Chance v. Chance

911 S.W.2d 40, 1995 Tex. App. LEXIS 2604, 1995 WL 630046
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedOctober 26, 1995
Docket09-93-260 CV
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 911 S.W.2d 40 (Chance v. Chance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Chance v. Chance, 911 S.W.2d 40, 1995 Tex. App. LEXIS 2604, 1995 WL 630046 (Tex. Ct. App. 1995).

Opinions

[44]*44OPINION

WALKER, Chief Justice.

This modification of child custody case focuses upon the future welfare of two young boys, Zachary and Matthew, both currently under the age of six years. Appellant, Donna René Chance, is the mother and appellee, Gene Ray Chance, is the father. Mr. Chance brought suit to modify prior judgment of the trial court which named Donna René Chance as the managing conservator and Gene Ray Chance as the possessory conservator.

The case was tried before a jury which returned its verdict naming Gene Ray Chance as sole managing conservator of the children. The trial court signed its modification order on June 15,1993. This appeal has been timely perfected with appellant seeking remand for new trial, with additional request that she be returned to her pre-trial status as managing conservator pending new trial.

Appellant’s portrayal of the case is: “Quite simply, this case is a tragedy — not only for DONNA, a mother who has lost custody of her children, but also for Zachary and Matthew who have been tom from their mother, her protection, and love.”

Appellee’s portrayal is: “The jury in this case meted out justice. They sifted the facts and made a reasoned, just decision.”

At the time of the original divorce between Donna René Chance and Gene Ray Chance, Donna Chance was named the sole managing conservator of the two minor children. Section 14.08(c)(1), Texas Family Code, provides:

After a hearing, the court may modify an order or a portion of a decree that: (1) designates a sole managing conservator if:
(A) the circumstances of the child, sole managing conservator, possessory conservator, or other party affected by the order or decree have materially and substantially changed since the date of the rendition of the order or decree to be modified; and
(B) the retention of the present sole managing conservator would be injurious to the welfare of the child; and
(C)the appointment of the new sole managing conservator would be a positive improvement for the child; ....

Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 14.08(c)(1) (Vernon Supp.1995).

Obviously, it is no small step, from an evidentiary standpoint, to effectively preponderate, conjunctively, the three requirements of Section 14.08(c)(1). This is especially so in situations such as the present where the original Judgment of Divorce was signed on the 26th day of August, 1991, and modification of that judgment appointing Donna René Chance as sole managing conservator is sought to be changed less than one year after entry of judgment. Appellee, Gene Ray Chance filed his Amended Motion to Modify in Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship, on August 10, 1992. It is incumbent upon this Appellate Court to determine whether or not Gene Ray Chance met his burden of establishing the three required elements of Section 14.08(c)(1) by a preponderance of the evidence as properly instructed by the trial court. Regarding the burden of proof, the trial judge below provided the jury with the following instruction:

Answer “Yes” or “No” to all questions unless otherwise instructed. A ‘Tes” answer must be based on a preponderance of the evidence unless you are instructed that the answer must be based on clear and convincing evidence. If you do not find that a preponderance of the evidence supports a ‘Tes” answer, then answer “No.” The term “preponderance of the evidence” means the greater weight and degree of credible testimony or evidence introduced before you and admitted in this case. Whenever a question requires an answer other than ‘Tes” or “No”, your answer must be based on a preponderance of the evidence unless you are instructed that the answer must be based on clear and convincing evidence.

The trial court gave no special instruction on any jury question requiring evidence of a clear and convincing nature. Nor, does appellant or appellee contend for application of a different standard of evidentiary proof than that of “a preponderance of the evidence.” Thus, our review of this case and the record [45]*45before us shall be pursued with recognition of appellee’s burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence, conjunctively, the three requirements of Section 14.08(c)(1).

Appellant brings to this Court eleven points of error. We choose to address appellant’s point of error nine at the inception since point of error nine addresses the “no evidence” and “insufficiency of the evidence” questions.

Point of error nine contends:

A. There is no evidence to support submission of jury questions one, two, and four.
B. There is no evidence to support the jury’s response to questions one, two, and four.
C. The evidence is insufficient to support the finding of the jury in response to questions one, two, and four.
D. The finding of the jury in response to questions one, two, and four is so against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence as to be manifestly unfair and unjust.
E. The verdict included conflicting findings; specifically that Gene should be appointed sole managing conservator, while at the same time the jury found that Gene had engaged in acts that were emotionally or physically endangering to the children.

Appellant correctly contends that Gene Chance had the burden of proving that there had been a material and substantial change since the date of the original judgment, and that the retention of Donna Chance as managing conservator would be injurious to the welfare of the children, and that the appointment of a new sole managing conservator would be a positive improvement for the children. However, item “D” of appellant’s point of error nine constitutes a misapplication of the burden of proof.

A complaint that a finding is against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence is proper where appellant had the burden of proof and is thus attacking the factual sufficiency of a failure to find on a particular issue. Recognizing that appellee, Gene Chance had the burden of proof, we shall disregard item D of appellant’s point of error nine.

Paragraphs A and B of appellant’s point of error nine constitute “no evidence” attacks upon the record. Our scope of review requires that we consider only the evidence and reasonable inferences that tend to support the findings and disregard all evidence and inferences to the contrary. See Davis v. City of San Antonio, 752 S.W.2d 518, 522 (Tex.1988); Aim v. Aluminum Co. of America, 717 S.W.2d 588, 593 (Tex.1986), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 847, 111 S.Ct. 135, 112 L.Ed.2d 102 (1990); King v. Bauer, 688 S.W.2d 845, 846 (Tex.1985).

“No evidence” points of error must be sustained when the record discloses (1) a complete absence of a vital fact; (2) the court is barred by rules of law on evidence from giving weight to the only evidence offered to prove a vital fact; (3) the evidence offered to prove a vital fact is no more than a mere scintilla of evidence; or (4) the evidence establishes conclusively the opposite of a vital fact. See Juliette Fowler Homes, Inc. v. Welch Associates, Inc.

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Chance v. Chance
911 S.W.2d 40 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1995)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
911 S.W.2d 40, 1995 Tex. App. LEXIS 2604, 1995 WL 630046, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/chance-v-chance-texapp-1995.