Gregory Vongontard v. Misty Tippitt

Opinion issued March 11, 2004 In The Court of Appeals For The First District of Texas NO. 01-03-00814-CV GREGORY VONGONTARD, Appellant V. MISTY TIPPIT, Appellee On Appeal from the 245th District Court Harris County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 2003-33641 O P I N I O N Appellant, Gregory Vongontard, challenges a protective order entered against him pursuant to the Texas Family Code. We consider whether (1) we have jurisdiction to consider the appeal and (2) there was legally and factually sufficient evidence to support the order. We affirm. Jurisdiction The State, representing appellee, Misty Tippet, contends that we have no jurisdiction to consider this appeal. We disagree. A majority of the appellate courts considering the issue have concluded that a protective order is akin to a permanent injunction, and is, therefore, appealable if it disposes of all parties and issues. See Ulmer v. Ulmer, 2004 WL 253509 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] February 12, 2004, n. p. h.); B. C. v. Rhodes, 116 S.W.3d 878, 882 (Tex. App.—Austin 2003, no pet.), Kelt v. Kelt, 67 S.W.3d 364, 366 (Tex. App.—Waco 2001, no pet.); Cooke v. Cooke, 65 S.W.3d 785, 787-88 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2001, no pet.); Streidel v. Striedel, 15 S.W.3d 163, 164-65 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2000, no pet.); In re Cummings, 13 S.W.3d 472, 475 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2000, no pet.); Winsett v. Edgar, 22 S.W.3d 509, 510 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1999, no pet.); James v. Hubbard, 985 S.W.2d 516, 518 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1998, no pet.). Two courts have held that protective orders issued during the pendency of an ongoing divorce proceeding are interlocutory and not appealable. See In re K.S.L.-C., 109 S.W.3d 577, 579 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2003, no pet.); Bilyeu v. Bilyeu, 86 S.W.3d 278, 282 (Tex. App.—Austin 2002, no pet.). In this case, there is no ongoing proceeding. Therefore, the protective order (which enjoins appellant from, among other things, going within 200 feet of Tippet’s residence or place of business) disposes of all parties and issues in this case and, according to the authorities cited above, is appealable. Background Appellant and Misty Tippet had been dating for two and one half years when they broke up in March 2003. Misty testified that, after coming home from the rodeo, appellant was drunk, had a “wild look on his face,” backed her into a stall in his barn, and began calling her names. When appellant’s sister interceded on Misty’s behalf, appellant began physically scuffling with his sister. Misty testified that she was scared when appellant backed her against the wall, even though she admitted that he never touched her that day. Two days later, Misty went to appellant’s house to return some of his belongings. Appellant said that he did not want them “because it wasn’t over.” He took the keys that Misty had returned, broke one, and threw it. A few months later, in March 2003, appellant approached Misty while she was working at a Chili’s Restaurant, backed her into a corner, and demanded his keys back. When Misty insisted that she did not have the keys, appellant left. Misty testified that appellant’s actions that day scared her. The next month, June 2003, appellant called Misty numerous times on her cell phone demanding to know where she was and who she was with. Misty testified that appellant sounded intoxicated when he called. Appellant again demanded that she give his truck key back. Misty again told him that she had already given it back and for him to stop calling her. When Misty hung up on him, appellant immediately called her again. One night, appellant left a message on Misty’s cell phone that he was going to “kill the guy” she was with. Again, Misty was frightened by appellant’s actions. On another occasion, appellant told Misty that, “if [she] wasn’t careful, it would be fatal, [she] needed to watch who [she] was with.” Misty was very upset by appellant’s statements. She testified that “[h]e’s a mean violent drunk. When he gets drunk, he wants to kill everybody.” Misty’s father testified that, on two occasions, after Misty received appellant’s threatening messages, he saw appellant parked across the street from their house in a white pick-up truck, although he was unable to make out the license, make, and model of the truck. Misty also testified about three incidents in which appellant was physically violent with her while they were still dating. In June 2002, appellant arrived uninvited at Misty’s family’s vacation home in Galveston. He was drunk and angry. When Misty tried to take his car keys away from him and prevent him from leaving drunk, appellant pushed her against the car door. Misty’s friend intervened, and appellant began trying to hit her. When Misty’s father saw appellant, he made him come inside and stay the night. In August 2002, appellant went to see Misty while she was working at a Chili’s Restaurant. He was upset because she was not off work yet, so he told her “to get off work then or there would be consequences.” Appellant had been drinking and was very angry. When Misty told him to go home—that she would be home in a little while—appellant pushed her against the wall. Misty testified that she was scared because this was “the first time he had ever done anything in public . . . .” The last event of physical violence occurred in October 2002, when appellant arrived at Misty’s house drunk. Misty told appellant to give her the truck keys because she was not going to allow him to drive drunk. Appellant became angry and pushed Misty down on the ground. Misty’s sister ran inside to get their father. Misty’s father said that appellant was drunk and that he was going to call appellant’s parents. Appellant’s parents did not come pick him up, so appellant stayed the night at Misty’s house. Sufficiency of the Evidence Having determined that an appeal will lie from the protective order, we turn now to appellant’s complaints regarding the sufficiency of the evidence. At the conclusion of the hearing on the protective order, the trial court made the following findings, which are incorporated in the protective order: The Court finds that the Applicant and Respondent WERE PREVIOUSLY INVOLVED IN A DATING RELATIONSHIP[.] The Court finds that family violence has occurred and that family violence is likely to occur again in the future. The Court finds that Respondent, GREGORY VONGONTARD, has committed family violence. The Court finds that the following protective orders are for the safety and welfare and in the best interest of Applicant and are necessary for the prevention of family violence. In issues one and two, appellant contends that there is legally and factually insufficient evidence to show that (1) appellant committed acts of dating violence against Misty, and (2) that appellant would likely commit dating violence against Misty in the future. When the trial court acts as a fact finder, we review its findings under the legal and factual sufficiency standards. In re Doe, 19 S.W.3d 249, 253 (Tex. 2000). When a party attacks the legal sufficiency of an adverse finding of an issue on which he did not have the burden of proof at trial, he must show on appeal that there is no evidence to support the adverse finding. Croucher v. Croucher, 660 S.W.2d 55, 58 (Tex. 1983). We consider only the evidence and inferences that tend to support the finding and disregard all evidence and inferences to the contrary. Southwest Key Program, Inc. v. Gil-Perez, 81 S.W.3d 269, 274 (Tex. 2002). If more than a scintilla of evidence exists to support the finding, the no evidence challenge fails. Formosa Plastics Corp, U.S.A. v. Presidio Engineers and Contractors, Inc., 960 S.W.2d 41, 48 (Tex. 1998). More than a scintilla of evidence exists if the evidence furnishes some reasonable basis for differing conclusions by reasonable minds about a vital fact’s existence. Lee Lewis Const., Inc. v. Harrison, 70 S.W.3d 778, 782-83 (Tex. 2001). When a party attacks the factual sufficiency of an adverse finding on an issue on which he did not have the burden of proof at trial, he must show on appeal that there is insufficient evidence to support the adverse finding. See Raw Hide Oil & Gas, Inc. v. Maxus Exploration Co., 766 S.W.2d 264, 275-76 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1988, writ denied). To conduct this review, we examine the entire record and consider and weigh all the evidence, both in support of, and contrary to, the challenged finding. See Ortiz v. Jones, 917 S.W.2d 770, 772 (Tex. 1996); Plas-Tex, Inc. v. U.S. Steel Corp., 772 S.W.2d 442, 445 (Tex. 1989). We must uphold the finding unless the evidence that supports it is so weak as to be clearly wrong or manifestly unjust. See In re King’s Estate, 244 S.W.2d 660, 661 (Tex. 1951); Raw Hide, 766 S.W.2d at 275-76; Otis Elevator Co. v. Joseph, 749 S.W.2d 920, 923 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1988, no writ). The trier of fact is the sole judge of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony. GTE Mobilnet v. Pascouet, 61 S.W.3d 599, 615-16 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, pet. denied). We will not substitute our judgment for that of the trial court merely because we might reach a different conclusion. Maritime Overseas Corp. v. Ellis, 971 S.W.2d 402, 407 (Tex. 1998). The Family Code defines dating violence as follows: “Dating violence” means an act by an individual that is against another individual with whom that person has or has had a dating relationship that is intended to result in physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault or that is a threat that reasonably places the individual in fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault, but does not include defensive measures to protect oneself. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 71.0021(a) (Vernon 2002). A. Past Incidents of Dating Violence In issue one, appellant contends that the evidence is insufficient to show that he committed dating violence against Misty in the past. Although appellant does not separate his legal and factual sufficiency arguments, we will do so for purposes of clarity. 1. Legal Sufficiency The evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the trial court’s finding, shows that on three occasions while they were dating, appellant pushed Misty. On all three occasions, he appeared drunk and angry. All three events show actions that were intended to place Misty in fear of imminent physical harm. Accordingly, we hold that there is more than a scintilla of evidence to show that appellant had committed acts of dating violence in the past. Thus, the trial court’s finding on this issue is supported by legally sufficient evidence. 2. Factual Sufficiency In his brief, appellant points out that, on two of the three occasions that appellant pushed Misty, he was actually invited to spend the night at Misty’s house. Therefore, appellant argues that Misty could not have been threatened by his behavior. The trial court, as fact finder, was free to disagree with appellant’s characterization of the evidence and to conclude that appellant was invited to spend the night to prevent him from driving drunk and endangering his own life, as well as the life of others on the highway. The trial court’s finding that appellant had committed dating violence is not so weak as to be clearly wrong or manifestly unjust. Thus, the trial court’s finding on this issue is supported by factually sufficient evidence. We overrule issue one. B. Likelihood of Future Incidents of Dating Violence In issue two, appellant contends that there is legally and factually insufficient evidence to show that he was likely to commit acts of dating violence in the future. We disagree. 1. Legal Sufficiency The evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the trial court’s finding, shows that, after breaking up with Misty, appellant twice approached her while drunk and backed her into a corner. On both occasions Misty was frightened. Appellant also continued to call Misty and threaten her, telling her on one occasion that a mistake on her part could prove “fatal.” Appellant also threatened to kill Misty’s new boyfriend. On two occasions after the break-up, Misty’s father saw appellant sitting outside their house in a pick-up truck. In light of appellant’s violent past with Misty, the trial court could reasonably conclude that it was likely that appellant, if not enjoined, would commit further acts of dating violence against Misty in the future. Thus, the trial court’s finding on this issue is supported by legally sufficient evidence. 2. Factual Sufficiency Appellant, however, points out that, when asked whether she believed appellant was going to leave her alone, Misty replied, “I really don’t know.” However, in her next statement, Misty testified that she believed that the violence was likely to continue unless the judge granted a protective order. Appellant also argues that Misty’s father’s testimony about seeing appellant parked across the street from their house was not credible because Mr. Tippet testified that he had poor vision and was not able to give the make, model, or license number of the truck that he had seen. However, in his next statement, Mr. Tippet testified that his vision was “good [enough] to recognize someone that’s been to my house on several occasions.” The trial court is the sole judge of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony. GTE Mobilnet v. Pascouet, 61 S.W.3d at 615-16. The evidence supporting the trial court’s finding that appellant would likely commit acts of dating violence against Misty in the future is not so weak as to be clearly wrong or manifestly unjust. Thus, the trial court’s finding on this issue is supported by factually sufficient evidence. We overrule point of error two. We affirm the protective order of the trial court. Sherry Radack Chief Justice Panel consists of Chief Justice Radack and Justices Jennings and Higley.