Villalpando v. De La Garza

793 S.W.2d 274, 1990 Tex. App. LEXIS 1332, 1990 WL 111992
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMay 24, 1990
Docket13-89-058-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 793 S.W.2d 274 (Villalpando v. De La Garza) 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
Villalpando v. De La Garza, 793 S.W.2d 274, 1990 Tex. App. LEXIS 1332, 1990 WL 111992 (Tex. Ct. App. 1990).

Opinion

OPINION

DORSEY, Justice.

Appellant, Andrew Villalpando, contests a final decree declaring him the parent of Eloisa Lizbeth De La Garza and Eliza Kellie De La Garza, appellee’s minor children, mandating child support and assessing other fees. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Appellant and appellee began residing together while appellant was stationed at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas, as a member of the United States Air Force. They were subsequently transferred to Utah. While residing in Utah appel-lee conceived twin children. Thereafter, appellee returned to Texas where she gave birth to the children. Appellant has not resided with the children or appellee in Texas since appellee returned to Texas. The parties never represented themselves as husband and wife in Texas.

By points of error one and two, appellant alleges that the trial court erred in failing to grant his special appearance and ruling that he made a general appearance because he did not sign and file any document which would constitute a general appearance. Appellant also asserts that the trial court’s proceeding at the hearing violated his due process rights.

The facts show that appellant was served in Utah under the family law long arm statute. Thereafter, appellant filed an unsworn “Special Appearance and Motion to Quash Service of Process” answer.

Tex.R.Civ. 120a(l) states, in part:

special appearance shall be made by sworn motion filed prior to motion to transfer venue or any other plea, pleading or motion.... Every appearance, prior to judgment, not in compliance with this rule is a general appearance.

*276 The rule mandates strict compliance with procedure. Portland Sav. & Loan Ass’n v. Bernstein, 716 S.W.2d 532 (Tex.App.—Corpus Christi 1985, writ ref'd n.r.e.), cert. denied, 475 U.S. 1016, 106 S.Ct. 1200, 89 L.Ed.2d 313 (1986). An unsworn special appearance, being defective, constitutes a general appearance. Stegall & Stegall v. Cohn, 592 S.W.2d 427, 429 (Tex.Civ.App.—Fort Worth 1979, no writ); See Stewart v. Walton Enterprises, Inc., 496 S.W.2d 956, 959 (Tex.Civ.App.—Austin 1973, writ ref'd n.r.e.). The record does not indicate that appellant cured his defective special appearance; therefore, the trial court did not err in ruling that he made a general appearance. Appellant's points of error one and two are overruled.

By points three, seven and eight, appellant alleges that there was no evidence or insufficient evidence to support the conclusions or finding that the State of Texas had jurisdiction over him or that he waived any jurisdictional defect by a general appearance. In a special appearance proceeding, the burden is on the party challenging jurisdiction to present evidence negating jurisdiction. Portland, 716 S.W.2d at 536. Appellant failed to meet his burden. A non-resident defendant, by filing an answer to plaintiffs petition, appears generally and gives the court jurisdiction over his person. Abramowitz v. Miller, 649 S.W.2d 339, 342 (Tex.App.—Tyler 1983, no writ); Carter v. G & L Tool Co., 428 S.W.2d 677, 681 (Tex.Civ.App.—San Antonio 1968, no writ). The record indicates that appellant answered plaintiffs petition with a defective special appearance. After his special appearance had been overruled, he appeared through counsel at trial. He therefore consented to the jurisdiction of the trial court. Appellant’s points of error three, seven and eight are overruled.

Appellant, by point of error six, asserts that there was no evidence or insufficient evidence to support the finding that he is a permanent resident of the State of Texas. Appellant challenges the court’s jurisdiction over his person. By his general appearance, appellant consented to the court’s jurisdiction. Consequently, whether he is a permanent resident of Texas does not affect the court’s in personam jurisdiction. Appellant’s point of error six is overruled.

By points of error four, five and eleven, appellant alleges that there is no evidence or insufficient evidence to support the finding of fact or conclusion of law, that he is the father of the children. In determining the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence the court considers all the evidence, and the reasonable inferences therefrom which, viewed in its most favorable light, supports the trial court’s findings. See Pool v. Ford Motor Co., 715 S.W.2d 629, 634-35 (Tex.1986); Glover v. Texas Gen. Indem. Co., 619 S.W.2d 400, 401 (Tex.1981); In Re Kings’ Estate, 150 Tex. 662, 244 S.W.2d 660, 661 (1951); Allied Finance Co. v. Garza, 626 S.W.2d 120, 125 (Tex.App.—Corpus Christi 1981, writ ref'd n.r.e.).

Appellee testified that she was the mother of the children and that appellant was the only possible father. She further testified that she and appellant had continuously lived together during the time in question and that he was the only man with whom she had sexual intercourse during that period. Appellee identified appellant’s signature and handwriting on two letters appellant sent her admitting that he was the father. The record also indicates that several attempts were made to arrange for blood tests, but appellant would not come to Texas or send money so that appellee and the children could go to Utah to have the blood test made together as laboratories required.

Tex.Family Code § 13.06(d) (Vernon Supp.1990) states:

A party who refuses to submit to paternity testing has the burden of proving that the alleged father is not the father of the child.

Appellant has failed to establish that he is not the father. The evidence is factually and legally sufficient to support the trial court’s finding. Appellant’s points of error four, five and eleven are overruled.

By point of error fifteen, appellant alleges that there is no evidence to support *277 the trial court’s order requiring him to pay appellee $100.00 for prenatal and postnatal health care expenses. We will apply the “no evidence” standard of Glover, 619 S.W.2d at 401. Appellant contends that although appellee asked him to share in the prenatal care and expense of the delivery of the children she did not testify regarding the amount. The record establishes that when the trial court was making its oral findings, appellee’s attorney told the court what appellee had spent on prenatal and postnatal care without objection.

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Bluebook (online)
793 S.W.2d 274, 1990 Tex. App. LEXIS 1332, 1990 WL 111992, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/villalpando-v-de-la-garza-texapp-1990.