Victor Jerry Woodard v. Office of the Attorney General

Opinion issued March 26, 2009 In The Court of Appeals For The First District of Texas ____________ NO. 01-07-00954-CV ____________ VICTOR WOODARD, Appellant V. THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS AND TRRISTAAN CHOLE HENRY, Appellees On Appeal from the 308th District Court Harris County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 2006-08565 MEMORANDUM OPINION Appellant, Victor Woodard, appeals from the trial court's judgment in favor of appellees, Trristaan Henry and the Texas Attorney General. In three issues, Woodard challenges the trial court's jurisdiction, refusal to grant a de novo hearing, and the factual sufficiency of the evidence to support several rulings concerning child support and possession of his child. We conclude that the trial court had jurisdiction over this case, and that the trial court erred by denying Woodard's request for a de novo hearing. We reverse and remand, without addressing the sufficiency of the evidence. Background In 2006, the Texas Attorney General petitioned to establish the parent-child relationship between Woodard and K.J.W., a young boy. According to the clerk's docket sheet, on May 1, 2007, "NCP [Woodard] appeared, CP [Henry] made Default. Hearing held, Default J granted & Orders Submitted." However, the parties disputed whether a default judgment occurred. The clerk's record does not contain a signed default judgment. At a hearing before the associate judge on August 14, 2007, the associate judge established Woodard's paternity, established the parent-child relationship, appointed Henry managing conservator, appointed Woodard possessory conservator, set visitation, ordered current child support, and ordered cash medical support. The associate judge signed the order with these determinations on August 17, 2007. On August 15, 2007, the day after the hearing, Woodard filed a notice of appeal from the associate judge's ruling requesting that the district court review the associate judge's rulings. Woodard's notice of appeal provided, in part, In the Associate Judge's proposed Order Establishing the Parent-Child Relationship, Respondent was ordered to pay current child support in the amount of $342.00, in excess of guidelines. Further, the current child support order disregards child support he currently pays for two other children who are not before the Court. The Court ordered Respondent to pay [Trristaan] Henry cash medical support of $224.00 without evidence of insurance costs from Ms. Henry and without allowing Respondent to directly provide health insurance for the child. The Court improperly ordered medical support arrears of $165.79. The Court did not appointed [sic] Respondent as Possessory Conservator instead of Joint Managing Conservator of the Child. The Court did not order a geographic restriction to the primary residence of the child. The Court ordered limited possession and access to the child by Respondent which is not pursuant to the Standard Possession Order of the Family Code and not in the best interest of the child. The Court ordered the child support provisions and the cash medical support provisions an obligation of the estate of Victor Woodard which contradicts the code. Victor Woodard objects to each finding and/or conclusions of the Associate Judge indicated above. (Emphasis added). Woodard requested the court set the matter on the docket for a hearing. Henry responded with a "motion to deny appeal" acknowledging that Woodard "filed what appears to be a timely notice of appeal to the referring court." However, Henry asserted Woodard's notice of appeal failed to comply with the Family Code because it failed to specify the findings and conclusions of the associate judge to which the party objects. On September 25, 2007, the district court signed an order denying the appeal to the district court. Woodard then appealed to the court of appeals. Jurisdiction In his second issue, Woodard contends that the trial court lost jurisdiction of the case 30 days after May 1, 2007, the date on which the docket sheet indicates that a default judgment was granted, making the subsequent orders void. A trial court "has plenary power to grant a new trial or to vacate, modify, correct, or reform the judgment within thirty days after the judgment is signed." Tex. R. Civ. P. 329b(d); see L.M. Healthcare, Inc. v. Childs, 929 S.W.2d 442, 443 (Tex. 1996) (per curiam) ("A party must file a motion for new trial no later than the thirtieth day after the judgment was signed."); Coinmach, Inc. v. Aspenwood Apt. Corp., 98 S.W.3d 377, 380 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2003, no pet.). Here, although the docket entry mentions a default judgment, the record does not contain a signed default judgment. See Childs, 929 S.W.2d at 443. Because there was never a signed default judgment, the court had continuing jurisdiction. See id. Thus, the subsequent orders are not void. See id. Accordingly, we overrule Woodard's second issue. De Novo Hearing In his first issue, Woodard asserts, and the Office of the Attorney General agrees, that the trial court erred when it refused Woodard's request for a de novo hearing. "The Family Code authorizes trial courts to refer certain family law matters to associate judges." Attorney Gen. of Tex. v. Orr, 989 S.W.2d 464, 467 (Tex. App.--Austin 1999, no pet.) (citing Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 201.001-.017 (Vernon 2008)). After a matter is referred, the associate judge is authorized to conduct a hearing at which evidence is presented, to make findings of fact based on the evidence, to formulate conclusions of law, and to recommend an order to be rendered in a case. Id. Any party may appeal the associate judge's report to the referring court by timely filing a notice of appeal containing the findings and conclusions to which the party objects. Id.; In re E.M., 54 S.W.3d 849, 852 (Tex. App.--Corpus Christi 2001, no pet.). A party who files a notice of appeal to the referring court in compliance with the Family Code is entitled to a de novo hearing before the referring court. Orr, 989 S.W.2d at 467. "Judicial review by trial de novo is not a traditional appeal, but a new and independent action characterized by all the attributes of an original civil action." Id. (citing Key W. Life Ins. Co. v. State Bd. of Ins., 163 Tex. 11, 350 S.W.2d 839, 846 (Tex. 1961)). Section 201.015 of the Texas Family Code covers de novo hearings before a referring court. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 201.015 (Vernon 2008). For suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed before September 1, 2007, the statute provided, (a) A party may appeal an associate judge's report by filing notice of appeal not later than the third day after the date the party receives notice of the substance of the associate judge's report as provided by Section 201.011. (b) An appeal to the referring court must be in writing specifying the findings and conclusions of the associate judge to which the party objects. The appeal is limited to the specified findings and conclusions. Act of April 6, 1995, 74th Leg., R.S., ch. 20, § 1, sec. 201.015(a),(b), 1995 Tex. Gen. Laws 241 (amended 2007) (current version at Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 201.015(a),(b) (Vernon 2008)). Here, the version of section 201.015 for suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed before September 1, 2007 applies, because this suit affecting the parent-child relationship was filed February 8, 2006. See Act of May 23, 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., ch. 1235, § 14, 2007 Tex. Gen. Laws 4154. Woodard filed his notice of appeal within the time constraints of section 201.015(a). Henry contends that Woodard's notice of appeal to the trial court was late "because appellant listed his objections to the orders of the Associate Judge as opposed to the findings and conclusions." Although Woodard uses the word "objects" in his notice of appeal when addressing the associate judge's findings and conclusions, he identifies the findings and conclusions clearly enough to entitle him to a hearing de novo on those issues. Chacon v. Chacon, 222 S.W.3d 909, 913 (Tex. App.--El Paso 2007, no pet.) (1) (Section 201.015(b) "is intended to limit the appealing party's ability to raise issues he has not specifically appealed in the de novo hearing," and "[i]s not a limit on the referring court's jurisdiction."). Because Woodard filed a notice of appeal in compliance with the Texas Family Code, he is entitled to a de novo hearing. Orr, 989 S.W.2d at 467. Therefore, we sustain Woodard's first issue and consequently do not reach Woodard's third issue concerning sufficiency of evidence. Conclusion We sustain Woodard's first issue, reverse the denial of his appeal, and remand the case to the referring trial court to hold a hearing de novo. Elsa Alcala Justice Panel consists of Chief Justice Radack and Justices Alcala and Hanks. 1. As in the instant matter, the pre-September 1, 2007 version of section 201.015(b) was at issue in Chacon. Chacon v. Chacon, 222 S.W.3d 909, 912 (Tex. App.--El Paso 2007, no pet.).