in the Matter of the Marriage of Edsel Amos Dixon and Heather D. Dixon and in the Interest of Ashley Lynn Dixon, a Child ( 2014 )

NO. 12-13-00324-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
TYLER, TEXAS
IN THE MATTER OF THE § APPEAL FROM THE 354TH
MARRIAGE OF EDSEL AMOS DIXON
AND HEATHER D. DIXON AND § JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
IN THE INTEREST OF ASHLEY
LYNN DIXON, A CHILD § RAINS COUNTY, TEXAS
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Edsel Amos Dixon appeals the trial court’s final decree of divorce. On appeal, Edsel
presents one issue. We reverse and remand.
BACKGROUND
Edsel Amos Dixon and Heather D. Dixon were married on April 14, 2004, and are the
parents of one child, Ashley, born July 27, 2007. On June 26, 2013, Heather filed an original
petition for divorce, requesting that she be appointed sole managing conservator, that Edsel be
denied access to the child, that Edsel be ordered to pay child support and to provide medical
child support, and that she be awarded a disproportionate share of the marital estate. On July 25,
2013, the trial court conducted a hearing that purported to relate to ―both the temporary order and
a Rule 11 agreement‖ for the final decree of divorce. The Rule 11 agreement was read into the
record in open court by Heather’s counsel. The parties agreed that Heather be named as sole
managing conservator and Edsel be named as possessory conservator. Edsel would not receive a
visitation schedule for possession of or access to Ashley. Any visitation or access to the child ―at
any future time‖ would be subject to an agreement between the parties and ―according to such
terms and conditions as [Heather] might set.‖ Additional provisions in the Rule 11 agreement
included the division of the parties’ real and personal property.
During the hearing, Edsel testified that the Rule 11 agreement read into the record was
his agreement, that it would be a temporary order and that, after the sixty day waiting period, it
would be converted into a final decree of divorce. Additionally, the trial court heard testimony
regarding the ownership of personal property that was contested, including a handgun. At the
conclusion of the hearing, the trial court stated as follows:
All right. The court, subject to the sixty days elapsing, finds it has jurisdiction. That the marriage
has become insupportable and subject to time passing that [sic] grants the divorce.
Approves the property agreement of the parties as outlined. Finds that the gun was the separate
property of [Heather.] Orders that it be returned to her through the attorneys.
Orders that [Heather] be appointed sole managing conservator. [Edsel] possessory conservator.
Visitation by agreement.
Orders that [Edsel] pay child support based upon $10 an hour, earning capacity. Also,
reimbursement for medical insurance on the child that was born of the marriage.
On September 27, 2013, Edsel filed a withdrawal of consent to the Rule 11 agreement
and objection to the entry of judgment. He also stated that the current terms regarding
conservatorship, possession, and access were not in the child’s best interest. On that same day, a
hearing was held for entry of the divorce decree. Heather’s counsel presented a decree of
divorce that he prepared in conformity with the Rule 11 agreement. However, Edsel’s counsel
noted that he had filed a withdrawal of his consent to the Rule 11 agreement and requested the
court set aside the proposed decree. On October 2, 2013, the trial court informed the parties by
letter that he would sign the decree of divorce as presented by Heather’s counsel, stating that the
term ―Rule 11 Agreement‖ was used at least five times in the July 25, 2013 hearing. The trial
court also stated that ―[i]f Courts start not honoring Rule 11 agreements, we will have chaos.‖
The final decree of divorce was signed by the trial court on October 2, 2013. The decree
included a recitation that the trial court approved the Rule 11 agreement of the parties and ―took
the case under advisement pending the expiration of the statutory sixty day waiting period.‖
Further, the trial court stated that the parties had reached an agreement on the issues in the case.
The decree granted Heather and Edsel a divorce, divided their real and personal property, and
ordered Edsel to pay child support and medical child support. Heather was appointed sole
managing conservator of the child and Edsel was appointed possessory conservator. Heather
was granted the exclusive right to possession of the child at all times other than as mutually
agreed between the parties in writing. Edsel was ordered to have no contact with the child ―of
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whatsoever nature and wheresoever situated‖ other than as set forth in the decree. This appeal
followed.
RULE 11 AGREEMENT
In his first issue, Edsel argues that the trial court erred by entering the final decree of
divorce based upon a Rule 11 agreement after he fully repudiated the settlement agreement and
withdrew his consent prior to rendition of the decree.
Applicable Law
Generally, a judgment is rendered when the decision is officially announced orally in
open court, by memorandum filed with the clerk, or otherwise announced publicly. Garza v.
Tex. Alcoholic Beverage Comm’n, 89 S.W.3d 1, 6 (Tex. 2002). The words used by the trial
court must clearly indicate the intent to render judgment at the time the words are expressed.
S & A Rest. Corp. v. Leal, 892 S.W.2d 855, 858 (Tex. 1995) (per curiam) (quoting Reese v.
Piperi, 534 S.W.2d 329, 330 (Tex. 1976)). However, the judge’s intention to render judgment in
the future cannot be a present rendition of a judgment. Id. Nor does approval of a settlement
necessarily constitute rendition of a judgment. Id. at 857. A court may not grant a divorce
before the sixtieth day after the date the suit was filed. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 6.702(a) (West
Supp. 2013).
Rule 11 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure provides that no agreement between
attorneys or parties touching any suit pending will be enforced unless it is in writing, signed, and
filed with the papers as part of the record, or unless it is made in open court and entered of
record. TEX. R. CIV. P. 11. However, it is not sufficient that a party’s consent to a Rule 11
agreement may have been given at one time. ExxonMobil Corp. v. Valence Operating Co., 174
S.W.3d 303, 309 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2005, pet. denied). Consent must exist at the
time the judgment is rendered. Id. A party may revoke his consent to a Rule 11 agreement at
any time before judgment is rendered. See id.; Leal, 892 S.W.2d at 857. An agreed judgment
rendered after one of the parties revokes his consent is void. See Leal, 892 S.W.2d at 857;
Padilla v. LaFrance, 907 S.W.2d 454, 461–62 (Tex. 1995) (―court cannot render a valid agreed
judgment absent consent at the time it is rendered‖); Quintero v. Jim Walter Homes, Inc., 654
S.W.2d 442, 444 (Tex. 1983) (holding that when trial court has knowledge that party does not
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consent to judgment, trial court should refuse to sanction agreement by making it the judgment
of the court).
Analysis
In this case, the trial court stated at the final hearing that, subject to the sixty days
elapsing, i.e., the statutory waiting period, it had jurisdiction, the marriage had become
insupportable, and that it granted the divorce. Then, the trial court recited the terms of the Rule
11 agreement and ruled on the contested personal property matter. The trial court’s language
during the final hearing indicated a present intent to approve the Rule 11 agreement, but did not
indicate a clear intent to render a full, final, and complete decree of divorce until after the sixty
day waiting period. See James v. Hubbard, 21 S.W.3d 558, 561 (Tex. App.—San Antonio
2000, no pet.) (citing Leal, 892 S.W.2d at 857). Moreover, the trial court did not have the
authority to grant a divorce on that date because it was less than sixty days after the date the suit
was filed. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 6.702(a).
Consequently, rendition of the divorce decree did not occur until October 2, 2013, when
the trial judge signed the decree granting the divorce. However, Edsel withdrew his consent to
the Rule 11 agreement on September 27, 2013, before the judgment was rendered. Consent must
exist at the time that judgment is rendered or it is void. See ExxonMobil Corp., 174 S.W.3d at
309; Padilla, 907 S.W.2d at 461–62. Because Edsel withdrew his consent before the trial court
rendered the divorce decree, the trial court erred by entering the final decree of divorce based
upon the Rule 11 agreement. Therefore, the final decree of divorce is void. See Leal, 892
S.W.2d at 857. We sustain Edsel’s sole issue.
DISPOSITION
Having sustained Edsel’s sole issue, we reverse the trial court’s October 2, 2013 final
decree of divorce, and remand the case to the trial court for further proceedings.
SAM GRIFFITH
Justice
Opinion delivered February 28, 2014.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Griffith, J., and Hoyle, J.
(PUBLISH)
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COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS
JUDGMENT
FEBRUARY 28, 2014
NO. 12-13-00324-CV
IN THE MATTER OF THE MARRIAGE OF EDSEL AMOS DIXON
AND HEATHER D. DIXON AND IN THE INTEREST OF
ASHLEY LYNN DIXON, A CHILD
Appeal from the 354th District Court
of Rains County, Texas (Tr.Ct.No. 9544)
THIS CAUSE came to be heard on the appellate record and the briefs filed
herein, and the same being considered, because it is the opinion of this court that there was error
in the judgment of the court below, it is ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED by this court
that the judgment be reversed and the cause remanded to the trial court for further
proceedings and that all costs of this appeal are hereby adjudged against the Appellee,
HEATHER D. DIXON, in accordance with the opinion of this court; and that this decision be
certified to the court below for observance.
Sam Griffith, Justice.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Griffith, J., and Hoyle, J.