## COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOFTEXAS FORT WORTH NO. 2 - 0 6 - 1 3 5 - CV
I N TH E I N TEREST O F A. B . H. AN D L . N. H. , M I NOR CH I L DR E N

----- ----- -- FR O M THE 2 33RD DI STRI CT CO URT O F TARRA NT CO UN TY

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### OP I NI ON ON R E HEAR I NG

----- ----- -- A f t erco ns i der i ng ou rpr i oropi ni on on ap pel l antCh e ry l l H . ’ s m ot i on f or r ehear i ng, w e gr antt he m ot i on, w i t hdr aw ouropi ni on and j udg m entdat ed S e p te m b e r 2 0 , 2 0 0 7 , a n d s u b s ti tu te th e fo l l o w i n g . I n s i x i ss ues , C heryl l con t end s t hat t he t r i al co urtab us ed i t s di sc r et i on by
su a s pont e a ppoi nt i ng Sco t tH . s ol e m ana gi ng c ons ervat oroft he chi l dr en, by f i ndi ng t hata m at er i al and subst ant i al change i n ci r cum st a n c e s h ad occur r ed
w ar r ant i ng t he app oi n tm e n t ofScot tass ol e m ana gi ng c ons ervat oran d by f i ndi ng t hat i t w as i n t he bes t i nt er es t of t he chi l dr en t o do so , and by ent er i ng2

f i ndi ngsof f ac t and con cl us i ons of l aw i n su pportofi t s or der . W e r eve r sean d
r e m a n d f o ra n e w t r ia l. The t r i al co urten t er ed a f i nal de cr ee i n Cher yl l an d S c o tt’s di vor ce on S e p t e m b e r2 4 , 2 0 0 3 . In t h e d e c r e e , t h e t r ia l c o u rt a p p o in t e d S c o t ta n d C h e r y ll jo in tm a n a g in g c o n s e r v a t o r s o f t h e irc h ild r e n , A .B .H . a n d L .N .H . A tt h e t im e oft he di vor ce, A . B. H . , a boy, w as si x year s ol d, and L. N . H . , a gi r l , w as t hr ee yea r s o l d . The t r i al co urtgr ant ed C heryl l t he exc l us i ve r i ghtt o e st abl i sh t he pr i m ar y r esi dence of t he chi l dr en w i t hi n T ar ra n t C oun t y; t he r i ght, af t er con su l t at i on w i t h Scott , t o c ons entt o m edi ca l , den t al , and su r gi ca l t r ea t m ent i nvol vi ng no nem er gen cy i nva si ve pr oce dur esan d t o ps ych i at r i c a nd ps ych ol ogi ca l t r ea t m entoft he chi l dr en; t he exc l us i ve r i ghtt o r ec ei ve and gi ve r ec ei p t fo r per i odi c p aym entf ort he su pportoft he chi l dr en and t o hol d or di sbur se t hese f und s f ort he benefi toft he chi l dr en; and t he rig htt o m ake dec i si onsr ega r di ng t he chi l dr en’ s edu ca t i on. T h e d e c re e a ls o g a v e S c o tt e x te n d e d s ta n d a rd p o s s e s s io n v is ita tio n . It al so or de re d h i m to paych i l d s upportby w agew i t hhol di ng t o Cher yl l i n t he
am ountofs i x hu ndr ed dol l ar s perm ont h a nd t o pr ovi de hea l t h i ns ur anc e f ort he chi l dr en. The dec r ee co nt ai ned sp ec i f i c o r der s t hata cha nge i n t he t hen
- cur r ent d a y c a r e p r o v i d e r s , S c o t t ’ s p a r e n t s M a r k a n d Do rt h a H. , wo u l d c o n s t i t ut e a m at er i al change i n ci r cum st ances.3

O n J u n e 1 8 , 2 0 0 4 , C h e r y ll f ile d a p e t i t i o n t o m o d if yt h e p a r e n t -c h ild
r el at i ons hi p, i n p a rti cul ar , t he dayca r e p r ovi si ons f ort he chi l dr en and f or i n c rea se d ch i l d su p p o rt . S h e all e g e d tha t S c o tt’ s p a ren ts w e re u n a b l e to pr ovi de chi l dcar e f or“a num berofoccasi o ns each m onth” w hen she needed chi l dca r e. Ther ef or e, Cher yl l al l ege d t hata cha nge i n pr ovi der s w oul d be i n t he
c h i l d ren ’s b e st i n tere st. O n J u ly1 , 2 0 0 4 , S c o t t f ile d a c o u n t e r p e t it io n t o m o d if yt h e p a r e n t -c h ild
r el at i ons hi p. He sp ec i f i ca l l y r equ es t ed t hat he be app oi nt ed t he j oi ntm ana gi ng con se r vat orw i t h t he r i ghtt o det er m i ne t he pr i m ary r es i den ce oft he chi l dr en, o r, i n the alt e rna ti v e , th a t h e b e a w a rde d th e i n d e p e n d e n t r i g h t t o co n se n t t o m edi ca l , den t al , and su r gi ca l t r ea t m entoft he chi l dr en and t he i nde pen den tr i ght t o m ake deci si ons concer ni ng t he chi l dr en’ s edu c a ti on. H e al so al l eged gener al l y t hata m at er i al and subst ant i al chang e i n ci r cum st ances had occurr ed si nce t he di vor ce. O n O ct obe r13, 2004 , t h e t r i al co urts i gne d t em por ary or der s f r om a h e a ri n g c o n d u c te d o n A u g u s t 2 , 2 0 0 4 . In th e te m p o ra ryo rd e rs , th e tri a l c o u rt ent er ed a t em por ary i nj unc t i on pr ohi bi t i ng t he part i esf r om m ak i ng di sp ar agi ng re m a rk s a b o u t e a c h o th e r i n fro n t o f th e c h i l d re n . I t a l s o o rd e re d th e d a yc a re pr ovi der , t hen S cot t ’ s par ent s, t o desi gnate no m or e t han t w o w eeks peryear f orv a cat i on t o be exer ci sed i n not l ess t han on e w eek i ncr em ent s. The t r i al4

c o u rtfurth e r ap p o i n ted D e n i se M a rx, a l i c e n se d so c i a l w o rke r, to c o n d u c t a
so ci al st udy con ce r ni ng t he ci r cum st anc esan d c ondi t i on oft he chi l dr en and t he hom e o fan y pe r so n r equ es t i ng m ana gi ng c ons ervat or sh i p or pos se ss i on oft he
c h i l d re n . M a rx ’s s tu d y w a s d a te d O c to b e r 1 , 2 0 0 4 . I n p re p a ri n g th e s tu d y , M a rx vi si t ed bot h Scott ’ s and Cher yl l ’ s hom es , and sh e i nt ervi ew ed bot h Scottan d C h e ry l l , asw el l asA . B. H . , L. N . H . , Scott ’ s m ot her , Cher yl l ’ s boyf r i end , an d S cot t ’ s si st er . She d i d not vi si tSco t t ’ s par ent s’ hom e, nordi d she i nt er view S cot t ’ s t hen- gi r l f r i end and cur r entw i f e. A s a r es ul toft he st udy, M arx c onc l ude d, “At t hi s poi nt , I do n otbe l i eve S cot tand C her yl l . . . can act t ogether as Joi nt M anagi ng C onser vat or s t o m ake d e c is io n s f o rt h e c h ild r e n .” S h e r e c o m m e n d e d t h a tt h e t r ia l c o u rtn a m e C h e r y ll
so l e m a n a g i n g co n s e r v a t o ro f t h e ch i l d ren an d tha t C h e ryl l b e p e rm i tted to
m ake day car e ar r angem ent s ofherow n choi ce. Scot tam end ed hi s cou nt er pet i t i on on M ay 3, 2005 , as ki n g th a t i ft he
cou rtde ni ed hi s r equ es t t o be nam ed t he par ent w i t h t he r i ght t o det er m i ne t he pr i m ary r es i den ce oft he chi l dr en, th e cou rtor dervi si t at i on i n e xce ssoft he T e x a s e x p a n d e d s ta n d a rd v i s i ta ti o n s c h e d u l e i n o rd e r to a c c o m m o d a te C h e ry l l ’s1 ... C h e r y ll a n d h e r t h e n -b o y f r ie n d a n d c u r r e n th u s b a n d b o u g h ta h o m e in

Nort h Ri c hl a nd Hi l l s i n Ja nu a r y 2005. 5 i nt entt o m ove t he chi l dr en f rom w estFortW ort h t o N ort h R i chl and H i l l s. 1 Scot tal so r equ es t ed t hat i f t he cou rtdi d notap poi nthi m ast he per so n w i t h t he
r i ght t o det er m i ne t he pr i m ar y r esi dence of t he chi l dr en, t hatt he cour tr est r i ct th e ge ogr aph i ca l l oca t i on oft he chi l dr en t o W hi t e Sett l em entI SD w her e t he
c h ild r e n h a d b e e n a t t e n d in g s c h o o l. The c ourthe ar d Cher yl l ’ s pet i t i on a nd Sco t t ’ s cou nt er pet i t i on i n M ay and June 2 0 0 5 . A t t he t i m e oft r i al , A . B. H . and L. N . H . w er e seven and f i ve, re s p e c ti v e l y . A tt r i al , M ar x t est i f i ed abou tt he concl usi ons she m ad e f ol l ow i ng her i nt er act i on w i t h t he f am i l y. Speci f i cal l y, she c o n c luded t hatSco t thad anger and co nt r ol i ss uess t em m i ng f r om t he di vor ce , t hat C heryl l w asm er el y t r yi ng to av o i d co n fl i c t w i th S c o tt, an d tha t C h e ryl l h a d n o t a ttem p ted to a l i e n a te Scot tf r om t he chi l dr en. M arx t es t i f i ed w i t houtobj ec t i on a s t o he rco ncl us i on t hatt he part i es coul d not w or k t ogether as j oi nt m anagi ng conser vat or s and her
r ecom m endati on t hat C her yl l be nam ed sol e m anagi ng conser vat or . Th e soci al st udy w as of f er ed and adm i t t ed w i t hou tobj ect i on, and both si des el i ci t ed t e s t im o n ya b o u tM a r x ’s re c o m m e n d a t io n s w it h o u to bje c t io n b ye it h e rc o u n s e l.2 ... A .B .H . w a s o v e rw e i g h t a t th e ti m e o f th e d i v o rc e d e c re e , b u t D r.

R o g e rs d i d n o t d i a g n o s e h i m a s m o rb i d l yo b e s e u n ti l a fte r th e d i v o rc e . 6 D r . S t r o u d , t h e c h ild r e n ’s d e n t is t , t e s t if ie d a s a n e x p e rtf o rS c o t t . H e t o ld th e co u rttha t L.N .H . h a d h a d t o h a v e h e r f ron t f o u r t e e th p u l l e d o u t du e to dec ay. Dr . St r oud di d not t es t i f y as t o w hos e f aul tt he t oot h de ca y w as , but h e d i d i n d i c a t e t h a ti n t h e p a s th e h a d s p o k e n t o Ch e r y l l a b o u t n o t g i v i n g L . N. H. a “ si ppy” c u p w i th s w ee t ene d m i l k t o go t o be d w i t h. Dr . Roger s, t he
c h ild r e n ’s p e d ia t r ic ia n , t e s t if ie d t h a t h e h a d d ia g n o s e d A .B .H . a s m o r b id ly
o b e se ; h o w e v e r, h e d i d n o t attr i b u te th e p rob l e m to e i th e r pa ren t. 2 In a d d i ti o n to h e a ri n g te s ti m o n y fro m M a rxa n d th e d o c to rs , th e tri a l c o u rt hear d t est i m ony fr om C her yl l , Sco t t , C her yl l ’ s new husban d, S cot t ’ s new w i f e, S c o tt’s m o th e r, a n d L .N .H .’s fo rm e r te a c h e r. A t t h e c l o s e o f tri a l , th e c o u rt d e l a y e d rul i n g o n the co n se rva to rsh i p i ss u e s b u t did o rde r S c o tt a n d C h e ryl l to att end “ H i gh Conf l i ctFa m i l i es ” cou ns el i ng a nd e duc at i on. O n A u g u st 4 , 2 0 0 5 , th e tr i a l c o u rt i ss u e d a l e tter ruli n g ap p o i n ti n g S c o tt
so l e m ana gi ng c ons ervat or of t he chi l dr en and C heryl l pos se ss or y c ons ervat or oft he chi l dr en. C her yl l w as gi ven ext ended possessi on and o rd e red t o pay chi l d s upport . The l et t err ei t er at ed t hatbot h part i es w er e o r der ed t o a t t end an d
c o mp l e t e t h e h i g h c o n f l i c tf a m i l i e s c o u n s e l i n g a n d e d u c a t i o n c o u r s e . On3 ... S eeT e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 5 6 .0 0 4 (V e rn o n 2 0 0 2 ).
4 ... Te x. R. Ci v. P. 301.
5 ... T e x . R . C i v . P . 6 7 ; see Roar k v. Stal

lworth O i

l & Gas, I

nc. , 813 S .W .2 d 4 9 2 , 4 9 5 (T e x . 1 9 9 1 ); Baltzer v. Medi

na , 240 S . W . 3d 469, 476 ( Tex. A pp. — H ous t on [ 14t h D i st . ] 200 7, no pet . ) (c i t i ng Ha lla v. Ha lla , No. 14- 06- 011 26- C V , 2007 W L 236760 0, at*2 ( Tex. A pp. — H ous t on [ 14t h Di st . ] A ug. 2 1 , 2 0 0 7 , n o p e t.) (m e m . o p ., n o t d e s i g n a te d fo r p u b l i c a ti o n )). 7 January 18, 20 06 , t he t r i al cour t ent er ed an or deri n accor dance w i t h t he l et t er ru l i n g . I n he rf i r sti ss ue, Cher yl l co nt end s t hatt he t r i al co urtab us ed i t s di sc r et i on b ya p p o in t in g S c o t t s o le m a n a g in g c o n s e r v a t o rw h e n h e d id n o tp le a d f o rt h is rel i e f or req u e st i t at tr i a l . S c o tt res p o n d s th a t th e m a tter w a s tri e d b yco n se n t. W e di sagr ee. Th e Tex as R ul es of C i vi l Pr ocedu r e appl i cabl e t o t he f i l i ng of an or i gi nal l aw su i t app l y t o a s ui tf orm odi f i ca t i on. R u le 3 0 1 o ft h e T e x a s R u le s o fC iv il 3 Pr oce dure p ro v i d e s t hatt he j udgm entoft he cou rtm us tbe s upport ed by t he pl eadi ngs. Butw hen an i ss ue notr ai se d by th e p l ea di ngs i s t r i ed by t he

4 expr ess ori m pl i ed consent of t he part i es, i ti s t r eat ed i n al l r espect s as i fi thad been r ai sed i n t he pl eadi ngs. 5 How eve r , t r i al by con se nt i s a doc t r i ne t hati s onl y i nt end ed t o c ove rt he
exc ept i ona l ca sei n w hi ch i tcl ea r l y a ppe ar s f r om t he r ec or d a s a w hol e t hatt he6 ... RE /M A X o f T ex ., I n c . v. Ka ta r Co rp . , 961 S .W . 2d 324, 328 ( Tex. A p p .— H o u s to n [1 s t D i s t.] 1 9 9 7 ), pet. denied, 989 S .W . 2d 363 ( Te x. 1999 ) (H e c h t, J ., d i s s e n t i n g to d e n i a l o f p e ti ti o n fo r re v i e w o n o th e r g ro u n d s ); S tep h a nzv. L a i

rd, 8 4 6 S .W .2 d 8 9 5 , 9 0 1 (T e x . A p p .— H o u s to n [1 s t D i s t.] 1 9 9 3 , w ri t d e n i e d ).

7 ... RE/ M A X of Tex ., 9 6 1 S .W .2 d a t 3 2 8 ; Steph anz , 846 S. W . 2d a t901. 8 ... RE/ M A X of Tex ., 9 6 1 S .W .2 d a t 3 2 8 ; Steph anz , 846 S. W . 2d a t901; see al so Beck v. W

al ker, 154 S. W . 3d 895, 901 n. 3 ( Te x. App.

— Dal l a s 2005 , n o p e t.).

9 ... S eeT e x . R . C i v . P . 6 7 ; Jo h n s o nv. S tru c ture d A ss e t S ervs ., L L C, 148 S .W .3 d 7 1 1 , 7 1 9 (T e x . A p p .– D a l l a s 2 0 0 4 , n o p e t.).

10 ... 2 4 0 S .W .3 d 4 6 9 (T e x . A p p .— H o u s to n [1 4 th D i s t.] 2 0 0 7 , n o p e t.). 8 part i es t r i ed t he unp l ead i ssue. I ti s not i nt end ed t o es t abl i sh a gen er al r ul e o f 6 pr ac ti c e an d s houl d beap pl i ed w i t h c ar e, an d i n no eve nti n a doub t f ul si t uat i on. 7 To det er m i ne w het her an i ssue w as t r i ed by consent, t he cour t m ust
exam i ne t he r ecor d not f orevi dence of t he i ssue, but r at her f orevi dence of t r i al of t he i ssue. C o n s e n t m a yb e fo u n d o n l yw h e re e v i d e n c e re g a rd i n g a p a rty ’s 8 unp l ea d e d i ssue i s devel oped underci r cum st ances i ndi cat i ng bo t h part i es und e rs to o d th e i ssue w as i n t he case, and t he ot herpart y f ai l ed t o m ake an
a p p rop ri a te c o m p l a i n t. 9 I n Baltzer

v. Medi

na , t he Fourt eent h D i st r i ct C our t of A ppeal s addr essed t he i ssue oft r i al by consent i n a case s im il a r to t he one befor e us. I n t hat 1011 ... Id. a t 4 7 6 . 12 ... Id. 13 ... Id. 14 ... Id. 9 ca se , t he app el l ant app ea l ed t he t r i al co urt ’ s or derm odi f yi ng t he j oi ntm ana gi ng c o n s e rv a to rs h i p a n d d e s i g n a ti n g th e a p p e l l e e a s s o l e m a n a g i n g c o n s e rv a to r. 11 Th e appel l antar gued t hat because t he appel l ee di d not r equestt o be appo i nt ed
so l e co n se rva to r, the tr i a l c o u rt a b u se d i ts d i sc reti o n b yg ran ti n g the rel i e f. 12 Th e court o f a p p eal s not ed t hatt he appel l ee t est i f i ed t hathe w ant ed
ce rt ai n e xcl us i ve r i ght s but t hat he di d not r equ es t t he r i ght t o bes ol e m ana gi ng c o n s e rv a to r. The c ourtofap pea l s he l d th a t bec aus e t he app el l ee di d not 13
r equestt hatt he t r i al courtappoi nt hi m sol e m anagi ng con ser vat orand i n f act expr essl y r equest ed t hatt he conser vat or shi p be shar ed, t he t r i al courtabused i tsd i s c re ti o n b yd e s i g n a ti n g th e a p p e l l e e a s s o l e m a n a g i n g c o n s e rv a to r. 14 H er e, bot h part i es el i ci t ed t est i m ony f r om M ar x as t o herconcl usi on t hat j oi ntm anagi ng conser vat or shi p w as unw or kabl e and herr ecom m endati on t hat C her yl l be nam ed sol e m anagi ng conser vat or . Scottar gues t hatt he i ssue w as t r i ed by con sent because both part i es w er e aw ar e t hatM ar x had r ecom m ended
so l e m ana gi ng c ons ervat or sh i p i n he r so ci al s t udy. How eve r , t he so ci al s t udy
s ta te s th a t C h e ry l l , n o t S c o tt, s h o u l d b e a p p o i n te d s o l e m a n a g i n g c o n s e rv a to r.15 ... See i d. ; Jo h n s o n, 1 4 8 S .W .3 d a t 7 1 9 . 16 ... I n l i ghtof o u r h o l d i ng, w e n ee d notad dr es s C heryl l ’ s r em ai ni ng i s s u e s . S ee Te x. R. App . P. 47. 1; Provi den t L ife & A c ci

den t I n s. Co . v. K

n o tt, 1 2 8 S .W .3 d 2 1 1 , 2 1 6 (T e x . 2 0 0 3 ). 10 A s s u c h , w e h o ld t h a t C h e r y ll w a s n o t m a d e a w a r e t h a tS c o t tw a s s e e k in g s o le
m a n a g i n g c o n s e rv a to rs h i p fro m M a rx ’s re c o m m e n d a ti o n . I n hi s pet i t i on, Scot ts pec i f i ca l l y r equ es t ed t hathe be ap poi nt ed j o i n t m a n a g i n g c o n s e rv a to r w i th th e ri g h t to d e te rm i n e th e p ri m a ry r es i den ce oft he chi l d ren, ori n t he al t er nat i ve, t he i nde pen den t r i ghtt o c ons entt o m edi ca l , de nt al , and su r gi ca l t r ea t m enti nvol vi ng i nvasi ve pr ocedu r es and t o consent t o psychi at r i c and psycho l ogi cal t r eat m entoft he chi l dr en and t h e in d epend entr i ght t o m ake d e c i s i o n s c o n c e rn i n g th e c h i l d re n ’s e d u c a ti o n . S c o tt d i d n o t re q u e s t to b e n a m e d s o l e m a n a g i n g c o n s e rv a to r, a n d th e re c o rd i s devoi d ofevi dence i ndi cat i ng t hat both part i es und er st ood t hatt hi s i ssue w as b e fo re th e tr i a l co u rt . A c c o rding ly , w e h o l d tha t t h e tr i a l co u rtab u se d i ts 15 di sc r et i on by d es i gna t i ng Sco t tasA . B. H . ’ s and L. N . H . ’ s so l e m ana gi ng c o n s e r v a t o rb e c a u s e t h e is s u e w a s n o tt r ie d b yc o n s e n t . T h e r e f o r e , w e s u s t a in C her yl l ’ s f i r sti ssue. Beca us e w e h ol d t hatt he t r i al cou rtab us ed i t s di sc r et i on byde si gna t i ng S cot tas s ol e m anagi ng con servat or , w e r ever se t he tr ia l c our t ’ s or der des i gna t i ng Sco t tass ol e m ana gi ng c ons ervat oran d re m and t hi s ca set o t he t r ia l c o u rtf o ra n e w m o d if ic a t io n t r ia l. 1611 J OHN CAYCE CHI E FJ UST I CE
PA N EL: CA YC E, C. J. ; LI V I N G STO N an d GA RD N ER, JJ. LI V I N G STO N , J. , f i l ed a d i ss ent i ng op i ni on. DEL I VERE D: Se pt e m be r25, 2008

## COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOFTEXAS FORT WORTH NO. 2 - 06 - 13 5- CV I N T HE I NT E R E S T OF A . B. H . A N D L. N . H . , M I N O R C H I LDR EN

----- ----- -- FR O M THE 2 33RD DI STRI CT CO URT O F TARRA NT CO UN TY

----- ----- -- 

### DI S S E NTI NG O P I NI ON ON R E HEAR I NG

----- ----- -- I r es pec t f ul l y d i s s e n t . Bec aus e b ot h Cher yl l an d Scottf i l ed pl ea di ngs putt i ng m odi f i cat i on of t he t er m s oft he j oi ntm anagi ng c o n s e r vat or shi p at i ss ue, s pec i f i ca l l y i m pl i ca t i ng t he bes t i nt er es t of t he chi l dr en, and bec aus e t he i ss u e w a s tri e d b yco n se n t, I w o u l d affi rm the tr i a l co u rt ’s j u d g m e n t. Th e Su pr em e C our tofTexas has hel d t hat
a su i t pro p e rl yin v o k i n g the j u ri sd i c ti o n o f a c o u rtw i th res p e c t t o cust ody an d contr ol ofa m i norchi l d vest s t hatcourtw i t h decr et al pow er s i n al l r el eva nt cus t ody, con t r ol , pos se ss i on a n d vi si t at i on m at t er s i nvol vi ng t he chi l d. The cou rt s ar e gi ven w i d e di sc r et i on i n s u c h p ro c e e d i n g s . T e c h n i c a l ru l e s o f p ra c ti c e a n d p l e a d i n g s a re of l i t t l e i m port anc e i n det er m i ni ng i ss ues con ce r ni ng t he cus t ody of chi l dr en. . . . [ O ] ncet he chi l d i s br oughtunde ri t s j ur i sd i c ti on by sui tand pl eadi ng cast i n t er m s ofcust ody an d contr ol , i tbecom es th e d u ty o f t h e co u rti n th e e x e r c i se o f i ts e q u i tab l e p o w e rs to2

m ak e p r ope rdi sp os i t i on ofal l m at t er s com pr ehe nde d t her ebyi n a m annersuppor t ed by t he evi dence. L eith o ld v. Pl a ss, 4 1 3 S .W .2 d 6 9 8 , 7 0 1 (T e x . 1 9 6 7 ); L o h m a n nv. L o h m a n n, 62 S .W .3 d 8 7 5 , 8 7 9 (T e x . A p p .— E l P a s o 2 0 0 1 , n o p e t.); s e eInreA .J.J., No. 02- 0 4 -0 0 2 6 5 -C V , 2 0 0 5 W L9 1 4 4 9 3 , a t * 5 & n .3 0 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth A p r. 21, 2005 , no pet . ) ( m em . op. ) . The b es ti nt er es toft he chi l d i s par am ountan d sh oul d pr eva i l ove ran ove r l y t ec hni ca l ap pl i ca t i on oft he r ul es of pl ea di ng a nd p ra c ti c e . S eeT EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 153 . 002 ( V er non 2 0 0 2 ); L eith o ld , 413 S .W .2 d a t 7 0 2 ; L o h m a n n, 62 S. W . 3d a t878– 79. S e c t io n 1 5 6 .0 0 4 o ft h e f a m ilyc o d e , w h ic h m a k e s t h e ru le s o f c iv il pr ocedu r e appl i cabl e t o m odi f i cat i on sui t s, shoul d not af fe c tt hi s l i ber al app l i ca t i on of t he pl ea di ng r ul es , and t he t w o ca n be har m oni z ed . T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 5 6 .0 0 4 (V e rn o n 2 0 0 2 ). Buts eeBaltzer v. Medi

na , 240 S. W . 3d 46 9, 47 6 n . 5 ( Tex . A pp. — H oust on [ 14 t h D i s t. ] 2 0 0 7 , no pet . ) ( hol di ng t hat
se ct i on 156 . 004 su per se ded t he hol di ng i n L eith o ld) . Undert he r ea so ni ng of L eith o ld an d L o h mann , a pl eadi ng r equest i ng m odi f i cat i on of t he t er m s ofan exi st i ng c ons ervat or sh i p s houl d bec o n s tru e d t o gi ve t he t r i al co urtt he di s c r e t i o n t o c h a n g e t h o s e t e r ms i n t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t o f t h e c h i l d , ev en i f t he sp ec i f i c m odi f i ca t i on m adeby t he t r i al co urtw asnot d el i nea t ed i n t he pl ea di ngs . I n ot herw or ds , a j u d g m e n t m odi f yi ng c ons ervat or sh i p w oul d be sup p o rt e d by pl eadi ngs speci f i cal l y putt i ng t he t er m s ofconser vat or shi p at3

i s s u e . S eeT EX . R. C IV . P . 3 0 1 ; Ho r izo n/CMSHe a lth c a reCo r p . v. A uld, 34 S . W . 3d 88 7, 89 7 ( Tex . 20 00 ) ( hol di ng t hati n t he a b s e n c e ofspeci al
e x c e p ti o n s , c o u rts s h o u l d c o n s tru e p l e a d i n g s l i b e ra l l y ). Bec a u s e C h e r y l l a n d S c o t tb o t h p u tt h e wo r k a b i l i t yo ft h e e xi st i ng conser vat or shi p ar r angem entati ssue i n t hei rpl eadi ngs, I w oul d hol d t hatt hose pl eadi ngs w er e suf f i ci entt o suppo rt t he t r i al court ’ s or derdesi gnati ng S cot tas th e s o l e m a n a g i n g c o n s e r v a t o r o f th e c h i l d re n . S ee L eith o ld , 41 3 S . W . 2d at 7 0 1 ; L o h m a n n, 6 2 S .W .3 d a t 8 7 8

– 7 9 ; A .J.J . , 2 0 0 5 W L 9 1 4 4 9 3 , a t *5 &
n. 30. M or eov er , I w oul d hol d t hatt he i ss ue w ast r i ed by c ons ent . Al t hough no
w i tn e ss sp e c i fi c a l l ytes ti fi e d tha t S c o tts houl d bena m ed s o l e m ana gi ng con se r vat oroft he chi l dr en, t he m a tte r o f w het hera cha nge f r om t he t hen
c u r r e n tjo in tm a n a g in g c o n s e r v a t o r s h ip a r r a n g e m e n t w a s w a r r a n t e d w a s c le a r ly tr i ed by t he part i es , an d t he part i esi nt r oduc ed con f l i ct i ng e vi den ce r ega r di ng
w hi ch par entw as bet t erabl e t o m ake heal t h car e, r e s id e n c y, and ot her d e c is io n s re g a r d in g A .B .H . a n d L .N .H . A c c o r d in g ly , I w o u ld c o n c lu d e a n d h o ld t h a t th e i s s u e w a s tri e d b yc o n s e n t. S eeT EX . R. C IV . P. 67; Be ckv. Wal ker, 1 5 4 S .W .3 d 8 9 5 , 9 0 1 n .3 (T e x . A p p .— D a l l a s 2 0 0 5 , n o p e t.).4

F o r t h e se rea so n s, I res p e c tful l yd i ss e n t.

T E R R I E L I VI NGS T ON J U S T I C E DEL I VERE D: Se pt e m be r25, 2008