Court Opinion

ID: 2896459
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-08 00:44:27.897795+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:44:57.880783
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-08-0125-CV

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

AT AMARILLO

PANEL C

NOVEMBER 6, 2008

______________________________

IN THE INTEREST OF M.A.A., A CHILD

_________________________________

FROM THE 72ND DISTRICT COURT OF CROSBY COUNTY;

NO. 6,942; HON. KEVIN HART, PRESIDING

_______________________________

Before QUINN, C.J., and HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.
Â 
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Â 
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Appellant, Tony Sarinana, Jr., is the natural father of M.A.A., who was the subject
of a parental rights termination suit filed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective
Services (Department).  For the reasons expressed herein, we will reverse the trial courtâs
judgment and remand this case for a new trial.
Â 
Â 
Factual and Procedural Background
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â On October 17, 2006, the Department filed an original petition seeking immediate
possession of M.A.A. and requesting to terminate the parental rights of the parents.  The
parents were alleged as Bertha Hinojosa, mother, and Alfredo Anzaldua, father.  DNA
testing conducted after the filing of the original action excluded Anzaldua as the father.  On
April 12, 2007, Hinojosa signed an affidavit of status naming Sarinana as the possible
father.  On April 26, 2007, the Department filed an amended pleading alleging Sarinana
as the father and requesting his parental rights be terminated.  Citation for service on
Sarinana was issued on May 15, 2007, and Sarinana was subsequently served with the
citation on that same day.  Service was obtained on Sarinana at the Crosby County Jail,
where he was an inmate.  Sarinana was transferred to the custody of the Institutional
Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) two days prior to the deadline
for filing an answer.  A final hearing was conducted by the Associate Judge on October 4,
2007, and a default order terminating Sarinanaâs parental rights to M.A.A. was entered on
February 14, 2008.

 
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â On November 20, 2007, the clerk of the court received a letter from Sarinana
requesting information about the termination suit and requesting DNA testing.  The letter
further asserts that, when Sarinana was transferred to TDCJ, all of his paperwork regarding
the termination suit was lost or misplaced and, therefore, he did not have access to it.  By
a letter dated February 26, 2008, Sarinana requested the assistance of the clerk of the
court in obtaining the proper paperwork so that he might appeal the decision to terminate
his parental rights.  This letter also contained information advising the clerk of the location
of Sarinana within the TDCJ system.  By separate letter dated the same date, Sarinana
also filed a motion for a bench warrant and an original answer that contained a request for
an appointed lawyer based on Sarinanaâs indigence.  In a letter dated February 27, 2008,
and filed with the clerk the same day as the other letter, Sarinana gave another notice of
appeal and request for DNA testing.  This letter further contained a declaration of inability
to pay costs with an attached unsworn declaration that all of the facts stated in the
documents were true and correct.  The trial court entered an order appointing an attorney
for purposes of appeal on March 4, 2008.  The attorney filed a motion to set aside the
default judgment on March 10, 2008.  The March 10, 2008, motion to set aside the default
judgment was filed outside the 15 day window established by the Texas Family Code and,
therefore, cannot be considered by this Court. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. Â§ 263.405(b)
(Vernon 2005).

  A hearing was conducted by the trial court on Sarinanaâs motion to set
aside the default on March 14, 2008.  During the hearing on the out-of-time motion to set
aside the default judgment, the trial court concluded that the letters from Sarinana to the
courtâs clerk made it clear he was attempting to set aside the default judgment and that the
trial court should hear the request.  However, the trial court appeared to conduct the
hearing on the basis of the out-of-time motion filed by appointed counsel.  At that hearing,
the trial court entered an order for DNA testing on Sarinana and a judgment nunc pro tunc
correcting the date of the original order terminating Sarinanaâs parental rights.  Because
more than 30 days passed between the date the court signed its default order and the
courtâs ruling on the motion to set aside default judgment, the motion was overruled by
operation of law.  Â§ 263.405(d).

 
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Through two issues, Sarinana alleges that the trial court committed reversible error. 
We find the allegations in Sarinanaâs first issue to control the disposition of this matter and
will only address that issue.
Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Through his first issue, Sarinana alleges that he presented sufficient evidence to
require the trial court to set aside the default judgment and, consequently, the failure to do
so requires that we reverse the judgment.  The first question we must determine is what
motion was the trial court attempting to hear on March 14, 2008.  A review of the record 
demonstrates that the trial court considered Sarinanaâs letters filed with the clerk on
February 28, 2008, as being a request for a new trial.

  Further, the letters alleged the
same grounds formalized in counselâs motion of March 10, 2008.  Because the original
order terminating the parental rights of Sarinana was based upon his perceived default, we
can only conclude that the trial court was hearing evidence to set aside the default
judgment.  Accordingly, even though counselâs motion to set aside default was outside the
statutory  15 day period, the trial court still had the issue before it by virtue of Sarinanaâs
pro se filings.  
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â We review the denial of a motion for new trial under an abuse of discretion standard. 
See Dir., State Employees Workersâ Comp. Div. v. Evans, 889 S.W.2d 266, 268 (Tex.
1994).  The test for reviewing the entry of a default judgment was first enumerated in the
Craddock case.  See Craddock v. Sunshine Bus Lines, Inc., 134 Tex. 388, 133 S.W.2d
124, 126 (1939).  The Texas Supreme Court ruled that a default judgment should be set
aside when 1) the failure to answer was not intentional or the result of conscious
indifference but was due to a mistake or accident, 2) the movant sets up a meritorious
defense, and 3) the motion is filed at such time that granting a new trial would not result
in delay or otherwise injure the other party.  Id.  This test for setting aside a default has
been applied to termination cases by the Texas Supreme Court.  See In re R.R., 209
S.W.3d 112, 114-15 (Tex. 2006).  We will address each element in turn.
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The record reflects that Sarinana was not the first person alleged to be the father. 
After the initial party was excluded by DNA testing, the mother of M.A.A. filed an affidavit
of status.  This resulted in Sarinana being served on May 15, 2007.  At the hearing to set
aside the default judgment, Sarinanaâs appointed counsel presented to the court evidence
showing that Sarinana had been transferred from the Crosby County Jail to a TDCJ unit
two days prior to his answer date.  Through Sarinanaâs letters to the clerk of the court, it
was further established that all of his paperwork regarding the termination action had been
lost or misplaced at the time of transfer.  Further, beginning with his letter of November 20,
2007, Sarinana continuously tried to determine the status of the case and seek assistance
in fighting the termination.  In the hearing on the motion to set aside the default judgment,
the Department raised the question of why Sarinana had not contacted their office during
this period.  The record reflects that Sarinana had been furnished an address for the
Department, however, the address was not correct.  There was no further evidence
regarding that matter before the court.  It is further established in the record that Sarinana
consistently requested that he undergo DNA testing to determine if he was the father.  The
failure to file an answer has been held to have been intentional or due to conscious
indifference when âthe defendant knew it was sued but did not care.â  Id. at 115 (citing Fid.
and Guar. Ins. Co. v. Drewery Constr. Co., 186 S.W.3d 571, 576 (Tex. 2006)).  Based on
this record, Sarinanaâs failure to file an answer was not intentional nor the result of
conscious indifference.
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Turning to the question of a meritorious defense, we begin by reviewing the
amended pleadings filed by the Department regarding Sarinana.  Those pleadings alleged,
in addition to the statutory default provisions of Ch. 161, that Sarinana: 1) knowingly placed
or knowingly allowed the child to remain in conditions or surroundings which endangered
the physical or emotional well-being of the child and 2) engaged in conduct or knowingly
placed the child with persons who engaged in conduct which endangered the physical or
emotional well-being of the child.

  As to the allegations in the amended petition, the record
contains only vague references to Sarinana and what he knew or did not know about the
child.  Further, in his affidavits and letters, which were made part of this record, Sarinana
averred that he had no knowledge of the child until he was served.  Sarinana also states
that it was never his desire to abandon the child nor to avoid his responsibilities.  This
evidence raises a meritorious defense to the allegations contained in the Departmentâs
amended pleadings.
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Regarding the third issue under Craddock, the record reflects that the child, M.A.A.,
continues to reside in the same foster home.  There is nothing in the record that would
indicate that the childâs situation will be, in any way, harmed by granting a new trial.  It is
true that the foster parents have indicated a desire to adopt the child, however, we do not
view the delay in the adoption process as being any harm to the child.  Further, the
attorney appointed to represent Sarinana has indicated that she is ready to go to trial
immediately. 
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Based on the record before us, we find that Sarinana met the requirements to obtain
a new trial.  Accordingly, the trial court erred when the new trial was not granted.  
Conclusion
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Having determined that a new trial should be granted, we reverse the judgment of
termination as to Sarinana and remand this case for a new trial.

Per Curiam

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NO. 07-10-0003-CR 
NO. 07-10-0004-CR
Â 
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS
Â 
FOR THE
SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
Â 
AT
AMARILLO
Â 
PANEL D
Â 

AUGUST
17, 2010
Â 

Â 
MANUEL FRANCO,  
Â 
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Appellant

v.
Â 
THE STATE OF TEXAS, 
Â 
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Appellee
____________________________
Â 
FROM THE 137TH DISTRICT COURT OF LUBBOCK
COUNTY;
Â 
NOS. 2009-425,411 & 2009-425,412;
HONORABLE CECIL G. PURYEAR, PRESIDING
Â 

Â 
Memorandum
Opinion
Â 

Â 
Before QUINN, C.J., and CAMPBELL and PIRTLE, JJ.
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Â Â Â  Manuel Franco was convicted of possession
with intent to deliver methamphetamine in an amount of less than 400 grams but
at least 200 grams and possession with intent to deliver cocaine in an amount
of less than 200 grams but at least four grams.Â Â  He seeks reversal of those convictions by
contending that the trial court erred in failing to grant his motion to
suppress on the basis that the affidavit in support of the search warrant did
not show probable cause.Â  We disagree and
affirm the judgments.
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Rather than
delve into the factual background of the cause, we simply note that when the
contraband was tendered into evidence via exhibits 7 through 14, the trial
court asked defense counsel: Â Â. . . do
you have any objections to . . . them.ÂÂ  Counsel
responded, Â[n]o . . . except for the confirmation by DPS for what the
controlled substances are.ÂÂ  Appellant
stating, through counsel, that he had no objection (save for verification of
the type of drug involved) effectively forfeited the complaints now urged on appeal
and regarding the means by which those drugs were secured.Â  Brown
v. State, 183 S.W.3d 728, 741 (Tex. App.ÂHouston [1st Dist.]
2005, pet. refÂd).Â  Accordingly, we
overrule the issue before us.
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  The judgments
of the trial court are affirmed.
Â 
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Per
CuriamÂ  
Do
not publish. 
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  
Â 

Â