In The
Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana
______________________________
No. 06-07-00066-CV
______________________________
TONY PYLES, Appellant
V.
LOREN B. YOUNG AND LOUISE YOUNG, Appellees
On Appeal from the County Court at Law
Hunt County, Texas
Trial Court No. CC0600542
Before Morriss, C.J., Carter and Moseley, JJ.
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Carter
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Loren B. Young and Louise Young petitioned the Hunt County Justice of the Peace Court, 4th Place, for a forcible entry and detainer to remove Tony Pyles and Teresa Overstreet from a residence. The 196th Judicial District Court had determined in an earlier judgment that the residence belonged to the Youngs. Pyles claimed the Youngs had failed to provide sufficient notice. Both the justice court and, on appeal, the Hunt County Court at Law found in the Youngs' favor. Pyles appeals the judgment and raises three issues on appeal. According to Pyles, the trial court erred in rendering judgment for the Youngs because there was insufficient notice under the Texas Property Code; the Youngs obtained the district court judgment by committing fraud; and the trial court should have granted a new trial. We affirm the judgment of the trial court because 1) Pyles failed to preserve error concerning any lack of notice subsequent to the first suit and 2) res judicata bars relitigation of the sufficiency of the notice in the first suit. We decline the request of both parties for sanctions.
Facts
On February 26, 1998, Pyles and Overstreet entered into a contract for deed with the Youngs for the purchase and sale of residential real property located at 8822 P.R. 2289. (1) The parties dispute the terms of this contract. (2) During 2003 and 2004, the Youngs sent several notices of default and foreclosure to Pyles and Overstreet. The record contains three notices mailed during this period. (3) On or about December 23, 2003, a notice of default letter was sent to Pyles and Overstreet at 8822 P.R. 2284 and returned marked "Undeliverable As Addressed - No Box." The certified mail return receipt was returned unsigned. On or about March 8, 2004, a failure to cure default letter was sent to Pyles and Overstreet at 8822 P.R. 2284. The attached certified mail return receipt was not signed and, although not legible in the record, the letter appears to have been returned undelivered. Pyles asserts the letter was returned marked "Insufficient Address." On or about April 22, 2004, a notice of cancellation of the contract for deed was sent to Pyles and Overstreet at 8822 P.R. 2284. The letter states a copy of the foreclosure deed and affidavit of foreclosure sale April 6, 2004, were included. The record does not contain any envelopes or certified mail return receipts for this letter.
On or about May 18, 2005, the Youngs filed a complaint for forcible detainer against Pyles in district court (the first suit). The Youngs' petition was later amended to bring a trespass to try title suit. On April 24, 2006, the district court signed an order finding the Youngs to be owners of the property at "8822 PR 2289." The judgment provides "[t]he Defendant, although duly notified of the trial date, failed to appear." According to Pyles, he was "ill and unable to attend trial or pursue his remedies in that action." Pyles did not appeal the post-answer default judgment of the district court.
On August 21, 2006, the Youngs filed a forcible detainer action in justice court (the second suit). The justice court rendered judgment (4) for the Youngs, and Pyles (who had defended himself pro se), appealed the justice court's judgment to the county court at law. In the county court at law, Pyles, now represented by counsel, filed a "Counterpetition" alleging the Youngs committed fraud in the first suit. The Youngs responded that Pyles' claims were barred by res judicata. Following a trial de novo, the county court at law rendered judgment (5) that the Youngs were awarded possession of the following premises:
ALL THAT CERTAIN lot, tract, or parcel of land situated in Hunt County, Texas, being described as Lot 11 and Lot 12 of the 3rd Installment of the QUINLAN NORTH subdivision, a subdivision of Hunt County, Texas, as shown of record at Vol. 400, pg. 587, Plat Records Hunt County, Texas; said parcel containing 6.3311 acres of land more or less; together with all improvements located thereon, specifically including the white 12x50 ft. mobile home; more commonly referred to as 8822 PR 2289.
On or about February 15, 2007, the 354th Judicial District Court sitting for the Hunt County Court at Law signed a "Reformed Final Judgment," which included the same property description.
Pyles Failed to Preserve Error Concerning Lack of Notice After the First Suit
Pyles argues the Youngs failed to give him sufficient written notice under Sections 24.002 and 24.005 of the Texas Property Code. Under the Texas Property Code, a landlord must make a statutorily sufficient written demand for possession. See Tex. Prop. Code Ann. §§ 24.002, 24.005 (Vernon 2000); Kennedy v. Andover Place Apartments, 203 S.W.3d 495, 496 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, no pet.); see also AMC Mortg. Servs. v. Shields, No. 05-06-01194-CV, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 3574 (Tex. App.--Dallas May 9, 2007, no pet.) (mem. op.). Although most of Pyles' argument focuses on the notices given before the first suit, the argument could be interpreted as claiming the Youngs were required to give another notice to vacate before filing the second suit.
By holding over after an adverse judgment had been rendered against him, Pyles became a permissive tenant, or a tenant at sufferance. Tex-Wis Co. v. Johnson, 534 S.W.2d 895, 899 (Tex. 1976); Witcher v. Bennett, 120 S.W.3d 922, 924 (Tex. App.--Texarkana 2003, pet. denied). To the extent Pyles' argument claims the Youngs provided insufficient notice to file the second suit, i.e., this forcible detainer suit, Pyles has failed to preserve error. Pyles has failed to direct this Court to where in the record this issue was presented to the trial court. In order to preserve a complaint for appellate review, a party must present to the trial court a timely request, objection, or motion "with sufficient specificity to make the trial court aware of the complaint, unless the specific grounds were apparent from the context . . . ." Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a)(1)(A). Pyles has failed to direct this Court to where in the record he argued he was entitled to additional notice before the filing of the second suit. In Pyles' "Counterpetition," Sections 24.005 and 24.002 are not cited, and Pyles merely alleges the notices in the prior suit were insufficient. Because there is no reporter's record of the trial de novo, there is no record of what arguments were made to the trial court. (6) This argument was not raised in any of the post-trial hearings for which we do have a reporter's record. Even if Pyles was entitled to additional notice before the filing of the second suit, the error is not preserved for our review. See Tex. R. App. P. 33.1.
Res Judicata Bars Pyles From Relitigating the Notice Issues Which Should Have Been Raised in the First Suit
To the extent Pyles argues the Youngs provided insufficient notice before the first suit, Pyles' claims are barred by res judicata. Throughout his brief, Pyles argues the notices provided by the Youngs in 2003 and 2004 are inadequate because they were mailed to an incorrect address. Pyles argues the foreclosure notices were insufficient under the Texas Property Code, citing Sections 24.002, 24.005, and 51.002. See Tex. Prop. Code Ann. §§ 24.002, 24.005, 51.002 (Vernon Supp. 2007). According to Pyles, the Youngs committed fraud on the district court by alleging all proper notices had been given. The Youngs respond that the doctrine of res judicata prohibits Pyles from raising the sufficiency of the foreclosure notices in the first suit. (7)
Res judicata, also known as claim preclusion, prevents the relitigation of a finally-adjudicated claim and related matters that should have been litigated in a prior suit. Barr v. Resolution Trust Corp., 837 S.W.2d 627, 628 (Tex. 1992). Texas follows the transactional approach to res judicata. Id. at 630. This approach mandates that a defendant bring as a counterclaim any claim arising out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the opposing party's suit. State & County Mut. Fire Ins. Co. v. Miller, 52 S.W.3d 693, 696 (Tex. 2001); Barr, 837 S.W.2d at 630. It requires proof of three elements: (1) a prior final judgment on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction, (2) identity of parties or those in privity with them, and (3) a second action based on the same claims as were raised or could have been raised in the first action. Amstadt v. United States Brass Corp., 919 S.W.2d 644, 652 (Tex. 1996); Cherokee Water Co. v. Freeman, 145 S.W.3d 809, 813 (Tex. App.--Texarkana 2004, pet. denied).
Res judicata will bar the assertion in a second suit of a claim that should have been litigated as a defense or compulsory counterclaim in a prior suit. See Ingersoll-Rand Co. v. Valero Energy Corp., 997 S.W.2d 203, 208-10 (Tex. 1999); Jack H. Brown & Co. v. Nw. Sign Co., 718 S.W.2d 397, 399-400 (Tex. App.--Dallas 1986, writ ref'd n.r.e.) (applies even if original suit ended in default judgment). The Youngs provided proof of all the elements of res judicata. The first suit was a final judgment involving the same transaction, and the notice issues could have been raised in the first action. Both Pyles and the Youngs were parties in the first suit. Res judicata precludes Pyles from claiming in this suit that the notice in the first suit was insufficient.
Pyles argues the Youngs have confused the doctrines of collateral estoppel, or issue preclusion, with res judicata, or claim preclusion. According to Pyles, the "correct doctrine to apply here is collateral estoppel." Issue preclusion, or collateral estoppel, prevents the re-litigation of particular issues already resolved in a prior suit. Lone Star Partners v. Nationsbank Corp., 893 S.W.2d 593, 597 (Tex. App.--Texarkana 1994, writ denied). However, collateral estoppel and res judicata are not mutually exclusive doctrines. "Collateral estoppel is narrower than res judicata. It is frequently characterized as issue preclusion because it bars relitigation of any ultimate issue of fact actually litigated and essential to the judgment in a prior suit . . . ." Bonniwell v. Beech Aircraft Corp., 663 S.W.2d 816, 818 (Tex. 1984). The inquiry for collateral estoppel, unlike res judicata, is focused on the point or question actually litigated and determined in the original action, not what might have been litigated and determined. See Getty Oil Co. v. Ins. Co. of N. Am., 845 S.W.2d 794, 800 (Tex. 1992). The fact that issue preclusion may not bar litigation of an issue does not prevent the application of claim preclusion. Because the elements of claim preclusion have been met, Pyles is prohibited from challenging the adequacy of the notice in the first suit.
Pyles argues that the fraud on the court renders the first suit void. A void judgment is not susceptible to ratification or confirmation, and its nullity cannot be waived. Easterline v. Bean, 121 Tex. 327, 49 S.W.2d 427, 429 (1932); In re Redding, No. 12-07-00098-CV, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 3329 (Tex. App.--Tyler Apr. 30, 2007, orig. proceeding [mand. dismissed]); In re Guardianship of Erickson, 208 S.W.3d 737, 740 (Tex. App.--Texarkana 2006, no pet.). However, the fact that a final judgment may have been wrong does not affect the application of res judicata. Segrest v. Segrest, 649 S.W.2d 610, 612 (Tex. 1983). A judgment is void only when the court rendering judgment "had no jurisdiction of the parties or property, no jurisdiction of the subject matter, no jurisdiction to enter the particular judgment, or no capacity to act." Browning v. Prostok, 165 S.W.3d 336, 346 (Tex. 2005) (citing Austin Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Sierra Club, 495 S.W.2d 878, 881 (Tex. 1973)); see Geldard v. Watson, 214 S.W.3d 202, 209 (Tex. App.--Texarkana 2007, no pet.) (judgment void because justice court lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of title). Because the district court had jurisdiction in the first suit, any other error merely renders the judgment voidable rather than void. Armentor v. Kern, 178 S.W.3d 147, 149 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2005, no pet.). Even an erroneous judgment does not render the final judgment void. There are procedures by which Pyles may have been able to successfully challenge the foreclosure notices. (8) Pyles, though, is now barred from challenging the sufficiency of the foreclosure notices by the doctrine of res judicata.
We Decline to Assess Sanctions Against Either Party
Both sides have requested that this Court award sanctions for their opponent's actions. Pyles requests that we assess sanctions under various rules, including Tex. R. App. P. 43.6, which allows this Court to make "any other appropriate order that the law and the nature of the case require." See Tex. R. App. P. 43.6. Pyles claims theYoungs and their counsel have misstated and misquoted the law and the facts. In addition, Pyles requests we assess sanctions against the Youngs and their counsel for committing fraud in the first suit. The Youngs claim Pyles has brought a frivolous appeal and request sanctions against Pyles and his counsel. Under Rule 45, we may, at our discretion, award "just damages" to a prevailing party in an appeal if we determine the appeal is frivolous after considering the record, briefs, or other papers filed. See Tex. R. App. P. 45; Solares v. Solares, 232 S.W.3d 873, 883 (Tex. App.--Dallas 2007, no pet.). "An appeal is frivolous if when it is brought there were no reasonable grounds to believe the judgment would be reversed or when it is pursued in bad faith." Id. We have no doubt both sides could have disposed of this dispute more efficiently. However, after reviewing the record and the briefs, we decline to find Pyles' appeal frivolous and decline to sanction the Youngs under Rule 45. We overrule both requests for sanctions.
We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Jack Carter
Justice
Date Submitted: November 21, 2007
Date Decided: December 21, 2007
1. The contract contains a handwritten notation correcting the address from 8822 P.R. 2284.
2. The copy of the contract filed by the Youngs contains a handwritten correction that the monthly installments shall continue until April 1, 2005. The copy of the contract filed by Pyles does not contain this correction and specifies the monthly installments shall continue until April 1, 2002.
3. Young claims a letter notifying Pyles of default was sent April 25, 2003. The record does not contain a copy of this letter.
4. We note the justice court rendered judgment to the wrong address: 8822 PR 2284.
5. The judgment also provides that Pyles' "Original Counterpetition" shall be severed from this cause. No complaint has been made to the severance.
6. We note that we do not have a complete record on appeal. The trial in the county court at law occurred on or about December 20, 2006. The reporter's record filed with this Court does not contain any record of the proceedings on December 20, 2006. The Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure now provide for the use of a partial record. See Tex. R. App. P. 34.6(c). If Rule 34.6(c) is properly invoked, we must presume that the record is the entire record for purposes of reviewing stated issues, even if the issue complains of the insufficiency of evidence to support a specific finding. See id.; Furr's Supermarkets, Inc. v. Bethune, 53 S.W.3d 375, 380 (Tex. 2001). Pyles, though, failed to successfully traverse the rule. Under Rule 34.6(c)(1), "[i]f the appellant requests a partial reporter's record, the appellant must include in the request a statement of the points or issues to be presented on appeal and will then be limited to those points or issues." See Tex. R. App. P. 34.6(c)(1). The record in this case does not contain a statement of points.
If the record is incomplete and the appellant has not complied with Rule 34.6(c), the appellate
court must presume that the omitted portions support the judgment or order from which the appeal
is taken. In re Estate of Arrendell, 213 S.W.3d 496, 503 (Tex. App.--Texarkana 2006, no pet.);
CMM Grain Co. v. Ozgunduz, 991 S.W.2d 437, 439-40 (Tex. App.--Fort Worth 1999, no pet.); see
Christiansen v. Prezelski, 782 S.W.2d 842, 843 (Tex. 1990). Therefore, we must presume the
omitted portions of the record support the judgment.
7. The Youngs also claim the notices were "actually delivered to Appellant on numerous
occasions, both personally and through his counsel of record." The Youngs, though, fail to direct
us to where this statement is supported by the record.
8. Pyles had the opportunity to challenge the foreclosure notices at the first trial in district
court, but failed to appear for trial. Pyles did not appeal the post-answer default judgment. We note
Pyles cites several provisions from Texas Jurisprudence providing a judgment can be vacated based
on fraud. See 48 Tex. Jur. 3d Judgments §§ 257, 328 (2007). Section 257 specifically provides
such a challenge "is in essence a bill of review and is governed by the law applicable to such
proceedings." 48 Tex. Jur. 3d Judgments § 257. A bill of review requires the proponent to plead
and prove 1) a meritorious defense, 2) that he or she was prevented from making due to the fraud,
accident, or wrongful act of his or her opponent, and 3) that the failure to appear was unmixed with
any fault or negligence of his or her own. 5 Roy W. McDonald & Elaine A. Carlson, Texas
Civil Practice § 29:10 (1999); Cortland Line Co. v. Israel, 874 S.W.2d 178, 183 (Tex.
App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1994, writ denied). According to an attachment filed to appellee's brief,
Pyles has filed a bill of review action in a separate proceeding.
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In The
Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana
______________________________
No. 06-09-00172-CR
______________________________
BARBARA HOLZ, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the County Court
Marion County, Texas
Trial Court No. 12,944
Before Morriss, C.J., Carter and Moseley, JJ.
Memorandum Opinion by Chief Justice Morriss
MEMORANDUM OPINION
There is no question that the dog named Misty, also identified as Lone Star 42, was a pitiful sight when the Rescue and Investigations Division of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Texas removed her from Barbara Holzs Marion County property. Beyond that indisputable fact, however, the SPCAs view differed from Holzs perspective.
Holz claimed that Misty was about fifteen years old at the time; the SPCA estimated her age at around eight years. Holz claimed that she had been nursing Misty toward health, with some success, and that Misty was properly and carefully provided food and water. The contrary view was that Misty was not provided adequate food and water. Misty was one of the more extreme examples among a large number of dogs taken from Holzs property at the same time, in varying degrees of distress and poor condition.
Holz was convicted of the misdemeanor offense of cruelty to animals.[1] After reviewing the briefs before us, the record of the trial below, and the applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the trial court because (1) veterinary reports admitted into evidence at trial were not testimonial, (2) Holz did not preserve her complaint regarding admission of testimony about dead dogs found nearby, and (3) the evidence was legally and factually sufficient.
(1) Veterinary Reports Admitted into Evidence at Trial Were Not Testimonial
Holzs first two points of error claim violations of her Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses against her. Holz claims confrontation violations in evidence of two forms generated by the SPCA, one by its veterinary technician (States Exhibit 4, the subject of Holzs first point of error), and another by its chief veterinarian (States Exhibit 5, addressed in point of error 2). See Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 68 (2004). In Crawford, the United States Supreme Court held that out-of-court testimonial evidence violates the Confrontation Clause unless the declarant is unavailable to testify and the defendant had a prior opportunity to cross-examine him or her. Id.
The State argues, as it did at trial, that the documents were admissible as business records. See Tex. R. Evid. 803(6). That the reports are business records is not contested.
Even if a statement is allowed by a rule of evidence, it may still be testimonial and implicate the Confrontation Clause. Last year, the United States Supreme Court discussed, in this context, hearsay exceptions such as that for business records, noting, [b]usiness and public records are generally admissible absent confrontation not because they qualify under an exception to the hearsay rules, but becausehaving been created for the administration of an entitys affairs and not for the purpose of establishing or proving some fact at trialthey are not testimonial.[2] Melendez-Diaz, 129 S.Ct. at 253940. For the Melendez-Diaz Court, the question of the document qualifying as a business record was less important than the fact that it was prepared specifically for use at . . . trial. Id. at 2540. Evidence can qualify as a business record exception to the hearsay rule and still be testimonial in nature.
We must determine whether the challenged exhibits are testimonial, and we do that as a question of law. Wall v. State, 184 S.W.3d 730, 742 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006).
Although the United States Supreme Court has not set out a detailed definition of what constitutes testimonial statements, it has described such statements as those made under circumstances which would lead an objective witness reasonably to believe that the statement would be available for use at a later trial. Crawford, 541 U.S. at 5152. In a test that can be confidently applied in this case, statements are testimonial only when the primary purpose of the interrogation is to establish or prove past events potentially relevant to later criminal prosecution. Davis, 547 U.S. at 822; De La Paz v. State, 273 S.W.3d 671, 680 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). If that purpose is medical treatment, for example, the statement would not be testimonial. Melendez-Diaz, 129 S.Ct. at 2533 n.2 (medical reports created for treatment purposes . . . would not be testimonial).
The SPCA came to Holzs house, corralled, cataloged, and seized the animals; and it was employees of the SPCA, the veterinary technician and the SPCAs chief veterinarian who authored the reports which form the basis of Holzs Crawford complaints.[3] While it is possible that the authors of those reports could have reasonably believed that these reports would be available at a later trial, such a conclusion is not clear, and there is no evidence the documents at issue in Holzs trial were prepared specifically for use at her trial. Cf. Melendez-Diaz, 129 S.Ct. at 2540 (statements at issue prepared specifically for use at petitioners trial). There is nothing in the record to suggest the documents were prepared in anticipation of or preparation for trial.
Here, SPCA investigator Chris West testified that the Rescue Evaluation FormStates Exhibit 4, compiled by a veterinary technicianwas a form that was done on any animal with the exception of equine and cattle. States Exhibit 5, filled out by the SPCA chief veterinarian, was described as a veterinarian request that the investigators and evaluators would fill out while they are evaluating animals if we feel that they need to be seen by a vet within the first 24-hours of our care. West went on to describe the conditions in which the animals lived outside the home, and he concluded the animals needed to be removed from the property. From the context of Wests testimony and pictures in the record, it appears similar Rescue Evaluation Forms were completed on all dogs at the scene. Exhibit 5, completed and signed by a veterinarian, has two distinct sets of handwriting; one set says, RescuePlease check body condition, hair loss, eye discharge *Dog was extremely hungry*. The second style of handwriting, presumably by the veterinarian, says, THIN & EMACIATED [;] NO [SYMBOL UNCLEAR] OR DIARRHEA NOTED [;] EATING VORACIOUSLY [;] DIFFUSE ALOPECIA. Based on the context of the testimony from West and the exhibits, we conclude these documents were compiled for diagnostic or medical treatment purposes, and therefore are not testimonial. See Melendez-Diaz, 129 S.Ct. at 2533 n.2; Berkley v. State, 298 S.W.3d 712, 715 (Tex. App.San Antonio 2009, pet. refd) (where there was unchallenged evidence sexual assault nursing examination report was completed for purpose of rendering medical treatment, report not testimonial; citing Crawford and Melendez-Diaz).[4] As States Exhibits 4 and 5 were not testimonial, the trial court did not err in admitting them to evidence. Holzs first two points of error are overruled.
(2) Holz Did Not Preserve Her Complaint Regarding Admission of Testimony About Dead Dogs Found Nearby
Holz also claims error in the trial courts admission of testimony that Don Adams, Holzs neighbor, found dog carcasses on his property and that drag marks led from the container in which the animals were found to Holzs property. Adams also testified that he found dead dogs on the Corp property, which apparently was United States Corp of Engineers property adjacent to Adams, and possibly to Holzs as well. The inference to be drawn by the jury seems to have been that Holz took the bodies of dead dogs to these properties.
Adams testimony and Holzs objection occurred as follows:
Q. [By the State] Did you find dead dogs on your property?
A. [By Adams] I did.
Q. And did you see dead dogs on the Corp property, by the way?
[Defense counsel]: This testimony, Your Honor, for the record, we would object to any testimony about dogs found that had nothing to do with this case.
The State claims this objection was inadequate to preserve appellate review. From the context of the questioning and the objection lodged, it appears that, while Holz may have been objecting to any reference to any dead dogs found in the vicinity of her property (and this is how she couches her appellate point of error), at most she timely objected to the question about finding dead dogs on the Corp property, and failed to timely object to Adams answer that he found dead dogs on his property.[5] Therefore, we find Holz only preserved error regarding the question and answer about animals found on the Corp property. The matter becomes moot, though, because that objection does not comport with the appellate point Holz now raises.
We read Holzs objection as one to the relevance of the evidence. In contrast, in her appellate brief, Holz complains that admission of evidence that dead dogs were found in the vicinity of Holzs property was erroneously admitted. Holz argues that, even if the evidence fits into an exception to the extraneous offense rule such as res gestae, identify [sic], scienter, motive or to refute a defensive theory so as to become admissible, its relevance must not be outweighed by the prejudicial effect. Holzs appellate point does not comport with her trial objection and is not preserved for our review. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1; Resendiz v. State, 112 S.W.3d 541, 547 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003).[6]
(3) The Evidence Was Legally and Factually Sufficient
Holz also complains the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support the jurys verdict. We disagree.
In reviewing the legal sufficiency of the evidence, we view all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and determine whether, based on that evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Laster v. State, 275 S.W.3d 512 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009); Roberts v. State, 273 S.W.3d 322 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008).
In a factual sufficiency review, we review all the evidence, but do so in a neutral light instead of the light most favorable to the verdict. We determine whether the evidence supporting the verdict is either too weak to support the fact-finders verdict, or, considering conflicting evidence, is so outweighed by the great weight and preponderance of the evidence that the jurys verdict is clearly wrong and manifestly unjust. Laster, 275 S.W.3d 512; Lancon v. State, 253 S.W.3d 699, 705 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008); Roberts v. State, 220 S.W.3d 521, 524 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).
In this analysis, we use a hypothetically correct jury charge to evaluate both the legal and factual sufficiency of evidence. Grotti v. State, 273 S.W.3d 273 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). Such a charge accurately sets out the law, is authorized by the indictment (in this case, the information), does not unnecessarily increase the States burden of proof or unnecessarily restrict the States theories of liability, and adequately describes the particular offense for which the defendant was tried. Villarreal v. State, 286 S.W.3d 321(Tex. Crim. App. 2009); Malik v. State, 953 S.W.2d 234, 240 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). To convict Holz under this statute and the information filed by the State, the State had to prove that Holz (1) intentionally or knowingly; (2) failed unreasonably to provide necessary food, water, care, or shelter; (3) to an animal in Holzs custody. Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 42.092(b)(3) (Vernon Supp. 2009).
Holz lived near Lake O the Pines in Marion County. She had about thirty to forty or more dogs in and on the grounds of her house in Marion County in July 2008.[7] The dogs were found in wretched conditionmany with matted fur, eye discharges which indicated infections, and living in unclean pens. Inside the house, where many dogs were housed, was wall-to-wall compacted excrement, which produced a dangerous level of ammonia within the residence.
Don Adams lived across the street, about 300 yards from Holzs residence. Adams was concerned about the large number of dogs on Holzs property. On one occasion, Adams found dead dogs on his property. Adams also found a large plastic container on the property adjacent to his, which at trial Adams and the State referred to as Corp property. Track or drag marks led from the container to Holzs property. Adams described seeing evidence of several puppies dead after laying in the road and other dogs dying off. He described an unpleasant smell from Holzs property when the wind blew toward Adams property. Adams voiced these concerns to Marion County law enforcement agencies, who put him in touch with Caroline Wedding, president of the Humane Society of Marion County.
Wedding made contact with Holz and ultimately visited Holzs property. As soon as Wedding emerged from her car at the Holz property, Weddings leg was covered with fleas. She gave Holz flea shampoo, loaned her crates for carrying the dogs, and arranged for payment for a local veterinarian to administer vaccines to the several puppies Holz had. Wedding and Holz discussed that puppies were more adoptable if they had been given vaccinations. On her first visit, Wedding did not go in Holzs house, but said there was a stench or smell coming from the house.
On July 10, 2008, when Wedding came to the house with the SPCA and the animals were seized, Wedding described the inside of the house, where Misty was found. Wedding saw feces up several feet on the walls and she said everything in the house was covered in feces and urine. West described the feces as compacted like concrete. Wedding said she was [a]bsolutely sure there was insufficient food for the dogs on Holzs property. When Misty, the subject of the instant information, was released from the house, the dog stopped at a food bowl and ate voracious[ly]: there was no stopping the dog from eating the food. The dog just had no hair said Wedding, which she said indicated malnutrition. Wedding said the dogs in the house did not have access to adequate water. While there was evidence of some water in bowls inside and outside the house, Wedding testified that there was only enough for subsistence and that feeding a dog marginally or at all [sic] and giving it water is not proper care of an animal.
Misty is portrayed in a picture placed into evidence. She was very thin, with ribs clearly distinguishable under her skin. She was almost completely bereft of hair.
West testified he was notified by Wedding about the dogs and the conditions at Holzs property. West first visited the property without Wedding, July 9, and spoke to Holz, who would not allow West to examine the interior of her home or the dogs there without a warrant. In his tour of the exterior of the property, though, West immediately had concerns about lack of water and shelter for the dogs he saw, as well as evidence of malnutrition. When West asked Holz about the veterinary care the dogs received, Holz told him she believed in the holistic approach. . . . and only the really worst ones needed to be seen by a vet. Based on his observations, West decided the dogs needed to be removed from the property, and he secured a warrant for their seizure. On July 10, he oversaw the seizure, where SPCA personnel identified, catalogued, and secured something in excess of thirty dogs. When West tried to enter the house, he was met with an extremely foul odor coming from inside. Using an ammonia meter, he detected a dangerous level of ammonia. He had to use a respirator to get into the house, and in less than a minute the ammonia meter hit its maximum reading of ninety-nine parts per million. According to West, any reading higher than fifteen parts per million is unsafe for long-term exposure; a reading of more than fifty, said West, would usually preclude entry without protection. West never specifically said there was no circulation or air conditioning in the house, but did say the temperature outside was in the nineties. Holz would later testify the house had adequate ventilation and air conditioning.
The animals were put in individual crates or containers and taken to the SPCA facility in McKinney, Texas. During the seizure process, photographs were taken to detail the condition of the property; the photographs were admitted into evidence. West described a large amount of feces and refuse in the dogs pens and said he did not see any water in the various water bowls in the outside area. Nor did he recall seeing any food in any of the food bowls.
Misty was described by West as emaciated. West said, On a one to five scale, one being a perfectly healthy dog, five being grossly emaciated, the dog is a five. Its emaciated.
The State presented a veterinarian, Dr. Carol Hedges. She had reviewed the Rescue Evaluation Form completed by an SPCA veterinary technician and a document completed by the SPCAs veterinarian.[8] Hedges said that irrespective of the report from the SPCA veterinarian, pictures she had seen of the dogs at Holzs property made Hedges take note of the animals body condition, hair loss, dermatitis, and long nails. She said these conditions were objectively noticeable, as opposed to subjective descriptions she would have gleaned from others reports. These conditions indicated the dogs were not getting basic care. Based on the pictures she had seen of the various dogs, and Misty in particular, as well as the SPCA veterinarians report, she opined that Misty was not being fed adequately. Hedges pointed out that, where multiple dogs are present, a pecking order is established where, even if food is present, some animals may not get to eat. She expressed the specific opinion that Misty did not appear to be in good health. As for the house in which Misty was found, Hedges said the conditions in the house would perpetuate repeated infections, parasites, and other diseases.
Holz took the stand in her defense. She testified that Misty was actually about fifteen years old when seized, as opposed to the age of about eight as estimated by the SPCA forms. Holz attributed Mistys skin problems to hormones, a thyroid condition, and demodex mange, which Misty had inherited from her mother. Holz said she fed Misty holistic, natural foods (including ground turkey) frequently, every two to three hours. She said Misty had been very sick, but, in the two to three months before the seizure, Holz had nursed her back to the condition in which the SPCA found her in July 2008. Holz acknowledged that Misty had not been seen by a veterinarian since 2002. Holz also pointed out several food and water bowls throughout the inside and outside areas where the dogs lived and said the house was well ventilated with central air, window-unit air conditioners, and fans, which kept the house air conditioner cool. Holz acknowledged there was a problem with too many dogs, which overwhelmed her, but she blamed the problem on people routinely dumping puppies and dogs near her property and she said she had consistently tried to get help from Marion County authorities.
(a) Legal Sufficiency
The evidence included a picture of Misty, missing most of her hair and with ribs showing prominently through her skin; descriptions of Misty eating voraciously when food was placed in front of her; and the SPCA investigator describing Misty as emaciated. The home in which Misty was kept had a dramatically unsafe ammonia level. There were upwards of thirty or more animals living inside the house, which was described as filled with excrement. The evaluation forms completed on the SPCAs taking possession of Misty described her as emaciated and noted various parasites as well as discharges from her eyes and nose and the apparent presence of mange. Looking at the verdict in the light most favorable to the prosecution, a rational jury could have found that Holz unreasonably knowingly failed to provide, at a minimum, adequate food, care, or shelter for the dog the subject of this suit. The evidence was legally sufficient.
(b) Factual Sufficiency
Here, we also look at the evidence that opposed the judgment of the trial court. Holz told the jury she fed Misty every two to three hours and, at the time of the seizure, had been nursing Misty back to health for months. Holz said the floor of the house was covered in chocolate- colored carpet, not compacted feces. As regards the ammonia-concentrated air and stench described by States witnesses, Holz said that she had ample ventilation in the house with air conditioners and fans and that she did not notice any smell, though she did admit it could have been because she was around it all the time. Contrary to the heart of the States allegations that Holz did not provide sufficient water and food, the testimony from States witnesses was that they could not be sure no food or water was set out. In some of the pictures admitted into evidence, water and food are visible in bowls on the ground. However, West did testify that the SPCA personnel set out food when they arrived. We defer to the jury to resolve conflicts in testimony and evaluate witness credibility, and will not substitute our opinion unless the jurys finding is clearly wrong or unjust. Jones v. State, 944 S.W.2d 642, 648 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996).
Considering all the evidence in a neutral light, we find that the evidence was neither so weak nor so outweighed by the great weight of any contrary evidence as to make the verdict seem clearly wrong and manifestly unjust. The evidence was factually sufficient.
We affirm the trial courts judgment.
Josh R. Morriss, III
Chief Justice
Date Submitted: February 10, 2010
Date Decided: March 23, 2010
Do Not Publish
[1]We have been presented with a record for only the case in which Holz was convicted. Holz asserts she was tried for two charges of misdemeanor cruelty to animals, where each case alleged an offense against a specific animal. Holz says she was acquitted on one charge and convicted of the other. The State does not dispute this representation of the proceedings, and the statements at opening and closing arguments, as well as testimony throughout the trial, support this reading of the procedural history. The parties also seem to agree that the one charge for which Holz was convicted involved an allegation of failing to provide food, water, or shelter to an animal referred to in the SPCA investigation and then at trial as Lone Star 42, a dog Holz called Misty.
[2]Melendez-Diaz was tried for distributing and trafficking in cocaine. Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, 129 S. Ct. 2527, 2530 (2009). To prove the substance at issue was cocaine, the State presented certificates of analysis, which were affidavits from analysts at the state laboratory stating, The substance was found to contain: Cocaine. Id. at 2531. The defendant objected, asserting that the Confrontation Clause required the analysts to testify in person. Id. The Court held that the analysts affidavits were testimonial statements, and the analysts were witnesses for purposes of the Sixth Amendment and that the defendant had a right to confront the analysts at trial. Id. at 2532. The United States Supreme Court looked to the substance of the certificates to determine if they were made under circumstances which would lead an objective witness reasonably to believe that the statement would be available for use at a later trial and to the use of the affidavits to determine if they were functionally identical to live, in-court testimony, doing precisely what a witness does on direct examination. Id. (quoting Davis v. Washington, 547 U.S. 813, 830 (2006); Crawford, 541 U.S. at 52).
[3]The only law enforcement agent to testify at trial was a Marion County sheriffs office investigator who testified that (1) he was present when the warrant to seize the dogs was executed and, (2) he arrested Holz.
[4]Cf. Long v. State, No. 11-07-00319-CR, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 6577 (Tex. App.Eastland Aug. 20, 2009, pet. dismd) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (Trial court admitted, under hearsay exception for statements for purposes of medical diagnosis, toxicology report completed during autopsy of murder victim. Toxicology report was negative for use of alcohol or drugs. Court found toxicology report testimonial, and therefore trial court erred in allowing its admission; error was found harmless beyond reasonable doubt.).
[5]To preserve error regarding the improper admission of evidence, the appellant must make a timely and specific objection to the complained-of evidence at trial. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a); Ramirez v. State, 74 S.W.3d 152, 154 (Tex. App.Amarillo 2002, pet. refd). Failure to do so waives any error in the admission of the evidence. Boyington v. State, 787 S.W.2d 469, 47071 (Tex. App.Houston [14th Dist.] 1990, pet. refd). To be timely, a party must object either (1) before the evidence is admitted, if possible, or (2) if not possible to object before the evidence is admitted, as soon as the objectionable nature of the evidence becomes apparent. Ethington v. State, 819 S.W.2d 854, 858 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). An appellants objection is untimely, and error is waived, if he or she fails to object until after an objectionable question has been asked and answered and he or she can show no legitimate reason to justify the delay. Dinkins v. State, 894 S.W.2d 330, 355 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).
[6]The balance of her argument is as follows:
Appellant urges that the evidence of dead dogs was not admissible under any exception to the extraneous offense rule and that the prejudicial effect of admitted evidence of dead dogs in a prosecution for animal cruelty is so prejudicial that the case must be reversed and retried without this evidence.
We infer that in this single sentence Holz is attempting to argue violations of evidentiary Rules 403 and 404(b). Tex. R. Evid. 403, 404(b). Not only are discrete, specific objections required to raise these legal points, but individual, specific legal arguments must be presented to address each asserted rule violation on appeal. See Montgomery v. State, 810 S.W.2d 372, 388 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991) (op. on rehg); see also Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(i).
[7]The numbers of dogs, including on Holzs property outside the house and inside the house, varied. The State asked Holz how many of the eighty dogs found were hers. Holz said there were not eighty dogs present, but that she had twenty-four. SPCA investigator West testified there were thirty to thirty-five dogs inside the house, but never estimated the number of dogs outside Holzs home. Wedding, president of the Humane Society of Marion County, testified there were thirty to thirty-seven dogs inside the house. Several photographs admitted into evidence showed, perhaps, tens of dogs in the fenced areas immediately outside the home.
[8]These documents, States Exhibits 4 and 5 respectively, were admitted into evidence during the testimony of West, and form the basis of Holzs first two points of error.