Opinion
No. 13-04-108-CV
Memorandum Opinion Delivered and Filed May 4, 2006.
On Appeal from the 103rd District Court of Cameron County, Texas.
Before Chief Justice VALDEZ and Justices, RODRIGUEZ and CASTILLO.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Appellant, Alfredo Suarez, appeals from a default judgment by the trial court entering a decree of divorce between himself and appellee, Melissa Suarez. Alfredo appeals in two issues: (1) the trial court erred in denying his motion for new trial, and (2) there was legally and factually insufficient evidence to support the trial court's division of the community estate, which was disproportionate and favored Melissa. Based on the insufficiency of the evidence supporting the trial court's division of the marital property, we reverse and remand.
Background
Alfredo originally filed a petition for divorce from Melissa in April of 2003. Melissa then filed a counter-petition. Each party alleged that the other was at fault for the break-up of the marriage. Alfredo and his counsel did not appear at the trial, which was held before a judge in November 2003. The judge entered a default judgment in Alfredo's absence that divided the community estate and provided for the conservatorship and support of the two children of the marriage.
Following entry of the default judgment, Alfredo filed a motion for new trial, which was denied, and a notice of appeal. We address his two issues on appeal.
Motion for New Trial
By his first issue, Alfredo argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion for new trial because he had fulfilled the required elements of motions for new trial following post-answer default judgments.
The rules that trial courts must follow in determining whether to grant a motion for new trial after a default judgment are articulated as a three-prong test in Craddock v. Sunshine Bus Lines, Inc., 133 S.W.2d 124, 126 (Tex. 1939). See Lopez v. Lopez, 757 S.W.2d 721, 722 (Tex. 1988). Under Craddock, when the defaulting party files a motion for new trial to challenge a default judgment, he must allege and support with sworn proof the following elements: (1) his failure to appear was not intentional, or the result of conscious indifference, but was due to a mistake or accident; (2) he has a meritorious defense; and (3) the motion for new trial will not occasion a delay or otherwise work an injury to the nonmoving party. See Craddock, 133 S.W.2d at 126; see also Angelo v. Champion Restaurant Equip. Co., 713 S.W.2d 96, 97 (Tex. 1986).
Alfredo's allegations in his motion for new trial regarding his failure to appear were neither verified nor supported by an affidavit or any other evidence. Thus, his contentions cannot be considered competent evidence presented in satisfaction of the Craddock elements. See Ivy v. Carrell, 407 S.W.2d 212, 214 (Tex. 1966) (requiring motion for new trial to set aside default judgment to be supported by affidavits or other competent evidence); Wiseman v. Levinthal, 821 S.W.2d 439, 442 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st] 1991, no writ). Furthermore, Alfredo does not explain how his failure to appear was due to a mistake or accident, as is required by the first prong of the Craddock test; instead, he simply notes that a motion for continuance had been filed and that his counsel was not in town on the day of trial. See Craddock, 133 S.W.2d at 126. Without explanation for his failure to appeal, we cannot overturn the trial court's denial of Alfredo's motion for new trial. Accordingly, Alfredo's first issue is overruled.
Legal and Factual Insufficiency
By his second issue on appeal, Alfredo argues that there is no evidence or, in the alternative, insufficient evidence to support the disproportionate division of community assets in favor of his former wife, Melissa.
A trial court is presumed to have properly exercised its discretion in dividing the assets of a marriage. Murff v. Murff, 615 S.W.2d 696, 699 (Tex. 1981); Saldana v. Saldana, 791 S.W.2d 316, 319 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 1990, no writ). In this regard, the trial court has wide discretion in dividing the parties' community estate and that division should not be corrected on appeal absent a clear abuse of discretion. Murff, 615 S.W.2d at 698; Saldana, 791 S.W.2d at 319. Under this type of review, legal and factual insufficiency are not independent grounds of error, but rather relevant factors in assessing whether the trial court abused its discretion. Zorilla v. Wahid, 83 S.W.3d 247, 252 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 2002, no pet.).
The Texas Family Code requires the trial court in a divorce decree to divide 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. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 7.001 (Vernon 1998). Although the trial court is not required to divide the community estate equally, its division must be equitable. See Zieba v. Martin, 928 S.W.2d 782, 790 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th] 1996, no writ). There must be some reasonable basis for an unequal division. See id. The trial court may consider many factors, including the parties' earning capacities, education, business opportunities, physical condition, financial condition, age, size of separate estates, and the nature of the property. See Murff, 615 S.W.2d at 699; Zorilla, 83 S.W.3d at 252. The value of community assets is generally determined at the date of divorce or as close to it as possible. Handley v. Handley, 122 S.W.3d 904, 908 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 2003, no pet.); Grossnickle v. Grossnickle, 935 S.W.2d 830, 837 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 1996, writ denied).
Melissa was obligated to present evidence at trial of the material allegations in her petition, as even in the context of a post-answer default judgment, the appearing party must nonetheless produce evidence proving her case. See Stoner v. Thompson, 578 S.W.2d 679, 682 (Tex. 1979); Agraz v. Carnley, 143 S.W.3d 547, 552 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2004, no pet.).
Melissa filed an unsworn inventory of community and personal assets with the court when she appeared for trial. She also filed a proposed division of assets that, relying on the valuation of items in the inventory, awarded Alfredo 47.30 percent of the community assets and awarded her the remaining 52.70 percent. Alfredo, however, argues that there is no evidence or insufficient evidence that two certificates of deposit (CDs), the value of which was awarded to him, still retained their value as of the date of the divorce. In fact, he argues that these CDs had been depleted by the parties before the onset of the divorce proceedings. Melissa did not testify regarding these CDs at trial. The inventory she submitted noted that the account balances listed for the two CDs were current "as of August 11, 1999" for one, then valued at $6,964.54, and "as of August 21, 1998" for the other, then valued at $15,436.00. The parties' divorce hearing occurred on November 21, 2003, more than four years after either account balance was last known. This is insufficient to serve as evidence of the value of the CDs at the actual time of the divorce proceedings. See Handley, 122 S.W.3d at 908; Grossnickle, 935 S.W.2d at 837. The submitted inventory does not constitute sufficient evidence of the total value of the community estate at the time of division. See Wilson v. Wilson, 132 S.W.3d 533, 538 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st] 2004, no pet.) (holding that "given the dearth of evidence identifying, describing, and valuing the community estate . . . there is insufficient evidence to support the division of assets"); O'Neal v. O'Neal, 69 S.W.3d 347, 349-50 (Tex.App.-Eastland 2002, no pet.) (holding that descriptions of property without adequate evidence of that property's value were insufficient evidence on which to base a property division).
If Alfredo's allegation that the CDs had no value at the time of the divorce decree is accurate, then Alfredo was actually only awarded 38.70 percent of the community estate and Melissa was awarded the remaining 61.30 percent.
Other items included as community assets and awarded to Alfredo in the division of the estate, including Alfredo's retirement benefits from Teachers Retirement System, an IRA in his name from PFS Shareholder Savings, and his New York Life Annuity policy had unknown values at the time of the divorce.
We agree with the conclusion reached by the Houston court of appeals in its Wilson decision, which states the following: "A default judgment stands against defenses that could have been raised and were not, but one granting affirmative relief will not stand without affirmative proof to support it. Here, the evidence is insufficient to support the division of assets in the final decree of divorce." Wilson, 132 S.W.3d at 539. Accordingly, Alfredo's second issue is sustained.
Conclusion
We reverse and remand to the trial court with respect to the division of the community estate of the parties. We affirm the decree of the trial court in all other respects.
CONCURRING AND DISSENTING MEMORANDUM OPINION
In this post-answer default divorce case, appellant Alfredo Suarez asserts that the trial court erred (1) in denying his motion for new trial and, (2) on sufficiency grounds, ordering a disproportionate division of the community estate. Sustaining the second issue, the majority finds the evidence insufficient to support the division of the community estate. I concur with the majority's result in overruling Mr. Suarez's first issue. Because I conclude that the evidence is sufficient to sustain the division of the marital estate and, thus, no abuse of discretion, I respectfully dissent as to the second issue.
Appellant filed the original divorce petition and a motion for continuance on the date before the final hearing. Noting that the final contested hearing had previously been set with notice to the parties and counsel and that the motion was untimely filed, the trial court denied the motion.
I. The Record
At the prove-up hearing, Mrs. Suarez testified as to Mr. Suarez's earned and rental income from his separate property. She attested that, because of his history of changing jobs, Mr. Suarez inconsistently provided financial support. On Mrs. Suarez's proffer, the trial court admitted six exhibits in evidence. Exhibit 1 was her inventory and appraisement. We note that Mr. Smith did not request the trial court to order an inventory and appraisement of separate and community property. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 6.502(a)(1) (Vernon Supp. 2005). She testified as to her inventory and appraisement and as to the nature and value of the separate and community property. The trial court also admitted in evidence Mrs. Suarez's Exhibit 2, her proposed division of the marital estate. Mrs. Suarez requested that the trial court divide the community estate consistent with that document. The proposal calculated the division of the community estate as 52.70% to her and 47.30% to Mr. Suarez. The trial court divided the estate and awarded the property consistent with the request.
Property possessed by either spouse during or on dissolution of marriage is presumed to be community property. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 3.003(a) (Vernon 1998). The degree of proof necessary to establish that property is separate property is clear and convincing evidence. Id. at § 3.003(b).
II. The Standards A. Abuse of Discretion
The trial court has broad discretion in dividing the marital estate, and we presume that the trial court exercised its discretion properly. Murff v. Murff, 615 S.W.2d 696, 698-99 (Tex. 1981); see Garcia v. Garcia, 170 S.W.3d 644, 649 (Tex.App.-El Paso 2005, no pet.); Handley v. Handley, 122 S.W.3d 904, 907 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 2003, no pet.). A trial court has wide discretion in making a just and right division. Murff, 615 S.W.2d at 698-99. A trial court abuses its discretion when it divides property on values that were not in evidence. Id. Further, a trial court's division of property that is manifestly unjust is an abuse of discretion. Id. While the appellant may challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to support the court's valuation of a particular asset or division, he must also contend that the erroneous valuation caused the court to abuse its discretion in the overall division of the community estate. See Garcia, 170 S.W.3d at 648. In reviewing the equitable remedy fashioned by the trial court in achieving a just and right division, we must determine not only whether the trial court's findings are supported by the evidence, but we must also determine whether error, if established, caused the trial court to abuse its discretion. Id. at 649. Once it has been determined that the abuse of discretion standard applies, an appellate court should engage in a two-pronged inquiry: (1) whether the trial court had sufficient information upon which to exercise its discretion; and (2) whether the trial court erred in its application of discretion. See id. The traditional sufficiency review comes into play with regard to the first question; however, our inquiry cannot stop there. Id. We must then determine whether, based on the elicited evidence, the trial court made a reasonable decision. See id. We will not reverse a division of property unless it is manifestly unfair. See Mann v. Mann, 607 S.W.2d 243, 245 (Tex. 1980). Even in a default decree, the trial court has discretion to make an unequal division. Vannerson v. Vannerson, 857 S.W.2d 659 passim (Tex.App.-Houston [1st] 1993, writ denied).
B. Sufficiency of the Evidence
I would hold that Mr. Suarez did not preserve error as to his sufficiency challenges. I am mindful that, in a non-jury case, a complaint regarding the legal or factual insufficiency of the evidence may be made for the first time on appeal in the complaining party's brief. TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(d). However, the preservation rule contemplates that in a civil case, whether jury or non-jury, preservation of error is implicated when a motion for new trial was filed and evidence was necessary to properly present the complaint in the trial court. TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(b), 21.2. Mr. Suarez filed a motion for new trial asserting as grounds the reasons for non-appearance at the final hearing. He did not present to the trial court a complaint as to the insufficiency of the evidence to sustain the disproportionate division of the community estate. Further, he presented no evidence to the trial court as to the specific complaint regarding valuation of the property, as more fully discussed below. Taking evidence of valuation was necessary to properly present his complaint to the trial court. See id. Because he did not adduce facts not in the record, he did not preserve error. TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(b), 21.2. However, because the majority reverses on the sufficiency issue, I tender my separate analysis.
I observe that in jury cases, a motion for new trial is one of five ways to preserve error for no evidence challenges. Cecil v. Smith, 804 S.W.2d 509, 510-11 (Tex. 1991). To preserve error, the motion must be sufficient to call the trial court's attention to the matter at issue. TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a); Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. McKenzie, 997 S.W.2d 278, 280 (Tex. 1999) (per curiam). Additionally, the issue on appeal must correspond to the motion made at trial. See In the Matter of T.R.S., 931 S.W.2d 756, 758 (Tex.App.-Waco 1996, no writ). In other words, a motion which states one legal theory cannot be used to support a different legal theory on appeal. Id.
In a non-jury trial where no findings of fact or conclusions of law are filed, we presume that the trial court made all the findings necessary to support its judgment. Holt Atherton Industries, Inc. v. Heine, 835 S.W.2d 80, 83 (Tex. 1992). When a reporter's record is part of the appellate record, these implied findings may be challenged by legal or factual insufficiency points. Id. at 84. The applicable standard of review is the same as that applied in the review of jury findings or a trial court's findings of fact. Id.
1. Legal Sufficiency
In challenging the legal sufficiency of the evidence to support a finding on which an adverse party bore the burden of proof, the appellant must show the record presents no evidence to support the adverse finding. Croucher v. Croucher, 660 S.W.2d 55, 58 (Tex. 1983). We sustain a legal sufficiency challenge when (1) the record conclusively establishes the complete absence of evidence of a vital fact, (2) the court is barred by rules of law or of evidence from giving weight to the only evidence offered to prove a vital fact, (3) the evidence offered to prove a vital fact is no more than a mere scintilla, or (4) the evidence conclusively establishes the opposite of a vital fact. Marathon Corp. v. Pitzner, 106 S.W.3d 724, 727 (Tex. 2003) (per curiam); Merrell Dow Pharms., Inc. v. Havner, 953 S.W.2d 706, 711 (Tex. 1997); Hines v. Comm'n for Lawyer Discipline, 28 S.W.3d 697, 701 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 2000, no pet.). If there is more than a scintilla of evidence to support the finding, the legal sufficiency challenge fails. Formosa Plastics Corp. USA v. Presidio Eng'rs Contractors, Inc., 960 S.W.2d 41, 48 (Tex. 1998). In performing a legal sufficiency review, we consider only the probative evidence and inferences that support the challenged finding, disregarding all evidence and inferences to the contrary. Lenz v. Lenz, 79 S.W.3d 10, 19 (Tex. 2002); see City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 827 (Tex. 2005) ("The final test for legal sufficiency must always be whether the evidence at trial would enable a reasonable and fair-minded person to reach the verdict under review.").
2. Factual Sufficiency
Unlike legal sufficiency challenges, factual sufficiency issues concede that the record presents conflicting evidence on an issue. Raw Hide Oil Gas, Inc. v. Maxus Exploration Co., 766 S.W.2d 264, 275 (Tex.App.-Amarillo 1988, writ denied). Like legal sufficiency challenges, the standard of review on factual sufficiency issues depends on the burden of proof at trial. Id. at 275. The party attacking a finding on which an adverse party bore the burden of proof must show that there is "insufficient evidence" in the record to support the finding. Gooch v. Am. Sling Co., 902 S.W.2d 181, 184 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 1995, no writ). In reviewing an insufficient-evidence issue, we examine and consider all of the evidence, not just the evidence that supports the verdict, to see whether it supports or undermines the finding. Maritime Overseas Corp. v. Ellis, 971 S.W.2d 402, 406-07 (Tex. 1998). We set aside the finding for factual insufficiency if the "evidence adduced to support the vital fact, even if it is the only evidence adduced on an issue, is factually too weak alone to support it." See Ritchey v. Crawford, 734 S.W.2d 85, 86-87 n. 1 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st] 1987, no writ).
C. The Murff Factors
The Texas Family Code requires the trial court in a divorce decree to divide "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 1998). The trial court may consider various factors in making a just and right division including (1) spouses' capacities and abilities, (2) benefits which the party not at fault would have derived from the continuation of the marriage, (3) business opportunities, (4) relative physical conditions, (5) relative financial conditions and obligations, (6) disparity of ages, (7) size of separate estates, (8) the nature of the property, and (9) disparity of earning capacity. Handley, 122 S.W.3d at 907-08; see Murff, 615 S.W.2d at 698-99; Garcia, 170 S.W.3d at 653. The value of community assets is generally determined at the date of divorce. Handley, 122 S.W.3d at 908.
III. Discussion
In general, Mr. Suarez maintains that there is no evidence of value of the community estate and, thus, there is no evidence to support the community judgment. In particular, Mr. Suarez asserts that there is no or, alternatively, insufficient evidence to prove the value of the certificates of deposit at the time of the divorce because its valuation on Exhibit 1 was not based on the 2003 balance but, rather, a 1998 balance. Exhibit 1 shows one certificate of deposit with a "current balance (as of August 21, 1998)." The proposed distribution of the marital estate in Exhibit 2 reflects the request for award of the certificate of deposit in question to Mr. Suarez. The district court entered a final decree reflecting the division of the marital estate consistent with Exhibit 2, Mrs. Suarez's proposed division.
Mr. Suarez concedes that, although the trial court is not required to divide the community estate equally, its division must be equitable. He also concedes that although courts are vested with wide discretionary powers in suits for divorce, the division of property must be just and right.
Mrs. Suarez's inventory and appraisement contained in her Exhibit 1 itemized the community and separate property and assigned to each a fair market value where applicable. The document was admitted in evidence without objection. Unobjected to evidence has probative value as substantive evidence and is probative. See TEX. R. EVID. 802 ("Inadmissible hearsay admitted without objection shall not be denied probative value merely because it is hearsay."); see Freedom Newspapers v. Cantu, 168 S.W.3d 847, 858 n. 37 (Tex. 2005); In re Estate of Steed, 152 S.W.3d 797, 808 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2004 pet. denied); Transmission Co. v. Hollins, 682 S.W.2d 682 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st] 1984, no writ). Because the evidence in Exhibit 1 was admitted without objection, the evidence cannot be said to have no probative value. See TEX. R. EVID. 802. Consequently, the document was properly before the trial court for purposes of the division of the marital estate, including the challenged certificate of deposit. More importantly, because Mr. Suarez did not avail himself of the opportunity to provide values on any of the property to the trial court, he cannot now complain of the trial court's lack of complete information in dividing that property. See LeBlanc v. LeBlanc, 761 S.W.2d 450, 453 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 1988), aff'd, 778 S.W.2d 865 (Tex. 1989); see also Texaco, Inc. v. Central Power Light Co., 955 S.W.2d 373, 375 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 1997, writ denied) (holding that error could not have been preserved if the appellant did not participate at trial). Thus, I conclude that the evidence adduced through the inventory and appraisement amounts to more than a scintilla of evidence upon which the trial court could base its equitable division of the estate. Thus, the evidence was legally sufficient. See Formosa Plastics, 960 S.W.2d at 48. There was no contrary evidence. I cannot conclude that the evidence is too weak alone to support the division. See Ritchey, 734 S.W.2d at 86-87 n. 1. Thus, the evidence was factually sufficient. Consequently, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in considering Mrs. Suarez's inventory and appraisement in dividing the estate.
I turn to the question of the disproportionate division of the estate. The trial court heard evidence relating to Mr. Suarez's non-support of the family due to job changes and income. Mrs. Suarez also briefly testified as to family violence. The inventory and appraisement provided the size of the parties' separate and community estates. While the trial court awarded Mrs. Suarez the encumbered homestead, among others, it also awarded Mr. Suarez another unencumbered residence. A trial court may also consider fault in dividing the marital estate, but is not required to do so. Young v. Young, 609 S.W.2d 758, 762 (Tex. 1980). The trial court could have reasonably assigned fault or disproportionately divided the estate based on evidence of family non-support or violence or both. Thus, there was sufficient evidence from which the trial court could conclude that a disproportionate division was just and right. Murff, 615 S.W.2d at 698-99; Handley, 122 S.W.3d at 907-08; Garcia, 170 S.W.3d at 653. Under the circumstances, I conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion by awarding Mrs. Suarez a disproportionate share of the community estate because of fault. Further, the percentages are within the court's discretion. Golias v. Golias, 861 S.W.2d 401, 403 (Tex.App.-Beaumont 1993, no writ). It is presumed that the trial court exercised its discretion properly. Murff, 615 S.W.2d at 699. The division is not manifestly unfair. See Mann, 607 S.W.2d at 245. I find no abuse of discretion in the disproportionate division. Finally, Mr. Suarez has not shown harm. Tex.R.App.P. 44.1(a).
In Golias v. Golias, 861 S.W.2d 401, 403 (Tex.App.-Beaumont 1993, no writ), the court of appeals held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in awarding 79 percent of the community estate to the wife. Id. The Golias court cited several other cases upholding similar property awards. See Oliver v. Oliver, 741 S.W.2d 225, 228-229 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 1987, no writ) (80 percent); Rafidi v. Rafidi, 718 S.W.2d 43, 45-46 (Tex.App.-Dallas 1986, no writ) (85 percent-90 percent); Morrison v. Morrison, 713 S.W.2d 377, 380 (Tex.App.-Dallas 1986, writ dism'd) (83 percent); Jones v. Jones, 699 S.W.2d 583, 586 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 1985, no writ) (86 percent); Campbell v. Campbell, 625 S.W.2d 41, 43 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 1981, writ dism'd) (96 percent); Huls v. Huls, 616 S.W.2d 312, 317 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st] 1981, no writ) (85 percent).
IV. Conclusion
I join the majority in overruling the first issue presented. However, finding the evidence sufficient, I conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in the division of the community estate. Consequently, I would overrule the second issue and affirm the judgment of the trial court.