in Re C. S., Relator ( 2009 )

NO. 07-08-0370-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AMARILLO
PANEL A
JANUARY 9, 2009
______________________________
IN RE C.S., RELATOR
_________________________________
Before CAMPBELL, HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.
OPINION
In this mandamus proceeding, relator C.S.1 contends the trial court erred by setting
aside an acknowledgment of paternity signed by real party in interest M.T., ordering C.S.,
her biological son Z. and M.T. submit to genetic testing, and failing to order the results of
earlier private genetic testing destroyed. Finding the record does not support the
extraordinary relief C.S. seeks, we will deny her petition on each ground alleged.
Background
Z. was born in May 2007, to C.S. The following day, she and M.T. signed an
acknowledgment of paternity for recording with the bureau of vital statistics. It was
1
In this opinion relator, her child, and the real party in interest are identified by one
or more initials. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 109.002(d) (Vernon 2002).
recorded June 13. In the acknowledgment, among other things, C.S. and M.T. declared
under penalty of perjury that M.T. was the biological father of Z. C.S. subsequently filed
for divorce from M.T. alleging they were married “on or about July 7, 2007.” In an
amended answer filed May 14, 2008, M.T. challenged the acknowledgment of paternity on
the ground of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact.
Following an evidentiary hearing, the trial court signed an order finding M.T. signed
the acknowledgment of paternity under a material mistake of fact. It set aside the
acknowledgment of paternity and further ordered genetic testing of Z., C.S., and M.T.
nineteen days from the order date. On the motion of C.S., we temporarily stayed the
genetic testing, pending our consideration of her petition.2
Discussion
A relator petitioning for relief by mandamus must show a clear abuse of discretion
and the absence of an adequate remedy by appeal. In re Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 148
S.W.3d 124, 135-36 (Tex. 2004). Mandamus is not a substitute for an ordinary appeal;
rather, it is an extraordinary remedy available only in limited circumstances, and not for
grievances that may be addressed by other remedies such as an appeal. Walker v.
Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 840 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding).
A clear abuse of discretion requires proof that “‘the trial court could reasonably have
reached only one decision,’ and that its finding to the contrary is ‘arbitrary and
2
See Tex. R. App. P. 52.10.
2
unreasonable.’” In re Dillard Dep’t Stores, Inc., 198 S.W.3d 778, 780 (Tex. 2006) (orig.
proceeding) (per curiam) (quoting Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 840). An appellate court may not
deal with disputed areas of fact in an original mandamus proceeding. In re Angelini, 186
S.W.3d 558, 560 (Tex. 2006) (orig. proceeding). Nor, in reviewing findings of fact in a
mandamus proceeding, may an appellate court substitute its judgment for that of the trial
court. Dillard Dep’t Stores, 198 S.W.3d at 780. There is therefore no abuse of discretion
if the trial court bases its decision on conflicting evidence and some evidence supports the
trial court’s decision. In re Barber, 982 S.W.2d 364, 366 (Tex. 1998) (orig. proceeding).
The Acknowledgment of Paternity
In her first ground for relief by mandamus, C.S. contends the trial court erred by
setting aside M.T.’s acknowledgment of paternity.
Section 160.304 of the Family Code specifies that an acknowledgment of paternity
becomes effective on the date of the birth of the child or the filing of the document with the
bureau of vital statistics, whichever is later. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 160.304(c) (Vernon
2002). “Except as provided by Sections 160.307 and 160.308, a valid acknowledgment
of paternity filed with the bureau of vital statistics is the equivalent of an adjudication of the
paternity of a child and confers on the acknowledged father all rights and duties of a
parent.” Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 160.305(a) (Vernon 2002).
Sections 160.307 and 160.308 establish the process for rescinding and challenging
an adjudication of paternity. Section 160.307 provides in pertinent part that a signatory
3
may rescind an acknowledgment of paternity by commencing a proceeding to rescind
before the earlier of: (1) the 60th day after the effective date of the acknowledgment, as
provided by section 160.304; or (2) the date of the first hearing in a proceeding to which
the signatory is a party before a court to adjudicate an issue relating to the child, including
child support. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 160.307 (Vernon 2002). Following the
expiration of the period for rescission under section 160.307, a signatory may initiate a
proceeding challenging the acknowledgment of paternity on the ground of fraud, duress
or material mistake of fact. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 160.308(a) (Vernon Supp. 2008).
An adult signatory must initiate a proceeding challenging the acknowledgment “before the
fourth anniversary of the date the acknowledgment . . . is filed with the bureau of vital
statistics . . . .” Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 160.308(a) (Vernon Supp. 2008). Proof by genetic
testing of the male signatory’s non-paternity constitutes a material mistake of fact under
section 160.308(a). See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 160.308(d) (Vernon Supp. 2008).
As fact finder, the trial court heard and resolved contested testimonial and
documentary evidence presented by M.T. and C.S. To show the trial court’s resolution of
these contested facts amounts to a clear abuse of discretion, C.S. must demonstrate from
the record that the evidence runs only one way; viz., it is conclusive that M.T. did not sign
the acknowledgment of paternity under the influence of fraud, duress or a material mistake
of fact. See Dillard Dep’t Stores, 198 S.W.3d at 780.
According to the record evidence, prior to the birth of Z., C.S. informed M.T. of the
possibility that he was not the father of Z. because of a sexual encounter she had with
4
another man. M.T. testified he wanted to be a father so when he heard the baby’s
heartbeat and saw the sonogram he told C.S. they would work through the situation. But
C.S. agreed on cross-examination that between December 2006 and May 2007 she told
M.T. “on numerous occasions” he was the father of Z. And M.T. testified that in
conjunction with doctor visits during her pregnancy C.S. told him, “‘I’m positive you are the
dad.’” According to M.T., throughout the pregnancy he believed the statements of C.S.
that he was the father of Z. And believing these representations, he signed the
acknowledgment of paternity. Under penalty of perjury C.S. and M.T. acknowledged M.T.’s
parentage the day following the birth of Z.
When taken as a whole, the record evidence, if believed, constitutes some evidence
on which reasonable minds could disagree as to whether M.T. labored under a material
mistake of fact when he executed the acknowledgment of paternity. See Merrell Dow
Pharms., Inc. v Havner, 953 S.W.2d 706, 711 (Tex. 1997) (some evidence, meaning more
than a scintilla, exists when the evidence “rises to a level that would enable reasonable and
fair-minded people to differ in their conclusions”). In the face of some evidence, we may
not say the trial court clearly abused its discretion in permitting M.T.’s challenge to the
acknowledgment of paternity to go forward. See Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 839-40 (record
must demonstrate trial court could have reached only one decision). Accordingly, we deny
C.S.’s first ground for mandamus relief.
5
Genetic Testing
C.S., secondly, seeks a writ of mandamus compelling the trial court to vacate its
order requiring genetic testing of M.T., C.S. and Z. The order of genetic testing remains
stayed pending our consideration of C.S.’s petition.
M.T. sought adjudication of the parent-child relationship and moved for genetic
testing. Subject to exceptions, Family Code § 160.502 requires a court to order genetic
testing if requested by a party in a proceeding to determine parentage. Tex. Fam. Code
Ann. § 160.502(a) (Vernon 2002).
C.S. claims irreparable harm will result if genetic testing proceeds. She relies on
case law holding that a trial court abuses its discretion by ordering genetic testing when a
child’s paternity has been legally established and a determination of parentage has not
been set aside, citing In re Rodriguez, 248 S.W.3d 444, 451 (Tex.App.–Dallas 2008, orig.
proceeding) and In re Att’y Gen. of Tex., 195 S.W.3d 264, 269 (Tex.App.–San Antonio
2006, orig. proceeding). Those cases are to be distinguished. In both, the party seeking
genetic testing brought the proceeding outside the four-year statutory limitation period.
Rodriguez involved a proceeding to adjudicate parentage brought by a presumed father
later than four years after birth of the child, and the presumed father presented no
evidence supporting the exception to the four-year time limitation under § 160.607(b). 248
S.W.3d at 446; Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 160.607 (Vernon Supp. 2008). In Att’y Gen. of
Tex., a challenge to an acknowledgment of paternity was brought after the fourth
anniversary of filing of the acknowledgment. 195 S.W.3d at 266; Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §
6
160.308 (Vernon Supp. 2008).3 There, the court noted the acknowledgment challenger
had “significant hurdles to overcome before his legal status as [the child’s] father can be
set aside.” Id. at 269-70.4
In this record, no such impediment appears to M.T.’s suit seeking adjudication of
parentage or his motion for genetic testing. M.T.’s challenge to the acknowledgment of
paternity was brought well within the time limitation, and we have found no abuse of
discretion in the trial court’s determination to permit his challenge to go forward. Nor does
the record reflect an abuse of discretion by the trial court in its ordering of genetic testing
of M.T., C.S. and Z.5 We deny C.S.’s second ground for mandamus relief and lift the stay
of court-ordered genetic testing.
3
Similarly, in Office of Att’y Gen., No. 01-08-0670-CV, 2008 W.L. 5177170 *8, 2008
Tex. App. Lexis 9228 *25-26 (Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] December 11, 2008, orig.
proceeding), the appellate court found the trial court abused its discretion by granting a bill
of review of the judgment establishing the petitioner’s paternity, and, on the basis of that
ruling, also found the trial court abused its discretion by ordering genetic testing for
purposes of the retrial, and in Amanda v. Montgomery, 877 S.W.2d 482
(Tex.App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, orig. proceeding), the court found the trial court
abused its discretion by ordering paternity testing at the behest of bill of review petitioner
who had not, and could not, meet the initial requirements for bringing a bill of review. Id.
at 485-86.
4
Our sister courts have found at least two reasons for review of such orders by
mandamus. See Office of Att’y Gen., No. 01-08-0670-CV, 2008 W.L. 5177170 at *7, 2008
Tex. App. Lexis 9228 at *21-22 (summarizing cases). First, it is said an order of paternity
testing is a discovery order the effects of which, if erroneously issued, may not be cured
on ordinary appeal because of the sensitive and personal nature of the results. In re Att’y
Gen. of Tex., 195 S.W.3d at 270. Second, depending on the facts, revealing the results
of genetic testing may cause irreparable harm in the child. Id.; In re Rodriguez, 248
S.W.3d at 454.
5
C.S. does not contend that the circumstances at bar come within the provisions
of Family Code § 160.608. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 160.608 (Vernon Supp. 2008).
7
Destruction of Private Genetic Testing Results
C.S. next requests we issue a writ of mandamus compelling the trial court to order
the results of private genetic testing undertaken by M.T. in June 2008 destroyed. In
support of her argument that such an order is reviewable by mandamus, C.S. again relies
on In re Rodriguez. 248 S.W.3d 444. For the reasons we have discussed, Rodriguez does
not provide support for C.S.’s contention. There the trial court ordered immediate genetic
testing on the request of a presumed father even though his proceeding to adjudicate
parentage was not brought within the four-year statutory limitation period, and the
presumed father failed to make even a prima facie case showing his entitlement to proceed
with his untimely-brought proceeding. Id. at 453. We do not find that at this juncture of the
proceedings the trial court clearly abused its discretion by refusing to order destruction of
private genetic testing results.
But even were we to assume for the sake of argument the trial court abused its
discretion by signing the challenged order, the record must also show C.S. has no
adequate remedy by appeal. The adequacy of appellate remedy is without
“comprehensive definition.” Prudential, 148 S.W.3d at 136. Its determination necessitates
a careful balance of jurisprudential considerations implicating both public and private
interests.6 See id. The analysis naturally includes whether the benefits to mandamus
6
The Court in Prudential gave this supporting substance to the precept:
Mandamus review of incidental, interlocutory rulings by the trial courts unduly
interferes with trial court proceedings, distracts appellate court attention to
issues that are unimportant both to the ultimate disposition of the case at
hand and to the uniform development of the law, and adds unproductively to
8
review are outweighed by the detriments. See id. An appeal is inadequate if a litigant is
in danger of permanently losing substantial rights. In re Van Waters & Rogers, Inc., 145
S.W.3d 203, 211 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding). That circumstance may arise if an
appellate court would not be able to cure the error, the litigant’s ability to present a viable
claim or defense is vitiated, or the error cannot be made part of the appellate record. Id.
The interlocutory order of the trial court of which C.S. complains merely forbids
destruction of private genetic testing results obtained by M.T. in June 2008. Nothing in the
record before us shows that the alleged error could not be cured on appeal. C.S.’s third
ground for relief by mandamus is denied.
Conclusion
Having found C.S. has not demonstrated entitlement to extraordinary relief on the
grounds alleged, we deny her petition for mandamus. This court’s stay of the trial court’s
order of genetic testing is lifted.
James T. Campbell
Justice
the expense and delay of civil litigation. Mandamus review of significant
rulings in exceptional cases may be essential to preserve important
substantive and procedural rights from impairment or loss, allow the
appellate courts to give needed and helpful direction to the law that would
otherwise prove elusive in appeals from final judgments, and spare private
parties and the public the time and money utterly wasted enduring eventual
reversal of improperly conducted proceedings.
Prudential, 148 S.W.3d at 136.
9