In Re CS

277 S.W.3d 82, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 149, 2009 WL 57048
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJanuary 9, 2009
Docket07-08-0370-CV
StatusPublished

This text of 277 S.W.3d 82 (In Re CS) 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
In Re CS, 277 S.W.3d 82, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 149, 2009 WL 57048 (Tex. Ct. App. 2009).

Opinion

277 S.W.3d 82 (2009)

In re C.S., Relator.

No. 07-08-0370-CV.

Court of Appeals of Texas, Amarillo.

January 9, 2009.

*84 Donald M. Hunt, Lawrence M. Doss, Michael D. Wysocki, Mullin Hoard & Brown, L.L.P., Lubbock, TX, for real party in interest.

Ronald L. Sanders, Attorney At Law, Lubbock, TX, for relator.

Judy A. Parker, Judge, County Court at Law No. 3, Lubbock, TX, for Respondent.

Before CAMPBELL, HANCOCK and PIRTLE, JJ.

OPINION

JAMES T. CAMPBELL, Justice.

In this mandamus proceeding, relator C.S.[1] contends the trial court erred by setting aside an acknowledgment of paternity signed by real party in interest M.T., ordering C.S., her biological son Z. and M.T. submit to genetic testing, and failing to order the results of earlier private genetic testing destroyed. Finding the record does not support the extraordinary relief C.S. seeks, we will deny her petition on each ground alleged.

Background

Z. was born in May 2007, to C.S. The following day, she and M.T. signed an acknowledgment of paternity for recording with the bureau of vital statistics. It was recorded June 13. In the acknowledgment, among other things, C.S. and M.T. declared under penalty of perjury that M.T. was the biological father of Z. C.S. subsequently filed for divorce from M.T. alleging they were married "on or about July 7, 2007." In an amended answer filed May 14, 2008, M.T. challenged the acknowledgment of paternity on the ground of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact.

Following an evidentiary hearing, the trial court signed an order finding M.T. signed the acknowledgment of paternity under a material mistake of fact. It set aside the acknowledgment of paternity and further ordered genetic testing of Z., C.S., and M.T. nineteen days from the order date. On the motion of C.S., we temporarily stayed the genetic testing, pending our consideration of her petition.[2]

Discussion

A relator petitioning for relief by mandamus must show a clear abuse of discretion and the absence of an adequate remedy by appeal. In re Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 148 S.W.3d 124, 135-36 (Tex. 2004). Mandamus is not a substitute for an ordinary appeal; rather, it is an extraordinary remedy available only in limited circumstances, and not for grievances that may be addressed by other remedies such as an appeal. Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 840 (Tex.1992) (orig.proceeding).

A clear abuse of discretion requires proof that "`the trial court could reasonably have reached only one decision,' and that its finding to the contrary is `arbitrary and unreasonable.'" In re Dillard Dep't Stores, Inc., 198 S.W.3d 778, 780 (Tex.2006) (orig.proceeding) (per curiam) (quoting Walker, 827 S.W.2d at 840). An appellate court may not deal with disputed areas of fact in an original mandamus proceeding. In re Angelini, 186 S.W.3d 558, 560 (Tex.2006) (orig.proceeding). Nor, in reviewing findings of fact in a mandamus *85 proceeding, may an appellate court substitute its judgment for that of the trial court. Dillard Dep't Stores, 198 S.W.3d at 780. There is therefore no abuse of discretion if the trial court bases its decision on conflicting evidence and some evidence supports the trial court's decision. In re Barber, 982 S.W.2d 364, 366 (Tex.1998) (orig.proceeding).

The Acknowledgment of Paternity

In her first ground for relief by mandamus, C.S. contends the trial court erred by setting aside M.T.'s acknowledgment of paternity.

Section 160.304 of the Family Code specifies that an acknowledgment of paternity becomes effective on the date of the birth of the child or the filing of the document with the bureau of vital statistics, whichever is later. Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 160.304(c) (Vernon 2002). "Except as provided by Sections 160.307 and 160.308, a valid acknowledgment of paternity filed with the bureau of vital statistics is the equivalent of an adjudication of the paternity of a child and confers on the acknowledged father all rights and duties of a parent." Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 160.305(a) (Vernon 2002).

Sections 160.307 and 160.308 establish the process for rescinding and challenging an adjudication of paternity. Section 160.307 provides in pertinent part that a signatory may rescind an acknowledgment of paternity by commencing a proceeding to rescind before the earlier of: (1) the 60th day after the effective date of the acknowledgment, as provided by section 160.304; or (2) the date of the first hearing in a proceeding to which the signatory is a party before a court to adjudicate an issue relating to the child, including child support. See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 160.307 (Vernon 2002). Following the expiration of the period for rescission under section 160.307, a signatory may initiate a proceeding challenging the acknowledgment of paternity on the ground of fraud, duress or material mistake of fact. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 160.308(a) (Vernon Supp. 2008). An adult signatory must initiate a proceeding challenging the acknowledgment "before the fourth anniversary of the date the acknowledgment . . . is filed with the bureau of vital statistics. . . ." Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 160.308(a) (Vernon Supp.2008). Proof by genetic testing of the male signatory's non-paternity constitutes a material mistake of fact under section 160.308(a). See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 160.308(d) (Vernon Supp.2008).

As fact finder, the trial court heard and resolved contested testimonial and documentary evidence presented by M.T. and C.S. To show the trial court's resolution of these contested facts amounts to a clear abuse of discretion, C.S. must demonstrate from the record that the evidence runs only one way; viz., it is conclusive that M.T. did not sign the acknowledgment of paternity under the influence of fraud, duress or a material mistake of fact. See Dillard Dep't Stores, 198 S.W.3d at 780.

According to the record evidence, prior to the birth of Z., C.S. informed M.T. of the possibility that he was not the father of Z. because of a sexual encounter she had with another man. M.T. testified he wanted to be a father so when he heard the baby's heartbeat and saw the sonogram he told C.S. they would work through the situation. But C.S. agreed on cross-examination that between December 2006 and May 2007 she told M.T. "on numerous occasions" he was the father of Z. And M.T. testified that in conjunction with doctor visits during her pregnancy C.S.

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Related

In Re Prudential Insurance Co. of America
148 S.W.3d 124 (Texas Supreme Court, 2004)
In Re Van Waters & Rogers, Inc.
145 S.W.3d 203 (Texas Supreme Court, 2004)
In Re Dillard Department Stores, Inc.
198 S.W.3d 778 (Texas Supreme Court, 2006)
In Re Rodriguez
248 S.W.3d 444 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2008)
In Re the Office of the Attorney General
276 S.W.3d 611 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2009)
In Re Attorney General of Texas
195 S.W.3d 264 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2006)
Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Havner
953 S.W.2d 706 (Texas Supreme Court, 1997)
In Re Angelini
186 S.W.3d 558 (Texas Supreme Court, 2006)
Amanda v. Montgomery
877 S.W.2d 482 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1994)
Walker v. Packer
827 S.W.2d 833 (Texas Supreme Court, 1992)
In Re Barber
982 S.W.2d 364 (Texas Supreme Court, 1999)
In Re C.S., Relator
277 S.W.3d 82 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2009)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
277 S.W.3d 82, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 149, 2009 WL 57048, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-cs-texapp-2009.