In the Matter of the MARRIAGE OF Leanne Farrell COLLIER and Robert Greg Collier and in the Interest of R.C.C., a Child

419 S.W.3d 390, 2011 WL 13504, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 13
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJanuary 4, 2011
Docket07-09-00146-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by23 cases

This text of 419 S.W.3d 390 (In the Matter of the MARRIAGE OF Leanne Farrell COLLIER and Robert Greg Collier and in the Interest of R.C.C., a Child) 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 the Matter of the MARRIAGE OF Leanne Farrell COLLIER and Robert Greg Collier and in the Interest of R.C.C., a Child, 419 S.W.3d 390, 2011 WL 13504, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 13 (Tex. Ct. App. 2011).

Opinion

OPINION

HANCOCK, Justice.

Appellant, Robert Greg Collier, appeals a final decree of divorce that dissolved the marriage between himself and appellee, Leanne Farrell Collier; named Leanne sole managing conservator of their son, Robert Colt Collier; set Greg’s child support obligation; and divided the community estate. Greg presents ten issues by his appeal. We will reverse and remand. Background 1

Greg and Leanne met online in early 2005. Leanne lived in New York, while Greg lived in Lubbock. Leanne visited Greg a few times in Lubbock before Greg asked Leanne to marry him. Leanne accepted, moved to Lubbock, and they got married in October 2005. On March 6, 2007, Leanne gave birth to their son, Colt.

The couple had a fairly tumultuous relationship prior to the birth of Colt, but disagreements regarding child rearing greatly exacerbated the problems in the relationship. Within eight weeks of the birth of Colt, the couple separated. On the day after Leanne left Greg, she filed for divorce. Soon thereafter, Greg filed his counterpetition for divorce.

Following trial on April 23 and 24 of 2008, the trial court orally granted the divorce, found Greg at fault for the breakup of the marriage, made a finding of family violence, appointed Leanne sole managing conservator of Colt, appointed Greg possessory conservator of Colt, and ordered that Greg’s visitation with Colt was to be “solely at the discretion” of Leanne. The trial court also made certain broad findings regarding the division of the community, but asked the parties to submit additional briefing regarding the appropriate division of the community estate. The trial court signed its final decree of divorce on February 5, 2009.

Greg timely requested findings of fact and conclusions of law, and separately requested specific findings relating to the child support and possession orders. When the trial court did not issue findings and conclusions when they were due, Greg filed notices of past-due findings and conclusions relating to each of his requests. The trial court issued findings of fact and conclusions of law on April 2, 2009. Greg then requested additional findings of fact and conclusions of law, which included, inter alia, a second request for statutorily required findings on child support and possession. The trial court entered additional findings of fact and conclusions of law on April 23, 2009. Greg timely filed notice of appeal.

By ten issues, Greg appeals. Greg’s first four issues challenge the trial court’s determinations regarding custody of Colt. *396 Greg’s fifth issue challenges the trial court’s child support order on the basis that the trial court did not enter statutorily mandated findings even after the same were properly requested. By his sixth issue and the sole issue presented in his supplemental brief, Greg challenges the trial court’s division of the community estate. By his seventh issue, Greg challenges the trial court’s award of $100,000 in reimbursement to Leanne for contributions made by her and the community in benefit of Greg’s separate property. By his eighth issue, Greg contends that the trial court improperly imposed discovery sanctions against him without notice and hearing. Finally, by his ninth issue, Greg contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion for new trial.

Custody Issues

By his first four issues, Greg challenges the trial court’s determinations regarding custody of Colt. Specifically, Greg challenges the trial court’s appointment of Leanne as sole managing conservator of Colt, possession order that limits Greg’s access to Colt to the discretion of Leanne, and refusal to afford Greg certain parental rights that are statutorily afforded to pos-sessory conservators. Because of these rulings, Greg contends that the trial court impermissibly infringed on Greg’s constitutional rights as a parent.

The best interest of a minor child shall always be the primary consideration of the court in determining the issues of conservatorship, and possession of and access to the child. Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 153.002 (West 2008); 2 see Gillespie v. Gillespie, 644 S.W.2d 449, 451 (Tex.1982). In determining what is in the best interest of a minor child, the trial court is given wide latitude. Id. We review the trial court’s judgment regarding issues of con-servatorship, possession, and access for an abuse of discretion. See id.; Niskar v. Niskar, 136 S.W.3d 749, 753 (Tex.App.Dallas 2004, no pet.). The test for abuse of discretion is whether the trial court acted without reference to any guiding rules and principles or, stated another way, whether the trial court’s act was arbitrary or unreasonable. Downer v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238, 241-42 (Tex.1985). There is generally, however, no abuse of discretion when there is some evidence to support the trial court’s decision; thus, a trial court abuses its discretion when it could reasonably have reached only one decision and fails to do so. Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 839-40 (Tex.1992). Under an abuse of discretion standard, legal and factual sufficiency are not independent grounds for asserting error, but are relevant factors in assessing whether a trial court abused its discretion. Niskar, 136 S.W.3d at 753.

a. Sole Managing Conservatorship

By his first issue, Greg contends that the trial court abused its discretion in naming Leanne sole managing conservator of Colt. Greg cites the statutory presumption that appointment of a child’s parents as joint managing conservators is in the best interest of the child. See § 153.131(b) (West 2008). Greg then contends that there was no credible evidence or insufficient credible evidence to rebut this statutory presumption. In response, Leanne points to the trial court’s finding that Greg has a history and pattern of family violence during the two years preceding the date that the petition for divorce was filed as removing the presumption and authoriz- *397 mg the trial court’s appointment of Leanne as sole managing conservator.

It is presumed that the appointment of both parents of a child as joint managing conservators is in the best interest of the child. Id. However, this presumption is overcome if credible evidence is presented that one parent has committed a history or pattern of child neglect, or physical or sexual abuse against the other parent or the child. § 158.004(b) (West 2008). It is for the trial court to determine whether such credible evidence was presented. Coleman v. Coleman, 109 S.W.3d 108, 111 (Tex.App.-Austin 2008, no pet.). When the parties testify to different versions of the same encounter, the trial court is the sole judge of the weight and credibility of the evidence. Id.

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Bluebook (online)
419 S.W.3d 390, 2011 WL 13504, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 13, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-the-matter-of-the-marriage-of-leanne-farrell-collier-and-robert-greg-texapp-2011.