Rudy Vallejo v. State

NO. 07-05-0352-CR IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT AMARILLO PANEL C AUGUST 28, 2006 ______________________________ RUDY P. VALLEJO, APPELLANT V. THE STATE OF TEXAS, APPELLEE _________________________________ FROM THE 137TH DISTRICT COURT OF LUBBOCK COUNTY; NO. 2005-408528; HONORABLE CECIL G. PURYEAR, JUDGE _______________________________ Before QUINN, C.J., and REAVIS and HANCOCK, JJ. MEMORANDUM OPINION Appellant, Rudy Vallejo, appeals his conviction for the offense of aggravated sexual assault of a child and life sentence. We affirm. Background Appellant worked at the City Water Department where he met Jennifer Moore. After dating Moore for several years, appellant moved in with Moore and her daughter from a previous marriage. In February of 2005, Moore observed an incident between appellant with her daughter that caused Moore to become concerned about appellant's interaction with her daughter. Moore asked her stepfather to install a security camera above her daughter's sleeping area. Moore's stepfather installed a system that would record the sleeping area and send the video to Moore's computer. Moore would then review the video while appellant was at work. Soon after Moore began reviewing the video, Moore observed a recording of appellant fondling Moore's daughter while she slept. Moore reported the incident to the police and surrendered her computer to the police as evidence. Based on the digital recording, appellant was charged with two counts of indecency with a child and one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child. At trial, appellant pled guilty to the two counts of indecency with a child, but pled not guilty to the aggravated sexual assault of a child charge. During the trial, Moore, her daughter, and a police officer testified to observing on the digital recording appellant placing his mouth on Moore's daughter's vaginal area. Further, a condensed version of the digital recording showing the alleged improper contact was introduced into evidence and shown to the jury. The jury returned a guilty verdict and the trial court sentenced appellant to life in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Appellant raises two issues on appeal contending that the trial court should have entered directed verdicts based on legally and factually insufficient evidence. Applicable Law and Analysis The standard of review applicable to the denial of a motion for directed verdict is the same as that applied in reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence. Williams v. State, 937 S.W.2d 479, 482 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996); Madden v. State, 799 S.W.2d 683, 686 (Tex.Crim.App. 1990) (challenge to the trial judge's ruling on a motion for an instructed verdict is a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence). When reviewing challenges to both the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support the verdict, we first review the legal sufficiency challenge. See Clewis v. State, 922 S.W.2d 126, 133 (Tex.Crim.App. 1996). If the evidence is legally sufficient to support the verdict, we then review the factual sufficiency challenge if one is properly raised. See id. at 133. In reviewing the legal sufficiency of the evidence, we review all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict to determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560, 573 (1979); Ross v. State, 133 S.W.3d 618, 620 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004). The jury is the sole judge of the weight and credibility of the evidence. Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319. Circumstantial evidence is as probative as direct evidence in establishing the guilt of an actor. Guevara v. State, 152 S.W.3d 45, 49 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004). Furthermore, the standard of review is the same for both direct and circumstantial evidence. Id. Appellant's sole contention is that, as there was no testimony of actual contact of appellant's mouth with Moore's daughter's vaginal area nor direct digitally recorded evidence clearly showing contact, the evidence was insufficient to prove each element of the offense of aggravated sexual assault of a child. (1) However, the police officer who reviewed the tape, Moore, and the victim all testified that it appeared that appellant's mouth contacted the victim's vagina. Further, the jury also had the opportunity to view the digital recording. Though the evidence is circumstantial, the State presented evidence to the jury covering all the elements of the offense. Viewing the evidence in light most favorable to the verdict, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. We conclude that the verdict is based on legally sufficient evidence. When an appellant challenges the factual sufficiency of his conviction, the reviewing court must determine whether, considering all the evidence in a neutral light, the jury was rationally justified in finding defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. See Zuniga v. State, 144 S.W.3d 477, 484 (Tex.Crim.App. 2004). There are two ways in which the evidence may be factually insufficient. First, when considered by itself, evidence supporting the verdict may be too weak to support the finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. Second, considering all of the evidence, both for and against the verdict, the contrary evidence may be so strong that the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard could not have been met. Id. at 484-85. In performing a factual sufficiency review, we are to give deference to the fact finder's determinations involving the credibility and demeanor of witnesses. Id. at 481. We may not substitute our judgment for that of the fact finder unless the verdict is clearly wrong or manifestly unjust. See id. at 481-82. An opinion addressing factual sufficiency must include a discussion of the most important and relevant evidence that appellant claims undermines the jury's verdict. Sims v. State, 99 S.W.3d 600, 603 (Tex.Crim.App. 2003). Moore testified that her suspicions were raised by appellant's interaction with her daughter and that the camera recorded appellant touching her daughter during the middle of the night. Further, the jury was able to review the condensed recording and were able to evaluate appellant's actions and intentions. Appellant contends that the evidence is too weak to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that his mouth came in contact with the victim's vagina. Specifically, appellant points to cross examination where the witnesses testified that they could not actually see appellant's mouth coming into contact with Moore's daughter's vaginal area. Appellant further contends that the digital recording fails to clearly show his mouth on Moore's daughter's vagina, and thereby concludes that the State failed to sufficiently prove all the elements of the offense. Although the digital recording which recorded from above the victim's bed did not have an angle that could clearly show appellant's mouth contacting the victim's vagina, the recording did show appellant moving aside the victim's shorts before moving his head toward the victim's midsection. Viewing the recording of appellant's actions at night while the victim was asleep, the jury could have concluded that his actions were consistent with the alleged offense. Since the jury's judgment is not clearly wrong or manifestly unjust, we will defer to the jury's determination and conclude that the evidence is not so weak as to fail to support the verdict beyond a reasonable doubt. See Zuniga, 144 S.W.3d at 481. After reviewing all the evidence in a neutral light, and giving deference to the jury's determinations involving the credibility and demeanor of witnesses, see id. at 481, we conclude that the jury was rationally justified in finding defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. See id. at 484. We conclude that the trial court did not err in denying appellant's request for a directed verdict for insufficient evidence. Conclusion For the foregoing reasons, we affirm. Mackey K. Hancock Justice Do not publish. 1. Appellant was charged with aggravated sexual assault by "intentionally and knowingly caus[ing] the sexual organ of . . . [the] child who was then and there younger than 14 years of age, and not the spouse of the said defendant, to contact the mouth of the said defendant." See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 22.0211 (Vernon Supp. 2005). h a duty existed because coverage was precluded by an amendment to the insuring agreement entitled “WORKERS COMPENSATION EXCLUSION.” We affirm. Background On May 10, 2007, Settler filed the underlying litigation against Mize and Salyer Homes, LLC, wherein he alleged that he was injured as a result of Mize’s negligence in connection with a construction project in Lubbock County. In the underlying litigation, Settler alleged that Salyer was the general contractor for the project, Mize was a subcontractor as to Salyer, and Settler was a subcontractor as to Mize. Settler alleged that while Mize was raising a metal frame at the construction site, the frame fell on Settler proximately causing him injuries. Mize requested that Republic provide it a defense under the terms of a Commercial General Liability Policy (hereinafter the “policy”) issued by Republic. The policy insured Mize against bodily injury claims and agreed to provide Mize with a defense against covered claims. This dispute involves a determination of whether Settler’s claims against Mize fall within the contractual definition of a covered claim. More specifically, the dispute concerns whether Settler’s claims are excluded from coverage. The policy in question contains an endorsement entitled “WORKERS COMPENSATION EXCLUSION,” which states, in pertinent part, as follows: SECTION 1. COVERAGES, COVERAGE A, 2.e. Exclusions is hereby deleted and replaced by the following: [2. Exclusions.] e. Employer’s Liability “Bodily Injury” to: (1) An “employee” of the “insured” and/or any “subcontractor” arising out of and in the course of: (a) Employment by any “insured”; or (b) Performing duties related to the conduct of the business of any “insured” or any “subcontractor.” (2) The spouse, child, parent, brother or sister of that “employee” as a consequence of paragraph (1) above. * * * SECTION V - DEFINITIONS: The following definitions are amended or added: 5. “Employee” includes, but is not limited to: (a) a “leased worker,” and/or (b) a “temporary worker,” and/or (c) an employee, “temporary worker” and/or a “leased worker” of a “subcontractor” under the supervision of the “insured.” * * * 20. A “subcontractor” includes persons or entities hired by any “insured” to perform any or all duties of the “insured.” On August 16, 2007, Republic filed a declaratory judgment action requesting a determination whether it owed Mize a duty of defense against Settler’s tort action under the policy. Specifically, Republic asserted that paragraph 2.e.(1) of the above-quoted exclusion precluded coverage for bodily injury to any subcontractor, thereby excluding any claim by Settler. Settler and Mize, however, construed paragraph 2.e.(1) as precluding coverage for bodily injury to employees of the insured and employees of any subcontractor, but not as to subcontractors themselves. Based upon their respective positions, Settler, Mize, and Republic each filed motions and cross-motions for summary judgment. On May 16, 2008, the trial court entered judgment in favor of Settler and Mize on their motions for summary judgment and denied the remainder of the motions. This appeal followed. Discussion Republic asserts that the Exclusion unambiguously precludes coverage for Settler’s injuries as a subcontractor for Mize. Specifically, Republic asserts that the “and/or” language in paragraph 2.e.(1) of the Exclusion separates the terms “insured” and “subcontractor” rather than the terms “employee” and “subcontractor.” In support of its interpretation, Republic contends that the phrase “employee of the insured” in paragraph 2.e.(1) already includes “employees of a subcontractor” by virtue of the definition of “employees” in Section V.5.(c). Accordingly, Republic contends that, because employees of any subcontractor are already included in the phrase “employee of the insured,” inclusion of the term subcontractor would have been redundant unless it was intended to separately exclude subcontractors as defined by Section V.20. As a result, Republic interprets paragraph 2.e(1) as excluding claims for bodily injury to either (1) an employee of the insured, (2) any subcontractor, or (3) an employee of any subcontractor. Mize and Settler counter that, because the phrase “and/or” necessarily assigns the same grammatical rank to the terms “insured” and “subcontractor,” the phrase, “employees of,” must modify both “insured” and “subcontractor.” Accordingly, they interpret paragraph 2.e.(1) as excluding claims for bodily injury to either (1) an employee of the insured, or (2) an employee of any subcontractor. As a corollary, they also interpret paragraph 2.e.(1) as not excluding claims for bodily injury to any subcontractor. Furthermore, they assert that Republic’s reading of the definition of employees under Section V.5.(c) as including an employee of a subcontractor, ignores the ending phrase in paragraph (c)–“under the supervision of the insured.” As such, they assert this definition does not refer to all subcontractor employees, but refers only to those employees of the subcontractor over which the insured asserts supervisory control. In other words, inclusion of the term “any subcontractor” was not redundant if the intent of paragraph 2.e.(1) was to encompass all the subcontractor’s employees regardless of whether the insured asserts supervisory control over them or not. I. Standard of Review We review the trial court’s summary judgment de novo. FM Props. Operating Co. v. City of Austin, 22 S.W.3d 868, 872 (Tex. 2000). The party with the burden of proof must prove that it is entitled to judgment by establishing each element of its claim or defense as a matter of law, or by negating an element of a claim or defense of the opposing party as a matter of law. Id. When, as here, all parties move for summary judgment and the trial court grants one motion and denies another, we may determine all questions presented, including the propriety of overruling the losing party’s motion, provided each party has fully met its burden and sought final judgment relief. CU Lloyd’s v. Feldman, 977 S.W.2d 568, 569 (Tex. 1998). Moreover, because the trial court’s order granting summary judgment does not specify the grounds on which it relied for its ruling, summary judgment will be affirmed on appeal if any of the theories advanced are meritorious. Carr v. Brasher, 776 S.W.2d 567, 569 (Tex. 1989); Allstate Ins. Co. v. Hicks, 134 S.W.3d 304, 307 (Tex.App.–Amarillo 2003, no pet.). II. Duty To Defend In determining an insurer’s duty to defend an insured against third-party claims, we apply the “eight corners rule;” Nat’l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh v. Merchants Fast Motor Lines, Inc., 939 S.W.2d 139, 141 (Tex. 1997); which provides that “an insurer’s duty to defend is determined by the third-party plaintiff’s pleadings, considered in light of the policy provisions, without regard to the truth or falsity of those allegations.” GuideOne Elite Ins. Co. v. Fielder Road Baptist Church, 197 S.W.3d 305, 308 (Tex. 2006). See Hettler v. Travelers Lloyds Ins. Co., 190 S.W.3d 52, 57 (Tex.App.–Amarillo 2005, no pet.). If the factual allegations against the insured, fairly and reasonably construed, state a cause of action potentially covered by the policy, the duty to defend arises. Id. “Facts outside the pleadings, even those easily ascertained, are ordinarily not material to the determination;” GuideOne, 197 S.W.3d at 308; Allstate Ins. Co. v. Hallman, 159 S.W.3d 640, 643 (Tex. 2005), and any doubt as to whether the insurer has a duty to defend is resolved in favor of the insured. King v. Dallas Fire Ins. Co., 85 S.W.3d 185, 186 (Tex. 2002). Republic’s Policy covers: (1) “bodily injury,” (2) caused by an “occurrence,” (3) that takes place in the “coverage territory,” (4) during the policy period. Settler’s suit alleges that, on December 1, 2006, Mize’s negligence caused a metal frame to fall on him at a building site in Lubbock County, Texas, proximately causing him serious injuries. Accordingly, we find as a matter of law, that Republic has a duty to defend Settler’s suit against Mize unless Settler’s suit is subject to the Exclusion. II. Workers Compensation Exclusion We construe insurance policies in accordance with the rules governing contract construction; Texas Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co. v. Sturrock, 146 S.W.3d 123, 126 (Tex. 2004), and read all policy provisions together interpreting the policy as a whole. Provident Life and Acc. Ins. Co. v. Knott, 128 S.W.3d 211, 216 (Tex. 2003). If the policy language can be given a certain or definite legal meaning or interpretation, then it is not ambiguous and we construe it as a matter of law. American Mfrs. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Schaefer, 124 S.W.3d 154, 157 (Tex. 2003). Whether a contract is ambiguous is also a question of law. Id. at 157. An ambiguity does not arise simply because the parties offer conflicting interpretations of the policy language; Kelly-Coppedge, Inc. v. Highlands Ins. Co., 980 S.W.2d 462, 465 (Tex. 1998), but exists if a contract is susceptible to two or more reasonable interpretations. Schaefer, 124 S.W.3d at 157. If an ambiguity exists, we must adopt the construction most favorable to the insured so long as that construction is reasonable; Feiss v. State Farm Lloyds, 202 S.W.3d 744, 746 (Tex. 2006); Lundstrom v. United Services Auto. Ass’n-CIC, 192 S.W.3d 78, 91 (Tex.App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, pet. denied) and, in the event we are construing an exclusionary provision as we are here, the insured’s reasonable construction prevails even if the insurer’s construction “appears to be more reasonable or a more accurate reflection of the parties’ intent.” Balandran v. Safeco Ins. Co. of America, 972 S.W.2d 738, 741 (Tex. 1998) (quoting Nat’l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa. v. Hudson Energy Co., 811 S.W.2d 552, 555 (Tex. 1991). Here, we find the exclusion contained in paragraph 2.e.(1) to be unambiguous. A plain reading of that paragraph points to the term “employee” as the subject of the sentence. The term “of” is a preposition. A preposition is a word that usually indicates a temporal, spatial or logical relationship between the object of the preposition and the subject of the sentence. Most often, prepositions come before their object. A conjunction joins together sentences, clauses, phrases or words; therefore, use of the phrase “and/or” following a preposition, creates a prepositional phrase with a compound object. Therefore, “of the ‘insured’ and/or any ‘subcontractor’” is a prepositional phrase with a compound object, modifying the subject of the sentence, “employee,” by both “the insured” and “any subcontractor.” This interpretation is buttressed by subparagraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph 2.e.(1). These subparagraphs are not coterminous. Subparagraph (a) clearly modifies the phrase “‘employee’ of the ‘insured’” because the duties of an “‘employee’ of the ‘insured’” logically arise out of and are performed in the course of “[e]mployment by any ‘insured.’” Subparagraph (b) clearly modifies the phrase “‘employee’ of . . . any ‘subcontractor’” because the duties of an “‘employee’ of any ‘subcontractor’” logically arise out of and are performed in the course of “duties related to the conduct of the business of any ‘insured’ or any ‘subcontractor.’” This interpretation is also consistent with the definition of “subcontractor” included in Section V.20. of the Exclusion, i.e., “persons or entities hired by any ‘insured’ to perform any or all duties of the ‘insured.’” Accordingly, we find that the exclusion contained in paragraph 2.e.(1) unambiguously applies to both employees of the insured and employees of any subcontractor, but not as to subcontractors individually. That the Exclusion is entitled “Workers Compensation Exclusion” also supports this interpretation. Typically, words used in insurance policies are given their ordinary and generally accepted meaning unless they are defined in the policy or the policy otherwise shows they were meant to have a technical or different meaning. See Prudential Ins. Co. of America v. Uribe, 595 S.W.2d 554, 563 (Tex.Civ.App.–San Antonio 1979, writ ref’d n.r.e.) (citing Guardian Life Ins. Co. of America v. Scott, 405 S.W.2d 64, 65 (Tex. 1966). Given the lack of a policy definition and the wording of the Exclusion, the phase “workers compensation” should receive a technical definition in interpreting the Exclusion. See generally St. Paul Mercury Ins. Co. v. Tri-State Cattle Feeders, Inc., 628 S.W.2d 844, 847 (Tex.App.–Amarillo 1982, writ ref’d n.r.e.) (citing Hudiburg Chevrolet, Inc. v. Globe Indemnity Co., 394 S.W.2d 792, 795 (Tex. 1965) (the word “theft” in an insurance policy given the same meaning it has under Texas criminal law). “Workers’ compensation” is defined as a “system of providing benefits to an employee for injuries occurring in the scope of employment.” Black’s Law Dictionary 1637 (8th ed. 2004) (emphasis added). Moreover, workers’ compensation laws are defined as “statute[s] by which employers are made responsible for bodily harm to their workers arising out of and in the course of their employment, regardless of the fault of either the employee or the employer.” Id. at 1638 (emphasis added). Thus, the Exclusion’s title also indicates that the Exclusion is intended to exclude from coverage injuries to employees rather than injuries suffered by their employers. Applying the “eight corners” rule and liberally construing both the pleadings and Republic’s policy, we conclude, based upon a plain reading of the entire policy including the Exclusion, that Settler’s pleadings allege a claim potentially within the scope of coverage. Thus, we find, as a matter of law, Republic owes a duty to defend Mize against Settler’s claims. Moreover, even if we were to construe paragraph 2.e.(1) as being ambiguous, we are still required to adopt the construction most favorable to the insured so long as that construction is reasonable. Based on the above and foregoing, we also find Settler’s interpretation to be reasonable. Accordingly, we overrule Republic’s single issue. CONCLUSION The trial court’s judgment is affirmed. Patrick A. Pirtle Justice Campbell, J., concurs in the result.