in the Matter of the Marriage of Benjamin & Fleeta Fannette ( 2013 )

IN THE
TENTH COURT OF APPEALS
No. 10-12-00141-CV
IN THE MATTER
OF THE MARRIAGE OF
BENJAMIN & FLEETA FANNETTE,
From the 272nd District Court
Brazos County, Texas
Trial Court No. 11-001262-CVD-272
MEMORANDUM OPINION
In this appeal, appellant, Fleeta Fannette, challenges several orders entered by
the trial court in her divorce case. Specifically, in four issues, Fleeta contends that the
trial court erred in: (1) denying her motion to show authority; (2) rendering divorce
without evidence of the statutory elements of insupportability; (3) enforcing a mediated
settlement agreement; and (4) granting a motion to sever filed by third parties, A.L. and
Robert Fannette.1 We affirm.
1 A.L. Fannette went by the nickname, Andy. We have received notice from the parties that Andy
is now deceased.
I. BACKGROUND
Fleeta and Benjamin Fannette had been married for sixty-five years when Ben
filed his original petition for divorce in Brazos County, Texas, on May 18, 2011. In his
divorce petition, Ben asserted that: (1) he “has been a domiciliary of Texas for the
preceding six-month period and a resident of this county for the preceding ninety-day
period”; (2) the parties were married on or about March 30, 1946; (3) the parties ceased
living together as husband and wife on or about April 26, 2011; (4) the marriage had
become insupportable because of discord or conflicts of personalities that destroyed the
marriage relationship and prevented any reasonable expectation of reconciliation; and
(5) the couple did not have any children. However, a couple of months after filing for
divorce, Ben’s health took a turn for the worse. Nevertheless, in late August 2011, the
trial court ordered the parties to participate in mediation. Because his health was
declining, Ben returned to a hospital in Tyler, Texas, and executed a power of attorney
to his brother Andy.
The trial-court mediation occurred on September 13, 2011. Fleeta was present
with her attorney, Marvin Martin, and his legal assistant. Andy attended the mediation
on Ben’s behalf, in accordance with the previously-executed power of attorney. In his
testimony at one of the many hearings in this case, Martin described the mediator as
experienced and highly respected. The record indicates a great deal of animosity
between the parties. In particular, Fleeta testified that she is a Catholic and that she
never wanted the divorce. She also noted that she does not trust Andy’s son, Robert.
Moreover, Ben and Andy’s sister, Marie Fazzino, described Andy as “crooked.”
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 2
Because of the animosity, the mediation was conducted with the parties in separate
rooms with no contact with one another.
After several hours of mediation, the parties reached an agreement. According
to the mediated settlement agreement, Ben was to receive, among other things, the
couple’s house in Millican, Texas, subject to any indebtedness secured by the property;
two tracts of land in Cherokee County, Texas; two vehicles in his possession; and a
lump-sum payment of $21,745. On the other hand, Fleeta was to receive, among other
things, a lump-sum payment of $61,745; 50% of Ben’s retirement and annuity accounts;
and a 2005 Buick in her possession. In addition, the agreement provided that Fleeta
would be allowed to live in the couple’s house from September 15, 2011 to January 31,
2012, rent free, so long as she timely paid all utility bills. The agreement also contained
the following language:
6. The parties agree to appear in court at the first available date to present
evidence and secure rendition of judgment in accordance with this
Mediated Settlement Agreement. Each party understands that the terms
of this Mediated Settlement Agreement may not be independently
enforceable against the other party until rendition of the judgment by the
Court.
7. Each party releases the other from all claims, demands, and causes of
action each may have against the other, save and except those covenants,
duties, and obligations set forth in this agreement.
8. THIS AGREEMENT IS NOT SUBJECT TO REVOCATION.
(Emphasis in original).
Martin testified that he and Fleeta reviewed the final mediated settlement
agreement for approximately thirty minutes. Afterwards, Fleeta signed the agreement.
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 3
Andy also signed the agreement as Ben’s representative under the power of attorney.
According to Martin’s testimony, Fleeta was of sound mind, understood the contents of
the agreement, and was not pressured to sign the agreement.2
The following day, September 14, 2012, the attorneys appeared before the trial
court for rendition of a judgment of divorce based on the agreement. Neither Ben nor
Fleeta attended the hearing. Fleeta testified that she was told that she was not needed
at the hearing. Martin countered that he invited Fleeta to attend, but she indicated that
she had other things to do. Nevertheless, both parties, through their attorneys,
stipulated to Ben’s residence, the absence of any children, that the marriage had become
insupportable due to discord and conflict, and that there was no chance of
reconciliation. No evidence was presented at the hearing.3 At the conclusion of the
September 14, 2011 hearing, the trial court pronounced that the “divorce is granted and
rendered.” In addition, the trial court wrote “Divorce granted. Rendered divorce” on
the portion of the docket sheet corresponding with September 14, 2011. And for further
2 In fact, the agreement that Fleeta signed specifically stated that:
Each signatory to this settlement has entered into the settlement freely and without
duress after having consulted with professionals of his or her choice.
....
This stipulation is signed voluntarily and with the advice and consent of counsel on the
dates set out below and subject to the Court’s approval, and its provisions are intended
to be incorporated into a final decree of divorce.
3 Ben’s counsel specifically requested that the trial court waive testimony and grant the divorce.
Martin, on behalf of Fleeta, stated: “I’ll stipulate and add that this couple lived in Millican, Texas, which
is part of Brazos County. In fact, this couple—my client is 87.”
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 4
clarification, the trial court responded to a question by Ben’s counsel that: “He is
divorced.”
A few days later, on September 17, 2011, Ben passed away. Subsequently, on
September 30, 2011, C. Patrick Meece filed a suggestion of death and a motion for
withdrawal and substitution of counsel, which stated that he, rather than Martin,
represented Fleeta now. Meece later objected to the trial court signing a final divorce
decree, asserting that the marriage terminated on Ben’s death and that the proceeding
should therefore be dismissed. Meece also filed a Rule 12 Motion to Show Authority—
the contents of which mirrored the earlier-filed objections to the trial court signing a
final divorce decree. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 12. Ben’s counsel filed responses to Meece’s
filings.
In the meantime, Andy allegedly initiated a probate proceeding in Cherokee
County, was appointed executor of Ben’s estate, and retained Ben’s counsel to represent
him in his capacity as executor. Thereafter, on November 18, 2011, Fleeta filed a
“counterpetition” against Andy and Robert, asserting claims of fraud, threat, duress,
coercion, impaired capacity, unfair tactics, mistake, breach of fiduciary duty,
conversion, negligent misrepresentation, conspiracy, participatory and vicarious
liability, and fraud on the community. In this “counterpetition,” Fleeta argued that
Andy and Robert engaged in self-dealing and sought to attack the Mediated Settlement
Agreement that she had previously signed. In fact, Fleeta specifically stated that she
“revokes consent to the Mediated Settlement Agreement signed on September 13,
2011 . . . .”
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 5
On November 18 and December 22, 2011, the trial court conducted hearings on
Fleeta’s various motions. Several witnesses testified, and at the conclusion of the
December 22, 2011 hearing, the trial court signed the final divorce decree. On February
3, 2012, the trial court denied Fleeta’s Motion to Show Authority and severed Fleeta’s
claims against Andy and Robert from this cause. The trial court also made numerous
findings of fact and conclusions of law, which were entered on March 29, 2012. Fleeta
filed a motion for new trial, which was overruled by operation of law. See TEX. R. CIV.
P. 329b(c). This appeal followed.
II. FLEETA’S MOTION TO SHOW AUTHORITY
In her first issue, Fleeta argues that the trial court erred in denying her Motion to
Show Authority because Ben’s death terminated the attorney-client relationship
between Ben and his attorney. As such, Fleeta contends that Ben’s counsel was not
authorized to file a motion to enter a final divorce decree, nor was he authorized to
appear on Ben’s behalf at any hearing subsequent to Ben’s death.
A. Applicable Law
It is well-established that an attorney-client relationship terminates upon the
death of the client. Murphy v. Murphy, 21 S.W.3d 797, 798 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] 2000, no pet.) (per curiam) (citing Loffler v. Univ. of Tex. Sys., 610 S.W.2d 188, 189
(Tex. Civ. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1980, no writ); Brooks v. Hale, 457 S.W.2d 159, 164
(Tex. Civ. App.—Tyler 1970, writ’ ref’d n.r.e.)). Moreover, a party’s death may moot
certain issues between the parties, unless property rights are affected. Id. (citing Olson
v. Comm’n for Lawyer Discipline, 901 S.W.2d 520, 523-24 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1995, no
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 6
writ)); see Gentry v. Credit Plan Corp. of Houston, 528 S.W.2d 571, 572-73 (Tex. 1975)
(refusing to abate an appeal from a judgment awarded to a debtor in an unreasonable
collection case where the debtor died pending resolution of his case on appeal); Black v.
Black, 673 S.W.2d 269, 269-70 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1984, no writ) (“However, when a
case becomes moot after judgment[,] the appeal should be dismissed . . . . An exception
exists in this and most jurisdictions: in an appeal from a divorce judgment, the death of
a party during an appeal does not preclude an adjudication of the appeal’s merits, if the
divorce decree affects property rights of the parties.” (internal citations omitted)); Shook
v. Republic Nat’l Bank of Dallas, 627 S.W.2d 741, 752 (Tex. App.—Tyler 1982) (op. on
original submission), rev’d on other grounds, 653 S.W.2d 278 (Tex. 1983) (declining to
abate a borrower’s appeal, though the borrower died pending disposition, in a case
involving claims for usury and counterclaims for recovery of principal and interest);
Verret v. Verret, 570 S.W.2d 138, 140 (Tex. Civ. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1978, no writ)
(refusing to abate a husband’s appeal from a divorce decree despite his death while the
appeal was pending); Walsh v. Walsh, 562 S.W.2d 501, 502 n.1 (Tex. Civ. App.—San
Antonio 1978, no writ) (declining to abate a husband’s appeal from a divorce decree
awarding wife custody of their child and dividing the community estate despite the
death of the wife).
B. Discussion
In Texas, a marriage may only be terminated by death or court decree. In re
Wilburn, 18 S.W.3d 837, 840 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2000, pet. denied) (citing Claveria v.
Claveria, 615 S.W.2d 164, 167 (Tex. 1981)). And a judgment typically goes through three
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 7
stages: (1) rendition; (2) reduction to writing; and (3) entry. Id. (citing Oak Creek Homes,
Inc. v. Jones, 758 S.W.2d 288, 290 (Tex. App.—Waco 1988, no writ)). “A judgment is
‘rendered’ when the matter submitted to [the trial court] for adjudication is officially
announced either orally in open court or by memorandum filed with the clerk.” Id. at
840-41 (citing Samples Exterminators v. Samples, 640 S.W.2d 873, 875 (Tex. 1982); Oak
Creek Homes, Inc., 758 S.W.2d at 290). “The principle that an oral judgment is valid is
predicated upon the supporting principles that the entry of a trial judgment is only a
ministerial act.” Id. at 841 (citing Dunn v. Dunn, 439 S.W.2d 830, 832 (Tex. 1969)). As
such, a written judgment signed by the trial judge is not a prerequisite to the finality of
a judgment. Id. (citing Dunn, 439 S.W.2d at 832-33).
Here, the trial court orally pronounced that Ben and Fleeta were divorced at the
end of the September 14, 2011 hearing. In addition, the trial court made a notation on
the docket sheet that the divorce was granted and rendered on September 14, 2011.
Consequently, the marriage between Ben and Fleeta ended when the decree of divorce
was orally pronounced on September 14, 2011. Thus, the trial court’s signing of the
final divorce decree several months after Ben’s death constituted a ministerial act. See
id.; see also Dunn, 439 S.W.2d at 832 (stating that the trial court has a ministerial duty to
sign a judgment after oral rendition); In re Beavers, 648 S.W.2d 729, 733 (Tex. App.—
Amarillo 1983, no writ) (“After having rendered judgment in open court approving the
parties’ settlement agreement, the court’s remaining duty was to exercise its ministerial
function by signing a judgment which literally complied with the terms of the parties’
settlement agreement as stated, agreed to[,] and approved in open court.”). Therefore,
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 8
even if Fleeta is correct in asserting that Ben’s counsel lacked authority to act after Ben’s
death, it would have no effect on the trial court’s ministerial duty to sign the final
written judgment granting the divorce.
Nevertheless, we also reject Fleeta’s assertions that Ben’s counsel was not
authorized to act on Ben’s behalf after Ben’s death. As noted above, the attorney-client
relationship does not necessarily terminate upon the death of the client. See Murphy, 21
S.W.3d at 798; Olson, 901 S.W.2d at 523-24; Loffler, 610 S.W.2d at 189; Brooks, 457 S.W.2d
at 164. When property issues remain, the attorney may still act on behalf of the client.
See Murphy, 21 S.W.3d at 798; Olson, 901 S.W.2d at 523-24; Loffler, 610 S.W.2d at 189;
Brooks, 457 S.W.2d at 164. Here, Ben and Fleeta did not have any children. Instead, the
focus of the divorce dispute pertained to the division of the couple’s property. Thus,
the action was not purely personal in nature, and as such, Ben’s attorney was
authorized to act on Ben’s behalf to finalize property issues associated with the divorce.
See In re Wilburn, 18 S.W.3d at 842 (“A purely personal action, such as the actual divorce
that dissolves a marriage, becomes moot upon the death of one of the spouses.”); Black,
673 S.W.2d at 270 (concluding that litigation pertaining to the custody of a child did not
involve property rights, and as such, the litigation was mooted by the death of one of
the spouses); see also Dunn, 439 S.W.2d at 834 (concluding that the personal nature of the
divorce ended after the husband dies, yet the property rights portion of the judgment
dissolving the marriage entered two days earlier was still ripe for appeal). Based on the
foregoing, we cannot conclude that the trial court erred in denying Fleeta’s Motion to
Show Authority. Accordingly, we overrule Fleeta’s first issue.
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 9
III. THE MEDIATED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
In her third issue, Fleeta contends that the trial court erred in enforcing the
mediated settlement agreement because the record allegedly contains ample evidence
demonstrating that the agreement was procured through fraud, duress, or other
dishonest means, thereby rendering the agreement unenforceable.
A. Applicable Law
A mediated settlement agreement is immediately binding on the parties if the
agreement: (1) provides in a prominently displayed statement that is in boldfaced type,
capital letters, or underlined, that the agreement “is not subject to revocation”; (2) is
signed by the parties; and (3) is signed by the parties’ attorneys who are present at the
time of signing. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 6.602(b) (West 2006); see Morse v. Morse, 349
S.W.3d 55, 56 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2010, no pet.). If the mediated settlement agreement
meets these requirements, a party is entitled to judgment notwithstanding Rule 11 of
the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure or another rule of law. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. §
6.602(c). And, compliance with Section 6.602 makes the agreement an exception to
Sections 7.001 and 7.006 of the Texas Family Code, which allow for the revision and
repudiation of settlement agreements. Id. at §§ 7.001, 7.006 (West 2006); see In re Joyner,
196 S.W.3d 883, 889 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2006, pet. denied). Moreover, a Section
6.602 agreement may be ruled on without a determination by the trial court that the
terms of the agreement are just and right. In re Joyner, 196 S.W.3d at 889.
However, a court is not required to enforce a mediated settlement agreement if it
is illegal in nature or procured by fraud, duress, coercion, or other dishonest means.
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 10
Morse, 349 S.W.3d at 56 (citing In re Joyner, 196 S.W.3d at 890; Boyd v. Boyd, 67 S.W.3d
398, 404-05 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2002, no pet.); In re Kasschau, 11 S.W.3d 305, 312
(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, orig. proceeding)). The party seeking to avoid
enforcement of the agreement bears the burden to show that it should not be enforced.
See Morse, 349 S.W.3d at 56; see also Pearce v. Pearce, 824 S.W.2d 195, 198 (Tex. App.—El
Paso 1991, writ denied) (noting that a predecessor statute “places the burden of proving
the invalidity of a marital agreement upon the party seeking to avoid its enforcement”).
B. Discussion
In support of her contentions that Andy and Robert engaged in self-dealing and
that the mediated settlement agreement was procured through fraud, duress, or other
dishonest means, Fleeta cites to testimony provided at hearings on various motions
conducted after the trial court rendered divorce. We first note that the parties do not
dispute that the mediated settlement agreement meets the requirements of Section
6.602. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 6.602. Next, we find it significant that none of the
testimony Fleeta references in this issue was presented to the trial court at the
September 14, 2011 hearing. At that hearing, Fleeta’s attorney stipulated to the
elements necessary for the ground of insupportability. At no time during this hearing
did Fleeta assert any misconduct in the creation of the mediated settlement agreement.
Moreover, the agreement was tendered to the trial court and subsequently approved
without any objection raised by Fleeta.
Texas courts have held that “[o]nce a party asks the court to accept a settlement
agreement and render judgment, they may not later attack that judgment.” In re Joyner,
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 11
196 S.W.3d at 889 (citing Mailhot v. Mailhot, 124 S.W.3d 775, 777 (Tex. App.—Houston
[1st Dist.] 2003, no pet.)); see Cayan v. Cayan, 38 S.W.3d 161, 166 (Tex. App.—Houston
[14th Dist.] 2000, pet. denied) (noting that, while Section 6.602 cannot be imposed on the
parties, once affirmative steps are taken to comply with that section, neither party can
repudiate the agreement). Further, Section 6.602 does not authorize the trial court to
substitute its judgment for the mediated settlement agreement entered by the parties if
the mediation agreement complies with the statutory requirements making it
irrevocable and granting the parties the entitlement to a judgment thereon. In re Joyner,
196 S.W.3d at 890. Therefore, under these circumstances, Fleeta cannot attack the trial
court’s judgment of divorce and division of the property.
Nevertheless, Fleeta, who did not attend the September 14, 2011 hearing, later
asserted claims of misconduct regarding the mediated settlement agreement. In fact,
Fleeta alleged that Andy and Robert engaged in self-dealing and other misconduct
pertaining to the agreement, though neither Andy nor Robert were named parties in the
divorce suit. Fleeta testified at a subsequent hearing that: (1) Andy and Robert
exercised undue influence over Ben by inducing him to change his will so that Robert
would become his sole beneficiary and to sign a gift deed to the couple’s house to
Robert; (2) she was exhausted and confused when she signed the mediated settlement
agreement; and (3) she insisted on fighting the divorce.
To controvert Fleeta’s testimony, Ben’s counsel elicited testimony from Martin,
Fleeta’s initial divorce attorney; Robert; and Andy. Robert and Andy disputed Fleeta’s
claims that they engaged in self-dealing and unduly influenced Ben. Both Robert and
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 12
Andy testified that Ben was very angry at Fleeta for allegedly taking more than $120,000
in cash that he had hidden in the couple’s house and that Ben appeared to be pleased
that the divorce had been granted. Martin, on the other hand, testified that Fleeta’s
assertion that she did not understand the mediated settlement agreement and that she
was coerced into signing it was “pure fiction.” Martin noted that Fleeta had the
agreement for at least thirty minutes and that he explained the agreement to her before
she signed. Martin also noted that he invited Fleeta to attend the September 14, 2011
hearing, but she declined because she had other things to do.
Clearly, the trial court was presented with conflicting evidence regarding the
circumstances surrounding the mediated settlement agreement. Assuming that Fleeta
was entitled to attack the mediated settlement agreement upon which the divorce
decree relied, we note that the trial judge, as the factfinder in this case, was entitled to
believe all, some, or none of a witness’s testimony if a reasonable juror could. See City of
Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 819-20 (Tex. 2005); Spring Creek Vill. Apartments Phase V,
Inc. v. Gen. Star Indem. Co., 261 S.W.3d 206, 216-17 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]
2008, no pet.). And based on its comments in open court and its findings of fact and
conclusions of law, we find that the trial court did not believe Fleeta’s version of the
story. See City of Keller, 168 S.W.3d at 822; Tex. Dep’t of Assistive & Rehabilitation Servs. v.
Howard, 182 S.W.3d 393, 407 (Tex. App.—Austin 2005, pet. denied) (noting that the
factfinder is free to believe some witnesses, disbelieve others, and resolve any
inconsistencies in their testimony). In fact, the trial court noted that:
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 13
After the last hearing I had a number of concerns; however, they—
those concerns have been answered today through the testimony of
Marvin Martin. I can’t get around the testimony of Marvin Martin, who
clearly has testified that, Ms. Fannette, you entered into an agreement,
there was no fraud. And you may have made a bad deal, but you made a
deal, and a deal is a deal.
....
But you got to show fraud, and Mr. Martin has totally refuted any fraud in
the case.
Further, in its conclusions of law, the trial court found that: “The September 13, 2011
mediated settlement agreement between Benjamin and Fleeta Fannette is valid,
enforceable and irrevocable.”
Based on our review of the record, we cannot say that Fleeta satisfied her burden
of demonstrating that the mediated settlement agreement was procured by fraud or
other dishonest means and, thus, should not be enforced. See Morse, 349 S.W.3d at 56; In
re Joyner, 196 S.W.3d at 890; see also Pearce, 824 S.W.2d at 198. As such, we conclude that
the trial court’s resolution of the disputed facts is supported by the record and should
be upheld. We overrule Fleeta’s third issue.
IV. THE DIVORCE DECREE
In her second issue, Fleeta asserts that the trial court erred in rendering divorce
without evidence of the statutory elements of insupportability. We disagree.
Whether evidence is sufficient to support a decree of divorce on the ground of
insupportability is a matter within the trial court’s discretion. See In re Scott, 117 S.W.3d
580, 582 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2003, no pet.); see also In re Wellington, No. 10-07-00181-
CV, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 7289, at **2-3 (Tex. App.—Waco Aug. 27, 2008, no pet.) (mem.
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 14
op.). When the standard of review on appeal is whether the trial court abused its
discretion, legal and factual sufficiency questions are factors to consider in applying the
standard, rather than independent grounds for review. See Yarbrough v. Yarbrough, 151
S.W.3d 687, 690 (Tex. App.—Waco 2004, no pet.); Walston v. Walston, 971 S.W.2d 687,
691 (Tex. App.—Waco 1998, pet. denied); see also In re Wellington, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS
7289, at *3.
The insupportability ground for divorce is set out in section 6.001 of the Texas
Family Code. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 6.001 (West 2006). This ground, also known
as no-fault divorce, has three elements: (1) that the marriage has become insupportable
because of discord or conflict; (2) that discord or conflict destroys the legitimate ends of
the marriage; and (3) there is no reasonable expectation of reconciliation. Id.; see Cusack
v. Cusack, 491 S.W.2d 714, 716 (Tex. Civ. App.—Corpus Christi 1973, writ dism’d w.o.j.);
see also In re Wellington, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 7289, at *3. The party petitioning for a
divorce on these grounds has a duty to establish the statutory elements with adequate
evidence. In re Richards, 991 S.W.2d 32, 37 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1999, pet. dism’d).
In his original petition for divorce, Ben alleged, as the grounds for divorce, that:
“The marriage has become insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities
between Petitioner and Respondent that destroys the legitimate ends of the marriage
relationship and prevents any reasonable expectation of reconciliation.” This language
essentially tracks the language of section 6.001 of the Texas Family Code. See TEX. FAM.
CODE ANN. § 6.001. In addition, at the final divorce hearing conducted on September
14, 2011, Ben’s counsel represented the following to the trial court:
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 15
We both stipulate that the petitioner [Ben], when the petition was filed,
had lived in the State of Texas for 6 months and in the county for 90 days
prior to the filing of that petition. And I know that because I prepared the
petition and filed it in representing the petitioner. And so I questioned
him about that.
So that we also would testify that or stipulate that there was [sic] no
children born of this marriage; that the respondent was not pregnant at
the time of the mediated settlement agreement or as of today; and that due
to discord, conflict between the parties that for them to live together as
husband and wife is insupportable; and there was no chance of
reconciliation.
In response, Martin, on behalf of Fleeta, stated: “I’ll stipulate and add that this couple
lived in Millican, Texas, which is part of Brazos County. In fact, this couple—my client
is 87.” And based on the stipulations, the trial court granted the divorce.
As noted by Ben’s appellate counsel, a stipulation is a judicial admission, which
constitutes a formal waiver of proof and is conclusive on the party making it. See Holy
Cross Church of God in Christ v. Wolf, 44 S.W.3d 562, 568 (Tex. 2001) (stating that a
judicial admission includes assertions of fact, not pleaded in the alternative, in the live
pleadings of a party); Humphries v. Humphries, 349 S.W.3d 817, 824 (Tex. App.—Tyler
2011, pet. denied) (noting that when a party judicially admits facts, the party is
estopped from claiming the contrary and that a true judicial admission relieves the
other party’s burden of proof); McCuen v. Huey, 255 S.W.3d 716, 726 (Tex. App.—Waco
2008, no pet.) (stating that the contents of a stipulation constitute judicial admissions,
are conclusive on the issues addressed, and estop the parties from claiming to the
contrary); see also Byrd v. Byrd, No. 04-11-00700-CV, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 8273, at *13
(Tex. App.—San Antonio Oct. 3, 2012, no pet.) (mem. op. on reh’g) (“A stipulation is an
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 16
agreement, admission, or concession made in a judicial proceeding by the parties. A
stipulation constitutes a binding contract between the parties and the court.”); Rooney v.
Rooney, No. 14-10-01007-CV, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 6682, at *10 (Tex. App.—Houston
[14th Dist.] Aug. 23, 2011, no pet.) (mem. op.) (“A judicial admission is a formal waiver
of proof usually found in pleadings or the parties’ stipulations.”).
Though Fleeta argues that the record contains no testimony regarding the
elements of insupportability, she does not cite authority stating that a divorce cannot be
granted on the basis of stipulations made by the parties. Instead, she cites to her own
testimony given at a hearing subsequent to the granting of the divorce to show that the
judgment of divorce is not supported by legally and factually sufficient evidence. We
do not find this testimony to be persuasive in demonstrating that the trial court abused
its discretion in granting the divorce. See In re Scott, 117 S.W.3d at 582; see also In re
Wellington, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 7289, at **2-3. Therefore, because the judicial
admissions support each element necessary to establish the dissolution of the marriage
based on insupportability, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in
granting the divorce. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 6.001; Humphries, 349 S.W.3d at 824;
McCuen, 255 S.W.3d at 726; In re Scott, 117 S.W.3d at 582; see also In re Wellington, 2008
Tex. App. LEXIS 7289, at **2-3. Accordingly, we overrule Fleeta’s second issue.
V. THE MOTION TO SEVER
In her fourth issue, Fleeta asserts that the trial court erred in severing this dispute
from the claims she brought against Andy and Robert after the divorce was granted.
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 17
Specifically, Fleeta argues that “the severed claim is so interwoven with the remaining
action that it involves identical facts and issues.”
Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 41 provides that “any claim against a party may be
severed and proceeded with separately.” TEX. R. CIV. P. 41. A trial court’s decision to
sever will be reversed only upon a finding of an abuse of discretion. Guar. Fed. Sav.
Bank v. Horseshoe Operating Co., 793 S.W.2d 652, 658 (Tex. 1990). A severance is proper
if: (1) the controversy involves more than one cause of action; (2) the severed cause is
one that would be the proper subject of a lawsuit if independently asserted; and (3) the
severed cause is not so intertwined as to involve identical facts and issues. Id. The
controlling reasons for severance are to do justice, avoid prejudice, and further the
convenience of the parties and the court. See id.; see also Dayne v. Tex. Dep’t of Family &
Protective Servs., No. 13-10-00679-CV, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 8340, at **26-27 (Tex.
App.—Corpus Christi Oct. 20, 2011, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
Based on our review of the record, we cannot say that the trial court abused its
discretion in severing the divorce action from Fleeta’s claims. This is true for many
reasons. First, it is clear to us that Fleeta’s claims were not timely filed in the divorce
action. As stated above, the trial court rendered divorce on September 14, 2011;
however, on November 18, 2011, more than two months after the trial court rendered
the divorce, Fleeta filed a “counterpetition” against Andy and Robert, asserting claims
of fraud, threat, duress, coercion, impaired capacity, unfair tactics, mistake, breach of
fiduciary duty, conversion, negligent misrepresentation, conspiracy, participatory and
vicarious liability, and fraud on the community. This was too late to impact the
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 18
divorce. See Boarder to Boarder Trucking, Inc. v. Mondi, Inc., 831 S.W.2d 495, 499 (Tex.
App.—Corpus Christi 1992, no writ) (“However, after judgment is rendered, it is too
late to amend, whether by trial amendment or an amendment complete in itself.”)
(citing Morris v. Hargrove, 351 S.W.2d 666, 668 (Tex. Civ. App.—Austin 1961, writ ref’d
n.r.e.); Warren v. Ward Oil Corp., 87 S.W.2d 501, 502-03 (Tex. Civ. App.—Texarkana 1935,
writ dism’d)). Furthermore, the record does not indicate that Fleeta filed a motion with
the trial court to permit a late filing. See, e.g., Gott v. Rice Consol. Indep. Sch. Dist., No. 01-
07-00051-CV, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 8067, at *14 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Oct. 23,
2008, no pet.) (mem. op.) (“‘If a party files [a pleading] late, Rule 5(b) authorizes the trial
court ‘upon motion’ to permit the late filing, if the movant shows good cause for the
failure to act.’” (quoting Woods v. Woods, 193 S.W.3d 720, 722 (Tex. App.—Beaumont
2006, pet. denied) and citing Carpenter v. Cimarron Hydrocarbons Corp., 98 S.W.3d 682,
685-88 (Tex. 2002))).
And finally, the Texas Supreme Court has stated that:
A [divorce action] plaintiff . . . may join as independent claims any or as
many claims wither legal or equitable or both as he may have against the
opposing party . . . . Further . . . [either] party may state as many separate
claims as he or she has regardless of consistency and whether they are
based on legal or equitable grounds or both.
Twyman v. Twyman, 855 S.W.2d 619, 625 n.16 (Tex. 1993) (emphasis added). However,
Fleeta does not cite, nor are we aware of, authority allowing her to join her independent
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 19
claims against third-parties—Andy and Robert—in the underlying divorce action,
which solely involved Ben and Fleeta.4
Therefore, based on the foregoing, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse
its discretion in severing Fleeta’s claims against Andy and Robert from the underlying
divorce action. See Horseshoe Operating Co., 793 S.W.2d at 658. We overrule Fleeta’s
fourth issue.
VI. CONCLUSION
Having overruled all of Fleeta’s issues on appeal, we affirm the orders of the trial
court.
AL SCOGGINS
Justice
Before Chief Justice Gray,
Justice Davis, and
Justice Scoggins
(Chief Justice Gray dissents with a note)*
Affirmed
Opinion delivered and filed July 11, 2013
[CV06]
*(Chief Justice Gray dissents with a note. A separate opinion will not issue. This case
presents several complex procedural issues. I find it necessary to briefly note the most
critical of those issues wherein I disagree with the Court’s resolution. Ultimately, this
And, in further support of our analysis, we point out that the trial court, in its conclusions of
4
law, noted the following:
8. The document entitled “Respondent’s Counterpetition” filed November 18, 2011 was
ineffective to assert any causes of action against Benjamin Fannette because; a) it was
filed after rendition of judgment and, b) it was filed after the death of Benjamin Fannette
and named Benjamin Fannette as defendant rather than the executor of his estate or a
personal representative.
9. Any causes of action against Andy Fannette and Robert Fannette contained in
“Respondent’s Counterpetition” were improperly joined to the divorce proceeding.
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 20
case may get to the same result, but I believe the procedure was unduly short circuited
to get there. Accordingly, I would reverse the trial court and remand this proceeding.
Rather than cause further delay in this appeal, I will briefly identify my principal areas
of concern and disagreement with the Court in this note. A separate opinion will not
issue.
1. The cases discussing mootness upon the death of a party (page 6 of the
opinion) were all death-on-appeal cases, not the death of a party before
the judgment was signed. While helpful in understanding and analyzing
the issues, I do not believe those cases to be controlling. The proper
procedure was to grant the motion to show cause, await the appointment
of a representative of Ben’s estate, and allow that representative to appear
and proceed with the resolution of the litigation. There were a lot of
events and representation of the deceased that occurred before there was
a duly appointed representative. The proper procedure upon the death
of a party on appeal is entirely different than the death of a party before a
final, appealable judgment is signed.
2. The procedure described in this appeal acknowledges that a mediated
settlement agreement can be challenged but fails to address how to
challenge it. And how the challenge was resolved in this proceeding
raises the question: What is the proper procedure to challenge a
mediated settlement agreement? Upon what basis was the trial court
operating when he determined disputed issues of fact regarding the
circumstances surrounding the mediated settlement agreement? See pg.
12 of opinion. There is no indication the “hearing” was to be a trial before
the bench on the validity of the challenge to the mediated settlement
agreement including the resolution of disputed issues of fact.
3. Given that factual disputes surrounding the validity of the mediated
settlement agreement were interwoven with the allegations of
impropriety by Andy and Robert, and were made before any judgment
was signed, I question the Court’s conclusion that the “underlying
divorce action solely involved Ben and Fleeta.” Possibly the “divorce”
did, but the property ownership pursuant to deciding the validity of the
mediated settlement agreement and the death of Ben were intricately
involved in this proceeding.
With these comments, I respectfully dissent.)
In the Matter of the Marriage of Fannette Page 21