Hani Hafiz Ibrahim Qutiefan v. Lubna Aziz Safi ( 2021 )

Opinion issued August 5, 2021
In The
Court of Appeals
For The
First District of Texas
————————————
NO. 01-18-00425-CV
———————————
HANI HAFIZ IBRAHIM QUTIEFAN, Appellant
V.
LUBNA ABDELZIZ SAFI A/K/A LUBNA AZIZ SAFI, Appellee
On Appeal from the 505th District Court
Fort Bend County, Texas
Trial Court Case No. 13-DCV-206211
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Appellant, Hani Hafiz Ibrahim Qutiefan, appeals the trial court’s entry of a
final divorce decree after a bench trial and the denial of his motion for new trial. In
five issues, Qutiefan argues that the trial court erred in (1) denying his requests for
appointment of counsel at trial; (2) denying his motions for continuances to hire trial
counsel; (3) denying his right to present testimonial and documentary evidence;
(4) appointing appellee, Lubna Abdelziz Safi a/k/a Lubna Aziz Safi, as sole
managing conservator and Qutiefan as possessory conservator of their minor
children; and (5) dividing the marital estate.1 We affirm.
Background
Qutiefan and Safi were married in a religious ceremony in Palestine in
September 1994. In December 1997, they moved to Houston and were married in a
legal ceremony. They also bought a house in Houston. During their marriage, the
parties had five children. The parties’ four youngest children are permanently
disabled. In August 2011, the parties separated. Safi and all five children moved out
1
Without leave of Court, Qutiefan filed an amended brief on the date this appeal was
set for submission. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.7 (“A brief may be amended or
supplemented whenever justice requires, on whatever reasonable terms the court
may prescribe.”). Generally, “a party must seek leave of court to file an amended or
supplemental brief, and the appellate court has some discretion in deciding whether
to allow the filing.” Palma v. Harris Cty. Appraisal Review Bd., No. 01-17-00705-
CV, 2018 WL 3355052, at *1 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] July 10, 2018, pet.
denied) (mem. op.) (quoting Standard Fruit & Vegetable Co. v. Johnson, 985
S.W.2d 62, 65 (Tex. 1998)). Because Qutiefan did not seek leave to file an amended
brief, we construe his amended brief to be a reply brief. See id. (construing amended
brief as reply brief where party did not seek leave to file amended brief). A reply
brief may address any matter raised in the appellee’s brief, but a reply brief may not
raise new issues for the first time. TEX. R. APP. P. 38.3; see Fallon v. MD Anderson
Physicians Network, 586 S.W.3d 58, 73 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2019, pet.
denied) (refusing to consider new issue raised for first time in reply brief). To the
extent Qutiefan’s amended brief raises new issues not included in his original brief,
we decline to consider those new issues.
2
of the parties’ house, where Qutiefan continued living through the end of trial in
August 2017. Their oldest child turned eighteen years of age prior to trial and was
not part of the divorce proceedings.
In May 2013, Safi filed an original petition for divorce from Qutiefan on the
grounds of insupportability and cruel treatment. She alleged that Qutiefan had a
history of committing family violence in the preceding two years, and she supported
her petition with a family violence protective order issued against Qutiefan in
October 2011. Safi requested that, based upon Qutiefan’s history and pattern of
committing family violence, the court appoint her as sole managing conservator of
the parties’ four youngest children and that Qutiefan’s access to the children be
limited to one hour on one Saturday each month with seven days’ notice from
Qutiefan. She requested $1,500 per month in child and medical support for the
children to continue indefinitely based on the children’s disabilities, retroactive child
and medical support, and spousal support.
Safi also asked the court to order the sale of the parties’ home and to award
her 60% of the proceeds of the sale and Qutiefan 40% of the proceeds. She requested
that the court award Qutiefan a homeowner’s association (“HOA”) judgment against
her, and she asked that the court award each party their own vehicles, bank accounts,
and debt. She also requested an award under a dowry contract between her and
Qutiefan. Finally, Safi requested a permanent injunction and, pending trial,
3
temporary orders requiring Qutiefan to pay child support, health insurance and
uninsured medical expenses for the children, and all bills and expenses related to the
parties’ house.
Qutiefan filed an answer. He also filed a counterpetition, which was signed
by an attorney Qutiefan hired and which largely mirrored Safi’s petition. Qutiefan’s
counterpetition relied on the same grounds for divorce—insupportability and cruel
treatment—as Safi’s petition, and similarly asked the court to appoint Qutiefan as
sole managing conservator and to deny or limit Safi’s access to the children. Like
Safi’s petition, Qutiefan’s counterpetition requested indefinite child and medical
support for the children. Qutiefan also requested a similar division of property, but
he added a claim for reimbursement of the community property used to benefit Safi’s
separate estate. The counterpetition asked for a temporary injunction, which
included a lengthy list of prohibited actions, and a temporary order appointing him
sole managing conservator of the children through trial and requiring Safi to pay
child support and health insurance premiums for the children.
Prior to trial, Qutiefan filed more than forty motions and an interlocutory
appeal, which this Court dismissed for want of jurisdiction. See generally Qutiefan
v. Safi, No. 01-17-00925-CV, 2018 WL 1189667 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]
Mar. 8, 2018, no pet.) (per curiam) (mem. op.). He filed six motions to invoke his
Sixth Amendment constitutional right to appointment of counsel, which the trial
4
court denied. He also filed three motions to continue the trial, none of which were
based on a need to obtain counsel. The trial court denied his motions but continued
the trial date several times for other reasons. Qutiefan also filed a motion for
preparation of a social study and for psychological evaluations of the parties and
their children, both of which the trial court granted but later set aside when Qutiefan
had not scheduled or paid for either the study or any psychological evaluations.
On Safi’s motion, the trial court entered an enforcement order, finding that
Qutiefan had violated temporary orders by failing to pay more than $14,000 in
temporary child support for thirty-five months pending trial. The court held Qutiefan
in criminal and civil contempt, but the court suspended commitment, placed
Qutiefan on community supervision, and ordered him to pay monthly arrearages in
addition to current child support. The order also required Qutiefan to pay Safi’s
attorney’s fees for bringing the enforcement action.
While this case was pending, the Office of Attorney General filed an original
petition in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship (“SAPCR”) seeking
retroactive and ongoing child and medical support for the parties’ children. The
Attorney General’s SAPCR was consolidated into the divorce proceedings
underlying this appeal.
After nearly two years of continuances, the bench trial commenced on July
13, 2017. Trial occurred for seven days over a five-week period on July 13, July 18,
5
August 15, August 16, August 17, August 21, and August 22, 2017. Qutiefan
appeared pro se, Safi appeared with counsel, and the Attorney General appeared
through counsel.
Safi testified for the first four days of trial. Qutiefan cross-examined her for
three days and re-cross-examined her on a fourth day. Safi testified that Qutiefan
physically and verbally abused her while they were married, including by cursing at
and hitting her in front of the children. Afterwards, Qutiefan would take her phone
away and hide it. At least once, one of their daughters tried to intervene in the abuse
and Qutiefan pushed her away. Safi testified that Qutiefan would threaten her with
imprisonment and death, and he would leave her voicemail messages telling her she
was “sick, mentally sick” and not normal. She testified about and introduced two
protective orders against Qutiefan: the one that issued in 2011 and was effective for
two years, as discussed above, and a second one that issued in 2013 and was also
effective for two years. Safi had reported Qutiefan for violating the protective orders,
but the cases against him were eventually dismissed. She also testified that she had
a protective order issued against Qutiefan in 2008, and that she had sought a fourth
protective order against Qutiefan, which was denied. Safi characterized her marriage
as “miserable” and stated that she did not feel safe around Qutiefan.
She also testified about the children’s disabilities. The parties’ second and
fifth children have Usher’s syndrome, which Safi described as an incurable genetic
6
disease that affects the children’s abilities to see and hear such that they require
cochlear implants and walk with canes. The youngest child also suffers from
seizures. The parties’ third and fourth children have autism. Safi introduced
documents showing the children’s diagnoses, and she testified that the children
would be disabled for the rest of their lives. The children receive social security
benefits and Medicaid based on their disabilities. All five children lived with Safi
continuously from the parties’ separation through trial, and Safi testified that she had
provided exclusive care for the children since the separation. She testified that
Qutiefan did not provide for her or the children while the parties were married or
since their separation.
Safi also testified that Qutiefan does not know how to take care of the children
and that his house is in very bad condition. Safi testified that Qutiefan had last seen
the children in September 2016 because he did not request visitation and that
Qutiefan often would not show up at the designated meeting place to pick up the
children. When the children had visited Qutiefan the few times since the separation,
Safi testified that they returned upset and told her that Qutiefan slept a lot and kept
no food in the house, that the air conditioning did not work, and that the house was
dirty. Safi conceded, however, that she believed the children would be safe when
visiting Qutiefan. Safi testified that the children’s conditions had improved since the
separation.
7
Safi testified that she does not work and that her only source of income is the
four youngest children’s social security benefits and food stamps. She introduced a
financial information sheet showing her lack of income. She said that she has a
bachelor’s degree in social work from a university in Jerusalem. She testified that
Qutiefan worked as an accountant out of the parties’ home. Qutiefan’s financial
information sheet stated that he earned $600–900 per month but had more than
$2,000 in monthly expenses as well as significant debt. His tax returns showed his
income at approximately $13,000 per year. However, Safi testified that she believed
Qutiefan earned more than his financial information sheet and tax returns reflected
because he was often paid in cash and his monthly expenses were more than double
his reported income. Prior to their separation, Safi saw Qutiefan receive cash from
clients.
The parties bought a house while they were married, and Qutiefan lived there
from the time the parties separated through trial. The deed and mortgage on the house
were solely in Safi’s name, but Qutiefan paid the mortgage. Safi introduced an
inventory and appraisement showing approximately $16,000 of equity in the house,
and she introduced a document from the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District
showing the house’s appraised value for tax year 2017. The house was damaged
during Hurricane Ike in 2008 and the parties received a $23,000 check from the
insurance company, which Qutiefan made Safi cash. Qutiefan took the money but
8
did not spend it to repair the house. The parties received a second insurance check
for $10,000 for additional damage to the house. Safi had the uncashed check in her
possession. Because of hurricane and other damage to the house, the homeowner’s
association had assessed numerous citations for HOA violations, including for a
damaged front door, cars in the driveway, and failing to maintain the yard. When the
violations went unpaid, the HOA obtained an $8,000 judgment against Safi. Safi
introduced the judgment into evidence.
Safi also testified about the parties’ separate property. She owned two
vehicles, including one that she had recently purchased for her oldest daughter from
a lump sum child support payment she had received from Qutiefan. She had one
bank account with a few hundred dollars in it, her and her children’s clothing, and
other household items. She testified that she had a dowry contract with Qutiefan,
which she described as: “when a woman gets divorced, her husband has to pay that
money that’s listed on the document.” The only evidence of the dowry was a
Palestinian marriage certificate, translated into English, that stated a dowry existed.
Safi’s request for relief during trial mirrored her pretrial requests for relief as
discussed above.
The trial court gave Qutiefan wide “latitude” in his pro se cross-examination
of Safi, often allowing him to ask questions over Safi’s objections. When Safi
attempted to refuse to answer Qutiefan’s question about the contents of a safety
9
deposit box, the trial court ordered Safi to answer and admonished her that she could
be held in contempt for not answering. She answered the question. Qutiefan lodged
numerous legal objections to Safi’s testimony, many of which were sustained. He
also repeatedly objected to Safi’s testimony by claiming it was false and attempting
to testify to his own version of the facts. The trial court overruled these objections
and told Qutiefan that he would have an opportunity to testify. Beginning on the
third day of trial, Qutiefan also repeatedly requested continuances, arguing that he
needed additional time to hire counsel because he was unable to represent himself.
The trial court denied his motions. The court told Qutiefan that trial was initially set
for November 2015 but had been reset several times until July 2017. In addition, the
court noted that trial took place on various days over a five-week period, thus
affording Qutiefan additional time during trial to hire legal counsel.
Safi’s attorney testified regarding her attorney’s fees, and Qutiefan cross
examined her. Counsel answered all of Qutiefan’s questions except those to which
she objected on the basis of attorney-client privilege, which the trial court sustained.
On the fourth day of trial, Qutiefan asked for a continuance because he was
ill. The court continued the trial until the following Monday and ordered Qutiefan to
provide a doctor’s note. The record indicates that the doctor’s note showed no
malady.
10
During his case in chief, Qutiefan testified in narrative form. He accused Safi
of lying about “whatever she claims in the divorce” and lying to obtain the protective
orders against him. He said Safi has “mental and psychological issues that’s causing
this divorce.” He admitted that his children are disabled, and he testified that Safi
only wants custody of the children so she can receive their social security benefits
and food stamps. He said Safi alienates the children, brainwashes them against him,
and bad mouths him in front of them. He testified that he handled the children’s
medical issues before the parties separated and that their conditions had worsened
since then. He denied committing family violence against Safi or the children.
Qutiefan further testified that Safi abandoned the parties’ house and refused
to fix it. He said that he cashed the first insurance check for damages to the house
from Hurricane Ike, but Safi spent the money and emptied the parties’ bank accounts.
He testified that he had to borrow money to fix the house. However, he also testified
that, at the time of trial, the roof had holes in it and the house had water leaks and
missing flooring. He introduced photographs showing the condition of the house. He
also conceded that he had not paid any of the fines assessed by the HOA.
In the middle of his testimony, Qutiefan called his uncle, Ziad Alkhateeb, as
an out-of-order witness. Safi objected because Qutiefan had not produced a witness
list. Although Qutiefan could not prove he had produced a witness list, the court
allowed Alkhateeb to testify. Alkhateeb said that he would meet Safi to pick up the
11
children to visit Qutiefan but Safi usually would not bring all the children with her.
When Safi did not bring all the children, Alkhateeb called the police to report her.
When she did bring the children, Alkhateeb testified that they were “happy [and]
excited” to see Qutiefan. Alkhateeb denied knowing whether Qutiefan had ever
abused Safi. He testified that he owned a construction company and had spoken to
Safi about repairing the house but she did not cooperate. He said Safi would get mad
at him for not spending the insurance proceeds on materials to repair the house. He
eventually lent Qutiefan money to repair roof leaks in the house, and he testified that
other family members had also lent Qutiefan money.
Qutiefan introduced more than thirty exhibits during trial, many of which
were not admitted because they lacked a proper predicate. The trial court told
Qutiefan he could attempt to readmit the exhibits. The court did admit some of
Qutiefan’s exhibits, including a text message from Safi in Arabic, photographs of
damage to the parties’ house, and Qutiefan’s financial information sheet.
Both parties gave a closing statement. At the end of trial, the court granted the
divorce and took the parties’ various requests under advisement.
The trial court entered a final divorce decree on February 28, 2018. The decree
appointed Safi as sole managing conservator and Qutiefan as possessory conservator
of the children. Qutiefan was allowed visitation with the children on specific
weekends each month from 10 am to 6 pm each day so long as Qutiefan gave Safi
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seventy-two hours’ notice of his intent to exercise a possessory period. The decree
awarded Safi $391 per month in child support for the four youngest children for an
indefinite period of time. The decree further ordered Safi to maintain Medicaid for
the four youngest children and denied additional medical support from Qutiefan
except that the parties were required to split non-reimbursable health care expenses.
The decree awarded the parties’ house to Safi but ordered her to sell it. Safi
was awarded 60% of the net proceeds from the sale and Qutiefan was awarded the
remaining 40% of the net proceeds. The decree also awarded Safi the uncashed
insurance check in her possession and required her to use the proceeds on repairs to
the house before selling it. The decree awarded the HOA judgment against Safi to
Qutiefan. It further awarded Safi’s two vehicles to her, and it awarded each party the
cash in their possession, clothing, jewelry, and personal effects. Each party was
awarded their own debt. The decree denied spousal maintenance, recovery for the
dowry contract, and injunctive relief. Finally, the decree awarded Safi her attorney’s
fees.
Qutiefan filed a motion for new trial, which was signed by a retained attorney.
Qutiefan briefly challenged the trial court’s denial of his requests for continuances
13
to secure funds to hire counsel, and he primarily challenged various findings in the
divorce decree. The trial court denied the motion. This appeal followed.2
Appointment of Counsel
In his first issue, Qutiefan contends that the trial court erred by denying his
request for a court-appointed attorney and forcing him to represent himself at trial.
He contends that he did not know how to present evidence properly. He
acknowledges that the trial court appointed him counsel during the enforcement
proceedings, but that representation was limited to those proceedings and did not
extend to trial. He argues that he diligently but unsuccessfully pursued pro bono
counsel and that he filed numerous motions for continuances to obtain counsel,
which were mostly denied. Safi responds that Qutiefan was not entitled to appointed
counsel at trial. Safi further argues that Qutiefan was represented by three different
private attorneys during the divorce proceedings, all of whom withdrew from his
case, and that he had ample opportunity and resources to hire legal counsel.
A. Standard of Review and Governing Law
Under the Government Code, a district court has discretion to appoint counsel
to an indigent party in a civil case, but the Texas Supreme Court has not recognized
a right to counsel in civil cases. See TEX. GOV’T CODE § 24.016 (“A district judge
2
After the parties filed their briefs, the Court abated this case on Qutiefan’s
suggestion of bankruptcy. See TEX. R. APP. P. 8.1, 8.2. The appeal was reinstated in
January 2021. See TEX. R. APP. P. 8.3(a).
14
may appoint counsel to attend to the cause of a party who makes an affidavit that he
is too poor to employ counsel to attend to the cause.”); Traveler’s Indem. Co. of
Conn. v. Mayfield, 923 S.W.2d 590, 594 (Tex. 1996) (“While a court has a duty to
ensure that ‘judicial proceedings remain truly adversarial in nature,’ we have never
held that a civil litigant must be represented by counsel in order for a court to carry
on its essential, constitutional function.”) (internal citations omitted). A court also
has inherent authority, “in some exceptional cases,” to appoint counsel in a civil case
in which “the public and private interests at stake are such that the administration of
justice may best be served by appointing a lawyer to represent an indigent civil
litigant.” Mayfield, 923 S.W.2d at 594. No provision of the Family Code requires a
court to appoint counsel for the trial of a divorce case, although the Code does
require appointment of counsel for an indigent respondent in enforcement
proceedings in certain limited circumstances. TEX. FAM. CODE § 157.163(a), (b), (d),
(e), (i).
B. Analysis
Qutiefan filed several pretrial documents entitled “Request to Invoke Sixth
Amendment Constitutional Right,” in which he claimed indigency and requested
that the court appoint him counsel. The court denied his motions, although the record
indicates that Qutiefan was represented by counsel during the enforcement
15
proceedings prior to trial. At trial, Qutiefan did not make a request for appointed
counsel; instead, he repeatedly requested continuances to hire counsel.
Qutiefan was not entitled to appointment of counsel at trial, and he does not
show on appeal that his case was exceptional and that the administration of justice
was best served by appointing him counsel. See Mayfield, 923 S.W.2d at 594. The
mere fact that he represented himself is not exceptional. See id. (“Indeed, thousands
of cases each year are prosecuted in our courts by pro se litigants.”). We therefore
conclude that, to the extent Qutiefan made a request for appointment of counsel at
trial, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying his request. We overrule
Qutiefan’s first issue.
Motions for Continuance
In his second issue, Qutiefan argues that the trial court erred by denying his
motions for continuances to hire legal counsel and coercing him to represent himself.
A. Standard of Review and Governing Law
We review the grant or denial of a motion for continuance for an abuse of
discretion. Villegas v. Carter, 711 S.W.2d 624, 626 (Tex. 1986). We will uphold the
trial court’s decision absent a clear abuse of discretion. Id. A court abuses its
discretion by acting unreasonably or in an arbitrary manner without reference to any
guiding rules and principles. Landers v. State Farm Lloyds, 257 S.W.3d 740, 747
16
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2008, no pet.) (quoting Beaumont Bank, N.A. v.
Buller, 806 S.W.2d 223, 226 (Tex. 1991)).
When a party moves for a continuance to obtain legal counsel, he must show
that the failure to be represented at trial was not due to his own fault or negligence.
See Villegas, 711 S.W.2d at 626; TEX. R. CIV. P. 253 (“[A]bsence of counsel will not
be good cause for a continuance or postponement of the cause when called for trial,
except it be allowed in the discretion of the court, upon cause shown or upon matters
within the knowledge or information of the judge to be stated on the record.”).
B. Analysis
Qutiefan filed four written motions for continuances prior to trial, but none
were based on Qutiefan’s need to hire counsel. During trial, however, Qutiefan made
numerous oral requests for continuances to obtain counsel, which the court denied.
The court explained to Qutiefan that trial had been reset for nearly two years, during
which time he had ample opportunity to hire private counsel. Moreover, trial began
on July 13, 2017, but did not proceed over consecutive days. Rather, it was spread
out over five weeks, ending on August 21, which provided Qutiefan additional time
during trial to hire counsel. Qutiefan had also been represented by at least three
private attorneys prior to trial. Qutiefan offers no argument on appeal that his failure
to have legal representation at trial was not due to his own fault or negligence. See
Villegas, 711 S.W.2d at 626.
17
Qutiefan had adequate opportunity to hire legal counsel not only in the two
years prior to trial when he had notice of the impending trial, but also in the five
weeks between the first and last days of trial. We also note that the trial court granted
Qutiefan’s request for a continuance when he claimed to be ill during trial, even
though the doctor’s note he provided showed no malady. We conclude that the trial
court did not abuse its discretion in denying Qutiefan’s oral motions for continuances
to obtain legal counsel during trial. We overrule Qutiefan’s second issue.
Due Process
In his third issue, Qutiefan contends that he was denied his right to present
testimony and documentary evidence, which raises an issue of constitutional due
process. He argues that the trial court cut his testimony short, that the court did not
admit most of his evidence, and that had he been allowed to finish his testimony and
present all his evidence, the outcome of the trial would have been different. Safi
responds that the trial court allowed Qutiefan to provide narrative testimony, cross-
examine witnesses, call his own witnesses, and present documentary evidence, and
that Qutiefan points to no particular evidence that the court prohibited him from
offering.
A. Standard of Review and Governing Law
Whether a party was deprived of a constitutional right presents an issue of law
that we review de novo. Scally v. Tex. State Bd. of Med. Exam’rs, 351 S.W.3d 434,
18
446 (Tex. App.—Austin 2011, pet. denied). The United States and Texas
Constitutions prohibit the deprivation of life, liberty, and property from any person
without due process of law. U.S. CONST. amend. XIV, § 1; TEX. CONST. art. 1, § 19.
The right to be heard is a fundamental concept of due process, and an opportunity to
be heard must be granted at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner. Fuentes
v. Shevin, 407 U.S. 67, 80 (1972); Perry v. Del Rio, 67 S.W.3d 85, 92 (Tex. 2001).
Generally, the right to be heard includes the rights to a full and fair hearing before a
court with jurisdiction, to introduce evidence at a meaningful time and in a
meaningful manner, and to produce and cross-examine witnesses. Perry, 67 S.W.3d
at 92.
B. Analysis
Qutiefan appeared pro se at trial. He cross-examined each of Safi’s witnesses,
including Safi for four days and an additional day when he recalled her as a witness.
Qutiefan repeatedly asked Safi the same questions that she had already answered.
On the third day of Safi’s cross-examination, the court gave Qutiefan notice that he
could cross-examine her for an additional twenty minutes. Qutiefan called Safi back
to testify during his case in chief. After Qutiefan asked numerous questions that Safi
had already answered, the trial court told Qutiefan that he had two hours remaining
to question Safi. Qutiefan also cross-examined Safi’s attorney on the issue of
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attorney’s fees, and counsel answered all of his questions except those that asked
about privileged conversations.
Safi’s counsel objected at various times to Qutiefan’s questions, and the court
overruled many of her objections in order to give Qutiefan “latitude” in his
questioning. When Safi attempted to refuse to answer Qutiefan’s question about the
contents of her safety deposit box, the court ordered her to answer and admonished
her that the court would hold her in contempt if she continued refusing to answer the
question. She answered the question.
The trial court also allowed Qutiefan to testify in narrative form during his
case-in-chief. In the middle of his testimony, the court allowed Qutiefan to call a
witness, Alkhateeb, out of order even though Qutiefan had not produced a witness
list. The court did not limit Qutiefan’s questioning of any of his witnesses except for
the time limit placed on his lengthy, multiple-day examinations of Safi. And even
then, the court provided advance notice to Qutiefan of the time limit. Qutiefan did
tell the court that he had additional witnesses who were out of the country, but the
court told Qutiefan that he had had more than two years’ notice of trial and that trial
had started more than one month before he began his case in chief. The record
therefore indicates that the trial court was generous with Qutiefan’s examination of
the witnesses. We conclude that the court did not violate Qutiefan’s right to produce
and cross-examine witnesses. See id.
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Qutiefan also attempted to introduce more than thirty exhibits into evidence.
The trial court admitted some of them, including an untranslated Arabic text
message, photographs of damage to the interior of the parties’ house, certain
financial information, and some of Safi’s discovery responses. The trial court did
not admit many of Qutiefan’s exhibits after sustaining Safi’s and the Attorney
General’s objections to lack of predicate and relevance, among other objections.
Qutiefan repeatedly complained that he did not know how to introduce evidence and
that he did not understand what a predicate is, and the court explained that it could
not provide him legal advice. However, the court told Qutiefan that he could attempt
to reintroduce unadmitted evidence if he wished. On appeal, Qutiefan does not say
what specific evidence that was not admitted may have changed the outcome of the
trial. We therefore conclude that the court did not violate Qutiefan’s right to
introduce evidence at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner. See id. We
overrule Qutiefan’s third issue.
Conservatorship
In his fourth issue, Qutiefan argues that “doubts” exist regarding Safi’s fitness
to exercise sole managing conservatorship of the parties’ four youngest children who
are disabled and have special needs. He contends that he addressed the children’s
medical needs prior to the parties’ separation and that, after the separation, the
children’s conditions deteriorated. He further argued that Safi hid the children from
21
him, alienated them against him, and spoke ill of him. Safi responds that the trial
court did not abuse its discretion in its conservatorship decision because trial lasted
seven days, the trial court interviewed the four youngest children in chambers in
determining their best interests, and Qutiefan had a history of family violence,
criminal conduct, and lack of involvement in the children’s lives.
A. Standard of Review
Like most family law issues, we review conservatorship awards for an abuse
of discretion. Whitworth v. Whitworth, 222 S.W.3d 616, 622–23 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, no pet.) (citing Gillespie v. Gillespie, 644 S.W.2d 449, 451
(Tex. 1982)). As stated above, a trial court abuses its discretion by acting
unreasonably or in an arbitrary manner without reference to any guiding rules and
principles. Landers, 257 S.W.3d at 747.
In family law cases, legal and factual sufficiency challenges are not
independent grounds for asserting error, but they are relevant factors in determining
whether the trial court abused its discretion. Cohen v. Bar, 569 S.W.3d 764, 773
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2018, pet. denied). Our legal-sufficiency review
considers all the evidence in a light favorable to the finding, crediting favorable
evidence if a reasonable factfinder could do so and disregarding evidence unless a
reasonable factfinder could not do so. Id. at 773–74 (citing City of Keller v. Wilson,
168 S.W.3d 802, 827 (Tex. 2005), and Brown v. Brown, 236 S.W.3d 343, 348 (Tex.
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App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, no pet.)). In a factual sufficiency review, we
consider all the evidence for and against the challenged finding and set the finding
aside only if the evidence is so weak as to make the finding clearly wrong and
manifestly unjust. Id. at 774 (citing Cain v. Bain, 709 S.W.2d 175, 176 (Tex. 1986)).
If some evidence of a substantive and probative character exists to support the trial
court’s decision, there is no abuse of discretion. Id.The factfinder is the sole judge of witnesses’ credibility and the weight to be
given their testimony. City of Keller, 168 S.W.3d at 819; HTS Servs., Inc. v.
Hallwood Realty Partners, L.P., 190 S.W.3d 108, 111 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] 2005, no pet.) (“In a bench trial, the trial court, as factfinder, is the sole judge
of the credibility of the witnesses.”). The factfinder may resolve inconsistencies in
witness testimony, regardless of whether such inconsistencies result from
contradictory accounts by multiple witnesses or from internal contradictions in the
testimony of a single witness. Guimaraes v. Brann, 562 S.W.3d 521, 549 (Tex.
App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2018, pet. denied). The factfinder may also choose to
believe one witness over another. City of Keller, 168 S.W.3d at 819. In conducting
our factual sufficiency review, we may not substitute our judgment for that of the
factfinder. Golden Eagle Archery, Inc. v. Jackson, 116 S.W.3d 757, 761 (Tex. 2003).
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B. Governing Law
The best interest of the child is the primary consideration in determining issues
of conservatorship and possession of and access to the child. TEX. FAM. CODE §
153.002; Lenz v. Lenz, 79 S.W.3d 10, 14 (Tex. 2002). Courts consider several factors
in determining a child’s best interest, including: (1) the desires of the child; (2) the
emotional and physical needs of the child now and in the future; (3) the emotional
and physical danger to the child now and in the future; (4) the parental abilities of
the individuals seeking custody; (5) the programs available to assist the parents to
promote the best interest of the child; (6) the plans for the child by the parent seeking
custody; (7) the stability of the home or proposed placement; (8) the acts or
omissions of the parent which may indicate that the existing parent-child relationship
is not a proper one; and (9) any excuse for the acts or omissions of the parent. Holley
v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367, 371–72 (Tex. 1976).
In appointing conservators, the court must also consider whether a party has
engaged in family violence. TEX. FAM. CODE § 153.005(c)(1). The Family Code
provides a rebuttable presumption that appointing parents as joint managing
conservators is in the best interest of the child, but a finding that one of the parents
has committed family violence rebuts the presumption. Id. § 153.131(b). A court
may not appoint a parent as joint managing conservator if credible evidence is
presented of a history or pattern of physical abuse by the parent against the other
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parent or a child, and the court may consider family violence in determining whether
to deny or limit possession of the parent. Id. § 153.004(b).
C. Analysis
Safi testified that, after the parties divorced, she and all five children moved
out of the parties’ house and she had been the children’s sole caretaker since then.
She testified that Qutiefan did not support her or the children during the parties’
marriage or after their separation, and he rarely saw the children. She testified that
Qutiefan would not exercise his visitation rights and that, when he did see the
children, they would return upset because Qutiefan slept a lot, there was no food in
the house, the air conditioning did not work, and the house was dirty. Safi also
testified that she did not work but was able to support herself and the children on
food stamps and social security benefits for the disabled children. She was able to
find living accommodations for herself and the children and to buy two vehicles, and
she testified that the children’s conditions had improved since the parties separated.
She also testified that Qutiefan physically and verbally abused her and the children
and that she had obtained protective orders against Qutiefan, which were admitted
into evidence. See id. §§ 153.004(b), 153.131(b). The trial court also interviewed the
children in chambers in determining their best interest. The trial court appointed Safi
as sole managing conservator.
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Safi’s testimony and the trial court’s interview of the children is legally
sufficient to show that the children desired to live with Safi, that she met their
emotional and physical needs, that Qutiefan presented emotional or physical dangers
to the children, that Safi was able to care for the children and had a plan to do so,
and that she provided a stable home environment to the children. See Holley, 544
S.W.2d at 371–72; Cohen, 569 S.W.3d at 773–74.
Qutiefan testified that Safi had mental health issues, which had deteriorated
since the parties’ separation, and that he had addressed the children’s medical needs
prior to the separation. Qutiefan did not present any documentary evidence to
support his testimony. He offered no testimony about the children’s desires, their
emotional and physical needs, his plans for the children, or whether his home
provided a stable environment for the children. See Holley, 544 S.W.2d at 371–72.
Although Qutiefan and Safi testified inconsistently with each other, the trial court as
factfinder was the sole judge of their credibility and could choose to believe Safi
over Qutiefan. See City of Keller, 168 S.W.3d at 819; Guimaraes, 562 S.W.3d at
549. We may not substitute our judgment for that of the factfinder. Jackson, 116
S.W.3d at 761. Safi’s testimony and evidence were not so weak that the court’s
appointment of her as sole managing conservator was clearly wrong or manifestly
unjust. See Cohen, 569 S.W.3d at 774. Thus, the evidence was factually sufficient
to support the trial court’s conservatorship ruling.
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Because the evidence was legally and factually sufficient to support the
conservatorship determination, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its
discretion in appointing Safi as sole managing conservator of the parties’ children.
See id. at 773. We overrule Qutiefan’s fourth issue.
Division of Property
Finally, in his fifth issue, Qutiefan argues that the trial court erred in dividing
the parties’ marital estate. He contends that Safi obtained community assets unjustly,
unfairly, and inequitably, and that she mismanaged and misappropriated community
assets. Safi responds that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in dividing the
parties’ community estate because the evidence showed a disparity in the parties’
earning capacities and income, Safi’s needs in caring for the children, the children’s
disabilities, and Qutiefan’s misuse of community property. Furthermore, Safi
contends that she presented evidence of the value of the marital estate and that
Qutiefan dissipated the marital estate by wasting community funds, neglecting the
parties’ house, and causing fines and a judgment against the property due to unpaid
HOA violations.
A. Standard of Review and Governing Law
We review a trial court’s division of property in a divorce case for abuse of
discretion using the standard stated above. Raymond v. Raymond, 190 S.W.3d 77,
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82 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2005, no pet.) (citing Schlueter v. Schlueter, 975
S.W.2d 584, 589 (Tex. 1998)); see Landers, 257 S.W.3d at 747.
The Family Code requires a court to divide community property in a just and
right manner having due regard for the rights of each party and any children of the
marriage. TEX. FAM. CODE § 7.001; Schlueter, 975 S.W.2d at 588. A just and right
division of property may be disproportionate depending on the circumstances.
Schlueter, 975 S.W.2d at 588. In dividing community property, courts may consider
several factors, such as: (1) the spouses’ abilities to support themselves, including
which spouse has custody of the children, the burden of the care and maintenance of
the children, and the spouses’ education and employability; (2) a spouse’s
wrongdoing, including fault in the breakup of the marriage and tortious conduct by
one spouse against the other; (3) financial costs incurred by a spouse while the
divorce suit is pending; and (4) other considerations, including the nature of the
property. Twyman v. Twyman, 855 S.W.2d 619, 625 (Tex. 1993) (plurality op.);
Murff v. Murff, 516 S.W.2d 696, 698–99 (Tex. 1981); Vannerson v. Vannerson, 857
S.W.2d 659, 669 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1993, writ denied).
B. Analysis
The final divorce decree awarded the parties’ house and the uncashed
insurance check to Safi, required her to use the insurance check to make repairs to
the house and then sell it, and awarded Safi 60% and Qutiefan 40% of the proceeds
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of the sale of the house. As stated above, the decree also awarded Safi custody of the
parties’ children.
Safi testified that she did not work because she had to care for the parties’ four
permanently disabled children. Her only income was the children’s social security
benefits and food stamps. She introduced into evidence a financial information sheet
stating her lack of income. Safi testified that Qutiefan did not support her or the
children during their marriage or after their separation even though he had the
financial ability to do so from his job as an accountant. The court’s enforcement
order showed that Qutiefan had not paid more than $14,000 in child support over
thirty-five months prior to trial. Safi also testified that Qutiefan physically and
verbally abused her.
Safi asked the court to award her 60% of the proceeds of the sale of the house,
and she presented evidence showing the parties had approximately $16,000 in equity
in the house. She testified that Qutiefan did not repair the house after it was damaged
during Hurricane Ike and that Qutiefan did not spend insurance proceeds on repairs
to the house. Qutiefan’s own photographs of the house showed significant damage
to it. Further, Qutiefan admitted that the roof had holes in it and the house had water
leaks and missing flooring as of the time of trial. Safi’s testimony and evidence is
legally sufficient to show that her ability to support herself and the children is
limited, that the four youngest children have significant care and maintenance needs
29
due to their permanent disabilities, that Qutiefan engaged in tortious conduct against
her, and that she incurred costs while the divorce was pending. See Twyman, 855
S.W.2d at 625; Murff, 516 S.W.2d at 698–99; Vannerson, 857 S.W.2d at 669; see
also Cohen, 569 S.W.3d at 773–74.
Qutiefan testified at trial that Safi spent money from the insurance proceeds
that were intended to repair the house. Safi conceded that Qutiefan paid the
mortgage. Qutiefan also accused Safi of lying in all of her testimony. However, he
did not present any evidence substantiating his testimony. To the extent his
testimony conflicted with Safi’s testimony, the trial court as factfinder was the sole
judge of the parties’ credibility and could choose to believe Safi over Qutiefan, and
we may not substitute our judgment for that of the factfinder. See City of Keller, 168
S.W.3d at 819; Jackson, 116 S.W.3d at 761; Guimaraes, 562 S.W.3d at 549. Safi’s
testimony and evidence were not so weak that the court’s disproportionate division
of the parties’ community property was clearly wrong or manifestly unjust. See
Schlueter, 975 S.W.2d at 588; Cohen, 569 S.W.3d at 774. Thus, the evidence was
factually sufficient to support the trial court’s division of property.
We note that the trial court did not award Safi all the relief she requested. For
example, the trial court awarded her $391 per month in child support, much less than
the $1,500 she requested, and it denied Safi’s request for recovery on the parties’
dowry contract and her request for spousal maintenance. Because the evidence is
30
legally and factually sufficient to support the trial court’s division of property, we
hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in dividing the parties’ community
estate. See Cohen, 569 S.W.3d at 773. We overrule Qutiefan’s fifth issue.
Conclusion
We affirm the trial court’s final decree of divorce.
April L. Farris
Justice
Panel consists of Chief Justice Radack and Justices Goodman and Farris.
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