in the Interest of S. G., a Child ( 2004 )

NO. 07-03-0261-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AMARILLO
PANEL D
JANUARY 27, 2004
______________________________
IN THE INTEREST OF S. S. G., A MINOR CHILD
_________________________________
FROM THE 181ST DISTRICT COURT OF RANDALL COUNTY;
NO. 51,715-B; HONORABLE JOHN B. BOARD, JUDGE
_______________________________
Before QUINN and REAVIS and CAMPBELL, JJ.
OPINION
Following a jury trial, Ashley Gutierrez and Joseph Alarcon Gonzalez, unmarried
parents of their daughter S.S.G., appeal the trial court’s judgment terminating the parent-
child relationship between them and S.S.G. and appointing Jeffrey Donald Gurney and
Alicia Munoz Gurney managing conservators of S.S.G. By separate briefs, Ashley and
Joseph present three similar issues by which they contend the trial court erred in denying
(1) their motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict because the evidence was legally
insufficient to support the jury verdict because there was no evidence for the jury to
properly form a firm belief or conviction that they voluntarily left S.S.G. alone or in the
possession of another not the parent and expressed an intent not to return, (2) their motion
for judgment notwithstanding the verdict because the evidence was legally insufficient to
support the jury verdict because there was no evidence for the jury to properly form a firm
belief or conviction that they voluntarily left S.S.G. alone or in the possession of another
not the parent and expressed an intent not to return, and (3) their motions for new trial.
The Gurneys present two cross-points asserting the trial court erred (1) when it limited the
jury’s consideration of Joseph’s conduct to the time period after November 5, 2002, and
(2) by directing a verdict against them on their alternative request to be appointed as joint
managing conservators of the child in the event the jury failed to terminate the parental
rights of both Ashley and Joseph. We reverse and render.
Because the evidence and history is discussed in detail in our legal sufficiency
review, we commence our analysis with a summary of the facts necessary to frame the
issues for our decision. At age 14 Ashley discovered she was pregnant. On February 25,
2002, after giving birth to S.S.G., she signed a written authorization1 for release of infant
by which she gave her consent to hospital authorities to release S.S.G. “into the custody
of Jeffrey and Alicia Gurney.” The Gurneys took S.S.G. to their home in Amarillo, and on
February 28, 2002, Jeffrey mailed to Ashley a medical power of attorney, an affidavit of
1
The document dated February 26, 2002, was not acknowledged by a notary public
nor verified.
2
relinquishment of parental rights, and an affidavit that the identify of the biological father
was unknown. The documents were prepared by Jeffrey’s former attorney. Ashley signed
and returned the medical power of attorney, 2 but refused to sign and return the affidavits.
After she was discharged from the hospital, Ashley, a resident of Muleshoe, traveled to
Amarillo several times to visit S.S.G in the home of the Gurneys. Then, on July 28, 2002,
when Jeffrey and Alicia refused to allow Ashley to take S.S.G to her home in Muleshoe,
Ashley commenced the underlying proceeding by filing a petition for habeas corpus. The
Gurneys responded by filing their petition for termination and adoption on July 29, 2002.
The trial court denied the petition for habeas corpus and entered temporary orders.
Alleging only two grounds, by their petition for termination of parental rights and
adoption of S.S.G., the Gurneys alleged that Ashley and Joseph had each:
• voluntarily left the child alone or in the possession of another not the
parent and expressed an intent not to return; and
• voluntarily left the child alone or in the possession of another not the
parent without expressing an intent to return, without providing for the
adequate support of the child, and remained away for a period of at
least three months.
See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.001(1)(A) and (B) (Vernon 2002). At the conclusion of
the evidence and charge conference, the trial court submitted the case to the jury but did
not submit the ground set out in section 161.001(1)(B). By its charge, the court instructed
the jury as follows:
2
The affidavit was acknowledged by a notary public on March 12, 2002.
3
• to consider only the evidence introduced under oath and such
exhibits; and
• the “clear and convincing evidence” standard is that measure or
degree of proof that produces a firm belief or conviction that the
allegations sought to be established are true.
Based upon the jury finding that Ashley and Joseph both voluntarily left the child alone or
in the possession of another not the parent and expressed an intent not to return, the trial
court signed its order terminating their parental rights and appointing Jeffrey and Alicia
managing conservators of the children.3 The discrete question presented for our
determination is whether the evidence was legally sufficienct to support the jury finding that
Ashley and Joseph left the child alone or in the possession of another not the parent and
expressed an intent not to return. Before reviewing the evidence, we first review the
controlling law and the appropriate standard of review.
Under section 161.001, Jeffrey and Alicia had the burden to allege and prove by
clear and convincing evidence that Ashley and Joseph voluntarily left the child alone and
expressed an intent not to return per section 161.001(1)(A);4 however, a favorable jury
finding may not stand without probative evidence to support the finding. Williams v.
Gaines, 943 S.W.2d 185, 193 (Tex.App.--Amarillo 1997, writ denied). As defined in Bailey
Cty. Appraisal Dist. v. Smallwood, 848 S.W.2d 822, 825 (Tex.App.--Amarillo 1993, no writ),
3
The petition for adoption was denied by the order which denied all relief not
expressly granted.
4
We give special consideration to the fact that the “without expressing an intent to
return” provision in section 161.001(1)(B) does not apply under this record and charge.
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probative evidence is evidence which “serves to prove the asserted proposition, and it must
be more than a surmise or suspicion.” Direct evidence is provided by witnesses who saw
the acts done or heard the words spoken, while circumstantial evidence is proof of
collateral facts and circumstances from which the trier of fact arrives at the conclusion that
the main facts sought to be established in fact existed. Texas & N.O.R. Co. v. Warden,
125 Tex. 193, 78 S.W.2d 164, 167 (1935). Although circumstantial evidence may be
considered, meager circumstantial evidence from which equally plausible but opposite
inferences may be drawn is speculative and thus will not survive a legal sufficiency
challenge. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Gonzalez, 968 S.W.2d 934, 936 (Tex. 1998)
In our legal sufficiency review of the evidence to support an order terminating
parental rights we look at all the evidence in the light most favorable to the finding to
determine whether a reasonable trier of fact could have formed a firm belief or conviction
that its finding was true. In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256, 266 (Tex. 2002). However, based
on section 161.001(1)(A), we do not consider any evidence of events occurring before the
birth of the child. See In Interest of S.D.H., 591 S.W.2d 637, 638 (Tex.Civ.App.--Eastland
1979, no writ). To give appropriate deference to the jury’s conclusions and the role of a
court conducting a legal sufficiency review, looking at the evidence in the light most
favorable to the judgment means that a reviewing court must assume the jury resolved
disputed facts in favor of its finding if a reasonable jury could do so. J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at
266. Thus, we disregard all evidence that a reasonable jury could have disbelieved or
found to have been incredible. Id.
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By their first issue, Ashley and Joseph contend the trial court erred in denying their
motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict because there was legally insufficient
evidence to support the jury verdict in that there was no evidence for the jury to properly
form a firm belief or conviction that they voluntarily left the child alone or in the possession
of another not the parent and expressed an intent not to return. We agree.
Focusing our attention on whether Ashley or Joseph “expressed an intent not to
return” per section 161.001(1)(A), although the trial consumed the better part of three days,
the record on this subject is scant. Although Ashley executed a revocable medical power
of attorney authorizing Jeffrey or Alicia, as Ashley’s “agent,” to obtain health care for
S.S.G., the power of attorney was silent on Ashley’s intent “not to return.” Jeffrey and
Alicia admitted that neither Ashley nor Joseph signed an affidavit for voluntary
relinquishment of parental rights or a consent for adoption. See §§ 161.103 and 162.010.
Moreover, the authorization for release of S.S.G. that Ashley signed in the hospital merely
acknowledged her consent to hospital authorities to release S.S.G. into the custody of the
Gurneys, and like the power of attorney, it did not specify the terms, purpose, or duration
of the custodial arrangement or contain a statement that she did not intend to return.
Alicia and Ashley both testified they were considering an “open“ adoption. The
briefs do not define the term “open adoption;” however, from the record, it appears that
Alicia and Ashley contemplated that Ashley would be permitted certain visitation rights.
After receiving a phone call advising them that Ashley was in labor, the Gurneys went to
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the hospital; however, they did not go into Ashley’s room and the record does not show any
communication between Alicia and Ashley at the hospital. Also, Joseph was not at the
hospital before, during, or after S.S.G.’s birth. Approximately 36 hours after the baby’s
birth, the Gurneys were allowed to remove S.S.G. from the hospital and take her to their
home in Amarillo.
By their brief, the Gurneys provide citations to the record noting that although
several opportunities were presented, Ashley did not express her intention that she did not
want to give up the baby or words of similar import. Even if these references would be
relevant to the ground asserted per section 161.001(1)(B), which was not submitted to the
jury, they do not constitute expressions of “intent not to return” under section
161.001(1)(A), which is the basis of the order of termination. References to the record
regarding Joseph’s intent not to return are similar to those cited regarding Ashley. The
Gurneys do not reference the record to show any direct evidence that Ashley or Joseph
“expressed an intent not to return.” Based upon our review of the record and the briefs,
we conclude there is no direct evidence to support a finding that the natural parents
“expressed an intent not to return.” Citing In Interest of R.D.S., 902 S.W.2d 714 (Tex.App.-
-Amarillo 1995, no writ), the Gurneys erroneously suggest that our prior decision is
controlling. However, R.D.S. is not controlling because each of the natural parents in
R.D.S. had executed affidavits relinquishing their parental rights, and we held that
notwithstanding revocation, the affidavits remained indicative of the parents preexisting
intention.
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The Gurneys suggest that the “intent not to return” can be implied from the actions
of the parents for several reasons. First, Jeffrey and Alicia did not request that the trial
court give an instruction that circumstantial evidence would be sufficient or otherwise
define the term “express” as they suggest. See 1 Comm. on Pattern Jury Charges, State
Bar of Tex., Texas Pattern Jury Charges PJC 1.7 (2002 ed.). Moreover, in Wells v. Texas
Pac. Coal & Oil Co, 140 Tex. 2, 164 S.W.2d 660, 663 (1942), the Court held that the law
does not permit the pyramiding of one assumption upon another because an ultimate fact
thus arrived at is too conjectural and speculative to support a judgment. Later, in
Schlumberger Well Sur. Corp. v. Nortex Oil & G. Corp., 435 S.W.2d 854, 858 (Tex. 1968),
noting that although probative circumstantial evidence may be sufficient, a vital fact,
essential to establishing legal elements for recovery may not be established by “piling
inference upon inference.” See also Briones v. Levine’s Department Store, Inc., 446
S.W.2d 7, 10 (Tex. 1969); Roth v. FFP Operating Partners, 994 S.W.2d 190, 197
(Tex.App.--Amarillo 1999, pet. denied). Even if the jury considered that Ashley “had an
intent not to return,” having the intent and expressing that intent are not synonymous.
Even if the consent authorizing the hospital to allow the Gurneys to take the child from the
hospital and the medical power of attorney signed by Ashley may be circumstantial
evidence that Ashley had an intent not to return, a question we do not decide, any
inference that Ashley expressed an intent not to return cannot be “piled upon the inference
that Ashley had an intent not to return.” Further, because Joseph did not sign either
instrument, no inference arises as to him. Finally, according to Jeffrey, Ashley only signed
8
and returned the medical power of attorney, not the affidavit of relinquishment of parental
rights. Thus, her actions in so doing cannot support any logical inference that she did not
“intend to return.” Having found that there was no direct evidence that each natural parent
expressed an “intent not to return,” we conclude the evidence in its entirety is legally
insufficient to support the jury verdict that the natural parents expressed an intent not to
return. See Holick v. Smith, 685 S.W.2d 18, 20 (Tex. 1985). Accordingly, we sustain
Ashley and Joseph’s first issue. Our disposition of this issue pretermits our consideration
of their remaining issues.
Appellees’ Cross-Points
Notwithstanding the fact that they obtained a favorable finding, by their first cross-
point, Jeffrey and Alicia contend the trial court erroneously restricted the time period during
which Joseph’s acts and omissions could be evaluated. We disagree. The trial court has
considerable discretion in crafting the jury charge. Moreover, a party objecting to a jury
charge must point out the objectionable matter distinctly and set out the grounds of the
objection. Tex. R. Civ. P. 274; Iron Mt. Bison Ranch v. Easley Trailer Mfg., 42 S.W.3d 149,
156 (Tex.App.--Amarillo 2000, no pet.). Our review of the charge conference does not
show an objection per Rule 274. Moreover, the Gurneys do not contend the trial court
abused its discretion nor demonstrate that error, if any, probably caused the rendition of
an improper judgment. Tex. R. App. P. 44.1(a); City of Brownsville v. Alvarado, 897
S.W.2d 750, 753 (Tex. 1995). Cross-point one is overruled.
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By their second cross-point, the Gurneys contend the trial court erred by directing
a verdict against them on their alternative request to be appointed joint managing
conservators of S.S.G. in the event the jury failed to terminate the parental rights of both
Ashley and Joseph. However, the Gurneys had the burden of directing this Court to the
portion of the record which supports their complaint. See Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(h). We are
not required to search a voluminous record without guidance from the party to determine
whether an assertion of reversible error is valid. Labrador Oil Co. v. Norton Drilling Co.,
1 S.W.3d 795, 803 (Tex.\ App.--Amarillo 1999, no pet.). Because the Gurneys do not
direct us to the portion of the record where the matters complained of were presented to
the trial court, the cross-point presents nothing for review. Cross-point two is overruled.
Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is reversed and judgment is hereby
rendered in favor of Ashley Gutierrez and Joseph Alarcon Gonzalez, and the relief sought
by Jeffrey and Alicia Gurney is hereby denied.
Don H. Reavis
Justice
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