Court Opinion

ID: 4187947
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-07-20 19:20:27.563269+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:38:00.516049
License: Public Domain

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

                                        NO. 03-17-00048-CV

                                    A. W. and R. R., Appellants

                                                   v.

                Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Appellee

      FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF HAYS COUNTY, 428TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
         NO. 14-1433, HONORABLE WILLIAM R. HENRY, JUDGE PRESIDING

                             MEMORANDUM OPINION

                A.W. and R.R. appeal from the trial court’s order terminating their parent-child

relationship with their daughter, K.R.1 In two issues, A.W. contends that the evidence is legally and

factually insufficient to support the termination of her parental rights. In four issues, R.R. contends

that the evidence is factually insufficient to support the termination of his parental rights. We will

affirm the trial court’s order terminating A.W.’s and R.R.’s parental rights.

                                            DISCUSSION

                To terminate the parent-child relationship, a court must find by clear and convincing

evidence that: (1) the parent has committed one of the enumerated statutory grounds for termination

and (2) it is in the child’s best interest to terminate the parent’s rights. Tex. Fam. Code § 161.001(b).

        1
         To protect the privacy of the parties, we refer to the child and her parents by their initials.
See Tex. Fam. Code § 109.002(d).
A.W. contends that the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support the termination of

her parental rights, while R.R. contends that the evidence is factually insufficient to support the

termination of his parental rights. “The distinction between legal and factual sufficiency when the

burden of proof is clear and convincing evidence may be a fine one in some cases, but there is a

distinction in how the evidence is reviewed.” In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256, 266 (Tex. 2002). When

reviewing the legal sufficiency of the evidence in a parental-rights-termination case, we consider all

the evidence in the light most favorable to the jury’s finding and determine whether a reasonable

fact-finder could have formed a firm belief or conviction that its finding was true. See id.; see also

In re K.M.L., 443 S.W.3d 101, 112 (Tex. 2014). When reviewing the factual sufficiency of the

evidence, we view all of the evidence in a neutral light and determine whether a reasonable fact-finder

could form a firm belief or conviction that a given finding was true. In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d 17,

18–19 (Tex. 2002). We assume that the fact-finder resolved disputed facts in favor of its finding if

a reasonable person could do so, and we disregard evidence that a reasonable fact-finder could have

disbelieved or found incredible. In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 266. Evidence is factually insufficient

only if a reasonable fact-finder could not have resolved the disputed evidence in favor of its finding

and if that disputed evidence is so significant that the fact-finder could not reasonably have formed

a firm belief or conviction that its finding was true. Id.

A.W.

               The jury found by clear and convincing evidence that A.W. committed actions

corresponding to at least one of the statutory grounds for termination found in subsections (D), (E),

(M), and (O). See Tex. Fam. Code § 161.001(b)(1)(D), (E), (M), (O). The jury further found by

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clear and convincing evidence that termination of A.W.’s rights was in K.R.’s best interest. See id.

§ 161.001(b)(2). In her first issue, A.W. challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence

supporting the jury’s finding that A.W. had satisfied a ground for termination. In her second issue,

A.W. challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the jury’s best-interest finding.

                To preserve a challenge to the legal sufficiency of evidence in a jury trial, a party

must either (1) file a motion for instructed verdict, (2) file a motion for judgment notwithstanding

the verdict, (3) object to the submission of the issue to the jury, (4) file a motion to disregard the

jury’s answer to a vital fact issue, or (5) file a motion for new trial; to preserve a challenge to

the factual sufficiency of the evidence in a jury trial, a party must file a motion for new trial. See

Mason v. Texas Dep’t of Family & Protective Servs., No. 03-11-00205-CV, 2012 WL 1810620, at *7

(Tex. App.—Austin May 17, 2012, no pet.) (mem. op.); see also Tex. R. Civ. P. 324(b)(2), (3) (“A

point in a motion for new trial is a prerequisite to the following complaints on appeal . . . (2) A

complaint of factual insufficiency of the evidence to support a jury finding . . . (3) A complaint that

a jury finding is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence . . . .”); Cecil v. Smith, 804 S.W.2d
509, 510–11 (Tex. 1991) (“A point in a motion for new trial is a prerequisite to complain on appeal

that the evidence is factually insufficient to support a jury finding and that a jury finding is against

the overwhelming weight of the evidence. ‘No evidence’ points may be raised by either (1) a motion

for instructed verdict, (2) a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, (3) an objection to the

submission of the issue to the jury, (4) a motion to disregard the jury’s answer to a vital fact issue

or (5) a motion for new trial.”) (citations and footnote omitted); In re J.B., No. 09-16-00442-CV,

2017 WL 2180682, at *7 (Tex. App.—Beaumont May 18, 2017, no pet. h.) (mem. op.); In re A.L.,

486 S.W.3d 129, 130 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2016, no pet.); Key v. Richards, No. 03-14-00116-CV,

                                                   3
2016 WL 240773, at *5 (Tex. App.—Austin Jan. 13, 2016, no pet.) (mem. op.); In re G.H.,

No. 02-14-00261-CV, 2015 WL 3827703, at *5 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth June 18, 2015, no

pet.) (mem. op., en banc); In re H.D.B.-M., No. 10-12-00423-CV, 2013 WL 765699, at *8 (Tex.

App.—Waco Feb. 28, 2013, pet. denied) (mem. op.).

                Nothing in the record before us indicates that A.W. filed a motion for new trial.

Therefore, A.W. has not preserved her factual-sufficiency challenges. Arguably, A.W. has preserved

her legal-sufficiency challenges concerning subsections (D), (E), and (O), because she objected to

the submission of those grounds to the jury at the charge conference. However, nothing in the record

before us indicates that A.W. objected to the submission of subsection (M) or the best-interest

question to the jury or that she ever filed a motion for instructed verdict, a motion for judgment

notwithstanding the verdict, or a motion to disregard the jury’s answer to a vital fact issue. Therefore,

we conclude that A.W. has not preserved her legal-sufficiency challenges to the jury’s findings

concerning subsection (M) or the best-interest finding. Only one ground under section 161.001(b)(1)

is necessary to support a judgment in a parental-rights-termination case. See In re A.V., 113 S.W.3d
355, 362 (Tex. 2003); Spurck v. Texas Dep’t of Family & Protective Servs., 396 S.W.3d 205, 221

(Tex. App.—Austin 2013, no pet.). Because A.W. has not preserved any challenge to the jury’s

findings under subsection (M) or the best-interest finding, we overrule A.W.’s issues.2

        2
         We also note that, even if A.W. had preserved her challenges to the jury’s finding that she
committed conduct satisfying subsection (M), her challenges would fail. Under subsection (M), a
court may terminate parental rights if the parent “had his or her parent-child relationship terminated
with respect to another child based on a finding that the parent’s conduct was in violation of
Paragraph (D) or (E) or substantially equivalent provisions of the law of another state.” Tex. Fam.
Code § 161.001(b)(1)(M). Subsection (D) allows termination when a parent “knowingly placed or
knowingly allowed the child to remain in conditions or surroundings which endanger the physical

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R.R.

               In four issues, R.R. contends that the evidence was factually insufficient to support

the jury’s finding that R.R. committed actions corresponding to at least one of the statutory grounds

for termination found in subsections (D), (E), (N), and (O). See Tex. Fam. Code § 161.001(b)(1)(D),

(E), (N), (O).3 Because only one ground under section 161.001(b)(1) is necessary to support the trial

court’s judgment, we will limit our discussion to subsection (E). See Spurck, 396 S.W.3d at 221.

               Subsection (E) states that the parent “engaged in conduct or knowingly placed

the child with persons who engaged in conduct which endangers the physical or emotional well-

being of the child.” Tex. Fam. Code § 161.001(b)(1)(E). This subsection requires proof of child

endangerment, i.e., exposing a child to loss or injury or jeopardizing a child’s emotional or physical

well-being. Texas Dep’t of Human Servs. v. Boyd, 727 S.W.2d 531, 533 (Tex. 1987). Endangerment

does not need to be established as an independent proposition but may be inferred from parental

or emotional well-being of the child,” and subsection (E) allows termination when a parent “engaged
in conduct or knowingly placed the child with persons who engaged in conduct which endangers
the physical or emotional well-being of the child.” Id. § 161.001(b)(1)(D), (E). At trial, the court
admitted evidence that A.W. previously had her rights terminated to another child in Virginia.
According to the termination order, the Virginia court found by clear and convincing evidence that
“[t]he neglect or abuse suffered by such child presents a serious and substantial threat to his or her
life, health or development; and [i]t is not reasonably likely that the conditions which resulted in
such neglect or abuse can be substantially corrected or eliminated so as to allow the child’s safe
return to his or her parent within a reasonable time.” We conclude that the Virginia court order
indicates that the court terminated A.W.’s parental rights because of conduct that would satisfy
subsection (D) or (E) in Texas. While A.W. argues that the Department failed to produce expert
testimony that the findings of the Virginia court would satisfy subsection (D) or (E), she cites no
authority for the proposition that expert testimony is required. We see no reason why the jury, and
this Court, could not conclude that the “neglect or abuse” that presented “a serious and substantial
threat” to the “life, health or development” of A.W.’s child would constitute endangerment in Texas.
       3
         R.R. preserved his factual-sufficiency challenges by raising them in a motion for new trial.
See Tex. R. Civ. P. 324(b)(2). On appeal, R.R. has not challenged the jury’s best-interest finding.

                                                  5
misconduct alone. Id. To constitute endangerment under subsection (E), the parent’s conduct need

not be directed at the child. In re E.N.C., 384 S.W.3d 796, 803 (Tex. 2012). Conduct may endanger

a child even if it does not cause the child to suffer actual injury. In re M.C., 917 S.W.2d 268, 269

(Tex. 1996) (quoting Boyd, 727 S.W.2d at 533).

               Although a parent’s incarceration, standing alone, will not support a finding of

endangerment, the fact-finder may consider it as a factor in determining whether the parent has

engaged in a course of conduct that endangers the child. See In re M.C., 482 S.W.3d 675, 685 (Tex.

App.—Texarkana 2016, pet. denied) (“[W]hile we recognize that imprisonment, standing alone, is

not conduct which endangers the physical or emotional well-being of the child, intentional criminal

activity which expose[s] the parent to incarceration is relevant evidence tending to establish a course

of conduct endangering the emotional and physical well-being of the child.”) (internal quotation

marks omitted); In re B.C.S., 479 S.W.3d 918, 926 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2015, no pet.) (“Evidence

of criminal conduct, convictions, and imprisonment and its effect on a parent’s life and ability to

parent may establish an endangering course of conduct.”); In re M.D.S., 1 S.W.3d 190, 199 (Tex.

App.—Amarillo 1999, no pet.) (“If the evidence, including the imprisonment, shows a course of

conduct which has the effect of endangering the physical or emotional well-being of the child, a

finding under [subsection (E)] is supportable.”).

               A parent’s criminal background is particularly relevant if it demonstrates a tendency

towards violence, especially violence against family members. See D.N. v. Texas Dep’t of Family

& Protective Servs., No. 03-15-00658-CV, 2016 WL 1407808, at *2 (Tex. App.—Austin Apr. 8,

2016, no pet.) (mem. op.) (“[D]omestic violence may constitute endangerment, even if the violence

is not directed at the child.”); In re A.A., No. 06-14-00060-CV, 2014 WL 5421027, at *3 (Tex.

                                                    6
App.—Texarkana Oct. 23, 2014, no pet.) (mem. op.) (“Domestic violence, want of self-control,

and the propensity for violence may be considered as evidence of endangerment.”); In re T.G.R.-M.,

404 S.W.3d 7, 14 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2013, no pet.) (“Another factor that may

contribute to an environment that endangers a child’s well-being is a parent’s abusive or violent

criminal conduct . . . . Evidence that a parent previously has engaged in abusive conduct allows an

inference that the parent’s violent behavior will continue in the future.”); In re S.M., 389 S.W.3d 483,

492 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2012, no pet.) (“Evidence that a person has engaged in abusive conduct

in the past permits an inference that the person will continue violent behavior in the future.”).

                When determining whether a parent has engaged in an endangering course of conduct,

a fact-finder may consider the parent’s actions and inactions that occurred both before and after

the child was born. See D.M. v. Texas Dep’t of Family & Protective Servs., No. 03-17-00137-CV,

2017 WL 2628949, at *3 (Tex. App.—Austin June 13, 2017, no pet. h.) (mem. op.); In re M.C.,
482 S.W.3d at 685 (“The conduct to be examined includes what the parent did both before and after

the child was born.”) (internal quotation marks omitted); In re B.C.S., 479 S.W.3d at 926 (same);

In re S.M., 389 S.W.3d at 491–92 (“[I]n considering whether a relevant course of conduct has been

established, a court properly may consider both actions and inactions occurring both before and

after a child’s birth.”); In re C.A.B., 289 S.W.3d 874, 886 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2009,

no pet.) (“If a parent abuses the other parent or children, that conduct can support a finding of

endangerment even against a child who was not yet born at the time of the conduct.”); In re

M.J.M.L., 31 S.W.3d 347, 351 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2000, pet. denied) (“[W]hile knowledge

of paternity is a prerequisite to a showing of knowing placement of a child in an endangering

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environment, it is not a prerequisite to a showing of a parental course of conduct which endangers

a child under [subsection (E)].”).

               Here, the Department presented evidence that R.R. had previously been convicted

of the felony offenses of assault family violence and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.4

The Department also presented evidence that a court had found R.R. in contempt “for failure to

make court-ordered child support and/or medical support payments” and had ordered that R.R. be

committed to the county jail for 180 days. At trial, R.R. testified that he had been incarcerated for

about six months prior to trial. In addition, A.W. testified that domestic violence had occurred

between her and R.R. and that R.R. was “physically abusive” to her “[h]ere and there” during their

relationship. Furthermore, the Department initially began investigating R.R. and A.W. for neglectful

supervision because of an incidence of domestic violence between them.

               The Department also produced the report of a psychological evaluation performed

on A.W. in connection with this case. In the report, the medical professional states that “[A.W.]

reported that she was hospitalized on one occasion after a physical altercation with [R.R.]” and that

A.W. further stated, “A couple times I was pregnant with my son and [R.R.] and I got into it. He

was pushing me. One time he tried to choke me and I went to the ER.” Although R.R. denied at

trial that he had choked A.W., the jury could have disbelieved his testimony. See City of Keller v.

       4
          In its brief, the Department refers to additional convictions of R.R.’s and argues that they
support the jury’s finding under subsection (E). At best, the Department’s argument is incorrect,
and, at worst, it is misleading. The trial court refused to admit these additional convictions into
evidence, and they are only in the appellate record because the Department made an offer of proof.
The Department has not brought a cross-appeal challenging the trial court’s evidentiary rulings.
Instead, it merely refers to these convictions as though they were part of the record. We will not
consider these additional convictions in our analysis.

                                                  8
Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 819 (Tex. 2005) (“Jurors are the sole judges of the credibility of the

witnesses and the weight to give their testimony.”); In re A.L.H., 515 S.W.3d 60, 80 (Tex.

App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2017, pet. denied) (“We are mindful in both [legal-sufficiency and

factual-sufficiency review] that the jury, as fact finder, was the sole judge of the credibility of the

witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony.”).

               Viewing all of the evidence in a neutral light, we conclude that the jury could have

reasonably formed a firm belief or conviction that R.R. had endangered K.R. See Tex. Fam. Code

§ 161.001(b)(1)(E); see also In re A.A., 2014 WL 5421027, at *4 (“Here, the evidence paints a picture

of a long history of irresponsible choices which were ultimately detrimental to the emotional and

physical well-being of Scott’s children.”). We further determine that there was no disputed evidence

so significant that the jury could not reasonably have formed a firm belief or conviction that its

finding was true. Therefore, we conclude that the evidence is factually sufficient to support the

termination of R.R.’s parental rights under subsection (E). Accordingly, we overrule R.R.’s second

issue. Moreover, because only one ground under section 161.001(b)(1) is necessary to support

the trial court’s judgment, we need not address R.R.’s issues concerning the other grounds for

termination. See Spurck, 396 S.W.3d at 221.

                                          CONCLUSION

               We affirm the trial court’s order terminating A.W.’s and R.R.’s parent-child

relationship with K.R.

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                                            __________________________________________

                                            Scott K. Field, Justice

Before Chief Justice Rose, Justices Field and Bourland

Affirmed

Filed: July 14, 2017

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