Cluck v. Cluck

699 S.W.2d 246
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedNovember 19, 1985
Docket04-84-00442-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 699 S.W.2d 246 (Cluck v. Cluck) 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
Cluck v. Cluck, 699 S.W.2d 246 (Tex. Ct. App. 1985).

Opinion

OPINION

DIAL, Justice.

Margaret and Elwood Cluck were divorced on May 4, 1981. The judgment awarded to Margaret $49,000.00 payable at the rate of $1,500.00 per month beginning on May 6, 1981, with nine percent (9%) interest per annum on the unpaid balance. In the event of an appeal from this divorce decree, the judgment stipulated that Elwood must pay support pendente lite in the sum of $2,500.00 per month.

*248 The trial court’s decision regarding property distribution was appealed and affirmed by this court in Cluck v. Cluck, 647 S.W.2d 338 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1982, writ dism’d).

On September 15, 1982, the district court found Elwood in arrears in the payment of support pendente lite in the amount of $11,-250.00 and held him in contempt. This court granted a writ of prohibition suspending enforcement of the alimony order until proper notice had been given. Thereafter, on July 13, 1983, the district court found Elwood in arrears in the payment of support pendente lite in the sum of $29,-750.00. On September 21, 1983, this court granted Elwood’s writ of habeas corpus because the contempt order was vague and because of the absence of a valid commitment order.

On October 17, 1983, Margaret filed her first motion for aid in collection of the judgment rendered pursuant to the divorce decree of May 4, 1981. On November 23, 1983, a hearing was held on the motion, and the settlement agreement made the basis of this appeal was reached by the parties.

The terms of the agreement required Elwood to pay Margaret $10,000.00 cash and set up a new schedule of payments in satisfaction of the original divorce decree. Elwood was to deliver to Margaret his promissory note in the sum of $50,000.00 payable in installments of $1,500.00 per month. Although the agreement made no mention of the $29,750.00 support pendente lite, Margaret did agree to release her judgment lien and claim for contempt against Elwood specifying, however, that nothing in the agreement shall in any way release the rights of the parties to properties other than the judgment lien awarded under the decree of divorce.

On April 9, 1984, Margaret’s attorneys filed a motion for entry of the November 23, 1983, settlement agreement. Upon so doing, Margaret discharged them. On June 16,1984, Margaret’s new counsel filed another motion for collection of judgment and attempted discovery as a post-judgment creditor. This relief was denied because of the November 23, 1983, settlement agreement. On June 28, 1984, the trial court granted Elwood’s motion for entry of judgment, incorporating the terms of the November 23, 1983, settlement agreement. Margaret’s motion for new trial was denied and this appeal followed.

In its findings of fact and conclusions of law, the trial court stated that “the settlement agreement is binding upon the parties and is enforceable in lieu of the original decree of divorce.”

In point of error one, Margaret complains that the trial court erred in holding that she entered into a valid settlement agreement with her husband on November 23, 1983. We construe this point of error as being a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence. Since Elwood had the burden of proving a valid settlement agreement in the lower court, we must apply the familiar no evidence and insufficient evidence standards of appellate review.

In reviewing Margaret’s “no evidence” point, we must look only to the evidence and inferences favorable to the findings of the court and disregard all evidence and inferences contrary to the findings. Garza v. Alviar, 395 S.W.2d 821, 823 (Tex.1965).

Both parties with counsel were present at the November 23, 1983, hearing when settlement was announced. Margaret’s counsel announced to the court that “all matters in controversy between the parties have been settled, compromised and agreed upon_” Margaret’s counsel admonished her to “listen carefully to make sure this is your agreement.” Thereupon, six items comprising the settlement agreement were read into, the record. Margaret questioned a provision of the settlement, and the court, to insure that there was indeed an agreement, instructed the parties to confer. Subsequently, Margaret’s counsel asked her specifically if she agreed to the stipulations of the settlement as read into the record. Margaret responded affirmatively. Asked again by her attorney if she was sure she agreed, Margaret *249 showed her understanding of the agreement by correctly restating a portion of the consideration she was to receive under the agreement. Lastly, when asked by her husband’s counsel for assurance that she agreed to all six items read into the record, Margaret responded, “Six items, yes.” The court, after having received this confirmation, approved the agreement and pronounced it as the judgment of the court. Neither Margaret nor her attorney offered further protest or objection to the settlement as approved.

The testimony as previously set out clearly constitutes more than a scintilla of evidence that the parties entered into a binding consensual agreement.

A review of Margaret’s factual insufficiency point calls for an examination of the whole record and requires not only some evidence be present to support the trial court’s finding, but also, that the finding, after consideration of the entire record, not be manifestly unjust. In re King’s Estate, 150 Tex. 662, 244 S.W.2d 660, 661 (Tex.1951).

After reading the six provisions of the settlement agreement into the record, there arose some question as to the nature of a $10,000.00 cash payment to be made to Margaret. Elwood’s counsel sought to have this $10,000.00 payment designated as interest on the amount of money Elwood agreed to pay from the time of divorce. Such a designation was important only as it affected Elwood’s tax liability. Notwithstanding the interest designation, that amount was still to be paid to Margaret as agreed in the settlement. Concerned that there was a discrepancy, the court stated its concern that there was not an agreement and told the parties to confer on the matter. Subsequently, counsel for both parties returned in agreement on that particular issue. When again asked by her counsel if she agreed to the settlement, Margaret repeated only one provision of that agreement. Her counsel twice admonished her not to hedge on what had previously been agreed to. Ultimately, she unequivocally agreed to the six provisions of the settlement.

In a situation such as this, the trial judge is uniquely positioned to hear testimony and resolve the issue before him. Faced with the record before us, we cannot hold that the trial court's conclusion that there was a binding valid agreement was unsupported by factually sufficient evidence. Point of error one is overruled.

Point of error two questioning Margaret’s consent to the agreement, and point of error four concerning the amount owed by Elwood to Margaret pursuant to the settlement agreement are merely evidentia-ry issues encompassed by point of error one concerning the existence of a valid agreement. Therefore, they are superfluous and need not be addressed.

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Bluebook (online)
699 S.W.2d 246, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cluck-v-cluck-texapp-1985.