In Re Mv

343 S.W.3d 543, 2011 WL 2163724
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJune 3, 2011
Docket05-10-00034-CV
StatusPublished

This text of 343 S.W.3d 543 (In Re Mv) 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 Mv, 343 S.W.3d 543, 2011 WL 2163724 (Tex. Ct. App. 2011).

Opinion

343 S.W.3d 543 (2011)

In the Interest of M.V., a Minor Child.

No. 05-10-00034-CV.

Court of Appeals of Texas, Dallas.

June 3, 2011.

*545 W. Ty Wilson, Law Office of W. Ty Wilson, Plano, TX, for Appellant.

Steven Todd Hayden, Dallas, TX, for Appellee.

Before Justices MORRIS, MOSELEY, and FITZGERALD.

OPINION

Opinion By Justice MOSELEY.

In this accelerated appeal, Mother complains of the trial court's order terminating her parental rights to M.V., her minor child.[1] She contends: (1) her appeal and statement of points were timely filed; (2) the evidence is insufficient to support termination; (3) venue in Collin County was improper; and (4) her due process rights were violated because she was not afforded counsel prior to relinquishing her parental rights. We conclude the evidence is sufficient to support termination and that appellant's remaining issues are either moot or not preserved. We affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

The background facts are based on evidence in the record.

Mother and Father met and married in India in March 2007; they moved to the United States in August 2007. Mother became pregnant, and their child, M.V., was born on May 12, 2008. Father began abusing Mother verbally and physically during the pregnancy. They argued over family finances and Mother's salary; sometimes the arguments escalated to his pulling Mother's hair and hitting her with his fists.

The abuse continued after M.V. was born. On October 7, 2008, Father hit Mother with a telephone, knocking out two front teeth and fracturing her jaw. M.V. was in his crib at the time. Father was charged with aggravated assault. Dallas County Child Protective Services (CPS) became involved and offered Mother services, including shelter. Mother and M.V. spent two days in a shelter; however, at the urging of her parents and of Father, she and M.V. returned to their apartment.

Mother was pressured by her parents to return to India without M.V. On December 22, 2008, Mother signed an affidavit of voluntary relinquishment as to M.V., despite advice by CPS personnel over a one-week period not to do so. Mother then returned to India, leaving M.V. with CPS personnel. On December 23, 2008, the Collin County Unit of the Department of Family and Protective Services (the Department) filed a SAPCR seeking to be appointed M.V.'s temporary managing conservator.[2] M.V. was placed in foster care.

*546 While Mother was in India, she obtained medical care for her injuries. Father and her parents urged Mother to sign an affidavit of non-prosecution, which she did. Mother returned to Dallas in June 2009, again began living with Father, and sought the return of M.V. However, later that month Father forced Mother to again return to India to prevent her from testifying at his trial.[3]

On July 28, 2009, while again under pressure from Father and her parents, Mother returned to the United States and resumed living with Father. She visited M.V. weekly for one hour beginning in September 2009.

On October 1, 2009, the Department filed a First Amended Petition, seeking termination of Mother's and Father's parental rights. Beginning about November 1, 2009, three weeks before this termination trial began, Mother moved into a shelter and began parenting classes and counseling.

The jury found Mother violated family code sections 161.001(1)(D), (E), (K), and (O) and found termination of Mother's parental rights to be in M.V.'s best interest. See TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 161.001(1)(D), (E), (K), & (O), (2) (West Supp.2010). The trial court appointed the Department permanent managing conservator of M.V. This appeal followed.

II. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE

A trial court may terminate the parent-child relationship if the fact finder finds by clear and convincing evidence that: (1) a parent committed one or more of the enumerated statutory acts in section 161.001(1) of the family code; and (2) termination is in the best interest of the child. Id. § 161.001(1), (2). The jury made affirmative findings as to both elements required for termination. In her second issue, Mother contends the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support these findings.

A. Applicable Law and Standard of Review

"Clear and convincing evidence" is "the measure or degree of proof that will produce in the mind of the trier of fact a firm belief or conviction as to the truth of the allegations sought to be established." Id. § 101.007 (West 2008); see In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256, 264 (Tex.2002).

On appeal, we apply a standard of review that reflects this burden of proof. In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 264-66. When reviewing the legal sufficiency of the evidence, we consider all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the finding to determine whether the fact finder could reasonably have formed a firm belief or conviction the finding was true. Id. at 266. In doing so, we assume the fact finder resolved disputed facts in favor of its finding if a reasonable fact finder could do so, and we disregard all evidence that a reasonable fact finder could have disbelieved or found to be incredible. Id. However, we must also consider any undisputed evidence contrary to the finding in our analysis. Id.

In conducting a factual sufficiency review, we must give due consideration to any evidence the fact finder could reasonably have found to be clear and convincing. Id. We consider whether the disputed evidence is such that a reasonable fact finder could not have resolved the disputed evidence in favor of its finding. Id. If the disputed evidence is so significant that a fact finder could not reasonably *547 have formed a firm belief or conviction, then the evidence is factually insufficient. Id.

B. Discussion

1. Courses of Parental Conduct

a. section 161.001(1)(D), (E)

The jury found that Mother knowingly placed or knowingly allowed M.V. to remain in conditions or surroundings which endanger his physical or emotional well-being and that Mother engaged in conduct or knowingly placed M.V. with persons who engaged in conduct which endangers M.V.'s physical or emotional well-being. See TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 161.001(1)(D), (E). "Endanger" means to expose to loss or injury, to jeopardize; it is not necessary that the conduct be directed at the child or that the child actually suffers injury. See Tex. Dep't of Human Servs. v. Boyd, 727 S.W.2d 531, 533 (Tex.1987).

There was testimony concerning several instances of abuse directly involving M.V. First, in October 2007, when she was two months pregnant, Father hit Mother in the head and on the back with his fists and kicked her in the stomach several times. Although she screamed in pain and begged him not to hit her, he finally punched her hard in the mouth. Father was jailed but was bailed out by a friend; he came home promising not to hit her again. Father forced Mother to write an affidavit of non-prosecution. Second, on September 4, 2008, Mother was holding M.V. and trying to call 9-1-1 because she and Father were in a "violent argument." Father grabbed the phone, threw it across the bedroom to prevent the call, then grabbed Mother by the throat and pushed her against the wall.

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

Related

Holley v. Adams
544 S.W.2d 367 (Texas Supreme Court, 1976)
Dupree v. Texas Department of Protective & Regulatory Services
907 S.W.2d 81 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1995)
In the Interest of R.V.
977 S.W.2d 777 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1998)
Texas Department of Human Services v. Boyd
727 S.W.2d 531 (Texas Supreme Court, 1987)
In the Interest of J.F.C.
96 S.W.3d 256 (Texas Supreme Court, 2002)
In the Interest of R.R. & S.J.S.
209 S.W.3d 112 (Texas Supreme Court, 2006)
In the Interest of M.N.
262 S.W.3d 799 (Texas Supreme Court, 2008)
In the Interest of M.V.
343 S.W.3d 543 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2011)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
343 S.W.3d 543, 2011 WL 2163724, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-mv-texapp-2011.