in Re: The Commitment of Donald Larkin ( 2004 )

In The

Court of Appeals

Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont

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NO. 09-03-289 CV ____________________

IN RE COMMITMENT OF DONALD LARKIN

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On Appeal from the 410th District Court Montgomery County, Texas Trial Cause No. 02-10-06874-CV

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O P I N I O N  

Pursuant to Title 11, Chapter 841 of the Health and Safety Code (the SVP statute), the State of Texas filed a petition to civilly commit Donald Larkin as a sexually violent predator. See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. §§ 841.001-841.50 (Vernon 2003 & Supp. 2004). The trial court found that Larkin suffers from a behavioral abnormality that makes him likely to engage in a predatory act of sexual violence and entered a final judgment and order of civil commitment. Larkin appeals presenting six issues.

In his first issue, Larkin argues the SVP statute is unconstitutional because it is punitive in nature and violates basic constitutional safeguards. As recognized in Larkin's brief, this court has repeatedly held the SVP statute is not punitive. See In re Commitment of Morales, 98 S.W.3d 288 (Tex. App.--Beaumont 2002, pet. denied); In re Commitment of Mullens, 92 S.W.3d 881(Tex. App.--Beaumont 2003, pet. denied); and Beasley v. Molett, 95 S.W.3d 590 (Tex. App.--Beaumont 2002, pet. denied), and the Texas Supreme Court has not written on this issue. ⁽¹⁾ Issue one is overruled.

Issue two claims that requiring Larkin to submit to polygraph examinations violates the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. See U.S. Const. amend. V. As conceded by Larkin, we have previously decided this issue adversely to him and discern no reason to revisit our decision. See Beasley, 95 S.W.3d at 609-10; Mullens, 92 S.W.3d at 888. Issue two is overruled.

Larkin's third issue contends the SVP statute is unconstitutionally vague and violates the separation of powers doctrine. As admitted in Larkin's brief, this court has held otherwise. See Morales, 98 S.W.3d at 291; Mullens, 92 S.W.3d at 887-88. The Texas Supreme Court has not written on this issue. Issue three is overruled.

In issue four, Larkin challenges the trial court's decision to strike his pleadings and order he be civilly committed via a default judgment. The State moved for Rule 215.2 sanctions and requested the trial court strike Larkin's pleadings and prohibit him from presenting any evidence. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 215.2. However, on appeal the State ostensibly concedes error when it asserts "[t]he State has limited opposition to issue four. Consequently, issues five and six are moot." ⁽²⁾ The State offers no argument or authority in support of the trial court's action.

In accordance with TransAmerican Natural Gas Corp. v. Powell, 811 S.W.2d 913, 917-18 (Tex. 1991) (orig. proceeding), there must be a direct relationship between the offensive conduct and the sanction imposed, and the sanctions must not be excessive. To avoid being excessive, a trial court must first test the effectiveness of lesser sanctions before entering death penalty sanctions. See In re Polaris Indus., Inc., 65 S.W.3d 746, 751 (Tex. App.--Beaumont 2001, orig. proceeding). Additionally, constitutional due process precludes imposing sanctions that determine the merits of a case unless the discovery abuse justifies a legal presumption that the disobedient party's claims or defenses lack merit. Id.

We find no basis to justify a legal presumption of lack of merit of Larkin's defense. We further find no evidence of prejudice caused the petitioner that cannot be or has not been remedied. Also, we are unaware of any effort by the trial court to first test lesser sanctions. See id. at 751-52 (citing Hamill v. Level, 917 S.W.2d 15, 16 (Tex. 1996); TransAmerican, 811 S.W.2d at 918; and Chrysler Corp. v. Blackmon, 841 S.W.2d 844, 849-50 (Tex. 1992)). Accordingly, we find the requirements for imposing death penalty sanctions were not present. Issue four is sustained.

We therefore do not address issues five and six. The judgment of the trial court is reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

REVERSED AND REMANDED.

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DON BURGESS

Justice

Submitted on February 11, 2004

Opinion Delivered February 19, 2004

Before McKeithen, C.J., Burgess and Gaultney, JJ.

1.

However, since the writing of Larkin's brief, the Texas Supreme Court has denied petition on these cases.

2.

Issues five and six similarly challenge the correctness of the trial court's action.