tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35634432108281758332024-02-19T22:07:07.682-06:00Fran Brochstein -- TX Mediator Mediator for over 15 yearshoustonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.comBlogger414125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-54199739834972562592021-06-14T12:43:00.003-05:002021-06-14T12:43:30.728-05:00InstantMediations.com<p> I am an advisor and I write a monthly mediation column for https:/instantmediations.com </p><p>I am also now doing recorded interviews on this website. </p><p><br /></p>houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-33255100248054258452021-06-14T12:41:00.001-05:002021-06-14T12:41:04.185-05:00Zoom mediations all over Texas<p> Zoom (on-line) mediations have become very popular. I am going to continue to conduct mediations via Zoom. I am able to offer a discounted rate ($250 per side for 4 hours) using Zoom. </p><p><br /></p>houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-22599318835482213392021-06-14T12:39:00.003-05:002021-06-14T12:39:55.643-05:00Website Updated <p> I have updated my website.</p><p>www.familylaw4u.com</p><p><br /></p>houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-25485324570411664322020-07-21T13:04:00.001-05:002020-07-21T13:04:31.024-05:00I am now doing Zoom mediations.<br />
<br />
I am able to do them all over the State of Texas.<br />
My primary counties are Harris County, Travis County and Burnet County.<br />
<br />
With the current health crisis and many people facing financial stress, I have decided to lower my mediation rate to $250 per party for 4 hours through December 31, 2020.<br />
<br />
Feel free to call for a free 10 minute consultation at 713-847-6000 to see if mediation is appropriate for you.houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-35283412062205537882019-07-19T14:26:00.003-05:002019-07-19T14:26:41.021-05:00Fran Brochstein is now in Marble Falls, TX full-timeI am now in Marble Falls, Texas (Burnet County) full-time.<br />
<br />
My new mailing address is:<br />
<br />
P O Box 1925<br />
Marble Falls, TX 78654<br />
<br />
I will no longer be posting under Houston Mediation since I no longer live in Houston.<br />
<br />
Find me on Facebook under "Marble Falls Mediation".houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-66256717855570085032018-10-08T12:51:00.000-05:002018-10-08T12:51:05.024-05:00Moving to Marble Falls Texas in Burnet CountyWe are moving to Marble Falls Texas and to the fabulous hill country. It will be a gradual move as we down-size but we should be there and hopefully somewhat unpacked by January 2019.<br />
<br />
On my website, I list some attorneys and mediators that I recommend for Houston- area cases.<br />
<br />
I will be mediating part-time in Marble Falls, Texas once I get settled.houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-12201821129460508072018-08-27T10:22:00.003-05:002018-08-27T10:22:45.624-05:00Attorney-mediators can write up agreement between the parties in a mediation
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In August, 2018, the State Bar of Texas Professional Ethics
Committee issued an opinion regarding attorney-mediators writing a settlement
agreement. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Their conclusion is that if a Texas attorney, acting as a
mediator, does NOT violate the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct
by preparing and providing the parties a draft of a written agreement that
memorializes the terms of the parties; settlement reached during the course of
the mediation or by suggesting additional terms for inclusion in the draft
agreement.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Here is the link<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://legalethicstexas.com/Ethics-Resources/Opinions/Opinion-675">https://legalethicstexas.com/Ethics-Resources/Opinions/Opinion-675</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This opinion also references Opinion 583 that was issued in
September 2008, that concluded that a lawyer may NOT agree to serve both as a
mediator between parties in a divorce and as a lawyer to prepare the divorce
decree and other necessary documents to effect an agreement resulting from the
mediation. Because a divorce is a litigation proceeding, a lawyer is NOT
permitted to represent both parties in preparing documents to effect the terms
of an agreed divorce. <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-39257581966367676802018-08-06T11:57:00.000-05:002018-08-06T11:57:38.177-05:00National Association of Elder Law AttorneysIf you know of someone that might need some help with Medicaid, etc. PLEASE use an attorney that knows the ins and outs of this complicated and often confusing type of law.<br />
<br />
I recommend the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys organization. They are specialists in estate planning, maximizing your money and how to deal with nursing homes, etc.<br />
<br />
www.nael.org<br />
<br />
In Houston I personally know and recommend Attorney Jeff Skarda at 713-222-5301. I have heard him lecture many times on Social Security and Medicaid.<br />
<br />
Or Attorney Marian Rosen at 713-222-6464.<br />
<br />
I've heard Pi-Yi Mayo lecture many times on this topic. His phone number is 281-421-5774<br />
<br />
There are other Texas members but since I have never met them personally I am not listing them.houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-45162116978766051282018-08-01T11:47:00.001-05:002018-08-01T11:47:10.064-05:00Court of Appeals of Texas on Minix case - parties cannot revoke Mediated Settlement Agreement
<br />
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">2018 WL 1069558<br />
Only the Westlaw citation is currently available.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">NOTICE: THIS OPINION HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED FOR PUBLICATION IN THE PERMANENT
LAW REPORTS. UNTIL RELEASED, IT IS SUBJECT TO REVISION OR WITHDRAWAL.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Court of Appeals of Texas,
Houston (14th Dist.).
</span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(14.509800%, 14.509800%, 14.509800%); font-family: 'Georgia'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">IN RE Gladys N. MINIX, Relator
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">NO. 14–17–00417–CV<br />
|<br />
Opinions filed February 27, 2018
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">ORIGINAL PROCEEDING WRIT OF MANDAMUS</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">312th District Court, Harris County, Texas, Trial Court Cause
No. 2015–65897
</span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(12.941200%, 12.941200%, 12.941200%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Attorneys and Law Firms
</span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Jared R. Woodfill</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, Stephanie J. Proffitt, Dennis M. Slate, </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Terrence Allison</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, for Gladys N. Minix.<br />
</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Philip Placzek</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, for Michael Sterling Alexander.<br />
Panel consists of Chief Justice </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Frost </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">and Justices </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Jamison </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">and </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Busby </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">(</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Frost</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, C.J., dissenting; </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Busby</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, J., concurring).
</span><span style="color: rgb(12.941200%, 12.941200%, 12.941200%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Opinion
</span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(12.941200%, 12.941200%, 12.941200%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">MAJORITY OPINION
</span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Martha Hill Jamison</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, Justice
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">*1 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">In this original proceeding, we are asked to decide whether </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Section 153.0071 of the Texas Family Code </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">permits the
parties to a mediated settlement agreement in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship (“MSA”) to agree to set aside
the MSA. Here, there is evidence that the parties agreed to set aside the MSA. The trial court, however, never ruled
that the MSA was set aside. Subsequently, relator Gladys N. Minix moved to enter judgment on the MSA, and the trial
court denied her motion.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Gladys brings this mandamus proceeding, asking this court to compel the Honorable David Farr, presiding judge of
the 312th District Court of Harris County, to enter a judgment consistent with the terms of the MSA. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Tex. Gov't
Code Ann. § 22.221 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">(West Supp. 2017); </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">see also </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Tex. R. App. P. 52. We conclude that the plain language of </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section
153.0071 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">does not permit the parties to the MSA to consent to revoking it, and we conditionally grant the petition for
writ of mandamus.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">I. BACKGROUND
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Gladys and real party in interest Michael Sterling Alexander have a three-year-old child. Michael filed an original petition
in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. After Michael filed his petition, he and Gladys and their respective
attorneys signed an MSA and filed it with the trial court on December 1, 2015. Under the MSA, Gladys and Michael
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<span style="color: rgb(33.333300%, 33.333300%, 33.333300%); font-family: 'ArialMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">In re Minix, --- S.W.3d ---- (2018)
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">were joint managing conservators, and Michael's possession of the child was unsupervised and similar to a standard
possession order. Michael was to pay $1,300 per month in child support. The parties did not request the trial court to
enter judgment on the MSA at that time. The court was not asked to enter temporary orders.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">In January 2016, Michael filed a motion to enforce the MSA, and subsequently filed first and second amended motions
to enforce the MSA, alleging that Gladys had failed to comply with the MSA by denying Michael possession of or access
to the child. On March 28, 2016, Michael filed a motion to enter temporary orders consistent with the MSA.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">On May 24, 2016, Gladys filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and an emergency motion to modify,
requesting the trial court to (1) appoint her sole managing conservator; and (2) deny Michael possession of or access to
the child. Gladys alleged that the child had welts across his back, and the child said Michael had hit him with a belt. On
May 27, 2016, the trial court signed a temporary restraining order, prohibiting Michael from having possession of or
access to the child and setting a date for a temporary orders hearing.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">On June 7, 2016, Michael filed a petition to set aside the MSA and request for temporary orders, alleging that Gladys
had failed to cooperate in obtaining a final order based on the MSA and Gladys had repeatedly violated the MSA. The
parties' attorneys appeared before Judge Farr that same day and advised him that the parties had agreed to set aside
the MSA. Gladys does not recall being at the June 7, 2016 hearing, and there is neither a record of the June 7, 2016
hearing nor a docket entry reflecting that the MSA was set aside. The parties never signed any document stating that
they were setting aside the MSA.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">*2 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The following day, on June 8, 2016, at a hearing on temporary orders before Associate Judge Eileen Gaffney,
Gladys's attorney at that time, Stephanie Proffitt, advised Judge Gaffney that the parties had stipulated to set aside the
MSA:
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">MS. PROFFITT: I think yesterday when we were down here, it was stipulated on the record that the mediated
settlement agreement that the parties entered into back in November or December is set aside.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">THE COURT: Does that sound correct?<br />
MR. PLACZEK: Yes, Your Honor.<br />
THE COURT: And I think y'all did that in front of Judge Farr?
MR. PLACZEK: Yes, Your Honor.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">At that hearing, the trial court entered “Band–Aid” temporary orders. On June 29, 2016, Gladys filed a motion to modify
the Band–Aid orders based on newly discovered evidence, requesting that she be appointed sole managing conservator
and Michael and his wife be denied possession of and access to the child.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">On August 19, 2016, Judge Farr signed an agreed order for psychological examinations of Gladys and Michael to assist
in his determination of which parent should have the exclusive right to determine the primary residence of the child.
On November 22, 2016, Judge Farr signed agreed temporary orders, appointing Gladys and Michael temporary joint
managing conservators and awarding Gladys the exclusive right to designate the primary residence of the child. The
terms of the temporary orders were similar to those in the MSA, except that Michael's child support obligation was
increased to $1,422.05 per month.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Gladys hired her current counsel on March 7, 2017, and counsel filed a motion for entry of judgment based on the
MSA and also requested that all subsequent temporary orders, rule 11 agreements, and other court orders be vacated.
On March 21, 2017, the trial court held a hearing on Gladys's motion for entry of judgment. At the hearing, Michael's
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">counsel stipulated the MSA is valid and binding and “under normal circumstances [Gladys] would have an absolute
right to enforce it,” but contended that the parties had agreed to set aside the MSA.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Gladys testified at the hearing that she initially believed that the MSA was a final settlement of all issues, but came
to believe it was no longer a final agreement because “we continued to come to court and it was continued [sic] to be
litigated.” Gladys stated that she did not recall being in front of Judge Farr on June 7, 2016, but she remembered being
in front of Judge Gaffney the next day. Gladys stated that she did not agree to set aside the MSA, nor did she recall
Proffitt informing Judge Gaffney that the MSA had been set aside the previous day. Proffitt testified that Gladys was
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">in court on June 7, 2016, and that Judge Farr set aside the MSA. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">1
</span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">1
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The trial court took Gladys's motion for entry of judgment on the MSA under advisement and, on April 27, 2017, signed
an order denying the motion. Gladys filed her petition for writ of mandamus, asking this court to (1) set aside the April
27, 2017 order denying her motion for judgment on the MSA; and (2) direct the trial court to render judgment consistent
with the terms of the MSA.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">II. MANDAMUS STANDARD OF REVIEW
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">*3 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Generally, to be entitled to mandamus relief, a relator must demonstrate (1) the trial court clearly abused its
discretion; and (2) the relator has no adequate remedy by appeal. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">In re Nat'l Lloyds Ins. Co.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 507 S.W.3d 219, 226 (Tex.
2016) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">(orig. proceeding) (per curiam). A trial court clearly abuses its discretion if it reaches a decision so arbitrary and
unreasonable as to amount to a clear and prejudicial error of law, or if it clearly fails to analyze the law correctly or apply
the law correctly to the facts. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">In re H.E.B. Grocery Co.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 492 S.W.3d 300, 302 (Tex. 2016) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">(orig. proceeding) (per curiam);
</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">In re Cerberus Capital Mgmt., L.P.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 164 S.W.3d 379, 382 (Tex. 2005) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">(orig. proceeding) (per curiam). Mandamus relief
is available when the trial court erroneously refuses to enter judgment on a MSA. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">In re Lee</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 411 S.W.3d 445, 450 n.7
(Tex. 2013) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">(orig. proceeding).
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">III. ANALYSIS
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">A. The MSA meets the requirements of </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Section 153.0071(d)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Gladys's sole issue presented is whether the trial court abused its discretion and violated the Family Code by refusing to
render judgment on the parties' MSA, which complied with the Code's requirements. An MSA is binding on the parties
if it meets all the requirements of </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Section 153.0071(d) of the Texas Family Code</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 153.0071(d)
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">(West 2014). An MSA is binding if it (1) states in boldfaced type or capital letters or underlined letters that the agreement
is not subject to revocation; (2) is signed by each party to the agreement; and (3) is signed by the party's attorney, if any,
who is present at the time the agreement is signed. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Id. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">If an MSA meets the requirements of </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section 153.0071(d)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, then
a party is entitled to judgment on the MSA “notwithstanding </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Rule 11, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, or another rule
of law.” </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Id. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">§ 153.0071(e)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The MSA between Gladys and Michael provides that it is not subject to revocation:
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;">AGREEMENT NOT SUBJECT TO REVOCATION
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">Proffitt testified on March 21, 2107, in part:<br />
Q: On June 7th do you believe that Judge Farr had set aside the [MSA]?
A: That was his pronouncement from the bench.
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;">BY THEIR SIGNATURES BELOW, THE PARTIES HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT THE AGREEMENT REACHED IN THIS MEDIATION IS
BINDING ON THE PARTIES AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO REVOCATION.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;">THIS AGREEMENT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;">SECTION 153.0071(d), TEXAS FAMILY CODE</span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;">.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;">EACH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT IS NOT
REVOCABLE AND THAT EACH INTENDS AND AGREES THAT EITHER PARTY SHALL
BE ENTITLED TO JUDGMENT ON THIS AGREEMENT UNDER THE PROVISION
OF THE LAW PURSUANT TO </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;">SECTIONS 153.0071 </span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;">AND </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;">6.602 TEXAS FAMILY CODE</span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;">.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;">A PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT IS ENTITLED TO JUDGMENT
ON THE MEDIATED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The statement is in boldfaced type and capital letters and is underlined, and the parties and their attorneys signed the
MSA. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 153.0071(d)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. The MSA satisfies the requirements of </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section 153.0071(d) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">to constitute
a binding MSA.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;">B. </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;">Section 153.0071 </span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;">does not permit the parties to agree to set aside an MSA.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Michael contends that, even if an MSA complies with 153.0071, the parties, nonetheless, may agree to set aside the MSA.
Resolution of this issue requires that we construe </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section 153.0071</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Questions of statutory construction are reviewed de novo. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Levinson Alcoser Assocs. v. El Pistolon II, Ltd.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 513 S.W.3d 487,
493 (Tex. 2017)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. Our goal is to determine and give effect to the Legislature's intent. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Pedernal Energy, LLC v. Bruington
Eng'g, Ltd.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 536 S.W.3d 487, ––––, 2017 WL 1737920, at *4 (Tex. 2017)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. “When statutory text is clear, we do not resort
to rules of construction or extrinsic aids to construe the text because the truest measure of what the Legislature intended
is what it enacted.” </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Melden & Hunt, Inc. v. E. Rio Hondo Water Supply Corp.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 520 S.W.3d 887, 893 (Tex. 2017)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. Words
in the statute are given their ordinary and plain meaning. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Marino v. Lenoir</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 526 S.W.3d 403, 409 (Tex. 2017)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">*4 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">We construes statute so that no part is surplusage, but so that each word has meaning. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Pedernal Energy, LLC</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">,
536 S.W.3d at ––––, 2017 WL 1737920, at *4</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. There is a presumption that “the Legislature included each word in the
statute for a purpose and that words not included were purposefully omitted.” </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. v. Coleman</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">,
512 S.W.3d 895, 899 (Tex. 2017) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">(per curiam) (internal quotations and citations omitted). “We also take statutes as we
find them and refrain from rewriting text chosen by the Legislature.” </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Pedernal Energy, LLC</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 536 S.W.3d at ––––, 2017
WL 1737920, at *4</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">An MSA “is binding on the parties” if it satisfies the three enumerated requirements found in </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section 153.0071(d)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, and a
party is entitled to judgment on the MSA. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 153.0071(d)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">(e)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. The version of </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section 153.0071(e–1)
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">in effect at the time the trial court denied Gladys's motion on entry of judgment provided that the trial court could deny
judgment on an MSA only if (1) a party to the MSA was a victim of family violence, and that circumstance impaired the
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">party's ability to make decisions; and (2) the MSA is not in the child's best interest. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">2 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The Legislature has since amended
</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section 153.0071(e–1) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">to allow the trial court to deny entry of judgment on an MSA where the MSA permits a person
subject to the sex-offender registration statute or who has a history of past or present physical abuse directed at any
person to reside in the same household as the child or have unsupervised access to the child and the MSA is not in the
child's best interest.
</span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">2
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">Act of June 18, 2005, 79th Leg., R.S., ch. 916, § 7, 2005 Tex. Gen. Laws 3148, 3150, </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">amended by </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">Act of May 23, 2017, 85th
Leg., R.S., ch. 99, § 2, 2017 Tex. Sess. Law Serv. 821, 821 (West).
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<span style="color: rgb(33.333300%, 33.333300%, 33.333300%); font-family: 'ArialMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">In re Minix, --- S.W.3d ---- (2018)
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The Legislature has provided no other circumstances under which the trial court may refuse to enter judgment on the
MSA. If the Legislature had intended to permit the parties to agree to set aside an MSA, which meets all requirements
that make the MSA binding, the Legislature could have included such an exception in </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section 153.0071</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, but chose not
to do so. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">ExxonMobil Pipeline Co.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 512 S.W.3d at 899 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">(presuming that the Legislature included each word in the
statute for a purpose and that words not included were purposefully omitted). To allow the parties to agree to set aside
an irrevocable MSA would render meaningless subsection (e), which provides that “a party is entitled to judgment on
the mediated settlement agreement not withstanding </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Rule 11, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, or another rule of law.”
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Pedernal Energy, LLC</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 536 S.W.3d at ––––, 2017 WL 1737920, at *4 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">(stating that the courts must construe statutes
so that no part is surplusage, but so that each word has meaning).
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">We conclude that </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section 153.0071 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">does not allow the parties to agree to set aside the MSA.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;">C. Assuming disputed issues of material fact regarding whether the parties agreed or the judge pronounced from the bench
that the MSA was set aside, the statute does not permit the parties to agree or the judge to set aside the MSA.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanMTStd; font-weight: 700;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Michael asserts that there is at least a fact issue regarding whether the parties agreed to set aside the MSA, which this
court cannot address in a mandamus proceeding. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">In re Angelini</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 186 S.W.3d 558 (Tex. 2006) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">(orig. proceeding)
(stating that an appellate court may not decide disputed fact issues in an original mandamus proceeding). At the March
21, 2017 hearing, Gladys testified that she did not agree to set aside the MSA. Michael presented an excerpt of the
reporter's record of the June 8, 2016 hearing conducted by Judge Gaffney where Gladys's former attorney, Stephanie
Proffitt, advised Judge Gaffney the parties had agreed to set aside the MSA and that Judge Farr had, in fact, set it aside.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">*5 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">At the March 21, 2017 hearing and after hearing testimony and argument about whether the MSA had been set
aside in 2016, Judge Farr stated,
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">... maybe this is what was said on June 7th, but nobody knows. If the parties came in front of me
and said, I want to set aside our MSA, I don't know that I would go, hunky-dunky. I would just
kind of go, well, I don't have anything to say about that, you guys either ask for judgment on your
MSA or you don't ask for judgment. And if you don't ask for judgment and we kick that can down
the road, I'm going to continue as a judge to respond to the affirmative relief that you're asking me
for in any other capacity, including temporary orders.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">We need not decide disputed issues of material fact in this mandamus proceeding. Even if Michael and Gladys agreed
or the judge pronounced from the bench that the MSA was set aside, as discussed above, the express language of the
statute provides that a party is entitled to judgment on an otherwise statutorily compliant MSA “notwithstanding </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Rule
11, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, or another rule of law.” </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 153.0071(e)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. Therefore, the statute
does not allow the parties to agree to revoke an MSA that satisfies the requirements of </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section 153.0071(d)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, nor does it
allow a judge to set aside an MSA in accordance with the parties' agreement.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">D. Gladys did not invite the trial court to make a ruling which she complains about in this original proceeding.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Michael argues that Gladys is precluded from asking the trial court to make a specific ruling and then complaining about
the ruling to the appellate court. Under the invited error doctrine, a party is estopped from challenging a trial court's
ruling on appeal if the complaining party requested the specific action taken by the trial court. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Tittizer v. Union Gas
Corp.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 171 S.W.3d 857, 862 (Tex. 2005)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">; </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">see also </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Gordon v. Gordon</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 14–10–01031–CV, 2011 WL 5926723, at *7 (Tex.
App.–Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 29, 2011, no pet.)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Michael contends that the invited error doctrine applies because before Gladys asked the trial court to enforce the MSA,
she agreed to set it aside in June 2016. He also argues that Gladys invited error when she filed a motion for a temporary
restraining order and an emergency motion to modify, alleging changed circumstances and asking the trial court to (1)
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<span style="color: rgb(33.333300%, 33.333300%, 33.333300%); font-family: 'ArialMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">In re Minix, --- S.W.3d ---- (2018)
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">appoint her sole managing conservator; and (2) deny Michael possession of and access to the child. On May 27, 2016, the
trial court issued the temporary restraining order. Therefore, Michael posits that Gladys was seeking relief inconsistent
with the terms of the MSA, but now she seeks a judgment consistent with the MSA, which would provide Michael with
unsupervised possession of and access to the child.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">We reject these arguments because Gladys does not complain about the court's setting aside the MSA or granting the
temporary restraining order in 2016. Instead, Gladys complains about the trial court's April 27, 2017 denial of her motion
for entry of judgment.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The dissent argues that the invited error doctrine is to be construed broadly, but cites no cases applying the doctrine to
a ruling other than the ruling complained of by the appellant on appeal. Thus, Gladys did not invite error by asking the
trial court to enter judgment on the MSA; indeed, as explained above, the court lacked the power to do otherwise. The
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">invited error doctrine is not applicable to this case. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">3
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">3
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">E. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">In re Lee </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">does not permit the parties to agree to set aside an MSA.<br />
*6 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Michael argues that the Texas Supreme court in </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">In re Lee </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">left open the possibility that a trial court may properly
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">refuse to enter judgment on an MSA that complies with </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section 153.0071</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. In </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Lee</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, the court observed that several courts of
appeals had addressed the issue of whether </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section 153.0071 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">mandates entry of judgment on a statutorily compliant MSA
“under any and all circumstances,” including where the MSA was “illegal,” or was “procured by fraud, duress, coercion,
or other dishonest means.” </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">411 S.W.3d at 455 n.10</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. The court, however, declined to address that issue because it was
not presented there. Therefore, we do not read </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Lee </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">as leaving the door open to refuse to enter judgment on a statutorily
compliant MSA. As in </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Lee</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, there are no allegations here of illegality or of facts that would preclude the formation of
an agreement. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Cf. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">In re Kasschau</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 11 S.W.3d 305, 314 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, orig. proceeding) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">(holding
trial court did not abuse its discretion by refusing to render judgment on MSA requiring illegal destruction of evidence).
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Therefore, </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Lee </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">does not support Michael's position. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">4
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">4
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Having determined that </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section 153.0071 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">does not permit the parties to an otherwise binding MSA to agree to set it
aside, we conclude that the trial court abused its discretion by denying Gladys's motion to enter judgment on the MSA.
Because the refusal to grant judgment on a mediated settlement is the proper subject of a mandamus proceeding, we
conditionally grant Gladys's petition for writ of mandamus. We direct the trial court to vacate its April 27, 2017 order
denying Gladys's motion for entry of judgment, and enter judgment in accordance with the MSA. The writ will issue
only if the trial court fails to act in accordance with this opinion. We also lift our stay entered on June 2, 2017.
</span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Kem Thompson Frost</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, Chief Justice, Dissenting<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">The dissent also argues the doctrine of quasi-estoppel bars Gladys's request for mandamus relief. The doctrine of quasi-
estoppel bars a party from asserting, to another's disadvantage, a right inconsistent with a position previously taken. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Samson
Expl. LLC v. T.S. Reed Props., Inc.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 521 S.W.3d 766, 778 (Tex. 2017)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">; </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">see post</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, at –––– (Frost, C.J., dissenting). Even if this
un-briefed argument were before us, Michael has not shown that enforcing the MSA would be to his disadvantage. The terms
of the MSA were similar to those of the November 22, 2016 temporary orders, and Michael's child support obligation was
less in the MSA. The dissent may believe the May 2016 temporary restraining order that Gladys sought was unfavorable to
Michael, but Gladys does not challenge that order in her petition.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">Michael further argues that prohibiting presumably fit parents from agreeing to revoke a statutorily compliant MSA would
be unconstitutional. Michael did not raise this issue in the trial court, and we do not address it here.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">IV. CONCLUSION
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<span style="color: rgb(33.333300%, 33.333300%, 33.333300%); font-family: 'ArialMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">In re Minix, --- S.W.3d ---- (2018)
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The relator comes to this court seeking a writ of mandamus to compel the trial judge to enforce a mediated settlement
agreement the trial judge set aside at the relator's urging, after the relator reaped the benefits of the ruling. The doctrines
of quasi-estoppel and invited error demand that this court deny the relator's petition for extraordinary relief. Because
the majority instead conditionally grants it, I respectfully dissent.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">INDEPENDENT GROUNDS FOR DENYING MANDAMUS RELIEF
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">This court need not reach the merits of relator Gladys Minix's petition for extraordinary relief or address whether </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section
153.0071(d) of the Texas Family Code </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">permits Minix and real party in interest Michael Sterling Alexander to agree to set
aside their mediated settlement agreement. Nor does this court need consider whether that statutory provision applies to
today's case. The quasi–estoppel and invited-error doctrines provide independent grounds for denying mandamus relief.
So, even if the parties could not do what they did under the law, and even if the trial court's ruling did not comport with
the statute, Minix still would not be entitled to mandamus relief.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">EQUITABLE PRINCIPLES AS A BASIS FOR DENYING MANDAMUS RELIEF
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Appellate courts do not issue the extraordinary remedy of mandamus as a matter of right but rather grant this relief at
their discretion. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">1 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Although mandamus is a common-law remedy, a court determines whether to grant mandamus relief
by drawing on equitable principles. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">2 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">In deciding whether to order mandamus relief, an appellate court may consider
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">equitable matters that go beyond the mere legal right of the relator. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">3 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The doctrines of quasi-estoppel and invited error
—both species of estoppel—operate in equity to bar Minix from speaking against her own actions, statements, and
litigation positions in seeking mandamus relief in this court.
</span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">1
2
3
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">*7 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Minix and Alexander agreed that their meditated settlement agreement governing custody of their three-year-old
child should be set aside. While represented by counsel, each parent stipulated to this position in open court. Then, the
two asked the trial court to set aside their mediated settlement agreement. And, the trial court did. Minix wanted more
rights to the child than the mediated settlement agreement provided, so she asked the trial court to give her more rights.
And, the trial court did. Minix did not want Alexander to have what the mediated settlement agreement gave him, so
Minix asked the trial court to give him less. And, the trial court did.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Minix's Acceptance of Benefits
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Minix enjoyed the rights the trial court gave her (and the elimination of the rights Alexander would have had under the
mediated settlement agreement) for more than nine months as the parties litigated over conservatorship and possession
of their child. During that time Minix did not mention the mediated settlement agreement, even though it addressed
those issues. Minix did not make any of the arguments she now makes in this court. Instead, she accepted the benefits
of the temporary orders the trial court granted at her urging—relief that gave her greater rights and Alexander lesser
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Rivercenter Assocs. v. Rivera</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 858 S.W.2d 366, 367 (Tex. 1993)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">id</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.<br />
</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Moore v. Rock Creek Oil Corp.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 59 S.W.2d 815, 817 (Tex. Comm'n App. 1933, judgm't adopted)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Minix's Actions, Statements, and Litigation Positions
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<span style="color: rgb(33.333300%, 33.333300%, 33.333300%); font-family: 'ArialMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">In re Minix, --- S.W.3d ---- (2018)
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">rights, relief that was not consistent with the parties' mediated settlement agreement, and relief the trial judge surely
would not have granted if the trial judge had not set aside the mediated settlement agreement at the parties' request and
let them litigate instead.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">On November 22, 2016, almost a year after the parties signed the mediated settlement agreement, Associate Judge Eileen
Gaffney signed temporary orders. Even presuming that the provisions of these temporary orders mirrored the terms of
the mediated settlement agreement, the provisions of the temporary orders do not determine what the final order will
be, and according to Alexander's live pleading, Alexander expects to prove at trial that he should get sole managing
conservatorship of the child and that Minix should pay child support. In addition, by the time the associate judge issued
the temporary orders, the parties had engaged in substantial litigation and had spent lots of time and money—resources
the parties would not have expended had they not agreed to set aside aside the mediated settlement agreement.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Trial Court's Action in Response to Minix's Specific Request
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Though the record contains no written order or statements of the trial court setting aside the mediated settlement
agreement, Minix's own lawyer testified under oath that the trial court did just that. The record reflects that, on June
7, 2016, the respondent, The Honorable David Farr, held a hearing on Minix's emergency motion to modify (in which
Minix sought relief inconsistent with the mediated settlement agreement) and on Alexander's petition to set aside the
mediated settlement agreement and request for temporary orders. At that hearing, Minix and Alexander stipulated in
open court that the mediated settlement agreement was set aside. Minix' s counsel, recounting what occurred at the
June 7, 2016 hearing, testified under oath on March 21, 2017, that (1) Judge Farr pronounced from the bench that he
was setting aside the mediated settlement agreement; (2) Minix was present in the courtroom when the judge made the
pronouncement; and (3) Minix's counsel at the time (Stephanie Proffitt) understood that Judge Farr had set aside the
mediated settlement agreement on June 7, 2016. The sworn testimony of Minix's own lawyer raises a fact issue as to
whether the trial court, from the bench, set aside the mediated settlement agreement that day, and this court is to presume
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">that the trial court credited this testimony. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">4
</span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">4
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">*8 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">AfterJudgeFarrsetasidethemediatedsettlementagreementinopencourt,attheparties'urgingandinkeepingwith
their stipulation, Judge Farr took actions inconsistent with the mediated settlement agreement still being in effect. Chief
among these was sending the parties to Associate Judge Gaffney for temporary orders, which, of course, would not have
been necessary had the parties sought to enforce the mediated settlement agreement that covered the conservatorship
and possession issues that were to be the subject of the temporary orders.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">At the temporary-orders hearing the next day (June 8, 2016), Judge Gaffney asked the parties if they had any agreement
as to conservatorship. Under the mediated settlement agreement, the parties had agreed that each parent would be a
joint managing conservator. Nonetheless, each party's lawyer responded to Judge Gaffney's inquiry by saying that each
parent was seeking to be appointed sole managing conservator, effectively communicating that they had no agreement
as to conservatorship. Minix sought sole managing conservatorship and urged Judge Gaffney to order that Alexander's
possession be supervised. The parties then went forward with temporary orders. This evidence shows that the parties'
actions were in accord with the parties' stipulation and with the trial court having set aside the mediated settlement
agreement, just as Minix's then-lawyer (Proffitt) testified.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Consistent with the setting aside of the mediated settlement agreement, the trial court then allowed litigation to continue.
The parties' conduct strongly suggests that the trial court, in fact, set aside the mediated settlement agreement. Nothing
else would explain what followed.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">At the hearing on March 21, 2017, Judge Farr indicated that he had no personal recollection as to what happened at the
hearing on June 7, 2016.
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<span style="color: rgb(33.333300%, 33.333300%, 33.333300%); font-family: 'ArialMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">In re Minix, --- S.W.3d ---- (2018)
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">• If the trial court did not set aside the mediated settlement agreement, why did the parties appear before Judge Gaffney
for a temporary-orders hearing and tell the court that the parties had no agreement as to conservatorship?
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">• Why did the parties need temporary orders if they had an agreement that resolved everything?
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">• If the trial court did not set aside the mediated settlement agreement, why would the parties have been litigating
matters that the mediated settlement agreement covered?
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">• If the trial court did not set aside the mediated settlement agreement, why did the parties not seek its enforcement
and thus put an end to the dispute?
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">• If the mediated settlement agreement resolved the conservatorship and possession issues and was in effect, why did
the parties, the lawyers, and the trial judge spend ten months litigating those issues?
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Minix's U–Turn at the End of the Road
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The parties spent fifteen months in litigation, fighting over issues addressed in the mediated settlement agreement. At the
end of the road, Minix made a u-turn, completely changing her position. She no longer wanted to set aside the mediated
settlement agreement. Even though the parties had stipulated to it—and even though the trial court had done what
Minix asked and ruled in accordance with her stipulation—Minix asked the trial court to undo the ruling and to render
judgment on the mediated settlement agreement, a request that clashed with her pleadings, her arguments, her claims,
and her actions up to that point.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">No Abuse of Discretion in Refusing to Undo the Granting of Minix's Requested Relief
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Having set aside the mediated settlement agreement at the parties' urging almost a year before and having granted Minix
relief inconsistent with it, the trial court did not abuse its discretion on April 27, 2017, when the trial court denied Minix's
request for rendition of judgment based on the mediated settlement agreement. Minix now seeks mandamus relief from
this court compelling the trial judge to render a judgment consistent with the terms of the mediated settlement agreement.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">Mandamus Relief Unwarranted Even in the Face of a Compliant Mediated Settlement Agreement
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">*9 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Themajoritydoesnotlooktoequitableprinciplesindecidingtoday'scase.Instead,themajorityfocusesonwhether
the mediated settlement agreement satisfies the statutory requirements for enforcement. In doing so, the majority misses
the mark. On today's facts, equity outruns statutory compliance.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The majority bases today's holding on the mediated settlement agreement's compliance with </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section 153.0071</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">5 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">But,
compliance with the statute is not the only issue. A statute's mandate alone does not determine the course. Other forces
of law and equity are at work. For example, this court would not reverse a trial court judgment and render judgment
enforcing a compliant mediated settlement agreement if we lacked jurisdiction over a case because of a late-filed notice of
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">appeal. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">6 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Nor would this court reverse a trial court for failing to render judgment on a mediated settlement agreement if
its proponent did not first ask the trial court to do so. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">7 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">And, this court should not grant mandamus relief today because
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">equitable principles preclude the granting of relief.
</span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">5
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 153.0071(d) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">(West, Westlaw through 2017 1 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 7.000000pt; vertical-align: 4.000000pt;">st </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">C. S.).<br />
</span><span style="color: rgb(66.666700%, 66.666700%, 66.666700%); font-family: 'ArialMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">© 2018 Thomson Reuters. No claim to original U.S. Government Works. 9
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<span style="color: rgb(33.333300%, 33.333300%, 33.333300%); font-family: 'ArialMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">In re Minix, --- S.W.3d ---- (2018)
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">6<br />
</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">2016, pet. denied) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">(mem. op., per curiam).
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Fleming & Assocs. v. Kirklin</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, No. 14-16-00752-CV, 2016 WL 6885967, at *1–2 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 22,
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">; </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">First Nat. Bank of Beeville v. Fojtik</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 775 S.W.2d 632, 633 (Tex. 1989)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Quasi–Estoppel
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The doctrine of quasi-estoppel bars a party from asserting, to another's disadvantage, a right inconsistent with a
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">position earlier taken. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">8 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Quasi-estoppel applies if it would be unconscionable to allow a person to assert, to another's
disadvantage, a right at odds with a position to which the person earlier had acquiesced, or from which the person had
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">accepted a benefit. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">9 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Under supreme-court authority, Texas courts may invoke estoppel to deny mandamus relief in
cases like this one, in which the petitioner seeks to avoid an agreement with the opposing party after the proceedings
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">turn adverse. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">10
</span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">8
</span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">9
10
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Texas cases present the following familiar fact pattern that shows how equity steps in to bar relief that the remedy of
mandamus might otherwise afford:
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">• The relator and the real party in interest agree to handle a matter contrary to the law.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">• Then, after losing, the relator seeks mandamus relief to compel the result the law would demand, a result that goes
against the parties' agreement.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">• The appellate court refuses to grant mandamus relief, holding that the equitable doctrine of estoppel bars it. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">11
</span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">11
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">*10 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Today'scasefallssquarelywithintheestoppel-bars-mandamus-reliefmold.Truetoit,afterlosinginthetrialcourt
in her belated attempt to enforce the mediated settlement agreement, Minix now seeks to compel the result she claims
the law demands—enforcement of the mediated settlement agreement. This court should stay true to the governing case
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">law and hold that equitable principles of estoppel bar mandamus relief. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">12
</span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">12
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">2016, Alexander filed a motion seeking temporary orders governing possession and conservatorship of the parties' child.
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">7
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Curry v. Pickett</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, No. 14-09-00188-CV, 2010 WL 3353952, at *4 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] Aug. 26, 2010, no pet.)
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">(mem. op.).
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">id.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Pendleton v. Pace</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 9 S.W.2d 437, 440 (Tex. Civ. App.–Texarkana 1928, writ ref'd) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">(holding that candidate who entered into
agreement with rival candidate to set aside result of first primary and resubmit nomination was estopped to claim nomination
under first primary, after result of second proved adverse). In cases decided after June 14, 1927, the Supreme Court of Texas's
notation of “writ refused” or “petition refused” denotes that the court of appeals's opinion is the same as a precedent of the
Supreme Court of Texas. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Yancy v. United Surgical Partners Int'l, Inc.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 236 S.W.3d 778, 786 n. 6 (Tex. 2007)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Pendleton</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 9 S.W.2d at 440 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">(holding that candidate who entered into agreement with rival candidate to set aside result
of first primary and resubmit nomination (an action not provided for by applicable law) was estopped to claim nomination
under first primary, after result of second proved adverse); </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Robinson v. Plano Board of Educ.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 514 S.W.2d 135, 136–38 (Tex.
Civ. App.–Dallas 1974, orig. proceeding) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">(holding that relator, a candidate who entered into agreement with rival candidate
to have a recount conducted (an action relator alleged was contrary to an applicable statute), was estopped to claim he had
won election, after the result of the recount proved adverse).
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Rivercenter Assocs.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 858 S.W.2d at 367</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">; </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Pendleton</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 9 S.W.2d at 440</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">; </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Robinson</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 514 S.W.2d at 136–38</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The parties filed the mediated settlement agreement with the trial court in December 2015. Three months later, in March
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<span style="color: rgb(33.333300%, 33.333300%, 33.333300%); font-family: 'ArialMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">In re Minix, --- S.W.3d ---- (2018)
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The orders Alexander sought were consistent with the mediated settlement agreement. Minix objected. She did not want
what the mediated settlement agreement gave her, nor did she want Alexander to have what the mediated settlement
agreement gave him. So, in May 2016, Minix sought a temporary restraining order and filed an emergency motion to
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">modify, </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">13 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">requesting the trial court to (1) appoint her sole managing conservator; and (2) deny Alexander possession of
or access to the child—relief at odds with the parties' mediated settlement agreement. When Minix filed this motion, no
court had signed an order as to conservatorship of the parties' child. Indeed, the respondent judge had not even signed
temporary orders in this original suit affecting the parent-child relationship. In response to Minix's motion to modify,
the trial court signed a temporary restraining order prohibiting Alexander's possession and access to the child. With this
ruling, Minix got what she requested—and what she got conflicted with what she would have gotten under the mediated
settlement agreement. (The mediated settlement agreement would have given Alexander possession and access to the
child.) Minix did not object to the trial court going outside the mediated settlement agreement, nor did Minix ask the
trial court to enforce the mediated settlement agreement. Instead, Minix sought and received relief that clashed with the
mediated settlement agreement.
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">13
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">After Minix signed the mediated settlement agreement and both parties filed it with the trial court in December 2015,
Minix did not seek rendition of judgment on the agreement for more than fifteen months. During the interim she enjoyed
the benefits of temporary orders that (1) gave her rights the mediated settlement agreement did not give her and (2) took
away rights the mediated settlement agreement gave Alexander.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Now, Minix asserts the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to grant the relief she requested in March 2017, yet by
the time Minix asked the trial court to take the enforce-the-mediated-settlement-agreement path, she had been leading
the trial court in the opposite direction for ten months, getting just what she asked for when she asked for it. Through
counsel, the parties agreed in open court that the mediated settlement agreement should be set aside, and the trial court
determined in open court that the agreement would be set aside. Building on that relief, Minix then sought and received
what she could not have gotten under the mediated settlement agreement. Minix even agreed that trial on the merits of
her petition seeking relief inconsistent with the mediated settlement agreement should be continued until April 2017, and
in December 2016, the trial court granted this relief, too.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">*11 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">In seeking mandamus relief, Minix argues that the mediated settlement agreement cannot be set aside even if she
and Alexander agreed to set it aside, yet in June 2016, she induced the trial court to set aside the mediated settlement
agreement by arguing the opposite. The trial judge set aside the mediated settlement agreement in reliance upon the
parties' stipulation. The trial court let them litigate the issues. Only after Minix became unhappy with the results of that
litigation—and apparently preferred to return to the terms of the mediated settlement agreement—did she request the
trial court to enforce it.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Our mandamus record contains evidence of the crucial touchstones of quasi-estoppel—Minix's unconscionable assertion,
to Alexander's disadvantage, of a right inconsistent with a position to which Minix earlier had acquiesced, and from
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">which Minix had accepted benefits. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">14 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">After stipulating that the mediated settlement agreement should be set aside and
obtaining a ruling to this effect from the trial court, Minix litigated for ten months about conservatorship and possession
—issues covered by the mediated settlement agreement, never once seeking to enforce the contract she asked the trial
court to set aside, and all the while seeking and accepting conservatorship and possession rights in temporary orders she
never could have obtained without walking away from the mediated settlement agreement she now asks this court to
enforce via mandamus. Having accepted those benefits, Minix cannot now avoid her stipulation with Alexander to set
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">aside the mediated settlement agreement. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">15<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">Though Minix did not state in her emergency motion what she sought to modify, the only document governing the parties'
conservatorship and possession of the child was the mediated settlement agreement, and it is obvious from Minix's motion that
she did not want the court to order the conservatorship-and-possession terms the parties set out in their mediated settlement
agreement.
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<span style="color: rgb(33.333300%, 33.333300%, 33.333300%); font-family: 'ArialMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">In re Minix, --- S.W.3d ---- (2018)
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">14
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The majority asserts that the record does not show that enforcing the mediated settlement agreement at this juncture
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">“wouldbeto[Alexander's]disadvantage.”</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">16 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Therecordamplyshowsthehardship.AsMinix'slawyeraccuratelypointed
out at the March 21, 2017 hearing, between the execution of the mediated settlement agreement in December 2015
and Minix's filing of her “Motion for Entry of Judgment” in March 2017, “there were several orders and lots of court
proceedings and an amicus appointed, and [a] psychological evaluation conducted, a lot of other things, a lot of money,
time [,] and expense on this case.” Wasting all of the time and money Alexander invested in this litigation would be to
Alexander's disadvantage. The majority points to nothing that would show otherwise.
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">16
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The majority also asserts that since November 22, 2016, almost a year after the parties signed the mediated settlement
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">agreement, the terms of the temporary orders resemble the terms of the mediated settlement agreement. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">17 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">But, these
terms do not fix the terms of the final order. Trial determines that. And, according to Alexander's live pleading, Alexander
expects to prove at trial that he is entitled to sole managing conservatorship of his son and to child support from Minix.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">parties could not validly have agreed to set aside the mediated settlement agreement, a position at odds with Minix's
prior position, from which Minix accepted benefits. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">18 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The doctrine of quasi-estoppel forecloses mandamus relief. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">19
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Curry</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 2010 WL 3353952, at *4</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Pendleton</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 9 S.W.2d at 440</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">; </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Robinson</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 514 S.W.2d at 136–38</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Ante </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">at ––––, n.3.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See ante </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">at ––––, n.3.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Under these circumstances, it would be unconscionable to allow Minix to assert, to Alexander's disadvantage, that the
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Curry</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 2010 WL 3353952, at *4</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Rivercenter Assocs.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 858 S.W.2d at 367</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">; </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Pendleton</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 9 S.W.2d at 440</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">; </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Curry</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 2010 WL 3353952, at *4</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">; </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Robinson</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 514 S.W.2d
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">at 136–38</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Invited Error
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Another species of estoppel—the invited-error doctrine—provides an alternative basis for denying Minix mandamus
relief. Minix complains that the trial judge erred in refusing to undo an action the parties asked the trial judge to take,
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">and so invited the error of which she now complains. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">20 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The invited-error doctrine applies to situations in which a party
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">asks the court to make a specific ruling or take a specific action, and then complains of that ruling or action on appeal. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">21
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The concept is a simple one: If a party induces trial court action, that party cannot later run to the court of appeals
complaining of that action.
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">21
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</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">no pet.) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">(mem. op) (noting that reversal would conflict with invited-error doctrine because court rendered judgment in reliance
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Kupersmith v. Weitz</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, No. 14-05-00167-CV, 2006 WL 3407832, at *3 n.2 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 28, 2006,
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">on stipulation that the parties sought to enforce rather than rescind settlement agreement).
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">In re Dep't of Family & Protective Servs.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 273 S.W.3d 637, 646 (Tex. 2009)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">; </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Houston Laureate Assocs., Ltd. v. Russell</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">,
504 S.W.3d 550, 567 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2016, no pet.) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">(holding that under invited-error doctrine, a party that
requests a specific action in trial court cannot complain on appeal that trial court erred in granting that request); </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Gordon v.
Gordon</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, No. 14-10-01031-CV, 2011 WL 5926723, at *7 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 29, 2011, no pet.) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">(mem. op.).
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<span style="color: rgb(33.333300%, 33.333300%, 33.333300%); font-family: 'ArialMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">In re Minix, --- S.W.3d ---- (2018)
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">*12 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Texascourtsapplytheinvited-errordoctrineacrossawidearrayofscenariostoprecludepartiesfromcomplaining
in the court of appeals about the very things they brought about in the trial court. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">22 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">For example, a party invites error
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">by persuading a trial judge to adopt a jury charge that the party later alleges supports an improper theory of recovery. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">23
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The doctrine encompasses scenarios just like the one in today's case, where a party seeks a particular action in the trial
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">court and then after getting it, denounces it as error in the court of appeals. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">24
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23
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The majority narrowly frames the invited-error doctrine, </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">25 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">holding that Minix did not invite error because she is not
complaining of a specific ruling she asked the trial court to make. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">26 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Citing </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Tizzier v. Union Gas Corp.</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">27 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">the majority
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">notes that “under the doctrine of invited error, a party is estopped from challenging a trial court's ruling on appeal if the
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">complaining party requested the specific action taken by the trial court.” </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">28 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Texas jurisprudence shows that the invited-
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">error doctrine is broader than the majority suggests. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">29 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Texas courts have phrased the invited-error requirements in
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">various ways, at times more broadly than in </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Tizzier</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">30 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">In </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Hodges</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, for example, the Supreme Court of Texas explained
the principle in expansive terms: “[a] litigant cannot ask something of a court and then complain that the court committed
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">error in giving it to him.” </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">31 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">There is no denying that Minix asked the trial court for specific relief that the trial court
granted and now, in the court of appeals, she faults the trial court for granting it.
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">25
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Spence v. State Nat. Bank of El Paso</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 5 S.W.2d 754, 756 (Tex. 1928)<br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">United Scaffolding, Inc. v. Levine</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, No. 15-0921, –––S.W.3d ––––, ––––, 2017 WL 2839842, at *12 (Tex. June 30, 2017)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">;
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Del Lago Partners v. Smith</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 307 S.W.3d 762, 775 (Tex. 2010)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Del Lago Partners</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 307 S.W.3d at 775 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">(holding that petitioner was barred from obtaining reversal on appeal on the ground
that the jury should have decided the case under a liability theory that petitioner itself persuaded the trial court not to submit
to the jury); </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Houston Laureate Assocs.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 504 S.W.3d at 567</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">; </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Gordon</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 2011 WL 5926723, at *7</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See ante </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">at –––– – ––––.
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See id.<br />
</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">171 S.W.3d 857 (Tex. 2005)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See ante </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">at ––––.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Kupersmith</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 2006 WL 3407832, at *3 n.2</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Compare </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">People's State Bank of Tyler v. Monsey Oil Co.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 11 S.W.2d 507, 511 (Tex. Comm'n App. 1928, judgm't approved)
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">30<br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">with </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Tittizer</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 171 S.W.3d at 862</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">31
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">she asked the trial court to set aside. The case law is clear: If a party asks the trial court to take an action, the party
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">will not be permitted to challenge that action in the court of appeals. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">32 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">If the invited-error doctrine were as narrow as
the majority suggests, a party could dodge the consequences of inviting error simply by asking the trial court to rule
on an issue, obtaining the requested ruling, filing a motion to reconsider, and then appealing the denial of the motion
to reconsider. Under this hypothetical, the trial court properly would have denied the motion to reconsider because the
motion was inconsistent with relief the party already had requested, but an appellate court operating under the majority's
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">view,mightconcludethatthepartyhadnotinvitederror“onaspecificruling”andreversethetrialcourt.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">33 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Thesupreme
court has looked to the purposes and principles of the invited-error doctrine, recognizing the conduct and harm it is
intended to thwart, and evaluating the substance of the party's actions rather than slicing the doctrine narrowly, viewing
it technically, or applying it rigidly.
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Northeast Tex. Motor Lines v. Hodges</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 138 Tex. 280, 158 S.W.2d 487, 488 (1942)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The premise of Minix's request for relief is that the trial court erred in not enforcing the mediated settlement agreement
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<span style="color: rgb(33.333300%, 33.333300%, 33.333300%); font-family: 'ArialMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">In re Minix, --- S.W.3d ---- (2018)
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">32
33
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">*13 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Theinvited-errordoctrinerecognizestheunfairness—toboththetrialcourtandtotheopposingparty—ofallowing
a party to change positions upon arrival in the court of appeals, especially after that party has reaped the benefits of
an opposite trial-court position and consumed judicial resources inducing the trial court to do the thing now sought to
be undone.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The order Minix appeals is like a motion to reconsider in that Minix stipulated as part of a joint stipulation to set aside
the mediated settlement agreement, the trial judge did set it aside, and then Minix later sought to enforce the set-aside
agreement. Even though Minix asked the trial court to set aside the mediated settlement agreement, she made a U-turn
when she later deemed it more advantageous to return to the mediated settlement agreement.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Groundedinevenjusticeanddictatedbycommonsense,</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">34 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">theinvited-errordoctrinepromotesthesoundadministration
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">of law. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">35 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Properly applied, it prevents gamesmanship, unfairness, and surprise and deters waste of time, money, and
judicial resources. Minix has engaged in the very gamesmanship the invited-error doctrine is designed to stop. Having
invited the alleged error, Minix should not now be heard to complain of it.
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35
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">CONCLUSION
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">This court need not reach the merits of Minix's petition for extraordinary relief because principles of quasi-estoppel
demand this court deny mandamus relief. Alternatively, Minix invited the error she asks this court to correct by
mandamus. The record shows the parties' stipulation and the trial court's responsive action. And, the parties' post-
stipulation actions conformed not only to the stipulation but also to Minix's lawyer's testimony and to the trial court's
reported ruling from the bench. That, too, raises a fact issue that should preclude the granting of any mandamus relief.
The majority does not explain why it concludes otherwise.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Courts grant mandamus relief to remedy wrongs, not to promote them. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">36 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">In granting mandamus relief the majority
sanctions the very conduct the quasi-estoppel and invited-error doctrines are supposed to thwart. Because principles of
estoppel embodied in both doctrines bar mandamus relief in this context, this court need not analyze </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section 153.0071(d)
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">of the Family Code </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">or its potential application to today's case. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">37 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">This court instead should hold that estoppel principles
foreclose mandamus relief.
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">36
37
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">J. Brett Busby</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, Justice, Concurring<br />
Under the statute enacted by the Legislature, this is a straightforward case. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Section 153.0071(d) of the Family Code
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">provides that in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship, a mediated settlement agreement (MSA) meeting certain
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">formal requirements is binding on the parties. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">1 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">With specifically enumerated exceptions not applicable here, a party “is
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Houston Laureate Assocs.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 504 S.W.3d at 567</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">; </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Gordon</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 2011 WL 5926723, at *7</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See ante </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">at ––––.
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Northeast Tex. Motor Lines</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 158 S.W.2d at 488</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.
</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Spence</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 5 S.W.2d at 756</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Moore</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 59 S.W.2d at 818</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Rivercenter Assocs.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 858 S.W.2d at 367</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">; </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Pendleton</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 9 S.W.2d at 440</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">; </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Houston Laureate Assocs.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 504 S.W.3d at 567–68</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">;
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Gordon</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 2011 WL 5926723, at *7</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">; </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Curry</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 2010 WL 3353952, at *4</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">; </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Robinson</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 514 S.W.2d at 136–38</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.
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<span style="color: rgb(33.333300%, 33.333300%, 33.333300%); font-family: 'ArialMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">In re Minix, --- S.W.3d ---- (2018)
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">entitled to judgment on” such an agreement “notwithstanding </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Rule 11, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, or another rule
of law.” </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 153.0071(e) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">(West 2014).
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">1
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">*14 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Themajorityopinion,whichIjoin,holdsthatatrialcourtmaynotcreateanewexceptiontothisstatutebyrefusing
to render judgment on a statutorily compliant MSA on the ground that the parties later agreed to set it aside. Civil
</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Rule 11 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">addresses the enforceability of agreements between attorneys or parties. Thus, by the plain terms of </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section
153.0071(e)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, a party is entitled to judgment on an MSA notwithstanding any agreement he or she may have made to
the contrary. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">In re Lee</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 411 S.W.3d 445, 454 (Tex. 2013) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">(orig. proceeding); </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">In Interest of C.C.E.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 530 S.W.3d 314,
321 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2017, no pet.)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. “[W]e take statutes as we find them and refrain from rewriting the
Legislature's text.” </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Cadena Comercial USA Corp. v. Tex. Alcoholic Beverage Comm'n</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 518 S.W.3d 318, 326 (Tex. 2017)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Our dissenting colleague contends that principles of equity—including a doctrine not pleaded in the trial court or briefed
by any party to this proceeding—allow the parties and the court to override the statute by agreement. I write separately to
explain why this approach is incompatible with the statute, principles of equity, the facts of this case, and our adversary
system of justice.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">According to the dissent, we miss the mark by starting our analysis with the governing law. But that law is precisely the
issue raised by Gladys in her mandamus petition, which asks: “Did the district court abuse its discretion and violate the
Texas Family Code by refusing to enter judgment on the parties' mediated settlement agreement—an agreement that
complies with each of the three requirements in </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section 153.0071(d) of the Texas Family Code</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">?” Under our rules, we
must “address[ ] every issue raised and necessary to final disposition” of the case. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Tex. R. App. P. 47.1</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. The dissent
correctly notes that addressing issues on the merits sometimes is not necessary, such as when there is a jurisdictional
defect or an issue was not properly preserved in the trial court. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See post</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, at ––––. Yet there is no question of jurisdiction
here, and it is one of the defensive doctrines on which the dissent relies—not the issue briefed by Gladys—that was not
properly preserved.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The dissent posits that equity can also “outrun[ ] statutory compliance.” </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Id. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">This assertion fails to account for the
mandatory nature of the statute at issue. Once the parties have entered into a compliant MSA, the statute requires the
trial court to grant a party's motion for judgment even if the parties agreed not to seek such relief. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Tex. Fam. Code
Ann. § 153.0071(e)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. “We generally adhere to the maxim that ‘equity follows the law,’ which requires equitable doctrines
to conform to ... statutory mandates, not the other way around.” </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Fortis Benefits v. Cantu</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 234 S.W.3d 642, 648 (Tex.
</span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">2007)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">2
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">The parties have stipulated that the MSA at issue is binding.
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">2<br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">judgment on” a binding MSA. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 153.0071(e)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">. The statute makes clear that the parties cannot waive that
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">We need not decide in this case whether there are some circumstances in which a party could waive its “entitle[ment] to
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">entitlement by subsequent agreement.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Let there be no mistake about the rule the dissent proposes: the trial court is equitably absolved of its statutory obligation
to render judgment on a binding MSA when the parties later manifest—by words or conduct—an intent not to be bound
by that agreement anymore. If the parties do not seek judgment on the MSA immediately, they run the risk that further
proceedings will be viewed as inconsistent with the agreement, and neither of them will be able to complain by mandamus
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">or in an eventual appeal if the trial court declines to render judgment on the agreement. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">3 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Given the lengths to which the
Legislature went to make MSAs binding and (in all but a few defined situations) enforceable, it makes no sense to allow
such agreements to be easily cast aside. At bottom, the dissent's position is that equity frees the trial court to violate a
statute if the parties agree, even though the statute expressly says that an agreement cannot have such an effect. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See post</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">,
at –––– & n.11. That's not equity—it's a recipe for anarchy.
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<span style="color: rgb(33.333300%, 33.333300%, 33.333300%); font-family: 'ArialMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">In re Minix, --- S.W.3d ---- (2018)
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">3<br />
</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">they would apply equally on appeal. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">E.g., </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Tittizer v. Union Gas Corp.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 171 S.W.3d 857, 862 (Tex. 2005) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">(invited error); </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Davis–
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">Although the dissent presents the doctrines of quasi-estoppel and invited error as equitable bases for denying mandamus relief,
</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Lynch, Inc. v. Asgard Techs., LLC</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 472 S.W.3d 50, 67–68 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, no pet.) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">(quasi-estoppel).
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">*15 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">EvenifwecouldlooktoequitabledoctrinestotrumptheLegislature'sjudgmentthatpartiescannotundobinding
MSAs by agreement, those doctrines do not support such a result here. The dissent begins its analysis with quasi-estoppel.
That doctrine operates as an affirmative defense, so the party seeking to invoke it has the burden of pleading and proof.
</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Malone v. Patel</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 397 S.W.3d 658, 681–82 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2012, pet. denied)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. So far as our record reveals,
Michael did not plead quasi-estoppel, raise it in a response to Gladys's motion for entry of judgment, or mention it as
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">a ground in his motion to set aside the MSA. </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">4 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The parties also do not mention the doctrine of quasi-estoppel in their
briefing before this Court. Just as we generally do not reverse a trial court for failing to take an action that a party
did not request (</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">see post</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, at –––– & n.7), we should not deny mandamus relief based on a defense that a party did not
properly raise.
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<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">4
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Were we to raise this non-jurisdictional issue ourselves and develop arguments for or against its application, we would
become advocates for a party rather than impartial decisionmakers—a role fundamentally at odds with our adversary
system of justice. That system “depends on the parties to frame the issues for decision and assigns to courts the role of
neutral arbiter of the matters that the parties present.” </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Ward v. Lamar Univ.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 484 S.W.3d 440, 453 (Tex. App.–Houston
[14th Dist.] 2016, no pet.)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. We should stay in our lane.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">The doctrine of invited error, which the parties do address, is inapplicable to the facts of this case. Michael argues that
Gladys invited error in two ways: (1) by agreeing that the trial court could set aside the MSA, which counsel testified
the court did; and (2) by filing a motion to modify that sought relief inconsistent with the MSA, which the trial court
temporarily granted. As the majority opinion explains, the doctrine of invited error does not apply because Gladys does
not challenge either of those rulings in her petition. Rather, she challenges the trial court's denial of her subsequent
motion for judgment on the MSA.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Our dissenting colleague criticizes our framing of the invited error doctrine as unduly narrow. Although I disagree, I
conclude there are further reasons to reject the doctrine's application here. First, an undocumented oral agreement by
Gladys's counsel to set aside the MSA is not enforceable. “[N]o agreement between attorneys or parties touching any
suit pending will be enforced unless it be in writing, signed and filed ... [or] made in open court and entered of record.”
</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Tex. R. Civ. P. 11</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. Here, there is no written agreement to set aside the MSA, and no reporter's record was taken of the
hearing in which (according to later testimony by Gladys's counsel) an oral agreement was made. An oral agreement
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">made in open court may also be enforced if it is described in a subsequent judgment or order, </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 8.000000pt; vertical-align: 5.000000pt;">5 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">but our record likewise
contains no order setting aside the MSA. Recognizing that oral agreements by counsel are apt to be misconstrued and
beget controversy, </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Rule 11 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">bars their enforcement. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Padilla v. LaFrance</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, 907 S.W.2d 454, 460 (Tex. 1995)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. Because any
oral agreement by Gladys's counsel is not enforceable, it should not be held against Gladys in an invited error analysis.
</span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">5
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">*16 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Second, a motion to modify conservatorship, possession, or access based on a material and substantial change in
circumstances is not necessarily inconsistent with the terms of a previous MSA. As this Court recently explained, a trial
court does not run afoul of </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">section 153.0071 </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">if it alters the terms of an order incorporating an MSA based on subsequent
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">Michael's counsel did use the word “estoppel” once in a hearing, but he did not explain the type of estoppel to which he
referred. Counsel's statement that “you can't ask for two things at the same time,” and his later argument that his client
detrimentally relied on “the assumption that [the MSA] had been set aside,” would not suggest to the trial court that he was
addressing quasi-estoppel. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Lopez v. Munoz, Hockema & Reed, L.L.P.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 22 S.W.3d 857, 864 (Tex. 2000) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">(“Quasi-estoppel
precludes a party from asserting, to another's disadvantage, a right inconsistent with a position </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">previously </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">taken.” (emphasis
added) ); </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">Freezia v. IS Storage Venture, LLC</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 474 S.W.3d 379, 387 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, no pet.) </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">(“A party
need not show ... detrimental reliance in order to prove the affirmative defense of quasi-estoppel.”).
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-style: italic;">City of Houston v. Clear Creek Basin Auth.</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">, 589 S.W.2d 671, 677 (Tex. 1979)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt;">.
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<span style="color: rgb(33.333300%, 33.333300%, 33.333300%); font-family: 'ArialMTStd'; font-size: 9.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">In re Minix, --- S.W.3d ---- (2018)
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">events that meet the statutory requirements for modification. </span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">See </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 156.101</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">; </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-style: italic;">In re Harrison</span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">, No.
14-15-00430-CV, ––– S.W.3d ––––, ––––, 2018 WL 894442, at *30 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] Feb. 15, 2018, no
pet. h.)</span><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">. A modification may be temporary, or it may leave portions of the MSA undisturbed. When circumstances
substantially change, we should hesitate to discourage a parent from acting to protect the safety and welfare of a child by
forcing that parent to make an all-or-nothing choice between seeking a modification and preserving the bargain struck
in the MSA.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">In this case, the modification was partial and temporary. Because the modification had ended before Gladys filed her
motion for entry of judgment on the MSA, she did not invite the trial court to err in denying that motion. For these
additional reasons, I conclude that Gladys is entitled to mandamus relief.
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<span style="color: rgb(12.941200%, 12.941200%, 12.941200%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">All Citations
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanMTStd'; font-size: 10.000000pt;">--- S.W.3d ----, 2018 WL 1069558
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<br />houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-4164332598974138402018-06-21T13:33:00.002-05:002018-06-21T13:33:59.788-05:00Houston Bar Association Fee Dispute CommitteeThe Houston Bar Association has a little known committee that handles attorney fee disputes. I've served on this committee for several years. It is under-utilized.<br />
<br />
They are interesting cases. I've enjoyed volunteering for this committee.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the last one I did was family law case. The attorney's legal services agreement was old and out-dated. She was not responsive to my suggestions on how to improve her agreement to comply with current legal agreements and to bill on a monthly basis and not let the bill build up. Billing every 6 months is just not a prudent way to run a law office.<br />
<br />
The 3 person panel (2 attorneys and a lay person) handled the case in a very professional manner. We cut her bill down a bit and gave him 6 months to pay since it took her 6 months to bill him. Both were very happy with the outcome. Both parties felt "heard" and respected.houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-53356284125057237812018-06-21T13:27:00.000-05:002018-06-21T13:27:06.192-05:00Basic child issues in Texas1. You don't want guardianship. You want conservatorship in Texas. There is a big difference.<br />
<br />
Guardianship is in probate court. Conservatorship is in family court.<br />
<br />
Family court is more liberal that probate court - less reporting to the judge, etc. If possible, use the Family Code not the Estate Code in Texas.<br />
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2. Joint Managing Conservatorship or Sole Custody in Texas.<br />
<br />
There is no "shared custody" or whatever people make-up.<br />
<br />
It's PRESUMED JMC in Texas. BUT JMC can be overcome with proof. Sometimes it's not worth it for the time, cost and aggravation.<br />
<br />
3. Texas is a gender-neutral state.<br />
<br />
Mommies get no extra points for being mommies.<br />
<br />
It's in the TX Family Code that it's neutral.<br />
<br />
That said, some judges (often less and less around Texas) prefer mommy to daddy when the child is young. And I've seen female judges in Harris County that favor men over women. So getting a female judge does not guarantee that mommy wins.<br />
<br />
I got men custody BEFORE the laws changed to favor dads -- over 22 years ago! So men have always been able to get primary custody in Texas. It used to be harder - but it was doable. I did it and I saw it in Hrris County.<br />
<br />
When a man tells me he could not get custody then I often say you hired a bad lawyer. I did it many times. I also picked good daddies and bad mommies and it made it easy for the judge to rule in my client's favor.<br />
<br />
At puberty, many men fight and get primary custody.<br />
<br />
4. I don't advise men to "put themselves on child support" with the TX A G office. You need an attorney. TX A G is only here to set up child support. They don't care if you never see your child.<br />
<br />
Spend the money and hire a private lawyer. PLEASE!<br />
<br />
And I have seen typos in the TX A G paperwork - so you truly need an attorney to make sure they do the paperwork correctly. <br />
<br />
5. Rights and Duties - these are important. These are probably the most important thing to fight about. Decisions can be made solely by one parent, independently, after consultation with the other parent or by agreement with a medical tie-breaker.<br />
<br />
Don't ignore your parental rights and duties.<br />
<br />
There are some rights you have 24/7 - read them!<br />
You have the right to get report cards, go to school, talk to teachers, be informed of your child's health education and welfare, etc.<br />
<br />
There are rights you have when you have the child with you -<br />
take the child to the doctor or hospital if it's an emergency (such as a high fever, lots of blood, broken bone, etc.). Plus the right to take the child to any church you want. You have the duty to feed, clothe and shelter them when you have them. So mom can send the child with nothing & you have to have a toothbrush, toothpaste, change of clothes, pjs, toys, etc.<br />
<br />
6. It is very common for a decent and experienced family law attorney to add extra stuff not in the Texas Family Practice Manual - such as phone calls, right of first refusal regarding visits, etc.<br />
<br />
I encourage you to only hire a lawyer that does family law as their primary practice. I personally dislike having to deal with attorneys that do corporate, criminal or other areas of the law that represent their family members or friends in a "simple" divorce. The attorney is doing a huge disservice to their client.<br />
<br />
7. If you don't have much money look around for a lawyer. For example, a basic divorce takes at least 10 hours. With kids bump it up to 20 hours.<br />
If you hire a $500/hour lawyer that's $5,000 - $10,000. Can you afford it?<br />
If not, find someone else cheaper.<br />
<br />
Just because someone charges $600 an hour does not mean they are better than someone that charges $300 an hour. Many of the expensive lawyers just have huge overhead.<br />
<br />
I office in a cheap space. I save money anyway I can. I don't have a "fancy" office with staff. If you need all the bells & whistles expect to pay for it.<br />
<br />
8. Don't hire and fire lawyers. There is an unwritten rule to never be the 3rd lawyer (and to never been attorney 4 or 5) on a divorce case - it shows that usually the client is unrealistic in their expectations or difficult. If you find a good lawyer and you have hired and fired other attorneys then plan on paying a premium.<br />
<br />
9. Don't try to hire a lawyer at the last moment. Most competent attorneys won't sign onto a case with less than 90 days to prepare for trial. Attorneys are held to a professional standard and they don't want a grievance because the client is unhappy at the end of a case.<br />
<br />
10. Due to the huge number of grievances against family law attorneys, family law attorneys must protect themselves from a future grievance from an unhappy client. So you can expect them to do "discovery" to determine what assets and debts exist.<br />
<br />
11. Beware of lawyers that promise you the sun, moon and stars. I know of no judge in Texas that gives one party everything they ask for. I had one judge say I always give something to both sides because I don't want anyone to feel like they left with nothing<br />
<br />
12. A trial is expensive. Most lawyers charge at least $5,000-$10,000 due BEFORE the trial begins.<br />
<br />
13. A jury trial is very very expensive. Expect to pay over $10,000 if a jury request is asked for.<br />
<br />
Plus remember you get the 12 dumbest people that could not figure out how to get out of jury duty.<br />
<br />
Most juries are mean - they are mad at being picked, missing work, sitting in uncomfortable chairs, sitting next to people they don't know, eating bad food, having to go to court early each morning & finding a parking spot, etc. In Harris County, I've seen some really mean juries that often don't apply the law correctly. They can be scary.<br />
<br />
14. Around 90% of all cases settle at or before mediation.<br />
<br />
Why? It works, the judges know it and will keep sending you to mediation - sometimes 2-3 times.<br />
<br />
Some reasons are that people run out of money. People surrender & give up. The attorney withdraws if you don't pay their bills. You are left hanging. It's not pretty.<br />
<br />
That is why I shifted my practice to 100% mediation over 13 years ago. I saw where family law was going in Harris County & I wanted to actually help people. I made a lot less money being a mediator -- but my hugs and thank you's went up 1,000% & I can sleep at night knowing that I help people.<br />
<br />
15. The only forms in Texas to use are on www.texaslawhelp.org<br />
<br />
Avoid all other websites! Don't pay for forms!<br />
<br />
16. If you have someone else's child over 6 months you have legal standing to file for custody. Do it!<br />
<br />
17. If you are pregnant, talk to a family law attorney BEFORE the baby is born. It's sad when a young lady has a baby and does stuff before talking to a lawyer. Sometimes it is worthwhile not to apply for Medicaid and food stamps. Sometimes it's best not to put a man's name on the birth certificate.<br />
<br />
18. After practicing over 27 years, no case is ever identical.<br />
<br />
Many cases are similar -- but none are identical.<br />
<br />
And your case is not unique or special.<br />
<br />
Most divorces are pretty much the same. I rarely see a truly unique case.<br />
After practicing 27 years, I have been involved in 3 really "interesting" cases with unique facts. Such as "sex slave", "nursing while on drugs" and "husband hiding all of wife's stuff & lying to the judge" (he was a truly evil and mentally ill fellow but looked & acted totally sane).<br />
<br />
And, a $3-5 million dollar estate is not that much money in Houston.<br />
<br />
I've handled mediations with lots of zeros -- it's just "stuff" that needs to be divided.<br />
<br />
19. If you go to trial the judge will access who is telling the truth and your attitude. Judges don't like people that refuse to "co parent" or "bad mouth" the other parent. I've seen judges limit visitation when one parent cannot control themselves when bad mouthing the other parent. Judges know about parental alienation and they take it seriously in Harris County.<br />
<br />
20. Talk to a lawyer before you do anything. I would talk to a lawyer before separating. PLEASE!<br />
<br />
21. Texas does not have legal separation. You are married or divorced.<br />
<br />
22.If you are married, then you cannot have a "common law marriage" with another person.<br />
<br />
23. If you think you might be married, please talk to a lawyer before getting married again.<br />
<br />
24. There are a lot of bigamists out there. It's more common than you realize.<br />
<br />
25. Many family law attorneys and mediators get death threats. I've had so many that my husband refuses to allow me to take new cases or be appointed an amicus attorney for kids in cases anymore. I get about 1 a year.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-34155359550958339302018-06-13T18:34:00.001-05:002018-06-13T18:34:27.360-05:00Advice from a Judge about divorce and children<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="color: #154715; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Profound Advice From A Judge About How A Few Words Can
Hurt Your Child<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.4pt; margin-bottom: .25in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Parents
involved in high conflict divorces are often so emotional that they forget the
impact a few harsh words can have on their child. We hear parents daily
in the courts saying terrible things about the other parent; it is often
reported that, for example, a mother says to her child, “Your father is an
idiot,” or a father says, “Your mother is a fool.” Those few words, while
said about a child’s parent, are also a direct criticism of the child.
Lawyers, judges, therapists and child advocates tell parents not to make such
statements to their child or within hearing of their child, but no one has
explained why better than in the following advice from retired Minnesota Judge,
Michael Hass.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.4pt; margin-bottom: .25in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Judge
Haas retired in December 2002 after 26 years of service as a Judge in Cass
County, Minnesota. Below are his remarks from a particularly difficult divorce
case.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.4pt; margin-bottom: .25in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Your
children have come into this world because of the two of you. Perhaps you two
made lousy choices as to whom you decided to be the other parent. If so, that
is YOUR problem and YOUR fault.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.4pt; margin-bottom: .25in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“No
matter what you think of the other party – or what your family thinks of the
other party – these children are one-half of each of you. Remember that,
because every time you tell your child what an ‘idiot’ his father is, or what a
‘fool’ his mother is, or how bad the absent parent is, or what terrible things
that person has done, you are telling the child half of HIM is bad.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.4pt; margin-bottom: .25in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That is
an unforgivable thing to do to a child. That is not love! That is possession.
If you do that to your children, you will destroy them as surely as if you had
cut them into pieces, because that is what you are doing to their emotions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.4pt; margin-bottom: .25in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I
sincerely hope that you do not do that to your children. Think more about your
children and less about yourselves, and make yours a selfless kind of love, not
foolish or selfish, or your children will suffer.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.4pt; margin-bottom: .25in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Judge
Hass’ words are well known in the family law community. Judge Haas’
advice is so well regarded that his words of wisdom have been referenced in
multiple appellate court decisions, law review articles and other legal
publications.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.4pt; margin-bottom: .25in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hopefully
parents remember these profound words as they consider how to proceed with what
no doubt is a very difficult time in their and their child’s lives.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-65749815828222409522018-05-30T18:03:00.003-05:002018-05-30T18:03:49.620-05:00You need a mediator to have a "mediation" be valid<center style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: andale mono, lucida console, monospace;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><b>The case below reflects that you must have a mediator present to have a real mediation. </b></span></span></center>
<center style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: andale mono, lucida console, monospace;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><b>Kitchen table agreements between the parties do not count as a mediation.</b></span></span></center>
<center style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
<b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="citation no-link" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "andale mono", "lucida console", monospace; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="volume" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></b></center>
<center style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
<b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="citation no-link" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "andale mono", "lucida console", monospace; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="volume" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></b></center>
<center style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
<b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="citation no-link" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "andale mono", "lucida console", monospace; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="volume" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></b></center>
<center style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
<b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="citation no-link" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "andale mono", "lucida console", monospace; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="volume" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></b></center>
<center style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
<b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="citation no-link" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "andale mono", "lucida console", monospace; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span class="volume" style="box-sizing: border-box;">158</span> <span class="reporter" style="box-sizing: border-box;">S.W.3d</span> <span class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;">612</span></span> (2005)</b></center>
<center style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
<h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 17px 0px 8.5px; padding-bottom: 0.75em; padding-top: 0.75em;">
James Franklin LEE, Appellant,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />v.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Jane Clarius LEE, Appellee.</h1>
</center>
<center style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
No. 2-03-359-CV.</center>
<center style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 8.5px;">
<b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Court of Appeals of Texas, Fort Worth.</b></div>
</center>
<center style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
February 10, 2005.</center>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 8.5px;">
McClure Duffee & Eitzen LLP, Clint Westhoff, Dallas, for Appellant.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 8.5px;">
Harris Cook, L.L.P., Chris Harris and David Lee Cook, Arlington, for Appellee.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 8.5px;">
Panel A: CAYCE, C.J.; DAUPHINOT and GARDNER, JJ.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 8.5px;">
</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 8.5px; margin-top: 17px;">
OPINION</h2>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 8.5px;">
LEE ANN DAUPHINOT, Justice.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 8.5px;">
The issue before this court is whether a mediated settlement agreement requires mediation. We hold that it does.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 8.5px;">
Appellee Jane Clarius Lee retained an attorney, and, on May 15, 2003, filed a petition for divorce from her husband, Appellant James Franklin Lee ("Jim"). On June 1, 2003, Jane and Jim met in Jane's home to discuss settling the case. No one else was present at this meeting. They negotiated an agreement. The first page of the agreement was prepared by Jane's attorney. Jim typed the remaining pages. The agreement, entitled "Binding Settlement Agreement," contains the following language on the first page: "PURSUANT TO SECTION 6.602 OF THE TEXAS FAMILY CODE, THIS AGREEMENT IN [SIC] NOT SUBJECT TO REVOCATION." Jim and Jane both signed the agreement. Jim was not represented by an attorney at the time he signed the agreement. Before the rendition of divorce and the property division, Jim revoked or attempted to revoke his consent to the agreement, but the trial court found <span class="star-pagination" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999;">*613</span> that the signed agreement between the parties "is ... not subject to revocation." Similarly, on November 13, 2003, the trial court entered the following conclusion of law: "The Agreement meets the requirements of Texas Family Code section 6.602(b) and is therefore not subject to revocation."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 8.5px;">
In Jim's first issue, he questions whether the written agreement can be a mediated settlement agreement when there was no mediator. Section 6.602(b) and (c) provide:</div>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left: 5px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 8.5px 17px;">
(b) A mediated settlement agreement is binding on the parties if the agreement:</blockquote>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left: 5px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 8.5px 17px;">
(1) provides, in a prominently displayed statement that is in boldfaced type or capital letters or underlined, that the agreement is not subject to revocation;</blockquote>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left: 5px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 8.5px 17px;">
(2) is signed by each party to the agreement; and</blockquote>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left: 5px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 8.5px 17px;">
(3) is signed by the party's attorney, if any, who is present at the time the agreement is signed.</blockquote>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left: 5px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 8.5px 17px;">
(c) If a mediated settlement agreement meets the requirements of this section, a party is entitled to judgment on the mediated settlement agreement notwithstanding Rule 11, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, or another rule of law.<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 11.25px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">[1]</span></blockquote>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 8.5px;">
As Jane points out, neither <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">mediated settlement agreement</i> nor <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">mediated</i> is defined in section 6.602. As this court has already held when construing another part of this statute,</div>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left: 5px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 8.5px 17px;">
In construing a statute, our objective is to determine and give effect to the legislature's intent. When terms are not defined in a statute, we apply their ordinary meaning. We also presume that the legislature intended a just and reasonable result in enacting a statute. A court will not construe a statute in a manner that will lead to a foolish or absurd result when another alternative is available.<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 11.25px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">[2]</span></blockquote>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 8.5px;">
<u><b>The first definition for <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">mediation</i> in <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Webster's Third New International Dictionary</i> is "intervention between conflicting parties or viewpoints to promote reconciliation, settlement, compromise, or understanding."<span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">[3]</span> Similarly, <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">mediation</i> is defined in <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Black's Law Dictionary</i> as "[a] method of nonbinding dispute resolution involving a neutral third party who tries to help the disputing parties reach a mutually agreeable solution."<span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">[4]</span></b></u></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 8.5px;">
Jane argues that the purpose of a neutral third party's presence is to facilitate communication and that when a neutral third party's presence is not necessary to facilitate communication, the parties can agree to reconcile their differences, voluntarily invoke section 6.602, and reach a mediated settlement agreement without a mediator.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 8.5px;">
Given that section 7.006(a) of the Texas Family Code, which has been in force for many years, already allows divorcing parties to enter into written agreements without requiring mediation concerning the division of the community assets and liabilities as well as spousal maintenance,<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 9px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">[5]</span> we decline to carve a common-law exception into section 6.602(b) that allows an <span class="star-pagination" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999;">*614</span> unmediated settlement agreement to morph into a mediated settlement agreement based on mere form.<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 9px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">[6]</span> We hold that a mediated settlement agreement necessarily requires mediation and a mediator.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 8.5px;">
<u><b>Because there was no third party present at the settlement conference between Jim and Jane, there was no mediated settlement agreement. Instead, the couple's agreement is simply an agreement under section 7.006(a).<span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">[7]</span> Such agreements may be revised or repudiated before the divorce is rendered unless the agreement is binding under another rule of law.<span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">[8]</span> The trial court abused its discretion in preventing Jim from revoking his consent to the settlement on the basis that the agreement was a binding mediated settlement agreement. We therefore sustain Jim's first issue. Because of our disposition of this issue, we do not reach Jim's second issue challenging the legal sufficiency of the evidence to support the trial court's finding that he and Jane intended their agreement to comply with section 6.602(b) and that they voluntarily agreed to invoke section 6.602(b).</b></u></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 8.5px;">
We affirm the divorce but remand this case to the trial court for trial on all remaining issues.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-19772763419571531702018-05-30T17:13:00.001-05:002018-05-30T17:13:42.694-05:00Consent to treatment of a child by non-parent of the childSection 32 of the Texas Family Code addresses how and who may consent to medical, dental, psychological and surgical treatment of a child by someone NOT a parent to the child.<br />
<br />
Section 32.002 covers the Consent form and what is required in Texas.<br />
<br />
<br />houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-45121765067015549872018-05-30T17:11:00.003-05:002018-05-30T17:11:46.357-05:00Emancipation in Texas Removal of disabilities is what emancipation is called in Texas.<br />
<br />
You must be 16 or 17 to even apply for it. AND judges usually won't grant it unless you are able to 100% support yourself without anyone else's assistance.<br />
<br />
I find that most attorneys won't help a minor seek emancipation without at least $5,000 on account plus all fees (filing fee is approx. $300) since it is not easy and there is a lot of work to be done to prove that a child is able to 100% support themselves without help from anyone. I find that only athletes and entertainers qualify - they need to be able to sign endorsement contracts. I don't see the regular teenager convince a judge to sign unless both parents agree to this lawsuit. And normally you still need a good reason for a judge to make you an adult.<br />
<br />
Chapter 31 of the Texas Family Code covers "Removal of Disabilities of Minority". <br />
<br />
It goes into detail under Section 31.002 of the minimum required info that the Petition must contain.<br />
<br />
Section 31.004 requires the judge to appoint an amicus attorney or attorney ad litem to represent the interests of the petitioner (the child) at the hearing. You pay for this attorney and it normally costs at least $750 and can go up to $5,000 depending on their hourly rate and how much work they have to do.<br />
<br />
Even if you are emancipated no one HAS to lease to you or sell you a car with a note. You probably won't have any credit established in your name if you are 16 or 17. Therefore, most companies won't extend you a line of credit or lease to you until you have a credit score.<br />
<br />
Emancipating is not "magical".<br />
<br />houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-81687317260877343772018-05-30T17:08:00.002-05:002018-05-30T17:08:45.067-05:00Current Texas law on getting married The Texas legislature changed the law effective September 1, 2017.<br />
<br />
It's Section 2.101 of the Texas Family code and it's on-line for free.<br />
<br />
It states:<br />
The county clerk may not issue a marriage license if either applicant is under 18 years of age, unless each underage applicant shows that the applicant has been granted by this state or another state a court order removing the disabilities of minority of the applicant for general purposes. <br />
<br />
Removal of disabilities is what emancipation is called in Texas. You must be 16 or 17 to even apply for it. AND judges usually won't grant it unless you are able to 100% support yourself without anyone else's assistance.<br />
<br />
I find that most attorneys won't help a minor seek emancipation without at least $5,000 on account since it is not easy and there is a lot of work to be done to prove that a child is able to 100% support themselves without help from anyone. I find that only athletes and entertainers qualify - they need to be able to sign endorsement contracts. I don't see the regular teen-ager convince a judge to sign unless both parents agree to this lawsuit.<br />
<br />
Chapter 31 of the Texas Family Code covers "Removal of Disabilities of Minority". It goes into detail under Section 31.002 of the minimum required info that the Petition must contain.<br />
<br />
Section 31.004 requires the judge to appoint an amicus attorney or attorney ad litem to represent the interests of the petitioner (the child) at the hearing. You pay for this attorney and it normally costs at least $750 and can go up to $5,000 depending on their hourly rate and how much work they have to do.<br />
<br />
If a judge signs the removal of disability paperwork then you take it to the county clerk who issues marriage licenses.<br />
<br />
You will need a certified copy of the judge's court order. Generally a certified copy is approx. $1 per page. Clerks accept credit cards and cash. No checks.<br />
<br />
<span itemprop="text"></span><br />
So even with a parent's approval you cannot marry until you are 18. <br />
<br />
<br />houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-70090354635551120742018-05-16T17:50:00.005-05:002018-05-16T17:50:47.589-05:00Popular amicus attorneys in Harris County <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is a partial list of amicus attorneys used in Harris County:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Joe Indelicato<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leo Farias<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Geric Tipsword <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rogers Beaudreaux<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel Saldivar, Jr.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dara Percely<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rock Pilgrim <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Marsha Reed<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Patricia Bushman</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Allyson Brubacher<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rose Cardenas</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Myrna Gregory<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gina Gilstrap<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Karleana Farias<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rogers Boudreaux<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Holli Palmer<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lori Laird<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Itze Soliz<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Allison Travers Hamilton <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Claudia Canalas<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gigi Hedelten Oglesby<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jetty Abraham<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-80153719997677897202018-05-03T21:08:00.001-05:002018-05-03T21:08:21.010-05:00How to find an Elder Law Attorney<ol class="article-list ruled-list ruled-inside-only">
<li><div class="answer last" id="answer_8411939">
<div itemprop="suggestedAnswer" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/Answer">
<div class="page-row">
<div class="span7">
<div class="js-answer-body">
<span class="article-body sans-serif" itemprop="text">National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys </span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li><div class="js-answer-body">
<span class="article-body sans-serif" itemprop="text">website: <a href="http://www.naela.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.naela.org</a></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-66917026747803947852018-04-19T19:36:00.002-05:002018-04-19T19:36:31.182-05:00Best professional photographer in Houston! <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: dosis, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND BARFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY IN HOUSTON</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: dosis, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">
<br />REASONABLE PRICES & WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: dosis, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">
<br />TELL HER FRAN SENT YOU!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3 class="section-title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: dosis, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">
<br /></h3>
<h3 class="section-title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: dosis, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">
ADDRESS</h3>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: dosis, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
Nestled in the quiet district of Spring Branch/ Memorial area, you will find our scenic studio. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: dosis, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Barfield Photography</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: dosis, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
1312 Woodvine, Houston, TX 77055 </div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: dosis, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<abbr style="border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; cursor: help;" title="Phone">P:</abbr> 713.688.0148</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: dosis, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<abbr style="border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; cursor: help;" title="Email">E:</abbr> <a href="mailto:%20studio@barfieldphotography.com" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #57a4a4; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 200ms ease-in;">studio@barfieldphotography.com</a></div>
houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-41854127910089148942018-04-18T16:30:00.001-05:002018-04-18T16:30:20.673-05:00POST DIVORCE CHECK LIST
<br />
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<span style="background-color: rgb(100.000000%, 100.000000%, 100.000000%); color: rgb(12.109400%, 30.493200%, 47.290000%); font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">POST DIVORCE CHECK LIST
</span><br />
<ol style="list-style-type: decimal;">
<li style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Obtain a Certified Copy of Your Divorce Decree.
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b>This can be obtained from your attorney or from the county clerk at the courthouse.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b>
Make a copy of it in color so you have two. One to use and one to keep at home for back up.
</b></span><br />
<br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Keep Your Marriage License.
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b>You may need it in the future for social security or other needs in the future.
</b></span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Complete the QDRO Process.
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b>This is important to do sooner rather than later!
</b></span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Complete the IRA or Other Investment Transfer Process.
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b>To receive any IRA or other non ERISA assets from your ex-spouse you must follow the
investment firms’ rules. Call the firm for more information. This may require your ex-
spouses signature.
</b></span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Change Your Beneficiaries.
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b>Do this on assets you owned during the marriage and still retain (your own life insurance
policies, annuities, 401k/403b or IRA, etc.)
</b></span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;">Please Run a Credit Report on Yourself</span><span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">.
</span></b><br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Remove Your Ex-Spouses Name from Accounts
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b>Go through your accounts and be sure to adjust the registrations. Pay special attention to any
accounts that will be reporting to credit bureaus and any financial accounts. Re-title any
vehicles in your name alone.
</b></span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Establish Your Own Financial Identity
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b>If you haven’t already, get a credit card in your name as well as a checking and savings
account. Start building your individual credit as soon as possible. Use the credit card but pay
it off each month.
</b></span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Notify All Insurance Policies
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b>Be sure to review the beneficiaries on any policies and make sure that your ex-spouse’s name
is removed. Visit with your agent to be sure that you have all the coverage you need and that
you understand all details of your policies. If you’re going to be using COBRA health
coverage through your ex-spouse’s employer, contact your insurer to find out to set it up</b></span></li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="page" title="Page 2">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<span style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;"><b>10. Get Organized
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b>If you’ve never had one, create a filing system for all of your important financial documents as
well as any statements that need to be retained for tax information.
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;"><b>11. Create a Budget
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b>You’re embarking on a new life with a whole new set of finances. Sit down and create a
budget. If this is too overwhelming, ask your financial advisor for help.
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;"><b>12. Write a New Will
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b>Everything has changed. Be sure that your new wishes are clear so that there is no confusion.
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;"><b>13. Educate Yourself
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b>You don't want to jump into major financial decisions before getting your bearings and
making sure you fully understand the landscape. Many people find themselves in a situation
where they are responsible for financial tasks that they never had to perform in their marriage.
Take time to educate yourself and understand your financial options. Seek out a financial
expert who can help you grasp a better understanding of your money matters.
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;"><b>14. Notify your Employer
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b>Your employer may need to change company records, health or life insurance plans, and
update accounts regarding retirement or 401-K programs. You also need to fill out a new W-4
with your new tax filing status.
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;"><b>15. Revoke any Powers of Attorney
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b>If you have given your former spouse a power of attorney you should ensure that it is revoked
in writing.
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;"><b>16. For Women, Change your Name with Social Security Administration.
</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Your social security number will not change. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;"><b>17. For Women, Change your Name with the DMV (Driver’s License).
</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">You can also change the name on your Texas DMV vehicle title and change your voter
registration name at the DMV. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Book; font-size: 12pt;"><b>18. For Women, Change your Name on Your Passport.
</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'Book'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">This can typically be done via mail. </span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-84125728270894253442018-04-09T22:29:00.004-05:002018-04-09T22:29:33.900-05:00Association for Conflict Resolution - Houston Chapter 2018 Lifetime Achievement Dinner
<br />
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<b><span style="color: rgb(44.300000%, 28.600000%, 52.900000%); font-family: 'EdwardianScriptITC'; font-size: 28.000000pt;">The Association for Conflict Resolution
Houston Chapter<br />
</span><span style="color: rgb(44.300000%, 28.600000%, 52.900000%); font-family: 'EdwardianScriptITC'; font-size: 26.000000pt;">invites you to the
</span></b><br />
<span style="color: rgb(44.300000%, 28.600000%, 52.900000%); font-family: 'EdwardianScriptITC'; font-size: 36.000000pt;"><b>Lifetime Achievement Dinner
</b></span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(44.300000%, 28.600000%, 52.900000%); font-family: 'EdwardianScriptITC'; font-size: 22.000000pt;"><b>recognizing pioneers of the
professional mediation community in Houston
</b></span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(44.300000%, 28.600000%, 52.900000%); font-family: 'EdwardianScriptITC'; font-size: 22.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 13pt;">ON </span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 16pt;">S</span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 13pt;">UNDAY</span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 16pt;">, A</span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 13pt;">PRIL </span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 16pt;">29, 2018<br />
W</span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 13pt;">INE </span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 16pt;">R</span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 13pt;">ECEPTION AND </span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 16pt;">N</span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 13pt;">ETWORKING</span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 16pt;">: 5:00 </span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 13pt;">PM
</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 16pt;">D</span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 13pt;">INNER</span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 16pt;">: 6:00 </span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 13pt;">PM UNTIL </span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 16pt;">9:00 </span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 13pt;">PM
</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 13pt;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 14pt;">J</span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 11pt;">UNIOR </span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 14pt;">L</span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 11pt;">EAGUE OF </span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 14pt;">H</span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 11pt;">OUSTON
</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 14pt;">1811 B</span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 11pt;">RIAR </span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 14pt;">O</span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 11pt;">AKS </span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 14pt;">L</span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 11pt;">ANE
</span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 14pt;">H</span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 11pt;">OUSTON</span><span style="color: #714987; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 14pt;">, TX 77027
</span></b><br />
<span style="color: rgb(44.300000%, 28.600000%, 52.900000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 14.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: rgb(16.900000%, 44.300000%, 31.400000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">T<b>he Association for Conflict Resolution Houston Chapter, a 501(c)3, is the
local branch of the worldwide international organization for mediators,
arbitrators, negotiators, and facilitators. </b></span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(16.900000%, 44.300000%, 31.400000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: rgb(16.900000%, 44.300000%, 31.400000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b>This evening will be a celebration of
mediation, a silent auction, and an opportunity to win a grand door prize. </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #2b7150; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 12pt;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b><span style="color: #2b7150; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 12pt;">Ticket Prices: </span><span style="color: rgb(16.900000%, 44.300000%, 31.400000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Special Early Reservation Price until April 15, 2018: $100
</span></b><br />
<span style="color: rgb(16.900000%, 44.300000%, 31.400000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b>Regular Reservation Price: $125
</b></span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(16.900000%, 44.300000%, 31.400000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #2b7150; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Sponsors welcome:
</b></span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(16.900000%, 44.300000%, 31.400000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b>Table for 10 and Event Website Recognition: $1,000
General Supporter and Event Website Recognition: $500
</b></span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(16.900000%, 44.300000%, 31.400000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #2b7150; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;"><b>Attire is cocktail dress</b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #2b7150; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;"><br />
For reservations go to: </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Lifetime Achievement Dinner Registration Link </span></b><br />
<span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #2b7150; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;"><b>http://www.acrhouston.org
</b></span><br />
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-57954814258214734482018-04-09T22:27:00.000-05:002018-04-09T22:27:00.342-05:00DO NOT POST COMMENTS & EXPECT ME TO ANSWER !!Please call me or email if you have a question.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
People post personal info under "comments" and I cannot reply! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is very frustrating to me BUT this blog site forces me to (1) delete or (2) post. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you need to contact me then:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
fran@familylaw4u.com</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
phone - 713-805-9591 </div>
<div>
(between hours of 10 am - 7 pm ONLY 7 days a week)</div>
houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-82005186156236068762018-02-08T11:57:00.002-06:002018-02-08T11:57:44.752-06:00Am I married?Austin Texas has a governmental agency that tracks life events such as marriages, divorces, births, and deaths.<br />
<br />
It's the Bureau of Vital Statistics.<br />
<br />
If you want to know if you are married, that is where I'd start.houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-6472382369477245892018-02-08T11:56:00.000-06:002018-02-08T11:56:11.550-06:00CPS Attorneys Here is a partial list of attorneys that say they do CPS cases. <br />
<br />
I know most of them. I would call any of them for a consultation if I had a CPS case.<br />
<br />
Remember - if CPS contacts you, IMMEDIATELY hire a CPS attorney to help and guide you on this difficult and tricky process.<br />
<br />
I would want to talk to a CPS attorney BEFORE meeting with CPS.<br />
<br />
Bobbie Young<br />
<br />
Rocky LeAnn Pilgrim<br />
<br />
Dennis Slate<br />
<br />
George Clevenger<br />
<br />
Julie Brock<br />
<br />
Jetty Abraham<br />
<br />
Eric McFerrin<br />
<br />
Les Shireman<br />
<br />
Beth Arnold Trostad<br />
<br />
Barbara Rice Stadler<br />
<br />
Hillary Unger<br />
<br />
Allette Williams<br />
<br />
Thao Tran<br />
<br />
Gigi Oglesby<br />
<br />
Susan Solis<br />
<br />
<br />
Or check out www.avvo.com - best FREE website to locate attorneys in your area.<br />
<br />houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3563443210828175833.post-8620858366175569942018-02-08T11:54:00.000-06:002018-02-08T11:54:03.492-06:00Unmarried pregnant womenIf you are not married and you are pregnant, PLEASE call a family law attorney in your county to talk about your options.<br />
<br />
It is so distressing when a woman that just gave birth calls and regrets the decisions she made at the hospital regarding the child's birth certificate.<br />
<br />
I am especially upset when the new mom admits dad has drug, alcohol, mental illness or anger management issues. Or, his family members (normally paternal grandmother) is trying to control the entire situation.<br />
<br />
If you sign up for any governmental assistance such as Medicaid, food stamps, WIC, etc. you need to read ALL THE FINE PRINT. You are allowing the State of Texas Attorney General's office to file a lawsuit against the bio. dad asking for reimbursement on behalf of Texas taxpayers!<br />
<br />
You have no say in this matter once you access free or discounted services provided by the federal or state government.<br />
<br />
It's like a snow ball rolling down hill, once it starts you just cannot stop it and it gets bigger and bigger.<br />
<br />
If you don't want the Attorney General office involved, then don't access any free services.<br />
<br />
I also usually suggest that mom not put bio dad's name on birth certificate or give the child the bio dad's last name. <br />
<br />
If dad wants to be involved, make him file a Paternity action and ask a judge to give him parental rights and for the child to have his last name.<br />
<br />
If you do it, it's almost impossible to reverse. And, then it's going to cost you thousands of dollars in legal and court costs to try to get a judge to agree with you -- which many judges won't do so you wasted all your time and money.<br />
<br />
Of course, only unhappy people call a lawyer. People that are getting along never call me so I recognize that I have a possibly unrealistic view of unmarried young people.<br />
<br />
In summary, talk to a lawyer NOW and not later.<br />
<br />houstonmediationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09663228924437569764noreply@blogger.com0