Court Opinion

ID: 4423796
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-08 14:55:30.017096+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:36:57.750658
License: Public Domain

In The

                               Court of Appeals

                    Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont

                              __________________

                              NO. 09-19-00240-CV
                              __________________

                     IN RE NADIA FIGUEROA
__________________________________________________________________

                           Original Proceeding
             279th District Court of Jefferson County, Texas
                      Trial Cause No. F-204,311-G
__________________________________________________________________

                         MEMORANDUM OPINION

      Nine months after the trial court entered a contempt order against Nadia

Figueroa (Figueroa), she seeks mandamus relief from the trial court’s order of

enforcement. On October 1, 2018, the trial court found Figueroa in contempt for six

separate violations of a custody and possession order, sentenced her to 90 days of

confinement for each violation, to be served concurrently, suspended the

commitment and placed Figueroa on community supervision for 120 months, and

awarded her ex-husband Warren Pena a total judgment of $27,500 in attorney’s fees

                                        1
for the services of two lawyers in the enforcement action. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann.

§§ 157.165, 157.167(b) (West 2014).

      In her mandamus petition, Figueroa contends the trial court abused its

discretion when it denied her request for time to hire an attorney. She claims the

order of enforcement is void because the trial court failed to advise her of her right

to counsel and that an attorney could be appointed for her if she was indigent. See In

re Rivas-Luna, 528 S.W.3d 167, 170 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2017, orig. proceeding).

Figueroa argues she has no adequate remedy by appeal because contempt orders are

not appealable, and mandamus is appropriate because at this time she is not confined.

See In re Long, 984 S.W.2d 623, 625 (Tex. 1999) (orig. proceeding).

      At the commencement of the enforcement hearing, the attorney representing

Figueroa in the on-going modification proceeding notified the trial court that

Figueroa lacked the funds to retain her for purposes of the enforcement hearing and

that she was not representing Figueroa in the enforcement hearing. Figueroa

requested additional time. The trial court indicated to Figueroa’s attorney that if she

was not going to represent Figueroa in the enforcement proceeding she would need

to move behind the bar. After an off the record discussion with Figueroa, Figueroa’s

attorney then notified the trial court that she had agreed to “help” Figueroa in the

hearing, and she acted as Figueroa’s attorney in the enforcement hearing.

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      In her mandamus petition, Figueroa argues the trial court should have granted

her request for additional time to secure counsel and she contends the trial court

failed to comply with section 157.163 of the Texas Family Code, which requires the

trial court to inform a respondent not represented by an attorney of the right to be

represented by an attorney, and if the person is indigent, of the right to the

appointment of an attorney. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 157.163(b) (West Supp.

2018). She further argues that the contempt order is void because the trial court failed

to admonish Figueroa of these rights. See Ex parte Acker, 949 S.W.2d 314, 316 (Tex.

1997).

      To be entitled to mandamus relief, a relator must show both that the trial court

has clearly abused its discretion and that relator has no adequate appellate remedy.

In re Prudential Ins. Co. of Am, 148 S.W.3d 124, 135–36 (Tex. 2004) (orig.

proceeding). “A contempt order is void if it is beyond the power of the court or

violates due process.” In re Office of Attorney Gen., 422 S.W.3d 623, 628 (Tex.

2013) (orig. proceeding). “If the trial court’s contempt order in this case is not void,

there was no abuse of discretion.” Id.

      After reviewing the mandamus record, we conclude that Figueroa was

represented by an attorney at the enforcement hearing. Regardless of the unfairness

of forcing a Hobson’s choice on Figueroa’s attorney, she did represent Figueroa in

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the hearing and as a result of her participation Figueroa was not unrepresented for

purposes of section 157.163. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 157.163(b). Figueroa

makes no additional argument or authority for compelling the trial court to vacate

the order. 1 Based on the record before us we conclude that the relator is not entitled

to mandamus relief. Accordingly, we deny the petition for a writ of mandamus. Tex.

R. App. P. 52.8(a).

      PETITION DENIED.

                                                            PER CURIAM

Submitted on August 7, 2019
Opinion Delivered August 8, 2019

Before McKeithen, C.J., Horton and Johnson, JJ.

      1
       We limit our ruling to the issue raised by Figueroa regarding the alleged lack
of counsel.
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