R_ S v. B_ J_ J

883 S.W.2d 711
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedAugust 17, 1994
DocketNo. 05-93-00848-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 883 S.W.2d 711 (R_ S v. B_ J_ J) 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
R_ S v. B_ J_ J, 883 S.W.2d 711 (Tex. Ct. App. 1994).

Opinion

OPINION

LAGARDE, Justice.

R_ and J_ S_ '(“Mr. S_” and “Mrs. S_” or collectively “the parents”) appeal an order naming appellees B and C J— (“Mr. J_” and “Mrs. J_” or collectively “the nonparents”) managing conservators of two of the parents’ three children.1 In two points of error, the parents (i) challenge the sufficiency of the evidence and (ii) argue that separating their children is against public policy. We affirm.

The parents have three children: R R— S_ (“B_”), L_M_S_ (“L_”), and J_ D_S_ (“P_”).2 L_and P_ (collectively [714]*714“the children”) are the subject of this litigation. The testimony at trial was confusing and, at times, hotly disputed. Briefly, however, the basic undisputed facts are as follows.

In 1987, Mrs. J_was a good friend of the parents.3 In August 1987, Mrs. S_volun-tarily relinquished P_, then only fifteen and one-half months old, into the care of Mrs. J_This arrangement was originally intended to be temporary. Except for a couple of overnight outings "with the parents before 1989, however, P_lived continuously with Mrs. J_until September 1990. In January 1989, Mrs. S_voluntarily placed L_, then six years old, into the care of Mrs. J_ From this date until September 1990, the parents had no contact whatsoever with either child. The parents never provided Mrs. J_ with any child support for the costs incurred in raising their children.

In September 1990, the nonparents filed this action seeking managing conservatorship of the children. Following a hearing, the nonparents were named temporary managing conservators and the parents were named temporary possessory conservators with standard visitation rights. Despite living more than one hundred miles away, the parents frequently exercised their visitation rights after September 1990.

The parents counterclaimed, seeking managing conservatorship and alleging intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress through the nonparents’ acts of “secluding” and “abducting” the children. The non-parents amended their pleadings to request termination of parental rights and adoption or, in the alternative, managing conservator-ship. Following a trial to the court, the judge declined to terminate the parents’ parental rights; however, the court’s judgment named the nonparents as managing conservators and the parents as possessory conservators. The court also denied recovery on the parents’ counterclaims.

SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE

In their first point of error, the parents assert that the trial court erred in awarding custody of the children to the non-parents “because the evidence was not sufficient for this ruling.” This point of error is ambiguous because it can be interpreted as challenging either the legal or factual insufficiency of the evidence. Garza v. Alviar, 395 S.W.2d 821, 823 (Tex.1965). The general rule is that unless the context shows that the words were used in a different sense, references to the insufficiency of the evidence are usually construed to mean factual insufficiency. Id.

The parents’ own statement best summarizes their argument on appeal: “Ap-pellees have not met their burden of proof and [sic] introducing into evidence specific acts of the natural parents which would disqualify them as being managing conservators over the children.” The thrust of the parents’ argument is that no evidence was presented to overcome the legislative presumption that children belong in the custody of their natural parents. See Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 14.01(b) (Vernon Supp.1994). Further, the parents’ brief did not suggest a standard of review to be applied.4 The parents conclude their brief by “pray[ing] that this Court reverse the decision of the [t]rial [e]ourt and render a judgment in favor of [a]ppellants.” Legal insufficiency points call for the reversal and rendering of a judgment in favor of appellant, while factual insufficiency points call for the reversal and remanding for a new trial. Alstan Corp. v. Board of Admin., 713 S.W.2d 130, 132 (Tex.App.—Austin 1986, writ ref'd n.r.e.) (citing Robert W. Calvert, “No Evidence” and “Insufficient Evidence” Points of Error, 38 Tex.L.Rev. 361, 362 & 365 (1960)).

We conclude from the parents’ arguments and prayer that this point of error challenges [715]*715only the legal sufficiency of the evidence. See Alston Corp., 713 S.W.2d at 132 (prayer for rendition of judgment a factor in determining point of error was “no evidence” point). Assuming, arguendo, that our construction of the parents’ point of error is incorrect, the parents’ point of error is a factual insufficiency point. See Garza, 395 S.W.2d at 823 (general rule). In the interest of judicial economy and with the welfare of the real parties-in-interest in this case, the children, in mind, we will also consider the factual sufficiency of the evidence.

Standards of Review

A Legal Sufficiency

Legal insufficiency or no-evidence points are questions of law. Tomlinson v. Jones, 677 S.W.2d 490, 492 (Tex.1984). In reviewing a no-evidence point, we consider only the evidence and reasonable inferences drawn therefrom which, when viewed in their most favorable light, support the trial court’s findings. Lewelling v. Lewelling, 796 S.W.2d 164, 166 (Tex.1990). We disregard all evidence and inferences to the contrary. Id. The findings must be upheld if there is more than a scintilla of evidence to support them. Stedman v. Georgetown Sav. & Loan Ass’n, 595 S.W.2d 486, 488 (Tex.1979). Evidence is no more than a scintilla when it is “so weak as to do no more than create a mere surmise or suspicion of [the fact’s] existence.” Seideneck v. Cal Bayreuther Assocs., 451 S.W.2d 752, 755 (Tex.1970) (quoting Robert W. Calvert, “No Evidence” and “Insufficient Evidence” Points of Error, 38 Tex.L.Rev. at 363). If the evidence supplies some reasonable basis for differing conclusions by reasonable minds about the existence of a vital fact, however, then there is some evidence, or, in other words, more than a scintilla of evidence. Kindred v. Con/Chem, Inc., 650 S.W.2d 61, 63 (Tex.1983).

B. Factual Sufficiency

In reviewing a factual sufficiency point, we consider all the evidence, including any evidence contrary to the judgment. PlasTex, Inc. v. U.S. Steel Corp., 772 S.W.2d 442, 445 (Tex.1989). This Court must consider, weigh, and compare all the evidence in the record pertinent to the issue under consideration. Sosa v. City of Balch Springs, 772 S.W.2d 71, 72 (Tex.1989) (per curiam); Pool v. Ford Motor Co., 715 S.W.2d 629, 635 (Tex.1986).

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