Court Opinion

ID: 3085437
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 02:41:25.827548+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:15:15.554293
License: Public Domain

In The
              Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana
        ______________________________

              No. 06-11-00134-CV
        ______________________________

                     IN RE:
                  TONYA ALLEN

           Original Mandamus Proceeding

     Before Morriss, C.J., Carter and Moseley, JJ.
      Memorandum Opinion by Justice Moseley
                                  MEMORANDUM OPINION

       Tonya Allen petitions this Court for a writ of mandamus compelling the Honorable

Rebecca Simpson, Judge of the County Court at Law Number One of Gregg County, to set aside

the order entitled ―Temporary Order Following Adversary Hearing,‖ granting temporary

managing conservatorship of Allen’s child to the Texas Department of Family and Protective

Services (the Department), and to compel Respondent to enter an order directing the return of the

child to Allen.

       According to Allen’s petition, her child was removed from her care and custody by the

Department on November 21, 2011. The following day, the Department is alleged to have filed

its ―Original Petition for Protection of a Child, for Conservatorship, and for Termination in Suit

Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship,‖ as well as its ―Order for Protection of a Child in an

Emergency.‖ The order of which Allen complains was entered on December 5, after an

adversary hearing.   Allen complains the trial court abused its discretion in issuing the temporary

order because the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support the following findings:

       (1) there was a danger to the physical health or safety of the child which was caused
       by an act or failure to act of the person entitled to possession and for the child to
       remain in the home is contrary to the welfare of the child; (2) the urgent need for
       protection required the immediate removal of the child and reasonable efforts
       consistent with the circumstances and providing for the safety of the child, were
       made to eliminate or prevent the child’s removal; and (3) reasonable efforts have
       been made to enable the child to return home, but there is a substantial risk of a
       continuing danger if the child is returned home.

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       Mandamus is an extraordinary remedy and will issue only when the record establishes (1) a

clear abuse of discretion or the violation of a duty imposed by law, and (2) the absence of a clear

and adequate remedy at law. Cantu v. Longoria, 878 S.W.2d 131, 132 (Tex. 1994); In re

Fulgium, 150 S.W.3d 252, 254 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2004, orig. proceeding). ―With respect to

resolution of factual issues or matters committed to the trial court’s discretion, the reviewing court

may not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court.‖ Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833,

839 (Tex. 1992). Moreover, mandamus is available only in the absence of a factual dispute of

consequence. Id. at 839–40. When the trial court’s judgment is based on conflicting evidence

and some of this evidence reasonably supports the court’s decision, there is no abuse of discretion.

Butnaru v. Ford Motor Co., 84 S.W.3d 198, 211 (Tex. 2002). Where, as here, a relator seeks to

overrule a decision based on factual issues or matters committed to the trial court’s discretion, she

has the burden to show the trial court could have reached only one decision on the facts. Walker,
827 S.W.2d at 839–40.

       The order of the trial court recites that ―a full adversary hearing pursuant to § 262.205,

Texas Family Code, was held in this case.‖            The order indicates Allen was present and

represented by the attorney now filing this mandamus petition on her behalf.          The trial court

―examined and reviewed the evidence, including the sworn affidavit accompanying the petition

and based upon the facts contained therein,‖ made the findings with which Allen takes issue.

       In order to make a determination of whether the trial court could have reached only one

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decision on the facts and evidence presented, a review of the record of the hearing, together with

all exhibits and the referenced sworn affidavit, would be necessary. Allen had the obligation to

provide us with evidence in support of her claim that she is entitled to mandamus relief. No

portion of any clerk’s record or reporter’s record has been filed with this Court. The absence of a

mandamus record prevents us from evaluating the circumstances of this case and, consequently,

the merits of Allen’s complaints. See TEX. R. APP. P. 52.7.

       We deny the petition for writ of mandamus.

                                                     Bailey C. Moseley
                                                     Justice

Date Submitted:       December 20, 2011
Date Decided:         December 21, 2011

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