In the Interest of Y.B., Minor Child v. the State of Texas ( 2023 )

Affirm in Part, Reverse in Part and Opinion Filed May 15, 2023
In The
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-21-00915-CV
IN THE INTEREST OF Y.B., MINOR CHILD
On Appeal from the 468th Judicial District Court
Collin County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 468-56973-2017
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Partida-Kipness, Nowell, and Kennedy
Opinion by Justice Partida-Kipness
Appellant Alamu Bailey (Husband) appeals a Final Decree of Divorce issued
following a trial at which Husband did not appear. Husband challenges the trial
court’s division of the marital estate, including the award of Dallas Lash Academy
to appellee Arrious Bailey (Wife). Husband also appeals the trial court’s denial of
his motion to set aside the default judgment and the award of attorney’s fees to Wife.
We affirm in part and reverse in part.
BACKGROUND
Wife first filed for divorce in 2017. Husband alleges Wife never served him
with the initial petition and in August 2018, Wife asked for service by publication
stating she was unaware of how to locate Husband. The trial court granted Wife’s
request to serve Husband by publication. In September 2018, a default divorce was
granted.
Husband learned of the divorce and filed a motion for new trial in October
2018. The trial court granted Husband’s motion and in January 2019, Husband filed
a counter-petition for divorce. The parties then reconciled and continued living
together as husband and wife.
In January 2021, the trial court dismissed the divorce proceeding for want of
prosecution. In February 2021, however, the parties asked the court to reinstate the
case and leave it pending on the trial court’s docket. The trial court reinstated the
case and issued a scheduling order on February 28, 2021, that set the discovery
deadlines and scheduled a trial date in June. On June 25, 2021, the trial court sent
the parties an e-mail inquiring if they were ready for trial. Husband’s trial counsel
replied they had not completed discovery, assumed the trial court would find they
were not ready for trial, and took no additional action.
The case, however, proceeded to trial on June 28, 2021. Wife and her counsel
appeared for trial, but Husband and his counsel did not. Wife was the only witness
at trial. After hearing Wife’s testimony, the trial court announced its rulings on the
record, which included awarding Dallas Lash Academy to Wife as her separate
property. The trial court signed a Final Divorce Decree on July 28, 2021.
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Husband filed a motion to set aside the default judgment and a motion for new
trial. Husband’s trial counsel filed an affidavit in support of the motion. In the
affidavit, trial counsel stated she slept through her alarm on the day of trial because
she had shoulder surgery prior to the trial date and was under the influence of
prescription medication that left her incapacitated. Trial counsel asserted that she
was taken to the emergency room the day of trial and prescribed stronger pain
medication which left her further incapacitated and unable to attend court. According
to trial counsel, she attempted to contact the trial court when she realized she had
multiple missed calls from court staff. She further stated that she was unaware the
case was proceeding to trial because the Husband had stated the parties had
reconciled and were not pursuing the divorce.
The trial court held a hearing on Husband’s motion for new trial. During the
hearing, the court questioned Husband’s counsel as to when she attempted to notify
the court regarding her absence. The trial court also wanted an explanation as to why
Husband did not appear for trial. After hearing the responses and argument of both
sides, the trial court denied Husband’s motion. This appeal followed.
ANALYSIS
In four issues, Husband argues Dallas Lash Academy should not have been
awarded to Wife as separate property, the trial court abused its discretion in the
division of the marital estate, the trial court erred in denying Husband’s motion to
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vacate the default judgment, and the trial court erred in awarding Wife’s attorney’s
fees.
A. Division of Property
In his first and second issue, Husband challenges the trial court’s division of
property, mainly Dallas Lash Academy.
We review the trial court’s rulings dividing the parties’ property under an
abuse of discretion standard. In re Marriage of C.A.S., 405 S.W.3d 373, 382 (Tex.
App.—Dallas 2013, no pet.); see In re D.V.D., No. 05-17-00268-CV, 2018 WL
2316014, at *1–2 (Tex. App.—Dallas May 22, 2018, no pet.) (mem. op.). A trial
court abuses its discretion when it acts “without reference to any guiding rules and
principles; in other words, whether the act was arbitrary or unreasonable.” Worford
v. Stamper, 801 S.W.2d 108, 109 (Tex. 1990) (per curiam). In a non-jury trial, where
no findings of fact or conclusions of law are filed or requested, we must presume
that the trial court made all the necessary findings to support its judgment. Sink v.
Sink, 364 S.W.3d 340, 343 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012, no pet.). Consequently, if the
trial court's implied findings are supported by the evidence, we must uphold its
judgment on any theory of law applicable to the case. Id. at 343–44.
In family law cases, legal and factual sufficiency challenges do not constitute
independent grounds for asserting error, but they are relevant factors in determining
whether the trial court abused its discretion. C.A.S., 405 S.W.3d at 383. To determine
whether the trial court abused its discretion because the evidence is legally or
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factually insufficient to support the trial court’s decision, we consider whether the
trial court (1) had sufficient evidence upon which to exercise its discretion, and (2)
erred in its application of that discretion. Moroch v. Collins, 174 S.W.3d 849, 857
(Tex. App.—Dallas 2005, pet. denied). We conduct the applicable sufficiency
review when considering the first prong of the test. Id. We then determine whether,
based on the elicited evidence, if the trial court made a reasonable decision. Id. A
trial court does not abuse its discretion if it bases its decision on conflicting evidence
as long as there is some evidence of a substantive and probative character to support
the decision. In re S.N.Z., 421 S.W.3d 899, 911 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2014, pet.
denied); Moroch, 174 S.W.3d at 857. The trial court is the sole judge of the
credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony. In re M.A.M.,
346 S.W.3d 10, 14 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2011, pet. denied).
When reviewing an alleged property characterization error, we must
determine whether the trial court’s finding is supported by clear and convincing
evidence and whether the characterization error, if established, was an abuse of
discretion. Magness v. Magness, 241 S.W.3d 910, 912 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007,
pet. denied). We must indulge every reasonable presumption in favor of the trial
court's proper exercise of its discretion in dividing marital property. Sink, 364
S.W.3d at 343. We will reverse the ruling of the trial court only if the record
demonstrates that the trial court clearly abused its discretion, and the error materially
affected the just and right division of the community estate. Id.–5–
When the burden of proof at trial is clear and convincing evidence, we apply
a higher standard of legal and factual sufficiency review. Id. at 344. Clear and
convincing evidence is defined as that “measure or degree of proof that will produce
in the mind of the trier of fact a firm belief or conviction as to the truth of the
allegations sought to be established.” TEX. FAM. CODE § 101.007; Sink, 364 S.W.3d
at 344. In reviewing the evidence for legal sufficiency, we look at all the evidence
in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine if the trier of fact could
reasonably have formed a firm belief or conviction that its finding was true. See
Moroch, 174 S.W.3d at 858. We must assume that the fact finder resolved disputed
facts in favor of its finding if a reasonable fact finder could do so. Id. In reviewing
the evidence for factual sufficiency, we must give due consideration to evidence that
the fact finder could reasonably have found to be clear and convincing and then
determine whether, based on the record, a fact finder could reasonably form a firm
conviction or belief that the allegations in the petition were proven. Sink, 364 S.W.3d
at 344.
Under the family code there is a presumption that property possessed by either
spouse at the dissolution of the marriage is presumed to be community property.
TEX. FAM. CODE § 3.003(a). Only community property is subject to the trial court’s
just and right division. Barnard v. Barnard, 133 S.W.3d 782, 789 (Tex. App.—Fort
Worth 2004, pet. denied). The party who seeks to assert that property is her separate
property must prove its separate character by clear and convincing evidence. TEX.
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FAM. CODE 3.003(b). Separate property includes property “owned or claimed by the
spouse before marriage.” Id. § 3.404(a). “Clear and convincing evidence must
outweigh evidence that would satisfy the preponderance standard, but it need not be
unequivocal or undisputed.” Lee v. Lee, No. 02-18-00006-CV, 2019 WL 3024478,
at *4 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth July 11, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.). A trial court has
no discretion to divest a spouse of his separate property. Barnard, 133 S.W.3d at
789.
Husband argues Wife “should have been required to provide evidence to
rebut” the presumption that Dallas Lash Academy was community property.
However, at the trial, Wife testified and stated that she owned Dallas Lash Academy
before she met Husband, and asked the trial court to award the business as her
separate property. Husband failed to appear for trial or admit any evidence that
contradicted Wife’s testimony.
“A spouse is competent to testify concerning the characterization of property
without producing independent documentation such as bank records.” Pace v. Pace,
160 S.W.3d 706, 714 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2005, pet. denied). “The testimony of a
spouse seeking to overcome the community property presumption need not be
corroborated to meet the clear and convincing standard.” Id. However, “a party’s
unsupported and contradicted testimony may not meet the clear and convincing
standard.” Id. Here, because Husband presented no evidence to contradict Wife’s
testimony, there was sufficient evidence to support the trial court’s findings that
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Dallas Lash Academy was Wife’s separate property. See Pace, 160 S.W.3d at 714;
Vannerson v. Vannerson, 857 S.W.2d 659, 667–68 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]
1993, writ denied); Monroe v. Monroe, 358 S.W.3d 711, 718 (Tex. App.—San
Antonio 2011, pet. denied). Husband’s first issue is overruled.
Additionally, Husband has failed to meet his burden to establish that the trial
court’s division of the community estate was so unjust and unfair as to constitute an
abuse of discretion. C.A.S., 405 S.W.3d at 384 (party complaining of division of
community estate has the burden to prove division was so unjust and unfair as to
constitute abuse of discretion). Nor did Husband request findings of fact and
conclusions of law regarding the characterization and value of Dallas Lash Academy
or any other asset. See TEX. FAM. CODE § 6.711(a) (on request by party, trial court
shall state in writing its findings of fact and conclusions of law, including the
characterization and value of all assets on which disputed evidence has been
presented); C.A.S., 405 S.W.3d at 388 (where husband did not contend that listed
assets had disputed value, trial court did not abuse discretion by failing to make
findings of assets' values); see also Monroe v. Monroe, 358 S.W.3d 711, 718 (Tex.
App.—San Antonio 2011, pet. denied) (when complaining party does not provide
values of property to trial court, that party cannot complain on appeal of property
division). Because Husband presented no evidence, he did not meet his burden to
challenge the property distribution, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion.
We overrule Husband’s second issue.
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B. Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment
In his third issue, Husband argues the trial court erred by failing to grant his
motion to set aside the default judgment divorce.
We review a trial court’s decision to deny a motion to set aside a default
judgment for abuse of discretion. Dolgencorp of Tex., Inc. v. Lerma, 288 S.W.3d
922, 926 (Tex. 2009). A default judgment should be set aside and a new trial granted
when the defaulting party establishes that (1) the failure to answer or to appear was
not intentional, or the result of conscious indifference, but was due to a mistake or
an accident; (2) the motion for a new trial sets up a meritorious defense; and (3)
granting a new trial will not occasion delay or work other injury to the prevailing
party. Id; Craddock v. Sunshine Bus Lines, Inc., 133 S.W.2d 124, 126 (Tex. 1939).
When as here, no findings of fact and conclusions of law are filed, the denial of
a motion to set aside the default judgment and for new trial must be upheld on any
legal theory supported by the evidence. See Strackbein v. Prewitt, 671 S.W.2d 37,
38 (Tex.1984). When a defaulting party moving for new trial meets all three
elements of the Craddock test, then a trial court abuses its discretion if it fails to
grant a new trial. Dolgencorp, 288 S.W.3d at 926.
Husband argues he demonstrated good faith to entitle him to a new trial
because trial counsel presented an affidavit to show counsel was incapacitated.
Additionally, in his motion, Husband stated he did not appear for trial because Wife
“repeatedly assured” Husband to believe they were not proceeding with their divorce
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and there was no need to appear in court. Husband also maintains he meets the
Craddock factors. He is mistaken.
Husband’s motion and trial counsel’s argument do not show their failures to
appear were due to mistake or accident. Trial counsel stated she had a medical
condition that required her to go to the emergency room. However, in testimony at
the motion for new trial hearing, trial counsel stated she knew of the trial setting the
Friday prior and told the trial court they needed more time for discovery, without
asking for further information or clarification about the trial setting. She also
admitted that she did not indicate Husband needed a continuance at that time.
Additionally, trial counsel did not return phone calls to the trial court on June 28,
2021 until later in the afternoon, even though trial was set in the morning. Husband’s
mistaken belief that the divorce was not proceeding is also not sufficient to meet a
Craddock factor. See Craddock, 133 S.W.2d at 126. Husband failed to show the trial
court erred by denying his motion for new trial. We overrule his third issue.
C. Attorney’s Fees
Although there is no statute specifically authorizing an award of attorney’s
fees in a divorce proceeding, the trial court may within its sound discretion award
attorney’s fees. See Mandell v. Mandell, 310 S.W.3d 531, 541 (Tex. App.—Fort
Worth 2010, pet. denied); see also C.A.S., 405 S.W.3d at 386. An attorney’s fee is
but another element for the court to consider in dividing the marital estate. Mandell,
310 S.W.3d at 541. That is, in a divorce suit, the trial court has the equitable power
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to award either spouse attorney’s fees as a part of the just and right division of the
marital estate. See, e.g., Murff v. Murff, 615 S.W.2d 696, 699 (Tex. 1981).
Any award of attorney’s fees must be supported by the evidence. See Thomas
v. Thomas, 895 S.W.2d 895, 898 (Tex. App.—Waco 1995, writ denied). Testimony
should be presented regarding the experience of the attorney, the prevailing hourly
rates, the nature of the preparation, the complexity of the case, and the number of
hours spent on the case. In re C.R.C., No. 05-20-00125-CV, 2022 WL 16549070, at
*6 (Tex. App.—Dallas Oct. 31, 2022, no pet.).
During trial, the trial court stated that “there was a request for attorney’s fees
in the amount of $4500.” Based on that request, the trial court granted Wife’s
attorney’s fees. There was no testimony or evidence presented by Wife regarding
the experience of Wife’s attorney, his prevailing hourly rates, the nature of
preparation or complexity of the case, or the numbers of hours he spent on the
divorce. Id. Therefore, the trial court erred by granting Wife’s attorney’s fees
without additional evidence. We sustain Husband’s fourth issue.
CONCLUSION
Based on the record before us, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its
discretion by awarding Dallas Lash Academy to Wife as her separate property or in
its distribution of community property in the divorce decree. We further conclude
the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying Husband’s motion to set aside
the default judgment. The trial court did abuse its discretion, however, by awarding
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attorney’s fees to Wife. Accordingly, we overrule Husband’s first three issues,
sustain Husband’s fourth issue, reverse the award of fees to Wife, render judgment
that Wife recover no attorney’s fees, and affirm the Final Divorce Decree in all other
respects.
/Robbie Partida-Kipness/
210915f.p05 ROBBIE PARTIDA-KIPNESS
JUSTICE
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Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
JUDGMENT
IN THE INTEREST OF Y.B., On Appeal from the 468th Judicial
MINOR CHILD District Court, Collin County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 468-56973-
No. 05-21-00915-CV 2017.
Opinion delivered by Justice Partida-
Kipness. Justices Nowell and
Kennedy participating.
In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial
court is AFFIRMED in part and REVERSED in part. We REVERSE that portion
of the trial court's judgment that awards Wife attorney's fees. In all other respects,
the trial court's judgment is AFFIRMED.
It is ORDERED that each party bear its own costs of this appeal.
Judgment entered this 15th day of May 2023.
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