Dresser Industries, Inc. v. Lee

880 S.W.2d 750 (1993)

DRESSER INDUSTRIES, INC., Petitioner,

v.

Arthur B. LEE, Respondent.

No. D-2213.

Supreme Court of Texas.

October 27, 1993.

John M. Smith, Longview, Molly H. Anderson, Michael A. Hatchell, Tyler, for petitioner.

Blake Bailey, Jimmy Michael Negem, Andy Tindel, Tyler, for respondent.

OPINION

HECHT, Justice.

Several courts of appeals have disagreed over the effect of our decision in Varela v. American Petrofina Co., 658 S.W.2d 561 (Tex.1983). Three courts of appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, have concluded that Varela does not preclude a defendant in…