Maribel Hill v. Dwight L. Hill

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided August 21, 2025·No. 15-25-00051-CV·Published

Opinion

ACCEPTED 15-25-00051-cv FIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS 8/21/2025 6:22 PM NO. 15-25-00051-CV CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE CLERK FILED IN 15th COURT OF APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS In The Court of Appeals 15th Judicial District of8/21/2025 Texas 6:22:20 PM CHRISTOPHER A. PRINE Austin, Texas Clerk Originating out of the Court of Appeals 5th Judicial District, Dallas, Texas

IN THE INTEREST OF J.L.H., A CHILD MARIBEL L. HILL, APPELLANT Respondent Below

Vs.

DWIGHT L. HILL, APPELLEE PETITIONER BELOW

Appeal of Judgment in Cause No. DF-22-14398 From the 302 nd Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas Honorable Sandra Jackson, Presiding Judge

APPELLANT MARIBEL L. HILL'S ORIGINAL BRIEF ON APPEAL

Respectfully submitted,

ls/Marisol Lopez Marisol Lopez State Bar No. 24050952 301 W. Avenue D Garland, Texas 75040 972-205-1110 (phone) 1-866-232-2077 (facsimile) Marisol@lawyerforu.com IDENTITY OF THE PARTIES

APPELLANT/RESPONDENT: Maribel L. Hill

TRIALANDAPPELLANT COUNSEL: Marisol Lopez Lopez Law Firm State Bar No. 24050952 301 W. Avenue D Garland, Texas 75040 972-205-1110 (phone) 1-866-232-2077 (facsimile) marisol@lawyerforu.com

APPELLEE/PETITIONER: Dwight L. Hill

TRIAL AND APPELLATE COUNSEL: ORSINGER, NELSON, DOWNING & ANDERSON, LLP Richard R. Osinger State Bar NO. 15322500 425 Soledad, Suite 550 San Antonio, Texas 78205 210-225-5567 richard@ondafamilylaw.com

EPSTEIN FAMIL LAW, PC 5949 Sherry Lane, Ste 1070 Dallas, Texas 75225 Robert D. Epstein State Bar NO. 24065206 robert@epsteinpc.com Jordan C. Watson State Bar NO. 24110895 j ordan@epsteinpc.com 214-692-8200 TABLE OF CONTENTS

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL ............................................... .i

TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................... ii

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES ............................................................... .iv

STATEMENT OF THE RECORD ......................................................... vi

STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT .................................... vi

STATEMENT OF THE CASE ............................................................ vii

ISSUES PRESENTED ..................................................................... viii

APPEND IX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix

STATEMENT OF FACTS ................................................................... 1

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT ....................................................... 2

ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES ....................................................... 2

I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND ABUSED HER DISCRETION IN DIVESTING RESPONDENT'S COMPLETE INTEREST IN DHIA THEREBY CREATING AN UNEQUAL DIVISION OF THE MARITAL ESTATE . . . . . . . ................................................. .5

A. THE MARITAL ESTATE OVERALL ........................... 5

B. DWIGHT HILL INSURANCE AGENCY, INC ............... 10

1. EVIDENCE IGNORED BY THE COURT ................ 24

C. UNEQUAL DIVISION OF MARITAL ESTATE CAN EASILY BE REMEDIED ...................................... ... .29

ii II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED, MISAPPLIED THE LAW AND ABUSED HER DISCRETION IN REDUCING THE VALUE OF RESPONDENT'S EXTENDED TERMINTION PAYMENTS (RETIREMENT BENEFITS) WHEN A CLEAR VALUE EXISTED AT THE TIME OF DIVORCE .......................... 31

III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND ABUSED HER DISCRETION IN DENYING SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE .................................. 36

IV. FOLLOWING A BENCH TRIAL, RESPONDENT TIMELY FILED HER FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND HER NOTICE OF PAST DUE FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW. DESPITE AN OBLIGATION TO DO SO, THE TRIAL COURT NEVER MADE FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW........................................ 42 V. PRAYER .............................................................................. 44

CERTIFICATEOF COMPLIANCE..................................................... .45

CERTIFICATEOF SERVICE............................................................ .46

iii TABLE OF AUTHORITIES

CASES PAGE

A.S. v. Texas Dep 1 of Fam. & Protective Servs., 665 S.W.3d 786, 795 (Tex. App.-Austin 2023, no pet.) ........................................................... .4

Berryv. Berry, 647 S.W.2d 945,947 (Tex.1983)......................... 21,32,33,35

Boydv. Boyd, 131 S.W.3d 611 (Tex. App.-Fort Worth 2004) ........................... .3

Cire v. Cummings, 134 S.W.3d 835, 838-39 (Tex.2004).............................. .3,4

Cherne Indus., Inc. V.Magallanes, 763 S.W.2d 768, 772 (Tex. 1989).......... 43,44

Craigv. Craig, 31 Tex. 203,204 (1868) ................................................. 22

Espe, 2021 WL 2021137, at *2 .......................................................... .3,4

Evaristo Gabriel Vazquez V.Jessica Lynn Bailey, No. 03-22-00290-CV at *3 {Tex.App. Apr 25, 2024, no pet.) ......................................................... 3,4

Hancock v. Hancock, No. 2-06-376-CV {Tex.App. 7/31/2007, No. 2-06-376-CV (Tex. App. Jul 31, 2008) ........................................... 28,29

Landerman v. State Bar of Texas, 247 S.W.3d 426, 430 (Tex. App. - Dallas 2008, pet denied).................................................................................... 44

Murf v. Murf, 615 S.W.2d 696, 698 (Tex. 1981)........................................................................................ 3,31

In re C.A.S., 405 S.W.3d 373,384 (Tex.App. -Dallas 2013, no pet.) .................. .4

Tenery v. Tenery, 932 S.W. 2d 29, 30 {Tex. 1996)....................................... 44

Sharma vs. Routh, 302 S.W. 3d 355, 360 (Tex.App.-Houston, [14th District] 2009, no petition) ......................................................................... 5, 23

WarrenBaker, JR and Dorris J. Baker vs. Commissioner of Internal Revenue,

iv No. 02-3262 *5 US Court of Appeals (2003) ....................................... 11, 28

In the Matter of William C. Wade and Frances Carol Wade, 923 S.W.2d 735 (1996) .................................................................................. 12,32,33

Zeifman v. Michels, 212 S.w.3d 582, 588 (Tex. App.-Austin 2006, pet. Denied)... .4

STATUTES Tex. Fam. Code § 7.001 (Vernon 2006) .................................................... 3

Tex. Fam. Code § 8.051. (Vernon 2006) ......................................... 36,41,42

Tex. Fam. Code § 8.052 (Vernon 2006) ......................................... .36,41,42

Tex. Fam. Code § 8.053 (Vernon 2006) ..........................................

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Related

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