William Frank Davis v. Carolina Davis ( 2014 )

Opinion issued March 6, 2014.
In The
Court of Appeals
For The
First District of Texas
————————————
NO. 01-12-00701-CV
———————————
WILLIAM FRANK DAVIS, Appellant
V.
CAROLINA DAVIS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 312th District Court
Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Case No. 1076420
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This appeal arises from a dispute between Frank and Carol Davis over
custody of their three children and the proper division of their property. During the
divorce proceedings Carol testified that she had taken part in a religious wedding
ceremony with Mohammad Iqbal Hozri several years before she married Frank and
that the marriage to Mohammad was never terminated through divorce. The trial
court declared Frank and Carol’s marriage void and divorced Mohammad and
Carol. Then, against Frank’s wishes, the trial court named Carol the primary
conservator of the children, meaning she had the exclusive right to determine their
residency. Also against Frank’s wishes, the trial court enforced against him a
mediated settlement agreement (MSA) dividing the couple’s property.
In seven issues Frank challenges (1) enforcement of the MSA, arguing that
he entered into the agreement before he realized his marriage was void and that the
agreement should be void due to Carol’s fraud, and (2) the trial court’s decision to
award primary conservatorship of the children to Carol in light of the testimony of
the amicus attorney and court-appointed psychologist regarding the children’s best
interests. We affirm.
Background
Frank and Carol married in 1998. In late 2010, Frank filed for divorce. One
month before trial, the two entered into a MSA that divided the couple’s property.
The only issue left to be tried was custody of the children. Frank sought a joint
managing conservatorship giving him the exclusive right to determine the
children’s residency. Carol, on the other hand, sought to be named sole managing
conservator of the children, with Frank limited to supervised visitation.
2
The six days of trial were spread out over a two-month period. On the next-
to-last day of testimony, Carol testified on cross-examination about her prior
relationship with her oldest daughter’s father, Mohammad Iqbal Hozri. She stated
that she married him “through his religion . . . I am not sure too much about
Muslim law; but, yes, it was a Muslim preacher the one that married us.” When
asked if she divorced him, she replied, “No. Because we didn’t sign any
documents. We didn’t—we didn’t get married signing—by signing of a document
. . . we only got married through his religion. There is no document signed by the
Texas law.”
Frank’s counsel continued questioning about the lack of divorce:
Q: But you are clear that you were married under Muslim law?
A: Yes.
Q: And never divorced under the laws of the State of Texas?
A: Not with my daughter’s . . . father.
Q: And, therefore, you are still married to Mr. Hozri today; aren’t
you, ma’am?
A: What reason? What is the reason?
Q: Because you were never divorced according to the laws of the
State of Texas?
A: We were not married through Texas law.
Q: And you think because you got married somewhere else or
under some other law that you don’t have to get divorced?
3
A: No. Because there is not any document that I signed or that we
signed or that—that says that I have to get divorced because we
signed because there is nothing that we signed.
Neither Frank nor Carol testified or contended that they thought the State still
considered Carol to be married to Mohammad.
After one more day of testimony, Frank rested without requesting leave to
amend his pleadings or seeking any relief from the parties’ agreed property
division. Then, after both parties rested, the trial court asked whether the MSA was
in evidence; counsel agreed it was. Again, Frank did not argue that the evidence of
Carol’s unterminated marriage to Mohammad affected the MSA’s enforceability.
Frank did not raise the issue of property division or Carol’s marriage to
Mohammad in his closing argument.
Finally, after both sides concluded their closing remarks, the trial court
raised the issue if the prior marriage impacted any other matters in the litigation:
We actually have testimony undisputed evidence that Mrs. Davis was
previously in a religious ceremonial wedding. There was no divorce.
Under Texas law does that make the marriage a void marriage under
Texas law, and I think that needs to be addressed. Based on that, we
have to consider whether the Court under Texas law can grant a
divorce in this case and whether or not Mrs. Davis may technically
still be married to Mr. Hozri, the prior husband. I mean, that is
something. So, I am raising the issue. I want to hear your positions on
this.
See, we may require some additional briefing because I don’t know if
that is something that even though it wasn’t really argued I believe it
was brought up on your cross-examination of Ms. Davis.
4
I was listening to see if there was to be any argument on it. There
wasn’t. You know, part of proving up a divorce is a proving up the
marriage itself and then the required elements if you have a void
marriage. I mean, that is something that needs to be addressed and that
brings up the considerations also if the marriage—if this marriage is a
void marriage.
Now, of course, the Court still has jurisdiction. It is appropriate still to
determine custody, you know, Primary Conservatorship, child support
and all that.
Do you have any immediate thoughts on this issue of whether or not
the marriage is void to begin with and whether or not a divorce itself
can be granted in this case?
Frank’s counsel responded that “determination needs to be made” and “the
attorneys probably need to have some very serious discussion about where we go
with this issue.” The parties agreed to provide the court with briefing within one
week.
Three weeks later, Frank filed a First Amended Petition in Suit Affecting the
Parent-Child Relationship. Frank’s pleading states that the trial court had found, in
the interim, that Carol was still legally married to Mohammad—making
Mohammad the presumed father of the children—though the record does not
contain the parties’ briefing on the issue, a hearing transcript, or an order. Frank’s
amended petition admits paternity, requests that he be found to be the father of the
couple’s three children, and again, requests a joint managing conservatorship be
created, with him having primary rights. Frank’s pleading does not claim that
Carol acted fraudulently. Nor does it seek to have the MSA set aside on the basis
5
of fraudulent inducement into contract. The pleading is completely silent on the
issue of property division.
Over two months later, on May 4, 2012, the trial court held a hearing and
rendered judgment divorcing Carol and Mohammad. After weighing the witnesses’
testimony, his off-the-record interview of the couple’s oldest child, and other
evidence, the court appointed Frank and Carol joint managing conservators, noting
that an extended visitation schedule would be appropriate. The court granted Carol
the exclusive right to determine the children’s residency.
After addressing conservatorship, the Court ruled: “The Court will approve
the mediated disposition of the property as all parties have requested.” Frank did
not object.
Over one month later, on June 5, 2012, Frank filed a motion to set aside the
MSA arguing—for the first time—that Carol “committed fraud” because she
“induced [Frank] to enter into a Mediated Settlement Agreement to divide
community interests, when she had never revealed that she was still legally married
to Iqbal Hozri.” Frank further argued that the MSA purporting to divide
community property should be found void because the marriage underlying the
agreement was void. That same day, Frank also filed a motion for new trial and
“objection to entry of final order” seeking to have the MSA voided and to re-try
the conservatorship and possession issues.
6
The trial court entered a decree declaring the Davises’ marriage void,
naming Carol primary joint managing conservator, and incorporating the MSA’s
division of the property. Frank appealed.
Enforceability of MSA
Texas law provides divorcing spouses with various options to divide their
property. Section 7.006 of the Family Code allows the parties to execute a
settlement agreement that may be “revised or repudiated” by either party before
rendition of the divorce and that requires the presiding judge’s approval of its
terms. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 7.006 (West 2006).1 As an alternative method, the
parties may choose to execute a mediated settlement agreement that
a) prominently states, in boldfaced type or capital or underlined letters,
that the agreement is not subject to revocation;
b) is signed by both parties to the agreement; and
c) is signed by the parties’ attorneys, if any, who are present at the time
the agreement is signed by the parties.
TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 6.602(b) (West 2006). An MSA that complies with these
three requirements immediately binds all parties from the date it is signed. Id.; see
Spiegel v. KLRU Endowment Fund, 228 S.W.3d 237, 241 (Tex. App.—Austin
1
“The agreement may be revised or repudiated before rendition of the divorce or
annulment unless the agreement is binding under another rule of law . . . If the
court finds that the terms of the written agreement in a divorce or annulment are
not just and right, the court may request the spouses to submit a revised agreement
or may set the case for a contested hearing.” TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. §§ 7.006(a)
and (c).
7
2007, pet. denied) (contrasting section 7.006 settlement agreements with section
6.602 mediated settlement agreements). No court approval is required. In re
Marriage of Joyner, 196 S.W.3d 883, 889 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2006, pet.
denied). The parties cannot repudiate or revise their agreement. Id.; Mullins v.
Mullins, 202 S.W.3d 869, 876 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2006, pet. denied) (“Unilateral
withdrawal of consent does not negate the enforceability of a mediated settlement
agreement in divorce proceedings.”). This creates a procedural short-cut to the
enforcement of the agreement—an advantage missing from the alternative
section 7.006-style settlement agreement. See Joyner, 196 S.W.3d at 889. It also
allows the parties to “settle their property as they see fit, keeping those matters out
of the courtroom.” Id.
Even with these statutory protections, an MSA can be voided if it is “illegal
in nature or procured by fraud, duress, coercion, or other dishonest means.” Milner
v. Milner, 361 S.W.3d 615, 619 (Tex. 2012); In re Kasschau, 11 S.W.3d 305, 312
(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, orig. proceeding) (void for illegality);
Boyd v. Boyd, 67 S.W.3d 398, 405 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2002, no pet.) (void
for fraudulent concealment).
In four issues, Frank contends that the trial court erred in enforcing the
MSA. He asserts that Carol fraudulently induced him to execute the MSA by
failing to disclose her existing marriage to Mohammad. Related to this claim, he
8
asserts that no community property existed to be divided and that he would have
sought a property division more favorable to himself if he knew the parties held
different negotiating positions. 2
A. Standard of Review
A trial court’s ruling on a motion to set aside a settlement agreement is
reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard. See In re C.H., Jr., 298 S.W.3d
800, 804 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2009, no pet.); Mueller v. Mueller, No. 01-11-00247-
CV, 2012 WL 682285, at *2 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] March 1, 2012, pet.
denied) (mem. op.). As an initial matter, however, we must address whether Frank
waived his right to challenge the MSA by failing to timely object to its
enforcement, seek amendment of his pleadings, or request that the property be
distributed in an alternative manner.
2
Frank submits these issues as follows:
(1) Did the trial court have jurisdiction over the parties’ property or alternatively is
the judgment on the MSA which divided marital property valid even though there
were no pleadings to support said MSA and there was no trial by consent as to the
division of any property?
(2) Under the facts and evidence presented in this case, could Appellee claim to be
a putative spouse thus rendering the MSA valid?
(3) Did the trial court commit fundamental error when it approved a MSA under
family code §6.602 where the MSA awarded wife reimbursement claims against
husband’s separate property and required Husband to pay wife additional monies
after the signing of a “final decree of divorce” after wife admitted in final trial that
she was married in violation of Tex. Pen. §25.01 (bigamy) with no valid defense
and no facts presented that would qualify wife as a putative spouse?
(6) Did the trial court abuse its discretion by making the MSA enforceable after
fraud was proven regarding the status of the marriage between the parties and the
marriage declared void?
9
B. Frank waived his arguments against enforcement
Frank argues that his marriage was void based on Carol’s “fraud” and
“confessed bigamy.” He asserts that the MSA also should have been voided
because he was fraudulently induced into executing the MSA by Carol who was
“lying to him and to members of her own family for many years about the status of
her marriage to [Mohammad].”
While fraudulent inducement can be the basis for voiding an MSA, the
defense must be raised timely or it is waived. TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a) (“As a
prerequisite to presenting a complaint for appellate review, the record must show
that . . . the complaint was made to the trial court by a timely request, objection, or
motion . . . .”); see also Boyd, 67 S.W.3d at 405. Fraud in the inducement is “in the
nature of an affirmative defense”; therefore, the party seeking to avoid a contract
bears the burden to support his claim with adequate pleading and proof. Winkler v.
Kirkwood Atrium Office Park, 816 S.W.2d 111, 113 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th
Dist.] 1991, writ denied).
Carol testified about her prior relationship with Mohammad on December
19, 2011, including that she went through a religious wedding ceremony yet never
sought a divorce. Frank failed to request a continuance to address this evidence, to
file a trial amendment to alter his allegations, assert new defenses, or seek different
remedies, or to challenge the enforceability of the MSA that divided the couple’s
10
property. He took no action at that time to repudiate the MSA based on fraudulent
inducement; instead, he continued to litigate only the custody issue, indicating to
the trial court that the property issue remained resolved under the terms of the
immediately-effective MSA.
Even when the trial court raised the issue after closing arguments that the
court might not be able to grant a divorce to Frank and Carol due to the prior
relationship with Mohammad, Frank failed to repudiate the MSA. Featherlax
Corp. v. Chandler, 412 S.W.2d 783, 788 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1966, writ
ref’d n.r.e.) (conduct inconsistent with repudiation of contract acts as ratification
and waives right to fraud-based rescission). Frank’s only response was to highlight
the effect that the other marriage might have on paternity: “My greatest concern on
that situation, your Honor, if, in fact, there was a finding that the previous marriage
was still a valid marriage, then that would make him the presumed father of all of
the Davis children. So, he would have to be named as a party in this lawsuit and at
least sign a waiver to that effect.”
About four months after this exchange, the trial court stated on the record,
“The court will approve the mediated disposition of the property as all parties have
requested.” Again, no objection was made, and no effort to amend his pleading or
assert a defense to the MSA can be found in the record. In fact, the first time Frank
asserted he was fraudulently induced or otherwise indicated an intention to reject
11
the MSA occurred over one month after the court announced its approval of the
property division and its decision regarding custody of the children.
Given Frank’s failure to challenge the MSA or to claim fraudulent
inducement during the nearly six months between Carol’s testimony and the filing
of the motion to set aside the MSA, we conclude that Frank waived this defense.
TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a); see also Cunningham v. Parkdale Bank, 660 S.W.2d 810,
813 (Tex. 1983) (trial court commits error if it grants to party more relief than
requested in that party’s pleading); Binder v. Joe, 193 S.W.3d 29, 32 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.).
Having found that Frank waived any challenge to the MSA’s enforceability,
we overrule issues one, three and six. Issue two—whether the MSA is enforceable
under a theory that Carol qualifies as a putative spouse—likewise has been waived;
however, we address it separately to clarify the relationship between that issue and
the elements necessary to Frank’s fraud claim raised in issue six.
C. Frank cannot establish an injury to prevail on the defense of fraud
Even without waiver, Frank would be required to establish an injury to
prevail on his fraud defense: “[A]n essential element of actionable fraud sufficient
for cancellation of a contract is injury . . . Some injury must be shown to constitute
cause for rescission of a contract for fraud.” Featherlax Corp., 412 S.W.2d at 789.
12
Frank contends that binding him to the MSA causes him financial injury
because he negotiated the agreement under a mistaken belief that he was married
and that, as a result, most of the property at issue was community property subject
to a just and right division. He suggests that—had he known the truth—he would
have been less inclined to distribute as much property to Carol, who contributed
little financially to their union.
Where this argument goes awry is in Frank’s erroneous belief that a void
marriage would have improved his negotiating position. Even with a void
marriage, Carol, if found to be a putative spouse, would be entitled to the same just
and right division as any other spouse. “While it is true that the family code does
not expressly provide any guidance as to the disposition of property remaining
after a marriage has been declared void, case law recognizes that, in one way or
another, some disposition is required.” Ratliff v. King, No. 03-08-00424-CV, 2009
WL 2837706, at *4 (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 31, 2009, no pet.) (mem. op.) (citing
Dean v. Goldwire, 480 S.W.2d 494, 496 (Tex. Civ. App.—Waco 1972, writ ref’d
n.r.e.)); see also Hovious v. Hovious, No. 02-04-169-CV, 2005 WL 555219, at *6
(Tex. App.—Fort Worth Mar. 10, 2005, pet. denied) (mem. op.) (finding that
putative spouses have same legal rights to community property as legal spouses).
His negotiating position, in that instance, would not have improved. Thus, we
13
determine whether Carol was found to be a putative spouse, thereby negating
Frank’s fraud theory.
1. The trial court impliedly found that Carol was a putative spouse
In issue two, Frank asks whether Carol could claim to be a putative spouse
(versus a meretricious spouse). 3 The more precise issue, though, is whether the
trial court made a finding that she was a putative spouse.
Frank did not request that the trial court make findings of fact or conclusions
of law. Nonetheless, an appellate court presumes that the trial court made all
necessary findings to support its judgment when the objecting party failed to
request them following a non-jury trial. See Sink v. Sink, 364 S.W.3d 340, 343
(Tex. App.—Dallas 2012, no pet.). If an implied finding is supported by the
evidence, the appellate court upholds the trial court’s judgment on any theory of
law applicable to the case. See id. at 344.
3
“A putative marriage is one that was entered into in good faith by at least one of
the parties, but which is invalid by reason of an existing impediment on the part of
one or both parties . . . The effect of a putative marriage is to give the putative
spouse, who acted in good faith, rights to property acquired during the marital
relationship that are analogous to those rights given to a lawful spouse . . . . A
meretricious relationship or a ‘live-in’ relationship [is one in which] neither one of
the individuals has a good faith belief that they are entering into a marital
relationship. Each party is entitled to the property acquired during the relationship
in proportion to the value that his or her labor contributed to its acquisition.” Ayala
v. Valderas, No. 02-07-134-CV, 2008 WL 4661846, at *4 (Tex. App.—Fort
Worth Oct. 23, 2008, no pet.); see also Weaver v. State, 855 S.W.2d 116, 120
(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1993, no writ).
14
Frank argues that Carol cannot be considered a putative spouse because she
was not “the innocent spouse” in forming their marriage. He explains, “After many
years of claiming to be married to [Frank], Carol finally under oath admitted to
bigamy.” This assertion misstates Carol’s testimony.
Carol testified that she did not believe the State of Texas recognized her
marriage to Mohammad because they never filed any papers with the State, i.e., a
marriage license. Instead, their marriage was merely ceremonial. She testified that
she did not believe a legal divorce was necessary, either, because no papers were
filed with the State. Frank did not present any evidence that Carol married him
with knowledge that she had an existing, legally-recognized marriage to another
person.
This situation is analogous to that in Dean, 480 S.W.2d at 495. In that case,
the wife sought a divorce from her first husband through a Mexican court because
she wanted to marry another man. She received an instrument written in Spanish—
a language she could not read—and was told that it was a valid Mexican divorce
decree. She thought the document made her “legally free” to remarry. Id. at 495.
Only after receiving the Mexican document did she marry her second husband.
The second husband later sought to have their marriage declared void based
on the prior marriage. He argued that she was not a putative spouse and had no
equitable rights to the property obtained during their union. See id. at 495–96. He
15
obtained a summary judgment in his favor, and she appealed. The appellate court
reversed, noting her statement in an affidavit that she “believed in good faith” that
her second marriage was legal because her first marriage had been terminated
through the Mexican divorce. See id. at 496. The court explained,
A putative marriage is one that is invalid by reason of an existing
impediment on the part of one or both spouses; but which was entered
into in good faith by the parties, or one of them, good faith being
essential. We hold that the required good faith may be based upon a
bona fide belief in a Mexican divorce.
. . .
We hold that if either appellee or appellant believed in good faith that
she had obtained a valid Mexican divorce from Dean and that she was
therefore legally free to marry appellee at the time of their marriage,
then the marriage was putative and remained such until they both
learned that she was not divorced from Dean.
Id. at 496–97. This is in contrast to a “meretricious” relationship, where neither
party has a good faith belief that they are entering into a legal marital relationship.
See Ayala v. Valderas, No. 02-07-134-CV, 2008 WL 4661846, at *4 (Tex. App.—
Fort Worth Oct. 23, 2008, no pet.) (mem. op.). Based on Carol’s testimony about
her good faith belief that her marriage to Mohammad had no legal effect and that
her marriage to Frank was valid, the trial court made an implied finding that Carol
acted in good faith and was a putative spouse. See Dean, 480 S.W.2d at 496–97.
This implied finding is supported by the evidence and, as shown below, supports
the judgment of the trial court. See Sink, 364 S.W.3d at 344.
16
2. Putative spouses are entitled to a just and right division
The Dean court explained the property rights a putative spouse has to
property accumulated during a putative marriage:
The laws relating to lawful marriages apply to property acquired by
the parties to a putative marriage; and upon the dissolution of a
putative marriage, or until discovery of the impediment, a putative
spouse is entitled to share equally in the community property.
480 S.W.2d at 496. By contrast, in a meretricious marriage, “each party ‘would
own the property acquired in proportion to the value his (or her) labor contributed
to the acquisition of it.’” Id. (quoting 1 SPEER, LAW OF MARITAL RIGHTS IN TEXAS
§ 58 (4th ed. 1961)).
Thus, as a putative spouse, Carol was entitled to the same “just and right”
division of property she would have been owed had she been a lawful spouse in a
valid marriage as she and Frank believed. 4 See id.; see also Davis v. Davis, 521
S.W.2d 603, 606 (Tex. 1975) (holding that decedent’s putative wife was entitled to
same right in property acquired during marital relationship as if she were his lawful
wife); Ayala, 2008 WL 4661846, at *4. Accordingly, Frank is unable to show any
4
The Decree Declaring Marriage Void entered by the trial court states as
follows:
The Court finds that the following is a just and right division of the
parties’ estate, having due regard for the rights of each party, the
children, and the mediated settlement agreement, which is attached to
this Decree as Exhibit “A” and whose terms are incorporated herein
by reference.
17
harm that resulted from negotiating the MSA while unaware that his marriage was
legally void. His negotiating position was unaffected because Carol qualified as a
putative spouse, unaware there was a legal impediment to her marriage to Frank.
Having already found that Frank waived his complaint that the MSA could
be voided based on Carol’s fraud and that Frank could not establish an injury to
prevail on his fraud claim even if he were able to assert it, we overrule Frank’s
second issue.
Variance between terms of MSA and Decree
In issues four and five, Frank challenges the trial court’s revision of the
MSA to reflect that the parties were not divorcing. His arguments are based on the
legal principle that trial courts are prohibited from altering the terms of a divorcing
couple’s MSA. Toler v. Sanders, 371 S.W.3d 477, 480 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] 2012, no pet.); Garcia-Udall v. Udall, 141 S.W.3d 323, 330–32 (Tex.
App.—Dallas 2004, no pet.).
Frank and Carol’s MSA stated that Frank owed a payment to Carol “on the
120th day following date of signing of a final decree of divorce.” Because their
marriage was void and they could not be divorced, he argues, the condition
precedent for payment—divorce—could not occur. Thus, he contends that the
18
impossibility of a “final decree of divorce” coupled with an inability to alter the
wording on the MSA, left the MSA unenforceable against him. 5
Frank’s argument is similar to that made in Beyers v. Roberts, 199 S.W.3d
354, 362 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet. denied). There, the settlement
agreement specified that the couple’s child would transfer to Emmanuel Lutheran
School mid-year, beginning January 2004. The school later informed the parents
that the class was full, meaning the child could not transfer to the school until the
following school year at the earliest. The court’s order, entered after the MSA was
executed, stated that the child would continue at his current school for the
remainder of the school year. The father claimed “the trial court erred in rendering
an order that was not in strict compliance with the settlement agreement.” Beyers,
199 S.W.3d at 362. After noting the impossibility of the child attending the school
specified in the MSA as well as the parents’ agreement to the current school, this
Court affirmed the trial court’s order, holding that “[m]odifications to settlement
agreements are typically grounds for reversal, however, only where they add terms,
5
Frank frames his issues in this regard as follows:
(4) Did the trial court violate Appellant’s right to due process by inserting
language in the final order modifying the MSA to significantly alter the original
term of “final decree of divorce” to mean “Decree Declaring the Marriage Void”?
(5) Was the trial court authorized under the Family code to modify, add, or
significantly alter the original term of the MSA of “final decree of divorce” to
mean “Decree Declaring the Marriage Void”?
19
significantly alter the original terms, or undermine the intent of the parties.” Id. at
362.
A court’s ability to enter a decree that alters the terms of an MSA also was
challenged in Haynes v. Haynes, 180 S.W.3d 927 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2006, no
pet.). The parties executed an MSA providing that the wife would get sixty percent
of the husband’s non-transferable employee stock options. The wife’s attorney
prepared the agreed final divorce decree, which contained detailed procedures for
the exercise and division of the stock options and made the husband a constructive
trustee for the wife’s benefit. The husband challenged the settlement on appeal,
arguing that the trial court “had no authority to enter a judgment that varied from
the terms of the mediated settlement agreement.” See id. at 929. While recognizing
that courts may not add terms to an MSA that alter the parties’ agreement, the
court ruled that terms that are necessary to “effectuate and implement” the parties’
agreement without affecting the agreed substantive division of property “may be
left to future articulation by the parties or consideration by the trial court.” Id. at
930 (citing McLendon v. McLendon, 847 S.W.2d 601, 606 (Tex. App.—Dallas
1992, writ denied)). The court found determinative that the decree remained
consistent with the parties’ intent, varying only in the mechanism of dividing the
estate:
A trial court has no power to supply terms not previously agreed to by
the parties; however, the parties here agreed to the material terms of
20
their property division and nothing in the divorce decree varies from
that agreement. The divorce decree’s provisions implementing and
effectuating the agreed division of the options do not vary the terms of
the mediated settlement agreement; rather, they carry those terms into
effect. Thus, the trial court did not supply terms to which the parties
had not agreed.
Id.
The proper inquiry under Beyers and Haynes is not a mechanical
examination of whether the divorce decree varies from the terms of the MSA.
Rather the inquiry is whether variances by the trial court significantly alter the
parties’ written agreement in a way that deviates from the parties’ intent as
manifested in that agreement. If the decree merely adopts mechanisms to enforce
the parties’ agreement while remaining consistent with their intent, it is
enforceable.
We have already concluded that the trial court made an implied finding that
Carol was a putative spouse, based on her testimony that she did not understand
her ceremonial marriage to Mohammad to have any legally-recognized import and,
consequently, was unaware there was a legal impediment to her marriage to Frank.
This finding made Carol a putative spouse in the eyes of the law—entitling her to
the same just and right division of property as any other spouse. Thus, Frank was
without any mechanism to improve his negotiating position or re-do his agreement
based on later-obtained information. The question, then, is whether, in light of
21
Carol’s status as a putative spouse, the variance to the MSA made by the trial court
deviated from the parties’ intent when they divided their property.
The MSA provided that Frank would transfer to Carol $21,559 no later than
120 days following the completion of their legal dispute. While the MSA
expressed that event as the signing of a “final decree of divorce,” the judgment
actually entered was a “decree declaring marriage void.”
Similar to the Beyers case, Frank and Carol’s MSA mandated an action that
could not be achieved. Just as the Beyers’ child could not attend Emmanuel
Lutheran, Frank and Carol could not get divorced. The trial court altered the terms
of Frank and Carol’s decree only to the extent necessary to effectuate their intent
that Frank transfer funds to Carol once their legal dispute resolved. The court
included the following language to correct the issue:
For purposes of construction, application, and enforcement of the
mediated settlement agreement, and notwithstanding the Court’s
finding that there was no marriage between the parties, it is
ORDERED that this Decree shall be construed as a “final decree of
divorce” as the term is used in the mediated settlement agreement.
We hold that this provision (1) was limited to that necessary to effectuate
and implement the terms to which the parties had agreed, and (2) did not alter the
terms of the MSA in a manner inconsistent with the parties’ intent. See Beyers, 199
S.W.3d at 362; Haynes, 180 S.W.3d at 930; see also In re Lee, 411 S.W.3d 445,
458 n.17 (Tex. 2013) (holding that “to the extent there is no dispute about the
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parties’ intent, the trial court has discretion to provide clarification of this or any
other provision” in MSA).
We overrule issues four and five challenging the trial court’s modification of
the terms of the MSA in the final decree.
Conservatorship
In his final issue, Frank argues that the trial court abused its discretion by
granting to Carol the exclusive right to determine the children’s residency. He
contends that the award was inconsistent with the recommendation of the amicus
attorney, court-appointed psychologist, and the evidence.
A. Standard of Review
Trial courts have wide discretion to determine a child’s best interest,
including issues of custody, control, possession and visitation. Gillespie v.
Gillespie, 644 S.W.2d 449, 451 (Tex. 1982); Holley v. Holley, 864 S.W.2d 703,
706 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1993, writ denied). This is because the trial
court is in the best position to observe the demeanor and personalities of the parties
and witnesses and to evaluate credibility, influences, and other forces that are not
discernible from a cold record. In re Herd, 537 S.W.2d 950, 952 (Tex. App.—
Amarillo 1976, writ ref’d n.r.e.); In re T____, 715 S.W.2d 416, 418 (Tex. App.—
Dallas 1986, no writ); In re J.R.D., 169 S.W.3d 740, 743 (Tex. App.—Austin
2005, pet. denied). Appellate courts will reverse a trial court’s determination of
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conservatorship only if a review of the entire record reveals the trial court’s
decision was arbitrary or unreasonable. In re J.A.J., 243 S.W.3d 611, 616 (Tex.
2007); Patterson v. Brist, 236 S.W.3d 238, 239–40 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] 2006, pet dism’d). A trial court does not abuse its discretion “as long as
some evidence of a substantive and probative character exists to support the trial
court’s decision.” In re W.M., 172 S.W.3d 718, 725 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2005,
no pet.). Further, the evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the trial
court’s decision, and every legal presumption is indulged in favor of its judgment.
Holley, 864 S.W.2d at 706.
Frank, the appellant, did not request findings of fact or conclusions of law.
In that circumstance, we “presume that all factual disputes were resolved in favor
of the trial court’s ruling.” Aduli v. Aduli, 368 S.W.3d 805, 813 (Tex. App.—
Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, no pet.). Thus, the trial court’s ruling will be upheld
unless “it is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence as to be wrong
and unjust.” Id. at 814; see also Worford v. Stamper, 801 S.W.2d 108, 109 (Tex.
1990).
B. The trial court did not abuse its discretion
Frank sought a joint conservatorship, but requested the exclusive right to
determine the children’s residency. He and Carol, along with their witnesses,
testified about the interactions each parent had with the children, their home
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environments, and their interactions with each other. Additionally, the trial judge
interviewed the couple’s oldest child in chambers to ascertain her views and
wishes. There is evidence to support the trial court’s decision to grant Carol the
exclusive right to determine residency of the children, including the following:
• Carol testified that she was involved in the children’s education,
schooling, and medical care and that she addressed their needs;
• Carol’s sister testified that Carol had a positive relationship with the
children and cared for their needs well;
• Carol maintained an apartment that was described as more than
adequate for the children;
• There was no indication that the children disliked being at their
mother’s home;
• There was testimony that Frank had a temper and that Carol had
bruising and injuries after a physical confrontation between them;
• The trial court interviewed the couple’s oldest daughter, who spoke
positively about both parents; and
• Their oldest daughter repeatedly indicated to the psychologist that she
preferred to reside with her mother.
Accordingly, we conclude there is evidence to support the trial court’s
determination and the trial court did not abuse its discretion designating Carol as
primary conservator. Cf. In re Anglin, 542 S.W.2d 927, 933 (Tex. App.—Dallas
1976, no writ) (“Although a minor child’s desires are not controlling on the court,
other things being equal, they should be considered in determining the custody
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unless it is shown that an adverse party has purposely influenced the child’s
decision.”).
Frank argues that the recommendation of the amicus attorney and concerns
raised by the court-appointed psychologist required an alternative conservatorship
arrangement. We disagree. The amicus attorney did recommend that Frank have
the exclusive right to determine residency; however, she clarified that her
recommendation was based on her belief that Frank was more likely than Carol to
facilitate communication between the parents. She also said that “[t]hey were both
very involved in the upbringing and the decision making for the children” and that,
while they did not work well together at the time of the divorce, “[h]istorically the
parents have worked well together.” The overall tenor of her remarks did not
strongly favor Frank over Carol, and the trial court was free to decide the issue of
residency opposite her recommendation. Cf. Gillespie, 644 S.W.2d at 451 (noting
wide latitude given trial court to determine best interest of child).
Likewise, the psychologist did not strongly favor Frank over Carol. She
testified that Carol had shown concern for her children and that Carol “wanted to
do whatever was best for the children.” Further, she testified that she thought both
Carol and Frank would follow her instructions concerning effective parenting
techniques. She also noted Carol’s willingness to participate in the children’s
therapy. Furthermore, the oldest daughter “consistently expressed that she would
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prefer to be at Mom’s house” in her meetings with the psychologist. When asked if
she had any concerns with either parent being named primary conservator she
replied, “No, not at this time.”
Frank contends that these two professionals were critical of Carol’s
parenting as it related to a video he found on one of the kids’ electronic devices.
He states that the psychologist “expressed serious concerns,” including “concerns
about the supervision that was going on” when the video was made during Carol’s
possession of the children. In the video, the couple’s daughters, along with the
girls’ older male cousin, were laughing as one of the daughters imitated actions
that were not age-appropriate and had sexual significance. The video was made in
a bedroom of Carol’s apartment; Carol was in another room at the time.
While Frank is correct that the psychologist and amicus attorney discussed
in court the video and the various family members’ reactions to it, the
professionals did not conclude that the existence of the video argued against Carol
being named primary conservator.
The psychologist testified that Carol appeared appropriately concerned about
the video. The psychologist’s negative views were more related to the blasé
attitude the children displayed about what transpired on the video rather than a
criticism of either parent’s reaction to it. Likewise, the amicus attorney’s closing
remarks, to the extent they related to the video, were focused on whether an on-
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going injunction prohibiting the children from contact with the cousin would be
necessary.
At the conclusion of the trial, the court found that both parents exhibited “a
mutual interest” in doing what would be in the best interest of their children. He
stated that both parents qualified as managing conservators, but that it was required
that only one be granted the exclusive right to determine residency. “I believe you
both want the best for them and that they are in good hands with either of you . . .
both of you are still going to have a lot of time with your children . . . .” The trial
court concluded that, “considering all the factors involved . . . both parents should
be named as joint managing conservators, but . . . Carol [should have] physical
primary possession of the children, primary custody. However, I would—and I’m
open to even an extended type of—working out some type of a visitation and
schedule that we can maximize the interaction with both parents.”
After reviewing the entire record, we conclude that the trial court had
sufficient evidence to exercise its discretion to appoint Carol as the conservator
with the exclusive right to designate the children’s residence and the trial court’s
decision was reasonable. Strong v. Strong, 350 S.W.3d 759, 764–68 (Tex. App.—
Dallas 2011, pet. denied) (although some evidence favored father, there was
evidence to support award of primary custody to mother); cf. London v. London, 94
S.W.3d 139, 149–50 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2002, pet. denied) (holding
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that joint conservator with right to decide residency does not necessarily also have
right to more time with children). Accordingly, the evidence does not show that the
trial court abused its discretion, and we overrule issue seven.
Conclusion
Having overruled all of Frank’s seven issues, we affirm the trial court’s
order.
Harvey Brown
Justice
Panel consists of Justices Jennings, Sharp, and Brown.
Justice Jennings, concurring in judgment only.
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