Court Opinion

ID: 3084174
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 02:26:57.265071+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:42:18.787898
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                        San Antonio, Texas

                                   MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                            No. 04-15-00098-CV

                                  EX PARTE Armando HERNANDEZ

                                   Original Habeas Corpus Proceeding 1

PER CURIAM

Sitting:          Karen Angelini, Justice
                  Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice
                  Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice

Delivered and Filed: March 25, 2015

PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS GRANTED

           Relator, Armando Hernandez, contends in this original habeas corpus proceeding that he

was improperly held in contempt of court and committed to Bexar County jail for refusing to

answer questions after asserting his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination on the

advice of counsel. We agree and therefore grant the petition for writ of habeas corpus.

                                                 Background

           In response to questions propounded by opposing counsel during a hearing on a motion for

injunctive relief, Hernandez asserted his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination.

The trial court ordered Hernandez to answer the questions. Hernandez again refused, on the advice

of counsel, asserting his Fifth Amendment privilege. The trial court found Hernandez in contempt

1
 This proceeding arises out of Cause No. 2014-CI-17077, styled Armando Hernandez and Nancy Hernandez v. Mario
Saldivar, Fernando Saldivar, Jorge Calderon and Jorge Saldivar, pending in the 150th Judicial District Court, Bexar
County, Texas, the Honorable Barbara Hanson Nellermoe presiding.
                                                                                       04-15-00098-CV

for violating its order to answer, and ordered him into custody. The following day, Hernandez’s

counsel asked the trial court to reconsider its ruling, set aside the order of contempt and release

Hernandez from custody. The trial court denied Hernandez’s request to reconsider.

       Hernandez filed his petition for writ of habeas corpus in this court, seeking release from

custody, and to have the order of contempt withdrawn. After Hernandez paid the bond set by this

court on February 26, 2015, we ordered his release from custody pending this court’s

determination of his petition for writ of habeas corpus. See TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 22.221(d)

(West 2004). Despite our request for a response to the petition, no response has been filed on

behalf of the respondent or the real parties in interest.

                                               Analysis

       This court has jurisdiction to issue a writ of habeas corpus when it appears that a person’s

liberty has been restrained for “the violation of an order, judgment, or decree previously made,

rendered, or entered by the court or judge in a civil case.” TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 22.221(d);

see also Ex parte DeLeon, 972 S.W.2d 23, 24-25 (Tex. 1998) (orig. proceeding) (discussing

jurisdiction of appellate courts to issue habeas relief in civil cases). The trial court’s order finds

Hernandez in contempt of court for refusing to answer six questions posed by opposing counsel.

The court ordered Hernandez confined to Bexar County jail until he agreed to provide answers to

those questions, or until the expiration of 180 days. Hernandez argues that he had a good faith

basis for asserting his Fifth Amendment privilege to the six questions he refused to answer and,

therefore, should not have been held in contempt. We agree.

       A witness may properly invoke the privilege against self-incrimination in a civil

proceeding as to any disclosure which he reasonably believes could be used in a criminal

prosecution, or that could lead to other evidence that could be used in a criminal prosecution,

against him. Kastigar v. United States, 406 U.S. 441, 445 (1972). But, when a witness refuses to
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answer questions based on his Fifth Amendment privilege, “he is not the exclusive judge of his

right to exercise the privilege.” DeLeon, 972 S.W.2d at 25 (citing Ex parte Butler, 522 S.W.2d
196, 198 (Tex. 1975)). The trial court is entitled to determine whether the witness’s refusal appears

to be based on a good faith belief, justifiable under the circumstances, that providing an answer to

the question is “likely to be hazardous to him.” Id. The witness cannot be forced to disclose, in the

process of the trial court’s evaluation, the very information the privilege is intended to protect. Id.

Asking the witness to provide an explanation for why he cannot answer a question, or to explain

what may be potentially incriminating about the answer, is also problematic. Hoffman v. United

States, 341 U.S. 479, 486-87 (1951) (“To sustain the privilege, it need only be evident from the

implications of the question, in the setting in which it is asked, that a responsive answer to the

question or an explanation of why it cannot be answered might be dangerous because injurious

disclosure could result.”). Before the witness may be compelled to answer, the trial judge must

determine, based on all of the circumstances, that the answers sought cannot possibly have any

tendency to incriminate the witness. Id. at 488.

       In the civil suit underlying this original proceeding, counter-plaintiffs and intervenors have

alleged that Hernandez and his wife stole significant sums of money through a fraudulent

investment scheme. The allegations in the civil suit include violations of the Texas Securities Act,

breach of fiduciary duty, and fraud. The facts and conduct alleged to provide the basis for these

claims may also carry the potential to be associated with criminal charges. See, e.g., TEX. REV.

CIV. STAT. ANN. art. 581-29 (West Supp. 2014) (providing penal provisions for violations of the

Texas Securities Act).

       At the evidentiary hearing on the counter-plaintiffs’ request for temporary injunctive relief,

Hernandez refused to answer a series of questions related to his business affiliations and sources

of income, the nature and location of his assets and the location of the allegedly stolen funds. Given
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the circumstances, we cannot say that Hernandez’s assertion of his Fifth Amendment privilege

with respect to these questions was not in good faith. See De Leon, 972 S.W.2d at 25. The nature

of the claims against him in the civil suit provide a reasonable basis for concern about the potential

for criminal charges related to Hernandez’s financial and business dealings, as well as his sources

of income.

                                            Conclusion

       We conclude Hernandez’s assertion of his privilege against self-incrimination was made

in good faith. The trial court’s order finding Hernandez in contempt and committing him to custody

after asserting his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination was improper.

Accordingly, we grant Hernandez’s petition for writ of habeas corpus and order him discharged.

TEX. R. APP. P. 52.8(c).

                                                  PER CURIAM

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