Wesley Eugene Perkins v. Kristy Lynn Perkins ( 2021 )

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN
NO. 03-21-00135-CV
Wesley Eugene Perkins, Appellant
v.
Kristy Lynn Perkins, Appellee
FROM THE 250TH DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY
NO. D-1-FM-20-002604, THE HONORABLE LORA J. LIVINGSTON, JUDGE PRESIDING
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Wesley Eugene Perkins attempts to appeal from a temporary order rendered in
the underlying divorce proceeding and suit affecting the parent-child relationship (SAPCR).
Generally, appeals may be taken only from final judgments. Lehmann v. Har–Con Corp.,
39 S.W.3d 191, 195 (Tex. 2001). Interlocutory orders may be appealed only when expressly
permitted by statute. Bally Total Fitness Corp. v. Jackson, 53 S.W.3d 352, 352 (Tex. 2001).
Texas courts strictly construe statutes authorizing interlocutory appeals. America Online, Inc. v.
Williams, 958 S.W.2d 268, 271 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1997, no pet.).
The Texas Family Code specifically precludes the interlocutory appeal of
temporary orders, except those appointing a receiver.1 See Tex. Fam. Code §§ 6.507 (“An order
under this subchapter [applying to temporary orders rendered in divorce suits], except an order
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Mandamus, however, may be an appropriate remedy when a trial court abuses its
discretion in issuing temporary orders in a SAPCR. See, e.g., In re Mays-Hooper, 189 S.W.3d
777, 778 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam) (orig. proceeding).
appointing a receiver, is not subject to interlocutory appeal.”), 105.001(e) (“Temporary orders
rendered under this section [applying to SAPCRs] are not subject to interlocutory appeal.”);
Dancy v. Daggett, 815 S.W.2d 548, 549 (Tex. 1991) (per curiam) (“[T]the trial court’s issuance
of temporary orders [in a divorce proceeding] is not subject to interlocutory appeal.”). Because
it appeared to this Court that Perkins is attempting to appeal temporary orders, which the Family
Code expressly prohibits, the Clerk of this Court notified the parties of this Court’s intention to
dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction unless Perkins filed a response demonstrating grounds
for continuing the appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(a). Perkins timely responded, framing the
trial court’s temporary order as a “temporary injunction” properly appealable under the Civil
Practice and Remedies Code. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 51.014(a)(4) (“A person may
appeal from an interlocutory order of a district court . . . that . . . grants or refuses a temporary
injunction . . . as provided by Chapter 65 . . . .”). Perkins appears to base his argument on the
fact that some of the provisions in the temporary order constitute temporary injunctions
enjoining both parties from engaging in specified conduct while in possession of their children.
However, Sections 6.502 and 105.001(a) of the Family Code expressly permit
trial courts to issue temporary injunctions in divorce proceedings and SAPCRs. See Tex. Fam.
Code §§ 6.502, 105.001(a). Perkins may not circumvent the legislature’s express intention to
prohibit the interlocutory appeal of temporary orders rendered in divorce proceedings and
SAPCRs—including temporary injunctions rendered therein—by casting the temporary order as
a temporary injunction subject to interlocutory appeal under Section 51.014 of the Civil Practice
and Remedies Code. See Marley v. Marley, No. 01-05-00992-CV, 2006 WL 3094325, at *2
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet. denied) (mem. op.) (holding that Civil Practice
and Remedies Code Section 51.014(4) did not control over prohibition in Family Code
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Section 6.507 of interlocutory appeals from temporary orders in divorce proceedings); Cook v.
Cook, 886 S.W.2d 838, 839 (Tex. App.—Waco 1994, no writ) (rejecting argument that
Section 51.014(4) allowed interlocutory appeal from temporary orders issued under former
version of Section 6.507); see also Mason v. Mason, 256 S.W.3d 716, 718 (Tex. App.—Houston
[14th Dist.] 2008, no pet.) (“Texas courts of appeals have held that the specific Family Code
provision limiting temporary order appeals controls over the general statute in the Civil Practice
and Remedies Code permitting interlocutory appeals from temporary injunctions.”).
Accordingly, we dismiss this appeal for want of jurisdiction.
__________________________________________
Thomas J. Baker, Justice
Before Chief Justice Byrne, Justices Baker and Smith
Dismissed for Want of Jurisdiction
Filed: July 7, 2021
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