in the Interest of D.P.B. and D.Z.B. ( 2018 )

MODIFY and AFFIRM; and Opinion Filed June 15, 2018.
In The
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-17-00185-CV
IN THE INTEREST OF D.P.B. AND D.Z.B.
On Appeal from the 255th Judicial District Court
Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. DF-05-12682
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Lang-Miers, Evans, and Schenck
Opinion by Justice Lang-Miers
The trial court granted Father’s motion to modify an April 29, 2015 order in this suit
affecting a parent-child relationship. Mother appeals, contending the trial court erred by denying
her motion for continuance, ordering her to pay Father “cash medical support” of $528.00 per
month, and failing to dismiss the case when Father did not timely present an order to the court.
Because Father did not meet his burden to prove a material change in circumstances regarding the
children’s medical support, we modify the trial court’s order to delete those provisions, and affirm
the trial court’s order as modified.
BACKGROUND
Mother and Father are the parents of D.P.B. and D.Z.B. In 2005, Mother and Father entered
into an agreed child support review order appointing them joint managing conservators of D.P.B.
The clerk’s record does not contain the trial court’s original order regarding D.Z.B. On April 29,
2015, the trial court rendered an “Order in Suit to Modify Parent Relationship” (the “2015 Order”).
On October 7, 2016, Mother filed a first amended petition to modify parent-child
relationship.1 Father filed a counter-petition to modify the 2015 Order on October 31, 2016. The
trial court held a hearing on these petitions on November 7, 2016. The reporter’s record reflects
that at the time of the hearing, Mother had nonsuited her petition to modify. The trial court denied
Mother’s oral request to continue the hearing on the motion Father filed and proceeded to hear
testimony from both Father and Mother. In its memorandum ruling of November 7, 2016, the trial
court found “there has been a material and substantial change in circumstance in the children or a
parent that warrants a modification” of the 2015 Order. The trial court’s November 7, 2016
memorandum ruling includes an order that “Mother is Ordered to pay cash medical support to the
Father in the amount of $528.00 per month beginning December 1, 2016 and every first of the
month thereafter.”2 The memorandum ruling concludes: “The Case is set on 8.02 enter order or
dismiss November 18, 2016 @ 9:00 a.m. If an Order is not presented to the Court on or before
November 18, 2016 @ 9:00 a.m. the case will be dismissed.”
The trial court signed an “Order in Suit to Modify Parent Child Relationship” on November
21, 2016 (the “2016 Order”). This appeal followed.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
We review the trial court’s decision to modify child support or conservatorship for an abuse
of discretion. In re P.C.S., 320 S.W.3d 525, 530 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010, pet. denied); In re
C.C.J., 244 S.W.3d 911, 917 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008, no pet.). A trial court abuses its discretion
when it acts in an arbitrary or unreasonable manner or without reference to guiding rules or
principles. In re P.C.S., 320 S.W.3d at 530. In family law cases, traditional sufficiency standards
of review overlap with the abuse-of-discretion standard. In re A.P.B., 291 S.W.3d 91, 95 (Tex.
1
Mother’s amended petition sought to modify an order dated April 1, 2015. Neither Mother’s original petition to modify nor an April 1, 2015
order is included in the appellate record.
2
The court modified the 2015 Order in other ways that are not challenged on appeal.
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App.—Dallas 2009, no pet.). Challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence do not constitute
independent grounds for asserting error, but are relevant factors in determining whether the trial
court abused its discretion. In re P.C.S., 320 S.W.3d at 531. To determine whether the trial court
abused its discretion because the evidence is insufficient to support its decision, we consider
whether the trial court (1) had sufficient evidence upon which to exercise its discretion, and
(2) erred in its exercise of discretion. In re A.P.B., 291 S.W.3d at 95. We conduct the applicable
sufficiency review with regard to the first question. Id. A trial court does not abuse its discretion
if there is some evidence of a substantive and probative character to support the decision. In re
C.C.J., 244 S.W.3d at 917.
We also review the denial of a motion for continuance for abuse of discretion. In re T.A.S.,
No. 05-15-01101-CV, 2016 WL 279385, at *3–4 (Tex. App.—Dallas Jan. 22, 2016, no pet.) (mem.
op.) (citing Wal-Mart Stores, Tex., LP v. Crosby, 295 S.W.3d 346, 356 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2009,
pet. denied)). The denial will be reversed only if the trial court’s action was arbitrary, unreasonable,
or without reference to any guiding rules or principles. Id. (citing Garner v. Fidelity Bank, N.A.,
244 S.W.3d 855, 858 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008, no pet.)).
DISCUSSION
A. Continuance
In her first issue, Mother contends the trial court erred by denying her motion for
continuance. When a party moves for continuance, rule 251 requires the party to show sufficient
cause supported by affidavit, consent of the parties, or by operation of law. TEX. R. CIV. P. 251.
Mother’s oral motion3 did not meet the requirements of rule 251.
3
Although the index to the clerk’s record reflects that a motion for continuance was filed on the day of the hearing, there is no written motion
in the appellate record.
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Generally, when a movant fails to comply with rule 251’s requirement that the motion for
continuance be “supported by affidavit,” an appellate court must presume the trial court did not
abuse its discretion by denying the motion. Villegas v. Carter, 711 S.W.2d 624, 626 (Tex. 1986).
Because Mother’s oral motion does not satisfy the requirements of rule 251, the trial court did not
abuse its discretion by denying it. See In re A.M., 418 S.W.3d 830, 838 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2013,
no pet.); Strong v. Strong, 350 S.W.3d 759, 762 (Tex. App. Dallas 2011, pet. denied).
Mother argues, however, that by his counter-petition, Father instituted an original suit. She
contends that she should have been served with process, and she argues that other requirements of
the rules of civil procedure for original suits should have been satisfied but were not. Father’s
counter-petition, however, was filed on October 31, 2016, when Mother’s petition to modify had
been pending for a year. Numerous motions for temporary orders had been filed and heard during
that year. Mother also filed a first amended petition to modify on October 7, 2016, a month before
trial. Consequently, under the rules of civil procedure, Mother had “appeared” in the suit, and
could be served with Father’s counter-petition by either service of citation or as provided in rule
21a. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 120 (defendant’s appearance in open court has same force and effect as if
citation had been duly issued and served as provided by law); TEX. R. CIV. P. 124 (when party
asserts counterclaim against another party who has entered an appearance, counterclaim may be
served in any manner prescribed for service of citation or as provided in rule 21a); TEX. R. CIV. P.
21a (methods of service, including mail, fax, or by electronic service); TEX. FAM. CODE ANN.
§ 156.004 (Texas Rules of Civil Procedure applicable to filing of original lawsuit apply to suit for
modification under family code Chapter 156). Father’s counter-petition recited that “[n]o process
is necessary at this time as Counter-Respondent has already made an appearance in this cause.”
Father’s counter-petition also contained a certificate of service by his attorney, stating that the
counter-petition was served in accordance with the rules of civil procedure. No further service was
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required. See In re A.L.H.C., 49 S.W.3d 911, 916–17 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2001, pet. denied) (where
mother was served with rule 21a notice of counterclaim seeking termination of her parental rights,
and thereafter entered an appearance in the proceedings, no further service was required).
Mother also complains that under rule 190, Father’s counter-petition should have been
governed by a discovery control plan. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 190.1 (every case must be governed by
discovery control plan). But Mother’s operative petition already recited that discovery should be
conducted under level two of rule 190. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 190.3 (Discovery Control Plan-by Rule
(Level 2)). In addition, the rules require that if a continuance is sought on the ground that additional
discovery is needed, the movant must aver by affidavit that the matters to be discovered are
material, show the materiality of the discovery, and show that she has used due diligence to procure
the matters. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 252; O’Connor v. O’Connor, 245 S.W.3d 511, 516 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, no pet.). Mother did not provide the required affidavit to the trial court.
We decide Mother’s first issue against her.
B. Medical Support
In her second issue, Mother challenges the trial court’s order “to pay cash medical support”
of $528.00 per month to Father. A trial court’s order pertaining to health insurance for the children
will not be reversed on appeal unless the complaining party can show a clear abuse of discretion.
Sink v. Sink, 364 S.W.3d 340, 347 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012, no pet.). The trial court may modify
a previous child support order if the “circumstances of the child or a person affected by the order
have materially and substantially changed since . . . the date of the order’s rendition.” TEX. FAM.
CODE ANN. § 156.401(a)(1) (West Supp. 2017). As movant, it was Father’s burden to show the
requisite material and substantial change in circumstances since the entry of the previous order.
Cameron v. Cameron, 158 S.W.3d 680, 682 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2005, pet. denied). The trial court
must examine and compare the circumstances of the parents and children at the time of the initial
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order with the circumstances existing at the time modification is sought. In re C.C.J., 244 S.W.3d
at 917. The record must contain both historical and current evidence of the relevant person’s
financial circumstances. Id. at 917–18. Without both sets of data, the court has nothing to compare
and cannot determine whether a material and substantial change has occurred. Id. at 918.
The challenged paragraph of the 2016 Order provides:
Pursuant to section 154.182 of the Texas Family Code, [Mother] is ORDERED to
pay [Father] cash medical support for reimbursement of health insurance
premiums, as additional child support, of five hundred twenty-eight dollars and zero
cents ($528.00) per month, with the first installment being due and payable on
December 1, 2016 and a like installment being due and payable on or before the
first day of each month until the termination of the current child support for all
children under this order.
A trial court “shall order medical support for the child as provided by Subchapters B and
D.” TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 154.008 (West 2014). Under the 2015 Order, Father was required to
continue to maintain health insurance for the children through his employment. The 2016 Order
again continued this requirement, but for the first time ordered Mother to reimburse Father for
medical support. The 2016 Order also added a requirement that Mother pay child support to Father;
the 2015 Order had provided that “neither party shall pay periodic payments of child support to
the other.”
Section 154.182 of the family code addresses health care coverage for children in a suit
affecting the parent-child relationship. In the 2015 Order, the trial court made the findings required
by subsection (b) of section 154.182 to support its order that Father obtain health insurance for the
children through his employment. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 154.182(b) (West 2014). But
because Mother was not ordered to pay child support under the 2015 Order, the provisions in
subsection (b-1) regarding reimbursement were not addressed. See id. § 154.182(b-1). Under the
2016 Order, Mother became an “obligor” of child support for purposes of subsection (b-1), and
Father was an “obligee” ordered to pay for health insurance coverage. See id. Subsection (b-1)
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provides in relevant part that “[i]f the parent ordered to provide health insurance under Subsection
(b)(1) or (b)(2) is the obligee, the court shall order the obligor to pay the obligee, as additional
child support, an amount equal to the actual cost of health insurance for the child, but not to exceed
a reasonable cost to the obligor.” Id. § 154.182(b-1). “Reasonable cost” is defined in section
154.181(e) as “the total cost of health insurance coverage for all children for which the obligor is
responsible under a medical support order that does not exceed nine percent of the obligor’s annual
resources, as described by Section 154.062(b).” Id. § 154.181(e) (referenced as definition of
“reasonable cost” under § 154.182(c)(2)); see also Sink, 364 S.W.3d at 347 (discussing medical
support under § 154.182).
But there is no provision in the 2016 Order addressing “reasonable cost” to Mother.
Instead, in paragraph 12.1 of the 2016 Order, “reasonable cost” is defined only with respect to
Father, as “the total cost of health insurance coverage for all children for which [Father] is
responsible under a medical support order that does not exceed 9 percent of [Father’s] annual
resources, as described by section 154.062(b) of the Texas Family Code.”
In his counter-petition to modify, Father alleged that “[t]he previous order should be
modified to require Counter-Respondent to reimburse Counter-Petitioner for the full cost of said
health, vision and dental insurance provided for the children.” He did not allege that a material and
substantial change in circumstances had occurred warranting modification of the 2015 Order’s
provisions regarding health insurance. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 156.401(a)(1) (court may
modify previous order if circumstances of child or person affected by order have materially and
substantially changed since date of order’s rendition). At the hearing, Father testified:
Q. And are you, over the course of—correct me if I’m wrong, but I
believe over the course of the boys’, at least last several years, you
have maintained through your employment their health insurance; is
that correct?
A. I have.
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Q. And approximately what is the monthly cost to you for just
maintaining your two boys on your health insurance?
A. It is $528 per month.
Q. Are you requesting this Court order [Mother] to reimburse you
for that expense?
A. I am.
Q. Do you prefer to maintain the health insurance for the children?
A. I do.
Q. Why is that?
A. Because I want to ensure that it is taken care of and that that
financial responsibility is maintained.
Q. And of course the two of you would continue to split uninsured
50/50?
A. Correct.
Father offered no evidence to show any change in circumstances that required this
modification in the trial court’s orders regarding medical insurance for the children. He admitted
on cross-examination that he did not provide any documentation for or verification of the $528
amount at trial. Nor did he describe any change in circumstances in his motion to modify.
Mother contends that the trial court erred because the amount she was ordered to pay is “in
gross excess of the statutory limit for reasonable cost to the Mother, as obligor.” Mother testified
that her gross annual income is $19,000. She argues that the trial court’s order requires her to pay
over one-third of her income, in violation of the family code’s nine percent limit.
The court asked Mother the following questions:
THE COURT: Are you currently employed?
[MOTHER]: I am.
THE COURT: Where do you work?
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[MOTHER]: I—Uber.
THE COURT: And how much do you make?
[MOTHER]: About the same as I’ve always made, about $19,000 a
year.
THE COURT: Do you have health insurance for the children?
[MOTHER]: I do.
THE COURT: How?
[MOTHER]: They have CHIP.
THE COURT: Do you have proof of that today?
[MOTHER]: I may have something in my briefcase actually, Your
Honor.
Although the trial court was the sole judge of Mother’s credibility and the weight to be
given her testimony, In re M.A.M., 346 S.W.3d 10, 14 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2011, pet. denied),
Father did not offer any evidence on which the trial court could rely in determining whether
$528.00 per month was a “reasonable cost” to Mother under family code sections 154.181(e) and
154.182(c)(2). Nor did Father provide evidence to support his contention that a material and
substantial change had occurred, warranting modification in the trial court’s 2015 Order.
Consequently, we conclude the trial court abused its discretion in its ruling that Mother must “pay
cash medical support to the Father in the amount of $528.00 per month beginning December 1,
2016 and every first of the month thereafter.” See In re C.C.J., 244 S.W.3d at 917–18. We sustain
Mother’s second issue. See In Interest of B.W.S., 05-15-01207-CV, 2016 WL 7163866, at *4 (Tex.
App.—Dallas Nov. 28, 2016, no pet.) (mem. op.) (where father offered no evidence of material
and substantial change in circumstances, and no evidence by which to compare current and
historical financial circumstances, trial court abused its discretion by increasing mother’s medical
support obligation).
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C. Failure to Dismiss
The concluding paragraph in the trial court’s November 7, 2016 memorandum ruling
states, “The Case is set on 8.02 enter order or dismiss November 18, 2016 @ 9:00 a.m. If an Order
is not presented to the Court on or before November 18, 2016 @ 9:00 a.m., the case will be
dismissed.” In her third issue, Mother contends that because the trial court did not sign the 2016
Order until November 21, 2016, the case should have been dismissed.
Rule 8.02 of the Local Rules of the Family District Courts of Dallas County, Texas,
provides that “Unless ordered otherwise, within thirty days after rendition . . . [the parties] shall
cause decisions or settlements of any kind to be reduced to writing. Upon failure to furnish the
Court Clerk/Administrator with such a judgment or order finally disposing of a case, or to request
extension of the filing or to set a motion for entry, the Court shall enter an order of dismissal
without prejudice with costs taxed at the Judge’s discretion.” Rule 8.02 is included in Part VIII of
the rules, entitled “Dismissal for Want of Prosecution.” Rule 8.01 includes a list of “actions
resulting in a case being dismissed for want of prosecution.” Rule 8.01(c), “failure to comply with
Rule 8.02,” is one of the actions listed.
The 2016 Order recites, “This Order judicially PRONOUNCED AND RENDERED in
court at Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, on November 7, 2016, and further memorialized via the
court’s Memorandum Ruling on the same date, but SIGNED on this ____ day of ___________,
2016.” In the latter blank is a date stamp of November 21, 2016, and the order is signed by the
“Judge Presiding, the Judge of the 256th District Court sitting for the Judge of the 255th District
Court.” The 2016 Order is signed by Father’s counsel and by Mother. Both signatures are under
the notation, “Approved as to form only.”
There is no indication in the record when the order was “presented to the Court” pursuant
to the memorandum ruling; the only date reflected in the record is the date the court signed the
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2016 Order. Under the trial court’s November 7 ruling, an order was due on Friday, November 18.
The court signed the order on Monday, November 21. “We presume the regularity of a judgment
absent controverting matter in the record.” Casillas v. State Office of Risk Mgmt., 146 S.W.3d 735,
738 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2004, no pet.). Even assuming rule 8.02 required the trial court to dismiss
the case if a proposed order were not presented on November 18, there is nothing in the record to
show it was not “presented” in accordance with the rule. We decide Mother’s third issue against
her.
CONCLUSION
The record does not support the trial court’s finding of a “material and substantial change
in circumstance” since the rendition of the prior order with respect to payment of “cash medical
support” by Mother to Father. See In re C.C.J., 244 S.W.3d at 917–18. Accordingly, we modify
the trial court’s November 21, 2016 Order in Suit to Modify Parent Child Relationship to delete
the provisions requiring Mother to pay cash medical support for reimbursement of health insurance
premiums as additional child support in the amount of $528.00 per month, and affirm as modified.
/Elizabeth Lang-Miers/
ELIZABETH LANG-MIERS
JUSTICE
170185F.P05
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Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
JUDGMENT
IN THE INTEREST OF D.P.B. AND On Appeal from the 255th Judicial District
D.Z.B., Court, Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. DF-05-12682.
No. 05-17-00185-CV Opinion delivered by Justice Lang-Miers;
Justices Evans and Schenck, participating.
In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is
MODIFIED to delete the following provisions on page 18:
Pursuant to section 154.182 of the Texas Family Code, [Mother] is ORDERED to
pay [Father] cash medical support for reimbursement of health insurance
premiums, as additional child support, of five hundred twenty-eight dollars and zero
cents ($528.00) per month, with the first installment being due and payable on
December 1, 2016 and a like installment being due and payable on or before the
first day of each month until the termination of the current child support for all
children under this order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Income Withholding Order for Support
authorized above in this order shall include the cash medical support payments
ordered herein. However, in the event of any increase in the children’s health
insurance premiums, [Mother] is ORDERED to pay the increased amount directly
to the state disbursement unit as specified below, with the first installment being
due and payable on the first day of the first month after [Mother] receives written
notice of the increased amount. That written notice shall include documentation
from the insurance carrier and/or [Father’s] employer evidencing the actual cost of
the children’s health insurance coverage. In the event of any decrease in the
children’s health insurance premiums, [Father] IS ORDERED to notify [Mother]
of the change within thirty days and thereafter reimburse [Mother] at [Mother’s]
last known address for each overpayment within five days of [Father’s] receipt
thereof.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all cash medical support payments shall be made
through the state disbursement unit at Texas Child Support Disbursement Unit, P.O.
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Box 659791, San Antonio, Texas 78265-9791, and thereafter promptly remitted to
[Father] for the support of the children.
IT IS ORDERED that the case [sic] medical support provisions of this order shall
be an obligation of the estate of [Mother] and shall not terminate on her death.
It is ORDERED that, as modified, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.
Judgment entered this 15th day of June, 2018.
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