Opinion ID: 1868222
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Motion for Separate Trials

Text: A trial court may order separate trials to avoid prejudice. See Tex.R. Civ. P. 174(b). Here, the Dosseys requested separate trials to avoid the prejudice posed by an alleged conflict of interest. In Texas, indigent parents have a statutory right to counsel in termination cases. Under Family Code § 107.013(a)(1), a court must appoint counsel to an indigent parent who opposes termination of his or her parental rights. Tex. Fam.Code § 107.013(a)(1). In a termination suit against two parents, both may be entitled to appointed counsel. In that circumstance, the statute provides that if the court finds that the interests of the parents are not in conflict, the court may appoint a single attorney ad litem to represent the interests of both parents. Id. § 107.013(b). The statute therefore implicitly provides that indigent parents who face termination of their parental rights in the same suit are entitled to nonconflicted counsel. [4] What constitutes a conflict of interest between parents within the meaning of section 107.013(b) is a question of first impression for this Court. Typically, courts look to the ethical rules promulgated by the State Bar to evaluate conflicts of interest in civil cases. See, e.g., Mandell & Wright v. Thomas, 441 S.W.2d 841, 846 (Tex.1969) (applying former Texas Canon of Ethics to conflict of interest claim based on joint representation in a wrongful death action); Sylvia M. v. Dallas County Child Welfare Unit, 771 S.W.2d 198, 204-05 (Tex.App.-Dallas 1989, no writ) (applying former Disciplinary Rule 5-105); In re H.W.E., 613 S.W.2d 71, 72 (Tex.Civ.App.-Fort Worth 1981, no writ) (same); Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp. v. United States Fire Ins. Co., 50 F.3d 1304, 1315 (5th Cir.1995) (applying the Disciplinary Rules to evaluate a conflict of interest for purposes of a motion to disqualify opposing counsel). Generally, ethical rules prohibit an attorney from jointly representing clients when the clients' interests are adverse to each other. For instance, Texas Disciplinary Rule of Professional Conduct 1.06(b)(1) provides that a lawyer shall not represent a person if the representation involves a substantially related matter in which that person's interests are materially and directly adverse to another client. [5] See Tex. Disciplinary R. Prof'l Conduct 1.06(b)(1). The Restatement of Law articulates an almost identical standard, providing that a lawyer in a civil case may not represent two or more clients in a matter if there is a substantial risk that the lawyer's representation of one client would be materially and adversely affected by the lawyer's duties to another client in the matter.... Restatement (Third) of the Law Governing Lawyers, § 128 (Representing Clients with Conflicting Interests in Civil Litigation) (2000). Consistent with these guidelines, we hold that a trial court must determine whether there is a substantial risk that a lawyer's obligations to one parent would materially and adversely affect his or her obligations to the other parent when deciding whether there is a conflict of interest between parents opposing termination in a single suit. [6] In evaluating whether there is a substantial risk of a conflict of interest before trial, the trial court should consider the available record to determine the likelihood that the parents' positions will be adverse to each other. For example, when reviewing a record of pre-trial proceedings, the trial court may consider the Department's allegations in the petition against each parent, evidence adduced during pre-trial hearings, and the parents' statements and positions taken in the course of pre-trial proceedings. We review a trial court's determination of whether there was a conflict of interest for an abuse of discretion. See Metro. Life Ins. Co. v. Syntek Fin. Corp., 881 S.W.2d 319, 321 (Tex.1994); Allstate Ins. Co. v. Hunt, 469 S.W.2d 151, 153 (Tex.1971). The Dosseys first requested separate trials at a pre-trial hearing. A review of the pre-trial record shows no substantial risk that Villarrial's representation of one parent would materially and adversely affect his representation of the other parent. The petition alleged grounds of endangerment against each of the Dosseys. These allegations permitted termination based not only on each parent's own conduct endangering the children, but upon each parent's knowing exposure of the children to one another's endangering conduct. See Tex. Fam.Code § 161.001(1)(D), (E). Consequently, evidence regarding Jimmy's conduct could tend to prove the grounds supporting Spring's termination, and vice versa. At all relevant times before trial, the Dosseys were married and living together. They hired one attorney to represent both of them when their children were first removed, and sought appointment of that attorney to represent both of them after he withdrew. The record does not reflect that, at any time before the pre-trial hearing, either parent blamed the other for conduct related to the termination, or that either would be willing or able to separate from the other to retain custody of the children. Because the parents have cited no evidence from the pre-trial record of an actual conflict between them, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Villarrial's pre-trial motion to sever. Further, the trial court did not err in determining that no actual conflict of interest had arisen when the Dosseys renewed their motion after the close of evidence. In fact, the evidence at trial establishes that the Dosseys' interests were aligned. Both parents testified that they were fully aware of the allegations against the other and that they continued to live and work toward reunification together, even after their children were removed. In particular, Spring testified that Jimmy was a good husband and a good parent, and that the two of them had learned to pull together and try to work through [their] problems instead of splitting up and going separate ways.... She asserted this even though she testified that he had hit her maybe three [or] four times and that she was scared when he stole a handgun and started working as a drug informant. The only evidence suggesting that Spring's and Jimmy's interests diverged was Spring's testimony that she would be willing to leave Jimmy if the court terminated only his rights. However, the jury was free to disbelieve that testimony. Alternatively, the jury could have concluded that even if she did legally separate from Jimmy, there would be no practical way to ensure that Spring and Jimmy would not reunite or to prevent Jimmy from exercising rights over the children. In evaluating whether an actual conflict of interest had arisen, the trial court would have known that these credibility determinations were within the province of the jury. In sum, the Dosseys did not establish that their interests conflicted to create a substantial risk that Villarrial could not represent effectively each of them in the same trial. We acknowledge that a potential for conflicts of interest between parents challenging termination may always be present. However, the trial court's inquiry under the standard we articulate today is limited to whether there is an actual conflict of interest. We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Villarrial's second motion for separate trials based on a conflict of interest. [7]