Barry Schneider, Petitioner v. Esperanza Transmission Company, Respondent

Summary

The Texas Supreme Court affirmed the Court of Appeals' reversal of a trial judgment, holding that Esperanza Transmission Company’s entrustment of a pickup truck to employee Havelka was not a proximate cause of Schneider’s injuries and that punitive damages were unsupported. The Court reasoned that Havelka was not driving at the time of the collision and there was no evidence Esperanza knew of his propensity to become intoxicated. Justice Robertson dissented, arguing the entrustment was a proximate cause and that punitive damages were warranted.