Dunker v. Dunker

659 S.W.2d 106, 1983 Tex. App. LEXIS 4911
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedAugust 18, 1983
DocketB14-82-601CV
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 659 S.W.2d 106 (Dunker v. Dunker) 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
Dunker v. Dunker, 659 S.W.2d 106, 1983 Tex. App. LEXIS 4911 (Tex. Ct. App. 1983).

Opinion

OPINION

CANNON, Justice.

This is an appeal from a modification of child custody in a joint or co-managing con-servatorship in which judgment was rendered for appellee. Appellant alleges five points of error. We find no error and affirm.

A decree of divorce was entered pursuant to an agreement between the parties, Cheryl Ann Dunker and Gregory Charles Dunk-er, on September 23, 1981. Both parties were appointed co-managing conservators of the only child born of the marriage, Jeffrey, born April 6, 1980. Permanent possession, domicile, schooling, and major medical care was placed with the appellant. The appellee was given certain visitation privileges and ordered to pay support payments. After the divorce, the appellant relocated to Indiana and remarried. The appellee remained in Galveston County and remarried. Before one year had elapsed, appellee filed a motion to modify the divorce decree, and appellant filed cross-mov-ant’s motion to modify the decree. Prior to the petitions for modification, appellee had filed a motion for contempt in Galveston County and appellant had filed and obtained a Temporary Restraining Order against appellee in the Lake Superior Court, in East Chicago, Indiana. After a hearing before the court, appellee was appointed managing conservator and appellant was appointed possessory conservator.

In the first point of error, appellant contends that the trial court erred as a matter of law as the evidence failed to show that the circumstances of appellant had so materially and substantially changed since the final divorce decree and that the court did not follow the burden of proof statutorily imposed by TEX.FAM.CODE ANN. § 14.08(c)(1) (Vernon Supp.1982-1983). The parties invoked the jurisdiction *108 of a court, with respect to custody and control of a minor child, and that vests the court with decretal powers in all relevant custody, control, possession, and visitation matters involving a child. The courts are given wide discretion in such proceedings. Ex parte Eaton, 151 Tex. 581, 252 S.W.2d 557 (1952).

The important consideration is that once a child is brought under the court’s jurisdiction, by suit and pleading cast in terms of custody and control, it becomes the duty of the court, in the exercise of its equitable powers, to make proper disposition of all matters comprehended thereby in a manner supported by the evidence. We believe that the best interest of the child shall always be the primary consideration of the court as set forth below in TEX.FAM.CODE ANN. § 14.07:

(a) The best interest oí the child shall always be the primary consideration of the court in determining questions of managing conservatorship, possession, and support of and access to the child. If the child is 14 years of age or older, he may, by writing filed with the court, choose the managing conservator, subject to the approval of the court. (Vernon 1975). (Emphasis added).
(b) In determining the best interest of the child, the court shall consider the circumstances of the parents.... (Vernon Supp.1982-1983).

The trial court resolved such fact issue against the appellant and in view of all the circumstances, we believe the evidence sufficiently supports the trial court’s findings against the burden of proof contention. We overrule point of error number one.

The appellant contends in the second point of error that the trial court erred as a matter of law in allowing testimony in the modification hearing regarding events which occurred prior to the time of the original divorce decree. The appellant cites Watts v. Watts, 563 S.W.2d 314 (Tex.Civ.App.—Dallas 1978, writ ref’d n.r.e.), as the authority for the contention that the original decree acts as res judicata. We feel that Watts is good law. The case at bar was tried to the court and not to the jury. Therefore, the judge is presumed not to have considered any evidence that is inadmissible. Also, there is ample evidence, in the statement of facts, that occurred subsequent to the decree of divorce to comply with TEX.FAM.CODE ANN. § 14.-08(c)(1) (Vernon Supp.1982-1983), namely, the trial court’s findings of fact:

That at the time the parties to this proceeding were divorced and even during the separation of the parties, the mother of the child began an adulterous relationship with a Mr. Pavlinac. That the child resided in the home of the mother while this adulterous relationship was taking place. That following the Decree of Divorce, the mother of the child moved at least seven (7) times in a period of less than one (1) year. There was no stable job environment on part of either the mother or Mr. Palvinac, the boyfriend of the child’s mother....
There was clear evidence presented during the trial of the case which indicated that it was in the best interest of the child that the father should be appointed Managing Conservator. That following the divorce, the father married a woman who was a religion major and graduate of Baylor University and who was Managing Conservator of two (2) of her own children. Mr. Dunker and his present wife reside in a three (3) bedroom brick home which he is buying; he has a stable job, having worked with the same company prior to moving to Galveston County, and is now a supervisor with the Company. Mr. Dunker’s present wife is a secretary to the President of First Bank of La Marque, in La Marque, Texas, and appears neat, well mannered, with a strong desire to educate and assist in properly raising a child such as JEFFREY CHARLES DUNKER.
I think the evidence is rather clear that raising a child in an environment where a woman is living in an adulterous relationship with a man with the child present— the lack of a stable home environment— *109 the lack of job stability — the constant moving about the country is injurious and would be damaging to the morals, education and physical and emotional well being of such a child and would be injurious for such a relation to continue.
I think that the evidence is also rather clear that the father of the child who has raised two (2) children by a previous marriage from their infancy, has a very stable job and has a nice three (3) bedroom brick home which he is purchasing with assistance of his present wife, is able to instill in the child a sense of morals and religious upbringing, as well as provide educational opportunities and a wholesome family environment which would be beneficial and a substantial improvement and certainly in the best interest of the child.
For all of the above, as well as the attitudes exhibited in the trial of the case by the respective parties,

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Bobby Joe Lee v. State
Court of Appeals of Texas, 2011
Keith James Halla v. Dina Marie Halla
Court of Appeals of Texas, 2007
In Re CQTM
25 S.W.3d 730 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2000)
In the Interest of C.Q.T.M.
25 S.W.3d 730 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2000)
Hammond v. Hammond
898 S.W.2d 406 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1995)
Penick v. Penick
780 S.W.2d 407 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1989)
Haley v. Haley
713 S.W.2d 801 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1986)
In the Interest of T
715 S.W.2d 416 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1986)
Sharp v. Sharp
710 S.W.2d 696 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1986)
Billeaud v. Billeaud
697 S.W.2d 652 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1985)
Jacobsen v. Jacobsen
695 S.W.2d 44 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1985)
Ramos v. Ramos
683 S.W.2d 84 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1984)
Gonzalez v. Gonzalez
672 S.W.2d 887 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1984)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
659 S.W.2d 106, 1983 Tex. App. LEXIS 4911, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dunker-v-dunker-texapp-1983.