NO. ______________ 

 __________________________________________________________________ 

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS 

 FOR THE FIRST OR FOURTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS 

 _________________________________________________________________ 

IN RE: CONNIE V. HARRISON 

 __________________________________________________________________ 

PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS 

 __________________________________________________________________ 

 

 Lana Shadwick 

 State Bar No. 00784951 

 2210 Norfolk, Suite 920 

 Houston, Texas 77098 

 Telephone: (713) 392-8222 

 Telecopier: (713) 622-6334 

 Lana@LanaShadwick.com 

 Attorney for Relator, Connie V. Harrison 

 

ACCEPTED

14-15-00273-CV

FOURTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS

HOUSTON, TEXAS

3/27/2015 8:30:39 AM

CHRISTOPHER PRINE

CLERK

 FILED IN 14th COURT OF APPEALS HOUSTON, TEXAS 3/27/2015 8:30:39 AM CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE Clerk
2

Preamble

COMES NOW Connie V. Harrison, Relator herein, who respectfully files 

this, her Petition for Writ of Mandamus. In this Petition, Ms. Harrison will be 

referred to as “Ms. Harrison,” and her ex-husband Cliff Harrison, will be referred to 

as “Mr. Harrison.” 
3

Identity of Parties and Counsel

Pursuant to Tex. R. App. Pro. 52.2, Ms. Harrison identifies the following 

parties and counsel:

Relator and her Counsel:

Connie V. Harrison

Represented by: Lana Shadwick

State Bar No. 00784951

Respondent:

Judge Alicia K. Franklin

Presiding Judge, 311th District Court

201 Caroline, 8th Floor

Houston, Texas 77002

Telephone: (713) 274-4580

Real Parties in Interest and his Counsel:

Cliff Harrison

Represented by:

Schlanger, Silver, Barg & Paine LLP

Patricia A. Wicoff

State Bar No. 21422500

Amy Harris

State Bar No. 2401057

109 North Post Oak Lane, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77024

Telephone: (713) 735-8514

Telecopier: (713) 351-4514

Amicus Attorney:

Heather Hughes

State Bar No. 00796794

952 Echo Lane, Ste. 475

Houston, Texas 77024

Telephone: (713) 463-5505

Telecopier: (713) 463-5213
4

Table of Contents

Preamble......................................................................................................................i

Identity of Parties and Counsel................................................................................ iii

Table of Contents.................................................................................................. iv-v

Index of Authorities...................................................................................................6

Statement of the Case.................................................................................................7

Statement of Jurisdiction............................................................................................8

Sole Issue Presented...................................................................................................8

The Honorable Judge Franklin committed a clear abuse of discretion in 

refusing to render judgment based on the parties’ mediated settlement 

agreement found in Appendix 1 which dealt with all issues involving the 

children save and except management of their college funds. 

Statement of Facts......................................................................................................8

Arguments and Authorities......................................................................................12

Sole Issue Presented.................................................................................................12

The Honorable Judge Franklin committed a clear abuse of discretion in 

refusing to render judgment based on the parties’ mediated settlement 

agreement found in Appendix 1 which dealt with all issues involving the 

children save and except management of their college funds. 

I. Introduction............................................................................................13

II. The Standard Of Review......................................................14

III. Texas Family Code Section 153.0071(e) Entitles Relator To A 

Judgment On the Mediated Settlement Agreement.....................15
5

A. Texas Family Code Section 153.0071........................................16

B. The Texas Supreme Court Settled The Issue In In re Stephanie Lee –

Mediated Settlement Agreements Are To Be Enforced...............17

C. Texas Family Code 153.001(a) Expresses Public Policy of Texas That 

Parents Should Be Able To Make Decisions About Their 

Children..................................................................................................22

IV. Conclusion – Ms. Harrison Is Entitled To Entry Of The MSA Order 

And A Stay Of The March 27, 2015 9 a.m. Entry Of The Trial Court’s 

Rendition That Does Not Adopt The MSA...........................................22

Conclusion and Prayer.............................................................................................24

Certificate of Conference.........................................................................................25

Certification .............................................................................................................25

Certificate of Service ...............................................................................................26

Certificate of Compliance ........................................................................................26

Appendix.................................................................................27-28
6

Index of Authorities

Cases

Acker v. Texas Water Comm’n, 

790 S.W.2d 299 (Tex. 1990)...............................................................16

Am. Zurich Ins. Co. v. Samudio, 

370 S.W.3d 363 (Tex. 2012)...............................................................16

City of DeSoto v. White, 

288 S.W.3d 389 (Tex. 2009)................................................................16

In re Gonzalez, 

981 S.W.2d 313 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1998, pet. denied).........................26

In re Stephanie Lee, 

411 S.W.3d 445 (Tex. 2013)...........................................................passim

Molinet v. Kimbrell, 

356 S.W.3d 407 (Tex. 2011)................................................................16

Perkins v. City of San Antonio, 

293 S.W.3d 650 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2009, no pet.).............................25

Texas Dep’t of Protective & Reg. Srvcs v. Mega Child Care, Inc., 

145 S.W.3d 170 (Tex. 2004)...............................................................16

Texas Statutes

Tex. R. Civ. P. 21............................................................................25

Tex. Fam. Code sec. 157.0071........................................................passim

Tex. Fam. Code sec. 153.001(a)...........................................................24

Tex. Gov’t Code sec. 311.026............................................................16
7

TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS:

Relator, Ms. Connie V. Harrison, files this petition for writ of mandamus. Ms. 

Harrison asks this Court to issue a writ of mandamus to Judge Alicia Franklin, 

Presiding Judge of the 311th Judicial District Court of and for Harris County, Texas, 

compelling Judge Franklin to enter judgment based upon the mediated settlement 

agreement found in Appendix 1 to this petition for writ of mandamus, and to stay the 

entry of judgment on March 27, 2015 at 9 a.m., based on the Judge Franklin’s 

rendition of February 13, 2015 found in Appendix 2. In support of her prayer, 

Relator, Ms. Harrison would respectfully show this Honorable Court as follows.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

The Petitioner is Mr. Harrison, referred to here as (“Mr. Harrison”) and 

Respondent is Connie Harrison, referred to here as (“Ms. Harrison”). The parties 

reached a Mediated Settlement Agreement (“MSA”) on all matters dealing with their 

children on January 29, 2014. Appendix 1 (MSA). In the MSA, Ms. Harrison has 

joint custody with Mr. Harrison. According to the MSA, Ms. Harrison is the primary 

care parent and the children live with Ms. Harrison in Harris County, Texas. Ms. 

Harrison and Mr. Harrison, along with their counsel signed and agreed to all 

provisions of the MSA. 
8

Relator, Ms. Harrison, seeks relief from Judge Franklin’s entering judgment 

on March 27, 2015 at 9 a.m. based on her February 13, 2015 rendition (Appendix 2) 

that fails to incorporate the parties’ MSA as to parent-child issues. 

STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION

The basis of this Court’s jurisdiction is section 22.002(a) of the Texas 

Government Code. This section confers jurisdiction on this Court to issue writs of 

mandamus agreeable to the principles of law regulating those writs, against a district 

judge.

SOLE ISSUE PRESENTED

The Honorable Judge Franklin committed a clear abuse of discretion in 

refusing to render judgment based on the parties’ mediated settlement 

agreement found in Appendix 1 which dealt with all issues involving the 

children save and except management of their college funds. 

STATEMENT OF FACTS

Background Overview: The divorce action was filed in 2006. The case was 

tried to a jury beginning in March 2010 and ending in April 2010. Respondent 

appealed the final order in September 2010. In December 2012, the Fourteenth 

Court of Appels reversed and remanded the case to the trial court for a new trial, 

with the exception that the appellate court affirmed the divorce between the parties 

as of June 2010. The parties participated in mediation and signed a mediation 
9

agreement on January 29, 2014. Appendix 1. On April 10, 2014, the Court signed 

an order to comport with the mediated settlement agreement. Appendix 2. Trial was 

conducted in January 2015 wherein Ms. Harrison was forced to proceed pro se. Ms. 

Harrison has repeatedly motioned for attorney’s fees, and even though the 

community estate is sizable, she has not been awarded attorney’s fees. On January 

16, 2015, Ms. Harrison was ordered to pay the Amicus Attorney over $14,000.00. 

The Court also awarded on October 24, 2014 that monies in the registry of the Court 

in the amount of $14,421.31 be awarded to the Amicus Attorney.

 Jan. 29, 2014: Mediated Settlement Agreement Signed - Appendix 1

Mr. Harrison and Ms. Harrison reached a Mediated Settlement Agreement 

(“MSA”) on all matters dealing with their children on January 29, 2014. Appendix 

1 (MSA of January 29, 2014). In the MSA, Ms. Harrison has joint custody with Mr. 

Harrison. According to the MSA, Ms. Harrison is the primary care parent and the 

children live with Ms. Harrison in Harris County, Texas. Ms. Harrison and Mr. 

Harrison, along with their counsel signed and agreed to all provisions of the MSA. 

The MSA addressed all issues involving the children save and except management 

of their college funds. See Appendix 1. ). The MSA contained all the statutorily 

required language for a valid and enforceable MSA.

 March 7, 2014 – Emergency Motion For Enforcement of MSA Filed 

By Mr. Harrison - Appendix 5
10

 March 12, 2014 – Emergency Motion To Enter Order Filed By Amicus 

Attorney - Appendix 6

 April 4, 2014 – Mr. Harrison filed Motion to Enter MSA – Appendix 8

 April 10, 2014 – MSA incorporated into Agreed Order on Parent-Child 

Issues and it was signed by the Court – Appendix 3 & 4

On April 10, 2014, the 311th Court entered the MSA and incorporated the 

MSA into the Agreed Order on Parent-Child Issues and the parties operated under 

this Order. See Appendix 3 (Agreed Order) & 4 (transcript of hearing).

 May 30, 2014 – Hearing on Motion to Enforce MSA – Appendix 9.

On May 30, 2014 in a hearing before the Court, counsel for Ms. Harrison 

stated to the Court “We are asking this Court to enforce the MSA as written as I 

argued during my opening summary.” Appendix 9, pg. 6 (Hearing transcript of 

5/30/14). Mr. Harrison was questioned about “prior acts or criminal factors” and “a 

criminal conviction for family violence” but Mr. Harrison replied that there was not, 

“There was a dismissal. Deferred adjudication and a dismissal.” He also testified 

that he received deferred adjudication on an assault and battery charge and the charge 

was dismissed. Id. at pg. 7.

 September 3, 2014 – Hearing Before Associate Judge Without Notice

To Ms. Harrison Resulting In Mr. Harrison Being Appointed SMC 

and Ms. Harrison Having Supervised Visitation – Appendix 10
11

On September 3, 2014, a hearing was heard and the Associate Judge ordered 

that Ms. Harrison be “immediately, instanter removed as a joint managing 

conservator” and ordering that Mr. Harrison “immediately, instanter appointed the 

temporary sole managing conservator.” The order further provides that Mr. Harrison 

was to have “the exclusive right to all periods of possession and access with the 

children,” and that Ms. Harrison “shall not have any periods of possession and/or 

access to the children until further order of the Court or by written agreement of the 

parties and the attorneys.” The order also terminated Mr. Harrison’s obligation to 

pay child support. Ms. Harrison was not represented by counsel. Appendix 10. Ms. 

Harrison tells Counsel she was not given notice and she was not served concerning 

the matters conducted during the September 3, 2014 hearing. 

 September 8th, October 24th, 2014 – Respondent Requested a De Novo 

Hearing and Appeal of the Associate Judge’s Ruling – Appendix 12 & 

13

On September 8th and October 24th, 2014, Respondent timely filed a Request 

For De Novo Hearing And Appeal To The District Court appealing the September 

3, 2014 hearing and Order of the Associate Judge. Although there is a notice of 

hearing in the district court records, Ms. Harrison tells counsel she did not receive a 

de novo hearing of the Associate Judge’s order. 

 January 14th and January 16, 2015 - Ms. Harrison Asked The Court 

To Enter MSA But Was Denied An Opportunity To Present Evidence

– Appendix 14 January 16th, 2014 Trial Transcript
12

On January 16th, Ms. Harrison asked the trial court to enforce the MSA and 

the trial court denied her request. Appendix 14. 

 January 20, 2015 – Ms. Harrison filed Emergency Motion To Enforce 

MSA – Appendix 16.

On the morning of January 20, 2015, Ms. Harrison filed another motion to 

enforce the MSA, she told the Court that she had filed the Motion and wished to urge 

the motion and her Motion was perfunctorily denied. See Appendix 15, pg. 4 (Trial 

transcript excerpt). The trial court continued the court trial and did not allow Ms. 

Harrison to put on evidence as to the MSA. Ms. Harrison also filed an Emergency 

Motion for Continuance.

 February 13, 2015 – Trial Court’s Rendition Giving Mr. Harrison 

SMC – Appendix 2.

On February 13, 2015, the Judge's Rendition gave sole managing 

conservatorship (“SMC”) to Mr. Harrison and gave possessory conservatorship 

(“PC”) to Ms. Harrison with only supervised visitation. 

ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES

SOLE ISSUE PRESENTED

Honorable Judge Franklin committed a clear abuse of discretion in refusing 

to render judgment based on the parties’ mediated settlement agreement 

found in Appendix 1 which dealt with all issues involving the children save and 

except management of their college funds. 
13

I. Introduction

The parties in this case were ordered to mediation and concluded the 

mediation by reaching a mediated settlement agreement and signing off on that MSA 

(all parties and counsel). The MSA contained all the statutorily required language 

for a valid and enforceable MSA. 

The first page of the mediated settlement agreement contains the following 

sentence, which appears in bold, capitalized and underlined print: 

“THIS MEDIATED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IS BINDING AND 

IS NOT SUBJECT TO REVOCATION.”

Appendix 1 at pg. 1. 

The parties, their counsel, and the amicus attorney signed the MSA after 

reading the following admonishment: 

“I HAVE READ, UNDERSTAND, AND I CONSENT TO ALL OF THE 

TERMS OF THIS BINDING AND IRREVOCABLE MEDIATED 

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. I UNDERSTAND I HAVE THE RIGHT TO 

CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL BEFORE SIGNING THIS 

DOCUMENT.”

Appendix 1 at pg. 3.

The MSA contains all of the necessary terms as it relates to parent-child issues 

save and except management of the children’s college fund. Appendix 1 at pg. 2-3 

and Exhibit A attached to the MSA.
14

II. The Standard Of Review

The issue in this case involves the statutory interpretation of Texas Family Code 

section 153.0071 governing mediated settlement agreements. The Texas Supreme 

Court has held that questions of statutory construction are reviewed de novo. 

Molinet v. Kimbrell, 356 S.W.3d 407, 411 (Tex. 2011). The fundamental objective 

in interpreting a statute is “to determine and give effect to the Legislature’s intent.” 

Am. Zurich Ins. Co. v. Samudio, 370 S.W.3d 363, 368 (Tex. 2012). The Statutory 

Construction Act mandates that courts give effect to the clear meaning of the words 

in a statute. Tex. Gov’t Code sec. 311.026. The primary objective of statutory 

interpretation when a statute is unambiguous is to determine legislative intent by 

examining the statute’s plain language. City of DeSoto v. White, 288 S.W.3d 389, 

394 (Tex. 2009). A statute is presumed to have been enacted by the legislature with 

complete knowledge of the existing law and with reference to it. Acker v. Texas 

Water Comm’n, 790 S.W.2d 299, 301 (Tex. 1990). If the statutory text is 

unambiguous, a court must adopt the interpretation supported by the statute’s plain 

language unless that interpretation would lead to absurd results. Texas Dep’t of 

Protective & Regulatory Services v. Mega Child Care, Inc., 145 S.W.3d 170, 177 

(Tex. 2004).
15

III. Texas Family Code Section 153.0071(e) Entitles Relator To A 

Judgment On the Mediated Settlement Agreement

Section 153.0071(e) entitles Relator, Ms. Harrison, to judgment on the 

mediated settlement agreement. In its wisdom, the Texas Legislature provided a 

solution for resolution of family law matters and empowered individuals to make 

decisions that are in the best interest of them and their children. In enacting section 

153.0071 of the Texas Family Code, the Legislature not only empowered 

individuals to make decisions for themselves and their children, but also provided 

a way whereby they could come to agreements without protracted litigation and its 

concomitant expense. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. sec. 153.0071. Other Texas 

statutes also reflect the general public policy of the state “to encourage the 

peaceable resolution of disputes, with special consideration given to disputes 

involving the parent-child relationship, including the mediation of issues involving 

conservatorship, possession, and support of children, and the early settlement of 

pending litigation through voluntary settlement procedures.” Tex. Civ. Prac. & 

Rem. Code sec. 154.002. In accordance with that policy, the Legislature enacted 

Texas Family Code section 153.0071 to address the resolution of suits affecting 

the parent-child relationship.
16

A. Texas Family Code Section 153.0071

Entitled “Alternate Dispute Resolution Procedures,” section 153.0071 of the 

Texas Family Code provides in pertinent part:

(a) On written agreement of the parties, the court may refer a suit affecting the 

parent-child relationship to arbitration. The agreement must state whether the 

arbitration is binding or non-binding.

(b) If the parties agree to binding arbitration, the court shall render an order 

reflecting the arbitrator's award unless the court determines at a non-jury hearing 

that the award is not in the best interest of the child. The burden of proof at a 

hearing under this subsection is on the party seeking to avoid rendition of an order 

based on the arbitrator's award.

(c) On the written agreement of the parties or on the court's own motion, the court 

may refer a suit affecting the parent-child relationship to mediation.

(d) A mediated settlement agreement is binding on the parties if the agreement:

(1) provides, in a prominently displayed statement that is in boldfaced type or 

capital letters or underlined, that the agreement is not subject to revocation;

(2) is signed by each party to the agreement; and

(3) is signed by the party's attorney, if any, who is present at the time the 

agreement is signed.

(e) If a mediated settlement agreement meets the requirements of Subsection (d), a 

party is entitled to judgment on the mediated settlement agreement 

notwithstanding Rule 11, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, or another rule of law.

(e–1) Notwithstanding Subsections (d) and (e), a court may decline to enter a 

judgment on a mediated settlement agreement if the court finds that:

(1) a party to the agreement was a victim of family violence, and that circumstance 

impaired the party's ability to make decisions; and

(2) the agreement is not in the child's best interest.
17

Tex. Fam. Code Ann. sec. 153.0071(a)-(e-1) (emphasis added).

Subsection (d) provides that an MSA is binding on the parties if it is signed 

by each party and by the parties’ attorneys who are present at the mediation and 

states prominently and in emphasized type that it is not subject to revocation. Id.

sec. 153.0071(d). Subsection (e) goes even further, providing that a party to an MSA 

is “entitled to judgment” on the MSA if it meets subsection (d)’s requirements. Id.

sec. 153.0071(e). Subsection (e-1) provides a narrow exception to subsection (e)’s 

mandate, allowing a court to decline to enter judgment on even a statutorily 

compliant MSA if three conditions are met: (1) a party to the agreement was a victim 

of family violence; (2) the violence impaired the party’s ability to make decisions; 

and (3) the agreement is not in the best interest of the child.

B. The Texas Supreme Court Settled The Issue In In re Stephanie Lee –

Mediated Settlement Agreements Are To Be Enforced

In In re Stephanie Lee, the Texas Supreme Court had before it on petition for 

writ of mandamus, the issue of “whether a trial court abuses it discretion in refusing 

to enter judgment on a statutorily compliant mediated settlement agreement (MSA).” 

See In re Stephanie Lee, 411 S.W.3d 445 (Tex. 2013). The trial court had refused 

to enter the MSA on best interest grounds. The Relator in the case argued that she 

was “entitled to judgment on the [MSA] because it met the statutory requirements 

under section 153.0071 of the Family Code. The Judge had denied enforcement on 

the MSA on the basis that a registered sex offender was living in her home. 
18

The Texas Supreme Court noted that the issue before the Court was one of 

first impression. There was a split among the intermediate appellate courts. Id. at 

450, fn.6. The Court also cited Alvarez v. Reiser from the Eastland Court of Appeals 

for the proposition that “even if one party withdraws its consent to the MSA, the trial 

court is required to enter judgment on the agreement.” Id. (citing Alvarez v. Reiser, 

958 S.W.2d 232, 233 (Tex. App.—Eastland 1997, pet. denied)).

The Court conditionally issued the writ of mandamus stating:

We hold that this language means what it says: a trial court may not 

deny a motion to enter judgment on a properly executed MSA on such 

grounds.

Id. at 457.

In its opinion, the Court found that:

Encouragement of mediation as an alternative form of dispute 

resolution is critically important to the emotional and psychological 

well-being of children involved in high-conflict custody disputes. 

Indeed, the Texas Legislature has recognized that it is “the policy of 

this state to encourage the peaceable resolution of disputes, with special 

consideration given to disputes involving the parent-child relationship, 

including the mediation of issues involving conservatorship, 

possession, and support of children, and the early settlement of pending 

litigation through voluntary settlement procedures.” 

Id. at 449 (citing TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE sec. 154.002) 

(emphasis the Court’s own).

The Court noted in detail, the high financial and emotional cost, and the 

harmful effect on children, of high-conflict litigation. The Court stated “The 

Legislature has thus recognized that, because children suffer needlessly from 
19

traditional litigation, the amicable resolution of child-related disputes should 

be promoted forcefully.” Id. at 449-50.

The Texas Supreme Court in In re Stephanie Lee held that:

Section 153.0071(e) unambiguously states that a party is ‘entitled to 

judgment’ on an MSA that meets the statutory requirements 

‘notwithstanding Rule 11, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, or another 

rule of law.’ By its plain language, section 153.0071 authorizes a court 

to refuse to enter judgment on a statutorily compliant MSA on best 

interest grounds only when the court also finds the family violence 

elements are met. Stated another way, ‘[t]he statute does not authorize 

the trial court to substitute its judgment for the mediated settlement 

agreement entered by the parties unless the requirements of subsection 

153.0071(e-1) are met.’ Subsection (e-1), enacted after subsection (e), 

makes it absolutely clear that the Legislature limited the consideration 

of best interest in the context of entry of judgment on an MSA to cases 

involving family violence. 

Id. at 453 (citations omitted).

The Court noted the distinction between section 153.0071(b) and section 

153.0071(e) saying:

Section 153.0071(b), governing arbitration of child-related disputes, is 

also instructive. In stark contrast with subsection (e), subsection (b) 

explicitly gives trial courts authority to decline an arbitrator’s award 

when it is not in the best interest of the child. (citations omitted). This 

distinction between arbitration and mediation makes sense because the 

two processes are very different. Mediation encourages parents to work 

together to settle their child-related disputes, and shields the child from 

many of the adverse effects of traditional litigation. On the other hand, 

arbitration simply moves the fight from the courtroom to the arbitration 

room. If the Legislature had intended to authorize courts to inquire into 

the child’s best interest when determining whether to render judgment 

on validly executed MSAs, as it did in section 153.0071(b) with respect 

to judgments on arbitration awards, it certainly knew how to do so. 
20

Id. at 453-54.

The Texas Supreme Court in In re Stephanie Lee held that “section 153.0071(e) 

reflects the Legislature’s determination that it is appropriate for parents to determine 

what is best for their children within the context of the parents’ collaborative effort 

to reach and properly execute an MSA.” The Court opined that “[t]his makes sense 

not only because parents are in a position to know what is best for their children, but 

also because successful mediation of child-custody disputes, conducted within 

statutory parameters, furthers a child’s best interest by putting a halt to potentially 

lengthy and destructive custody litigation.” The failure of the trial court in this case 

to enforce the MSA has caused or enabled, the very things that the Texas Legislature 

was trying to address when it enacted section 153.00071(e). Id. at 454.

The Texas Supreme Court opined that “we hold that section 153.0071(e) 

encourages parents to peaceably resolve their child-related disputes through 

mediation by foreclosing a broad best interest inquiry with respect to entry of 

judgment on properly executed MSAs, ensuring that the time and money spent on 

mediation will not have been wasted and that the benefits of successful mediation 

will be realized. Allowing courts to conduct such an inquiry in contravention of the 

unambiguous statutory mandate in section 153.0071 has severe consequences that 

will inevitably harm children. The decisions below ignore clearly expressed 

legislative intent, undermining the Legislature’s goal of protecting children by 
21

eroding parents’ incentive to work collaboratively for their children’s welfare. This 

frustrates the policies underlying alternative dispute resolution in the custody 

context, which are firmly grounded in the protection of children.” Id. at 455.

The Court concluded that a trial court may not deny a motion to enter 

judgment on a properly executed MSA under section 153.0071 based on a broad best 

interest inquiry. The Court held that in cases of abuse or neglect, section 261.101 of 

the Family Code provides a mandatory duty to report. Moreover, it noted that there 

were numerous other statutes authorizing protective action by the trial court, and 

said that the safeguards inherent in the mediation process fulfill the need to ensure 

that children are protected. Id. at 458.

The State Bar of Texas Family Law Council had submitted an amicus curiae 

brief in support of Relator’s petition for writ of mandamus. The Court noted that the 

Council argued that:

that a strict interpretation of section 153.0071 fulfills the state policy 

favoring amicable resolution of disputes and suggests that holding as 

the courts below did could lead to a loss in confidence in mediation and 

an increase in litigation over the best interest of the child. The Council 

argues that rules of statutory construction make clear that the 

Legislature intended to remove the best interest determination in the 

context of an MSA, instead deferring to parents to determine the best 

interest of the child, except where family violence is involved. The 

Council urges that to hold otherwise would ‘gut the legislative intent 

favoring alternative dispute resolution of family law matters by 

mediation,’ increasing both the cost of the proceedings and the stress 

on families forced to resolve ‘their disputes in the adversarial venue of 

the courts, rather than the cooperative environment of mediation. The 
22

Council contends that ‘[t]his result is certainly not in a child’s best 

interest.’

Id. at 453 (citations in amicus brief omitted).

As is clear by the mandate set by the Texas Supreme Court in In re Stephanie 

Lee, a trial court abuses its discretion in denying a motion to enter judgment on an 

MSA and in setting a case for trial based on the court’s conclusion that the MSA 

is not in the child’s best interest. 

C. Texas Family Code 153.001(a) Expresses Public Policy of Texas 

That Parents Should Be Able To Make Decisions About Their 

Children 

Moreover, section 153.001(a) of the Texas Family Code provides that:

In suits affecting the parent-child relationship, it is the public policy of the State 

of Texas to:

(1) assure that children will have frequent and continuing contact with parents who 

have shown the ability to act in the best interest of the child;

(2) provide a safe, stable, and nonviolent environment for the child; and

(3) encourage parents to share in the rights and duties of raising their child after the 

parents have separated or dissolved their marriage.

Tex. Fam. Code sec. (a).

IV. Conclusion – Ms. Harrison Is Entitled To Entry Of The MSA Order 

And A Stay Of The March 27, 2015 9 a.m. Entry Of The Trial Court’s 

Rendition That Does Not Adopt The MSA

Ms. Harrison is entitled to entry of the MSA order as to parent-child issues. As 

evidenced by the record, and the exhibits filed in the Appendix to this writ of 

mandamus, the parties intended that the MSA would be enforced. They signed on 
23

January 29, 2014, and the trial court incorporated it into an Interim Agreed Order on 

April 10, 2014. Appendix 1, 3, 4. Moreover, the Petitioner and Respondent/Relator, 

and the Amicus Attorney, all urged that the MSA would be entered. Appendix 5, 6, 

8, 9, 12, 16. Relator urged the MSA again at trial but the trial court judge refused to 

entertain her presentation of the issue. Appendix 14, 15.

The trial court abused its discretion in its rendition by not adopting the provisions 

of the mediated settlement agreement as to parent-child issues, including not 

allowing Relator, Ms. Harrison to put on evidence of the mediated settlement 

agreement during trial of this matter in January of this year. See Appendix 14, pg. 4-

5 & 15, pg. 4 (January 16th & 20th trial excerpts). Moreover, the trial court denied 

hearing the matter saying Relator had not given 3 days notice. The trial in chief 

began on January 20, 2015. Relator asked the trial court judge on January 16th, 2015 

when pre-trial matters and other items were discussed, to entertain her motion but 

the court would not saying Relator did not give the requisite notice. The motion was 

dispositive on the parent-child issues, and Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21 

specifically excepts trial matters from the notice requirement. See Perkins v. City of 

San Antonio, 293 S.W.3d 650, 654-55 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2009, no pet.); Tex. 

R. Civ. P. 21. The trial court abused its discretion in not entertaining the motion, 

and in not incorporating the MSA into its rendition.
24

The trial court signed an “Interim Agreed Order On Parent-Child Issues” and the 

MSA was adopted during the April 10, 2104 hearing. See Appendix 3 (Agreed 

Order) & 4 (transcript of hearing).

Ms. Harrison is entitled to entry of the MSA order, as well as a stay of the March 

27, 2015, 9 a.m. entry of the trial court’s rendition that does not adopt the MSA. 

Relator, Ms. Harrison has filed a Motion to Stay concurrently with the filing of this 

writ of mandamus in the appellate court. 

Counsel is also filing, and urging before the trial court at 9 a.m., that it agree to 

stay the proceedings in the trial court until the appellate court has an opportunity to 

rule on the writ of mandamus. As in an order that is being appealed, the trial court 

has the authority to suspend an order that is being urged at the appellate court. See 

In re Gonzalez, 981 S.W.2d 313, 314 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1998, pet. denied).

CONCLUSION AND PRAYER

Ms. Harrison is entitled to entry of the MSA order, as well as a stay of the 

March 27, 2015, 9 a.m. entry of the trial court’s rendition that does not adopt the 

MSA. Ms. Harrison prays for any other and further relief, general or special, in law 

or in equity, to which she may show herself to be justly entitled.

 
25

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Lana Shadwick

Lana Shadwick 

State Bar No. 00784951

2210 Norfolk, Suite 920

Houston, Texas 77098

Telephone: (713) 392-8222

Lana@LanaShadwick.com

 CERTIFICATE OF CONFERENCE

Respondent has notified all counsel. Petitioner has not responded to an 

inquiry about the undersigned counsel’s filing a writ of mandamus or a motion to 

stay but has responded to another email correspondence. The amicus attorney is 

opposed.

/s/ Lana Shadwick

CERTIFICATION

I certify that I have reviewed the Petition and Writ and concluded that every 

factual statement in the petition is supported by competent evidence included in the 

Appendix or the Record.

/s/ Lana Shadwick

 
26

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

In accordance with Tex. R. App. Pro. 9.5(a), the undersigned hereby certifies 

that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been sent to Patricia A. Wicoff, lead 

counsel of record for Mr. Harrison, c/o Schlanger, Silver, 109 North Post Oak Lane, 

Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77024 and to Heather Hughes, counsel for J.E.H. and 

V.M.H., 952 Echo Lane, Suite 475, Houston, Texas 77024 through electronic email, 

and to Alicia K. Franklin, Judge of the 311th District Court, 201 Caroline, 8th Floor, 

Houston, Texas 77002 by hand-delivery, and postage prepaid certified mail, return 

receipt requested, on this, the 27th day of March, 2015.

/s/ Lana Shadwick 

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

Pursuant to Tex. R. App. Pro. 9.4(i)(3), the undersigned hereby certifies that 

according to the word count function of the computer program used to generate the 

document, the portions of the foregoing document subject to the rule contain contain 

less than 4200 words total and that the text thereof is in 14 point Times New Roman 

font.

/s/ Lana Shadwick 
27

________________________________________________________________

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIRST OR FOURTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

_________________________________________________________________

IN RE: CONNIE V. HARRISON

__________________________________________________________________

RELATOR’S APPENDIX

__________________________________________________________________

 APPENDIX 1 - Jan. 29, 2014: Mediated Settlement Agreement Signed

 APPENDIX 2 - February 13, 2015 – Trial Court’s Rendition Giving 

Mr. Harrison SMC 

 APPENDIX 3 - April 10, 2014 – MSA incorporated into Agreed Order 

on Parent-Child Issues and it was signed by the Court 

 APPENDIX 4 – April 10, 2014 Transcript of Hearing

 APPENDIX 5 - March 7, 2014 – Emergency Motion For Enforcement 

of MSA Filed By Mr. Harrison 

 APPENDIX 6 - March 12, 2014 – Emergency Motion To Enter Order 

Filed By Amicus Attorney 

 [NO APPENDIX 7]

 APPENDIX 8 - April 4, 2014 – Mr. Harrison filed Motion to Enter 

MSA

 APPENDIX 9 - May 30, 2014 – Transcript of Hearing on Motion to 

Enforce MSA 

 APPENDIX 10 - September 3, 2014 – Hearing Transcript
28

 APPENDIX 11 – September 3, 2014 Order 

 APPENDIX 12 -- September 8th – Respondent Requested a De Novo 

Hearing and Appeal of the Associate Judge’s Ruling 

 [NO APPENDIX 13]

 APPENDIX 14 - January 16, 2015 Trial Transcript 

 APPENDIX 15 - January 20, 2015 – Trial Transcript
! "#$! %#&' ' ' ( ) )

* +, -. / 012 3 2425567.

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 1

April 10, 2014

REPORTER'S RECORD

VOLUME 1 OF 1 VOLUME

TRIAL COURT CAUSE NO. 2006-68864

IN THE INTEREST OF ) IN THE DISTRICT COURT

 )

J.E.L.H., II, )

AND ) HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS

V.M.H., )

 )

MINOR CHILDREN ) 311TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

_____________________________________________

REQUESTED EXCERPTS OF REPORTER'S RECORD

_____________________________________________

On the 10th day of April, 2014, the following

proceedings came on to be held in the above-titled

and numbered cause before the Honorable Tom

Stansbury, Judge Presiding, held in Houston, Harris

County, Texas.

Proceedings reported by computerized stenotype

machine.

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April 10, 2014

APPEARANCES

PATRICIA A. WICOFF

SBOT NO. 21422500

AMY HARRIS

SBOT NO. 24041057

Attorneys-at-Law

SCHLANGER, SILVER, BARG & PAINE, L.L.P.

109 North Post Oak Lane, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77024

Telephone: (713) 785-1700

Counsel for Clifford Harrison

DAVID M. MEDINA

SBOT NO. 00000088

Attorney-at-Law

5300 Memorial, Suite 890

Houston, Texas 77007

Telephone: (713) 653-3147

Counsel for Connie Vasquez Harrison

HEATHER HUGHES

SBOT NO. 00796794

Attorney-at-Law

952 Echo Lane, Suite 475

Houston, Texas 77024

Telephone: (713) 463-5505

Amicus Attorney for the Minor Children

HEATHER C. DANIELS

SBOT NO. 24065115

Attorney-at-Law

LILLY, NEWMAN & VAN NESS, L.L.P.

3355 W. Alabama, Suite 444

Houston, Texas 77098

Telephone: (713) 966-4444

Appearing for Bobby Newman, Attorney-at-Law

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April 10, 2014

INDEX

VOLUME 1

REQUESTED EXCERPTS OF REPORTER'S RECORD

April 10, 2014

 PAGE VOL.

First Excerpt of Reporter's Record ..........4 1

Start of Second Excerpt .....................6 1

Ruling on Motion to Set Aside Rendition .....6 1

Ruling on Mediated Settlement Agreement ....19 1

Start of Third Excerpt .....................26 1

Reporter's Certificate .....................33 1

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April 10, 2014

(REQUESTED EXCERPTS OF REPORTER'S RECORD)

THE COURT: Okay. Counsel, if you

will, tell me who represents Petitioner.

MS. WICOFF: Your Honor, Patricia A.

Wicoff and Amy Harris represent Mr. Clifford Layne

Harrison, and we are the Petitioner in the underlying

divorce. We're also the party that has the motions

before the Court today.

THE COURT: Okay. The Respondent?

MR. MEDINA: I'm David Medina on

behalf of Connie Harrison. Texas Bar Number 88.

MS. HUGHES: Your Honor, I'm Heather

Hughes, the amicus attorney for the children.

THE COURT: Thank you.

MS. DANIELS: And my name is Heather

Daniels, and I'm here for Bobby Newman on the limited

issue of his interest in the Judge's current order.

THE COURT: In what?

MS. DANIELS: He has a -- they're

trying to set aside the Judge's rendition, and he

has -- he was awarded attorney's fees in that. So he

has an interest in that order.

MS. WICOFF: Well, Your Honor, he's

not the attorney of record. I don't know why anyone

that's not the attorney of record would be addressing

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April 10, 2014

the Court with regard to any of these issues. If he

has an interest in the order, then perhaps he should

file an intervention like everyone else would; but I

would object to anyone addressing the Court that is

not an attorney of record for one of the parties in

this matter, whether they have an interest or not.

It's inappropriate.

THE COURT: What motions do you have,

Counsel? Ms. Wicoff?

MS. WICOFF: Your Honor, I have a

Motion to Set Aside an Alleged Rendition. I have --

that was file marked March 31st by the clerk in this

matter. I have a Motion to Enter a Mediated

Settlement Agreement. I have a Motion for

Preferential Trial Setting. I also have set for

today a Motion for Severance; but I'm not moving

forward on that severance today, Judge.

THE COURT: Are there any other

motions set for today by anyone else or any other --

MS. WICOFF: No, sir, there are not.

THE COURT: Okay. We've got a Motion

to Set Aside Rendition, a Motion to Enter an MSA and

a Motion for Preferential Trial Setting; and I guess

they need to go in that order probably. Correct?

MS. WICOFF: I think that's probably

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April 10, 2014

correct, Judge.

THE COURT: All right. Please

proceed, ma'am.

MS. WICOFF: Your Honor, I'm going to

provide you a timeline which will be a summary of my

argument; and I'm providing a copy to Mr. Medina.

I've provided a copy to Ms. Hughes.

The rendition in question, Judge, is

a result of a hearing on February the 12th and

February the 14th. It was conducted before Judge

Pratt.

(CONCLUSION OF FIRST REQUESTED EXCERPT)

*****

(START OF SECOND REQUESTED EXCERPT)

THE COURT: Let's stand in recess for

five minutes. Y'all stay close.

(Recess taken)

THE COURT: The Motion to Set Aside

the Rendition of March 31st, 2014 is granted. Well,

I had March 31st on my notes here.

MS. WICOFF: That's the file date,

Judge.

THE COURT: It was filed that date,

and the stamp date on the signature line for Judge

Pratt is March 26th. That is the rendition that is

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April 10, 2014

set aside.

MS. WICOFF: Thank you, Judge.

MR. MEDINA: Thank you, Judge.

MS. WICOFF: May I pursue, then, at

this point, Judge, our next motion, which would be a

Motion to Enter the Mediated Settlement Agreement?

And, Judge, by way of just

chronological, this case was mediated in January.

MS. HARRIS: 29th.

MS. WICOFF: Actually, I'll have

Ms. Harris do it because she was at the mediation.

So I'll have her address the entry and the Lee case.

MS. HARRIS: Judge, actually, Judge

Pratt had ordered the parties to mediation back in

September. I was actually the only lawyer that

objected at that time because we had previously

mediated this case two or three or possibly even four

times. The Judge ordered us to mediate anyway, and

so we did. We scheduled mediation.

We mediated this case, I believe, on

January 29th, earlier this year.

At that mediation Ms. Harrison was

there with her counsel at the time, Mr. Newman.

Mr. Harrison and I were there. The amicus attorney

was there. And, Judge, we signed off on a Mediated

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April 10, 2014

Settlement Agreement that day. We have prepared an

order that complies with the provisions of the

Mediated Settlement Agreement; and, Judge, we just

want to get that entered. It only pertains to the

children's issues, with the exception of one thing.

There's only one issue that's not resolved by that

Mediated Settlement Agreement, and that is the right

or the duty to manage the children's college

accounts, which we reserved to try at a later time.

Other than that, every provision that deals with the

children is -- is within that Mediated Settlement

Agreement, and we have an order in that regard.

THE COURT: Mr. Medina.

MR. MEDINA: Judge, the -- the MSA

should be set aside because case law provides --

MS. HUGHES: Your Honor, I'm going to

object. I don't know that that's before the Court

today.

MS. WICOFF: There's no motion --

MR. MEDINA: Excuse me.

MS. WICOFF: -- to set aside before

the Court today, Judge.

MR. MEDINA: Judge, I had the

privilege of sitting on the Texas Supreme Court for

eight years; and during that period of time, counsel

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April 10, 2014

is given 20 minutes on one side, 20 minutes on the

other side without interruption. I would expect the

same courtesy here at this bar. I'm responding to --

THE COURT: I'll endeavor in that

direction, Mr. Medina.

MR. MEDINA: Thank you.

THE COURT: At this point, I'm taking

what you're saying as a background as to why the

motion to enter should be denied.

MR. MEDINA: Thank you. Thank you,

Judge.

It should be denied because my client

was subjected to domestic violence, and that's --

that alone is enough to set aside these agreements;

and quite frankly, Judge, that should have been

conveyed to her before all of everybody's time and

resources were wasted.

THE COURT: Conveyed to your client?

MR. MEDINA: Yes, sir. She should

have known that going into that; but, you know --

Excuse me, please.

But that aside, the case law allows

these to be set aside. Now this agreement, as I

understand it, in speaking with her counsel, lead

counsel, it's substantially agreed to. There's some

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April 10, 2014

part that she doesn't agree to; but, you know, either

we set it aside or we go back to arbitration and try

to get -- get the details worked out. That's my

response to that.

In regarding the ad litem, Judge, I

didn't want to raise this here; but there is a motion

to remove the ad litem, and that -- that motion needs

to be heard at some point in the future. And my --

THE COURT: When was that motion

filed? Do you recall?

MS. VASQUEZ HARRISON: April.

MR. MEDINA: April of last year,

Judge.

THE COURT: Okay.

MR. MEDINA: For whatever reason,

that motion is still pending; but that needs to be

reurged, and I think the lead counsel in this case

will reurge that at some time.

Judge, in the Texas Rules of Civil

Procedure 153.0071(e-1) supports -- supports that.

THE COURT: I apologize. Give me

about two minutes. I'll be right back.

MR. MEDINA: Thank you, Judge.

(Recess taken)

THE COURT: I apologize.

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April 10, 2014

Mr. Medina, did you answer me on when

that was filed? Yeah, we did. We got that one.

Where were we after the motion to remove the ad

litem -- or the amicus?

MS. HUGHES: 2013, I believe.

THE COURT: Okay.

MS. HARRIS: Judge, I can respond.

First of all, the motion to remove

the amicus, Judge, was filed by Ms. Harrison's now

lead counsel who was her appellate counsel; but the

two family law lawyers that represented Ms. Harrison

after that point have both declined to go forward on

that motion. That's why it's not been urged before

the Court.

Secondly, Judge, I think Mr. Medina

was arguing that the Court should consider setting

aside the Mediated Settlement Agreement because they

allege that she was the victim of family violence.

Judge, 153.0071(e-1) and (e-2) specifically say that

a party to the agreement was a victim of family

violence, and that circumstance impaired the party's

ability to make decisions; and the agreement is not

in the best interest.

Further, Judge, I would argue that at

this point in time, they can't ask the Court to set

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April 10, 2014

aside the Mediated Settlement Agreement. There was

no objection to mediation. I was the only lawyer

here. I think there was one, two, three, four, five

lawyers here that day. I was the only lawyer that

objected to mediation. Ms. Harrison nor any of her

counsel objected to mediation. We went to mediation,

an order was signed. I think they have now waived

the right to ask the Court to now set it aside. And

that, Judge, would be further 153.0071 beginning with

(f).

MR. MEDINA: There could be no waiver

on domestic violence.

THE COURT: What is the effect? Is

granting relief contained or pursuant to the Mediated

Settlement Agreement automatic if the Mediated

Settlement Agreement is entered today?

MS. WICOFF: Oh, it's already been

filed with the Court, Judge.

THE COURT: Well, what does Motion to

Enter the MSA mean?

MS. WICOFF: We need an order, and

maybe Ms. Hughes can address why we need an order.

THE COURT: An order adopting the

contents --

MS. WICOFF: That's correct.

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THE COURT: -- of the MSA?

MS. WICOFF: That's correct.

THE COURT: Ms. Hughes.

MS. HUGHES: That is correct, Your

Honor. They had filed a motion to enter -- they

meaning Mr. Harrison's -- some time ago and then

there were issues developing at the children's school

with who was to pick up on what days and it was

becoming an issue with the school. So I filed an

emergency motion to enter as the amicus to try and

narrow that down; and so that's what we appeared on,

on March 26th. And the Court gave us a very limited

order on possession and access to get us through the

school year, so-to-speak. It doesn't address

holidays or summer because my immediate concern was

so that we could tell the school this is what you

follow.

THE COURT: And that was pursuant to

a hearing in open court on March 26th?

MS. HUGHES: Yes.

THE COURT: Why didn't she -- why did

she limit the contents of the MSA that she adopted?

Why did she adopt only part of it?

MS. HUGHES: My understanding was

because there had been a motion filed contesting the

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April 10, 2014

MSA by Ms. Harrison, and she said we'll get into all

of that later.

THE COURT: Is that motion still

pending?

MS. HUGHES: My understanding is it's

pending. I don't know that it's been set.

MS. WICOFF: It's never been set,

Judge.

MS. HARRIS: It's not been set,

Judge.

And, Judge, I just -- I also want to

let the Court know that this alleged family violence

argument that they attempt to make today is from an

alleged incident that happened well over eight years

ago. These people have not lived under the same roof

in eight years. They've been divorced for well over

four years.

Further, Judge, I would just provide

to the Court a copy of the Supreme Court case In Re:

Lee which says that, Judge, when there is a Mediated

Settlement Agreement that a Trial Court may not deny

a Motion to Enter the Judgment on a properly executed

Mediated Settlement Agreement.

MR. MEDINA: Judge, that's a very

good case. The concurrence is on point. The

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April 10, 2014

concurrence was written by my law school friend and

former colleague Justice Guzman. It addresses

essentially all issues that weren't addressed in

majority opinion, and I think that's a good start to

look for guidance for this type of assistance.

And, Judge, that's not an allegation

on this violence. That man was arrested.

And I -- this is not evidence, Judge;

but I want to hand to you a part of the text messages

that -- that just is consistent with the type of

language and behavior that goes on from

Mr. Harrison --

MS. HARRIS: Judge, and I would --

MR. MEDINA: -- to Ms. Harrison.

MS. HARRIS: -- object to anything.

We've not been provided that. It's not been

introduced. I'm not even sure what it is.

THE COURT: What's the date of this?

Is it all on the same date?

MR. MEDINA: Judge, it is on the same

date. It's 5:40 a.m. This was part of an exhibit on

February the 14th.

THE COURT: 2014?

MR. MEDINA: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: After the mediation?

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MR. MEDINA: It's marked CH --

MS. HARRIS: It's after the

mediation, Judge.

MR. MEDINA: It's marked CH135.

I just add that, Your Honor, for this

domestic violence issue -- and we're not talking

about, you know, Saint Paul here.

MS. HARRIS: Judge, they're talking

about an incident that happened before January of

2006. That's how long ago they're talking about.

How in the world can they come in today and say we're

a victim of domestic violence and because of an

alleged incident that happened more than eight years

ago that's prevented me from entering into a properly

executed Mediated Settlement Agreement even though I

was there with counsel being advised?

THE COURT: Mr. Medina, it sounds to

me that the -- that the Movant's arguments and

requests are directly in line with Justice Guzman.

MR. MEDINA: They're not, Judge.

THE COURT: Tell me why they are not.

MR. MEDINA: They are not. Justice

Guzman's concurrence -- the majority of that opinion

was written by Justice Lehrmann. Justin Guzman's

concurrence analyzes the -- the majority's opinion

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and finds instances where a -- a motion like this can

be set aside based on domestic violence and some

other issues, and I believe the concurrence supports

our position.

THE COURT: Okay.

MS. HARRIS: Judge, a part of the

opinion that I think Mr. Medina is talking about, let

me just read to you exactly what it says. It says:

Finally Subsection (e-1), added in 2005, provides a

narrow -- a narrow exception to Subsection (e)'s

mandate, allowing a Court to decline to enter

judgment on even a statutorily compliant Mediated

Settlement Agreement if a party to the agreement was

a victim of family violence, comma, the violence

impaired the party's ability to make decisions; and,

Judge, that the agreement is not in the best interest

of the child.

How can they say that an alleged

incident that may or may not have happened more than

eight years ago impaired her current ability to make

a decision to sign a Mediated Settlement Agreement?

MR. MEDINA: Judge, what that does is

give the Trial Court broad discretion, broad

discretion, if you find it not in the best interest

of the children. Now while that incident may --

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April 10, 2014

leading to his arrest may have happened years ago,

this man continues to threaten her through text

messages. He's threatened her the day before the

mediation. He continues to threaten her, and that's

what all this is about, and it's a shame that we are

still here arguing about this seven years later.

MS. HARRIS: Judge, that -- none of

that has ever been introduced into evidence at any

point in time. I've never heard that until just

right this very second.

And Mr. Medina, unfortunately, is

wrong. It's not -- it's not broad discretion, Judge.

The opinion specifically says it provides a narrow

exception, not broad discretion.

THE COURT: Anything further on this

motion?

MR. MEDINA: No. Thank you, Judge.

MS. HARRIS: Judge, I would just

argue that we really need to get an order entered.

There have been numerous problems with the drop off

and pick up of the children, with denial of periods

of possession and access.

And, Judge, the children have now

been asked to leave their private school that they

have been enrolled in since they began their school

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careers. And, Judge, it's imperative that we get an

order in place protecting the children.

MR. MEDINA: And the children -- that

is all true, but that incident was caused by the

husband. The police were called to remove him from

the campus because he was being hostile.

MS. HARRIS: Judge, that is not true.

That is absolutely not true.

THE COURT: The Court adopts the

contents of the Mediated Settlement Agreement as the

order of this Court.

MS. WICOFF: Your Honor, we have the

order to submit, and I also have an order on vacate

that I would tender to the Court. It is signed by

myself.

And here is a copy of it, Mr. Medina.

THE COURT: Ms. Harris, Ms. Wicoff,

did y'all give me this?

MS. HUGHES: I did, Your Honor.

THE COURT: Can I make a copy of it?

MS. HUGHES: You can have it.

MS. HARRIS: We have an extra copy.

MS. HUGHES: Judge, and in this order

you will see some handwritten interlineations that I

did that conform with the order that Judge Pratt

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April 10, 2014

entered on March 26th that address the same issues.

THE COURT: Have all counsel seen

that?

MS. HUGHES: I know they've not seen

my interlineations.

THE COURT: Can y'all -- can y'all

recess to counsel table --

MS. HARRIS: Yes, Judge.

THE COURT: -- and if you've got a

problem with it, Mr. Medina, I want you to address

that on the record; but otherwise let me type in my

docket sheet.

MS. HARRIS: Yes, Judge.

(Recess taken)

THE COURT: We're on the record.

Mr. Medina?

MR. MEDINA: I need some guidance

here, Judge. I understand your decision. My client

is telling me that she understands that this was not

scheduled for today, this hearing to set aside. And

I also understand that she was going to bring a

witness to help her support the allegation on the

psychological part.

Is that correct?

MS. VASQUEZ HARRISON: Yes.

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April 10, 2014

MR. MEDINA: And while I think I know

a little bit about family law, I am not a family law

expert. I practice civil trial law and appellate

law. That's where my experience is, and I certainly

don't want to be in a position where she's not

getting the best counsel she needs for this hearing.

And if you would indulge me, Your Honor, for a brief

continuance, I don't --

THE COURT: Let me see if that was

set for today, number one.

MR. MEDINA: Okay.

THE COURT: Stephanie, can you verify

for me?

MS. HARRIS: What exactly are we

talking about was not set?

THE COURT: The motion to adopt the

MSA.

MS. HARRIS: Okay.

THE COURT: Is that what you're

saying, Mr. Medina?

MR. MEDINA: Yes. Yes, Your Honor.

THE CLERK: Today it was Clifford

Harrison and Connie Harrison was set -- set aside

judgment. It was set for set aside.

MS. HARRIS: That was the very first

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April 10, 2014

thing that we heard.

THE COURT: Right.

MS. HARRIS: But there were many

others.

THE CLERK: To specify, it's a motion

to enforce and then a set aside judgment and other

motions.

MS. HARRIS: Right. Judge, and it

was actually file stamped on April the 4th, Judge,

2014; and it was noticed that same date, Judge, for

April 10th, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. And it was sent via

e-mail, Judge, to Mr. Christopher Martin at Martin,

Disiere, Jefferson & Wisdom; by e-mail to Mr. David

Medina; and by e-mail to the amicus attorney,

Ms. Heather Hughes.

THE COURT: It appears to be correct,

Mr. Medina, from what Ms. Hughes is showing me. I

think it was properly set for today.

MR. MEDINA: Okay. Thank you, Judge.

May I have a moment, Judge?

THE COURT: Sure.

(Brief recess taken)

MR. MEDINA: Judge, may I make an

inquiry --

THE COURT: Yes, sir.

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April 10, 2014

MR. MEDINA: -- to the clerk of the

court if she has any documentation of this hearing,

this part of the hearing being canceled by Judge

Pratt? Do you have any notation?

THE COURT: Do you have any

indication that the hearing --

MS. VASQUEZ HARRISON: On April the

26th.

MS. HUGHES: I believe I know what

Ms. Harrison is referring to, Your Honor, if --

MS. VASQUEZ HARRISON: On March.

MS. HUGHES: -- the Court would like

me to fill in.

THE COURT: Yes, ma'am.

MS. HUGHES: When we were down here

on March 26th, at the conclusion of that hearing in

the afternoon, Judge Pratt had asked the attorneys

and Ms. Harrison to appear down here on today at 8:30

in the morning to get with her coordinator to get a

pref setting on various motions. That kind of went

away when she resigned that Friday.

MS. HARRIS: Why we weren't here at

8:30 this morning.

MS. HUGHES: And then I received

notice of a handful of motions set for today at 1:30.

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April 10, 2014

MS. HARRIS: In fact, Judge, I -- I

would say that I believe we filed originally a motion

back on -- probably on or about March 21st, and so I

want to say that our hearing -- that this hearing has

been set since about that time.

MS. VASQUEZ HARRISON: May I say

something, Judge?

THE COURT: Yes, ma'am.

MS. VASQUEZ HARRISON: Judge, we --

Bobby Newman had withdrawn. He hadn't been paid his

fees and so I had to represent myself on that

afternoon and Judge Pratt canceled. She said -- she

looked at her documentation -- I have 40 cases. I

cannot hear you on April the 10th. On April the 10th

I cannot hear the motion to set aside or the motion

to enter.

THE COURT: So come down here at 8:30

to get a new date?

MS. VASQUEZ HARRISON: So she said

come here at 8:30; and so then my attorney,

Mr. Martin, took it off of his calendar as -- as to

us having the hearing and then my two witnesses that

were going to show up took it off of their calendar

because we were going to get a new date at 8:30 in

the morning, as Ms. Hughes said, where everybody

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April 10, 2014

could attend at a future time.

THE COURT: Ma'am, I'm sure if you

discussed that with Mr. Medina and with Mr. Martin,

they have remedies available; but what I have before

me today, it hadn't been canceled. It hadn't been

reset. I understand what you're saying as a

practical matter, but it hadn't been changed from

1:30 this afternoon. And based on that, I've made

the ruling, and that ruling must stand at this time.

MR. MEDINA: Thank you, Judge.

THE COURT: Okay. Thank y'all.

MS. HARRIS: Judge, the only further

motion that we have is our Motion for a Preferential

Trial Setting.

And, Judge, I -- I understand that --

that we're in kind of a weird situation at this

moment, but if I could just give the Court a flavor

of kind of what we're dealing with.

Judge, this case was originally filed

back in 2006. It was tried to a jury over the course

of about two weeks in front of the Honorable Judge

Doug Warne in March and then in April of 2010. We

did get a rendition, ruling, an order signed in June

of 2010. It went up on appeal. It's been back down

for well over a year, Judge. It's been on remand for

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April 10, 2014

well over a year.

We attempted to get Temporary Orders

in place in this matter immediately following the

remand in January and February of 2013. Judge, we

couldn't get anything heard until we got a Mediated

Settlement Agreement a year later. My point, Judge,

is that we have got to get a trial setting in this

case.

(CONCLUSION OF SECOND REQUESTED EXCERPT)

*****

(START OF THIRD REQUESTED EXCERPT)

THE COURT: Y'all have a seat, if you

will. The coordinator is checking right now. I'm

going to give you a trial setting date before you

leave here.

MS. WICOFF: All right. Thank you.

MR. MEDINA: Thank you.

MS. HARRIS: Thank you, Judge.

MS. WICOFF: I'm sorry?

MR. MEDINA: Here is a copy of the

Fourteenth Court of Appeals opinion. Do you have any

objection?

MS. WICOFF: Oh, in this case?

MR. MEDINA: Yes.

MS. VASQUEZ HARRISON: It's my copy.

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April 10, 2014

Would you like a copy, Judge?

THE COURT: Not necessarily. Whoever

had it can have it back.

MR. MEDINA: Thank you, Judge.

THE COURT: Thank you.

MS. WICOFF: All right. And did both

of those other orders get signed, Judge? I didn't --

where did we end up on the --

MS. VASQUEZ HARRISON: Mr. Medina, do

you have the order?

MS. WICOFF: -- MSA order? We need

that MSA entered, the Temporary Orders.

MS. HARRIS: It's not a Temporary

Order.

MS. VASQUEZ HARRISON: Oh, we were --

MS. WICOFF: Is that done?

MS. VASQUEZ HARRISON: The order has

not been --

THE COURT: We're off the record.

(Discussion off the record)

THE COURT: We're back on the record.

MS. WICOFF: Judge, what the MSA

says, very boilerplate language, if there are

drafting disputes, those drafting disputes go back

to --

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April 10, 2014

THE COURT: Who was your mediator?

MS. WICOFF: -- Mr. Millard. I'm

sorry?

THE COURT: Who was your mediator?

MS. WICOFF: John Millard, appointed

by Judge Pratt.

THE COURT: Okay.

MS. WICOFF: And -- and we submitted

an order to the other side weeks ago. We've never

heard a peep about any drafting dispute, not a peep.

So at this point, Judge, we've got to get an order

entered for the benefit of these children so if

there's any hope of their staying at Second Baptist

we have a firm order signed by the Court moving

forward.

MS. VASQUEZ HARRISON: Your Honor,

the language is very clear. Mr. Newman -- Mr. Newman

withdrew on March 14th.

MS. HARRIS: 24th.

MS. VASQUEZ HARRISON: On March 14th.

MS. WICOFF: 24th.

MS. VASQUEZ HARRISON: Okay. Well, I

have not had a family attorney to help me go

through -- these orders would affect my children and

myself --

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April 10, 2014

THE COURT: Uh-huh.

MS. VASQUEZ HARRISON: -- for, you

know, 10, 20 years.

THE COURT: Or at least until your

trial date coming up.

MS. VASQUEZ HARRISON: Yes, Your

Honor. And so I only ask that if you -- if you did

decide to not set aside the MSA, to give us the

opportunity to go through that with a family law

attorney, as Justice Medina have recommended, so

that -- and if -- and -- and I already see several

drafting that they've put words in there that are not

even in the MSA.

And so -- and so I just -- I plead

with the Court that -- that that -- for me to be

given the opportunity to have an attorney to go

through that, and if we can't discuss it amongst --

if they can't -- if we can't agree to something, to

go back to Mr. Millard.

THE COURT: I understand. I

understand.

Ms. Hughes.

MS. HUGHES: I have a suggestion,

Your Honor, that may accomplish both ends.

What if we enter this as an Interim

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April 10, 2014

Temporary Order? If Ms. Harrison does submit

drafting disputes and we can't work them out, then

we're ordered back to Mr. Millard, but at least there

is a governing order that covers everything moving

forward.

MS. VASQUEZ HARRISON: Judge, I

ask -- I mean this is -- that -- that would not be --

I have sole. Your Honor, I have sole custody.

They're wanting an interim order as to joint custody.

MS. HUGHES: That's what the MSA --

THE COURT: Ms. Harrison, I'm going

to have to interrupt you and make this statement.

Change that order to read "interim,"

as Ms. Hughes suggests. Everybody approve that order

unless there's some specific objections to the form,

and I'll sign those orders as presented to me today.

Y'all have a seat and wait for

your -- for your trial date. Oh, let me ask one

other question before you do.

Ms. Hughes, were you there for the

duration of the mediation?

MS. HUGHES: Absolutely, Your Honor.

THE COURT: Were there issues

mediated other than the issues you were involved in?

MS. HUGHES: No. Initially there

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April 10, 2014

were some property discussion, but then the focus

shifted entirely to the children.

THE COURT: I don't want to invade

anything, but I'd like to know has property been --

property issues been mediated.

MS. HUGHES: It was discussed --

THE COURT: Ms. Wicoff, were you at

the mediation -- no. Ms. Harris, you were there.

MS. HUGHES: -- but not the focus.

MS. HARRIS: No. I was, Judge.

THE COURT: Was property mediated?

MS. HARRIS: Property was discussed.

I wouldn't -- I couldn't say to the Court that we

actually mediated those issues.

THE COURT: Okay.

MS. HARRIS: It was discussed, but

probably not negotiated very well, Judge; but it had

been mediated numerous times prior to then.

THE COURT: All right. You agree, it

was talked about?

MS. VASQUEZ HARRISON: They were

discussed and I understand that children's issues,

SAPCR issues and property, that type of bifurcation,

is not allowed.

(CONCLUSION OF THIRD REQUESTED EXCERPT)

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April 10, 2014

(Conclusion of requested

transcriptions)

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April 10, 2014

STATE OF TEXAS

COUNTY OF HARRIS

I, Marilee M. Anderson, Deputy Official Court

Reporter in and for the 311th District Court of

Harris County, State of Texas, do hereby certify that

the above and foregoing contains a true and correct

transcription of all portions of evidence and other

proceedings requested in writing by counsel for the

parties to be included in this volume of the

Reporter's Record in the above-styled and numbered

cause, all of which occurred in open court or in

chambers and were reported by me.

I further certify that this Reporter's Record of

the proceedings truly and correctly reflects the

exhibits, if any, offered by the respective parties.

I further certify that the total cost for the

preparation of this Reporter's Record is $ and

was paid/will be paid by .

WITNESS MY HAND this the ____________ day of

__________________________, 2015.

_

 Marilee M. Anderson, CSR

 Texas CSR 3271

 Deputy Official Court Reporter

 P.O. Box 6459

 Kingwood, Texas 77325

 Telephone: (281) 705-9268

 Expiration: 12/31/2016

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3/7/2014 3:58:40 PM

Chris Daniel - District Clerk Harris County

Envelope No. 660878

By: Stephanie Garcia

UnofficialCopyOfficeofChrisDanielDistrictClerk
UnofficialCopyOfficeofChrisDanielDistrictClerk
UnofficialCopyOfficeofChrisDanielDistrictClerk
UnofficialCopyOfficeofChrisDanielDistrictClerk
UnofficialCopyOfficeofChrisDanielDistrictClerk
UnofficialCopyOfficeofChrisDanielDistrictClerk
3/12/2014 8:40:20 AM

Chris Daniel - District Clerk Harris County

Envelope No. 689843

By: Monica Caballero

UnofficialCopyOfficeofChrisDanielDistrictClerk
UnofficialCopyOfficeofChrisDanielDistrictClerk
4/4/2014 4:45:14 PM

Chris Daniel - District Clerk Harris County

Envelope No. 913999

By: ANNIE GARCIA

4/4/2014 4:45:00 PM

Chris Daniel - District Clerk

Harris County

UnofficialCopyOfficeofChrisDanielDistrictClerk
UnofficialCopyOfficeofChrisDanielDistrictClerk
UnofficialCopyOfficeofChrisDanielDistrictClerk
UnofficialCopyOfficeofChrisDanielDistrictClerk
UnofficialCopyOfficeofChrisDanielDistrictClerk
UnofficialCopyOfficeofChrisDanielDistrictClerk
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Angela N. McBride, Deputy Reporter, Certified Shorthand Reporter

1

REPORTER'S RECORD

VOLUME 1 OF 1

COURT CAUSE NO. 2006-68864

IN THE MATTER OF * IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF

THE MARRIAGE OF *

*

CLIFFORD LAYNE HARRISON *

AND * HARRIS COUNTY, T E X A S

CONNIE VASQUEZ HARRISON *

*

AND IN THE INTEREST OF *

JOHN EARNEST LEE *

HARRISON, II., AND *

VICTORIA MADELINE *

HARRISON, *

MINOR CHILDREN * 311TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

********************************************************

REPORTER'S RECORD

********************************************************

On the 30th day of May, 2014, the following

proceeding came to be heard in the above-titled and

numbered cause before the Honorable Thomas Stansbury,

presiding, held in Houston, Harris, Texas:

Proceedings reported by computerized stenotype

machine.

(Excerpt of Pages 53 through 56.)
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Angela N. McBride, Deputy Reporter, Certified Shorthand Reporter

2

A P P E A R A N C E S

Patricia A. Wicoff Christopher W. Martin

SBOT: 21422500 SBOT: 13057620

Amy R. Harris 808 Travis St., 20th Floor

SBOT: 24041057 Houston, Texas 77002

109 N Post Oak Ln, Ste 300 Telephone: 713.632.1700

Houston, Texas 77024 Attorney for Respondent

Telephone: 713.785.1700 Connie Vasquez Harrison

Attorneys for Petitioner

Clifford Layne Harrison

Heather M. Hughes

SBOT: 00796794

952 Echo Lane, Suite 475

Houston, Texas 77024

Telephone: 713.463.5505

Amicus Attorney
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Angela N. McBride, Deputy Reporter, Certified Shorthand Reporter

3

VOLUME 1 OF 1

CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX

May 30, 2014 Page Vol.

Appearances...................................2 1

Chronological Index...........................3 1

Proceedings...................................4 1

Court Reporter's Certification................72 1
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Angela N. McBride, Deputy Reporter, Certified Shorthand Reporter

53

MS. WICOFF: Objection, Your Honor. What is

the relevance for this other than trying to persuade the

Court that this is a bad person?

MR. MARTIN: It's directly relevant under

the code with respect to possession issues concerning

the children. The code makes it specifically relevant

with respect to the transfer of presumptions or whether

there is a repetitive course of conduct, which the law

indicates that one criminal conviction is directly

relevant to these exact kind of issues.

THE COURT: Okay. And you're saying or are

you about to assert that whatever action, activity,

court orders, convictions that occurred in 2007 or

earlier were directly related to Ms. Harrison's

abilities to adequately mediate these issues in January

of this year?

MR. MARTIN: No, sir.

THE COURT: So for what reason is it

relevant to this proceeding?

MR. MARTIN: To the extent the Court

believes that the MSA is not binding, which is our

primary argument that we think the MSA resolves all of

this and we don't even need to be here, but it's an

alternative argument in the event the Court disagrees

with that and we just consider the merits, the family
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Angela N. McBride, Deputy Reporter, Certified Shorthand Reporter

54

code indicates that it's a factor in Ms. Harrison's

favor.

MS. WICOFF: I renew my objection, Your

Honor.

THE COURT: As a factor how, please? I just

don't follow, Mr. Martin.

MR. MARTIN: Well if -- hypothetically if

there were no Mediated Settlement Agreement, Family Code

Section 153.004 indicates that the Court has to consider

the commission of family violence in resolving issues

like this. Since we wanted the record to be clear for

the Court that to the extent that the Court is complying

with 153, that that evidence was in the record.

MS. WICOFF: May I respond, Judge?

THE COURT: Yes, ma'am.

MS. WICOFF: You know, they're damned if

they do; they're damned if they don't. In one breath

they say they want to enforce the MSA, in the other

breath they say they don't. If they don't think she has

the mental capacity, which they have made a judicial

admission that she does not have in order to make the

best decisions for these children -- a judicial

admission, it's in their pleadings. They filed it with

this court, she does not have the mental capacity to

make decisions in the best interest of these children.
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Angela N. McBride, Deputy Reporter, Certified Shorthand Reporter

55

We can either accept that judicial admission as a

stipulation, or we can rely on what was filed recently

that says -- and the representation before the Court

that everybody recognizes this MSA is signed, sealed,

delivered before the Court, signed off on and everybody

should follow it. I don't know on any given minute what

their position is going to be with regard to this MSA.

One minute we have one, the next minute we don't.

So Judge, I renew my objection. Either

you've got to find based on her judicial admission she

doesn't have the capacity to do the right thing for

these children or on any other thing that you may have

heard during the testimony of this case, particularly

from Ms. Gallagher. But anyway, that's my objection.

MR. MARTIN: Well, despite the

unprofessionalism of the last diatribe, which I object

to, I don't know what you're talking about in terms of

stipulation. But for the record our position is the MSA

is binding and fully enforceable. Mr. Newman filed a

motion to set it aside. It's never been set for

hearing, it's never been ruled on by the Court. We're

asking this Court to rule on that previously-filed

motion by prior counsel. We are asking this Court to

enforce the MSA as written as I argued during my opening

summary.
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Angela N. McBride, Deputy Reporter, Certified Shorthand Reporter

56

MS. WICOFF: Then I would renew my

objection.

MR. MARTIN: And I simply was pointing out

an alternative to the extent the Court disagrees with

that. I just simply wanted to establish the record.

THE COURT: Overruled, and I will accept the

testimony as given with regard to prior acts or criminal

factors.

Q. (BY MR. MARTIN) And just so the record is clear,

there is a criminal conviction for family violence --

A. No.

Q. -- against you and Ms. Harrison?

A. No, sir, there is not.

Q. You pled guilty, didn't you, sir?

A. No, I did not.

Q. How was it resolved?

A. There was a dismissal. Deferred adjudication and

a dismissal.

Q. Okay. And you got deferred adjudication on the

assault and battery charge; correct?

A. Whatever the charge was, it was dismissed, yes,

sir.

Q. Okay. Well, it's your position with respect to

the proposed order before the Court that you be allowed

to e-mail the Court as much as you want -- I'm sorry --
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STATE OF TEXAS

COUNTY OF HARRIS

I, Angela N. McBride, Deputy Court Reporter in

and for the 311th District Court of Harris, State of

Texas, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains a

true and correct transcription of all portions of

evidence and other proceedings requested in writing by

counsel for the parties to be included in this volume of

the Reporter's Record, in the above-styled and numbered

cause, all of which occurred in open court or in

chambers and were reported by me.

I further certify that this Reporter's Record of

the proceedings truly and correctly reflects the

exhibits, if any, admitted, tendered in an offer of

proof or offered into evidence.

I further certify that the total cost for the

preparation of the Reporter's Record is $100.00 and was

paid by Ms. Connie Vasquez Harrison.

WITNESS MY OFFICIAL HAND this the 26th day of

March, 2015.

___/s/ Angela N. McBride______

Angela N. McBride, CSR

Texas CSR 7026

Deputy Court Reporter

7818 West Road

Houston, Texas 77064

Telephone: (713) 849-5084

Expiration: 12/31/15
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REPORTER'S RECORD

VOLUME 1 OF 2

COURT CAUSE NO. 2006-68864

IN THE MATTER OF * IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF

THE MARRIAGE OF *

*

CLIFFORD LAYNE HARRISON *

AND * HARRIS COUNTY, T E X A S

CONNIE VASQUEZ HARRISON *

*

AND IN THE INTEREST OF *

JOHN EARNEST LEE *

HARRISON, II., AND *

VICTORIA MADELINE *

HARRISON, *

MINOR CHILDREN * 311TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

********************************************************

REPORTER'S RECORD

********************************************************

On the 3rd day of September, 2014, the following

proceeding came to be heard in the above-titled and

numbered cause before the Honorable Robert Newey,

presiding, held in Houston, Harris, Texas:

Proceedings reported by computerized stenotype

machine.
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A P P E A R A N C E S

Patricia A. Wicoff Christopher W. Martin

SBOT: 21422500 SBOT: 13057620

Amy R. Harris 808 Travis St., 20th Floor

SBOT: 24041057 Houston, Texas 77002

109 N Post Oak Ln, Ste 300 Telephone: 713.632.1700

Houston, Texas 77024 Attorney for Respondent

Telephone: 713.785.1700 Connie Vasquez Harrison

Attorneys for Petitioner

Clifford Layne Harrison

Heather M. Hughes

SBOT: 00796794

952 Echo Lane, Suite 475

Houston, Texas 77024

Telephone: 713.463.5505

Amicus Attorney
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VOLUME 1 OF 2

CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX

September 3, 2014 Page Vol.

Appearances...................................2 1

Chronological Index/Examination Index.........3 1

Exhibit Index.................................4 1

Proceedings...................................5 1

Court Reporter's Certification................37 1

EXAMINATION INDEX

DIRECT CROSS REDIRECT RECROSS

CLIFFORD L. HARRISON

By Ms. Wicoff 8
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EXHIBIT INDEX

OFFERED BY THE PETITIONER

NO. DESCRIPTION OFFERED ADMITTED VOL.

34 Handwritten Letter 21 21 1

50 Motion to Set Aside 23 23 1

Purported Mediated

Settlement Agreement

On Parent Child Issues
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P R O C E E D I N G S

THE COURT: The Court calls Cause No.

2006-68864, Clifford Harrison, Connie Harrison.

Counsel, identify yourselves for the record,

please.

MS. WICOFF: Your Honor, I'm Patricia A.

Wicoff together with Amy Harris representing Movant in

the habeas corpus, the Movant in the enforcement action,

and the Movant for mental examination, Mr. Clifford

Layne Harrison.

MS. HUGHES: Your Honor, I'm Heather Hughes,

amicus attorney for the two children John and Victoria.

MR. MARTIN: And I'm Christopher Martin,

previous counsel for Connie Harrison. As of this

morning we've filed a motion to withdraw myself and my

law firm as counsel of record for Ms. Harrison and a

motion to continue this hearing based upon our

withdrawal.

THE COURT: I'm curious about something.

Yesterday the Court signed an order to appear on 9-25-14

at 9:00 a.m. What is that?

MS. HARRIS: That's an additional contempt,

Judge.

THE COURT: Okay. So that's another

enforcement.
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MS. HARRIS: It's an additional enforcement,

Judge.

MS. WICOFF: It's another enforcement,

Judge.

MR. MARTIN: I haven't seen it.

THE COURT: So you want to deal with your

motion to withdraw first?

MR. MARTIN: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: Okay. So how do you as -- I

understand it you filed it last night?

MR. MARTIN: Early this morning.

THE COURT: Early this morning.

MR. MARTIN: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: You had a telephone conversation

with your client last night?

MR. MARTIN: At 11:00 p.m., yes, sir.

THE COURT: And you advised her that you

were filing a motion to withdraw?

MR. MARTIN: Yes.

THE COURT: So if I grant it now, is that --

has she had enough notice? I mean, she might not like

the language that's included in the motion. I don't

know.

MR. MARTIN: Without waiving my

attorney-client privilege, Your Honor, I can say that I
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do not have any consent from Ms. Harrison to be here to

represent her, to speak on her behalf.

THE COURT: Today.

MR. MARTIN: Today.

THE COURT: Regardless of whether you

withdraw or not.

MR. MARTIN: Correct. In fact there have

been discussions about walking out of court and not

appearing, and I have my client's consent to do that.

THE COURT: All right. What I'm going to do

is allow you to do whatever you need to do, but I'm

going to reset your motion to withdraw until Friday to

give you an opportunity to give her appropriate notice.

MR. MARTIN: Of course.

THE COURT: You can then choose to stay or

leave. That's up to you.

MR. MARTIN: Today you mean or as of Friday?

THE COURT: Right now.

MR. MARTIN: I won't stay just too long, but

I'm not here to represent her.

THE COURT: All right. So you're not going

to ask any questions, take any position -- take any

position?

MR. MARTIN: No. I'm not here to represent

her.
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THE COURT: Any objection to that?

MS. WICOFF: No objection.

MS. HUGHES: No, Your Honor.

THE COURT: That leaves us now with the

emergency motion to change custody.

MS. WICOFF: Correct. And I have

Mr. Harrison here.

THE COURT: Let's hear some evidence on

that.

MS. WICOFF: Mr. Harrison, can you come up?

THE COURT: Raise your right hand, please.

(Oath administered.)

THE COURT: All right. Proceed.

MS. WICOFF: Your Honor.

DIRECT EXAMINATION

BY MS. WICOFF:

Q. State your name.

A. Clifford Layne Harrison.

Q. You are the father of John Harrison and Victoria

Harrison?

A. I am.

Q. You are a joint managing conservator pursuant to

temporary orders; is that correct?

A. That's correct.

Q. Sir, you have filed a motion asking this Court to
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immediately designate you as the sole -- temporary sole

managing conservator of these two minor children or as

the joint managing conservator who establishes the

residence of these children; is that correct?

A. Yes.

Q. Sir, can you tell me briefly what has occurred

since January of 2014 which you believe has been

injurious to the welfare, emotional or physical welfare

of your children at the direct supervision and

instruction of Connie Harrison?

A. It is probably not possible to tell you briefly.

Q. Well, tell the Court why you are asking for an

immediate change of custody.

A. There have been many, many occasions where she

has unilaterally decided to withhold the children, not

turn them over. She has violated court orders, she has

violated Mediated Settlement Agreements, she has then

violated the order that implemented the Mediated

Settlement Agreement. She has gotten the kids kicked

out of school by causing disruptions at the school in

violation of the Mediated Settlement Agreement.

Q. Let me stop you a minute with regard to the

school issue. Your children were life-long attendees at

Second Baptist School; is that correct?

A. That's correct.
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Q. And when you say she unilaterally got them kicked

out, the children were prohibited from returning to

Second Baptist; correct?

A. Right.

Q. And we were -- had a temporary hearing before the

Honorable Tom Stansbury in June of 2014 of this year; is

that correct?

A. That's right.

Q. And at that time, the principal from Second

Baptist came and testified; correct?

A. Correct.

Q. And in that testimony which we have reduced to a

court reporter's transcript, did the Second Baptist

principal state that but for the actions of Connie

Harrison that the children would still be back at Second

Baptist?

A. Yes.

Q. All right. Did Judge Stansbury make a ruling

that you were to have the right to enroll the children

either in Briar Grove or -- Victoria in Briar Grove

Elementary School and enroll John in Grady Middle

School?

A. First of all, it was a ruling that gave me the

exclusive right to try and enroll them in First Baptist

Academy which was --
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THE COURT: Was an official order entered?

MS. HARRIS: Yes.

MS. WICOFF: Yes. I have that order, Judge,

if you would like a copy of it.

THE COURT: Let me see if I can find it.

Give me the date of the order.

MS. WICOFF: While she's pulling that, you

want me to wait?

THE COURT: That occurred in May?

MS. WICOFF: I believe in June, Judge.

MS. HARRIS: The hearing was May 27th.

MS. WICOFF: Oh, was it? I'm sorry. Here

is a copy of it, Your Honor.

THE COURT: I think I have it, but then

Judge Stansbury signed an order on May 30th.

MS. HARRIS: That's it, Judge.

MS. WICOFF: Here is a hard copy, Judge.

THE COURT: I think that's it.

MS. WICOFF: Actually there may be two

there.

THE COURT: It is. I have it. I found it

on the screen.

MS. WICOFF: May I proceed?

THE COURT: You may.

Q. (BY MS. WICOFF) Mr. Harrison, so you were
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initially authorized to try and get the children into

First Baptist Academy; is that correct?

A. That's correct.

Q. The children were not admitted to First Baptist

Academy after they spoke with Second Baptist; is that

accurate?

A. That is correct.

Q. And the order further provided that the children

were to go to the public school if they were not

admitted to First Baptist Academy, that they were to go

to the public school to which you, your residence, is

zoned; is that correct?

A. That is correct.

Q. That is Briar Grove?

A. Briar Grove Elementary.

Q. And that is Grady Middle School; is that correct?

A. And Grady, yes.

Q. And additionally you have since found out that

Connie Harrison has violated that order; is that

correct?

A. That's correct.

Q. Your son is not enrolled in Grady Middle School,

is he?

A. I found that out on Thursday when I went to pick

him up that he was not even enrolled.
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THE COURT: Okay. Hold on a minute. As I'm

reading this order on May 30th, you were given

permission to enroll the children at First Baptist

Academy.

THE WITNESS: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: And she was not to interfere

with that in any way.

THE WITNESS: That's correct.

THE COURT: I wasn't listening carefully

enough to what you just told me. What happened then?

THE WITNESS: Well, I went to First Baptist.

It was a process. I submitted everything, and they

interviewed us, they interviewed the kids, took the kids

up there, took a tour, met with the principals of both

the lower school and the middle school, submitted the

test scores, the transcripts, letters of recommendation

from Second Baptist. Did everything that we needed to

do. Unfortunately --

THE COURT: At First Baptist or Second

Baptist?

THE WITNESS: They were at Second, and so

Second Baptist teachers had to write letters of

recommendation to First Baptist where I was trying to

get them -- where I was trying to get them admitted.

And then some time in June they sent me an e-mail saying
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they would not be offering a contract of attendance.

THE COURT: Did they offer any explanation?

THE WITNESS: No.

THE COURT: They just said no?

THE WITNESS: They just said no.

THE COURT: So we don't know what role, if

any, Ms. Harrison played in that decision?

THE WITNESS: Judge, all I can tell you is

the very first question they ask is the very first

question any private school would ask, and that is have

these kids ever been basically kicked out of any of --

or denied admittance to any other schools, and I had to

tell them yes.

THE COURT: So you think First Baptist

denied the request to enroll because they were out of

Second Baptist?

THE WITNESS: I don't think there's any

other reason for it. Yes, sir. I think that's the only

conclusion to be drawn.

THE COURT: All right. Continue.

MS. WICOFF: Thank you.

Q. (BY MS. WICOFF) So pursuant to the order signed

by Judge Stansbury on May 30th, when your children were

not able to go to First Baptist Academy, did you enroll

both children, or did you enroll Victoria in Briar Grove
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and did you enroll John at Grady?

A. Yes.

THE COURT: All right. Now, under what

authority were you doing that?

THE WITNESS: This order that says if they

don't go to First Baptist then -- as I think it's down

toward the bottom, then they would be --

THE COURT: All right. You got that they

could go to a school where you were zoned?

THE WITNESS: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: All right. That's the last

paragraph of the May 30th order signed by Judge

Stansbury.

MS. WICOFF: Correct.

THE WITNESS: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: All right.

A. I couldn't --

Q. (BY MS. WICOFF) Did you find out -- so you did

what you were supposed to do pursuant to the temporary

order; is that correct?

A. Yes.

Q. And sir, have you since learned that Connie

Harrison has not taken the children -- has not taken

John to Grady Middle School?

A. Yes.
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Q. Okay. When did you find out that he was not

enrolled at the school that he was ordered to be

enrolled in pursuant to Judge Stansbury's order?

A. Well, if I can back up just a second. I enrolled

him in early August. I went up there, I filled out all

the forms, gave them the utility bills, my driver's

license showing my residence. I enrolled him. I got

the packet -- the summer packet of assignments he had to

do in several different subjects. I bought his school

supplies, got some uniforms for him. He was --

Q. Ready.

A. He was enrolled. And I e-mailed Connie, told her

I had this stuff, told her she needed to pick up this

packet of summer assignments that he needed to do, that

he had some required reading he had to do. Never heard

a word. It was not until last -- the last Tuesday we

were here, and my understanding was that the Court

ordered her to allow me to pick up the kids from school

on Thursday, last Thursday because it was my weekend.

Great. The first time I'd seen them in six weeks. So

first I go to -- it's a long answer and I apologize.

Q. All right. Shorten it.

A. I go to Briar Grove to pick up Victoria and they

said she was absent. I left Briar Grove and I went to

Grady Middle School, and I drove through the carpool. I
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had been to orientation a few weeks earlier, and they

told me I had to --

Q. Was John there?

A. I got up there, he was not there.

Q. Did you find out he wasn't even attending Grady

as ordered by the Court?

A. My first thought was that whether --

THE COURT: Is that a yes or a no?

THE WITNESS: It's a yes.

THE COURT: Stay with us. I know this is a

troubling time for you, but if you'll just answer

Ms. Wicoff's questions, we will get through this a lot

quicker.

Q. (BY MS. WICOFF) Mr. Harrison, up until the

amicus attorney informed you, did you even know where

your son was in middle school?

A. No. I found out through her that he was not

enrolled at Grady and that she didn't know where he was.

Q. And did you also find out that you -- even though

the Court ordered Ms. Harrison for you to have your

visitation commencing this last Thursday, Ms. Harrison

pulled Victoria out of school that day so you could not

see her?

A. I found that Victoria was absent Thursday and

Friday, yes.
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Q. So she's missed two days out of the first week of

school; is that correct?

A. That's correct.

Q. Do we know whether she's in school today?

A. I have no idea.

Q. Sir, you have filed three contempts against

Connie Harrison in three years; is that correct?

A. Yes.

Q. We have a fourth contempt that has been filed

with a process server here today to serve her; is that

correct?

A. Yes.

Q. Can you tell the Court approximately how many

times, how many days you have missed of visitation just

this summer -- well, just since the first of the year?

A. January 27th --

Q. How many days?

A. 21.

Q. Sir, and am I correct -- now, there was some kind

of physical altercation in June; is that correct?

A. July.

Q. July? All right.

THE COURT: Of this year?

THE WITNESS: Yes, sir.

Q. (BY MS. WICOFF) And had you gone to get your
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children?

A. Yes.

Q. Did Connie Harrison get out of her car and attack

the lady that you were with?

A. She did.

Q. Did she take your cell phone from you?

A. Yes.

Q. Were the police called?

A. Yes.

Q. The police did not want charges filed; is that

correct?

A. That's correct.

Q. Ms. Harrison has pursued relentlessly the DA's

office to get this matter moving forward; is that

correct?

A. That is correct.

Q. And you're aware of that?

A. I am.

Q. And you're aware of the activities that she has

engaged in; is that correct?

THE COURT: Yes or no?

A. I think I've just seen the tip of the iceberg of

what she's been engaged in.

Q. (BY MS. WICOFF) Mr. Harrison, do you believe --

you got a letter from your son John -- you got a letter
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from your son John; is that correct?

A. It looks likes it was in his handwriting. It was

a -- it was e-mailed to me from an Office Depot.

Q. All right, sir. Is the letter --

THE COURT: It was an attachment to an

e-mail?

THE WITNESS: It was an attachment to an

e-mail that I received from an Office Depot.

Q. (BY MS. WICOFF) Sir, the letter -- and we're

getting the letter. The letter that you received, did

it sound like something that your son would have

composed?

A. No.

Q. Do you believe that Connie Harrison has engaged

in consistently ever since you filed for divorce back in

2006 a conscientious effort to alienate you from your

children and your children from you?

A. I do.

Q. Let me hand you Petitioner's Exhibit No. 34. Is

this a copy of the letter that allegedly John Harrison

sent to you?

A. Yes. It looks like it's his handwriting except

the date is in Connie's handwriting.

Q. All right. So it's partly in Connie's

handwriting and partly in your son's?
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A. It appears to be, yes.

MS. WICOFF: Your Honor, I would tender

Exhibit 34.

MS. HUGHES: No objection, Your Honor.

THE COURT: All right. 34 will be admitted.

Q. (BY MS. WICOFF) Is this the kind of emotional

abuse that you think both of these children are

undergoing under the hands of Connie Harrison?

A. Yes.

Q. Do you think this is damaging to your children?

A. Yes.

Q. Are you concerned about their ongoing emotional

wellbeing?

A. Absolutely.

Q. Do you believe that Connie Harrison is mentally

deranged at this point?

A. Yes.

Q. Do you think her judgment is impaired with

regards to these children?

A. Absolutely.

Q. In fact she even acknowledged in her own motion

to set aside an MSA that she could not make decisions

with regard to the best interest of these children, did

she not?

A. She did.
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Q. And that's in a pleading in the court; correct?

A. Yes.

Q. Okay. That is in her motion to set aside

Mediated Settlement Agreement; is that accurate?

A. Yes.

THE COURT: When was that filed?

MS. WICOFF: Your Honor, I have a copy for

you.

THE COURT: Just tell me when it was filed.

MS. WICOFF: Well, I don't know that mine is

file marked.

MS. HARRIS: Probably March or --

THE COURT: What's the certificate of

service?

MS. HARRIS: March 13th, Judge.

MS. WICOFF: I can submit a hard copy,

Judge.

MS. HARRIS: It was filed by Mr. Newman,

Judge.

MS. WICOFF: Mr. Bobby Newman filed it when

he was representing her.

Q. (BY MS. WICOFF) Sir, I'm going to hand you

what's been marked Petitioner's Exhibit No. 50. Is this

the motion that Ms. Harrison filed by and through her

attorney Bobby Newman?
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A. Yes.

MS. WICOFF: Judge, here is a hard copy if

you would like to see it.

THE COURT: That would be helpful. Thank

you.

MS. WICOFF: And I would direct your

attention, Judge, to Page 2, Paragraph No. 3 where

Connie Harrison states a judicial admission, Connie

Harrison has been a victim of family violence and that

circumstances surrounding the family violence -- now

this is something that she would have been referring to

that occurred in 2006, eight years ago -- impaired her

ability to make decisions, and the Mediated Settlement

Agreement is not in the best interest of the children.

THE COURT: The court notes that is in the

pleadings, Exhibit C as it's marked. And also

Petitioner's Exhibit 50 doesn't appear to have a file

stamp on it, but I'm going to accept Counsel's

representation that this was timely filed --

MS. WICOFF: It was --

THE COURT: -- by Mr. Newman on behalf of

Ms. Harrison. All right.

Q. (BY MS. WICOFF) Sir, in addition to not having

been able to see your children -- how many days did you

say it was?
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THE COURT: 21.

Q. (BY MS. WICOFF) 21 days since the --

THE COURT: 21.

A. Well, it's a total of 21 days. I haven't seen

John in several weeks.

Q. (BY MS. WICOFF) All right. Have you been able

to communicate with them by phone?

A. No.

Q. Have you tried to communicate with them by phone?

A. Yes.

Q. Have you tried to communicate with them by text?

A. Yes.

Q. Have you been successful?

A. John has not responded. I have received

responses from Victoria's phone that clearly came from

Connie.

Q. Okay. And when you say they clearly came from

Connie, how do you know they clearly came from Connie?

A. There are things that are misspelled that

Victoria would never misspell. It's clearly that

Victoria did not write the responses.

Q. All right, sir. We have had multiple -- we've

had multiple efforts to try and serve her with various

pleadings; is that correct?

A. Yes.
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Q. She avoids service?

A. She does.

Q. All right. Constables have been to her home and

she refuses to come to the door?

A. Yes.

Q. Even though her car is in the driveway?

A. Yes.

Q. All right. Sir, tell the Court what other

reasons you believe your children are at risk under any

continuing ongoing care by Connie Harrison.

A. Her behavior has deteriorated such over the last

few months that I don't really know what she's capable

of doing anymore. She is --

THE COURT: Is she employed?

MS. WICOFF: No.

THE WITNESS: That's a good question too.

You can't get a straight answer on any of these

questions from her.

MS. WICOFF: She's a licensed attorney.

THE WITNESS: I think she is still licensed.

THE COURT: Is she still active?

MS. HARRIS: She is active.

MS. WICOFF: Her license is still --

THE COURT: She's kept her license alive?

MS. HUGHES: Last time I checked, Your
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Honor.

THE COURT: All right.

A. She is very controlling, she is very

manipulative, she has sole and total control over the

children and has prevented all access and --

THE COURT: I got that.

A. But my concern is that the reason is she is

attempting to alienate them from me, God knows what

she's telling them. I do know as an example that her --

that my niece Victoria's cousin tried to text Victoria

because she missed her and was worried about her, and

Connie took Victoria's phone and texted my 14-year-old

niece with pictures of these injuries and saying, look

what Daddy did to me, that kind of stuff we're dealing

with.

She's extremely dishonest, she's never told the

truth about I don't think anything in her life, she

doesn't listen to anybody, she continues to violate

order after order after order, she ignores direct orders

of this Court even when she's standing here being

ordered to do something. She has refused to allow them

to attend the schools to which they are zoned, taking

them to different schools and then prohibits all access

to the kids. They are at these different schools. I

don't know if she's going to run off to Fort Stockton
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with them, I don't know what she's going to do, I don't

know what she's capable of.

THE COURT: What is in Fort Stockton?

THE WITNESS: Her family. That's where

she's from, about eight hours away, and they often go

out there. And she has testified under oath that she --

THE COURT: Hold on a minute. Ms. Hughes,

do you have any questions?

MS. HUGHES: No, Your Honor.

THE COURT: Anything further?

MS. WICOFF: Nothing further, Judge. Unless

there is more examples.

THE COURT: The Court is going to grant the

emergency motion to change custody instanter. I will

need an order. I will grant a capias for her arrest for

not appearing as she was sworn to reappear on this date.

What else?

MS. HUGHES: I have a request, Your Honor.

THE COURT: All right.

MS. HUGHES: That Mr. Harrison's girlfriend

just in the interim not be around the children. It's

been some time since they have seen their father. I

think it's --

THE COURT: Are you living with this woman?

THE WITNESS: No.
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THE COURT: Any objection to that request?

MS. WICOFF: No.

THE WITNESS: It just depends on how long it

is.

THE COURT: That will be an injunction. Add

it as an injunction.

MS. HARRIS: For how long, Judge?

THE COURT: I'm sorry?

MS. HARRIS: For how long?

THE COURT: Until further order of the

Court.

MS. WICOFF: Heather, do you have a

recommendation?

MS. HUGHES: I don't. I want to -- I mean,

I've only visited with Victoria yesterday at the school,

but I just -- I don't want to add more moving pieces.

MS. WICOFF: Can we sort of give the ad

litem the opportunity to meet with the kids and then

maybe make a recommendation as to whether we need to

continue this?

THE COURT: Once the children are

transferred to Mr. Harrison then -- and he doesn't

appear to be hostile to the ad litem. I assume he will

work out a time or times for Ms. Hughes to visit with

the children. It's certainly needed.
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MS. HARRIS: We have.

THE COURT: I do think that we need the

parties psychologically evaluated.

MS. WICOFF: I agree.

THE COURT: And I will grant that relief,

but it will be mutual and it will include the children.

There's no telling how much damage has been done for

whatever the reasons are. So include that.

MS. WICOFF: Judge, we had tried to see if

Dr. Silverman was available. As you can anticipate, he

can't even see them. We have a January trial setting.

He can't even see them until December.

THE COURT: Ms. Hughes, who do you think

ought to do the mental evaluation?

MS. HUGHES: Your Honor, there is a lady in

Dr. Silverman's office named Dr. Tinder. I've got her

on a case right now. She seems to be responsive. I

know that she's relatively new.

THE COURT: Has anybody used the

psychologist or -- Joan Anderson?

MS. HUGHES: The group of three that she's

working with?

THE COURT: We referred -- you know, that

was several months ago. I wondered if anybody had any

experience with her.
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MS. WICOFF: No.

MS. HARRIS: We haven't yet.

MS. WICOFF: I'll tell you, and Counsel just

reminded me. There are two people, really. One that I

know because I checked with his office to find out if he

could get it done was Dr. Harrison -- was Kit Harrison.

The other one is a gentleman named Peter Simone who is

in the general vicinity of where the parties live. I

don't know if you know Dr. Simone.

THE COURT: I don't. We're always looking

for new qualified forensic evaluators.

MS. HUGHES: May I look into that --

MS. WICOFF: We're going to.

MS. HUGHES: -- before we commit?

THE COURT: How quickly can we get an order?

MS. HUGHES: Friday. We can work on that

tomorrow.

THE COURT: I'm going to give you --

MS. WICOFF: With regard to the mental

health?

THE COURT: All of these orders.

MS. WICOFF: We can get it all by Friday.

THE COURT: All right. I'll give you an

entry date for Friday.

MS. HUGHES: Your Honor, I also have a
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request.

THE COURT: All right.

MS. HUGHES: I don't anticipate it being a

problem, but if the order can also include a provision

that I am allowed to visit with the children at the

school and maybe with some directive to the school

administration.

THE COURT: Any objection to that?

MS. WICOFF: No. She needs it because she

was denied access previously.

THE COURT: Include authorization language.

Now, you had suggested or referenced to the district

attorney's office. Does that have to come from the

Court?

MS. WICOFF: Judge, it really should come

from you because otherwise it's going to look like a

knee-jerk reaction by Mr. Harrison. It needs to come

from the Court. The Court needs --

MS. HARRIS: We have investigated that.

THE COURT: The question I have is, how much

effect will it have coming from an associate judge as

opposed to a district judge.

MS. WICOFF: I think it will be fine, Judge.

THE COURT: All right.

MS. WICOFF: And you may want to talk to
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Judge Franklin about it, but clearly she has violated

that penal code.

THE COURT: Factually, you know, I'm

assuming because I think I have to that the testimony is

all true. And if it is, and I have heard disregard for

various court orders, she is obviously in the Court's

opinion interfering with Mr. Harrison's rights to these

children.

The only question I have is what does it

take to get the district attorney essentially involved.

MS. WICOFF: I don't know, Judge, but I

would encourage you to if you believe that, that I would

ask that you pursue that, discuss it with Judge Franklin

and that it be --

THE COURT: I will work behind the scenes

with Judge Franklin.

MS. WICOFF: And that it be done quickly.

THE COURT: All right.

MS. WICOFF: Because quite frankly I'm

concerned that she might have fled with the children at

this point.

THE COURT: I don't know where she is.

She's certainly not here, and she was ordered to be

here.

MS. WICOFF: Well, the reason I have that
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concern, Judge, is because apparently the constable has

gone to the schools this morning to get the children and

we --

THE COURT: Okay, Ms. Wicoff. I've got the

same concern. That's one of the factors that I've taken

into consideration in granting the emergency transfer of

custody and also invited the references and approved the

writ of habeas corpus and the writs of attachment and

granted a capias.

MS. HARRIS: Judge, on the referral, if

you'll recall last week, Ms. Harrison told you that the

DA's office had amended the protective order to include

the children, they were just waiting on the imaging of

that order. That was not true. However, she continues

to badger and stalk these prosecutors.

THE COURT: Okay. I will see you with an

order on Friday.

MS. WICOFF: Judge, I do have one request.

THE COURT: I'm handing the exhibits to the

court reporter.

MS. WICOFF: Mr. Harrison is -- I mean, the

kids are -- if he gets the children --

MS. HARRIS: They are on the way.

MS. WICOFF: They are on the way? We are

going to need --
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THE COURT: Wait a minute. They are on

their way where?

MS. WICOFF: To the courthouse.

MS. HARRIS: Here. The constable picked

them up at school this morning, Judge.

MS. WICOFF: That's good news. Judge, we

are going to need access somehow --

MS. HARRIS: At least John. They were

getting Victoria but --

MS. WICOFF: We are going to need the

children's uniforms and school --

MS. HUGHES: They don't have uniforms for

the middle school. Victoria's is khakis and a collared

shirt similar to what it was last year.

MS. WICOFF: We've probably got school

things here.

MS. HUGHES: I think that's the least of

these parties' worries.

THE COURT: That's the least of the Court's

worries. My suggestion is that Mr. Harrison go and get

what the children need, not from Ms. Harrison but just

generally.

THE WITNESS: Clothes -- if I may speak.

I'm not worried about clothes, but I'm concerned about

books, things of that nature that may be irreplaceable.
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THE COURT: Well, you may have to replace --

you may have to just replace everything.

MS. WICOFF: We just may have to. And

Judge, I assume there will be --

THE COURT: I'm going to recess this hearing

until the constable gets here with the children.

MS. WICOFF: All right. We'll just wait,

Judge.

THE COURT: All right.

MS. WICOFF: We'll just wait.

MR. MARTIN: What time would you like me

back on Friday?

THE COURT: Well, do you want to be here

when the children arrive -- or the child arrives?

MR. MARTIN: I can't give --

THE COURT: Because it's possible that your

client may be right behind them.

MR. MARTIN: That would be correct.

THE COURT: So the entry hearing will be at

9 o'clock on Friday morning. That's when we will have

your motion to withdraw.

MR. MARTIN: Thank you, Your Honor.

THE COURT: We will be in a very brief

recess.

(Short recess.)
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MS. WICOFF: We came up about possession by

Ms. Harrison.

THE COURT: None.

MS. HUGHES: Unless there's a private

supervisor?

THE COURT: None.

(End of proceedings.)
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STATE OF TEXAS

COUNTY OF HARRIS

I, Angela N. McBride, Deputy Court Reporter in

and for the 311th District Court of Harris, State of

Texas, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains a

true and correct transcription of all portions of

evidence and other proceedings requested in writing by

counsel for the parties to be included in this volume of

the Reporter's Record, in the above-styled and numbered

cause, all of which occurred in open court or in

chambers and were reported by me.

I further certify that this Reporter's Record of

the proceedings truly and correctly reflects the

exhibits, if any, admitted, tendered in an offer of

proof or offered into evidence.

I further certify that the total cost for the

preparation of the Reporter's Record is $263.50 and was

paid by Ms. Connie Vasquez Harrison.

WITNESS MY OFFICIAL HAND this the 2nd day of

October, 2014.

___Angela N. McBride /s/_______

Angela N. McBride, CSR

Texas CSR 7026

Deputy Court Reporter

7818 West Road

Houston, Texas 77064

Telephone: (713) 849-5084

Expiration: 12/31/15
UnofficialCopyOfficeofChrisDanielDistrictClerk
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Stephanie Wells - 713.562.6969

1

 REPORTER'S RECORD 

 VOLUME 1 OF 1 VOLUMES

TRIAL COURT CAUSE NO. 2006-68864

 ______ COURT OF APPEALS

APPELLATE CAUSE NO. _____________

IN THE MATTER OF THE 

MARRIAGE OF

CONNIE VASQUEZ HARRISON 

AND CLIFFORD HARRISON

AND IN THE INTEREST OF 

JOHN HARRISON AND 

VICTORIA HARRISON,

MINOR CHILDREN. 

)

)

)

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)

)

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)

)

IN THE DISTRICT COURT

HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS

311TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

------------------------------

EXCERPT OF HEARING

------------------------------

 On the 16th day of January, 2015, the following 

proceedings came on to be heard in the above-entitled 

and numbered cause before the Honorable Alicia K. 

Franklin, Judge presiding, held in Houston, Harris 

County, Texas; 

Proceedings reported in computerized stenotype by 

Stephanie Wells, Official Court Reporter. 
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Stephanie Wells - 713.562.6969

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A P P E A R A N C E S

FOR THE PETITIONER: 

SCHLANGER, SILVER, BARG & PAINE, LLP 

109 North Post Oak Lane 

Houston, Texas 77024 

713.735.8514 

BY: MS. PATRICIA A. WICOFF 

-ANDMS. AMY HARRIS 

FOR THE RESPONDENT: 

PRO SE

AMICUS:

M. HEATHER HUGHES LAW OFFICE

952 Echo Lane, Suite 410

Houston, Texas 77024

713.463.5505

BY: MS. M. HEATHER HUGHES

ALSO PRESENT:

CLIFFORD HARRISON
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Stephanie Wells - 713.562.6969

3

 INDEX

 VOLUME 1 OF 1

 (EXCERPT OF HEARING)

 PAGE VOL. 

JANUARY 16, 2015

Appearances................................... 2 1

Chronological Index........................... 3 1

Proceedings................................... 4 1

Reporter's Certificate........................ 7 1
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Stephanie Wells - 713.562.6969

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(The following is an excerpt from a 

Hearing had on January 16, 2015.)

THE COURT: Ms. Harrison, listen to the 

question: Every motion that you are asking the Court to 

consider, have these all been filed on January 14th 

2015, or thereafter? Have any of them been filed before 

January 14th 2015? 

THE RESPONDENT: I believe the request 

for -- the request for hearings were filed January 13th. 

THE COURT: Okay. You can't request a 

hearing without having a motion. So, I'm asking on the 

underlying documents that you are asking for hearings 

on, were any of them filed before January 14th? 

THE RESPONDENT: They -- 

THE COURT: "Yes" or "no"? "Yes" or "no"? 

Were they? 

THE RESPONDENT: They were filed, yes, 

before January 14th. 

THE COURT: Okay. Identify for me which 

motions were filed before January 14th 2015. 

THE RESPONDENT: The -- just the request 

for oral hearings were filed. The motions had already 

been filed. And I can -- I can let the Court know -- 

THE COURT: I asked you to identify those 

for me. 
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Stephanie Wells - 713.562.6969

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THE RESPONDENT: Okay. There's a 

Respondent's First Amended Emergency Motion for 

Continuance. 

THE COURT: That says January 14th 2015. 

So, with regards to that request, that's denied. It's 

not timely. We are set for trial January 20th 2015. 

This is not timely. The Court is not going to hear it. 

Next motion. 

THE RESPONDENT: It was filed after the 

withdraw, after the withdraw of the -- 

THE COURT: Ma'am. Ma'am. I am not going 

to argue with you today. When I deny or grant whatever 

is being requested, we are moving on. So, it's not an 

option for you to continue to argue. 

We're moving on to the next motion. 

THE RESPONDENT: Respondent's Motion to 

Enter the Mediated Settlement Agreement and For 

Compliance. 

THE COURT: Was filed when? 

THE RESPONDENT: This was filed -- 

THE COURT: January 14th. It's not filed 

timely. It's denied. 

Let's move on. 

THE RESPONDENT: May we hear it next week? 

THE COURT: When I say it's denied, that 
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means we are not hearing it before trial. 

MS. HARRIS: Judge, just for the record, we 

have not even received a copy of that motion. 

THE RESPONDENT: Yes, I've mailed you a 

copy. Here's a copy for you right now. 

THE COURT: Next motion, Mrs. Harrison. 

(End of excerpt.)
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Stephanie Wells - 713.562.6969

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 REPORTER'S CERTIFICATE

THE STATE OF TEXAS ) 

COUNTY OF HARRIS ) 

I, Stephanie Wells, Official Court Reporter in and 

for the 311th District Court of Harris County, State of 

Texas, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing 

contains a true and correct transcription of all 

portions of evidence and other proceedings requested in 

writing by counsel for the parties to be included in 

this volume of the Reporter's Record, in the 

above-styled and numbered cause, all of which occurred 

in open court or in chambers and were reported by me. 

I further certify that this Reporter's Record of 

the proceedings truly and correctly reflects the 

exhibits, if any, admitted by the respective parties. 

I further certify that the total cost for the 

preparation of this Reporter's Record is $35.00 and was 

paid by ____________________. 

WITNESS MY OFFICIAL HAND this the 24th day of 

March, 2015. 

 

/s/ Stephanie Wells

 ___________________________________

 Stephanie Wells, Texas CSR 2700 

 Expiration Date: 12/31/2015 

 Official Court Reporter

311th District Court

301 Caroline, 8th Floor

 Houston, Texas 77002

713.562.6969
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 REPORTER'S RECORD 

 VOLUME 1 OF 1 VOLUMES

TRIAL COURT CAUSE NO. 2006-68864

 ______ COURT OF APPEALS

APPELLATE CAUSE NO. _____________

IN THE MATTER OF THE 

MARRIAGE OF

CONNIE VASQUEZ HARRISON 

AND CLIFFORD HARRISON

AND IN THE INTEREST OF 

JOHN HARRISON AND 

VICTORIA HARRISON,

MINOR CHILDREN. 

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IN THE DISTRICT COURT

HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS

311TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

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EXCERPT OF TRIAL

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 On the 20th day of January, 2015, the following 

proceedings came on to be heard in the above-entitled 

and numbered cause before the Honorable Alicia K. 

Franklin, Judge presiding, held in Houston, Harris 

County, Texas; 

Proceedings reported in computerized stenotype by 

Stephanie Wells, Official Court Reporter. 
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A P P E A R A N C E S

FOR THE PETITIONER: 

SCHLANGER, SILVER, BARG & PAINE, LLP 

109 North Post Oak Lane 

Houston, Texas 77024 

713.735.8514 

BY: MS. PATRICIA A. WICOFF 

-ANDMS. AMY HARRIS 

FOR THE RESPONDENT: 

PRO SE

AMICUS:

M. HEATHER HUGHES LAW OFFICE

952 Echo Lane, Suite 410

Houston, Texas 77024

713.463.5505

BY: MS. M. HEATHER HUGHES

ALSO PRESENT:

CLIFFORD HARRISON
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Stephanie Wells - 713.562.6969

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 INDEX

 VOLUME 1 OF 1

 (EXCERPT OF TRIAL)

 PAGE VOL. 

JANUARY 20, 2015

Appearances................................... 2 1

Chronological Index........................... 3 1

Proceedings................................... 4 1

Reporter's Certificate........................ 6 1
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Stephanie Wells - 713.562.6969

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(The following is an excerpt from Trial had on 

January 20th 2015.)

THE RESPONDENT: Excuse me, Judge, I hate 

to interrupt, but I -- if it's okay. I don't want to 

upset the Court, but I have a Respondent's Emergency 

Motion to Enforce the Mediated Settlement Agreement. 

THE COURT: It is denied. We are in trial. 

And, Ms. Wicoff, if you will call your witness back to 

the stand. 

MS. WICOFF: Yes, ma'am. 

THE COURT: We will get started again. 

THE RESPONDENT: Oh, one of the things, 

Your Honor, a -- I just object to not having a jury 

trial. I know I was late this morning, but I didn't -- 

THE COURT: Okay. That's enough. Ms. 

Harrison, we are in trial. This is not pretrial. If 

you would have been here at 8:30 this morning like you 

were ordered to be, we could have handled any of these 

issues. We are in trial. We are in the middle of 

witness testimony. And there's going to be order to 

these trial proceedings. If you're unfamiliar with the 

rules of conduct, then I suggest you get yourself 

familiarized with them. And that goes for anybody in 

this courtroom. 

With that being said, we are resuming and 
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Stephanie Wells - 713.562.6969

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we are going to conduct these proceedings in an orderly 

fashion.

Ms. Wicoff, you may resume. 

THE RESPONDENT: Excuse me, Judge. May I 

just say something into the -- 

THE COURT: You may not.

THE RESPONDENT: -- record, to the jury 

trial -- 

THE COURT: You may not. 

THE RESPONDENT: I object to us not having 

a jury trial.

THE COURT: Okay. Duly noted on the 

record. We're getting started. 

Ms. Wicoff, you may proceed. 

MS. WICOFF: Thank you, Judge. 

 DIRECT EXAMINATION CONTINUED

BY MS. WICOFF:

(End of Excerpt.) 
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 REPORTER'S CERTIFICATE

THE STATE OF TEXAS ) 

COUNTY OF HARRIS ) 

I, Stephanie Wells, Official Court Reporter in and 

for the 311th District Court of Harris County, State of 

Texas, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing 

contains a true and correct transcription of all 

portions of evidence and other proceedings requested in 

writing by counsel for the parties to be included in 

this volume of the Reporter's Record, in the 

above-styled and numbered cause, all of which occurred 

in open court or in chambers and were reported by me. 

I further certify that this Reporter's Record of 

the proceedings truly and correctly reflects the 

exhibits, if any, admitted by the respective parties. 

I further certify that the total cost for the 

preparation of this Reporter's Record is $30.00 and was 

paid by ____________________. 

WITNESS MY OFFICIAL HAND this the 24th day of 

March, 2015. 

 

/s/ Stephanie Wells

 ___________________________________

 Stephanie Wells, Texas CSR 2700 

 Expiration Date: 12/31/2015 

 Official Court Reporter

311th District Court

301 Caroline, 8th Floor

 Houston, Texas 77002

713.562.6969