In the Interest of E.I., a Child v. the State of Texas ( 2024 )

In the
Court of Appeals
Second Appellate District of Texas
at Fort Worth
___________________________
No. 02-24-00015-CV
___________________________
IN THE INTEREST OF E.I., A CHILD
On Appeal from the 481st District Court
Denton County, Texas
Trial Court No. 22-10324-481
Before Womack, Wallach, and Walker
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Womack
MEMORANDUM OPINION
I. INTRODUCTION
This appeal arises from a suit affecting the parent–child relationship (SAPCR).
Appellant T.J.S. (Father) appeals from the trial court’s order adjudicating that he is the
father of E.I.1 and determining his parental rights and obligations with respect to the
child. In seven issues, Father argues that the trial court (1) erred by holding him in
contempt and placing him in the sheriff’s custody for failing to comply with a court
order; (2) exhibited judicial bias against him, thereby depriving him of a fair trial;
(3) abused its discretion by ordering him to pay child support based on his earning
potential as opposed to his actual income at the time of trial; (4) abused its discretion
by appointing H.I. (Mother) as E.I.’s sole managing conservator based on legally and
factually insufficient evidence; (5) abused its discretion by restricting his access to, and
possession of, E.I.; (6) abused its discretion by admitting into evidence certain of
Mother’s exhibits that she had purportedly failed to properly disclose; and (7) erred by
awarding Mother attorney’s fees. We will affirm.
II. BACKGROUND
Father, who was then a full-time college student, and Mother, who was then a
hair stylist living with her parents, began dating in September 2020. The couple had a
volatile relationship marked by “very high highs” and “very low lows.”
We use initials to refer to the child and her family members. See Tex. Fam.
1
Code Ann. § 109.002(d); Tex. R. App. P. 9.8(b)(2).
2
One of the lows occurred on Halloween of 2021 when Mother and Father had
an altercation at Father’s home. Mother testified that she had decided to leave the
house after Father began showing signs of aggression. According to Mother, as she
was sitting on the curb outside the house, Father “charged at [her] in a car,” nearly
running over her feet, and then threw open the door and slammed it into her. She
testified that he then got on top of her and put his legs on her arms and his hands
over her mouth “to where [she] couldn’t breathe.” According to Mother, when they
arrived back at Father’s house, he “pushed [her] all down the hall” and slammed her
into the backdoor. The police were called and Mother was taken to the police station,
but Father was not arrested.
Despite their tumultuous relationship, Father and Mother decided to have a
child together. On January 31, 2022, they found out that Mother was pregnant.
According to Mother, that night, when she mentioned the possibility of giving the
child up for adoption, Father became angry, grabbed her arm, and threatened to kill
her if she left.
In February 2022, Mother “blocked” Father from being able to contact her and
ended their relationship because, among other reasons, she believed that Father had
been unfaithful to her. She later briefly unblocked Father to inform him that she
3
believed the police were “going forward with charges” stemming from the Halloween
incident.2
Mother gave birth to E.I. in September 2022. But she did not notify Father or
list him on the birth certificate.
In December 2022, Father, acting pro se, commenced this SAPCR by filing a
petition to adjudicate parentage. Mother filed a counterpetition. Court-ordered
genetic testing confirmed Father’s relationship to E.I., and a temporary-orders hearing
was held before a visiting judge in March 2023.
The temporary-orders hearing ended prematurely after Father—who was still
acting pro se—became frustrated by the visiting judge’s insistence that he follow the
rules of evidence and procedure, argued with the judge, and left the courtroom.
Following the hearing, the trial court entered temporary orders naming Mother E.I.’s
temporary sole managing conservator and Father a temporary possessory conservator.
Under the temporary orders, Father was required to undergo a psychological
evaluation, complete a battering intervention and prevention program (BIPP), and
attend a coparenting class. He was not awarded any rights to possess or access E.I.3
Father testified that he was never actually charged with any offense based on
2
the Halloween incident.
The temporary orders provided that if Father completed the required BIPP
3
programming and coparenting class and furnished proof of his address to Mother, the
court would consider granting him supervised access to E.I.
4
The trial court denied Father’s motion to modify the temporary orders, and they
remained in effect until final trial.
After both sides filed motions to compel, a hearing was held in August 2023.
Following this hearing, the trial court ordered Father—who was now represented by
counsel—to respond to certain of Mother’s discovery requests; awarded Mother $385
in attorney’s fees; and ordered Father to bring cash or a cashier’s check in this amount
to the final trial.
The trial court commenced a two-day bench trial on August 31, 2023. At the
start of trial, the trial court held Father in contempt for failing to bring cash or a
cashier’s check in the amount of $385 as ordered. The trial court ordered that Father
be confined until he delivered the funds to the court, and he was placed in a holding
cell. After a recess, Father’s attorney delivered the funds to the court, Father was
released from custody, and the trial commenced.
Following the trial, the trial court signed a final order appointing Mother E.I.’s
sole managing conservator and appointing Father a possessory conservator. Although
the order awarded Father no immediate rights to possess or access E.I., it provided
that he would be granted supervised periods of possession and access upon his timely
completion of (1) BIPP programming, (2) parenting classes, and (3) a psychological
evaluation. The trial court awarded Mother child support based on Father’s
prospective employment as an engineer. Further, the trial court awarded Mother
5
$29,677.77 in attorney’s fees (plus conditional appellate attorney’s fees) and ordered
Father to reimburse her for half of her prenatal and neonatal expenses.
At Father’s request, the trial court filed findings of fact and conclusions of law.
This appeal followed.
III. DISCUSSION
As noted, Father raises seven issues on appeal. But for the reasons set forth
below, none of these issues provides a valid basis for reversing the trial court’s final
order.
A. Contempt
In his first issue, Father contends that the trial court abused its discretion by
holding him in contempt and placing him in the sheriff’s custody for failing to comply
with its order to bring $385 to the final trial. However, we lack jurisdiction to review
a contempt order on direct appeal. Tex. Animal Health Comm’n v. Nunley, 647 S.W.2d
951, 952 (Tex. 1983); In re B.C.C., 187 S.W.3d 721, 723 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2006, no
pet.); In re A.C.J., 146 S.W.3d 323, 326 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2004, no pet.); In re
T.L.K., 90 S.W.3d 833, 841 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2002, no pet.); Cadle Co. v.
Lobingier, 50 S.W.3d 662, 672 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2001, pet. denied) (en banc).
Rather, a contempt order must be challenged through an original proceeding. In re
B.A.C., 144 S.W.3d 8, 11 (Tex. App.—Waco 2004, no pet.); see Tracy v. Tracy,
219 S.W.3d 527, 530 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, no pet.) (“Contempt orders involving
confinement may be reviewed by writ of habeas corpus; contempt orders that do not
6
involve confinement may be reviewed only through mandamus.” (citing In re M.J.,
227 S.W.3d 786, 793 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2006, pet. denied) (orig. proceeding))).
Accordingly, we dismiss Father’s first issue for lack of jurisdiction.
B. Judicial Bias
In his second issue, Father contends that the trial court deprived him of a fair
trial and due process by exhibiting judicial bias. We disagree.
1. Applicable Law
All parties have a right to a fair trial before an impartial judge. Ellason v. Ellason,
162 S.W.3d 883, 887 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2005, no pet.). But only in the rarest of
circumstances will judicial rulings show favoritism or antagonism to the degree
necessary to conclude that the trial was not fair or that the judge was not impartial.
Id.; see also Haynes v. Union Pac. R.R. Co., No. 01-18-00181-CV, 2020 WL 425130, at
*11 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Jan. 28, 2020, pet. dism’d). Indeed, when
presented with allegations of judicial bias, the United States Supreme Court has
written that “judicial rulings alone almost never constitute a valid basis for a bias or
partiality motion” and that the opinions a judge forms during a trial do not call into
question a judge’s bias or partiality “unless they display a deep-seated favoritism or
antagonism that would make fair judgment impossible.” Liteky v. United States,
510 U.S. 540, 555, 114 S. Ct. 1147, 1157 (1994).
Similarly, a judge’s critical, disapproving, or even hostile remarks during trial to
counsel, the parties, or their cases do not ordinarily support a bias or partiality
7
challenge. Id., 114 S. Ct. at 1157. Further, “expressions of impatience, dissatisfaction,
annoyance, and even anger, that are within the bounds of what imperfect men and
women, even . . . judges, sometimes display” do not establish bias or partiality. Id. at
555–56, 114 S. Ct. at 1157. “A judge’s ordinary efforts at courtroom administration—
even a stern and short-tempered judge’s ordinary efforts at courtroom
administration—remain immune.” Id. at 556, 114 S. Ct. at 1157.
As with many other alleged errors, to preserve a partiality complaint, a party
generally must object to the trial court’s alleged improper conduct or comment when
it occurs. See Dow Chem. Co. v. Francis, 46 S.W.3d 237, 241 (Tex. 2001) (per curiam);
Markowitz v. Markowitz, 118 S.W.3d 82, 88 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2003,
pet. denied) (op. on reh’g); see also Haynes, 2020 WL 425130, at *9. However, the
Texas Supreme Court has recognized that claims of judicial bias are not waived by a
failure to object in the trial court if “the conduct or comment cannot be rendered
harmless by proper instruction.” Dow Chem. Co., 46 S.W.3d at 241. As we have
explained previously, “[t]his ‘limited,’ ‘narrow,’ and ‘rare’ exception to the
preservation-of-error requirements in civil cases essentially requires a harm analysis—
the error ‘probably caused the rendition of an improper judgment’—to determine if
the error was incurable and, therefore, not subject to waiver.” In re L.S., No. 02-17-
00132-CV, 2017 WL 4172584, at *16 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Sept. 21, 2017, no pet.)
(mem. op.) (first citing Tex. R. App. P. 44.1(a)(1); then citing In re B.L.D., 113 S.W.3d
8340, 350–51 (Tex. 2003); then citing In re K.R., 63 S.W.3d 796, 799–800 (Tex. 2001);
and then citing Dow Chem. Co., 46 S.W.3d at 241).
2. Analysis
Here, Father points to three purportedly improper judicial actions or
comments to support his partiality complaint: the trial court’s holding Father in
contempt and placing him in the sheriff’s custody for failing to bring $385 to trial as
ordered, the trial court’s warning Father that it would hold him in contempt “if [he]
refer[red] to [Mother’s counsel] as Adam one more time,” and the trial court’s
instructing Father’s counsel to “please admonish [Father] to quit making faces” in
response to the court proceedings. But having reviewed the record, we cannot
conclude that this judicial conduct reflects the “deep-seated favoritism or antagonism”
necessary to support a judicial-bias complaint. See Liteky, 510 U.S. at 555, 114 S. Ct.
at 1157.
First, holding a party in contempt4—which is one means by which a trial court
may exercise its broad discretion in enforcing its judgments, see In re K.D.W.,
No. 07-08-0049-CV, 2008 WL 4889997, at *2 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Nov. 13, 2008,
no pet.) (mem. op.)—is not, in and of itself, evidence of judicial bias, see Cooper v.
McNulty, No. 05-15-00801-CV, 2016 WL 6093999, at *6 (Tex. App.—Dallas Oct. 19,
2016, no pet.) (mem. op.) (concluding that even if the trial court had erred by holding
4
We express no opinion regarding the correctness of the trial court’s act of
holding Father in contempt. See supra Section III.A.
9
appellant in contempt for disrupting court proceedings, this action did not
“demonstrate the degree of antagonism necessary to show []partiality”).
Further, although the trial court’s complained-of comments expressed some
impatience, dissatisfaction, annoyance, and perhaps even anger, the record falls well
short of demonstrating bias or partiality. See Song v. Kang, No. 02-18-00375-CV, 2020
WL 1808487, at *8 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Apr. 9, 2020, pet. denied) (mem. op.)
(citing Liteky, 510 U.S. at 555–56, 114 S. Ct. at 1157). The record shows that Father
repeatedly displayed a disrespect for the trial court and others in the courtroom by,
among other things, arguing with the visiting judge during the temporary-orders
hearing; failing to comply with—or even to read5—the trial court’s orders; and
repeatedly ignoring the trial court’s instructions to stop referring to Mother’s counsel
by his first name. Thus, by admonishing Father as described above, the trial court
was acting within its broad discretion to manage the trial proceedings and to maintain
a proper level of decorum and dignity in the courtroom. See Drake v. Chase Bank,
No. 02-13-00340-CV, 2014 WL 6493411, at *3 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Nov. 20,
2014, no pet.) (mem. op.) (noting that a trial court “has broad discretion to maintain
control in the courtroom” (citing Dow Chem. Co., 46 S.W.3d at 241)); see also Lantrip v.
State, 336 S.W.3d 343, 351–52 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2011, no pet.) (“The trial court
At trial, Father acknowledged that he had not “read the temporary orders very
5
thoroughly.”
10
has discretion in the administration of the courtroom in order to maintain a proper
level of decorum and dignity.”).
Because Father has not shown judicial bias or prejudice, we overrule his second
issue.
C. Child Support
In his third issue, Father contends that the trial court abused its discretion by
awarding Mother child support based on his earning potential as an engineer rather
than his actual net income at the time of trial. We disagree.
1. Standard of Review and Applicable Law
We review a trial court’s judgment granting child support for an abuse of
discretion. Worford v. Stamper, 801 S.W.2d 108, 109 (Tex. 1990); B.K. v. T.K.,
No. 02-19-00472-CV, 2021 WL 2149621, at *2 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth May 27,
2021, no pet.) (mem. op.). A trial court abuses its discretion when it acts arbitrarily or
without reference to guiding principles or when it fails to analyze or apply the law
correctly. Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 840 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding); B.K.,
2021 WL 2149621, at *2. Although sufficiency of the evidence is not an independent
ground of error under the abuse-of-discretion standard, it is a factor in assessing
whether the trial court abused its discretion. In re A.L.S., 338 S.W.3d 59, 65 (Tex.
App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2011, pet. denied); London v. London, 94 S.W.3d 139, 143–
44 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2002, no pet.).
11
For purposes of determining a parent’s child-support liability, a trial court must
calculate the parent’s net resources, including all wage and salary income and other
compensation for personal services; interest, dividends and royalty income; self-
employment income; net rental income; and all other income actually being received.
Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 154.062(a), (b). Absent evidence of the obligor’s gross
resources, the trial court “shall presume that the party has income equal to the federal
minimum wage for a 40-hour week.” Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 154.068(a); M.G. v.
T.G., No. 02-21-00433-CV, 2023 WL 2178762, at *4 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Feb.
23, 2023, no pet.) (mem. op.).
In addition to actual earnings, a court may take a parent’s earning potential into
account when determining child support. See Giangrosso v. Crosley, 840 S.W.2d 765, 770
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1992, no writ); see also Pharo v. Trice, 711 S.W.2d 282,
284 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1986, no writ) (“The duty to support is not limited to a
parent’s ability to pay from current earnings, but extends to his or her financial ability
to pay from any and all sources that might be available.”). Indeed, the Family Code
specifically provides that “[i]f the actual income of the obligor is significantly less than
what the obligor could earn because of intentional unemployment or
underemployment, the court may apply the support guidelines to the earning potential
of the obligor.” Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 154.066(a). But “[t]rial courts consider
several factors, not just voluntary unemployment or underemployment, to determine
child support.” In re Marriage of Lassmann, No. 13-09-00703-CV, 2010 WL 3377773, at
12
*3 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Aug. 25, 2010, no pet.) (mem. op.). Indeed,
Family Code Section 154.123(b)(17) “allows trial courts to deviate from the guidelines
for ‘any other reason consistent with the best interest of the child, taking into
consideration the circumstances of the parents.’” Id. (citing Tex. Fam. Code Ann.
§ 154.123(b)(17)).
2. Analysis
Father argues that the trial court abused its discretion by awarding Mother child
support based on Father’s earning potential rather than his actual earnings because
“[t]here was zero evidence or testimony . . . that Father was intentionally unemployed
or underemployed as required” by Iliff v. Iliff, 339 S.W.3d 74, 78 (Tex. 2011). But Iliff
was concerned solely with what must be shown before a trial court may “set child
support based upon earning potential of the obligor under [S]ection 154.066.” See id.Yet the trial court did not state that it relied on Section 154.066 in making its income
determination, and as noted above, courts may consider several factors—not just
voluntary unemployment or underemployment—to determine a parent’s child-
support obligation. Marriage of Lassmann, 2010 WL 3377773, at *3. Here, Father
testified that he had recently graduated from college with an engineering degree, that
he had four job interviews lined up, and that he expected to earn between $55,000 and
$90,000 per year as an engineer. The trial court indicated that it considered this
testimony and relevant factors, including Father’s job skills and educational
13
attainment, in making its income determination. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann.
§ 154.0655(c)(1)(E), (F).
Because the trial court could consider other factors besides Father’s voluntary
unemployment or underemployment in determining Father’s child-support obligation
and because there are facts in the record to support the trial court’s award, we cannot
conclude that the trial court abused its discretion by basing Father’s child-support
obligation on the salary that he expected to earn as an engineer. See Marriage of
Lassmann, 2010 WL 3377773, at *4. Accordingly, we overrule Father’s third issue.
D. Conservatorship
In his fourth issue, Father contends that the trial court abused its discretion by
appointing Mother as E.I.’s sole managing conservator because the evidence was
legally and factually insufficient to support its custody decision. We disagree.
1. Standard of Review and Applicable Law
We review a trial court’s decisions on custody, control, possession, and
visitation matters for an abuse of discretion. See Gillespie v. Gillespie, 644 S.W.2d 449,
451 (Tex. 1982); In re M.P.B., 257 S.W.3d 804, 811 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008, no pet.);
see In re W.M., 172 S.W.3d 718, 724 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2005, no pet.) (reasoning
that the trial court has “wide latitude in determining the best interests of a minor
child”). To determine whether a trial court abused its discretion, we must decide
whether the court acted without reference to any guiding rules or principles; in other
words, we must decide whether the act was arbitrary or unreasonable. Low v. Henry,
14
221 S.W.3d 609, 614 (Tex. 2007); Cire v. Cummings, 134 S.W.3d 835, 838–39 (Tex.
2004); W.M., 172 S.W.3d at 725.
Although legal and factual sufficiency are not independent grounds for review
in conservatorship cases, they are relevant factors in determining whether an abuse of
discretion occurred. In re D.R.L.M., 84 S.W.3d 281, 301 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth
2002, pet. denied) (first citing Beaumont Bank v. Buller, 806 S.W.2d 223, 226 (Tex.
1991); and then citing Tex. Dep’t of Health v. Buckner, 950 S.W.2d 216, 218 (Tex.
App.—Fort Worth 1997, no pet.)). An abuse of discretion does not occur as long as
some evidence of substantive and probative character exists to support the trial
court’s decision. In re M.L., No. 02-15-00258-CV, 2016 WL 3655190, at *3 (Tex.
App.—Fort Worth July 7, 2016, no pet.) (mem. op.) (citing Butnaru v. Ford Motor Co.,
84 S.W.3d 198, 211 (Tex. 2002) (op. on reh’g)).
An appellate court cannot conclude that a trial court abused its discretion
merely because the appellate court would have ruled differently in the same
circumstances. E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. v. Robinson, 923 S.W.2d 549, 558 (Tex.
1995); see Low, 221 S.W.3d at 620. We must be cognizant that the trial court is in a
better position to decide custody cases because “it faced the parties and their
witnesses, observed their demeanor, and had the opportunity to evaluate the claims
made by each parent.” In re J.R.D., 169 S.W.3d 740, 743 (Tex. App.—Austin 2005,
pet. denied).
15
The best interest of the child is always the primary consideration in determining
issues of conservatorship. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 153.002. Although there is a
rebuttable presumption under Texas law that the appointment of a child’s parents as
joint managing conservators is in the child’s best interest, this presumption is
removed if the trial court finds that there is a history of family violence involving the
parents. See id. § 153.131(b). Indeed, Family Code Section 153.004(b) expressly
prohibits a trial court from naming a party as a joint managing conservator “if credible
evidence is presented of a history or pattern of past or present . . . physical . . . abuse
by one parent directed against the other parent.” Id. § 153.004(b).
2. Analysis
Father asserts that the evidence was legally and factually insufficient to support
the trial court’s finding that Father had a history or pattern of physically abusing
Mother, but the record belies this assertion. As noted above, Mother testified that on
Halloween night 2021, Father nearly ran her over, slammed a car door into her, got
on top of her to restrain her by placing his legs on her arms and putting his hands
over her mouth “to where [she] couldn’t breathe,” and later “pushed [her] all down
the hall” and slammed her into the backdoor. Photographs detailing the injuries that
Mother sustained that night were admitted into evidence. In addition, Mother offered
excerpts from a text-message conversation with Father in which she stated that “[y]ou
literally put your hands on me like two weekends ago” and Father—without denying
the alleged abuse—responded, “[t]hen don’t be with me.” Mother also testified that
16
in January 2022 Father grabbed her arm and threatened to kill her when she
mentioned the possibility of giving their child up for adoption. Thus, the record
contains some evidence of a substantive and probative character to support the trial
court’s finding that Father had a history or pattern of physically abusing Mother. See
M.L., 2016 WL 3655190, at *3.
To support his argument that the trial court abused its discretion, Father makes
much of the fact that he “vehemently dispute[d]” Mother’s abuse claims during trial
and points to certain controverting evidence in the record such as the fact that he was
not arrested after the incident on Halloween night 2021. But “[i]n a bench trial, the
trial court is the sole judge of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be
given their testimony,” C.L.W. v. R.V.W., No. 01-21-00283-CV, 2023 WL 5109878, at
*8 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 10, 2023, no pet.) (mem. op.) (citing Nelson
v. Najm, 127 S.W.3d 170, 174 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2003, pet. denied)),
and an abuse of discretion does not occur when a trial court bases its decision
regarding conservatorship on conflicting evidence, In re M.M.M., 307 S.W.3d 846, 849
(Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2010, no pet.). Thus, the trial court had discretion to weigh
the evidence and to reject any or all of Father’s testimony. See In re Rhodes, 293 S.W.3d
342, 344 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2009, no pet.) (“As the factfinder, the trial court
weighs the evidence and judges a witness’s credibility, and the trial court may accept
or reject any witness’s testimony in whole or in part.” (citing Welborn Mortg. Corp. v.
Knowles, 851 S.W.2d 328, 332 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1993, writ denied))).
17
Father also contends that in reaching its decision regarding conservatorship,
the trial court “arbitrarily ignored” the evidence that he offered regarding Mother’s
mental-health issues, history of drinking and drug use, and arrest for driving while
intoxicated. But because Mother presented credible evidence that Father had a
history or pattern of physically abusing her, the trial court was prohibited from
naming Father as a joint managing conservator. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann.
§ 153.004(b). Thus, the evidence that Father offered regarding Mother’s parental
fitness had no bearing on the court’s decision to name Father as a mere possessory
conservator. And given the Family Code’s presumption that “a parent shall be
appointed . . . managing conservator,” id. § 153.131(a), as well as Father’s
disqualification from serving as a managing conservator, see id. § 153.004(b), we
cannot conclude that the trial court abused its discretion by naming Mother as E.I.’s
sole managing conservator.
In sum, having reviewed and considered the entire record, we conclude that the
trial court’s decision to appoint Mother as E.I.’s sole managing conservator and
Father as a possessory conservator was supported by evidence of a substantive and
probative character. See id. §§ 153.002, .004(a)–(b); C.W. v. B.W., No. 02-19-00270-
CV, 2020 WL 4517325, at *6 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Aug. 6, 2020, no pet.) (mem.
op.). Accordingly, we conclude that no abuse of discretion occurred. See M.L., 2016
WL 3655190, at *3.
We overrule Father’s fourth issue.
18
E. Possession
In his fifth issue, Father contends that the trial court abused its discretion by
denying him any access to, or possession of, E.I. We disagree.
1. Standard of Review and Applicable Law
Like conservatorship decisions, possession decisions are reviewed for an abuse
of discretion. See Vanderbol v. Vanderbol, No. 02-23-00230-CV, 2024 WL 1925141, at
*9 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth May 2, 2024, pet. denied) (mem. op.). And as with issues
of conservatorship, the best interest of the child must always be the primary
consideration in determining issues of possession. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann.
§ 153.002; K.T. v. M.T., No. 02-14-00044-CV, 2015 WL 4910097, at *3 (Tex. App.—
Fort Worth Aug. 13, 2015, no pet.) (mem. op.).
The Texas Family Code creates a rebuttable presumption that the standard
possession order is in a child’s best interest. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 153.252; see
generally id. §§ 153.3101–.316 (codifying terms of the standard possession order). But
“[a] trial court does not abuse its discretion in restricting a parent’s possession when
the record contains some evidence to support a finding that such restrictions are in
the child’s best interest.” Nikolenko v. Nikolenko, No. 01-20-00284-CV, 2022 WL
479988, at *16 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Feb. 17, 2022, pet. denied) (mem.
op.) (citing In re P.A.C., 498 S.W.3d 210, 219 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2016,
pet. denied)), cert. denied, 144 S. Ct. 1058 (2024); see Butnaru, 84 S.W.3d at 211; W.M.,
172 S.W.3d at 725. Thus, being named a conservator does not guarantee a parent
19
access to a child. See In re S.A.J., No. 14-20-00216-CV, 2020 WL 4689361, at *2 (Tex.
App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Aug. 13, 2020, pet. denied) (mem. op.); see also Vanderbol,
2024 WL 1925141, at *10–11 (concluding that trial court did not abuse its discretion
by conditioning joint-managing-conservator parent’s possession and access on his
completion of a psychological evaluation, court-approved parenting course, and
reunification therapy).
2. Analysis
Here, the trial court found that restricting Father’s access to and possession of
E.I. was in the child’s best interest. Thus, the trial court ordered Father to complete
(1) BIPP programming, (2) parenting classes, and (3) a psychological evaluation. The
order provides that after fulfilling these three requirements, Father will be allowed to
have supervised possession of E.I. on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays or Sundays
of every month.6
The trial court based its possession decision on Father’s “history or pattern
of . . . committing family violence . . . , the testimony and evidence presented at trial,
the age of the child, and the actions taken by [Father] during the pendency of th[e]
suit.” And having reviewed and considered the entire record, we cannot conclude
6
In his appellate briefing, Father characterized the trial court’s possession
decision as a complete denial of his access to E.I. But contrary to Father’s
contentions, the final order merely conditions his rights of possession and access; it
does not completely deny them. Thus, the authorities cited by Father addressing the
complete denial of a parent’s access to or possession of a child are inapposite.
20
that this decision constitutes an abuse of discretion. As detailed above, the record
contains evidence of a substantive and probative character showing that Father
committed acts of family violence against Mother. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann.
§ 153.004(c) (mandating that when “determining whether to deny, restrict, or limit” a
possessory-conservator parent’s possession of a child, a trial court must “consider the
commission of family violence”). And beyond Father’s physical abuse of Mother, the
record contains additional evidence of Father’s general propensity towards violence.7
See id. § 153.256 (listing factors that a trial court may consider when ordering the
terms of possession of a parent named possessory conservator, including “the . . . best
interest of the child” and “any other relevant factor”); cf. In re M.C.L., No. 04-17-
00408-CV, 2017 WL 5759376, at *4 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Nov. 29, 2017, no pet.)
(mem op.) (recognizing that “[a] parent’s tendency towards violence is relevant to a
best interest determination” for purposes of Family Code Section 161.001(b)(2)).
Given this record, we conclude that there is some evidence to support a finding
that the restrictions placed on Father’s possession are in E.I.’s best interest.
Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion. See Nikolenko, 2022 WL 479988,
at *16; P.A.C., 498 S.W.3d at 219–20; see also Iliff v. Iliff, 339 S.W.3d 126, 141 (Tex.
App.—Austin 2009) (mem. op.) (concluding that trial court did not abuse its
7
For example, the record reflects that in 2019 Father pleaded guilty to domestic
violence against his ex-wife and served fifteen days in jail and that in May 2023, Father
showed up uninvited to his ex-wife’s sister’s home and tried to hit her and her fiancé
with his vehicle after they instructed him to leave.
21
discretion by restricting father’s visitation until after he completed a “court-ordered
neuropsychological evaluation”), aff’d, 339 S.W.3d 74 (Tex. 2011).
We overrule Father’s fifth issue.
F. Admission of Evidence
In his sixth issue, Father contends that the trial court abused its discretion by
admitting certain of Mother’s exhibits over his objection that she had failed to
properly disclose them.8 We disagree.
1. Standard of Review
We review a trial court’s ruling in admitting or excluding evidence under an
abuse of discretion standard. Richmond Condos. v. Skipworth Com. Plumbing, Inc.,
245 S.W.3d 646, 664–65 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2008, pet. denied) (op. on reh’g)
(citing Nat’l Liab. & Fire Ins. Co. v. Allen, 15 S.W.3d 525, 527 (Tex. 2000) (op. on
reh’g)). A trial court abuses its discretion in admitting or excluding evidence if it acts
without reference to any guiding rules and principles or if the act complained of is
arbitrary and unreasonable. Carpenter v. Cimarron Hydrocarbons Corp., 98 S.W.3d 682,
8
We note that under the current rules of Texas Civil Procedure, the disclosure
rules set forth in Rule 194 do not apply in suits—like this one—that are governed by
the Family Code. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 194.1(a); see also Tex. Fam. Code Ann.
§§ 301.001–.108. But because this suit was filed prior to September 2023, the version
of Rule 194 in place at the time that the lawsuit was filed applies herein. See Tex. R.
Civ. P. 194.2 cmts. 2021 and 2023; see also In re Gamble, 676 S.W.3d 760, 770 n.5 (Tex.
App.—Fort Worth 2023, orig. proceeding) (applying version of Rule 194 that was in
place at the time that the lawsuit was filed).
22
687 (Tex. 2002) (op. on reh’g); Downer v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238,
241–42 (Tex. 1985).
To obtain reversal of a judgment based on the erroneous admission or
exclusion of evidence, an appellant must show not only that the trial court’s ruling
was in error but also that the error probably caused the rendition of an improper
judgment. Tex. R. App. P. 44.1(a)(1); Tex. Dep’t of Transp. v. Able, 35 S.W.3d 608, 617
(Tex. 2000); Ledbetter v. Mo. Pac. R.R. Co., 12 S.W.3d 139, 142 (Tex. App.—Tyler 1999,
pet. denied). This standard does not require the complaining party to prove that but
for the evidentiary ruling a different judgment would necessarily have resulted. Tex.
Health Harris Methodist Hosp. Fort Worth v. Featherly, 648 S.W.3d 556, 577 (Tex. App.—
Fort Worth 2022, pets. denied) (citing JBS Carriers, Inc. v. Washington, 564 S.W.3d 830,
836 (Tex. 2018)). Rather, if erroneously admitted or excluded evidence was crucial to
a key issue, the error is likely harmful. Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. v. Sevcik,
267 S.W.3d 867, 873 (Tex. 2008). Determining whether a particular error is harmful
depends on the particular case. State v. Cent. Expressway Sign Assocs., 302 S.W.3d 866,
870 (Tex. 2009). In making this determination, we review the entire record. Id.
2. Analysis
Father asserts that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting certain
exhibits that Mother purportedly failed to properly disclose, including (1) photographs
of the injuries that Mother sustained during the incident on Halloween night 2021,
(2) documentary evidence of Father’s prior criminal conviction for domestic violence
23
against his ex-wife, and (3) text messages that Father sent Mother after the Halloween
incident.9 But to the extent that Mother was required to disclose these exhibits,10 it
appears that she did so by providing Father a categorical description of them. See
Tex. R. Civ. P. 194.2(b)(6) (providing that a party must provide other parties “a
copy—or a description by category and location—of all documents, electronically stored
information, and tangible things that . . . [it] may use to support its claims or
defenses” (emphasis added)).
9
Although Mother correctly points out that Father did not cite to specific
exhibits in his brief, we decline to find that Father has waived his complaint due to
inadequate briefing because the exhibits about which he complains are readily
identifiable in the record. See Johnson v. State, No. 14-10-00462-CR, 2011 WL 2083969,
at *5 n.1 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] May 19, 2011, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not
designated for publication) (declining to find that appellant had waived admissibility
complaint despite having failed to identify the complained-of exhibits because they
were readily identifiable in the record); see also Eco Planet, LLC v. ANT Trading, No. 05-
19-00239-CV, 2020 WL 6707561, at *5 (Tex. App.—Dallas Nov. 16, 2020, pet.
denied) (mem. op.) (Osborne, J., concurring) (“Appellate courts have the discretion to
waive issues for inadequate briefing.” (first citing Fredonia State Bank v. Gen. Am. Life
Ins. Co., 881 S.W.2d 279, 284 (Tex. 1994); and then citing Horton v. Stovall, 591 S.W.3d
567, 569–70 (Tex. 2019))). We distinguish this case from those in which the court is
asked to search for the complained-of exhibits by sifting through volumes of the
record without direction; in such cases we would be more inclined to find that the
argument had been waived due to inadequate briefing. See Johnson, 2011 WL 2083969,
at *5 n.1.
10
Mother argues that because her pleadings included allegations of domestic
violence, she was not required to provide initial disclosures. See Tex. R. Civ. P.
194.2(d)(7) (2021, amended 2023) (providing that “actions involving domestic
violence” are exempt from initial disclosure). But because we overrule Father’s
admissibility complaint on other grounds, we need not determine whether Mother’s
domestic-violence allegations were sufficient to exempt her from the otherwise-
applicable disclosure requirements.
24
In any event, because Father failed to object when the complained-of exhibits’
content was introduced through testimony, he has forfeited his complaint regarding
the exhibits’ admission. “[A]ny error in admitting evidence is cured where the same
evidence comes in elsewhere without objection.” Schwartz v. Forest Pharms., Inc.,
127 S.W.3d 118, 124 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2003, pet. denied); accord
Holliday v. Gray, No. 05-18-01146-CV, 2020 WL 1969503, at *2 (Tex. App.—Dallas
Apr. 24, 2020, pet. denied) (mem. op.) (citing Combs v. Gent, 181 S.W.3d 378, 385 (Tex.
App.—Dallas 2005, no pet.)). Thus, a party forfeits a complaint regarding the
admission of an exhibit when testimony regarding the exhibit’s contents is made
without objection. See Benavides v. Cushman, Inc., 189 S.W.3d 875, 885 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.) (holding that appellant had forfeited any error in an
incident report’s admission by failing to object to the admission of a witness’s
videotaped deposition discussing the report’s contents). Here, Mother testified
regarding the injuries that she sustained during the incident on Halloween night 2021,
both Mother and Father testified regarding Father’s prior criminal conviction for
domestic violence, and Mother testified regarding the text messages that she received
from Father after the Halloween incident and read the relevant portions into the
record. Because this testimony regarding the complained-of exhibits’ contents was
admitted without objection, any error in the admission of the exhibits themselves was
cured. See Schwartz, 127 S.W.3d at 124; see also Benavides, 189 S.W.3d at 885; cf. Matthew
v. State, No. 02-22-00140-CR, 2023 WL 2607750, at *7 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Mar.
25
23, 2023, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (“A party forfeits a
complaint regarding the admission of an exhibit when testimony regarding the
exhibit’s contents is made without objection.”).
We overrule Father’s sixth issue.
G. Attorney’s Fees
In his seventh issue, Father contends that the trial court abused its discretion
by awarding Mother attorney’s fees because Mother did not plead for sanctions and
because the trial court did not find that Father’s suit was groundless or filed in bad
faith or with the intent to harass Mother.11 This argument lacks merit.
Family Code Section 106.002 authorizes a trial court to “render judgment for
reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses” in a SAPCR. Tex. Fam. Code Ann.
§ 106.002(a). A trial court has broad discretion in awarding attorney’s fees under
Section 106.002, and we will not disturb such an award absent an abuse of that
discretion. In re M.A.N.M., 231 S.W.3d 562, 567 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, no pet.);
see Fort Worth Transp. Auth. v. Rodriguez, 547 S.W.3d 830, 850 (Tex. 2018). “The statute
does not designate to whom fees may be awarded, nor does it limit the trial court’s
designation.” In re K.M.B., 606 S.W.3d 889, 900 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2020, no pet.)
(citing Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 106.002(a)). Thus, a trial court is not constrained to
11
We note that, although such a finding was not a necessary prerequisite to the
trial court’s award of attorney’s fees, the trial court did, in fact, state on the record that
it had determined that Father was “not actually interested in seeing [his] child” and
was only “interested in this litigation to harass [Mother].”
26
award attorney’s fees only to a prevailing party, nor is it required to make a finding
that a suit was filed frivolously or for the purpose of harassment before awarding
attorney’s fees. See id. (“[S]ection 106.002 does not impose a prevailing-party
requirement . . . .”); see also In re S.C., No. 05-18-00629-CV, 2020 WL 3046203, at *5
(Tex. App.—Dallas June 8, 2020, pet. denied) (mem. op.) (rejecting argument that in a
SAPCR modification proceeding “attorney’s fees may be awarded . . . only when the
suit is brought frivolously or to harass” and concluding that notwithstanding such a
finding the trial court was authorized to award such fees under Family Code Section
106.002).
Because—contrary to Father’s assertion—the trial court was not required to
find (1) that Mother was entitled to sanctions or (2) that Father’s suit was groundless
or filed in bad faith before awarding Mother attorney’s fees, we overrule Father’s
seventh issue.
IV. CONCLUSION
Having dismissed Father’s first issue for lack of jurisdiction and having
overruled his remaining issues, we affirm the trial court’s order.
/s/ Dana Womack
Dana Womack
Justice
Delivered: October 24, 2024
27