Court Opinion

ID: 9775474
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 19:00:28.529573+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:26.897658
License: Public Domain

DUNN, Justice,
dissenting.
I dissent. There are several reasons why I believe this Court should not grant relator’s habeas corpus relief: the only evidence of relator’s inability to pay is a con-clusory affidavit, coupled with a period of incarceration; without a statement of facts, the burden of proving ability to pay impermissibility shifts to the real party in interest; and the legislature has provided a mechanism for parties such as relator to establish a present inability to pay. Additionally, the cases relied upon by the majority should be overruled.
I agree with the majority that this Court has original jurisdiction in habeas corpus proceedings. I also agree that a habeas corpus proceeding is a collateral attack on a contempt decree and that the order forming the basis of incarceration must be found void in order to release relator. Ex parte Dustman, 538 S.W.2d 409, 410 (Tex.1976, orig. proceeding); Ex parte Ramzy, 424 S.W.2d 220, 224 (Tex.1968, orig. proceeding). This Court can determine whether habeas corpus relief should be granted where the voidness of the order is based upon the relator’s inability to pay. See Ex parte Occhipenti, 796 S.W.2d 805, 807 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1990, orig. proceeding). However, “where the granting of the writ of habeas corpus turns on factual evidence such as inability to perform the order ... the reviewing court cannot determine the issue unless the application is accompanied by a statement of facts developed at the contempt hearing. A relator must be prepared to conclusively show his entitlement to a writ. In the absence of a statement of facts of the contempt hearing, the reviewing court must presume that there was evidence to support the court’s contempt judgment.” Ex parte Linder, 783 S.W.2d 754, 760 (Tex.App.—Dallas 1990, orig. proceeding) (citations omitted). In order to conclusively establish the factual issue of inability, an appellate court must review the statement of facts supporting the judge’s finding of ability to pay, as well as any other facts presented. See Ex parte Rohleder, 424 S.W.2d 891, 892 (Tex.1967, orig. proceeding).
In this case relator has brought forward a certified copy of his divorce decree awarding him, among other properties, the following: the cash in his possession or control; the rights to and proceeds from any profit-sharing plan, retirement plan, pension plan, employee stock option plan, employee savings plan, accrued unpaid bonuses, except for the 50 percent share of relator’s retirement in Building Specialties, Inc. awarded to his former wife; a 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass; and a 1983 Monarch bass boat. In addition, we have relator’s affidavit, never presented to the trial court, *789stating he cannot pay his court-ordered child support, and that he has been incarcerated. The affidavit states he has no money or property, but does not address the disposition of the assets awarded to him in the divorce decree. The majority ignores the evidence of possible assets that relator may have, as well as the trial court’s finding of relator’s ability to pay. The decision to release relator is based on general assertions in relator’s affidavit and the length of his confinement, thereby finding relator’s inability to pay conclusively established. However, a general coneluso-ry affidavit submitted by an interested party is not proof of anything. See Ricalday v. Procunier, 736 F.2d 203, 207 n. 3 (5th Cir.1984); Jordan v. Estelle, 594 F.2d 144, 145-46 (5th Cir.1979). The majority justifies their decision by cases issued from this Court, Ex parte Peters1 and Ex parte Mabry2 and the fact that relator’s affidavit was uncontroverted. By accepting relator’s uncontroverted affidavit, the majority opinion has the effect of shifting the burden to the real party in interest. This is not the law. See Occhipenti, 796 S.W.2d at 809; Linder, 783 S.W.2d at 760.
In a habeas corpus proceeding, it is the relator’s burden, not that of the real party in interest, to bring forth facts supporting his inability to pay. Tex.R.App.P. 120(b)(7). It is unconscionable to require the real party in interest to controvert the relator’s general affidavit regarding inability to pay when the real party in interest does not have the burden to establish the relator’s ability to pay. See Occhipenti, 796 S.W.2d at 808. Contrary to established law, the majority does not require the statement of facts, ignores the facts in the record as to relator’s possible assets, and finds that the uncontroverted affidavit, which asserts no specific factual basis, plus his length of incarceration conclusively establishes his inability to pay. This is illogical.
Further the legislature has addressed the issue of inability to pay child support and established a procedure for enforcement by contempt of child support orders that protects the rights of both parties. Tex.Fam. Code Ann. § 14.40 (Vernon 1986 & Supp. 1993). The statute plainly states that an affirmative defense of inability to pay does not arise unless evidence is admitted supporting the defense and the obligor proves his or her inability to obey the order of the court by a preponderance of the evidence. Tex.Fam.Code Ann. §§ 14.40(g) & 14.40(h) (Vernon Supp.1993). The obligor is required to prove by evidence presented to the court; (1) that the obligor lacked ability to provide support in the amount ordered; (2) lacked property that could be sold, mortgaged, or otherwise pledged to raise the funds needed; (3) attempted unsuccessfully to borrow the needed funds; and (4) knew of no source from which the money could have been borrowed or otherwise legally obtained. Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 14.40(g).
Although he could have presented the issue of his present inability to pay to the trial court, relator did not choose to do so. See Ex parte King, 819 S.W.2d 944, 946 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.]1991, orig. proceeding). This Court does not know what evidence relator presented at the contempt hearing since we do not have the statement of facts from that hearing; all we know is that the trial court was not persuaded.
Before Peters and Mabry, there was no law permitting the discharge of a contem-nor from incarceration for civil contempt based solely on a general affidavit filed with the appellate court corroborated by a period of incarceration. This Court, under the facts in Peters and Mabry, held that a relator’s uncontroverted affidavit, corroborated by some period of incarceration, 160 days and 20 days, respectively, conclusively established a lack of present ability to pay. Peters and Mabry were wrongly decided and should be overruled because they im-permissibly shift the burden of bringing forth the statement of facts to the real party in interest. See, e.g., Occhipenti, 796 S.W.2d at 809; Linder, 783 S.W.2d at 760 (both cases discussing that to require *790the movant for contempt to show relator’s valid waiver of counsel shifts burden of proof in a habeas corpus proceeding to the real party in interest). Where the granting of the writ of habeas corpus turns on factual evidence such as inability to perform the court’s order, the reviewing court cannot determine the issue unless the application is accompanied by a statement of facts developed at the contempt hearing. Linder, 783 S.W.2d at 760; Ex parte Hemmitt, 580 S.W.2d 51, 51-52 (Tex.Civ.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1979, orig. proceeding). In the absence of a statement of facts, the court considering a habeas corpus application will presume there was evidence to support the trial court’s judgment of contempt and ability to pay. Ex parte Savelle, 398 S.W.2d 918, 921 (Tex.1966, orig. proceeding); Ex parte Wagner, 368 S.W.2d 185, 187 (Tex.1963, orig. proceeding); King, 819 S.W.2d at 946; Linder, 783 S.W.2d at 760; Ex parte Nivens, 592 S.W.2d 1, 1 (Tex.Civ.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1979, orig. proceeding). In the case before us we have the trial judge’s finding of ability to pay; however, the majority ignores this finding.
In Peters, the relator filed an affidavit with his petition for writ of habeas corpus that averred he had no money, no savings, no ability to borrow money from any source, and no employment. 770 S.W.2d at 640. His statements were uncontradicted. Id. There was no statement of facts or any other evidence, other than his affidavit, before this Court. This Court, based on this kind of record, stated the duration of his incarceration, 160 days for civil contempt, corroborated his uncontradicted “testimony,”3 and held he had conclusively established it was not within his power to perform the act that would result in his release. Id. at 640-41. In support, this Court cited Dustman, 538 S.W.2d 409, and Ex parte Fiedler, 446 S.W.2d 698 (Tex.Civ.App.—San Antonio 1969, orig. proceeding). Fiedler and Dustman do not support such a conclusion.
In Fiedler, the relator did not file an affidavit in connection with his habeas corpus petition; instead, he brought forward the record from three earlier hearings before the trial court, from which the appellate court determined that such evidence conclusively established his inability to perform the court’s order requiring him to pay the child support arrearage. 446 S.W.2d at 700. The San Antonio Court of Appeals reviewing the records made at the hearings before the trial court found that there was no testimony from any source that attempted to discredit, impeach, or disprove the relator’s assertions relative to his inability to make the payments ordered. Id. at 701. The court also stated that his incarceration for more than seven days before filing his petition was some corroboration of his un-contradicted testimony. Id. The Fiedler court held that the trial court exceeded its power in ordering the relator imprisoned until he paid the arrearage because the uncontradicted record was that he could not make such a payment and, therefore, could not purge himself of the contempt.
In Dustman, the supreme court reviewed the relator’s uncontradicted testimony from the hearing before the trial court, that he was unable to pay the ar-rearage. 538 S.W.2d at 410. The relator also filed an affidavit with the supreme court, stating his annual gross salary for the year and that he was unable to borrow money to secure his release. Citing Fied-ler, the court found the duration of Dustman’s incarceration to be some corroboration of his uncontradicted testimony, and held the trial court exceeded its power in ordering the relator imprisoned until the arrearage was paid. Dustman, 538 S.W.2d at 410.
In both Dustman and Fiedler, the courts had before them a statement of facts from hearings in the trial court on which to base their decisions. The court in Fiedler also had relator’s affidavit. What Dustman and Fiedler allow a court of appeals to do when reviewing the trial court record of the relator’s uncontradicted testimony, is to use the period of incarceration for civil contempt as corroboration of such testimony. They do not stand for the proposi*791tion that the relator’s uncontroverted affidavit, filed with the appellate court, plus a period of incarceration, alone are sufficient to conclusively establish his or her inability to pay. See also King, 819 S.W.2d at 946.
The facts in Mabry were virtually identical to those in Peters, except the period of incarceration was only 20 days. 792 S.W.2d at 589. Again, this Court discharged the relator, citing Dustman and Peters.4 Id. at 590. While Peters supported this Court’s decision in Mabry, Dustman did not.
Because relator produced only an affidavit consisting of general conclusory statements, unsupported by facts, and failed to bring forward the statement of facts from the hearing that formed the basis of his contempt order, this Court is unable to review his present inability to pay. Therefore, I would deny relator habeas corpus relief and order him remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Harris County to complete the terms of the order of commitment dated June 3, 1992, signed by the Judge of the 246th District Court of Harris County, Texas, in cause number 84-52626.

. 770 S.W.2d 640 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1989, orig. proceeding).

. 792 S.W.2d 588 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1990, orig. proceeding).

. His only testimony was his affidavit written in general conclusory language.

. I dissented in Mabry, and found the judgment void for reasons unrelated to relator’s present inability to pay. 792 S.W.2d at 590.