Opinion by Justice BRIDGES.
Appellants Barbara Soules Young ("Young") and Amy Ganci ("Ganci") appeal from the trial court's denial of their motion to dismiss. In a single issue, appellants contend the trial court should have granted their motion to dismiss pursuant to chapter 27 of the Texas civil practice and remedies code, the Texas Citizens Participation Act ("TCPA"). For the reasons
In 2010, Young hired an architect to design an outdoor living space as an addition to her home. Young then contacted Perennial Properties GC, LLC ("Perennial") to obtain a quote to build the outdoor living space. Young met with appellee Robert Krantz ("Krantz"), who indicated he was the owner of Perennial. In June of 2011, Young and Krantz, on behalf of Perennial, entered into the "Contract Home Deck Addition," which outlined the construction to be performed by Perennial and the payments to be made by Young.
Appellants allege Perennial failed to comply with the agreed-upon plans. For example, they contend: (a) Perennial did not perform the services timely; (b) Krantz or his workers left materials on Young's property and her neighbor's property; (c) the materials used were of poor quality; (d) Perennial failed to obtain the proper permits; and (e) Perennial abandoned the job before completion.
On September 15, 2011, Young received a letter from McKinney Lumber Company ("MLC"), stating Perennial failed to pay MLC $9,779.90 for lumber that was delivered to Young's address in July and August 2011. On October 14, 2011, MLC filed a lien affidavit and claim for mechanic's and materialman's lien against Young's property, which is alleged to have had a negative impact on Young's credit.
On October 12, 2012, MLC filed a lawsuit ("Underlying Lawsuit") against Perennial and Young, seeking payment for lumber and materials purchased by Perennial for Young's outdoor addition. Appellant Ganci is the attorney representing Young in the Underlying Lawsuit. On December 19, 2012, Young filed counterclaims against MLC, Perennial, Krantz and Hollie Krantz, alleging, in part, that Perennial's work was substandard.
On January 30, 2013, Young, with the assistance of Ganci, prepared an Angie's List review ("Review") regarding Young's experience with appellees and Perennial. The Review, titled "Outdoor Living Space Nightmare — Shoddy Untimely Work and Failure to Pay Materials," gave Perennial an overall grade of "F." In response to the Review, appellees filed a petition in intervention in the Underlying Lawsuit asserting claims against appellants for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Pursuant to the TCPA, on March 22, 2013, appellants filed a motion to dismiss the claims asserted against them by appellees. After a hearing on April 22, 2013, the trial court denied appellants' motion to dismiss and severed the claims filed by appellees against appellants from the Underlying Lawsuit.
In their sole issue on appeal, appellants argue the trial court erred by denying their motion to dismiss under the TCPA, because they were exercising their right to free speech in posting the Review. Appellees respond that the TCPA does not apply to the Review because the Review was defamatory per se.
The issue in this case is whether the TCPA applies to appellants' Review on Angie's List. We review questions of statutory construction de novo. Molinet v. Kimbrell, 356 S.W.3d 407, 411 (Tex.2011). When construing a statute, our primary
The purpose of the TCPA is "to encourage and safeguard the constitutional rights of persons to petition, speak freely, associate freely, and otherwise participate in government to the maximum extent permitted by law and, at the same time, protect the rights of a person to file meritorious lawsuits for demonstrable injury." TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.CODE ANN. § 27.002; see also TEX. CONST. Art. 1, § 8 ("Every person shall be at liberty to speak, write or publish his opinions on any subject...."). The TCPA is to be "construed liberally to effectuate its purpose and intent fully." Id. at § 27.011(b).
The TCPA provides a means for a defendant, early in the course of a lawsuit, to seek dismissal of certain claims identified in the TCPA, including a legal action based on, relating to, or in response to a party's exercise of the right to free speech. Id. at § 27.003(a). "Exercise of the right of free speech" is defined as "a communication made in connection with a matter of public concern." Id. at § 27.001(3). "Matter of public concern" includes an issue related to (1) health or safety; (2) environmental, economic, or community well-being; (3) the government; (4) a public official or public figure; or (5) a good, product, or service in the marketplace. Id. at § 27.001(7).
When a court orders dismissal of a legal action under the TCPA, the court shall award to the moving party (1) court costs, reasonable attorney's fees, and other expenses incurred in defending against the legal action as justice and equity may require, and (2) sanctions against the party who brought the legal action as the court determines sufficient to deter the party who brought the legal action from bringing similar actions. Id. at § 27.009(a).
To be entitled to a dismissal under the TCPA, appellants were required to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that appellees' defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims are based on, relate to, or are in response to appellants' exercise of the right of free speech. Better Bus. Bureau of Metropolitan Dallas v. BH DFW, Inc., 402 S.W.3d 299, 307 (Tex.App.Dallas 2013, pet. denied). Specifically, appellants were required to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the Review was a communication made in connection with a good, product, or service in the marketplace. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.CODE ANN. §§ 27.001(3), 27.001(7)(E).
The evidence before us shows that on January 20, 2013, Young, with the assistance of Ganci, posted the Review on Angie's List, which expressed Young's opinion regarding her experience with
In their amended response to the motion to dismiss, appellees specifically cited the trial court to the last paragraph of the comments section of the Review as being defamatory.
Here, appellants established by a preponderance of the evidence that they were exercising their right to free speech by communicating to the public their Review of Perennial and appellees. See Better Bus. Bureau, 402 S.W.3d at 308 (concluding the BBB was exercising its right to free speech by communicating to the public its business review of BH DFW, including an "F" rating). We conclude the Review related to a good, product, or service in the marketplace and, therefore, under the statutory definition, related to matter of public concern; we also conclude the communication of the Review was an exercise of appellants' right to free speech as defined by the TCPA. See id. (citing Avila v. Larrea, 394 S.W.3d 646, 657 (Tex.App.Dallas 2012, pet. denied); Newspaper Holdings, Inc. v. Crazy Hotel Assisted Living Ltd., 416 S.W.3d 71, 81 (Tex.App.Houston [1st Dist.] 2013, pet. denied)).
Further, in their petition in intervention, appellees stated their claims for defamation and intentional infliction of emotion distress were filed as a result of appellants' "false statements posted on Angie's List." Therefore, the claims were filed in response to appellants' exercise of the right to free speech as required by the TCPA. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.CODE ANN. § 27.003(a).
Because appellants established the Review fell within the scope of the TCPA, the burden then shifted to appellees to establish by clear and specific evidence a prima facie case for each essential element of their claims. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.CODE ANN. § 27.005(c). The TCPA provides no guidance as to the quantum of proof necessary to constitute clear and specific evidence of a prima facie case for each essential element of a claim. See id.; Better Bus. Bureau, 402 S.W.3d at 309. The legislature's use of the term "prima facie case" implies a minimal factual burden for the plaintiff: "[a] prima facie case represents the minimum quantity of evidence necessary to support a rational inference that the allegation of fact is true." See Newspaper Holdings, Inc. v. Crazy Hotel Assisted Living, Ltd., No. 01-12-00581-CV, 2013 WL 1867104, at *6 (Tex.App.-Hous. [1st Dist.] 2013). However, the Act requires the proof offered address and support each element of each and every claim asserted with clear and specific evidence. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.CODE ANN. § 27.005(b), (c). See also Farias v. Garza, 426 S.W.3d 808 (Tex.App.San Antonio 2014, pet. filed). Further, the statute does require the trial court to "consider the pleadings and supporting and opposing affidavits stating the facts on which the liability or defense is based." TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.CODE ANN. § 27.006(a). The purposeful inclusion of a "clear and specific evidence" requirement, therefore, indicates
Applying this standard, we first turn to appellees' defamation claim. To maintain a defamation cause of action against appellants, appellees were required to prove appellants (1) published a false statement; (2) that was defamatory; (3) while acting with negligence regarding the truth of the statement. See Avila, 394 S.W.3d at 657. A statement is "defamatory" if it "tends to injure a living person's reputation" and results in financial injury to that person. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.CODE ANN. § 73.001. A statement may be false, abusive, unpleasant, or objectionable without being defamatory in light of the surrounding circumstances. Double Diamond, Inc. v. Van Tyne, 109 S.W.3d 848, 854 (Tex.App.2003, no pet.). Whether a statement is capable of a defamatory meaning is initially a question of law for the court. See Gumpert v. ABF Freight Sys., Inc., 293 S.W.3d 256, 264 (Tex.App.Dallas, 2009, pet. denied).
Appellees' sole argument in their brief contends they "[do] not have to prove that they suffered damage to their reputation or any monetary loss," because the Review is defamatory per se.
Only statements alleging facts, rather than opinions, can properly be the subject of a defamation action. See Farias, 426 S.W.3d at 819-20 Avila, 394 S.W.3d at 658. An expression of opinion is protected free speech. See Yiamouyiannis v. Thompson, 764 S.W.2d 338, 340 (Tex.App.San Antonio, 1988, writ denied). Moreover, to be actionable, a statement must assert an objectively verifiable fact rather than an opinion. See Main v. Royall, 348 S.W.3d 381, 389 (Tex.App.Dallas 2011, no pet.). We classify a statement as fact or opinion based upon the statement's verifiability and the entire context in which the statement was made. Bentley v. Bunton, 94 S.W.3d 561, 581 (Tex.2002). Whether a statement is a fact or opinion is also a question of law. Robertson v. Sw. Bell Yellow Pages, Inc., 190 S.W.3d 899, 903 (Tex.App.Dallas 2006, no pet.). In Young's affidavit attached to appellants' motion to dismiss, she states: "I posted a review on Angie's List that describes my experience with the Krantzes and Perennial." (emphasis added). She then attached a copy of the Review for the trial court.
But more importantly, in their amended response to the motion to dismiss, appellees only attempted to present evidence,
We next turn to appellees' claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress. To recover for intentional infliction of emotional distress ("IIED"), a plaintiff must prove that (1) the defendant acted intentionally or recklessly; (2) the defendant's conduct was extreme and outrageous; (3) the defendant's actions caused the plaintiff emotional distress; and (4) the emotional distress suffered by the plaintiff was severe. See Randall's Food Markets, Inc. v. Johnson, 891 S.W.2d 640, 644 (Tex.1995). However, the tort of IIED is a "gap-filler" tort which was created for the "limited purpose of allowing recovery in those rare instances in which a defendant intentionally inflicts severe emotional distress in a manner so unusual that the victim has no other recognized theory of redress." Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc. v. Zeltwanger, 144 S.W.3d 438, 447 (Tex. 2004); Rico v. L-3 Commc'n Corp., 420 S.W.3d 431, 441 (Tex.App.Dallas 2014, no pet.). The tort's clear purpose is to supplement existing forms of recovery by providing a cause of action for egregious conduct that might otherwise go unremedied. See id. The tort of IIED simply has no application when the actor intends to invade some other legally protected interest, even if emotional distress results. See id. Thus, where the gravamen of a complaint is another tort, IIED is not available as a cause of action. See Moser v. Roberts, 185 S.W.3d 912, 915 (Tex.App.Corpus Christi 2006, no pet.) (citing Hoffmann, 144 S.W.3d at 447-48).
Here, the facts that form the basis of the claim for IIED are the same as those that form the basis for appellees' defamation claim. Appellees do not refer this Court to additional, unrelated facts in the record that support an independent claim for IIED. Because we have already determined appellees have failed to meet their burden of establishing by clear and specific evidence a prima facie case for each essential element of their claim for defamation, appellees' claim for IIED must likewise fail. See Hoffmann, 144 S.W.3d at 447.
Because the TCPA applied to appellees' claims against appellants and because appellees failed to establish by clear and specific evidence a prima facie case for each essential element of their claims for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress, the trial court erred by denying appellants' motion to dismiss under the TCPA. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.CODE ANN. § 27.005(c); Better Bus. Bureau, 402 S.W.3d at 312. We, therefore, reverse the trial court's order, render