Niemeyer v. Tana Oil and Gas Corp.

ON MOTION FOR REHEARING KIDD, Justice. We withdraw our original opinion and judgment issued December 21, 2000 and substitute this one in its place. John C. Niemeyer (“Niemeyer”) sued Tana Oil and Gas Corporation (“Tana”) for breach of an oil and gas lease. Niemeyer seeks reversal of the district court’s take-nothing judgment and requests review of three issues: (1) whether he was entitled to additional royalties under the parties’ lease and settlement agreement, (2) whether the court properly submitted the breach of contract claim to the jury, and (3) whether the jury instruction that Tana was not *383 obligated to pay for unsold gas was contrary to contractual provisions. Tana cross-appeals the court’s denial of its counterclaims for breach of contract, indemnity, and tortious interference with contract. Tana also appeals the court’s refusal to award its costs of suit. We will affirm the judgment of the district court on both Niemeyer’s claims and Tana’s counterclaims. Facts In 1990, Helen Niemeyer entered into an oil, gas, and mineral lease (“original lease”) with Meridian Oil, Inc. (“Meridian”) for a 138 acre tract of land in Fayette County and reserved a ⅛ royalty interest as landowner. Subsequently, Mrs. Niem-eyer assigned ⅝ of this royalty interest to her children, one of whom was John Niem-eyer. Meridian later assigned its interest in the lease to Tana Oil and Gas Corporation. Tana drilled the Niemeyer no. 1 well in 1992, to be used for the production of gas. The Niemeyer children, including John Niemeyer, brought suit against Tana in 1993 for several causes involving the operation of the well, royalty payments, and accounting procedures. This litigation was resolved in 1994 by the execution of a release and settlement agreement (“release”). A final judgment based on the release was rendered on April 11, 1994. The release provided that, with respect to the production of hydrocarbons from the date of first production through February 28,1994, Tana and Meridian would pay the Niemeyers a royalty of 15% of net proceeds actually paid to Tana and Meridian. The royalty would then increase to 17.94% of net proceeds for the remaining productive life of the well. The settlement released all past and present claims of the parties as of the date of its execution. On October 19, 1995, Niemeyer filed a new suit against Tana and its third-party buyers, Fayette County Gathering System (“Fayette”) and Aquila Southwest Pipeline Corporation (“Aquila”) , 1 Niemeyer’s petition specifically stated that the claims being asserted covered only the time period from May 1994 forward and did not include claims for the time periods covered by the release. Niemeyer’s claim alleged that Tana had underpaid royalties owed, and improperly charged Niemeyer for compression and treating of gas, in violation of the original lease provisions. These charges were based on deductions from Fayette’s payments to Tana, which were then passed back to Niemeyer on a pro-rata basis. Tana, however, deliberately used payments from a separate incentive agreement to offset these charges. 2 Niemeyer also contended that he had not been paid for the full volume of gas delivered and sold at the wellhead. This claim derived from Tana’s agreement, as part of its third party contract with Fayette, to allow a certain amount of gas to be used solely for manufacturing purposes, without charge. Tana responded by filing three counterclaims: (1) breach of contract, (2) indemnity, and (3) tortious interference with contract. Tana’s counterclaims were based primarily on Niemeyer’s alleged breach of the release by bringing suit. Tana also asserted that Niemeyer’s suit should have been barred by res judicata or collateral estoppel and that Niemeyer had failed to adhere to a sixty-day pre-suit notice period, as required by the original lease. In addition, Tana alleged that Niemeyer’s suit deliberately interfered with Tana’s planned sale of the majority of its mineral interests to Rosewood Resources, Inc. (“Rosewood”). Tana claimed that Niemey *384 er’s suit, filed on October 19,1995, delayed the October 30 closing of the sale until November 7. Tana asserted that it incurred damages as a result of this delay, including adverse changes in the sales contract imposing additional indemnity obligations. Prior to trial, on July 7, 1998, the court made three rulings as a matter of law: (1) the release did not bar Niemeyer’s suit, (2) the sale point for the Niemeyer gas occurred at the wellhead, and (3) Niemeyer was not to be charged for post-production treatment and compression of gas. At the same time, on the basis of the first ruling, the court denied Tana’s claims for breach of contract and indemnity as a matter of law. In addition, the court granted Niem-eyer’s motion for partial summary judgment on Tana’s claim for tortious interference with contract. Niemeyer’s claims went to trial, resulting in a jury verdict declining to find that Tana had breached the original lease and its amendments (the release). The court rendered a final, take-nothing judgment in favor of Tana on October 22, 1998. Following denial of his motion for a new trial, Niemeyer appealed the jury verdict. Tana cross-appealed the trial court’s denial of its claims for breach of contract and indemnity and the granting of Neimeyer’s motion for summary judgment on the claim of tortious interference with contract. Tana also appealed the trial court’s refusal to award its costs of suit. Discussion I. Niemeyer’s Issues Niemeyer raises six issues on appeal. He asserts that the trial court erred by (1) denying his motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (“JNOV”), (2) submitting the breach of contract claim to the jury, (3) instructing the jury that Tana had no obligation to pay for unsold gas, (4) refusing to award his damages, (5) refusing to award his attorney’s fees, and (6) overruling his motion for a new trial. A. Breach of Contract In his first issue, Niemeyer asserts that it was error for the trial judge to overrule his motion for JNOV because the evidence shows that he was entitled to additional royalties as a matter of law. Specifically, Niemeyer contends that Tana breached the original lease.by refusing to pay royalties for gas diverted to Fayette and Aquila for manufacturing purposes. Furthermore, Niemeyer claims that Tana’s contract with Fayette impermissibly permitted Fayette to take deductions for gas treatment. 3 As a result, Tana received fewer net proceeds for gas than if Fayette had not made such deductions. Neimeyer argues that he is entitled to royalties based on what Fayette would have paid, and Tana would have received, if the two companies had not agreed to the treatment charges. Tana replies that the incentive agreement wholly reimbursed Niemeyer for these deductions. A party is entitled to JNOV on a particular issue only if the evidence establishes that issue as a matter of law. Brush v. Reata Oil & Gas Corp., 984 S.W.2d 720, 724 (Tex.App.—Waco 1998, pet. denied) (citation omitted). “In determining whether an issue has been established as a mat *385 ter of law, we consider only the evidence and inferences supporting the jury’s verdict and disregard all evidence and inferences to the contrary.” Id. (citation omitted). In this case, the issue is whether Niemeyer could prove Tana breached the contract as a matter of law. In contention are Niemeyer’s and Tana’s differing views of which terms of the contract control the calculation of royalties. The trial court defined the contract as the original lease and its amendments, that is the release. Niemeyer bases his arguments on paragraphs three and twenty-six of the original lease. Paragraph three reads in part: As royalty, lessee covenants and agrees: ... (b) To pay lessor on gas and casinghead gas produced from said land (1) when sold by lessee, one-eighth of the amount realized by lessee, computed at the mouth of the well, or (2) when used by lessee off said land or in the manufacture of gasoline or other products, the market value, at the mouth of the well, of one-eighth of such gas and casinghead gas.... (Emphasis added.) Paragraph twenty-six reads in part: It is expressly understood and provided, that Lessee will bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred in dehydrating and/or compressing all gas produced from and under the above described property, including specifically all such costs and expenses incurred in dehydrating and/or compressing such part or portion of said gas accruing to Lessor’s royalty interest therein under the provisions hereof. (Emphasis added.) In contrast, Tana argues that its royalty obligations are fully defined in section III, paragraph A(2) of the release, which reads: “With respect to production of all oil, gas and associated hydrocarbons from the Niemeyer Oil Unit No. 1 after February 28, 1994 and for the productive life of the well, Defendants Tana and Meridian shall pay to Plaintiffs a royalty of 17.94% of net proceeds actually paid to Defendants.” (Emphasis added.) Neimeyer asserts that, regardless of the inclusion of the reference to net proceeds in the release, the terms of the original lease apply. In agreeing to the term “net proceeds,” he argues, the parties may have intended to permit other deductions, such as for transportation, but not charges specifically forbidden by the original lease. Accordingly, he argues, the reference to “net proceeds” does not relieve Tana of its obligation to pay for gas used off-lease under paragraph three of the original lease. In rejoinder, Tana contends that it fulfilled its contractual obligation to pay 17.94% of net proceeds actually received, which was greater than the 15% called for in the original lease. Further, the common meaning of “net,” Tana argues, suggests deductions made from payments received. Tana asserts that even if this term excluded deductions for treatment and compression costs, these costs were fully reimbursed by the amounts Tana, and ultimately Niemeyer, received from the incentive agreement. Likewise, Tana, and ultimately Niemeyer, were fully compensated for the “free” gas provided to Aquila and Fayette for manufacturing through the receipt of a higher royalty rate for gas actually sold to these companies. We find that because the release was intended to reconcile the inconsistencies in the parties’ interpretations of their royalty agreement, the basis for the first suit, its terms supersede those of the original lease when the two conflict. The release itself supports this interpretation in section V, paragraph I, which states that “the Compromise Agreement and Release executed at the mediation on March 10, 1994, this Agreement and the Agreed Order of Dismissal with Prejudice supersede any and all prior agreements, arrangements, or understandings ... between all of the parties relating to this lawsuit.” Therefore, Tana was obligated to pay Niemeyer a fixed percentage of its “net proceeds” as speci *386 fied by the release. The dictionary defines “net” as “free from all charges or deductions ... remaining after the deduction of all charges, outlay or loss ... opposed to gross.” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary 1519 (Philip B. Gove ed., 1961). Accordingly, a reasonable definition of “net proceeds” includes deductions made by Fayette for compression and treating; it does not include payments for gas that was never sold at all, but was, instead, diverted to Fayette for manufacturing purposes. We hold that the jury, when asked to consider the release as an amendment to the contract could have taken into account the plain meaning of “net proceeds” when it failed to find that Tana owed Niemeyer additional sums for compression and treating and for unsold gas. We conclude that Tana’s arguments, supported by evidence that it paid the full 17.94% of net proceeds contemplated in the release, constituted evidence that Tana complied with its contractual obligations. Thus, Niemeyer failed to prove as a matter of law that Tana breached the contract. Therefore, the trial court properly denied the JNOV. See Brush, 984 S.W.2d at 724. We overrule Niemeyer’s first issue. B. Submission of Question to the Jury Niemeyer’s next issue asserts that it was error to submit his breach of contract claim to a jury. He argues that because neither party claimed that the contract was ambiguous, the judge should have interpreted the lease and its amendments as a matter of law. Absent a showing of some prejudice, submission of a question of law to the jury is harmless since the trial court can always use the jury’s findings as advisory only. Medical Towers, Ltd. v. St. Luke’s Episcopal Hosp., 750 S.W.2d 820, 826 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1988, writ denied) (citation omitted). The general question submitted in the jury charge, “Did Tana breach the contract?”, was an issue of fact appropriate for jury determination. See Ryan Mortgage Investors v. Fleming-Wood, 650 S.W.2d 928, 932-33 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1983, writ refd n.r.e.) (approving broad form question as to whether party failed to perform obligations in accordance with contract). The jury was free to determine whether Tana had, in fact, fairly and reasonably marketed gas without making impermissible deductions. Likewise, we find that it was permissible for the jury to determine whether Tana had complied with the contract according to the terms of the lease and its amendments. However, Niemeyer argues that the issue submitted to the jury involved contract interpretation, not compliance. Therefore, in the absence of the court’s determination of ambiguity, resolution of the parties’ differences was an issue of law for the court. “[I]nterpretation of an unambiguous document is a question of law for the trial court only.” Medical Towers, 750 S.W.2d at 825 (citation omitted). A contract is ambiguous if it “remains reasonably susceptible to more than one meaning....” Universal C.I.T. Credit Corp. v. Daniel, 150 Tex. 513, 243 S.W.2d 154, 157 (1951). In this case, Tana defined “net proceeds” as including all deductions, in accordance with the dictionary definition cited above. Niemeyer countered that “net proceeds” contemplated all deductions except those forbidden by the original lease. We hold that to the extent the term “net proceeds” was susceptible to more than one meaning, and was therefore ambiguous, it was correctly a fact issue for the jury. See Trinity Universal Ins. Co. v. Ponsford Bros., 423 S.W.2d 571, 575 (Tex.1968) (noting that jury may resolve question of ambiguous intent) (citations omitted). The jury was free to choose Tana’s definition of “net proceeds” in determining that Tana complied with its obligation to pay Niem-eyer the royalty percentage required by the release. Likewise, the jury could have *387 found that Tana’s “net proceeds” did not include royalty obligations for gas diverted to Aquila and Fayette for manufacturing purposes, in accordance with the court’s instruction that “[n]o payments are obligated for gas that could not be sold.” Moreover, Niemeyer did not present any evidence of prejudice in the submission of the breach of contract question to the jury. See Medical Towers, 750 S.W.2d at 826. Accordingly, even if the trial court erred by submitting the breach of contract issue to the jury, we conclude that such error is harmless because the trial court could have deemed an incorrect verdict immaterial and disregarded it. Id. The trial court chose not to do so. We overrule Niemeyer’s second issue. C. Jury Instruction In his third issue, Niemeyer asserts that the trial court erred in instructing the jury that Tana had no obligation to pay for unsold gas. The relevant section of the jury charge states: “The lease entitles Niemeyer to payment for all gas, metered at the wellhead, that was sold and reasonably could be sold. No deductions are to be made for post production compression and treating charges. No payments are obligated for gas that could not be sold.” (emphasis added). We review allegations of error in the jury charge under an abuse of discretion standard. Howell Crude Oil Co. v. Donna Refinery Partners, Ltd., 928 S.W.2d 100, 110 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist .] 1996, writ denied) (citations omitted). “The trial court has wide discretion in submitting jury questions as well as instructions and definitions.” Id. at 110 (citations omitted). Error in the jury charge is reversible if, when viewed in light of all the circumstances, it amounts “to such a denial of rights of the complaining party as was reasonably calculated and probably did cause the rendition of an improper judgment.” Id. (citations omitted). Niemeyer contends that the instruction on unsold gas was contrary to paragraph three of the original lease. As determined above, there was sufficient evidence for the trial court to conclude that where the original lease and the release were inconsistent, the terms of the release controlled. Consequently, the court could determine that, regardless of paragraph three of the original lease, the release obligated Tana to pay Niemeyer only a fixed percent of the net proceeds that Tana actually received. Because Tana was not paid for gas used by Fayette and Aquila for manufacturing purposes, it was reasonable for the court to find that royalties for this gas should not be factored into the calculation of net proceeds. We also note that Niemeyer received a favorable jury charge on the issue of post-production treatment charges. The trial court apparently accepted Niemeyer’s contention that paragraph twenty-six of the original lease was in force when it instructed the jury that “[n]o deductions are to be made for post production compression and treating charges.” In spite of this instruction in the charge, the jury was not persuaded that Tana had breached the contract and its amendments. We may, therefore, infer that omitting the instruction on the issue of unsold gas would have had little impact on the jury’s failure to find that Tana breached its contractual obligation to pay for all gas that was sold and reasonably could be sold. We do not find any error that was calculated to, and probably did cause, an improper judgment amounting to a denial of Niemeyer’s rights. See id. Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in instructing the jury. See id. Niemeyer’s third issue is overruled. II. Tana’s cross-appeal Tana asks that we review three issues: (1) the propriety of pre-trial rulings barring its claims of breach of contract and indemnity, (2) the grant of Niemeyer’s motion for summary judgment on its claim of *388 tortious interference with contract, and (3) the trial court’s refusal to award costs of suit following the jury’s verdict in its favor. A. Breach of Contract and Indemnity Tana’s first issue contends that the trial court’s July 7 order barring its claims of breach of contract and indemnity constituted an abuse of discretion. These claims were based primarily on the theory that Niemeyer breached the release by bringing a suit that should have been barred by res judicata or collateral estop-pel. Because a settlement agreement, such as a release, does not constitute a final judgment, it cannot form the basis of a finding of res judicata or collateral estop-pel. 4 We note that while the release. applied to all past and present claims at the time of its execution, the trial court could have found that it did not bar prospective claims that might arise in regard to future gas production from the Niemeyer well. Absent a finding of res judicata or collateral estoppel, the trial court could properly find that Niemeyer was not barred from bringing the instant suit. Tana also argues that Niemeyer breached paragraph nine of the original lease by failing to give sixty days notice prior to filing suit. Paragraph nine reads in part: In the event lessor considers that lessee has not complied with all its obligations hereunder, both express and implied, lessor shall notify lessee in writing, setting out specifically in what respects lessee has breached this contract. Lessee shall then have sixty (60) days after receipt of said notice within which to meet or commence to meet all or any part of the breaches alleged by lessor. The service of said notice shall be precedent to the bringing of any action by -lessor on said lease for any cause, and no such action shall be brought until the lapse of sixty (60) days after service of such notice on Lessee. In a suit on a mineral lease provision with almost identical wording, the Texas Supreme Court held that the notice requirement applied only to actions to cancel the lease and not to suits for damages. See Texas Oil & Gas Corp. v. Vela, 429 S.W.2d 866, 875 (Tex.1968). Given that the purpose of such a provision was to allow the lessee to prepare his suit, the court stated, failure to comply was grounds for abatement, but could not bar the right to file suit, constitute a basis for a take-nothing judgment, or be a defense to a suit for damages. Id. The record does not reflect that Tana sought an abatement. As Niemeyer’s suit was for damages, and not to cancel the lease, we conclude that failure to give notice could not have been the basis of Tana’s breach of contract claim. See id. Tana also contends that fact issues existed as to the intent and understanding of the parties regarding the lease, as well as issues relating to method and consistency in royalty accounting. We conclude that the trial court could reasonably determine that such issues would be resolved by the trial of Niemeyer’s claims on the merits. We overrule Tana’s first issue. B. Tortious Interference with Contract Secondly, Tana appeals the trial court’s granting Niemeyer’s motion for partial summary judgment on Tana’s claim of tortious interference with contract. Summary judgment for the defendant is proper where the evidence shows that no *389 genuine issue of material fact exists on one or more of the essential elements of the plaintiffs cause of action. Black v. Victoria Lloyds Ins. Co., 797 S.W.2d 20, 27 (Tex.1990) (citation omitted). In order to prevail on a summary judgment motion, a defendant must either negate at least one essential element of the non-movant’s cause of action, or prove all essential elements of an affirmative defense. Randall’s Food Mkts., Inc. v. Johnson, 891 S.W.2d 640, 644 (Tex.1995) (citations omitted). “In reviewing a summary judgment, we must accept as true evidence in favor of the non-movant, indulging every reasonable inference and resolving all doubts in his or her favor.” Id. at 644 (citation omitted). Tana’s claim alleged that Niemeyer deliberately worked to delay the sale of the company’s assets to Rosewood by timing his suit to interfere with the planned sale. Tana further claims that it sustained damages as a result of the delay and the need to change its sale terms. Tana asserts that whether Niemeyer’s conduct in filing suit was covered by a qualified privilege, which was dependent on a good faith assertion of a legal right, was properly a question of fact for the jury. Niemeyer’s motion for partial summary judgment countered Tana’s claim with the affirmative defense of legal justification. “[L]egal justification ... is treated as a type of privilege.” Sterner v. Marathon Oil Co., 767 S.W.2d 686, 689 (Tex.1989). “The party asserting this privilege does not deny the interference but rather seeks to avoid liability based upon a claimed interest that is being impaired or destroyed by the plaintiffs contract.” Id. at 689-90. “[L]egal justification ... in the interference of contractual relations is an affirmative defense upon which the defendant has the burden of proof .” Id. at 690. “[0]ne is privileged to interfere with another’s contract (1) if it is done in a bona fide exercise of his own rights, or (2) if he has an equal or superior right in the subject matter to that of the other party.” Id. at 691 (citations omitted). “[I]f the trial court finds as a matter of law • that a defendant had a legal right to interfere with a contract, then the defendant has conclusively established the justification defense and the motivation behind assertion of that right is irrelevant.” Texas Beef Cattle Co. v. Green, 921 S.W.2d 203, 211 (Tex.1996) (citations omitted). Because the trial court found that Niem-eyer’s suit was not barred by res judicata, thereby giving Niemeyer the legal right to file suit, it was within the trial court’s discretion to rule that Niemeyer’s filing suit was a bona fide exercise of his rights. See Sterner, 767 S.W.2d at 691. Consequently, Niemeyer established the requisite elements of an affirmative defense. See Randall’s, 891 S.W.2d at 644. Niemeyer’s motivation for his suit was, therefore, irrelevant. See Texas Beef Cattle Co., 921 S.W.2d at 211. Accordingly, we find no error in the trial court’s granting partial summary judgment on this issue. C. Costs of Suit Tana also appeals the trial court’s refusal to award it court costs. Tana contends that because it prevailed at trial on the merits, it should have been awarded costs, absent a finding of good cause pursuant to the Texas procedural rules. See Tex.R. Civ. P. 131. “[A]llocation of costs is a matter for the trial court’s discretion and cannot be overturned on appeal unless the trial court abused its discretion.” University of Houston— Clear Lake v. Marsh, 981 S.W.2d 912, 914 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1998, no pet.) (citation omitted). “A trial judge must allocate costs according to the provisions of rule 131 unless it makes a finding of good cause.” Id. at 914 (citing Tex.R.Civ. P. 141) (citation omitted). “In the absence of an explanation for assessing costs contrary to the rule, the trial court abuses its discretion.” Operation Rescue-Nat’l v. Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Tex., Inc., 937 S.W.2d 60, 87 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1996), *390 affd as modified on other grounds, 975 S.W.2d 546 (Tex.1998) (citations omitted). Tana argues that it was the successful party based on the jury verdict; therefore, it was entitled to recover all costs from Niemeyer. See McNamara v. Fulks, 855 S.W.2d 782, 785 (Tex.App.—El Paso 1993, no writ). Tana contends that the trial court’s failure to either award costs or justify its refusal to do so amounted to an abuse of discretion. See id. We disagree. Rule 303 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure states as follows: When a counterclaim is pleaded, the party in whose favor final judgment is rendered shall also recover the costs, unless it be made to appear on the trial that the counterclaim of the defendant was acquired after the commencement of the suit, in which case, if the plaintiff establishes a claim existing at the commencement of the suit, he shall recover his costs. Tex.R. Civ. P. 303; see Building Concepts, Inc. v. Duncan, 667 S.W.2d 897, 906 (Tex.App—Houston [14th Dist.] 1984, writ ref'd n.r.e.) (finding that where both parties have successfully prosecuted their respective claims, it was not error for judge to divide court costs). Prior to trial, the court found for Niem-eyer on Tana’s counterclaims, ruling that his suit was not barred by res judicata or collateral estoppel, thereby denying Tana’s claims of breach of contract and indemnity. The court also granted Niemeyer’s motion for partial summary judgment on Tana’s claim of tortious interference with contract. Accordingly, we find that because Tana did not prevail on its counterclaims, it was within the trial judge’s discretion to refuse to assess court costs against either party. See Building Concepts, 667 S.W.2d at 906. In effect, neither party was wholly successful; therefore, it was within the trial court’s discretion to order each party to bear its own costs. See id. We overrule Tana’s third issue. Conclusion Having found no reversible error by the trial court, we affirm the judgment in all respects. Footnotes [1] Niemeyer non-suiied Fayette and Aquila pri- or to trial. [2] The Western Fayette Incentive Agreement ("incentive agreement”) provided that Fay-ette, Tana’s buyer, would pay 13.5 cents for every Mcf (thousand cubic feet) of gas it received, over and above the contract price paid for the gas. Tana used the incentive payment as an offset to compression charges in calculating its net proceeds, i.e., the amount on which it based Neimeyer’s royalty percentage. [3] Treating the gas was necessary to turn it into a marketable product. Toward this end, Tana sold the gas to Fayette, which charged a fee for compressing it. Fayette then removed a portion of the gas to use as fuel for its compressor station and sold the remainder to Aquila, which used its own processing plant to extract the natural gas liquids. Aquila also removed gas to run its own plant. Tana's proceeds were based on an 84% royalty share of the resale value of natural gas liquids and residue gas (the gas left after removal of liquids), an amount that could only be calculated on discharge from Aquila’s plant. Niem-eyer then received his pro-rata share from the amount paid to Tana. Tana contends that it should not be held liable for royalties on gas diverted for manufacturing purposes because this occurred post-sale and post-production, and was part of the consideration paid in exchange for a better royalty percentage. Tana further argues that the incentive agreement fully offset the treatment fees it paid. [4] Tana contends that since the litigation was terminated by an agreed dismissal with prejudice that the doctrines of res judicata or collateral estoppel bar Niemeyer’s suit. However, the authorities relied upon by Tana are not in point because here, the release and settlement agreement by its terms does not release future claims. Instead, the release only deals with retroactive claims. Therefore, since the agreed order of dismissal not only references but incorporates the release and settlement agreement by its terms, the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel are inapplicable.