Robbie Lynn Newby v. State ( 2005 )

In The

Court of Appeals

Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana

______________________________

No. 06-04-00061-CR

______________________________

ROBBIE LYNN NEWBY, Appellant

 

V.

 

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee

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On Appeal from the 402nd Judicial District Court

Wood County, Texas

Trial Court No. 17,591-2003

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Before Morriss, C.J., Ross and Carter, JJ.

Opinion by Justice Ross

O P I N I O N

          Robbie Lynn Newby appeals his conviction and sentence for possession of marihuana in an amount greater than four ounces, but less than five pounds. See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 481.121(b)(3) (Vernon 2003). In a single point of error, Newby raises three issues: He challenges (1) the factual and (2) legal sufficiency of the evidence to support the finding that he used or exhibited a deadly weapon during the commission of his offense; and he contends the trial court erred by failing to make an oral finding that he had been twice previously, finally, and sequentially convicted of a felony offense.

          "The practice of combining two or more separate issues into a single point of error is strongly discouraged, as it often results in the combined point of error being overruled as multifarious." Harris v. State, 133 S.W.3d 760, 764 n.3 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2004, pet. ref'd) (referencing Foster v. State, 101 S.W.3d 490, 499 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, no pet.); Parra v. State, 935 S.W.2d 862, 875 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1996, pet. ref'd)). However, in the interest of resolving substantive issues, we will not overrule Newby's point of error as multifarious. Nevertheless, for the reasons stated below, we affirm the trial court's judgment.

I. Legal and Factual Sufficiency

          On August 12, 2002, Wood County sheriffs deputies executed a search warrant at Newby's home in Wood County. According to a police check with the local electric utility company, Newby had lived at that residence since March 2000. When they executed the warrant, officers discovered several flower beds around the house in which seventy-eight marihuana plants were growing. Officers also found dried marihuana in an outbuilding on Newby's property. Inside the home, officers discovered more dried marihuana in the living room and seized an SKS assault rifle located in Newby's bedroom. Newby was subsequently arrested and charged with possession of marihuana.

          Newby pled "not guilty" and submitted guilt/innocence to a jury. At trial, the court submitted a special issue to the jury asking it to determine whether Newby used or exhibited a firearm during the commission of the charged offense. The jury answered that question affirmatively. Newby now challenges that finding. The deadly weapon finding is important because it affects Newby's parole eligibility. See Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 508.145(d) (Vernon 2004); Coleman v. State, 145 S.W.3d 649, 652 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004).

          In Coleman, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals reviewed a case in which the trial court had entered a deadly weapon finding in its judgment, yet there had been no testimony that Coleman had ever held or "exhibited" the weapon during the offense. Instead, the officers testified they found the 9-millimeter pistol and a .22 rifle inside Coleman's house, but they did not testify that Coleman had been seen displaying or exhibiting the weapon at the time the officers saw Coleman selling illegal narcotics. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals nevertheless affirmed the trial court's deadly weapon finding. Id. at 655. The court first expressly disagreed with Coleman's contention that "where no individual is observed in actual physical control over the weapon, and where the weapon is found a significant distance from the controlled substance, then the evidence is not sufficient to support an affirmative finding of use or exhibition of a deadly weapon during the commission of an alleged narcotics offense." Id. at 653–54. The court noted that an accused's distance from the weapon is not dispositive. Id. at 654. The court then emphasized that the evidence showed no one else had access to the home, the weapon was found in the same room with mail addressed to Coleman, and Coleman had told police that he lived in the house alone. Id. The Coleman court ultimately concluded the trial court did not err by entering an affirmative deadly weapon finding.

          In Gale v. State, 998 S.W.2d 221 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999), the court similarly affirmed a deadly weapon finding in a narcotics case. In Gale, the evidence showed officers found several firearms (including an Uzi-style assault rifle) in the same closet in which they found twenty pounds of narcotics. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the trial court's deadly weapon finding because there had been uncontroverted testimony that weapons such as those found by the police were often used by drug traffickers to protect their drugs and the proceeds from the sales of illegal narcotics. Id. at 225–26.

          In this case, Newby was the only person present in the small, four-room house when the officers executed their search warrant. Joyce Box, a deputy with the Wood County Sheriff's Department, testified that most people who have narcotics also have weapons. More specifically, Box testified she generally only sees rifles of the type seen in Newby's bedroom when she assists the narcotics teams in executing drug search warrants.

          The house where officers executed the search warrant and arrested Newby had four rooms: a kitchen, a bathroom, one bedroom that had a bed, and a second bedroom that lacked a bed and appeared to be used only for storage. The officers found drug paraphernalia in the house. The rifle that is the subject of the trial court's deadly weapon finding was discovered on the bed in Newby's bedroom. Officers found a telephone bill in the house addressed to Newby. The electric company had listed Newby as the billing addressee at that location since March 2000. And, finally, there was testimony that the rifle in question was located within ten steps of where officers found Newby when they entered the house.

          Applying the usual standards for legal and factual sufficiency, see Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979); Johnson v. State, 23 S.W.3d 1, 7 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000); Threadgill v. State, 146 S.W.3d 654, 664 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004), and in light of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals' jurisprudence in both Coleman and Gale, we conclude the evidence to be factually and legally sufficient to support the jury's finding that Newby used or exhibited a deadly weapon during the commission of the charged offense.

II. The Trial Court's Failure To Make an Oral Pronouncement Regarding the Weapon

          Newby next contends the trial court erred by failing to make an oral pronouncement regarding the punishment enhancement allegations. Newby did not raise this objection at the trial court level. Accordingly, nothing has been preserved for our review. See Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a)(1); Mendenhall v. State, 15 S.W.3d 560, 567 (Tex. App.—Waco 2000), aff'd, 77 S.W.3d 815 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002); Garner v. State, 858 S.W.2d 656, 659 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1993, pet. ref'd). Moreover, while it is better practice for the trial court to make an oral pronouncement regarding its findings on punishment enhancement allegations, a trial court does not err when it overlooks making that pronouncement, especially when the issue of sentencing is submitted to the court rather than a jury. Garner, 858 S.W.2d at 660.

III. Conclusion

          For the reasons stated, we affirm the trial court's judgment.

 

                                                                           Donald R. Ross

                                                                           Justice

Date Submitted:      June 6, 2005

Date Decided:         July 8, 2005

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In The

  Court of Appeals

                        Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana

 

                                                ______________________________

 

                                                             No. 06-09-00110-CV

                                                ______________________________

 

 

        WAFIA HANIF AND MOHAMMED HANIF SHAKOOR, Appellants

 

                                                                V.

 

                        CLARKSVILLE OIL & GAS CO., INC., Appellee

 

 

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                                      On Appeal from the 102nd Judicial District Court

                                                          Red River County, Texas

                                                       Trial Court No. 002CV00057

 

                                                                                                   

 

 

                                          Before Morriss, C.J., Carter and Moseley, JJ.

                                              Memorandum Opinion by Justice Carter

                                                     MEMORANDUM OPINION

 

            Eight years ago, Clarksville Oil & Gas Co., Inc. (Clarksville), sued Mohammed Hanif Shakoor^[1] in Red River County, Texas, alleging that Shakoor had breached fuel supply contracts under which Clarksville had supplied fuel to two service stations.  Shakoor failed to answer the suit, and the trial court entered a default judgment against him in the amount of $145,487.43, plus interest, and $48,000.00 in attorney’s fees.  In 2009, Clarksville filed an application for turnover relief requesting that the trial court order Shakoor to turn over shares in WASMA, Inc., and all related documents.  Shakoor answered the application, but failed to appear for the hearing.  The trial court granted Clarksville’s application, ordered Shakoor to turn over the shares and documentation, and awarded $1,500.00 in attorney’s fees.  

            Shakoor and his wife, Wafia Hanif, separately appeal from the turnover order.  Both contend that the trial court abused its discretion in granting the turnover order because:  (1) Hanif, rather than Shakoor, owns the stock; and (2) there was no evidence to support the elements of Section 31.002 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.

            Shakoor separately argues that the trial court abused its discretion because there was no evidence to support the trial court’s award of attorney’s fees.^[2]   

            We affirm the trial court’s judgment because: (1) the stock is presumed to be community property; (2) the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding that the stock is subject to the turnover statute; and (3) the trial court properly awarded attorney’s fees.

I.          FACTS

            After obtaining the default judgment in 2002, an abstract of judgment was filed by Clarksville naming Shakoor as the judgment debtor.  In November 2009, Clarksville filed an application for turnover relief requesting that the trial court order Shakoor to turn over shares in WASMA and all related documents.  It was alleged in the application that Shakoor had an ownership interest in all shares of WASMA, that the stock could not be readily attached or levied on by ordinary legal process, and that it was not exempt from attachment, execution, or seizure by any statute.  Shakoor answered the application, asserting that Hanif, not he, owned the WASMA stock. Hanif was not named in the underlying lawsuit, but she, WASMA, and the Mohammed A. Hanif Trust filed motions in opposition to the production of financial information Clarksville sought in regard to Shakoor, claiming that Hanif, rather than Shakoor, owned the WASMA stock.  Neither Shakoor nor Hanif nor anyone associated with the Mohammed A. Hanif Trust appeared at the turnover hearing.  After the turnover hearing, the trial court granted Clarksville’s application and ordered Shakoor to turn over the shares and documentation. 

II.        STANDARD OF REVIEW

            We review the granting or denial of a turnover order for an abuse of discretion. Beaumont Bank, N.A. v. Buller, 806 S.W.2d 223, 226 (Tex. 1991); Tanner v. McCarthy, 274 S.W.3d 311, 320 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2008, no pet.).  A trial court abuses its discretion if it acts in an unreasonable or arbitrary manner.  See Buller, 806 S.W.2d at 226.  A trial court’s issuance of a turnover order, even if predicated on an erroneous conclusion of law, will not be reversed for an abuse of discretion if the judgment is sustainable for any reason.  Id. A trial court does not abuse its discretion if there is some evidence of a substantive and probative character to support the decision.  Tanner, 274 S.W.3d at 321–22.

III.       THE STOCK IS PRESUMED TO BE COMMUNITY PROPERTY

            The trial court found that the stock was community property.  Both Shakoor and Hanif contend that the trial court abused its discretion in granting the turnover order because Hanif, a nonparty, owns the stock and, therefore, it is not subject to the turnover statute.  We disagree.

            Property owned or possessed by either spouse during marriage is presumed to be community property.  Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.003(a) (Vernon 2006).  In order to overcome this presumption, the spouse claiming that certain property is separate bears the burden of tracing the asset to prove its separate characterization.  Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.003(b) (Vernon 2006); McKinley v. McKinley, 496 S.W.2d 540, 543 (Tex. 1973).  “Any doubt as to the character of property should be resolved in favor of the community estate.”  Garza v. Garza, 217 S.W.3d 538, 548 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2006, no pet.); Moroch v. Collins, 174 S.W.3d 849, 856 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2005, pet. denied); see Boyd v. Boyd, 131 S.W.3d 605, 612 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2004, no pet.).

            In this case, the only evidence of record indicates that the stock is community property.  Neither Shakoor nor Hanif appeared at the turnover hearing.  The WASMA stock certificate is dated November 2, 2001, and states that Hanif is the owner of 1,000 shares of WASMA stock.^[3]  A warranty deed shows that Shakoor and Hanif were husband and wife as early as 1998. Hanif testified that she and Shakoor were still married in June 2008.  From those dates, the trial court could have reasonably inferred that Shakoor and Hanif were married at the time she acquired the shares in 2001.  There is no evidence that Hanif was single or divorced at the time she acquired the stock, and there is no evidence tracing the stock to prove its separate characterization.  See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 3.003(a), 3.003(b); McKinley, 496 S.W.2d at 543; Garza, 217 S.W.3d at 548.  Here, the presumption that the stock is community property is conclusive because neither Shakoor nor Hanif produced any rebuttal evidence.^[4]  Therefore, we overrule this point of error.

IV.       THERE IS “SOME EVIDENCE” THAT THE STOCK IS SUBJECT TO     TURNOVER UNDER SECTION 31.002 OF THE TEXAS CIVIL PRACTICE AND             REMEDIES CODE

 

            The trial court found that although the WASMA shares are “held in the name of Wafia Hanif, they are subject to [Shakoor’s] control,” that they are not exempt from seizure, and that they cannot be readily attached or levied on by ordinary legal processes.  Both Shakoor and Hanif argue that there was no evidence to support these elements of the turnover statute.  We disagree.

            Section 31.002 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code governs a trial court’s entry of a turnover order.  See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 31.002 (Vernon 2008) (the “turnover statute”).  Pursuant to Section 31.002(a), a judgment creditor is entitled to receive aid from a court to reach property to obtain satisfaction on a judgment “if the judgment debtor owns property, including present or future rights to property, that . . . cannot readily be attached or levied on by ordinary legal process, and . . . is not exempt from attachment, execution, or seizure for the satisfaction of liabilities.”  Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 31.002(a).  The turnover statute applies to property within the judgment debtor’s possession or subject to his or her control.  Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 31.002(b)(1).

            Section 31.002 authorizes a turnover order only upon proof of the necessary facts.  Tanner, 274 S.W.3d at 322; Main Place Custom Homes, Inc. v. Honaker, 192 S.W.3d 604, 628 (Tex. App.––Fort Worth 2006, no pet.).  The judgment creditor must prove that (1) the judgment debtor owns, possesses, or controls the property, (2) the judgment creditor cannot readily attach or levy on the property by ordinary legal process, and (3) the property is not exempt from attachment, execution, or seizure for the satisfaction of liabilities. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 31.002(a)(1), (2), (b)(1); Tanner, 274 S.W.3d at 322; Criswell v. Ginsberg & Foreman, 843 S.W.2d 304, 306 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1992, no writ).  Section 31.002(a) does not

specify, or restrict, the manner in which evidence may be received in order for a trial court to determine whether the conditions of section 31.002(a) exist, nor does it require that such evidence be in any particular form, that it be at any particular level of specificity, or that it reach any particular quantum before the court may grant aid under section 31.002.  

 

Tanner, 274 S.W.3d at 322. However, for a judgment creditor to prove these three elements, he or she must introduce more evidence than just a motion for turnover.  The statute requires a factual showing that the judgment debtor has nonexempt property that is not readily subject to ordinary execution.  Schultz v. Fifth Judicial Dist. Court of Appeals at Dallas, 810 S.W.2d 738, 740 (Tex. 1991).

            Both Shakoor and Hanif argue that Clarksville failed to produce evidence to fulfill the elements of Section 31.002.  We will address each of the three elements separately.

            A.        Shakoor’s Control Over the Property

            As per our ruling hereinabove, the WASMA stock is community property.  Community property is further characterized as either joint management community property or as sole management community property of either spouse.  Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.102; Brooks v. Sherry Lane Nat’l Bank, 788 S.W.2d 874, 876 (Tex. App.––Dallas 1990, no writ).  Unless both spouses are personally liable, the community property subject to a spouse’s sole management, control, and disposition is not subject to nontortious liabilities that the other spouse incurred during marriage.  Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.202(b)(2) (Vernon Supp. 2009).  On the other hand, joint management community property is subject to seizure, attachment, or turnover to satisfy a spouse’s judgment debt. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 31.002(b)(1); Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.202(c) (Vernon Supp. 2009). 

            There is a rebuttable presumption that community property is subject to the joint management, control, and disposition of both spouses unless the parties provide otherwise in writing or other agreement. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.102(b), (c).  “In general, community property is subject to ‘joint management, control, and disposition of the spouses unless the spouses provide otherwise by power of attorney in writing or other agreement.’”  Wright v. Wright, 280 S.W.3d 901, 910 (Tex. App.––Eastland 2009, no pet.) (citing Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.102(c)).   The question before us is whether Shakoor or Hanif successfully rebutted the presumption of joint management.

            Section 3.104 states that the property held in one spouse’s name is presumed to be sole management community property.  Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.104 (Vernon 2006).  “As its title ‘Protection of Third Persons’ reflects, Section 3.104 primarily addresses a community property transfer from the standpoint of a third party.”   Wright, 280 S.W.3d at 910.^[5] 

            Here, the case does not involve a third-party transaction regarding the stock; therefore, Section 3.104 is inapplicable.  The only probative evidence before the trial court regarding ownership, management, and control over the WASMA stock are portions of Hanif’s deposition testimony and the stock certificate itself.  Hanif is listed as the owner of the 1,000 shares of WASMA stock, and in 2002, she became the president and owner of WASMA, the company that owns the two service stations that were the basis of the underlying lawsuit.  However, Hanif testified that she does not manage, operate, or make any decisions for WASMA, and in fact, does not do anything for WASMA, but that Shakoor and her son traveled to the stations several times per week.^[6]  Hanif had “no idea” who kept the documents discussed in her deposition, but testified that it “may be” Shakoor or their son.  Shakoor produced a copy of the stock certificate and attached it to a pleading.

            At most, the evidence is in conflict.  This Court is not a fact-finder and may not pass on the credibility of the witnesses or substitute its judgment for that of the trier of fact.  Mar. Overseas Corp. v. Ellis, 971 S.W.2d 402, 407 (Tex. 1998); Bellefonte Underwriters Ins. Co. v. Brown, 704 S.W.2d 742, 744–45 (Tex. 1986) (findings of fact are exclusive province of jury or trial court).  It is not within the province of this Court to interfere with the fact-finder’s resolution of conflicts in the evidence, or to pass on the weight or credibility of the witnesses’ testimony.  Sw. Airlines Co. v. Jaeger, 867 S.W.2d 824, 830–31 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1993, writ denied), rev’d on other grounds by Dallas Mkt. Ctr. Dev. Co. v. Liedeker, 958 S.W.2d 382 (Tex. 1997).  Where there is conflicting evidence, the fact-finder’s verdict on such matters is generally regarded as conclusive.  Edmunds v. Sanders, 2 S.W.3d 697, 703 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1999, pet. denied); see Pool v. Ford Motor Co., 715 S.W.2d 629, 634 (Tex. 1986).  Here, the trial court had sufficient evidence from which it could reasonably infer and decide that Hanif did not know the location of the stock certificate or the WASMA corporate documents, that Hanif was nothing more than a figurehead president and stock owner, and that Shakoor actually operated the stations and controlled the stock and the company.  Therefore, the trial court was within its discretion to determine that the stock was subject to Shakoor’s sole or joint possession or control and subject to this liability incurred during the marriage.  Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.202(c). 

            B.        Stock Cannot be Readily Attached or Seized by Ordinary Legal Process

            Committee reports from the Texas House and Senate state the turnover statute was enacted to provide judgment creditors with a remedy to reach a judgment debtor’s nonexempt property in cases where traditional methods had proved to be inadequate, including situations where the debtor owns interests in other property that could be easily hidden from a levying officer, such as negotiable instruments, corporate stocks, and corporate securities.  See Davis v. Raborn, 754 S.W.2d 481, 483–84 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1988), vacated upon settlement, 795 S.W.2d 716 (Tex. 1990) (citing David Hittner, Texas Post-Judgment Turnover and Receivership Statutes, 45 Tex. B.J. 417 (1982)).  Caselaw has confirmed that shares of stock cannot be readily attached or levied on by ordinary legal process.  See Arndt v. Nat’l Supply Co., 650 S.W.2d 547, 549 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1983, writ ref’d n.r.e.).  Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding that the shares of WASMA stock could not be readily attached or levied on by ordinary legal process.

            C.        Not Exempt from Seizure

            While both Shakoor and Hanif contend that Clarksville failed to produce evidence that the stock was not exempt from seizure, neither specifically contend that the WASMA shares are exempt.^[7]  However, as a matter of law, shares of stock, be they certificated or uncertificated, are not exempt from attachment, execution, or seizure to satisfy a debt. Tex. Bus. & Com. Code Ann. § 8.112 (Vernon 2002).  Further, Section 8.112(a) states that “[t]he interest of a debtor in a certificated security may be reached by a creditor only by actual seizure of the security certificate.”  Tex. Bus. & Com. Code Ann. § 8.112(a) (emphasis added).  Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding that the WASMA shares were not exempt from seizure.

            For the foregoing reasons, we find that there is “some evidence of a substantive and probative character to support” the trial court’s decision to grant the turnover order and we overrule this point of error.  Tanner, 274 S.W.3d at 321–22.

V.        The Trial Court’s Award of Attorney’s Fees Was Proper

            Shakoor and Hanif both argue that the trial court abused its discretion in awarding $1,500.00 in attorney’s fees to Clarksville.  We disagree.

            Section 31.002(e) of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code states that a judgment creditor “is entitled to recover reasonable costs, including attorney’s fees.”  The recovery of attorney’s fees under Section 31.002 is governed by Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Sections 38.001, 38.003, and 38.004.  Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. §§ 38.001, 38.003, 38.004 (Vernon 2008); Burns, 948 S.W.2d at 327.  The court may take judicial notice of the usual and customary attorney’s fees without receiving further evidence.  Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 38.004.  Usual and customary attorney’s fees for a claim presented under Section 38.001 are presumed reasonable unless rebutted.  Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 38.003; Allstate Ins. Co. v. Lincoln, 976 S.W.2d 873, 877 (Tex. App.—Waco 1998, no pet.). Chapter 38 is to be liberally construed to affect its underlying purpose of discouraging the unnecessary litigation or defense of a claim.  Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 38.005 (Vernon 2008); McKinley v. Drozd, 685 S.W.2d 7, 11 (Tex. 1985).

            In this case, by awarding a default judgment, the trial court established that Clarksville is a judgment creditor for purposes of the turnover statute.  See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 31.002.  Here, Clarksville was successful in obtaining a turnover order, and it is well established that a judgment creditor that is successful in a turnover proceeding is entitled to attorney’s fees.  Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 38.002 (Vernon 2008); Lesikar v. Rappeport, 104 S.W.3d 310 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2003, pet. denied); Great Global Assurance Co. v. Keltex Props., Inc., 904 S.W.2d 771, 776 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1995, no writ); Boudreaux Civic Ass’n v. Cox, 882 S.W.2d 543, 550 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, no writ); Daniels v. Pecan Valley Ranch, Inc., 831 S.W.2d 372, 386 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1992, writ denied).  Further, the trial court found $1,500.00 “to be a fair and reasonable fee for the time and work expended.”  See Thomas v. Thomas, 917 S.W.2d 425, 437 (Tex. App.—Waco 1996, no writ).  Therefore, the award was proper, and we overrule this point of error. 

            For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the order of the trial court.

 

 

 

                                                                        Jack Carter

                                                                        Justice

 

Date Submitted:          April 15, 2010

Date Decided:             May 27, 2010

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^[1]Shakoor is also known as Mohammed Hanif; however, the record is unclear whether Shakoor and Mohammed A. Hanif is the same person.Â

 

^[2]Hanif separately argues that the trial court abused its discretion by granting turnover relief against a nonparty. However, that point of error is not ripe for our consideration because the turnover order does not order any nonparty to act; rather, it orders Shakoor, a party to the underlying action, to turn over the stock and its accompanying documents.Â

 

^[3]The trial court took judicial notice of the stock and its issuance to Hanif.

 

^[4]Further, there is no evidence that the stock certificate was derived from Hanif’s personal earnings, revenue from separate property, recovery for personal injury, or increases or mutations thereof.  See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.102 (Vernon 2006) (allowing each spouse to solely manage such community property he or she would have owned if single).

^[5]See also Sembera v. Petrofac Tyler, Inc., 253 S.W.3d 815, 830–31 (Tex. App.––Tyler 2008, pet. denied) (applying the presumption of 3.104 to the sale of stock to a third party); see also Lemaster v. Top Level Printing Ink, Inc., 136 S.W.3d 745, 747–48 (Tex. App.––Dallas 2004, no pet.) (3.104 presumption is applicable to stock purchase agreement with third party); Jean v. Tyson-Jean, 118 S.W.3d 1, 5 (Tex. App.––Houston [14th Dist.] 2003, pet. denied) (3.104 presumption trumped 3.102 presumption in real estate transaction between deceased deed holder and third parties).

 

^[6]The record is unclear as to what functions or duties Shakoor or the son performed at the stations.

^[7]If a judgment debtor claims that an asset is exempt, it is the debtor’s burden to prove the exemption.  Pillitteri v. Brown, 165 S.W.3d 715, 722–23 (Tex. App.––Dallas 2004, no pet.) (citing Burns v. Miller, Hiersche, Martens & Hayward, P.C., 948 S.W.2d 317, 324 (Tex. App.––Dallas 1997, pet. denied)); see also Dale v. Fin. Am. Corp., 929 S.W.2d 495, 498–99 (Tex. App.––Fort Worth 1996, writ denied).