Djeto v. Texas Dept. of Protective and Regulatory Services

• Decision Date: 31 May 1996
• Docket Number: No. 04-95-00043-CV,04-95-00043-CV
• Citation: 928 S.W.2d 96
• Parties: Luc DJETO, Appellant, v. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PROTECTIVE AND REGULATORY SERVICES, Appellee.
• Court: Texas Court of Appeals

Page 96

928 S.W.2d 96

Luc DJETO, Appellant, v. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PROTECTIVE AND REGULATORY SERVICES, Appellee.

No. 04-95-00043-CV.

Court of Appeals of Texas San Antonio.

May 31, 1996.

Carol Herring Weir, San Antonio, for appellant.

Catherine Torres-Stahl, Assistant Criminal District Attorney, San Antonio, for appellee.

Before LOPEZ, STONE and GREEN, JJ.

GREEN, Justice.

Luc Djeto appeals the termination of the parent-child relationship between him and his son, Luke Byars. Djeto's sole point of error challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence supporting the trial court's decree terminating the parent-child relationship. We vacate the order terminating Djeto's parental rights.

Luke is one of seven children born to Flouna Byars. The seven include two older sisters for whom the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services ("Department") seeks appointment as managing conservator, and three brothers, including Luke, whose parent-child relationship the Department seeks to terminate. ¹

Luke was born March 22, 1989. At some point in 1992, Djeto, suspecting that he was the father of Luke, and accused of being the father of another of Flouna's children, agreed to a blood test. After almost a year delay, the blood test, conducted at Department expense in early 1993, excluded Djeto as the father of the other child, while conclusively establishing his paternity as to Luke.

The petitioner has the burden to prove the elements necessary to support a termination of the parent-child relationship by clear and convincing evidence. D.O. v. Texas Dept. of Human Services, 851 S.W.2d 351, 353 (Tex.App.--Austin 1993, no writ). The clear and convincing standard requires more proof than the preponderance of the evidence standard applied in civil cases but less proof than the reasonable doubt standard applied in criminal cases. In re G.M., 596 S.W.2d 846, 847 (Tex.1980).

In deciding a "no evidence" or a "legally sufficiency" point of error, we consider only the evidence and inferences tending to support the finding and disregard all evidence and inferences to the contrary. Stafford v. Stafford, 726 S.W.2d 14, 16 (Tex.1987). If there is more than a scintilla of evidence supporting the dispositive findings, we uphold the findings. Dupree v. Texas Dept. of Protective and Regulatory Services, 907 S.W.2d 81, 83 (Tex.App.--Dallas 1995, no writ). Dupree v. Texas Dept. of Protective and Regulatory Services, 907 S.W.2d at 83.

In reviewing "factual sufficiency" points of error, we must consider and weigh all the evidence, including evidence contrary to the judgment. Id. at 81. The verdict will be set aside only if the evidence is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence as to be clearly wrong and unjust. Cain v. Bain, 709 S.W.2d 175, 176 (Tex.1986).

A trial court may terminate the parent-child relationship if the factfinder determines a parent committed one or more of the acts contained within Family Code section 161.001, and that "termination is in the best interest of the child." TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 161.001 (Vernon 1996). ² Of the grounds alleged by the petitioner, the trial court found, as bases for termination, that Djeto had (1) knowingly placed or knowingly allowed the child to remain in conditions or surroundings which endanger the physical or emotional well-being of the child, and (2) failed to support the child in accordance with his ability during a period of one year ending within six months of the date of the petition for termination was filed. TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 161.001(1)(D, F)(Vernon 1996).

As a precursor to an evidentiary examination, we must ascertain whether Djeto had a duty to act or refrain from acting in a particular manner. In order...