Court Opinion

ID: 3079491
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 01:43:59.899807+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:50:36.200634
License: Public Domain

Opinion issued April 9, 2015

                                      In The

                               Court of Appeals
                                     For The

                          First District of Texas
                            ————————————
                               NO. 01-13-00377-CV
                            ———————————
                       JAMESON THOTTAM, Appellant
                                        V.
                        ELIZABETH JOSEPH, Appellee

                    On Appeal from the 311th District Court
                             Harris County, Texas
                       Trial Court Case No. 2007-75702

                        MEMORANDUM OPINION

      Jameson Thottam appeals the amended final decree of divorce entered by the

trial court on April 29, 2013, in his divorce from Elizabeth Joseph. In multiple

issues and sub-issues, Jameson challenges the trial court’s judgment with respect to
issues related to their child and to the division of the marital estate, as well as the

award of attorney’s fees to Elizabeth. We dismiss the appeal in part, and affirm in

part.

                                    Background

        Jameson and Elizabeth were married in July 2003. One child, A.T., was

born of the marriage in January 2007. In December 2007, Jameson filed a petition

for divorce and Elizabeth subsequently answered and filed a counter-petition.

        Jameson and Elizabeth agreed to participate in mediation of the child-related

issues with mediator, Jeffrey Uzick. On January 18, 2012, the parties signed a

mediated settlement agreement (MSA) regarding the child-related issues.

Thereafter, the trial court referred the remaining property-related issues to

arbitration before arbitrator, Reginald Hirsch. Hirsch issued his arbitrator’s award

on November 23, 2012.        Jameson subsequently filed a motion to vacate the

arbitration award and an objection to the entry of the divorce decree. On January

14, 2013, Jameson’s objection to entry of the decree was overruled by the associate

judge. The trial court signed the final decree of divorce on January 15, 2013.

        On February 13, 2013, Jameson filed a motion for new trial and a motion to

modify, correct, and/or reform judgment, addressing the child-related issues only.

On March 7, 2013, Jameson filed an amended motion to vacate the arbitrator’s

award. Following a hearing on March 28, 2013, the trial court denied Jameson’s

                                          2
motion for new trial and appeal of the associate judge’s ruling, but granted

Jameson’s motion to correct, modify, and/or reform the judgment, ordering the

parties to arbitration with Uzick over certain child-related provisions in the divorce

decree. 1 On April 29, 2013, the trial court signed an amended final divorce decree,

incorporating the MSA and arbitration award.

                                     Discussion

    A. Child-Related Issues

      In his first and second issues, Jameson contends that the trial court abused its

discretion in entering a final divorce decree that does not strictly comply with the

terms of the parties’ MSA regarding (1) the imposition of a geographical

restriction and (2) Jameson’s possession schedule. In two related but undesignated

sub-issues, Jameson also argues that Uzick exceeded his authority by determining

issues related to extended periods of possession and the amount of his child

support.

      1. Geographical Restriction

      In his first issue, Jameson argues that the trial court abused its discretion by

entering a final divorce decree that does not strictly comply with the terms of the

MSA. Specifically, he contends that while the MSA includes a geographical

restriction on both the domicile and residence of A.T., the omission of the word

1
      At the March 28 hearing, Jameson’s counsel passed his amended motion to vacate
      the arbitrator’s award.

                                          3
“domicile” from the geographical restriction in the amended divorce decree

“substantially changes the domicile restriction” by allowing Elizabeth “the

opportunity to change the residence of the child from Maryland to Texas and back

at her whim . . . .”

       The MSA provides, in relevant part:

       JOINT MANAGING CONSERVATOR: BOTH PARENTS

       The Mother to have right to establish legal residence and domicile
       within a 100 mile radius in Annapolis, Md as a geographic restriction.
       This restriction will be lifted if the Father moves out of Harris and
       Contiguous Counties, TX to anywhere (with the exclusion of a 100
       mile radius outside of Annapolis, MD in which case the restriction
       will not be lifted). Mother will be allowed to change residence and
       geographic restriction to Harris County Texas and move back to
       Houston, TX so long as Father lives in Harris and Contiguous
       Counties, TX.

The amended divorce decree provides, in relevant part:

       IT IS ORDERED that Elizabeth Joseph, as a parent joint managing
       conservator, shall have the following rights and duty:

       1. The exclusive right to designate the primary residence of the child
          within a one hundred (100) mile radius of Annapolis, Maryland.
          IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this geographic restriction on
          the residence of [A.T.] shall be lifted if, at the time Elizabeth
          Joseph wishes to remove [A.T.] from a one hundred (100) mile
          radius of Annapolis, Maryland for the purpose of changing the
          primary residence of [A.T.], Jameson Thottam does not reside in
          Harris County, Texas or counties contiguous thereto, and Jameson
          Thottam does not reside within a one hundred (100) mile radius of
          Annapolis, Maryland.

          IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Elizabeth Joseph also has the
          exclusive right to change and to designate the primary residence of

                                         4
         the child to Harris County, Texas, so long as Jameson Thottam
         resides in Harris County, Texas, or counties contiguous thereto at
         the time of the designation.

      A final judgment founded upon a mediated settlement agreement must be in

strict compliance and literal compliance with the agreement. Vickrey v. Am. Youth

Camps, Inc., 532 S.W.2d 292, 292 (Tex. 1976).          Modifications to settlement

agreements are typically grounds for reversal, however, only where they add terms,

significantly alter the original terms, or undermine the intent of the parties. See

Keim v. Anderson, 943 S.W.2d 938, 946 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1997, no pet.)

(finding reversible error where trial court added provision requiring husband to pay

$3,500 of wife’s attorney’s fees); In the Matter of the Marriage of Ames, 860

S.W.2d 590, 592–93 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1993, no writ) (holding trial court

erred where it added terms which “differed significantly from the settlement

agreement”). The determination of whether a final decree of divorce complies

with the terms of a mediated settlement agreement is reviewed under an abuse of

discretion standard. Garcia-Udall v. Udall, 141 S.W.3d 323 333 (Tex. App.—

Dallas 2004, no pet.).

      Here, the language of the MSA and amended divorce decree allow Elizabeth

to change A.T.’s residence between two specified locations—that is, within a 100

mile radius of Annapolis, Maryland and Harris County and its contiguous counties.

However, both the MSA and amended decree clearly condition that right upon the

                                         5
location of Jameson’s residence at the time of the contemplated change. We

cannot discern how omission of the word “domicile” from the terms of the

amended decree affects any change to Elizabeth’s right to establish A.T.’s primary

residence within the two identified geographical locations, nor does Jameson

sufficiently articulate any such change. See e.g., Yarbrough-Johnson v. Johnson,

No. 05-99-01432-CV, 2000 WL 199381, at *1 (Tex. App.—Dallas Feb. 22, 2000,

no pet.) (not designated for publication) (noting no meaningful distinction between

county domicile restriction and county residence restriction with regards to

geographical restriction imposed under Family Code).

      Further, we note that the Family Code addresses restriction upon the

“primary residence of the child” but does not mention the child’s primary

“domicile.” See e.g., TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 153.132(1) (West 2014) (stating

parent appointed sole managing conservator shall have right to designate “primary

residence” of child); id. § 153.133(a)(1)(A)(B) (West 2014) (stating agreed

parenting plan must designate conservator who has right to designate “primary

residence”); id. § 153.134(b)(1) (West 2014) (providing order appointing joint

managing conservator shall designate conservator who has exclusive right to

designate “primary residence” of child); id. § 156.006(b) (West 2014) (limiting

trial court’s authority to temporarily modify designation of conservator who has

exclusive right to establish “primary residence” if child in final order).

                                           6
         The omission of the term “domicile” from the provisions of the amended

divorce decree does not significantly alter the original terms or undermine the

parties’ intent. Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it did not

include that term in the amended divorce decree. We overrule Jameson’s first

issue.

         2. Period of Possession

         In his second issue, Jameson contends that the trial court abused its

discretion because the terms of the amended divorce decree do not comply with the

terms of the MSA with regard to his summer periods of possession. Specifically,

he argues that while the MSA granted him weekend periods of possession during

the summer, the amended decree fails to do so.

         The provisions of the MSA regarding access and possession designated

Jameson’s periods of possession with A.T. based on two criteria: whether A.T. had

started kindergarten and whether Jameson lived more or less than 100 miles from

her residence. The MSA provided that Jameson had a right to specific weekend

periods of possession throughout the year, including the summer, until the child

started kindergarten when Jameson resided more than 100 miles from A.T. The

MSA further provided that, after A.T. began kindergarten, Jameson’s specific

weekend periods of possession would occur during the school year when Jameson

resided more than 100 miles from the child.

                                           7
      Elizabeth does not dispute that, under the MSA, Jameson had a right to

weekend periods of possession throughout the year, including summer, until A.T.

began kindergarten and that those terms are not included in the amended divorce

decree. However, she points out that when the MSA was signed on January 18,

2012, A.T. had just turned five years old and not yet begun kindergarten. The

amended divorce decree was not signed until April 29, 2013, more than a year later

and after A.T. would have ordinarily begun mandatory kindergarten attendance

under Maryland law. 2 Consequently, the terms in the MSA governing possession

of the child before she started kindergarten would have been rendered moot by the

time the final divorce decree was signed. See Heckman v. Williamson Co., 369

S.W.3d 137, 162 (Tex. 2012) (noting issue is moot when court’s decision on merits

cannot affect parties’ rights or interests); Coburn v. Moreland, 433 S.W.3d 809,

827 (Tex. App.—Austin 2014, no pet.) (concluding appellant’s issue regarding

possession and access was moot on appeal where court’s decision would no longer

affect parties’ rights or interests in matter). 3 Because we conclude that Jameson’s

2
      Texas Rule of Evidence 202 provides a mechanism for courts to take judicial
      notice of another state’s regulations and explicitly provides that judicial notice
      may be taken at any stage of the proceeding. See TEX. R. EVID. 202. We therefore
      take judicial notice of Code of Maryland Regulations 13A.08.01.01 and
      13A.08.01.02-2.A.(1), which provide for mandatory kindergarten attendance for
      children five years of age and, under certain circumstances, a one-year deferral of
      the commencement of mandatory attendance.
3
      Further, even if A.T.’s kindergarten attendance had been deferred one year as
      permitted under Maryland law, she would have started kindergarten in the 2013–

                                           8
issue regarding summer weekend periods of possession is moot, the trial court did

not abuse its discretion in not including those terms from the MSA in the amended

final divorce decree. Accordingly, we overrule Jameson’s second issue.

      3. Uzick Arbitration

      In sub-issue one, Jameson argues that Uzick exceeded his authority by

determining an issue related to expanded periods of possession. The MSA states

that in the event of a disagreement arising over any detail in the divorce decree or a

dispute regarding the drafting or interpretation of the MSA, the mediator acting as

arbitrator shall resolve the issue, and that such issue shall be final and binding.

Jameson argues that Uzick exceeded his authority under this provision because he

made a fact determination that the extended periods of possession under Family

Code section 153.317(a) were not in the best interest of the child. 4 However,

Jameson failed to identify where in the voluminous record—here, nearly 5,000

pages—this alleged “best interest” finding was made.         See Maranatha Temple,

Inc. v. Enterprise Prods. Co., 893 S.W.2d 92, 106 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]

1994, writ denied) (holding appellate court has no duty to undertake independent

      14 school year at the latest, making the issue of possession periods prior to
      kindergarten moot.
4
      Section 153.317(a) provides that a conservator may elect alternative beginning and
      ending possession times and that the court must grant the request unless it finds
      that the election is not in the best interest of the child. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN.
      § 153.317 (West 2014).

                                          9
review of record and applicable law). Further, a transcript of the Uzick arbitration

is not in the appellate record. Where the pertinent evidence is not included in the

appellate record, an appellate court must presume that the omitted evidence

supports the trial court’s judgment. See Enter. Leasing Co. of Houston v. Barrios,

156 S.W.3d 547, 550 (Tex. 2004). Therefore, we presume that the arbitration

proceeding supports the trial court’s judgment. See id.5

      In his second sub-issue, Jameson complains that Uzick exceeded his

authority under the arbitration provision of the MSA by making a determination

regarding child support that is contrary to the provisions in the MSA. The MSA

provides, in relevant part, “Child Support—Guideline child support (currently at

$1,500 per month). Father to provide insurance on child. Uninsured portions

divided 50/50.” Jameson argues that because his income was significantly less at

the time of the arbitration with Uzick, Uzick exceeded his authority in setting

Jameson’s child support obligation at $1,500. Jameson has not provided any

record references directing this Court to evidence supporting his claim that his

income was significantly less at the time of the Uzick arbitration. See TEX. R. APP.

P. 38.1(i) (requiring brief to contain clear and concise argument for contentions

5
      In her response to sub-issue one, Elizabeth states that she “can confirm that the
      Amended Decree does in fact award Jameson the right to begin and end his periods
      of possession with the child under the alternative times in accordance with”
      Family Code section 153.317(a). Jameson does not address this contention in his
      reply brief.

                                         10
made with appropriate citations to the authorities and to record); Abdelnour v. Mid

Nat’l Holdings, Inc., 190 S.W.3d 237, 241–42 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.]

2006, no pet.). Further, as previously noted, there is no transcript of the Uzick

arbitration proceeding in the record before us, and in the absence of any findings of

fact or conclusions regarding this issue, we must presume that all facts necessary to

support the judgment have been determined. See Roberson v. Robinson, 768

S.W.2d 280, 281 (Tex. 1989). Accordingly, we overrule Jameson’s first and

second sub-issues.

    B. Property-Related Issues

      In his third issue, Jameson contends that the trial court abused its discretion

by excluding evidence offered by him in support of his separate property claims,

causing the division of property to be manifestly unjust. In his fourth issue,

Jameson argues that the trial court further erred by mischaracterizing specified real

properties as Elizabeth’s separate property.      In sub-issues three through six,

Jameson complains about (1) the sufficiency of the valuation evidence as it affects

the overall property division, (2) the arbitrator’s denial of Jameson’s

reimbursement claims related to Zeon Corporation,6 (3) the arbitrator’s valuation

6
      Zeon Corporation is an entity established by Elizabeth prior to marriage and
      through which she conducted her consulting business.

                                         11
of one of the parties’ real properties; and (4) the arbitrator’s division of the

community estate as grossly unjust and unsupported by the evidence.

      In her brief, Elizabeth states that her arguments in response to the issues

raised by Jameson regarding the division of the parties’ marital estate are expressly

made subject to her motion to dismiss which she filed simultaneously with her

appellate brief. We consider the arguments in her motion to dismiss below.

                                Motion to Dismiss

      In her motion to dismiss, Elizabeth asserts that Jameson’s issues on appeal

related to the division of property should be dismissed because Jameson has

accepted the benefits of the April 29, 2013 amended divorce decree and is,

therefore, estopped from further challenging those aspects of the judgment. 7

Elizabeth also contends that Jameson is judicially estopped from pursuing the

property-related issues in this appeal because the property claims resolved in the

amended decree have been rendered in a final judgment between the same parties

in a federal bankruptcy proceeding.

                       “Acceptance of Benefits” Doctrine

         1. Applicable Law

      The acceptance of benefits doctrine is based on the principle that a party

who accepts the benefits of a judgment is estopped from appealing that judgment.

7
      Elizabeth acknowledges that her motion to dismiss based upon the acceptance of
      benefits does not affect Jameson’s issues concerning orders related to the child.

                                         12
Tex. State Bank v. Amaro, 87 S.W.3d 538, 544 (Tex. 2002); Waite v. Waite, 150

S.W.3d 797 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, pet. denied). In Carle v.

Carle, also a divorce case, the Texas Supreme Court stated that “[a] litigant cannot

treat a judgment as both right and wrong, and if he has voluntarily accepted the

benefits of a judgment, he cannot afterward prosecute an appeal therefrom.” 234

S.W.2d 1002, 1004 (Tex. 1950). This doctrine often arises in divorce cases when

one spouse accepts certain benefits of the judgment and then tries to appeal the

remainder of the judgment. See, e.g., Waite, 150 S.W.3d at 803; Bloom v. Bloom,

935 S.W.2d 942, 946–48 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1996, no writ); Blaylock v.

Blaylock, 603 S.W.2d 254, 255 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1980, no writ).

      When seeking to dismiss issues on appeal based on the acceptance of

benefits doctrine, the burden is on the appellee to establish that an acceptance of

benefits has occurred. Leedy v. Leedy, 399 S.W.3d 335, 339 (Tex. App.—Houston

[14th Dist.] 2013, no pet.). This burden is satisfied if the relevant facts showing

voluntary acceptance of benefits of the judgment are reflected in the record or

developed through affidavits supporting the motion to dismiss. See Rogers v.

Rogers, 806 S.W.2d 886, 889 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1991, no writ). Once an

appellee establishes an acceptance of benefits, the burden then shifts to the

appellant to show either that the doctrine does not apply or that acceptance falls

                                        13
within one of the established exceptions to the doctrine. See Leedy, 399 S.W.3d at

339.

        One such exception is when the appellant’s acceptance of the benefits is due

to economic necessity, that is, when the acceptance of benefits is not voluntary

because of financial duress or other economic circumstances. See Gathe v. Gathe,

376 S.W.3d 308, 313 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, no pet.) Another

exception applies when a reversal of the judgment could not possibly affect an

appellant’s right to the benefit accepted. Amaro, 87 S.W.3d at 544. Stated another

way, when the appellant accepts only that part of the judgment that the appellee

concedes is due to the appellant, the appellant is not estopped from appealing.

Waite, 150 S.W.3d at 804. These exceptions are narrow. Carle, 234 S.W.2d at

1004.

        When the acceptance of benefits doctrine applies and no exception is shown,

an appeal is rendered moot. See F.M.G.W. v. D.S.W., 402 S.W.3d 329, 332 (Tex.

App.—El Paso 2013, no pet.) If a case becomes moot, the parties lose standing to

maintain their claims depriving the appellate court of jurisdiction, and dismissal is

appropriate. See id.

                                         14
          2. Relevant Facts

      On February 9, 2012, the second day of the arbitration proceeding, Jameson

filed a voluntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition. 8 All of Jameson’s pre-petition

assets, which subsequently became the subject of Jameson’s issues in this appeal,

were placed into the bankruptcy estate. Joseph Hill was appointed Chapter 7

trustee to administer Jameson’s bankruptcy estate.

      On April 29, 2013, during the course of Jameson’s bankruptcy proceeding

and with permission from the federal bankruptcy court, the trial court signed the

amended final decree of divorce which divided the marital estate of Jameson and

Elizabeth. In conjunction with the state court’s final order dividing the parties’

marital estate, the Chapter 7 trustee filed a motion seeking authorization to settle

claims for and against the bankruptcy estate. Those claims which the trustee

sought to address related to the division of property set out in the amended divorce

decree. On September 17, 2013, the bankruptcy court signed a settlement order

authorizing the trustee to enter into a settlement with a number of the bankruptcy

estate’s creditors, including Elizabeth.

      On December 4, 2013, Jameson filed a notice of appeal in federal court from

the bankruptcy court’s settlement order which was subsequently dismissed on June

12, 2014. Consequently, the settlement order approving the division of the parties’

8
      The bankruptcy case is Cause No. 12-31139-H5-7 and was filed in the United
      States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.

                                           15
marital estate, and which included the same property made the subject of this

appeal, became final in the bankruptcy court. The bankruptcy settlement included,

among other things, Elizabeth’s agreement to transfer one of the assets awarded to

her in the arbitration award—the real property located at 406 Branard Street—to

the bankruptcy trustee. The bankruptcy trustee was thereafter authorized to sell

this property as well as the other assets awarded to Jameson in the arbitration

award so that the proceeds from the sale could be used to satisfy obligations owed

to Jameson’s creditors. These properties were sold and the proceeds used by the

bankruptcy trustee to discharge Jameson’s debts.

         3. Analysis

      Elizabeth contends that Jameson’s pursuit of voluntary bankruptcy under

Chapter 7, which resulted in the relinquishment, sale, and liquidation of marital

property assets allocated to Jameson in the trial court’s division of property in

order to satisfy Jameson’s obligation to his creditors, constitutes Jameson’s

voluntary acceptance of benefits of the judgment and precludes his pursuit of

issues regarding that division in this appeal. In response, Jameson concedes that he

accepted these benefits. However, he contends that the acceptance of benefits

doctrine does not bar his appeal because (1) he accepted the benefits out of

economic necessity and (2) a reversal of the judgment will not affect his rights to

the benefits he has received. We address each of these arguments in turn.

                                        16
            a. Economic Necessity

      Jameson asserts that although he accepted the identified benefits arising

from the division of the martial estate, he has provided ample evidence to

demonstrate financial hardship. Jameson, however, fails to identify this evidence

in his response or otherwise direct this Court to the portions of the voluminous

record where this evidence may be found. It is Jameson’s responsibility to direct

this Court to the evidence upon which he relies to support his position. See

Saldana v. Garcia, 285 S.W.2d 197, 201 (Tex. 1955) (holding appellate court has

no duty to make independent search of statement of facts); Miller v. Armogida, 877

S.W.2d 361, 365 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, writ denied) (holding

points of error waived if not briefed). This he has failed to do. See Maranatha

Temple, Inc., 893 S.W.2d at 106 (holding appellate court has no duty to undertake

independent review of record and applicable law).

      Jameson also disputes Elizabeth’s position that Jameson’s pursuit of

bankruptcy under Chapter 7 was voluntary, and that he therefore voluntarily

accepted the benefits that enabled the bankruptcy trustee to pay his obligations to

creditors. Jameson argues that his “financial circumstances were so dire that he

was forced to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.”        Aside from this conclusory

statement, however, Jameson has failed to direct us to the evidence in the record

                                        17
upon which he relies to support his argument. We therefore decline to consider it.

See Saldana, 285 S.W.2d at 201; Miller, 877 S.W.2d at 365.

             b. Effect of Reversal of Judgment on Right to Benefits Accepted

      Jameson also contends that the second exception applies because a reversal

of the judgment could not possibly affect his right to the benefits accepted. This is

so, he argues, because he would have filed for bankruptcy regardless of the

pending divorce proceeding. Jameson’s argument is misplaced. If Jameson’s

appeal of the property issues resulted in a reversal of the judgment, he could not be

assured that the properties already sold to satisfy his creditors would be awarded to

him in any re-division of the marital estate.      If this case was remanded for

re-division of the marital restate, the arbitrator could award the interest in these

properties differently than before. See Bloom, 935 S.W.2d at 948 (holding that

wife could not establish exception because she might receive more or less through

re-division of property). Further, there is nothing to suggest that Elizabeth would

concede those properties to Jameson if the judgment were reversed. See Carle,

234 S.W.2d at 1004 (noting party who accepts benefits that are undeniably his—so

much so that opposing party would concede upon another trial that benefits are

his—does not waive right to appeal). Moreover, as we previously noted, this

exception to the acceptance of benefits doctrine is narrow, and it “does not tolerate

chance or uncertainty.” Waite, 150 S.W.3d at 807.

                                         18
      We conclude that Jameson has failed to carry his burden to show that the

economic necessity exception applies, or that a reversal of the judgment would not

affect his rights to the property. Because the acceptance of benefits doctrine

applies and no exception is shown, Jameson’s appeal of the property-related issues

is moot. See F.M.G.W., 402 S.W.3d at 332. We therefore grant Elizabeth’s

motion to dismiss and dismiss Jameson’s third and fourth issues and related sub-

issues three through six.9

    C. Attorney’s Fees

      In his fifth issue, Jameson challenges the trial court’s order awarding

attorney’s fees against him in the amount of $10,000.

      On April 23, 2013, Elizabeth filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs

incurred in the preparation of responses to Jameson’s motion for new trial, motion

to vacate arbitrator’s award, motion to modify, correct, and/or reform the

judgment, and the appeal of the associate judge’s ruling. On April 29, 2013, the

trial court entered an order granting Elizabeth’s motion and awarding her $10,000

in attorney’s fees and costs.

      Jameson argues that Elizabeth’s motion failed to plead the grounds upon

which she sought attorney’s fees, and therefore, the trial court erred in granting her

motion. Jameson’s argument is unavailing. Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 90

9
      In light of our conclusion, we do not address Elizabeth’s argument of judicial
      estoppel. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1.

                                         19
states that “[e]very defect, omission or fault in a pleading either of form or of

substance, which is not specifically pointed out by exception in writing and

brought to the attention of the trial judge in the trial court . . . before the judgment

is signed, shall be deemed to have been waived by the party seeking reversal on

such account . . . .” TEX. R. CIV. P. 90. When pleadings are not challenged by

special exceptions, the court will construe them liberally in favor of the pleader.

See Horizon/CMS Healthcare Corp. v. Auld, 34 S.W.3d 887, 897 (Tex. 2000). The

record does not reflect that Jameson filed special exceptions or otherwise apprised

the trial court of his complaint before the judgment was signed. Having failed to

do so, Jameson waived any error. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 90. Additionally, the trial

court’s April 29, 2013 order reflects that a record of the hearing on Elizabeth’s

motion was made on April 25, 2013, yet the record was not included in the

reporter’s record on appeal. Without a record, we presume that the trial court

made all findings necessary to support its order. See Barrios, 156 S.W.3d at 550

(noting where relevant evidence is not included in appellate record, appellate court

must presume that omitted evidence supports trial court’s judgment). We overrule

Jameson’s fifth issue.

                                     Conclusion

      Because we conclude that Jameson accepted benefits under the final

amended decree of divorce that he now challenges on appeal, and that he has failed

                                          20
to demonstrate that an exception to the doctrine applies, we grant Elizabeth’s

motion to dismiss and dismiss the portion of the appeal related to the property

division of the marital estate as moot. We affirm the remainder of the trial court’s

judgment.

                                             Russell Lloyd
                                             Justice

Panel consists of Chief Justice Radack and Justices Brown and Lloyd.

                                        21