e n t s p e r t a i n i ng t o h i m w e r e m a d e by a pp e ll a n t s i n t w o b r o a d ca s t s t h a t w e r e t e l e v i s e d by U n i v i s i on on M a y 2 , 2011 , a nd M a y 3 , 2011 , r e s p ec ti v e l y , a nd po s t e d on U n i v i s i on ’ s I n t e r n e t w e b s it e ( t h e “ b r o a d ca s t s ” ) . A cc o r d i ng t o L a rr ea , t h e b r o a d ca s t s w e r e “ p a t e n tl y a nd s ub s t a n ti a ll y f a l s e” a nd a pp e ll a n t s ac t e d w it h m a li ce b eca u s e t h e y “ kn e w t h e d e f a m a t o r y
P r e s ub m i ss i on , L a rr ea f il e d a m o ti on t o d i s m i ss t h i s a pp ea l f o r w a n t o f j u r i s d i c ti on . A f t e r c on s i d e r i ng t h e m o ti on , a pp e ll a n t s ’ r e s pon s e t h e r e t o , a nd L a rr ea ’ s r e p l y t o a pp e ll a n t s ’ r e s pon s e , a no t h e r p a n e l o f t h i s C ou r t d e n i e d L a rr ea ’ s m o ti on w it hou t op i n i on . S ub s e qu e n tl y , L a rr ea f il e d h i s a pp e ll a t e b r i e f , i n w h i c h h e a ss e r t s t h e s a m e j u r i s d i c ti on a l c h a ll e ng e a nd a r gu m e n t s s e t f o r t h i n h i s m o ti on t o d i s m i ss t h i s a pp ea l , p l u s a n a dd iti on a l j u r i s d i c ti on a l a r gu m e n t no t p r e v i ou s l y a ss e r t e d by h i m .
— 2 — *3 statements were false or published the statements with reckless disregard of their truth or falsity.” Further, Larrea contended the broadcasts were “extremely injurious” to his reputation. Larrea sought to recover actual and “special” damages.
Appellants tiled a general denial answer and a timely motion to dismiss pursuant to TCPA section 27.003. See id. § 27.003. In their motion to dismiss, appellants asserted in part that Larrea’s action “is based on, relates to and/or is in response to [appellants’] exercise of the right of free speech andlor the right to petition.” Further, appellants stated the broadcasts “related to a matter of public concern regarding, without limitation, (i) economic well-being; (ii) the government: (iii) community well-being; (iv) a public figure; and/or (v) a service in the marketplace.” Appellants requested that the trial court dismiss Larrea’s action with prejudice and award appellants “all of their allowable damages and costs” pursuant to TCPA section 27.009. Attached to appellants’ motion to dismiss were an affidavit o f Avila, video recordings of the broadcasts subtitled in English, and transcripts of’ the broadcasts in both English and Spanish.
Larrea tiled a response to appellants’ motion to dismiss and his affidavit. In his response, Larrea asserted in part that by enacting the TCPA, Texas had followed the lead of otherjurisdictions “in leveling the playing field in David versus Galiath [sic] scenarios involving the First Amendment.” According to Larrea, the enactment of the TCPA was “for the purpose of addressing and discouraging strategic lawsuits against public participation” (emphasis original) and it was ironic that “a large corporation is using this Act in defending itself against an ordinary citizen.” Additionally, Larrea asserted his affidavit “establishes by clear and specific evidence a prima facie case for libel against the Defendants, as is required by [TCPA] Section 27.005(c).” 2 [2] In his affidavit, [.arrea stated he is an attorney licensed to practice law in Texas. Ke stated that two of the persons featured in the broadcasts, Alene Saucedo and Roxana Ramirez, had “hired” him respecting legal matters. Additionally, Larrea stated in part in his affidavit 1. The broadcast that was posted on the worldwide-internet was entitled “Abogado en Dallas. j indocumentados”; Translated: Lawyer in Dallas Defrauding the Undocumented?” At no time, to the best of my knowledge, did either of my clients ever use the word ‘fraud” or ‘fraudulent” in any of their statements during their interviews. With respect to the subject
—3— *4 S ub s e qu e n t t o t h e tili ng o f L a rr ea ’ s r e s pon s e , a pp e ll a n t s f il e d a b r i e f i n s uppo r t o f t h e i r m o ti on t o d i s m i ss . I n t h a t b r i e f , a pp e ll a n t s a ss e r t e d i n p a r t t h a t t h e y w e r e e n titl e d t o d i s m i ss a l pu r s u a n t t o t h e T C P A b eca u s e L a rr ea h a d no t e s t a b li s h e d by “c l ea r a nd s p ec i f i c e v i d e n ce” a p r i m a f a d e ca s e f o r e v e r y e l e m e n t o f h i s ca u s e o f ac ti on , a s r e qu i r e d by t h e s t a t u t e . S p ec i f i ca ll y , acc o r d i ng t o a pp e ll a n t s , L a rr ea h a d p r e s e n t e d no e v i d e n ce “ ( 1 ) t h a t t h e a ll e g e d d e f a m a t o r y s t a t e m e n t s c on t a i n f a l s e s t a t e m e n t s o f f ac t; ( 2 ) t h a t [ a pp e ll a n t s j ac t e d w it h ‘ ac t u a l m a li ce ; ’ o r ( 3 ) e xp l a i n i ng w hy L a rr ea i s no t a pub li c f i gu r e . ” F u r t h e r , a pp e ll a n t s c on t e nd e d ,
A s t o t h e f a l s it y o f t h e a ll e g a ti on s by L a rr ea ’ s f o r m e r c li e n t s : w h e n , a s h e r e , a m e d i a d e f e n d a n t r e p o r t s a l l e g a ti o n s o f w r o ng d o i ng , t h e p l a i n t i f f i s r e q u i r e d t o p r o v e t h a t t h e a ll e g a ti on s w e r e e it h e r ( 1 ) no t m a d e a t a ll; o r ( 2 ) no t acc u r a t e l y r e po r t e d i n o r d e r t o s uppo r t a d e f a m a ti on c l a i m . T h e acc u r ac y o f t h e und e r l y i ng a ll e g a ti on s und e r i nv e s ti g a ti on i s i mm a t e r i a l . L a rr ea , o f c ou r s e , ca nno t m ee t h i s bu r d e n t o p r ov e t h a t t h e a ll e g a ti on s i n t h e B r o a d ca s t s w e r e e it h e r no t m a d e , o r m i s c h a r ac t e r i ze d , b eca u s e t h e B r o a d ca s t s do c u m e n t h i s f o r m e r c li e n t s m a k i ng t h e c o m p l a i n t s on ca m e r a .
( c it a ti on s o m itt e d ) . o f t h e r e po r t , t h i s w a s a w o r d i n t r odu ce d on t h e w o r l d w i d e - i n t e r n e t a nd a ss o c i a t e d w it h t h e L a rr ea n a m e e x c l u s i v e l y by U n i v i s i on t h a t m i s l ea d a nd s ugg e s t e d t h a t F , B . L a rr ea w a s a fr a ud . [2] . T h e r e po r ti ng fr a m e d , t h e d i s t r i bu ti on o f bu s i n e ss ca r d s w it h fr a ud a nd i m p r op r i e t y . T h e B r o a d ca s t d e p i c t s a n unkno w n i nd i v i du a l , pu r po r ti ng t o r e p r e s e n t t h e C it y o f D a ll a s , s t a ti ng t h a t a p e r s on h a nd i ng ou t bu s i n e ss ca r d s on a pub li c s i d e w a l k i s i n v i o l a ti on o f t h e c it y - c od e [ a i d . T h e i nd i v i du a l t h e n c it e s a n o r d i n a n ce t h a t i s c o m p l e t e l y i n a pp li ca b l e t o h a nd i ng O u t bu s i n e ss ca r d s . T h e n a rr a ti v e ca r e l e ss l y , m a li c i ou s l y , a nd w it h b l a t a n t d i s r e g a r d t o t h e t r u t h a ss e r t s t h a t w h a t ( w a s do i ng w a s ill e g a l . T h e b r o a d ca s t e r i n f ac t s t a t e d t h i s w h e n h e c on fr on t s t h e w o m a n on t h e s i d e w a l k a nd d e m a nd e d t h a t t h e w o m a n a d m it t h a t s h e kn e w t h a t w h a t s h e w a s do i ng “ w a s ill e g a l ” . [3] . T h e B r o a d ca s t c h a r ac t e r i ze d t h e ca s e o f [ S a u ce do ’ s hu s b a nd i F e li x A l ca n t a r a a s a “ n i gh t m a r e” a nd s ugg e s t e d t h a t I w a s r e s pon s i b l e f o r h i s p r ob l e m s . [4] . M r s . S a u ce do a ll e g e d t h a t I h a d n e v e r v i s it e d h e r hu s b a nd i n j a il . U n i v i s i on a nd M r . A v il a w ou l d h a v e kno w n , t h r ough a c u r s o r y c h ec k o f t h e r ec o r d , t h a t s u c h a v i s it h a d i nd ee d o cc u rr e d . I n s t ea d o f m e n ti on i ng t h i s f ac t t h e b r o a d ca s t e r m e r e l y a ll o w s m e t o r e s pond t o M r s . S a u ce do ’ s c l a i m a nd l ea v e it up t o t h e v i e w e r s t o d ec i d e w h o i s t e l li ng t h e t r u t h a f t e r t h e b r o a d ca s t e r h a d s t a t e d t h a t ( w a s b e i ng i nv e s ti g a t e d by t h e C it y o f D a ll a s a nd t h e S t a t e B a r f o r fr a ud a nd ill e g a l ac ti v iti e s . [5] . A t a no t h e r po i n t , M s . S a u ce do s t a t e s t h a t s h e h a s c on c l u s i v e p r oo f fr o m C . P . S . t h a t h e r hu s b a nd h a d b ee n e xon e r a t e d a nd t h a t I h a d no t u s e d it t o g e t t h e c r i m i n a l ca s e d i s m i ss e d . T h i s f a l s e c l a i m s t r ong l y s ugg e s t s t h a t I w a s d e r e li c t i n m y p e rf o r m a n ce a s h i s a tt o r n e y . .
. T h e b r o a d ca s t e r do e s no t m e n ti on i n t h e b r o a d ca s t s t h a t s u c h a c l a i m w a s f a l s e a nd t h e .
p r o s ec u ti ng a tt o r n e y w ou l d no t h a v e d i s m i ss e d t h e ca s e s i m p l y b eca u s e C P 5 h a d c ho s e n no t t o t a k e f u r t h e r ac ti on . D e f e nd a n t s b r o a d ca s t e d t h i s f a l s e c l a i m w it h kno w l e dg e o f t h e i r f a l s it y o r w it h r ec k l e ss d i s r e g a r d a s t o it s t r u t h . [6] . T h e s t a t e m e n t w a s m a d e by t h e b r o a d ca s t e r t h a t a f t e r M r . A l ca n t a r a h a d r e l ea s e d m e t h e P ub li c D e f e nd e r d i s po s e d o f h i s ca s e i n I w ee k w h e n I h a d no t b ee n a b l e t o i n 3 m on t h s . [7] . L a t e r i n t h e b r o a d ca s t s , U n i v i s i on t e ll s t h e v i e w e r “ M a ny c o m p l a i n t s h a v e b ee n f o r w a r d e d t o t h e S t a t e B a r i n A u s ti n on b e h a l f o f d i ff e r e n t c li e n t s o f m i n e , f i v e s i n ce [2009] . H e r e t h e v i e w e r i s l e d t o b e li e v e t h a t t h e s e c o m p l a i n t s c on f i nn e d p r o f e ss i on a l m i s c ondu c t w h e n t h e y h a d no t b r o a d ca s t a ss e r ti on s t h a t t h e S t a t e B a r w ou l d no t c on f i r m w h e t h e r o r no t t h e y w e r e i nv e s ti g a ti ng n e f o r m i s c ondu c t , s ugg e s ti ng t o t h e pub li c t h a t t h e y p r ob a b l y w e r e . I nv it a ti on s t o r e po r t t r a n s g r e ss i on s t o t h e S t a t e B a r o f T e x a s i mm e d i a t e l y f o ll o w i ng a f t e r quo ti ng m e t h a t; “ ( h a d no t h i ng t o w o rr y a bou t a nd t h a t ( h a d don e e v e r y t h i ng r i g h t , ” c o n t e x t u a l l y e n c o u r a g i n g v i e w e r s t o f i l e g r i e v a n c e s . I a m n e it h e r a pub li c f i gu r e no r h a v e I t h r u s t m y s e l f i n t o t h e pub li c li m e li gh t . T h e a ll e g a ti on s b r o a d ca s t e d a g a i n s t m e w e r e f a l s e a nd U n i v i s i on a nd it s b r o a d ca s t e r s b r o a d ca s t e d t h i s kno w i ng t h e y w e r e f a l s e hood s a nd w it h r ec k l e ss d i s r e g a r d a s t o t h e i r t r u t h . A s a r e s u lt o f t h e s e d e f a m a t o r y f a l s e hood s I h a v e b ee n h a r m e d a nd d a m a g e d bo t h p e r s on a ll y a nd f i n a n c i a ll y .
( e m ph a s i s o r i g i n a l ) . - 4 - *5 T h e t r i a l c ou r t h e l d a h ea r i ng on a pp e ll a n t s ’ m o ti on t o d i s m i ss on O c t ob e r 18 , 201 I . i n a dd iti on t o a ss e r ti ng t h e a r gu m e n t s d e s c r i b e d a bov e , c oun s e l f o r L a rr ea r e qu e s t e d f o r t h e f i r s t ti m e a t t h e h ea r i ng t h a t t h e t r i a l c ou r t a ll o w d i s c ov e r y r e s p ec ti ng a pp e ll a n t s ’ m o ti on t o d i s m i ss . S p ec i f i ca ll y , c oun s e l f o r L a rr ea o ff e r e d i n t o e v i d e n ce a n e m a il h e s t a t e d w a s s e n t by h i m t o t h e g e n e r a l m a n a g e r o f KUVN p r i o r t o t h e ti m e t h e b r o a d ca s t s w e r e a i r e d i n w h i c h c oun s e l f o r L a rr ea i n f o r m e d KUVN t h a t S a u ce do ’ s a ll e g a ti on t h a t L a rr ea n e v e r v i s it e d h e r hu s b a nd i n j a il w a s “a li e . ” C oun s e L f o r L a rr ea r e qu e s t e d t h a t t h e e m a il b e a d m itt e d i n t o e v i d e n ce “ f o r t h e li m it e d pu r po s e o f e s t a b li s h i ng good ca u s e f o r a ll o w i ng li m it e d d i s c ov e r y i n t h i s ca s e . ” C oun s e l f o r a pp e ll a n t s ob j ec t e d t o t h e e m a il b e i ng a d m itt e d i n t o e v i d e n ce “ b eca u s e t h e s t a t u t e m a k e s it qu it e c l ea r t h a t t h i s i s no t t o b e a n e v i d e n ti a r y h ea r i ng . ” A dd iti on a ll y , c oun s e l f o r a pp e ll a n t s a r gu e d t h e T C P A “ h a s a c o m p r e h e n s i v e s c h e m e” a nd “ t h e s c h e m e i s qu it e c l ea r t h a t it i s t o — d e s i gn e d t o qu i c k l y d i s po s e o f t h e s e ca s e s a nd no t t o h a v e p r o t r ac t e d d i s c ov e r y o f t h e t yp e t h a t i s c on t e m p l a t e d . ” T h e t r i a l c ou r t a d m itt e d t h e e m a il i n t o e v i d e n ce “ on t h e i ss u e o f good ca u s e f o r d i s c ov e r y ” a nd o t h e r w i s e s u s t a i n e d a pp e ll a n t s ’ ob j ec ti on .
T h e t r i a l c ou r t r e nd e r e d a n o r d e r d a t e d N ov e m b e r 16 , 2011 , a ll o w i ng li m it e d d i s c ov e r y a nd p r ov i d i ng f o r a c on ti nu a ti on o f t h e h ea r i ng a s d e s c r i b e d a bov e . S p ec iti ca ll y , t h e o r d e r a ll o w e d li m it e d d i s c ov e r y “ on t h e i ss u e s o f ( a ) t h e f a l s it y o f t h e s t a t e m e n t s i nvo l v e d a nd ( b ) w h e t h e r t h e d e f e nd a n t s ac t e d w i t h ac t u a l m a li ce . ” A dd iti on a ll y , t h e o r d e r s t a t e d t h a t it “ d e t e r m i n e s no o t h e r i ss u e s und e r C h a p t e r 27 by i m p li ca ti on . ”
T h i s a pp ea l ti m e l y f o ll o w e d . 3 S ee i d . § 27 . 008 . P r i o r t o s ub m i ss i on o f t h i s a pp ea l , t h i s C ou r t g r a n t e d a m o ti on by a pp e ll a n t s f o r t e m po r a r y r e li e f , s t a y i ng a ll d i s c ov e r y i n t h e t r i a l c ou r t un til f u r t h e r o r d e r o f t h i s C ou r t . — 5 — *6 (I . D I S M I SS A L P U R S UAN T T O C P A A . S t a nd a r d o f R e v i e w W e r e v i e w i ss u e s o f s t a t u t o r y c on s t r u c ti on d e novo . S ee , e . g ., T e x . L o tt e r y C o mm ‘ n v . F i r s t S t a t e B a nk o f D e Q u ee n , 325 S . W . 3d 628 , 635 ( T e x . 2010 ) . I n c on s t r u i ng s t a t u t e s , ou r p r i m a r y ob j ec ti v e i s t o g i v e e ff ec t t o t h e l e g i s l a t u r e ’ s i n t e n t . I d . ( c iti ng G a i b r a it h E ng ‘ g C on s u lt a n t s , I n c . v . P o c hu c h a , 290 S . W . 3d 863 , 867 ( T e x . 2009 )) . “ T h e p l a i n m ea n i ng o f t h e t e x t i s t h e b e s t e xp r e ss i on o f l e g i s l a ti v e i n t e n t un l e ss a d i ff e r e n t m ea n i ng i s a pp a r e n t fr o m t h e c on t e x t o r t h e p l a i n m ea n i ng l ea d s t o a b s u r d o r non s e n s i ca l r e s u lt s . ” M o li n e t v . K i m b r e ll , 356 S . W . 3d 407 , 411 ( T e x . 2011 ) ; T e x . L o tt e r y C o mm ‘ n , 325 S . W . 3d a t 635 .
B . A pp li ca b l e L a w T h e pu r po s e o f t h e T C P A i s “ t o e n c ou r a g e a nd s a f e gu a r d t h e c on s tit u ti on a l r i gh t s o f p e r s on s t o p e titi on , s p ea k fr ee l y , a ss o c i a t e fr ee l y , a nd o t h e r w i s e p a r ti c i p a t e i n gov e r n m e n t t o t h e m a x i m u m e x t e n t p e r m itt e d by l a w a nd , a t t h e s a m e ti m e , p r o t ec t t h e r i gh t s o f a p e r s on t o f il e m e r it o r i ou s l a w s u it s f o r d e m on s t r a b l e i n j u r y . ” TE X . C i v . P R A C . & R E M . C OD E ANN . § 27 . 002 . T h e T C P A p r ov i d e s a m ea n s f o r a d e f e nd a n t , ea r l y i n t h e l a w s u it , t o s ee k d i s m i ss a l o f ce r t a i n c l a i m s i d e n ti f i e d i n t h e ac t , i n c l ud i ng d e f a m a ti on . S ee I d . § 27 . 003 , 27 . 008 . T h e ac t i s t o b e “c on s t r u e d li b e r a ll y t o e ff ec t u a t e it s pu r po s e a nd i n t e n t f u ll y . ” I d . § 27 . 011 ( b ) . “ E x e r c i s e o f t h e r i gh t o f fr ee s p eec h ” i s d e f i n e d by t h e ac t a s “a c o mm un i ca ti on m a d e i n c onn ec ti on w it h a m a tt e r o f pub li c c on ce r n . ” I d . § 27 . 00 1 ( 3 ) . “ M a tt e r o f pub li c c on ce r n ” i n c l ud e s , i n t e r a li a , a n i ss u e r e l a t e d t o “a good , p r odu c t , o r s e r v i ce i n t h e m a r k e t p l ace . ” I d . § 27 . 00 1 ( 7 )( E ) .
“ If a l e g a l ac ti on i s b a s e d on , r e l a t e s t o , o r i s i n r e s pon s e t o a p a r t y ’ s e x e r c i s e o f t h e r i gh t o f fr ee s p eec h , r i gh t t o p e titi on , o r r i gh t o f a ss o c i a ti on , t h a t p a r t y m a y f i l e a m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s t h e l e g a l a c ti o n . ” I d . § 27 . 00 3 ( a ) . S u c h m o ti o n m u s t b e f i l e d no t l a t e r t h a n t h e s i x ti e t h d a y a f t e r t h e d a t e o f s e r v i ce o f t h e l e g a l a c ti o n un l e s s t h e c ou r t e x t e nd s t h e ti m e f o r f i li ng on a s h o w i ng o f go od c a u s e .
- 6 -- *7 I a ’ . § 27 . 003 ( b ) . O n t h e tili ng o f a m o ti on t o d i s m i ss pu r s u a n t t o s ec ti on 27003 ( a ) , a ll d i s c ov e r y i n t h e l e g a l ac ti on i s s u s p e nd e d un til t h e c ou r t h a s r u l e d on t h e m o ti on t o d i s m i ss , e x ce p t a s p r ov i d e d by s ec ti on 27 . 006 ( b ) . I d . § 27 . 003 ( c ) . S ec ti on 27 . 006 ( b ) s t a t e s , “ O n a m o ti on by a p a r t y o r on t h e c ou r t ’ s o w n m o ti on a nd on a s ho w i ng o f good ca u s e , t h e c ou r t m a y a ll o w s p ec i f i e d a nd li m it e d d i s c ov e r y r e l e v a n t t o t h e m o ti on . ” i d . § 27 . 006 ( b ) .
A h ea r i ng on a m o ti on und e r s ec ti on 27 . 003 m u s t b e s e t no t l a t e r t h a n t h e t h i r ti e t h d a y a f t e r t h e d a t e o f s e r v i ce o f t h e m o ti on un l e ss t h e do c k e t c ond iti on s o f t h e c ou r t r e qu i r e a l a t e r h ea r i ng . i d . § 27 . 004 . S ec ti on 27 . 005 o f t h e T C P A , titl e d “ R u li ng , ” s t a t e s , i n p a r t , a s f o ll o w s :
( a ) T h e c ou r t m u s t r u l e on a m o ti on und e r S ec ti on 27 . 003 no t l a t e r t h a n t h e 30 t h d a y f o ll o w i ng t h e d a t e o f t h e h ea r i ng on t h e m o ti on . ( b ) E x ce p t a s p r ov i d e d by S ub s ec ti on ( c ) , on t h e m o ti on o f a p a r t y und e r S ec ti on 27 . 003 , a c ou r t s h a ll d i s m i ss a l e g a l ac ti on a g a i n s t t h e m ov i ng p a r t y i f t h e m ov i ng p a r t y s ho w s by a p r e pond e r a n ce o f t h e e v i d e n ce t h a t t h e l e g a l ac ti on i s b a s e d on , r e l a t e s t o , o r i s i n r e s pon s e t o t h e p a r t y ’ s e x e r c i s e o f :
(I) t h e r i gh t o f fr ee s p eec h ; ( 2 ) t h e r i gh t t o p e titi on ; o r ( 3 ) t h e r i gh t o f a ss o c i a ti on .
I d . § 27 . 005 ( a ) — ( b ) . A t r i a l c ou r t “ m a y no t d i s m i ss a l e g a l ac ti on und e r t h i s s ec ti on i f t h e p a r t y b r i ng i ng t h e l e g a l ac ti on e s t a b li s h e s by c l ea r a nd s p ec i f i c e v i d e n ce a p r i m a f ac i e ca s e f o r eac h e ss e n ti a l e l e m e n t o f t h e c l a i m i n qu e s ti on . ” I d . § 27 . 005 ( c ) . I n d e t e r m i n i ng w h e t h e r a l e g a l ac ti on s h ou l d b e d i s m i ss e d un d e r t h e T C P A , “ t h e c ou r t s h a ll c on s i d e r t h e p l ea d i ng s a nd s uppo r ti ng a nd oppo s i ng a ff i d a v it s s t a ti ng t h e f ac t s on w h i c h t h e li a b ilit y o r d e f e n s e i s b a s e d . ” I d . § 27 . 006 ( a ) .
S ec ti on 27 . 008 o f t h e T C P A i s titl e d , “ A pp ea l . ” I d . § 27 . 008 . T h a t s ec ti on p r ov i d e s ( a ) If a c ou r t do e s no t r u l e on a m o ti on t o d i s m i ss und e r S ec ti on 27 . 003 i n t h e ti m e p r e s c r i b e d by S ec ti on 27 . 005 , t h e m o ti on i s c on s i d e r e d t o h a v e b ee n d e n i e d by op e r a ti on o f l a w a nd t h e m ov i ng p a r t y m a y a pp ea l . ( b ) A n a pp e ll a t e c ou r t s h a ll e xp e d it e a n a pp ea l o r o t h e r w r it , w h e t h e r i n t e r l o c u t o r y o r no t , fr o m a t r i a l c ou r t o r d e r on a m o ti on t o d i s m i ss a l e g a l ac ti on und e r S ec ti on 27 . 003 o r fr o m a t r i a l c ou r t ’ s f a il u r e t o r u l e on t h a t m o ti on i n t h e ti m e p r e s c r i b e d by
—7— *8 S ec ti on 27 . 005 . ( c ) A n a pp ea l o r o t h e r w r it und e r t h i s s ec ti on m u s t b e til e d on o r b e f o r e t h e 60 t h d a y a f t e r t h e d a t e t h e t r i a l c ou r t ’ s o r d e r i s s i gn e d o r t h e ti m e p r e s c r i b e d by S ec ti on 27 . 005 e xp i r e s , a s a pp li ca b l e .
I d . F i n a ll y , w h e r e a c ou r t o r d e r s d i s m i ss a l o f a l e g a l ac ti on und e r t h e T C P A , t h e c ou r t s h a ll a w a r d t o t h e m ov i ng p a r t y ( 1 ) c ou r t c o s t s , r ea s on a b l e a tt o r n e y ’ s f ee s , a nd o t h e r e xp e n s e s i n c u rr e d i n d e f e nd i ng a g a i n s t t h e l e g a l ac ti on a s j u s ti ce a nd e qu it y m a y r e qu i r e a nd ( 2 ) s a n c ti on s a g a i n s t t h e p a r t y w ho b r ough t t h e l e g a l ac ti on a s t h e c ou r t d e t e r m i n e s s u ff i c i e n t t o d e t e r t h e p a r t y w ho b r ough t t h e l e g a l ac ti on fr o m b r i ng i ng s i m il a r ac ti on s . I d . § 27 . 009 ( a ) .
C . A n a l y s i s 1 . J u r i s d i c ti on O v e r T h i s A pp ea l W e b e g i n by a dd r e ss i ng L a rr ea ’ s c h a ll e ng e t o t h i s C ou r t ’ s j u r i s d i c ti on ov e r t h i s a pp ea l . S ee M i n t on v . G unn , 355 S . W . 3d 634 , 639 ( T e x . 2011 ) ( a pp e ll a t e c ou r t m u s t d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r it h a s s ub j ec t m a tt e r j u r i s d i c ti on t o c on s i d e r a pp ea l b e f o r e r eac h i ng m e r it s ) ; s ee a l s o T e x . A ss ‘ n o f B u s . v . T e x . A i r C on t r o l B d ., 852 S . W . 2d 440 , 443 ( T e x . 1993 ) ( s ub j ec t m a tt e r j u r i s d i c ti on i s e ss e n ti a l f o r c ou r t t o h a v e a u t ho r it y t o d ec i d e ca s e ) . A pp e ll a t e c ou r t s g e n e r a ll y h a v e s ub j ec t m a tt e r j u r i s d i c ti on on l y ov e r a pp ea l s fr o m f i n a l j udg m e n t s a nd h a v e j u r i s d i c ti on ov e r a pp ea l s o f i n t e r l o c u t o r y o r d e r s on l y w h e n t h a t a u t ho r it y i s e xp li c itl y g r a n t e d by s t a t u t e . S ee , e . g ., T e x . A & M U n i v . S y s . v . K o s e og l u , 233 S . W . 3d 835 , 840 ( T e x . 2007 ) ( c iti ng S t a r y v . D e B o r d , 967 S . W . 2d 352 , 352 — 53 ( T e x . 1998 )) . S t a t u t e s a u t ho r i z i ng i n t e r l o c u t o r y a pp ea l s a r e s t r i c tl y c on s t r u e d b eca u s e t h e y a r e a n a rr o w e x ce p ti on t o t h e g e n e r a l r u l e t h a t i n t e r l o c u t o r y o r d e r s a r e no t i mm e d i a t e l y a pp ea l a b l e . S ee C M H H o m e s v . P e r ez , 340 S . W . 3d 444 , 447 ( T e x . 2011 ) ; J e nn i ng s v . W a li bu il d e r P r e s e n t a t i o n s , I n c . , 3 7 8 S . W . 3 d 519 , 523 ( T e x . A pp . — F o r t W o r t h 2012 , no p e t . ) ( c on s t r u i ng T C P A p r ov i s i on r e s p ec ti ng r i gh t t o i n t e r l o c u t o r y a pp ea l ) . “ B y t h e r u l e o f s t r i c t c on s t r u c ti on , ‘ it i s no t m ea n t t h a t t h e s t a t u t e s h a ll b e
— 8 — *9 s ti n ti ng l y o r e v e n n a rr o w l y c on s t r u e d , bu t it m ea n s t h a t e v e r y t h i ng s h a ll b e e x c l ud e d fr o m it s op e r a ti on w h i c h do e s no t c l ea r l y c o m e w it h i n t h e s c op e o f t h e l a ngu a g e u s e d . ” J e nn i ng s , 378 S . W 3d a t 523 ( quo ti ng N o r m a n J . S i ng e r & J . D . S h a m b i e S i ng e r , 3 S t a t u t e s a nd S t a t u t o r y c on s t r u c ti on , § 58 : 2 . a t 110 ( 7 t h e d . 2008 )) .
L a rr ea c on t e nd s t h e r e i s no r i gh t t o i n t e r l o c u t o r y a pp ea l i n t h i s ca s e b eca u s e ( 1 ) a pp e ll a n t s h a v e no t m e t t h e i r bu r d e n t o s ho w t h e b r o a d ca s t s w e r e a r e s u lt o f t h e i r r i gh t t o e x e r c i s e fr ee s p eec h o r r i gh t t o p e titi on , t hu s i nvok i ng t h e p r ov i s i on s o f t h e T C P A , a nd ( 2 ) t h e t r i a l c ou r t r u l e d on a pp e ll a n t s ’ m o ti on t o d i s m i ss w it h i n t h i r t y d a y s a s r e qu i r e d by t h e T C P A a nd t h e m o ti on w a s no t d e n i e d by op e r a ti on o f l a w .
A pp e ll a n t s r e s pond t h a t L a rr ea m a y no t a r gu e f o r t h e f i r s t ti m e on a pp ea l t h a t a pp e ll a n t s f a il e d t o s ho w by a p r e pond e r a n ce o f t h e e v i d e n ce t h a t L a rr ea ’ s ac ti on i s b a s e d on t h e i r r i gh t t o s p ea k a nd p e titi on fr ee l y . F u r t h e r , a pp e ll a n t s c on t e nd “a m p l e” e v i d e n ce e x i s t s f o r t h i s C ou r t t o c on c l ud e a pp e ll a n t s m a d e s u c h a s ho w i ng . A dd iti on a ll y , a pp e ll a n t s a ss e r t t h a t b eca u s e t h e t r i a l c ou r t f a il e d t o “ r u l e on ” t h e i r m o ti on t o d i s m i ss a s r e qu i r e d by T C P A s ec ti on 27 . 005 ( a ) , t h e i r m o ti on t o d i s m i ss w a s d e n i e d by op e r a ti on o f l a w a nd t h e t r i a l c ou r t ’ s o r d e r i s a pp ea l a b l e und e r s ec ti on 27 . 008 ( a ) .
T h e r ec o r d do e s no t s ho w L a rr ea ’ s a r gu m e n t r e s p ec ti ng a pp e ll a n t s ’ “ bu r d e n t o s ho w t h e b r o a d ca s t s w e r e a r e s u lt o f t h e i r r i gh t t o e x e r c i s e fr ee s p eec h o r r i gh t t o p e titi on ” w a s r a i s e d i n t h e t r i a l c ou r t . H o w e v e r , b eca u s e t h a t a r gu m e n t p e r t a i n s t o t h i s C ou r t ’ s j u r i s d i c ti on , w e w ill a dd r e ss it h e r e . S ee M i n t on , 355 S . W . 3d a t 639 ; c f T e x . A ss ‘ n o f B u s ., 852 S . W . 2d a t 445 — 46 ( j u r i s d i c ti on a l qu e s ti on ca nno t b e w a i v e d ) . A s d e s c r i b e d a bov e , t h e T C P A d e f i n e s “ [ e j x e r c i s e o f t h e r i gh t o f fr ee s p eec h ” a s “a c o mm un i ca ti on m a d e i n c onn ec ti on w it h a m a tt e r o f pub li c c on ce r n . ” TE x . C i v . P R A c . & R E M . C OD E ANN . § 27 . 001 ( 3 ) . I n t u r n , t h e T C P A ’ s d e f i n iti on o f “ { m ] a tt e r o f pub li c c on ce r n ” i n c l ud e s “a n i ss u e r e l a t e d t o . . . a good , p r odu c t , o r s e r v i ce i n t h e m a r k e t p l ace . ” I d . § 27 . 00 l ( 7 )( E ) .
A pp e ll a n t s a ss e r t i n p a r t t h a t “ L a rr ea ’ s l e g a l s e r v i ce s , w h i c h h e p r ov i d e s t o t h e D a ll a s — 9 — *10 m a r k e t p l ace , ” c on s tit u t e a “ s e r v i ce i n t h e m a r k e t p l ace , ” a nd t h e b r o a d ca s t s w e r e r e l a t e d t o t h a t s e r v i ce . L a rr ea do e s no t a dd r e ss s ec ti on 27 . 00 1 ( 7 )( E ) o r e xp l a i n ho w it i s i n a pp li ca b l e . T h e r ec o r d s ho w s L a rr ea s t a t e d i n h i s a ff i d a v it t h a t h e i s a n a tt o r n e y a nd w a s h i r e d t o h a nd l e l e g a l m a tt e r s f o r c li e n t s i n D a ll a s . F u r t h e r , L a rr ea ’ s a ff i d a v it d e m on s t r a t e s ( 1 ) t h e a ll e g e d f a l s e s t a t e m e n t s i n t h e b r o a d ca s t s p e r t a i n t o h i s l e g a l s e r v i ce s a nd ( 2 ) h i s ac ti on i s b a s e d on t h e b r o a d ca s t s . W e c on c l ud e t h e r ec o r d s ho w s by a p r e pond e r a n ce o f t h e e v i d e n ce t h a t t h e c o mm un i ca ti on s a t i ss u e , i . e ., t h e b r o a d ca s t s , w e r e m a d e i n c onn ec ti on w it h a m a tt e r o f pub li c c on ce r n , i . e ., L a rr ea ’ s l e g a l s e r v i ce s , a nd t h a t t h e b r o a d ca s t s a r e t h e b a s i s f o r L a rr ea ’ s ac ti on . S ee I d . § 27 . 00 1 ( 3 ) , 27 . 00 1 ( 7 )( E ) , 27 . 005 ( b ) ; s ee a l s o W il s on N . J on e s M e m ’ l H o s p . v . A mm on s , 266 S . W . 3d 51 , 61 — 62 ( T e x . A pp . — D a ll a s 2008 , p e t . d e n i e d ) ( a n a l y z i ng w h e t h e r p a r t y f e ll w it h i n ca t e go r y li s t e d i n h ea lt h ca r e s t a t u t e b a s e d on p l a i n l a ngu a g e o f s t a t u t e ) ; B a rr on v . C ook C h il d r e n H ea lt h C a r e S v s ., 218 S . W , 3d 806 , 808 — 09 ( T e x . A pp . — F o r t W o r t h 2007 , no p e t . ) ( s a m e ) ; c f J e nn i ng s , 378 S . W . 3d a t 527 ( “ O u r a n a l y s i s o f t h i s i ss u e o f s t a t u t o r y c on s t r u c ti on ‘ m u s t b e g i n w it h t h e l a ngu a g e o f t h e s t a t u t e it s e l f , ’ ... a nd ‘[ a j b s e n t a c l ea r l y e xp r e ss e d l e g i s l a ti v e i n t e n ti on t o t h e c on t r a r y , t h a t l a ngu a g e m u s t o r d i n a r il y b e r e g a r d e d a s c on c l u s i v e . ” ) ( quo ti ng B r ea d P o liti ca l A c ti on C o mm . v . F e d . E l ec ti on C o mm ‘ n , 455 U . s . 577 ( 1982 )) . T hu s , t h e r ec o r d s ho w s by a p r e pond e r a n ce o f t h e e v i d e n ce t h a t t h e b r o a d ca s t s c on s tit u t e d a n “ [ e j x e r c i s e o f t h e r i gh t o f fr ee s p eec h ” a nd L a rr ea ’ s ac ti on w a s on e “ b a s e d on , r e l a ti ng t o , o r i n r e s pon s e t o ” a p a r t y ’ s e x e r c i s e o f t h e r i gh t o f fr ee s p eec h . S ee TE x . C i v . P R A c . & R E M . C OD E ANN . § 27 . 005 ( b ) . A cc o r d i ng l y , w e c on c l ud e a pp e ll a n t s h a v e m e t t h e i r bu r d e n t o s ho w t h e T C P A i s a pp li ca b l e . S ee I d . § 27 . 003 ( a ) .
N e x t , w e a dd r e ss L a rr ea ’ s c on t e n ti on t h a t b eca u s e t h e t r i a l c ou r t “ d i d r u l e w it h i n t h e 30 - d a y ti m e p e r i od ” a nd “ d i d no t d e ny t h e m o ti on t o d i s m i ss , ” t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s o r d e r i n q u e s t i o n i s “ i n t e r l o c u t o r y a nd no t a pp ea l a b l e . ” L a rr ea a r gu e s i n p a r t
S i gn i f i ca n tl y , S ec ti on 27 . 008 do e s no t s t a t e t h a t i f t h e c ou r t do e s no t “ g r a n t o r d e ny ” - 10 - *11 t h e m o ti on w it h i n 30 d a y s , it i s d ee m e d t o h a v e b ee n d e n i e d by op e r a ti on o f l a w . k a r l y t h a t i s no t t h e m ea n i ng o f t h e s t it u t b eca u s e t h e s t a t u t e s p ec i f i ca ll y p r ov i d e s t h a t t h e c ou r t m a y a ll o w d i s c ov e r y r e l e v a n t t o t h e m o ti on b e t b r e it r u l e s on t h e m o ti on t o d i s m i ss .
A cc o r d i ng t o L a rr ea , “ [ t ] h e [ t r i a l ] c ou r t ’ s o r d e r , a ll o w i ng a dd iti on a l ti m e f o r d i s c ov e r y w a s i n k ee p i ng w it h t h e s t a t u t e ’ s s p ec i f i c p r ov i s i on s , w a s w it h i n t h e c ou r t ’ s d i s c r e ti on , a nd i s a non - a pp ea l a b l e i n t e r l o c u t o r y o r d e r . ” S ee Id. § 27 . 006 ( b ) ( “ O n a m o ti on by a p a r t y o r on t h e c ou r t ’ s o w n m o ti on a nd on a s ho w i ng o f good ca u s e , t h e c ou r t m a y a ll o w s p ec i f i e d a nd li m it e d d i s c ov e r y r e l e v a n t t o t h e m o ti on . ” ) .
A pp e ll a n t s c on t e nd [ S l ec ti on 27 . 005 , e n titl e d “ R u li ng , ” is t h e k e y t o t h e c o rr ec t c on s t r u c ti on — i nd ee d , t h e on l y p l a u s i b l e c on s t r u c ti on — o f C h a p t e r 27 . S ec ti on 27 . 005 ( a ) r e qu i r e s t h a t t h e t r i a l c ou r t “ m u s t r u l e on a m o ti on [ t o d i s m i ss ] no t l a t e r t h a n t h e 30 t h d a y f o ll o w i ng t h e d a t e o f t h e h ea r i ng on t h e m o ti on . ” ( e m ph a s i s a dd e d . ) .
S ec ti on s 27 . 005 ( b ) a nd ( c ) t h e n s ho w w h a t it m ea n s t o “ r u l e on [ t h e ] m o ti on . ” S i m p l y pu t , w it h i n 30 d a y s o f t h e h ea r i ng on a m o ti on t o d i s m i ss , t h e t r i a l c ou r t m u s t g r a n t t h e m o ti on a nd d i s m i ss t h e ac ti on und e r s ec ti on 27 . 005 ( b ) o r d e ny t h e m o ti on und e r s ec ti on 27 . 005 ( c ) . T h e r e ’ s no t h i r d w a y . A nd b eca u s e C h a p t e r 27 ’ s t e x t is c l ea r , it is d e t e r m i n a ti v e o f L e g i s l a ti v e i n t e n t .
In t h i s ca s e , t h e t r i a l c ou r t f a il e d t o “ r u l e on [ t h e ] m o ti on , ” a s r e qu i r e d by s ec ti on 27 . 005 ( a ) . B eca u s e it d i d s o , [ a pp e ll a n t s ’] M o ti on t o D i s m i ss w a s d e n i e d by op e r a ti on o f l a w a nd t h e t r i a l c ou r t ’ s o r d e r i s a pp ea l a b l e und e r C h a p t e r 27 ’ s e xp e d it e d - i n t e r l o c u t o r y - a pp ea l p r ov i s i on .
( c it a ti on s o m itt e d ) . S ec ti on 27 . 005 ( a ) c l ea r l y s t a t e s t h a t t h e c ou r t m u s t “ r u l e on ” a m o ti on t o d i s m i ss und e r t h e T C P A w it h i n t h i r t y d a y s f o ll o w i ng t h e d a t e o f t h e h ea r i ng on t h e m o ti on . I d . § 27 . 005 ( a ) . O n l y t w o op ti on s a r e d e s c r i b e d i n s ec ti on 27 . 005 : t o “ d i s m i ss ” t h e l e g a l ac ti on o r “ no t d i s m i ss ” it. I d . § 27 . 005 ( b )-( c ) . F u r t h e r , i n c on t r a s t t o t h e s t a t u t e ’ s s p ec i f i c a ll o w a n ce f o r e x t e n s i on s o f ti m e und e r ce r t a i n c i r c u m s t a n ce s i n s ec ti on s 27 . 003 ( b ) ( e x t e n s i on f o r ti m e t o f il e m o ti on t o d i s m i ss ) a nd 27 . 004 ( e x t e n s i on a s t o s e tti ng o f h ea r i ng ) , t h e r e is no p r ov i s i on f o r e x t e n s i on o f t h e t h i r t y - d a y p e r i od i n s ec ti on 27 . 005 ( a ) . I d . § 27 . 005 ( a ) . A dd iti on a ll y , s ec ti on 27 . 006 ( b ) , w h i c h a ll o w s f o r “ s p ec i f i e d a nd
—l 1— *12 li m it e d d i s c ov e r y ” on a s ho w i ng o f good ca u s e , do e s no t p r ov i d e f o r a ny e x t e n s i on o f t h e s t a t u t o r y ti m e p e r i od s i n c onn ec ti on w it h t h a t d i s c ov e r y . I d . § 27 . 006 ( b ) .
B a s e d on t h e p l a i n t e x t o f t h e T C P A , w e c on c l ud e t h e t r i a l c ou r t d i d no t “ r u l e on ” a pp e ll a n t s ’ m o ti on t o d i s m i ss f o r pu r po s e s o f s ec ti on 27 . 005 ( a ) w h e n , by it s o r d e r o f N ov e m b e r 16 , 2011 , it d ec i d e d , w it h i n t h i r t y d a y s a f t e r t h e h ea r i ng o f O c t ob e r 18 , 2011 , t o a ll o w d i s c ov e r y a nd c on ti nu e t h e h ea r i ng . S ee i d . § 27 . 005 ( a ) . M o r e ov e r , t h e t r i a l c ou r t ’ s o r d e r m a d e c l ea r t h a t , o t h e r t h a n t h e a bov e - d e s c r i b e d r u li ng s on d i s c ov e r y , it “ d e t e r m i n e s no o t h e r i ss u e s und e r C h a p t e r 27 by i m p li ca ti on . ” B eca u s e n e it h e r s ec ti on 27 . 006 ( b ) , w h i c h a ll o w s f o r li m it e d d i s c ov e r y , no r a ny o t h e r p r ov i s i on i n t h e T C P A p r ov i d e s f o r a n e x t e n s i on o f t h e m a nd a t o r y t h i r t y - d a y p e r i od f o r a r u li ng pu r s u a n t t o s ec ti on 27 . 005 ( a ) w h e n a h ea r i ng on a m o ti on t o d i s m i ss h a s b ee n c ondu c t e d , w e c on c l ud e a pp e ll a n t s ’ m o ti on t o d i s m i ss w a s d e n i e d by op e r a ti on o f l a w a nd t h i s i n t e r l o c u t o r y a pp ea l i s ti m e l y b r ough t pu r s u a n t t o T C P A s ec ti on 27 . 008 ( a ) . S ee I d . § 27 . 008 ( a ) . C on s e qu e n tl y , w e c on c l ud e w e h a v e j u r i s d i c ti on ov e r t h i s a pp ea l . S ee K o s e og l u , 233 S . W . 3d a t 840 .
2 . N o E v i d e n ce a s t o F a l s it y N o w , w e a dd r e ss a pp e ll a n t s ’ f i r s t i ss u e , i n w h i c h t h e y c on t e nd t h e t r i a l c ou r t r e v e r s i b l y e rr e d by f a ili ng t o g r a n t t h e i r m o ti on t o d i s m i ss on t h e m e r it s b eca u s e “ t h e r e i s no e v i d e n ce — m u c h l e ss c l ea r a nd s p ec i f i c e v i d e n ce — o f t h e f a l s it y o f a ny s t a t e m e n t t h a t [ a pp e ll a n t s ] m a d e . ” S ee TE x . C I V . P R A C . & R E M . C OD E ANN . § 27 . 005 ( c ) ( t o d e f ea t m o ti on t o d i s m i ss , p a r t y m u s t e s t a b li s h p r i m a f ac i e ca s e f o r eac h e ss e n ti a l e l e m e n t o f c l a i m by “c l ea r a nd s p ec i f i c e v i d e n ce” ) .
L a rr ea r e s pond s “ [ t ] h e r e w a s c l ea r a nd s p ec i f i c e v i d e n ce t h a t t h e s t a t e m e n t s m a d e i n t h e b r o a d ca s t s t h a t a r e t h e b a s i s o f t h i s l a w s u it a r e f a l s e . ” F u r t h e r , L a rr ea a ss e r t s ( 1 ) t h e r e i s “ no o r i n s u ff i c i e n t e v i d e n ce” t h a t h e i s a “ pub li c f i gu r e” o r t h a t a pp e l l a n t s w e r e “ r e p o r t i n g a m a t t e r o f
—12— *13 public concern” 4 and (2) he “has established a prima fade case that the gist or sting of the publication is false and defamatory and were certainly published in such a way that they created a substantially false and defamatory impression by omitting material facts and juxtaposing facts in a misleading [way].”
To maintain a defamation cause of action against appellants, Larrea was required to prove appellants “(1) published a false statement; (2) that was defamatory; (3) while acting with either actual malice, if he is considered a public official or public figure, or negligence, if he is a private individual, regarding the truth of the statement.” Associated Press v. Boyd, No. 05-05-011 92-CV, 2005 WL 1140369, at *2 (Tex. App.—Dallas May 16, 2005, no pet.) (mem. op.) (citing Carr v. Brasher, 776 S.W.2d 567, 569 (Tex. 1989)); see Bentley v. Bunton, 94 S.W.3d 561, 586—87 (Tex. 2002) (defining “defamatory” as “injurious to reputation”); see also TEX. Civ. PRAc. & REM. CODE ANN t 73 001— 006 (West 2011) Additionally, section 73 004(a) of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code provides
A broadcaster is not liable in damages for a defamatory statement published or uttered in or as a part of a radio or television broadcast by one other than the broadcaster unless the complaining party proves that the broadcaster failed to exercise due care to prevent the publication or utterance of the statement in the broadcast. TEx. Civ. PRAc. & REM. CODE ANN. § 73.004(a). “We construe an allegedly defamatory
publication as a whole in light of the surrounding circumstances and based upon how a person o f ordinary intelligence would perceive it.” Main v. Rovall, 348 S.W.3d 381, 389 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2011, no pet.) (citing Turner v. KTRK Television, Inc., 38 S.W.3d 103, 114 (Tex. 2000)).
Actual malice generally must be proven by “clear and convincing” evidence. See Turner, 38 We concluded above that the record shows by a preponderance of the evidence that the broadcasts were made in connection with a matter of public concern. See TEx. Civ, PRAc. & REM. CODE ANN. § 27.OOl(7)(E). Therefore, we need not revisit Larrea’s argument respecting whether appellants were “reporting a matter of public concern.”
—13— *14 S . W . 3d a t 116 ; If u c k a h ee v . T i m e W a r n e r E n i m ‘t ‘ o . L . P ., 19 S . W . 3d 413 , 420 — 21 ( T e x . 2000 ) . F u r t h e r , a m e d i a d e f e nd a n t ca n d e f ea t a d e f a m a ti on ca u s e o f ac ti on by e s t a b li s h i ng t h e “ s ub s t a n ti a l t r u t h ” o f t h e b r o a d ca s t i n qu e s ti on . S ee M c i/ v a i n v . J ac ob s , 794 S . W . 2d 14 , 15 ( T e x . 1990 ) . “ [ A j m e d i a d e f e nd a n t ’ s r e po r ti ng t h a t a t h i r d p a r t y h a s m a d e a ll e g a ti on s i s ‘ s ub s t a n ti a ll y t r u e ’ i f , i n f ac t , t ho s e a ll e g a ti on s h a v e b ee n m a d e a nd t h e i r c on t e n t i s acc u r a t e l y r e po r t e d . ” N ee l v v . W il s on , 331 S . W . 3d 900 , 922 ( T e x . A pp . — A u s ti n 2011 , p e t . g r a n t e d ) ( c iti ng M c il v a i n , 794 S . W . 2d a t 16 ) ; acc o r d G r o tti v . B e l o C o r p ., 188 S . W . 3d 768 , 775 ( T e x . A pp . — F o r t W o r t h 2006 , p e t . d e n i e d ) ; U T V o f S a n A n t on i o , I n c . v . A r d m o r e , I n c ., 82 S . W . 3d 609 , 612 ( T e x . A pp . — S a n A n t on i o 2002 , no p e t . ) ; K T R K T e l e v i s i on v F e l d e r , 950 S . W . 2d 100 , 106 ( T e x . A pp . — H ou s t on [ l 4 t h D i s t . j 1997 , no w r it ) ; s ee B oyd , 2005 W L 1140369 , a t *2 ( c iti ng D o l ce f i no v . R a ndo l ph , 19 S . W . 3d 906 , 918 ( T e x . A pp . — H ou s t on [ 14 t h D i s t . J 2000 , p e t . d e n i e d )) .
“ T o b e ac ti on a b l e , a s t a t e m e n t m u s t a ss e r t a n ob j ec ti v e l y v e r i f i a b l e f ac t . ” M a i n , 348 S . W . 3d a t 389 ( c iti ng M il kov i c h v . L o r a i n J ou r n a l C o ., 497 U . S . 1 , 19 ( 1990 ) ; B e n tl e y , 94 S . W . 3d a t 580 ) . “ [ A I n op i n i on , li k e a ny o t h e r s t a t e m e n t , ca n b e ac ti on a b l e i n d e f a m a ti on i f it e xp r e ss l y o r i m p li e d l y a ss e r t s f ac t s t h a t ca n b e ob j ec ti v e l y v e r i f i e d . ” P a l e s ti n e H e r a l d - P r e ss C o . v . Z i mm e r , 257 S . W . 3d 504 , 509 ( T e x . A pp . — T y l e r 2008 , p e t . d e n i e d ) . W h e t h e r a pub li ca ti on i s a n ac ti on a b l e s t a t e m e n t o f f ac t i s a qu e s ti on o f l a w . I d . ( c iti ng B e n tl e y , 94 S . W . 3d a t 580 ) .
T h e T C P A do e s no t d e f i n e “c l ea r a nd s p ec i f i c e v i d e n ce . ” S ee TE x . C I V . P R A C . & R E M . C OD E ANN . § 27 . 005 ( c ) . F u r t h e r , L a rr ea c on t e nd s “ t h e bu r d e n a nd qu a n t u m o f p r oo f ” r e s p ec ti ng h i s p r i m a f ac i e ca s e i s e it h e r “c l ea r a nd c onv i n c i ng e v i d e n ce” o r “a p r e pond e r a n ce o f e v i d e n ce , ” d e p e nd i ng on w h e t h e r o r no t h e i s a pub li c f i gu r e . H o w e v e r , a pp e ll a n t s c on t e nd w e “ n ee d no t a tt e m p t t o l a y ou t t h e c on t ou r s o f ‘ c l ea r a n d s p e c i f i c e v i d e n c e ’ h e r e” b ec a u s e n o e v i d e n c e a t a l l h a s b ee n p r o ff e r e d on t h e e l e m e n t o f f a l s it y , a nd t hu s “ L a rr ea w ho ll y f a il e d t o ca rr y h i s bu r d e n und e r a ny e v i d e n ti a r y s t a nd a r d . ” ( e m ph a s i s o r i g i n a l ) .
- 14 -- *15 In his affidavit, Larrea asserts the following constituted actionable false statements: (I) the broadcasts depicted an unidentified individual purporting to represent the City of Dallas who stated that a person handing out business cards on a public sidewalk is in violation of the city code and cited “an ordinance that is completely inapplicable to handing out business cards”; (2) the broadcasts included a statement by Saucedo that Larrea did not visit her husband in jail and Larrea’s response that he did make such a visit, but did not include a statement by the broadcaster that Saucedo’s allegation was untrue; (3) the broadcasts included Saucedo’s statement that “she has conclusive proof from C.PS. that her husband had been exonerated and that [Larreal had not used it to get the criminal case dismissed,” which falsely suggested Larrea was “derelict” in his representation of Alcantara; (4) the title of the broadcasts posted on the Internet, as translated, was “Lawyer in Dallas Defrauding the Undocumented?,” but the clients featured in the broadcasts did not use the word “fraud”; (5) the broadcasts characterized the case of Alcantara as a “nightmare” and “suggested” Larrea was “responsible for his problems”; (6) the broadcaster stated that after Alcantara released Larrea as his attorney, a public defender disposed of his case in one week when Larrea had not been able to do so in three months; (7) the broadcasts misled viewers to believe that complaints forwarded to the State Bar of Texas “confirmed professional misconduct”; and (8) “[tjhe narrative carelessly, maliciously, and with blatant disregard to the truth asserts that what [Larreaj was doing was illegal” and “[Avila] in fact stated this” when he “confront[edj” a woman handing out business cards on a sidewalk and “demanded that the woman admit that she knew that what she was doing ‘was illegal.”
First, it is unclear from the record whether Larrea is complaining as to appellants’ broadcasting of statements by Saucedo and the unidentified person purporting to represent the City of Dallas, or whether Larrea’s complaints as to those statements pertain solely to Avila’s reporting those statements. To the extent Larrea seeks to hold appellants liable for alleged defamatory statements in the broadcasts by persons other than appellants, the record does not show Larrea
—15— *16 a dd r e ss e d , o r p r odu ce d e v i d e n ce i n t h e t r i a l c ou r t r e s p ec ti ng , a ny f a il u r e o f a pp e ll a n t s “ t o e x e r c i s e du e ca r e t o p r e v e n t t h e pub li ca ti on o r u tt e r a n ce” o f a ny s u c h s t a t e m e n t . S ee TE x . C i v . P i c . & R E M . C OD E ANN . § 73 . 004 ( a ) . F u r t h e r , t o t h e e x t e n t L a rr ea c o m p l a i n s a bou t a pp e ll a n t s ’ r e po r ti ng o f a ll e g a ti on s c on t a i n e d i n t ho s e s t a t e m e n t s , L a rr ea do e s no t d e m on s t r a t e t h a t t h e r ec o r d s ho w s a pp e ll a n t s r e po r t e d a ny a ll e g a ti on s i n acc u r a t e l y . S ee N ee l , v , 33 1 S . W . 3d a t 922 ; G r o tti , 1 88 S . W . 3d a t 775 ; U T V o f S a n A n t on i o . I n c ., 82 S . W . 3d a t 612 ; K T R K T e l e v i s i on , 950 S . W . 2d a t 106 ; B oyd , 2005 W L 1140369 , a t *2 .
S ec ond , t h e r ec o r d s ho w s t h e titl e o f t h e b r o a d ca s t po s t e d on t h e I n t e r n e t , “ L a w y e r i n D a ll a s D e fr a ud i ng t h e U ndo c u m e n t e d ? , ” w a s ph r a s e d a s a qu e s ti on a nd w a s no t po s e d i n a m a nn e r t h a t s ugg e s t e d o t h e r w i s e . S ee B l ac k w e ll v . W i s e , N o . 11 - 99 - 00224 - C V , 2000 W L 34235121 , a t *4 ( T e x . A pp . — E a s tl a nd J u l y 20 , 2000 , no p e t . ) ( no t d e s i gn a t e d f o r pub li ca ti on ) ( c on c l ud i ng qu e s ti on on w h i c h d e f a m a ti on c l a i m w a s b a s e d w a s no t “ s t a t e m e n t o f f ac t ” w h e r e r ec o r d d i d no t i nd i ca t e qu e s ti on w a s po s e d a s s u c h ) . L a rr ea do e s no t e xp l a i n , a nd t h e r ec o r d do e s no t s ho w , ho w t h a t titl e a ss e r t e d a n ob j ec ti v e l y v e r i f i a b l e f ac t . S ee M a i n , 348 S . W . 3d a t 389 ; B e n tl e y , 94 S . W . 3d a t 580 . M o r e ov e r , t h e t r a n s c r i p t s ho w s S a u ce do s t a t e d i n p a r t i n t h e b r o a d ca s t t h a t “ [ L a rr ea ’ s ] o ff i ce i s f u ll o f li e s . ” “ [ A ] m e d i a d e f e nd a n t ’ s r e po r ti ng t h a t a t h i r d p a r t y h a s m a d e a ll e g a ti on s i s ‘ s ub s t a n ti a ll y t r u e ’ i f , i n f ac t , t ho s e a ll e g a ti on s h a v e b ee n m a d e a nd t h e i r c on t e n t i s acc u r a t e l y r e po r t e d . ” N ee l y , 331 S . W . 3d a t 922 .
T h i r d , w e c on s i d e r L a rr ea ’ s c o m p l a i n t t h a t t h e b r o a d ca s t s c h a r ac t e r i ze d t h e ca s e o f A l ca n t a r a a s a “ n i gh t m a r e” a nd “ s ugg e s t e d ” L a rr ea w a s r e s pon s i b l e f o r h i s p r ob l e m s . T h e r ec o r d s ho w s A v il a s t a t e d a t t h e b e g i nn i ng o f t h e M a y 3 b r o a d ca s t , “ T h e ca s e o f M r . F e li x A l ca n t a r a e nd e d i n a n i gh t m a r e f o r h i s f a m il y . ” T h e u s e o f a t e r m t h a t i s “ b y i t s n a t u r e , a n i n d e f i n i t e o r a m b i g u o u s i nd i v i du a l j udg m e n t t h a t r e s t s s o l e l y i n t h e e y e o f t h e b e ho l d e r ” o r “a l oo s e a nd f i gu r a ti v e t e r m e m p l oy e d a s a m e t a pho r o r hyp e r bo l e” c on s tit u t e s a p r o t ec t e d e xp r e ss i on o f op i n i on . P a l e s ti n e
— 16 - *17 f l e r a 1d P r e . v s C o ., 257 S . W . 3d a t 5 II . In m a k i ng a d e t e r m i n a ti on a s t o w h e t h e r a pub li ca ti on is a n ac ti on a b l e s t a t e m e n t o f f ac t o r a p r o t ec t e d e xp r e ss i on o f op i n i on , w e m u s t l ook a t t h e e n ti r e c on t e x t i n w h i c h t h e s t a t e m e n t w a s m a d e . Id. a t 509 . In t h e ca s e b e f o r e u s , t h e c on t e x t d e m on s t r a t e s “ n i gh t m a r e” w a s u s e d a s a ti gu r a ti v e t e r m , a n op i n i on , a nd ca nno t b e ob j ec ti v e l y v e r i f i e d . S ee id. A cc o r d i ng l y , A v il a ’ s s t a t e m e n t d e s c r i b e d a bov e i s no t ac ti on a b l e . S ee M a i n , 348 S . W . 3d a t 389 . F u r t h e r , t o t h e e x t e n t a pp e ll a n t s “ s ugg e s t e d ” L a rr ea w a s “ r e s pon s i b l e f o r [ A l ca n t a r a ’ s l p r ob l e m s , ” t h e r ec o r d s ho w s S a u ce do s t a t e d L a rr ea d i d no t do w h a t h i s o ff i ce r e p r e s e n t e d h e w ou l d do r e s p ec ti ng h e r hu s b a nd ’ s ca s e . S ee Nee1v, 33 1 S . W . 3d a t 922 ( m e d i a d e f e nd a n t ’ s r e po r ti ng t h a t t h i r d p a r t y h a s m a d e a ll e g a ti on s i s “ s ub s t a n ti a ll y t r u e” i f “ t ho s e a ll e g a ti on s h a v e b ee n m a d e a nd t h e i r c on t e n t is acc u r a t e l y r e po r t e d ” ) .
F ou r t h , L a rr ea c o m p l a i n s “ [ tj h e s t a t e m e n t w a s m a d e by t h e b r o a d ca s t e r t h a t a f t e r M r . A l ca n t a r a h a d r e l ea s e d m e t h e P ub li c D e f e nd e r d i s po s e d o f h i s ca s e i n I w ee k w h e n I h a d no t b ee n a b l e t o i n 3 m on t h s . ” T h e r ec o r d s ho w s t h a t i n t h e M a y 2 b r o a d ca s t , S a u ce do s t a t e d s h e p a i d L a rr ea t o r e p r e s e n t h e r hu s b a nd a nd w a s t o l d “ t h a t t h e y w e r e go i ng t o s ee h i m i n j a il a nd t h a t t h e y w e r e go i ng t o g e t h i m ou t i n t h r ee m on t h s . ” A v il a s t a t e d , “ T h e t h r ee m on t h s w e n t by a nd h e r hu s b a nd d i d no t g e t ou t o f j a il . ” In t h e M a y 3 b r o a d ca s t , A v il a s t a t e d , “ F e li x A l ca n t a r a d i s m i ss e d L a rr ea a s h i s r e p r e s e n t a ti v e a nd t h e ca s e w a s t a k e n by a pub li c d e f e nd e r , w ho s e ttl e d t h e ca s e i n a w ee k a nd A l ca n t a r a w a s d e po r t e d t o M e x i c o . ” L a rr ea do e s no t e xp l a i n a nd t h e r ec o r d do e s no t s ho w ho w A v il a ’ s s t a t e m e n t s r e s p ec ti ng t h e d i s po s a l o f A l ca n t a r a ’ s ca s e w e r e f a l s e .
F i f t h , w e a dd r e ss L a rr ea ’ s c on t e n ti on r e s p ec ti ng c o m p l a i n t s a bou t h i m t o t h e S t a t e B a r o f T e x a s . S p ec i f i ca ll y , L a rr ea a ss e r t e d i n h i s a ff i d a v it U n i v i s i on t e ll s t h e v i e w e r [ m j a ny c o m p l a i n t s h a v e b ee n f o r w a r d e d t o t h e S t a t e B a r i n A u s ti n on b e h a l f o f d i ff e r e n t c li e n t s o f m i n e , f i v e s i n ce 2009 . H e r e t h e v i e w e r i s l e d t o b e li e v e t h a t t h e s e c o m p l a i n t s c on f i r m e d p r o f e ss i on a l m i s c ondu c t w h e n t h e y h a d no t b r o a d ca s t a ss e r ti on s t h a t t h e S t a t e B a r w ou l d no t c on f i r m w h e t h e r o r no t t h e y w e r e i nv e s ti g a ti ng m e f o r m i s c ondu c t , s ugg e s ti ng t o t h e pub li c t h a t t h e y p r ob a b l y
—17— *18 were. Invitations to report transgressions to the State Bar of Texas immediately following after quoting me that; “I had nothing to worry about and that I had done everything right,” contextually encouraging viewers to file grievances. The record shows Avila stated in the May 3 broadcast that complaints about Larrea had been
sent to the State Bar of Texas. Immediately thereafter, Larrea stated on camera The allegations and evidence were presented before the Texas bar, and they sent me a letter and it requires by law that I have to respond to the bar and I responded with documents with my version of what happened, and the bar decided whether there were problems with my services or not, and basically, they didn’t find any.
Then, Avila stated As a result of our request for information, recently the bar association responded saying that Faustino Larrea has no disciplinary cases with that institution and that they cannot comment on pending complaints or active investigations, nor did they confirm whether there is any investigation.
Later in the same broadcast, Avila reported that Alcantara and Ramirez are preparing a formal complaint against Larrea before the State Bar of Texas. Further, Avila stated, “The attorney told us he has nothing to worry about and that he is doing everything properly.” Then, Avila provided contact information for making complaints to the State Bar ofTexas. We cannot conclude the record shows false statements by appellants respecting complaints to the State Bar of Texas.
Sixth, Larrea contends “[tlhe narrative carelessly, maliciously, and with blatant disregard to the truth asserts that what [Larrea] was doing was illegal” and “[Avila] in fact stated this” when he “confront[edj” a woman handing out business cards on a sidewalk and “demanded that the woman admit that she knew that what she was doing ‘was illegal.” The record shows that the May 2 broadcast included the video recording of a woman telling Avila she worked for Larrea’s office “handing out cards.” Then, the broadcast showed a purported representative of the City of Dallas who stated that the woman’s activity is “a clear violation of the city ordinance, Section 3 dash one, which prohibits the delivery of advertising in public ways.” In the May 3 broadcast, Avila stated that Ramiriz’s case began with a business card the woman offered “right in a public way. . . an action
—I 8—
*19 qu a li f i e d by t h e M un i c i p a lit y o f D a ll a s a s ill e g a l . ” V i d e o f oo t a g e o f t h e C it y o f D a ll a s r e p r e s e n t a ti v e fr o m t h e M a y 2 b r o a d ca s t w a s s ho w n a s A v il a s pok e . N e x t , A v il a a s k e d L a rr ea a bou t t h e w o m a n , a nd L a rr ea t o l d A v il a “1 don ’ t kno w w h a t you ’r e t a l k i ng a bou t bu t t h e r e a r e s it u a ti on s w h e r e w e do s h a r e bu s i n e ss ca r d s . ” T h e n , t h e b r o a d ca s t s ho w e d A v il a a pp r o ac h i ng t h e w o m a n a s ec ond ti m e . A t t h a t po i n t , t h e w o m a n s a i d s h e d i d no t w o r k f o r L a rr ea . A v il a s t a t e d t o h e r , i n p a r t , “ you kno w t h a t it i s ill e g a l t o h a nd ou t ca r d s i n pub li c , w ho do you w o r k f o r . ..
E v e n a ss u m i ng w it hou t d ec i d i ng t h a t A v il a ’ s s t a t e m e n t t o t h e w o m a n w ho a ll e g e d l y h a nd e d ou t bu s i n e ss ca r d s a ss e r t e d a n ob j ec ti v e l y v e r i f i a b l e f ac t , t h e c on t e x t o f t h e b r o a d ca s t s ho w s t h e s t a t e m e n t w a s m a d e a s p a r t o f A v il a ’ s r e po r t p e r t a i n i ng t o t h e a ll e g a ti on s o f t h e C it y o f D a ll a s r e p r e s e n t a ti v e , a nd t h e r ec o r d do e s no t s ho w A v il a r e po r t e d t ho s e a ll e g a ti on s i n acc u r a t e l y . S ee iVeely, 331 S . W . 3d a t 922 ; G r o tti , 188 S . W . 3d a t 775 ; U T V o f S a n A n t on i o , I n c ., 82 S . W . 3d a t 612 ; K T R K T e l e v i s i on , 950 S . W . 2d a t 106 ; B oyd , 2005 W L 1140369 , a t *2 .
F i n a ll y , w e a dd r e ss L a rr ea ’ s a r gu m e n t t h a t h e “ h a s e s t a b li s h e d a p r i m a f ac i e ca s e t h a t t h e g i s t o r s ti ng o f t h e pub li ca ti on is f a l s e a nd d e f a m a t o r y a nd w e r e ce r t a i n l y pub li s h e d i n s u c h a w a y t h a t t h e y c r ea t e d a s ub s t a n ti a ll y f a l s e a nd d e f a m a t o r y i m p r e ss i on by o m itti ng m a t e r i a l f ac t s a nd j ux t a po s i ng f ac t s i n a m i s l ea d i ng [ w a y ] . ” In s uppo r t o f t h a t po s iti on , L a rr ea c it e s t h e s up r e m e c ou r t ’ s c on c l u s i on i n T u r n e r t h a t “a p l a i n ti ff ca n b r i ng a c l a i m f o r d e f a m a ti on w h e n d i s c r e t e f ac t s , lit e r a ll y o r s ub s t a n ti a ll y t r u e , a r e pub li s h e d i n s u c h a w a y t h a t t h e y c r ea t e a s ub s t a n ti a ll y f a l s e a nd d e f a m a t o r y i m p r e ss i on by o m itti ng m a t e r i a l f ac t s o r j ux t a po s i ng f ac t s i n a m i s l ea d i ng w a y . ” T u r n e r , 38 S . W . 3d a t 115. A pp e ll a n t s c on t e nd t h a t , un li k e t h e ca s e b e f o r e u s , T u r n e r d i d no t i nvo l v e a m e d i a d e f e nd a n t acc u r a t e l y r e po r ti ng a ll e g a ti on s o f w r ong f u l c ondu c t . R a t h e r , a pp e ll a n t s a r gu e , B oyd is d i s po s iti v e h e r e .
I n T u r n e r , a m a yo r a l ca nd i d a t e , S y l v e s t e r T u r n e r , b r ough t a li b e l ac ti on a g a i n s t a n e w s r e po r t e r a nd a t e l e v i s i on s t a ti on b a s e d on t h e b r o a d ca s t o f a s t o r y qu e s ti on i ng t h e r o l e T u r n e r p l a y e d —19— *20 in an attempted multi-million dollar life insurance scam. Id. at 109. Based on the jury’s verdict, the trial court rendered judgment in favor of Turner. Id. at 113. The court of appeals reversed and rcndered judgment for the defendants concluding rumer did not present clear and convincing proof that the reporter or the television station acted with actual malice. Id. That judgment was affirmed by the supreme court. id. In reaching its decision, the supreme court rejected the defendants’ argument that Texas law does not recognize a cause of action for defamation based on a publication as a whole. Id. at 115. The supreme court reasoned “the omission of material facts or misleading presentation of true facts” can render an account “just as false as an outright misstatement.” Id. Then, the supreme court examined the content of the broadcast in dispute and concluded that “by omitting key facts and falsely juxtaposing others, the broadcast’s misleading account cast more suspicion on Turner’s conduct than a substantially true account would have done.” Id. at 118. However, unlike the case before us, Turner did not involve the reporting of third party allegations, and the supreme court did not address third party allegations in its analysis.
In Boyd, Samuel Boyd, a Dallas attorney, sued the Associated Press and other media defendants over two articles published after trial began in a federal civil lawsuit filed against Boyd in which the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) alleged he had helped a securities broker defraud investors. Boyd, 2005 WL 1140369, at [*] 1. The articles noted that the broker had been convicted and was serving a five-year prison term. Id. However, neither article expressly stated that the SEC lawsuit against Boyd was a civil proceeding. Id. Boyd claimed the gist of the articles gave the false impression that the SEC was criminally prosecuting him for securities fraud by making untrue representations, omitting material facts and misleadinglyjuxtaposing events. Id. Appellants moved for summary judgment on Boyd’s claims on both traditional and no-evidence grounds, and the trial court denied the motions. Id.
This Court reversed and rendered judgment that Boyd take nothing on his claims. This Court —20— *21 s t a t e d i n p a r t [f i h e s ti ng ’ o f t h e a r ti c k s o f w h i c h [ B oyd ] c o m p l a i n s w a s t h e acc u r a t e r c po r tl ng o f t h e S E C a ll e g a ti on s o f h i s p a r ti c i p a ti on i n s ec u r iti e s fr a ud a nd no t t h e o m i ss i on o f w h e t h e r it w a s a c r i m i n a l o r c i v il p r o cee d i ng . M o r e ov e r , non e o f t h e ca s e s c it e d by B oyd i nvo l v e d a m e d i a d e f e nd a n t acc u r a t e l y r e po r ti ng a ll e g a ti on s o f w r ong f u l c ondu c t .
1 - l e r e , it i s und i s pu t e d t h a t B oyd h a d b ee n acc u s e d o f t h e un l a w f u l c ondu c t o f p a r ti c i p a ti ng i n s ec u r iti e s fr a ud . T h e f o r u m i n w h i c h t ho s e acc u s a ti on s w e r e m a d e , b e it c r i m i n a l o r c i v il , d i d no t m a t e r i a ll y a ff ec t t h e s ti ng ca u s e d by t h e acc u r a t e l y r e po r t e d a ll e g a ti on s o f B oyd ’ s p a r ti c i p a ti on i n a fr a udu l e n t s c h e m e .
I d . a t *3 L a rr ea c on t e nd s B oyd i s “ t a k e n ou t o f c on t e x t ” by a pp e ll a n t s a nd do e s no t a pp l y t o t h i s ca s e b eca u s e “ [ h j e r e t h e s t o r i e s r un w e r e b a s e d on li e s , no t j u s t on o m itt e d i n f o r m a ti on , w h i c h h a d b ee n ca ll e d t o A pp e ll a n t s ’ a tt e n ti on b e f o r e t h e y w e r e b r o a d ca s t . ” H o w e v e r , a s d e s c r i b e d a bov e , t h e “ li e s ” a ll e g e d by L a rr ea i n t h i s ca s e a r e a ll e g a ti on s o f t h i r d p a r ti e s t h a t w e r e b e i ng r e po r t e d by a pp e ll a n t s , a nd L a rr ea do e s no t c on t e nd t ho s e a ll e g a ti on s w e r e r e po r t e d i n acc u r a t e l y . A cc o r d i ng l y , w e c on c l ud e a s a m a tt e r o f l a w t h a t a pp e ll a n t s d i d no t c r ea t e a s ub s t a n ti a ll y f a l s e a nd d e f a m a t o r y i m p r e ss i on by o m itti ng m a t e r i a l f ac t s o r j ux t a po s i ng f ac t s i n a m i s l ea d i ng w a y . S ee i d . ; s ee a l s o N ee l y , 33 1 S . W . 3d a t 922 ; G r o tti , 188 S . W . 3d a t 775 ; U T V o f S a n A n t on i o , I n c ., 82 S . W . 3d a t 612 ; K T R K T e l e v i s i on , 950 S . W . 2d a t 106 .
W e c on c l ud e t h e r ec o r d b e f o r e u s c on t a i n s no e v i d e n ce a s t o t h e e l e m e n t o f f a l s it y r e s p ec ti ng L a rr ea ’ s c l a i m s . T h e r e f o r e , w e c on c l ud e t h e t r i a l c ou r t e rr e d by no t g r a n ti ng a pp e ll a n t s ’ m o ti on t o d i s m i ss on t h e m e r it s . S ee TE x . C i v . P R A C . & R E M . C OD E ANN . § 27 . 005 . W e d ec i d e a pp e ll a n t s ’ f i r s t i ss u e i n t h e i r f a vo r . I n li gh t o f ou r d i s po s iti on o f t h a t i ss u e , it i s no t n ece ss a r y t o a dd r e ss a pp e ll a n t s ’ s ec ond i ss u e .
III . C ON C L U S I ON W e c on c l ud e t h i s C o u r t h a s j u r i s d i c t i on o v e r t h i s a p p ea l . A dd i t i o n a l l y , w e d ec i d e i n f a vo r o f a pp e ll a n t s on t h e i r f i r s t i ss u e . W e n ee d no t a dd r e ss a pp e ll a n t s ’ s ec ond i ss u e . W e r e v e r s e t h e t r i a l —21— *22 c ou r t ’ s o r d e r , r e nd e r j udg m e n t d i s m i ss i ng t h i s ca s e pu r s u a n t t o t h e T C P A , a nd r e m a nd t h i s ca s e t o t h e t r i a l c ou r t f o r c on s i d e r a ti on o f d a m a g e s a nd c o s t s pu r s u a n t t o T C P A s ec ti on 27 . 009 ( a ) . S ee I d . § 27009 ( a ) .
DOUG L A . L ANG II 1637 F . P 05 — 22 — *23 (!!
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I R G I L I O AV I L A AND UN I V I S I ON A pp ea l fr o m t h e 95 t h J ud i c i a l D i s t r i c t C ou r t TELE V I S I ON G R OU P , i N C ., A pp e ll a n t s o f D a ll a s C oun t y , T e x a s . ( T r . C t . N o . D C -I l - 10828 ) .
N o . ( > 5 - 1 l - 01637 - C V V . O p i n i on d e li v e r e d by J u s ti ce L a ng , J u s ti ce s B r i dg e s a nd R i c h t e r p a r ti c i p a ti ng . F . B . L A RR E A , A pp e ll ee I n acc o r d a n ce w it h t h i s C ou r t ’ s op i n i on o f t h i s d a t e , w e R E V E R S E t h e t r i a l c ou r t ’ s o r d e r , R E ND E R j udg m e n t d i s m i ss i ng t h i s ca s e pu r s u a n t t o t h e T e x a s C iti ze n s P a r ti c i p a ti on A c t , a nd R E M AND t h i s ca s e t o t h e t r i a l c ou r t f o r c on s i d e r a ti on o f d a m a g e s a nd c o s t s pu r s u a n t t o s ec ti on 27 . 009 ( a ) o f t h a t ac t . S ee TE X . C i v . P R A C . & R E M . C OD E ANN . § 27 . 009 ( a ) ( W e s t S upp . 2012 ) . I t i s O R D E R E D t h a t a pp e ll a n t s V i r g ili o A v il a a nd U n i v i s i on T e l e v i s i on G r oup , I n c . r ec ov e r t h e i r c o s t s o f t h i s a pp ea l fr o m a pp e ll ee F . B . L a rr ea . J udg m e n t e n t e r e d D ece m b e r 18 , 2012 .
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