Court Opinion

ID: 9645623
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 21:30:18.192342+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:11:29.969959
License: Public Domain

THOMAS, Chief Justice,
concurring.
Although I agree with the reversal, I believe the analysis used by the majority to reach that result is flawed. Therefore, I write separately to set forth my views.
First, I do not believe that Rule 243 applies. See Tex.R.Cxv.P. 243. As discussed below, Rule 243 is inapplicable because the court could not enter a default judgment against Peggy Marr in a divorce proceeding based on the striking of her answer. See Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 3.53 (Vernon 1993). *335Moreover, Rule 243, by its plain language, requires the court to give notice of a jury trial on unliquidated damages following a default judgment, if the defaulting party has previously requested and is entitled to a jury trial. Tex.R.Civ.P. 243. Here, the court was deciding fact questions related to the division of the community estate, not assessing unliq-uidated damages.
Finding an analogy between the “prominent role” played by a jury in assessing damages and in deciding the underlying fact questions relating to a division of the community estate, the majority holds that the “nature of the property division [is] sufficiently akin to the unliquidated damages referred to in Rule 243 so as to require the defaulting parties in divorce eases to be provided sufficient notice of a hearing before a jury on the issue of the property division, unless, of course, the defaulting party somehow waives his request for a jury.” If the majority’s logic is extended to its ultimate limits, then Rule 243 would necessarily apply any time the court has to decide a fact question before it can enter a final judgment following a default judgment. Under the majority’s analysis, the express reference to “damages” in Rule 243 becomes wholly meaningless and superfluous. A rule of procedure is to be interpreted, if possible, in a way that gives effect to all of its parts. Hidalgo, Chambers & Co. v. FDIC, 790 S.W.2d 700, 702 (Tex.App.—Waco 1990, writ denied). Thus, I do not believe that the Texas Supreme Court intended Rule 243’s specific reference to damages to be rendered nugatory by court interpretation. See id.
I would take a different analytical route to a reversal. After being served with citation, which gave the court jurisdiction over her person, Peggy filed an answer and cross-action against her husband, James. She also timely demanded a jury trial and paid a jury fee. See Tex.R.Civ.P. 216. The court, however, later struck her pleading as a sanction for discovery abuse. See id. 215. By striking her pleading the court placed her in the same legal position as if she had never filed an answer. See Minnick v. State Bar of Texas, 790 S.W.2d 87, 89 (Tex.App.—Austin 1990, writ denied).
Thus, the first question to be decided is whether the striking of Peggy’s pleading gave the court the right to enter a default judgment against her. As noted above, section 3.53 of the Family Code precludes the granting of a default judgment in a divorce case, even if the defendant has failed to answer. Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 3.53; Mason v. Mason, 282 S.W.2d 320 (Tex.Civ.App.—San Antonio 1955, no writ) (holding that default judgments are not recognized in divorce cases). The public policy that exempts family law cases from the rules governing other proceedings is long standing. See Bostwick v. Bostwick, 73 Tex. 182, 11 S.W. 178, 180 (1889). Section 3.53, having been enacted by the legislature, cannot be trumped by Rule 215, a rule adopted by the Texas Supreme Court. Tex. Const. art. V, § 31 (Texas Supreme Court can promulgate any rule of civil procedure as long as it is “not inconsistent with the laws of the state”).
I would hold that, although the court could strike Peggy’s pleading as a sanction under Rule 215, it could not enter a default judgment against her without giving her notice of the hearing at which the court would hear evidence supporting the allegations in her husband’s petition. As a non-answering defendant in a divorce case, she was entitled to have the court observe the rules that otherwise govern legal proceedings, which would include giving sufficient notice of the hearing at which the court would hear evidence regarding the divorce and the division of the community estate. See Bostwick, 11 S.W. at 180.
Moreover, I would hold that Peggy was entitled to a jury trial on any fact question related to either the divorce or property division based on her jury demand. The court did not strike her jury demand when it struck her pleading. Even though she stood in the position of a non-answering defendant, she was entitled to rely on her jury demand to gain a jury trial. See id.
For the reasons stated I would sustain the first three points, reverse the judgment, and remand the entire cause for trial.