Lori Dawn Coleman v. Milburn Lee Coleman

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: June 21, 2007
• Docket: 09-06-00171-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

In The

Court of Appeals

Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont

____________________

NO. 09-06-171 CV

LORI DAWN COLEMAN, Appellant

V.

MILBURN LEE COLEMAN, Appellee

On Appeal from the 279th District Court

Jefferson County, Texas

Trial Cause No. F-193,447

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Appellant Lori Dawn Coleman appeals the division of property in this divorce case, the trial court's denial of her motion for new trial, and the provision in the divorce decree holding her responsible for her own attorney's fees. We affirm.

Lori Coleman and appellee Milburn Lee Coleman were married in 2001. In 2005, Milburn filed for divorce seeking his separate property and a disproportionate portion of the community property based on fault in the breakup of marriage, community indebtedness, ages of the spouses, wasting of community assets, and gifts to or by a spouse during the marriage. Lori filed an answer asserting entitlement to her separate property and requesting one-half of their community property. The trial court granted the divorce on grounds of insupportability and awarded certain assets to Milburn as his separate property, including "individual retirement accounts, simplified employee pensions, annuities, and variable annuity life insurance benefits in the husband's name including the [Hartford Account]," as well as "[a]ll brokerage accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and securities registered in the husband's name, together with all dividends, splits, and other rights and privileges in connection with them." The final divorce decree also ordered, as part of the property division, that Lori and Milburn each pay his or her own attorney's fees, expenses, and costs.

Where, as here, no findings of fact and conclusions of law were filed ⁽¹⁾, we must presume the trial court made the findings necessary to support its rulings, so long as those implied findings are supported by the record. Worford v. Stamper, 801 S.W.2d 108, 109 (Tex. 1990). Where implied findings of fact are supported by the evidence, we must uphold the judgment on any legal theory applicable to the case. In re W.E.R., 669 S.W.2d 716, 717 (Tex. 1984).

In her first issue, Lori argues the trial court erred in its property division between the parties. Lori contends the evidence was legally and factually insufficient to support the property division because Milburn failed to offer any documentary evidence to corroborate his testimony that individual annuities, variable annuity life insurance benefits, brokerage accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and securities in his name constituted separate property. Lori asserts that based on Milburn's failure to trace his separate property, the community-property presumption was not rebutted and the assets should be included in the marital estate. She argues that if this Court holds that these assets were improperly held to be Milburn's separate property, it would dramatically increase the size of the community estate. She maintains if the "mischaracterized" retirement account is included in the community estate and awarded to Milburn, the actual property division is extremely disproportionate in favor of Milburn.

We review a trial court's division of property for abuse of discretion. See Murff v. Murff, 615 S.W.2d 696, 699 (Tex. 1981); Moroch v. Collins, 174 S.W.3d 849, 857 (Tex. App.--Dallas 2005, pet. denied). In considering whether the trial court abused its discretion because the evidence is legally or factually insufficient, we apply a two-prong test: (1) did the trial court have sufficient evidence upon which to exercise its discretion, and (2) did the trial court err in its application of that discretion? Moroch, 174 S.W.3d at 857; Boyd v. Boyd, 131 S.W.3d 605, 611 (Tex. App.--Fort Worth 2004, no pet.). We then consider whether, based on the evidence, the trial court made a reasonable decision. Moroch, 174 S.W.3d at 857; Boyd, 131 S.W.3d at 611.

In a divorce proceeding, the trial court "shall order a division of the estate of the parties in a manner that the court deems just and right, having due regard for the rights of each party and any children of the marriage." Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 7.001 (Vernon 2006). The final divorce decree in the present case simply divides the "marital estate." The trial court did not "characterize" these assets in the divorce decree as Milburn's separate property prior to making its division ⁽²⁾, but instead awarded the assets to Milburn as part of the division of the community property. The wording of the divorce decree does not support Lori's argument that the trial court implicitly characterized the assets complained of as Milburn's separate property.

Trial courts have wide latitude and discretion in dividing community property. Schlueter v. Schlueter, 975 S.W.2d 584, 589 (Tex. 1998). When dividing community property, the trial court may consider many factors, including each party's earning capacity, abilities, education, business opportunities, physical health, financial condition, age, and size of separate estates, as well as any future needs for support, expected inheritance, custody of any children, reimbursements, gifts to a spouse during marriage, fault in the breakup of the marriage, length of the marriage, attorney's fees, a spouse's dissipation of the estate, and any tax consequences. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 7.008 (Vernon 2006) (tax consequences); Murff, 615 S.W.2d at 699; Hailey v. Hailey, 176 S.W.3d 374, 380 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, no pet.); Alsenz v. Alsenz, 101 S.W.3d 648, 655 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2003, pet. denied); Vannerson v. Vannerson, 857 S.W.2d 659, 669 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1993, pet. denied); Baccus v. Baccus, 808 S.W.2d 694, 700 (Tex. App.--Beaumont 1991, no writ); Massey v. Massey, 807 S.W.2d 391, 398 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1991, writ denied).

The record does not set forth findings of property values sufficient to determine the relative percentages awarded to the respective parties. For instance, Lori was awarded the property lawsuit against the City of Port Neches in which she was suing for property damages resulting from an automobile accident with a Port Neches police car. "[M]ost of [Milburn and Lori's] personal property," which Lori was moving in a rental trailer, was destroyed in the accident. No evidence of the amount of damages sought in the lawsuit was presented to the trial court.

Milburn's petition alleged fault grounds and requested an unequal property division. The trial court heard testimony from Milburn that during the marriage Lori shot his finger, filed complaints with the Port Neches Police Department against Milburn thirteen or more times, and was arrested for cocaine possession (which cost Milburn approximately $50,000 in legal fees). Lori testified she sold Milburn's personal items while he was out of town in order to pay bills, and she felt entitled to compensation of $100,000 to $150,000 for being Milburn's "trophy wife."

The trial court's role is to weigh the evidence, determine credibility, and divide the estate based on the court's findings. See Murff, 615 S.W.2d at 700 (noting that the trial court in a divorce case has the opportunity to observe the parties on the witness stand, determine credibility, and evaluate their needs). Absent asset values and factual findings, we presume that the trial court properly considered the parties' circumstances and properly exercised its discretion in dividing their property. Magill v. Magill, 816 S.W.2d 530, 534 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1991, writ denied). Based on the record before us, Lori has failed to demonstrate that the division of property was manifestly unjust as to constitute an abuse of discretion. We overrule Lori's first issue.

In Lori's second issue she argues the trial court abused its discretion in denying her motion for new trial. Lori's motion for new trial states (1) the evidence was factually insufficient to support the judgment and (2) the trial court erred in denying her motion for continuance. We review a trial court's denial of a motion for new trial for abuse of discretion. Champion Int'l Corp. v. Twelfth Court of Appeals, 762 S.W.2d 898, 899 (Tex. 1988) (orig. proceeding).

Because in response to Lori's first issue we have found the evidence sufficient to support the judgment, we next address her assertion that the trial court erred in denying her motion for continuance. Her amended motion for continuance stated she was unable to properly prepare for trial because she deposed Milburn only a day before trial and Milburn had not produced discovery documents pursuant to the court's order. A motion for continuance shall not be granted except for sufficient cause supported by an affidavit, consent of the parties, or by operation of law. Tex. R. Civ. P. 251. Generally, when the movant fails to provide an affidavit in support of the motion, the appellate court presumes the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion for continuance. Villegas v. Carter, 711 S.W.2d 624, 626 (Tex. 1986). Neither Lori's motion for continuance nor her amended motion for continuance included a supporting affidavit as required by Rule 251. We presume the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying a continuance, and therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying her motion for new trial on the basis asserted in her motion for continuance. See id. Lori's second issue is overruled.

Lori maintains in her third issue that the trial court should have considered the parties' relative earning capacity and financial condition and awarded her attorney's fees at trial and on appeal. As part of the divorce decree, the trial court ordered Lori and Milburn each to be responsible for his or her own attorney's fees, expenses, and costs "[t]o effect an equitable division of the estate of the parties and as a part of the division[.]" In a suit for dissolution of a marriage, the trial court may award reasonable costs to a party. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 6.708 (Vernon 2006). A trial court in a divorce case may award attorney's fees to either party as part of the property division based on all the surrounding circumstances. Matthews v. Matthews, 725 S.W.2d 275, 280-81 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1986, writ ref'd n.r.e.); see also McClure v. McClure, 870 S.W.2d 358, 362 (Tex. App.--Fort Worth 1994, no writ). We review a trial court's decision on the award of attorney's fees for an abuse of discretion. Bocquet v. Herring, 972 S.W.2d 19, 21 (Tex. 1998). Disparity of income is only one factor for the trial court to consider in effectuating a just and right division. See Murff, 615 S.W.2d at 699. Absent findings of fact and on this record, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in ordering the parties to pay their own attorney's fees as part of the property division. Lori's third issue is overruled. The trial court's judgment is affirmed.

AFFIRMED.

__________________________________

CHARLES KREGER

Justice

Submitted on January 25, 2007

Opinion Delivered June 21, 2007

Before Gaultney, Kreger and Horton, JJ.

1. While Lori filed a request for Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, she failed to properly comply with Rule 297 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure because she did not file a "Notice of Past Due Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law" with the Court. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 297; Licata v. Licata, 11 S.W.3d 269, 272 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, pet. denied).

2. Although the record includes a letter-ruling from the trial court to the parties which appears to award Milburn certain financial accounts and the Hartford account as separate property, a pre-judgment letter does not constitute competent evidence of the court's ultimate decision or formal findings of fact. See Cherokee Water Co. v. Gregg County Appraisal Dist., 801 S.W.2d 872, 878 (Tex. 1990); see also Beard v. Beard, 49 S.W.3d 40, 66 (Tex. App.--Waco 2001, pet. denied).