Mickey J. Hughes v. Amie Hughes and in the Interest of D. S. H., Minor Child

CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedAugust 19, 2009
Docket12-07-00313-CV
StatusPublished

This text of Mickey J. Hughes v. Amie Hughes and in the Interest of D. S. H., Minor Child (Mickey J. Hughes v. Amie Hughes and in the Interest of D. S. H., Minor 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
Mickey J. Hughes v. Amie Hughes and in the Interest of D. S. H., Minor Child, (Tex. Ct. App. 2009).

Opinion

NO. 12-07-00313-CV



IN THE COURT OF APPEALS



TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT



TYLER, TEXAS



MICKEY J. HUGHES,

§
APPEAL FROM THE

APPELLANT



V.

§
COUNTY COURT AT LAW OF



AMIE HUGHES AND IN THE

INTEREST OF D.S.H., A MINOR CHILD,

§
CHEROKEE COUNTY, TEXAS

APPELLEES


MEMORANDUM OPINION

Mickey J. Hughes, appearing pro se, appeals the trial court's revised judgment in a divorce action. On appeal, Mickey presents three issues. We reverse and remand in part, modify in part, and as modified, affirm.



Background

Mickey and Amie Hughes were married on July 5, 1997 and are the parents of one child, D.S.H. On October 30, 2006, Mickey filed for divorce, and requested that he be appointed sole managing conservator, that he have the right to establish D.S.H.'s primary residence without regard to geographic location, that Amie be appointed possessory conservator only after a review of her mental status, and that Amie be ordered to make child support payments. He also alleged that D.S.H. had health care coverage through Medicaid. On May 22, 2007, the trial court filed a document entitled "Outline of Ruling of the Court on Final Hearing for Divorce." However, Mickey filed a motion for new trial, and the trial court granted a new trial. Further, the trial judge voluntarily recused himself from further proceedings and requested that another judge be assigned to preside.



A jury trial was held on July 23, 2007 with a different trial judge presiding. Mickey and Amie appeared pro se. The only issues at trial were determining the custody or managing conservatorship of the child, D.S.H., and whether Amie committed fraud on the community estate. At the conclusion of the evidence, the jury found that grounds existed for a divorce between Mickey and Amie, that Amie did not commit fraud on the community estate, that the transfer of monies, if any, made by Amie to third parties was fair, that Mickey and Amie should be named joint managing conservators of D.S.H., and that Mickey should have the exclusive right to designate D.S.H.'s primary residence, but restricted it to the State of Texas. On August 17, 2007, the trial court filed a judgment reflecting the jury's findings and determining the division of the marital estate. The trial court also found that no child support should be paid by either party and that Mickey should have the exclusive right to the Social Security income received by D.S.H. Further, the trial court found that D.S.H. was currently enrolled in Medicaid, and ordered Mickey to apply and pay for health care coverage for D.S.H. if Medicaid should become unavailable. The trial court ordered a visitation schedule between the parties and the child. Finally, the trial court ordered that neither party should remove the child from the State of Texas or apply for a passport for the child without prior written approval by the court.

On August 20, 2007, Mickey filed a motion for modification of the final order, alleging that the visitation schedule was unworkable, that joint managing conservatorship was contrary to the law and not in the best interest of the child, that the travel restriction outside the State of Texas was not requested by either party and violated a parent's constitutional right to travel, and that there was no valid reason for restricting his access to apply for a passport for the child. After a hearing concerning "issues which [] rendered the Original Judgment unworkable," the trial court filed a revised judgment, changing the visitation schedule to that prescribed by statute for conservators residing more than 100 miles apart. The trial court appointed Mickey as the conservator with primary possession of the child, and awarded Amie visitation and access. Further, the trial court changed the language ordering that neither party remove the child from the State of Texas without prior written approval from the court. The new language ordered that neither parent move the residence and domicile of the child from the State of Texas without prior written approval by the court. Mickey appealed pro se. Amie did not file a brief.

Joint Managing Conservators

In his first issue, Mickey argues that the trial court erred in appointing him and Amie joint managing conservators of D.S.H. He contends that credible evidence was presented at trial of a history or pattern of past or present child neglect by Amie, thereby preventing the trial court from appointing her joint managing conservator.

Applicable Law

In determining conservatorship, the best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 153.002 (Vernon 2008). The trial court has wide latitude in determining the best interest of a child, and the decision of the trial court will be reversed only when it appears from the record as a whole that the court has abused its discretion. Marriage of Stein, 153 S.W.3d 485, 488 (Tex. App.-Amarillo 2004, no pet.). It is a rebuttable presumption that the appointment of the parents of a child as joint managing conservators is in the best interest of the child. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 153.131(b) (Vernon 2008). Evidence of child neglect determines whether a trial court may appoint the parties as joint managing conservators. See id. § 153.004 (Vernon 2008). If credible evidence is presented of a history or pattern of past or present child neglect by one parent directed against a child, the trial court may not appoint joint managing conservators. Id. § 153.004(b) (Vernon 2008).

"Neglect" of a child includes leaving a child in a situation where the child would be exposed to a substantial risk of physical or mental harm, without arranging for necessary care for the child, and the demonstration of an intent not to return by the parent. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 261.001(4)(A) (Vernon 2008). It also includes placing a child in or failing to remove a child from a situation that a reasonable person would realize requires judgment or actions beyond the child's level of maturity, physical condition, or mental abilities and that results in bodily injury or a substantial risk of immediate harm to the child. Id. § 261.001(4)(B)(i). Further, "neglect" includes failing to seek, obtain, or follow through with medical care for a child, with the failure resulting in or presenting a substantial risk of death, disfigurement, or bodily injury. Id. § 261.001(4)(B)(ii).

Analysis

At trial, Mickey testified that he operates the National Mediation Center (the "center").

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Bluebook (online)
Mickey J. Hughes v. Amie Hughes and in the Interest of D. S. H., Minor Child, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mickey-j-hughes-v-amie-hughes-and-in-the-interest-of-d-s-h-minor-texapp-2009.