Opinion
No. 14-06-01009-CV
Opinion filed May 7, 2009.
On Appeal from the 310th District Court, Harris County, Texas, Trial Court Cause No. 1989-12935.
Panel consists of Chief Justice HEDGES and Justices GUZMAN and BROWN.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Joel Mallory appeals from a post-answer default judgment for child-support arrearage under Chapter 231 of the Texas Family Code. Mallory argues that the trial court erred in granting the default judgment and denying him a new trial because he did not receive proper notice of the hearing, thereby denying him due process, he did not receive forty-five days' notice of the hearing pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 245, and, alternatively, he satisfied the standards set forth in Craddock v. Sunshine Bus Lines, Inc., 134 Tex. 388, 133 S.W.2d 124 (1939). Mallory further argues that he is entitled to a new trial because the reporter's record is missing. We reverse the trial court's judgment and remand for a new trial.
Background
Mallory and his wife divorced in 1991. The couple had one minor child and, as part of the divorce decree, the trial court ordered Mallory to pay child support in the amount of $200.00 semi-monthly. In January 2006, the Office of the Attorney General moved to confirm child-support arrearage. In July 2006, Mallory was served with the motion to confirm and he timely filed an answer to the motion.
The attorney general sent notice to Mallory that a hearing in his case had been scheduled for August 28, 2006. The notice contained no detail as to what would occur at the hearing or what motion had been set for hearing, only that a hearing was scheduled. The record does not reflect when the attorney general sent the notice, but Mallory states on appeal that he received actual notice of the hearing on August 21, 2006.
A Title IV-D associate judge held a hearing on the motion to confirm on August 28, 2006, and, when Mallory failed to appear, signed a default order in favor of the attorney general in the amount of $24,022.01. On September 22, 2006, Mallory filed a verified motion to set aside default judgment and for new trial. The attorney general did not file a response to or otherwise challenge the motion. Mallory initially set the motion for hearing, but later passed the hearing, and the motion was overruled by operation of law. Mallory appeals from the denial of his motion for new trial.
In 2003, the legislature changed the title of a child support master to associate judge for Title IV-D cases. See Act of May 27, 2003, 78th Leg., R.S., ch. 1258, §§ 2-15, 25-28, 2003 Tex. Gen. Laws 3564, 3564-68, 3570 (eff. Sept. 1, 2003).
Mallory did not appeal the IV-D default judgment order to the referring court; therefore, the order became the order of the referring court by operation of law. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 201.1041(a) (Vernon 2008).
Analysis
In his second issue, Mallory argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion for new trial and failing to set aside the default judgment because he did not receive proper notice of the potential for a disposition of his case or default setting. We agree that the notice sent to Mallory did not give him proper notice that his case could be determined on the merits or a final default judgment taken in his absence. The trial court abused its discretion in denying the motion for new trial.
A trial court's order denying a motion to set aside a default judgment or for new trial is reviewed under an abuse-of-discretion standard. Strackbein v. Prewitt, 671 S.W.2d 37, 38 (Tex. 1984); Martinez v. Martinez, 157 S.W.3d 467, 469 (Tex.App. 2004, no pet). The trial court abuses its discretion if it acts without reference to any guiding rules or principles. Goode v. Shoukfeh, 943 S.W.2d 441, 446 (Tex. 1997).
The trial court abuses its discretion in denying a motion for new trial if all of the Craddock elements are met. Bank One, Tex., N.A., v. Moody, 830 S.W.2d 81, 85 (Tex. 1992). Under Craddock, the defendant must demonstrate that (1) his failure to appear was not intentional or the result of conscious indifference; (2) there is a meritorious defense; and (3) the granting of a new trial will not operate to cause delay or injury to the opposing party. Craddock, 133 S.W.2d at 126; Ashworth v. Brzoska, 274 S.W.3d 324, 328-29 (Tex.App. 2008, no pet.). The Craddock requirements apply to post-answer default judgments. Ivy v. Carrell, 407 S.W.2d 212, 214-15 (Tex. 1966).
The law presumes that a trial court will hear a case only after giving proper notice to the parties. Ashworth, 274 S.W.3d at 329; Jones v. Tex. Dep't of Public Safety, 803 S.W.2d 760, 761 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1991, no writ). Specifically, to satisfy due-process requirements, a defendant in a post-answer default case must have been given notice that the case could be decided on the merits in the event the defendant failed to appear. See Masterson v. Cox, 886 S.W.2d 436, 439 (Tex.App. 1994, no writ). If a defendant establishes that he did not receive proper notice, he satisfies the first Craddock element and need not prove a meritorious defense. See Lopez v. Lopez, 757 S.W.2d 721, 723 (Tex. 1988). In that case, a new trial is warranted. See Ashworth, 274 S.W.3d at 329.
Whether a defendant who does not receive notice of a trial setting must satisfy the third Craddock element appears to be the subject of disagreement among Texas appellate courts. See In re Marriage of Parker, 20 S.W.3d 812, 817 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2000, no pet.) (surveying approaches). We need not decide that issue here, however, because the attorney general does not contend, nor does the record indicate, that a new trial will work an injury to it. See Cliff v. Huggins, 724 S.W.2d 778, 779 (Tex. 1987).
The notice sent to Mallory stated in pertinent part:
A hearing in the above-referenced child support case has been scheduled before the Court IV-D MASTER'S COURT #3, 49 SAN JACINTO, 2ND FLOOR, HOUSTON, TX on 8/28/2006 at 8:00 A.M.
Please be aware that your case may require that you stay all day if necessary. Much depends upon the nature of your case and the size of the court's docket. In addition, your case may require that you appear in court several times.
(emphasis in original).
The notice Mallory received did not give him notice that dispositive action would be taken in his case in the event he failed to appear. The notice did not even state what motion or issue would be heard on August 28, 2006, much less that a default could occur if Mallory failed to appear. In Masterson, the court addressed whether notice of a pretrial conference could support a default judgment rendered after the defendant failed to appear. 886 S.W.2d at 437. The court held that notice of a pretrial conference did not provide sufficient notice that, if the defendant failed to appear, the conference would become a disposition on the merits resulting in a default judgment. Id. at 439. The Masterson court reversed the default judgment because it did not comply with the requirements of due process. Id.; see also Murphree v. Ziegelmair, 937 S.W.2d 493, 496 (Tex.App. 1995, no writ) (holding that defendant who has appeared must be given notice that a failure to appear at pretrial conference may result in dismissal or default to satisfy due process).
As in Masterson, Mallory had notice that a hearing would occur, but he did not have notice that the hearing would be dispositive and a default judgment rendered in the event he failed to appear. A post-answer default judgment rendered without proper notice is an abuse of discretion. See Masterson, 886 S.W.2d at 439. The trial court did not give Mallory notice that his failure to appear at the hearing could result in dispositive action being taken in the form of a default order on child-support arrearage. As a result, the trial court abused its discretion in denying Mallory's motion for new trial or to set aside the default judgment. Id.
Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion.