in the Interest of A.A.E. and J.O.E., Children ( 2019 )

AFFIRMED and Opinion Filed April 10, 2019
Court of Appeals
S In The
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-18-00210-CV
IN THE INTEREST OF A.A.E. AND J.O.E., CHILDREN
On Appeal from the 469th Judicial District Court
Collin County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 469-53528-2014
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Bridges, Partida-Kipness, and Carlyle
Opinion by Justice Bridges
Mother appeals the trial court’s final divorce decree in which the court designated Father
as primary managing conservator. In three issues, she argues she received ineffective assistance
of counsel, and the evidence is legally insufficient to support his designation as primary managing
conservator and to require her to have supervised visits with the children. We affirm the trial
court’s judgment.
Background
The following facts are based on the few pleadings in the record and one trial court hearing
in which only Mother and Father testified.
Father met Mother while working in Nigeria. The two married in 1996 and moved back to
the United States. They had three sons: JKE, JOE, and AAE.1
1
This appeal involves only two sons, AAE and JOE. JKE turned eighteen before the divorce was finalized.
In early 2014, Mother spent approximately six months in Nigeria for family matters and
returned in July. In December 2014, the “incident,” which Mother claims started “this,” occurred.
According to Mother, when she returned to the States, she discovered JOE and AAE had been
suspended from school. Father was drinking heavily during this time and acting aggressively
towards her and the boys. She called the children’s doctor, who recommended psychological
testing for the children and family counseling. She claimed that on the way to an appointment,
Father told AAE to beat her, which he did. She testified that when they later returned home, Father
and AAE continued to beat her. She eventually called 9-1-1 and was taken to the hospital.
Father denied Mother’s version of events and testified, “The police determined that she
was - - needed to be arrested that night.” Officers did in fact arrest Mother for domestic violence
after the hospital discharged her.
On July 17, 2014, “after a post arrest hearing as provided by law, and after considering the
evidence,” a magistrate entered an order for emergency protection to protect Father from Mother.
On July 22, 2014, Father filed his original petition for divorce. He argued appointment of the
parents as joint managing conservators would not be in the best interest of the children because
Mother had a history of committing family violence. Attached to the petition, Father included the
July 17, 2014 order for emergency protection issued against Mother for committing family
violence.
Mother filed her original answer on October 16, 2014. She requested joint managing
conservatorship and the exclusive right to designate the children’s primary residence and receive
child support.
On January 30, 2015, the trial court signed temporary orders appointing Father as
temporary sole managing conservator and Mother as temporary possessory conservator of the
children. On August 19, 2016, the trial court signed a second temporary order in which Father
–2–
remained temporary sole managing conservator and Mother continued as temporary possessory
conservator. The order required supervised visitation because of “credible evidence that [Mother]
has a history or pattern of child neglect directed against the children.” It further ordered Mother
to undergo a psychiatric evaluation within thirty days of the order and file the evaluation with the
trial court on or before October 1, 2016. Mother never completed her court-ordered psychiatric
evaluation.
The trial court held a final hearing on May 2, 2017. The trial court signed a final divorce
decree on January 29, 2018, appointing Father as sole managing conservator and Mother as
possessory conservator with supervised visitation. The final decree incorporated the terms of the
second temporary order in which the court ordered Mother to undergo psychological evaluation.
Mother, appearing pro se, filed this appeal.
Sufficiency of the Evidence
In her first and second issues, Mother argues the evidence is legally insufficient to support
the trial court’s designation of Father as primary managing conservator and to require supervised
visitation between her and the children. Father, appearing pro se, argues the evidence is sufficient.
Trial courts have wide discretion to determine a child’s best interest, including issues of
custody, control, possession and visitation. Gillespie v. Gillespie, 644 S.W.2d 449, 451 (Tex.
1982); Patterson v. Brist, 236 S.W.3d 238, 239–40 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet.
dism’d). Appellate courts will reverse a trial court’s determination of conservatorship only if a
review of the entire record reveals the trial court’s decision was arbitrary or unreasonable. In re
J.A.J., 243 S.W.3d 611, 616 (Tex. 2007); Patterson, 236 S.W.3d at 240. A trial court does not
abuse its discretion “as long as some evidence of a substantive and probative character exists to
support the trial court’s decision.” In re W.M., 172 S.W.3d 718, 725 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth
2005, no pet.). We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court’s decision and
–3–
indulge every legal presumption in favor of its judgment. Patterson, 236 S.W.3d at 240. The trial
court is in the best position to observe the demeanor and personalities of the parties and to evaluate
credibility, influences, and other forces that are not discernible from a cold record. Sheriff v.
Moosa, No. 05-13-01143-CV, 2015 WL 4736564, at *5 (Tex. App.—Dallas Aug. 11, 2015, no
pet.) (mem. op.); In re J.R.D., 169 S.W.3d 740, 743 (Tex. App.—Austin 2005, pet. denied). An
allegation of legal or factual insufficiency is not treated as an independent ground of error in this
context because the appropriate standard of review is abuse of discretion. Patterson, 236 S.W.3d
at 240; Hardin v. Hardin, 161 S.W.3d 14, 19 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, no pet.).
Rather, sufficiency challenges are incorporated into an abuse of discretion determination.
Patterson, 236 S.W.3d at 240.
“The best interest of the child shall always be the primary consideration of the court in
determining the issues of conservatorship and possession of and access to the child.” TEX. FAM.
CODE ANN. § 153.002; Lenz v. Lenz, 79 S.W.3d 10, 14 (Tex. 2002) (reiterating legislature’s
mandate that best interest of child is primary consideration). Courts consider the Holley factors
when determining whether the appointment of a party as managing conservator is in the child’s
best interest. See In re A.C., 394 S.W.3d 633, 644 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2012, no pet.).
These nonexclusive factors include the emotional and physical needs of the child now and in the
future, the emotional and physical danger to the child now and in the future, the parental abilities
of the individual seeking custody, the stability of the home or proposed placement, the acts or
omissions of the parent, which may indicate the existing parent-child relationship is not a proper
one, and any excuse for the act or omission of the parent. Holley v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367, 372
(Tex. 1976); Patterson, 236 S.W.3d at 240.
In addition to the Holley factors, this Court considers the mandatory provisions in the
family code regarding conservatorship. Under the statute, the trial court is required to presume
–4–
that the appointment of the parents as joint managing conservators is in the best interest of the
children until evidence is presented to rebut this presumption. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 153.131(a),
(b). The party seeking appointment as sole managing conservator has the burden to rebut the
presumption. Id. § 153.131(b); In re K.S., 492 S.W.3d 419, 427 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]
2016, pet. denied). If “credible evidence is presented of a history or pattern of past or present child
neglect, or physical or sexual abuse by one parent directed against the other parent, a spouse, or a
child,” the court may not appoint a parent as joint managing conservator. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN.
§ 153.004(b); In re K.S., 492 S.W.3d at 427.
Mother argues the record does not contain any evidence she was violent because she was
ultimately acquitted of the assault family violence charges, and Father was the one who owned a
gun and committed violence against her. Father admitted the family had a lengthy history with
CPS; however, there is no evidence in the record indicating CPS ever determined he engaged in
any abuse or neglect of the children. Father denied abusing Mother. To the extent the court heard
conflicting testimony about who was the victim of family violence, the trial court, as the judge of
witness credibility, was free to disbelieve Mother’s testimony. Id.
Further, the record contains evidence rebutting the presumption that appointment of the
parents as joint managing conservators is in the best interest of the children. The second temporary
order included a finding “that credible evidence has been presented that [MOTHER] has a history
or pattern of child neglect directed against the children.” The order also states the court heard the
motion on July 14, 2016, but the record before us does not contain a transcript from this hearing.
Where there is no reporter’s record, we assume the trial court heard sufficient evidence to make
all necessary findings in support of the order. Onkst v. Onkst, No. 03-15-00636-CV, 2017 WL
2628245, at *2 (Tex. App.—Austin June 16, 2017, no pet.) (mem. op.) (citing Hebisen v. Clear
Creek Indep. Sch. Dist., 217 S.W.3d 527, 536 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, no pet.)).
–5–
Thus, we must assume the trial court heard sufficient evidence to support a finding that Mother
has a history or pattern of child neglect thereby rebutting the presumption that appointing the
parents as joint managing conservators was in the children’s best interest. See TEX. FAM. CODE
ANN. § 153.131(b); see, e.g., In re K.S., 492 S.W.3d at 427. Moreover, Father testified at the final
hearing that nothing had changed resulting in Mother becoming a better parent since the second
temporary order hearing.
Further, at the time of the final hearing, Mother had not seen JOE and AAE since her arrest
for domestic violence at the end of June 2014. During that approximate three-year time, Mother
never complied with the terms of the temporary orders requiring a psychiatric evaluation. Instead,
Mother had threatened to circumvent the order. Although she testified she had a psychiatric
evaluation in 2010 and another one in 2016 with CPS, she never completed one pursuant to the
court’s temporary orders. She repeatedly testified, “I don’t have any psychiatric problems and
there was no evidence of that.” She further claimed she did not need one because, “I know who I
am.” Mother admitted she had not paid any child support as required by the second temporary
order, “[b]ecause I know what is best for my children.” See, e.g., B.C. v. Tex. Dep’t of Family &
Protective Servs., 446 S.W.3d 869, 876 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2014, no pet.) (considering failure to
pay child support as relevant to child’s best interest); see also In re A.F.V., No. 04-17-00225-CV,
2017 WL 3270336, at *3 (Tex. App.—San Antonio August 2, 2017, no pet.) (mem. op.). Such
evidence implicates Mother’s parental abilities. Moreover, her own unwillingness to obey court
orders prevented her access to her children. Mother’s acts and omissions indicate she was not
acting in her children’s best interest.
After reviewing the record, we conclude the evidence sufficiently supports the trial court’s
exercise of its discretion to determine that appointing Father as sole managing conservator and
–6–
Mother as possessory conservator was in the best interest of the children. Mother’s first issue is
overruled.
In her second issue, Mother argues the evidence is legally insufficient to require supervised
visitation with the children. It is a rebuttable presumption that it is not in the best interest of a
child for a parent to have unsupervised visitation with the child if credible evidence is presented
of a pattern or history of past or present child neglect or family violence by that parent or by any
person who resides in that parent’s household. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 153.004(e)(1), (2).
As explained above, we presume the record supports the trial court’s exercise of its discretion in
determining that Mother’s visits with the children should be supervised based on her history of
neglect. See Onkst, 2017 WL 2628245, at *2. Further, Father testified Mother was arrested and
charged with domestic violence. To the extent Mother argues she was acquitted of the charges,
the family code does not require a conviction for family violence in determining conservatorship
and best interest of the child. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 153.004(a), (b); see also In re V.V., 349
S.W.3d 548, 556 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2010, pet. denied) (noting courts routinely
consider parent-on-parent physical abuse without specifically requiring evidence that conduct
resulted in criminal conviction when considering best interest of child).
Father also testified that JKE had been arrested for family violence twice. At the time of
the final hearing, JKE was over eighteen, and Father believed he still lived with Mother. As such,
the trial court was presented with credible evidence of a history of family violence by a person
who resided in Mother’s household. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 153.004(e)(2). Accordingly,
Mother failed to present evidence rebutting the presumption that it was not in the children’s best
interest to have unsupervised visits with her. Id. § 153.004(e).
To the extent Mother tries to rebut the presumption by citing to an attorney ad litem
recommendation attached to her brief, we may not consider it. The report was not evidence the
–7–
trial court considered in making its ruling, and documents attached to briefs may not be considered
by a reviewing court because they are not part of the appellate record. See Goodman v. Melech,
No. 05-03-00188-CV, 2003 WL 22351416, at *1 (Tex. App.—Dallas Oct. 16, 2003, no pet.)
(mem. op.) (refusing to consider document attached to brief because it was not presented to trial
court); see also In re Bendtsen, 230 S.W.3d 823, 830 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, pet. denied).
Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by ordering supervised visitation.
Mother’s second issue is overruled.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
In her third issue, Mother argues she received ineffective assistance of counsel during the
hearing because her counsel failed to disclose witnesses and documents during discovery resulting
in the trial court sustaining Father’s objections to their admissibility. The doctrine of ineffective
assistance of counsel does not extend to most civil cases, including divorce cases involving custody
issues. See Blair v. McClinton, No. 01-11-00701-CV, 2013 WL 3354649, at *2 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] July 2, 2013, pet. denied) (mem. op.). While the Texas Supreme Court has
recognized a constitutional right to effective counsel in parental rights termination cases, this case
does not involve the termination of parental rights. See In re M.S., 115 S.W.3d 534, 544 (Tex.
2003). Thus, this limited exception is inapplicable. See In re G.J.P., 314 S.W.3d 217, 223 (Tex.
App.—Texarkana 2010, pet. denied) (ineffective assistance of counsel claim not available in
divorce proceeding involving child custody issues). Mother’s third issue is overruled.
–8–
Conclusion
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
/David L. Bridges/
DAVID L. BRIDGES
JUSTICE
180210F.P05
–9–
S
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
JUDGMENT
IN THE INTEREST OF A.A.E. AND On Appeal from the 469th Judicial District
J.O.E., CHILDREN Court, Collin County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 469-53528-2014.
No. 05-18-00210-CV Opinion delivered by Justice Bridges.
Justices Partida-Kipness and Carlyle
participating.
In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is
AFFIRMED.
It is ORDERED that appellee Michael Enge recover his costs of this appeal from
appellant Chika Enge.
Judgment entered April 10, 2019.
–10–