Russell Thomas Boyd v. Christina Michelle Palmore ( 2011 )

Opinion issued September 29, 2011.

In The

Court of Appeals

For The

First District of Texas

————————————

NO. 01-10-00515-CV

———————————

RUSSELL THOMAS BOYD, Appellant

V.

CHRISTINA MICHELLE PALMORE, Appellee

On Appeal from the 280th District Court

Harris County, Texas

Trial Court Case No. 2010-11113

DISSENTING OPINION

          Russell Thomas Boyd’s sole appellate point argues that the acts proven as the basis for the protective order do not qualify as family violence and thus the grant of a protective order against him is not supported by legally or factually sufficient evidence.

            In an obviously misguided effort to communicate with his child’s mother, Boyd, a man with emotional and other issues (including a voluntary commitment to a mental health facility), had messages sent to the woman that falsely reported that he had committed suicide; he told her (whether truthfully or not is not a part of the record before us) that she was under surveillance (tracking devices on her vehicle; private investigator; hidden video cameras); and he jumped atop the hood of her car to compel her to stop and talk to him.  This case rises or falls on the determination by the trial court that jumping onto the hood of a vehicle is an act “intended to result in physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault” (of another . . . not the ‘hood jumper’) and/or “is a threat that reasonably places the (family or household) member in fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault . . . .”  Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 71.004 (Vernon 2002).

            The operative word here is reasonably.  I would hold that one distraught ex-lover’s attempt to block the path of a vehicle traveling sufficiently slowly as to allow one to jump upon the vehicle’s hood cannot reasonably be construed or characterized as “intended to result in physical harm, bodily injury” of the one in the vehicle driving, or as a threat to that driver’s “imminent physical harm [or] bodily injury . . . .” [1]  See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 71.004 (Vernon 2002).  Yet the majority opinion characterizes this over-wrought stab at drama as “family violence.”  Is “hood jumping” to be forevermore enshrined in Texas jurisprudence as an act of family violence?  To do so would not be mere overreaching, but grasping in a judicial sense as sadly as Boyd’s own failed attempt at meaningful face time.

      Although Palmore testified about “increasingly worse” threats and “verbal abuse,” the record is devoid of testimony descriptive of any such threats.  She did not, for instance, testify that Boyd threatened her with “imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault.”  See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 71.004 (Vernon 2002).   As there is no evidence of what constituted the threat, there can be no evidence that whatever “it” was could reasonably place a family member in fear of “imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault,” notwithstanding her testimony that she was “scared for her life.”  See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 71.004 (Vernon 2002).

            The majority affirms the trial court’s order.  As I do not read the record as supporting a finding that the acts of standing in front of a vehicle or of jumping up onto the hood of a car (no matter the credibility or weight one’s testimony describing such acts is to be given) can cause, or place the driver of the vehicle in reasonable fear of, imminent physical harm, bodily injury or an assault, I respectfully dissent.

FACTS

          Christina Palmore had a child with Boyd.  They had never married, but had lived together.  In December 2009, after their relationship ended, Palmore and Boyd agreed to the entry of an order that established visitation for the child.

          In February 2010, Palmore filed an application for a protective order against Boyd.  The trial court held an oral hearing on the application. Palmore testified that she was afraid of Boyd and wanted a protective order to protect both her and her 19-month-old daughter.  She further testified to the following acts by Boyd:

1.     “Increasingly worse” threats and “verbal abuse” (Palmore never testified as to what Boyd said that threatened her or described the verbal abuse);

2.     “Talk of possible hidden cameras in my house;”

3.     An October 2009 incident in which Boyd blocked her with his body from leaving and jumped on the hood of her car;

4.     Text messages that falsely reported that Boyd had committed suicide;

5.     Boyd’s report to her that he had voluntarily admitted himself to a mental hospital; and

6.     Boyd’s report to her that he was having a private investigator follow her.

          Palmore’s testimony did clarify that the incident in which Boyd jumped on the hood of her car was the only “remotely physical” incident between them and that he had never caused her physical or bodily injury or assaulted her.

After an oral hearing, the court, specifically finding that Boyd had committed family violence and was likely to do so in the future, granted the motion for protective order.  Boyd appeals the grant of this order.

LEGAL AND FACTUAL SUFFICIENCY

          In his sole issue, Boyd claims that the acts which were proved as the basis for the protective order do not qualify as family violence and thus the trial court’s finding that family violence has occurred in the past and is likely to occur in the future is not supported by legally or factually sufficient evidence.

A.   Standard of Review

When the trial court acts as a fact-finder, we review its findings under the legal and factual sufficiency standards.  In re Doe, 19 S.W.3d 249, 253 (Tex. 2000); Vongontard v. Tippit, 137 S.W.3d 109, 112 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, no pet.).  When a party who does not have the burden of proof at trial challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence, we consider all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the prevailing party, indulging every reasonable inference in that party’s favor and disregarding contrary evidence unless a reasonable fact-finder could not.  City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 827 (Tex. 2005); City of Houston v. Hildebrandt, 265 S.W.3d 22, 27 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2008, pet. denied) (citing Assoc. Indem. Corp. v. CAT Contracting, Inc., 964 S.W.2d 276, 285−86 (Tex. 1998)).  “If there is any evidence of probative force to support the finding, i.e., more than a mere scintilla, we will overrule the issue.”  Hildebrandt, 265 S.W.3d at 27 (citing Haggar Clothing Co. v. Hernandez, 164 S.W.3d 386, 388 (Tex. 2005)).

In reviewing a factual sufficiency complaint, we must first examine all of the evidence.  Lofton v. Texas Brine Corp., 720 S.W.2d 804, 805 (Tex. 1986).  Having considered and weighed all the evidence, we should set aside the verdict only if the evidence is so weak, or the finding is so against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence, that it is clearly wrong and unjust.  Cain v. Bain, 709 S.W.2d 175, 176 (Tex. 1986).  We cannot merely substitute our opinion for that of the trier of fact and determine that we would reach a different conclusion.  Hollander v. Capon, 853 S.W.2d 723, 726 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1993, writ denied).

B.   Family Code Provisions Concerning Protective Orders

A court shall render a protective order if the court finds that family violence has occurred and is likely to occur in the future. Tex. Fam. Code Ann.  § 81.001 (Vernon 2002).  Family violence is defined as:

(1)  an act by a member of a family . . . against another member of the family . . . that is intended to result in physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault or that is a threat that reasonably places the member in fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault, but does not include defensive measures to protect oneself . . .   

Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 71.004 (Vernon 2002).

          “Family” is defined in pertinent part as individuals who are former spouses of each other or who are parents of the same child. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 71.003 (Vernon 2002).  “At the close of a hearing on an application for a protective order, the court shall find whether:  (1) family violence occurred; and (2) family violence is likely to occur in the future.” Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 85.001 (Vernon 2002).

C.    Analysis

Here, there is no evidence that Boyd ever caused Palmore physical harm or bodily injury, and apart from the majority’s characterization of the “hood jumping,” there is no evidence that he took actions intending to result in such harm or injury.  Furthermore, although Palmore testified that she was “scared” of Boyd because “[h]is threats ha[d] become increasingly worse,” she offered no testimony as to what it was that Boyd threatened to do or that such “threats” placed her in fear of “imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault . . . .”  See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 74.001 (Vernon  2002).  In fact, Palmore did not testify as to any word or action that might indicate that Boyd had in the past or would in the future pose a threat of physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault.

The text messages Boyd apparently caused to be sent to Palmore that reported he had committed suicide cannot be construed as a threat to Palmore’s own safety. Nor does the fact that Boyd voluntarily admitted himself to a mental hospital reflect that he either has in the past or will in the future place her in fear of such harm.

Palmore did, however, testify that she was “in fear for her life” when Boyd jumped on the hood of her car. But, as she later testified, this was the only “remotely physical” incident between Boyd and her.  As noted previously, this incident was not an act capable of causing physical harm or bodily injury, and there was no testimony it was “intended to result in physical harm, bodily injury, an assault, or sexual assault” and thus, did not and could not constitute “family violence” as defined by the Family Code. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 71.004 (Vernon 2002).

Rather, the actions to which Palmore testified are in the nature of harassment.  Harassment may at some point become an active threat.  See Thompson v. Thompson-O’Rear, No. 06-03-00129-CV, 2004 WL 1243080, at *3 (Tex. App.—Texarkana June 8, 2004, no pet.) (mem. op.).  Considering the absence of any threat of physical harm or of any continuing physical confrontation, as well as the lack of testimony concerning threats of physical harm, I would conclude that the harassment described herein does not rise to the level of an “active threat.”  See Gonzales v. Rangel, No. 13-05-641-CV, 2006 WL 2371464, at *2 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Aug. 17, 2006, no pet.) (mem. op.) (stating that Family Code provides that only threats of “imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault” constitute family violence; any other sort of threat does not support finding of family violence).

Moreover, the record contains no evidence that family violence “is likely to occur in the future.”  See Tex. Fam. Code. Ann. § 85.001(a)(2).  Because Palmore also failed to establish the second element required by the Family Code, I would hold the evidence to be legally insufficient to support the trial court’s order, see Gipson v. Huerta, No. 13-02-00490-CV, 2003 WL 21666140, at *2 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi July 17, 2003, no pet.) (mem. op.) (holding evidence legally insufficient to support protective order when appellee failed to produce evidence that family violence was likely to occur in future), sustain appellant’s sole issue, reverse the trial court’s protective order, and render judgment that appellee’s request for a protective order is denied.

                                                                   Jim Sharp

                                                                   Justice

Panel consists of Chief Justice Radack and Justices Sharp and Brown.

Justice Sharp, dissenting.

---

[1]           The same cannot be said for Mr. Boyd, whose lovelorn stunt could easily have resulted in “physical harm or bodily injury . . .” to himself.