                         COURT OF APPEALS
                         SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
                              FORT WORTH


                               NO. 2-07-347-CV


IN THE INTEREST OF D.E.H.,
A MINOR CHILD

                                    ------------

        FROM THE 323RD DISTRICT COURT OF TARRANT COUNTY

                                    ------------

               OPINION ON EN BANC RECONSIDERATION

                                    ------------

      A majority of the court ordered en banc reconsideration of the court’s

prior opinion.   See Tex. R. App. P. 49.7.         We withdraw our opinion and

judgment of December 4, 2008, and substitute this opinion and judgment in

their place.

      Appellant E.L. appeals the termination of her parental rights to her

daughter, D.E.H. In a single point, she argues that she involuntarily executed

the affidavit relinquishing her parental rights to D.E.H. and that the trial court

abused its discretion by denying her motion for new trial. We will affirm.
      D.E.H. was born in February 2006 to E.L. and A.H.           Appellee Texas

Department of Family and Protective Services (“TDFPS”) received a referral

sometime in September 2006 regarding a concern of physical abuse to D.E.H.

D.E.H. had been taken to Cook Children’s Medical Center, where it was

determined that she had two fractures to each femur, four fractures to each

tibia, multiple rib fractures in multiple stages of healing, a liver contusion, and

a spleen laceration—injuries consistent with child abuse. The bone in her hip

area had also been completely snapped off of her growth plate.

      A TDFPS supervisor visited the hospital and gathered information from

hospital staff, family members, and friends. A.H. admitted to punching and

slapping D.E.H. on the back, twisting her leg, and shaking her and squeezing

her on multiple occasions. A.H. admitted to an investigator that he caused

D.E.H.’s injuries when he became irritated and “lost control” after D.E.H.

started crying at night; on about three separate occasions, he grabbed her,

shook her, and punched her in the stomach. TDFPS accordingly found reason

to believe that D.E.H. had been physically abused by E.L. and A.H., negligently

supervised by E.L., and medically neglected by both E.L. and A.H.          TDFPS

removed D.E.H. from E.L.’s and A.H.’s custody and care and placed her in

foster care with Appellees S.G. and B.G., reasoning that she would be in

extreme danger if returned to her parents’ care.

                                        2
      In September 2006, TDFPS filed its petition for protection of a child, for

conservatorship, and for termination in suit affecting the parent-child

relationship. On September 10, 2007, E.L., her attorney, and a few of E.L.’s

family members participated in a mediation with the foster parents.          E.L.

executed an affidavit relinquishing her parental rights to D.E.H. at some point

during the mediation. She also entered into a mediated settlement agreement

with the foster parents, which set forth a post-termination contact schedule for

her and D.E.H.

      The trial court subsequently signed an order on September 19, 2007,

terminating the parent-child relationship between E.L. and D.E.H. 1 The trial

court found by clear and convincing evidence that E.L. had executed an

unrevoked or irrevocable affidavit of relinquishment of parental rights as

provided by chapter 161 of the family code and that termination of E.L.’s

parental rights to D.E.H. is in D.E.H.’s best interest.     The order appointed

TDFPS as permanent managing conservator of D.E.H. and the foster parents as

possessory conservators of D.E.H.




      1
           The trial court also terminated A.H.’s parent-child relationship with
D.E.H.

                                         3
      E.L. filed a motion for new trial and notice of points of appeal on October

4, 2007. She filed her first amended motion for new trial and notice of points

of appeal five days later, listing her “points of appeal” as follows:

      a. Extreme coercion by other parties to the suit, both through
      promises and threats, was used to induce Movant to sign the
      affidavit of relinquishment.

      b. The mother was placed under great duress by other parties to
      the suit, both through promises and threats, in order to induce her
      to sign the affidavit of relinquishment.

      c. Fraud in the inducement was used to convince Movant that she
      had no choice but to sign the affidavit of relinquishment.

On October 18, 2007, the trial court held a hearing on E.L.’s motion for new

trial, which it denied.

      In her sole point, E.L. argues that the trial court abused its discretion by

denying her motion for new trial because she established that she did not

voluntarily execute the affidavit of relinquishment that underlies the trial court’s

termination order.2 She contends that she executed the relinquishment affidavit

in exchange for the rule 11 agreement with the foster parents (the prospective

parents) providing for post-termination visits between her and D.E.H.          E.L.

argues that the visitation agreement is unenforceable for its failure to comply




      2
      Although E.L. lists three “Issues Presented,” her single “Point of Error”
encompasses each issue.

                                         4
with family code sections 161.206(b), 161.2061(a), and 161.2062 and that

she would not have signed the affidavit of relinquishment “but for the visitation

agreement.” 3 Consequently, E.L. argues that she did not voluntarily sign the

affidavit of relinquishment because she executed it in exchange for a legally

unenforceable promise—the rule 11 post-termination visitation agreement.

      To preserve a complaint for our review, a party must have presented to

the trial court a timely request, objection, or motion that states the specific

grounds for the desired ruling, if they are not apparent from the context of the

request, objection, or motion. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a); see also Tex. R. Evid.

103(a)(1). If a party fails to do this, error is not preserved, and the complaint



      3
         Section 161.206(b) provides that “an order terminating the parent-
child relationship divests the parent and the child of all legal rights and duties
with respect to each other, except that the child retains the right to inherit from
and through the parent unless the court otherwise provides.” Tex. Fam. Code
Ann. § 161.206(b) (Vernon 2008). Section 161.2061(a) reads as follows:

      If the court finds it to be in the best interest of the child, the court
      may provide in an order terminating the parent-child relationship
      that the biological parent who filed an affidavit of voluntary
      relinquishment of parental rights under Section 161.103 shall have
      limited post-termination contact with the child as provided by
      Subsection (b) on the agreement of the biological parent and the
      Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.

Id. § 161.2061(a). Section 161.2062(a) provides that “[a]n order terminating
the parent-child relationship may not require that a subsequent adoption order
include terms regarding limited post-termination contact between the child and
a biological parent.” Id. § 161.2062(a).

                                         5
is waived. Bushell v. Dean, 803 S.W.2d 711, 712 (Tex. 1991) (op. on reh’g).

The complaint on appeal must be the same as that presented in the trial court.

See Banda v. Garcia, 955 S.W.2d 270, 272 (Tex. 1997); Wohlfahrt v.

Holloway, 172 S.W.3d 630, 639–40 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2005,

pet. denied) (“To have preserved error, a party’s argument on appeal must

comport with its argument in the trial court.”), cert. denied, 549 U.S. 1052

(2006); Hoxie Implement Co., Inc. v. Baker, 65 S.W.3d 140, 151 (Tex.

App.—Amarillo 2001, pet. denied) (“[G]iven that the contention before us does

not comport with the objection raised below, that before us was and is

waived.”). An appellate court cannot reverse based on a complaint not raised

in the trial court. Banda, 955 S.W.2d at 272. “[A]llowing appellate review of

unpreserved error would undermine the Legislature’s intent that cases

terminating parental rights be expeditiously resolved.” In re L.M.I., 119 S.W.3d

707, 711 (Tex. 2003), cert. denied, 541 U.S. 1043 (2004).

      E.L.’s argument that she did not voluntarily sign the affidavit of

relinquishment because the rule 11 agreement regarding post-termination

contact is unenforceable for failure to comply with family code sections

161.206(b), 161.2061(a), and 161.2062 does not comport with the arguments

that she made in her original motion for new trial, in her amended motion for

new trial, or at the hearing on her motion for new trial.     Specifically, E.L.

                                       6
alleged coercion, duress, fraud in the inducement, and ineffective assistance of

counsel as the grounds for a new trial in her original motion for new trial. With

the exception of the ineffective assistance ground, her amended motion for new

trial listed the same grounds.

      At the hearing on her motion for new trial, she testified that it was her

understanding that she would continue to be able to visit D.E.H. if she signed

the affidavit relinquishing her parental rights to D.E.H.; otherwise, she would

lose her rights to D.E.H. Although “it was [her] decision” to sign the affidavit

and that she “more or less” understood what was written therein, she

confirmed that she was never threatened during the mediation, but she testified

that she felt “pressured” to sign the affidavit. E.L. further testified that she felt

like she was “forced” to sign the relinquishment. According to E.L.’s counselor,

E.L. felt “distressed,” “pressured,” and as though her choices were limited to

either never seeing D.E.H. again or signing the affidavit of relinquishment.

      At no point during the hearing on her motion for new trial did E.L.

argue—nor is it apparent that she was attempting to argue—that her execution

of the affidavit of relinquishment was involuntary because the rule 11

agreement is unenforceable for failure to comply with family code sections

161.206(b), 161.2061(a), and 161.2062. There is a reason for this. A party

seeking to overturn a termination order based on an unrevoked affidavit of

                                         7
relinquishment is limited in her attack to arguing fraud, duress, or coercion in

the execution of the affidavit, Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.211(c) (Vernon

2008); see In re M.A.W., 31 S.W.3d 372, 375–76 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi

2000, no pet.), hence the fraud, duress, and coercion grounds specifically set

forth in E.L.’s amended motion for new trial and the testimony at the hearing

purporting to relate to duress and coercion.      E.L.’s argument on appeal,

however, is that she did not voluntarily sign the affidavit of relinquishment

because the Rule 11 agreement is unenforceable. She does not argue that

fraud, duress, or coercion played any role in her signing of the affidavit of

relinquishment. This is made further apparent by examining the meanings of

fraud, duress, or coercion.

      Coercion occurs if someone is compelled to perform an act by force or

threat. Arnett v. Arnett, No. 03-05-00056-CV, 2008 WL 1912058, at *1

(Tex. App.—Austin May 2, 2008, pet. filed) (mem. op.); see also Tex. Penal

Code Ann. § 1.07(a)(9) (Vernon Supp. 2009) (setting forth definition of

“coercion”); B.A.L. v. Edna Gladney Home, 677 S.W.2d 826, 831 (Tex.

App.—Fort Worth 1984, writ ref’d n.r.e) (stating that the “essence of an

‘undue influence’ claim is overcoming the free will of an individual and

substituting the will of another, thereby causing a person to do an act which

he would not otherwise have done” and that “‘[o]verreaching’ is tricking,

                                       8
outwitting, or cheating a person into doing an act which he would not

otherwise have done”). Duress occurs when, due to some kind of threat, a

person is incapable of exercising her free agency and unable to withhold

consent. Arnett, 2008 WL 1912058, at *1; but see Methodist Mission Home

of Tex. v. N.A.B., 451 S.W.2d 539, 543 (Tex. Civ. App.—San Antonio 1970,

no writ) (reasoning that “exerted influence cannot be branded as ‘undue’ merely

because it is persuasive and effective”). Fraud may be committed through

active misrepresentation or passive silence and is an act, omission, or

concealment in breach of a legal duty, trust, or confidence justly imposed,

when the breach causes injury to another or the taking of an undue and

unconscientious advantage. Arnett, 2008 WL 1912058, at *1; Gaspard v.

Beadle, 36 S.W.3d 229, 235 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2001, pet.

denied) (listing fraud elements as a material misrepresentation made; the

representation was false; when the representation was made, the speaker knew

it was false or made it recklessly without any knowledge of its truth; the

speaker made the representation with the intent that it should be acted upon

by the party; the party acted in reliance upon the representation; and the party

thereby suffered injury). A misrepresentation is a falsehood or untruth with the

intent to deceive. Gaspard, 36 S.W.3d at 235.




                                       9
      E.L.’s appellate argument that she did not voluntarily sign the affidavit

because the Rule 11 agreement is unenforceable is not an argument that she

did not voluntarily sign the affidavit because she was compelled to perform

some act by force or threat.      E.L.’s appellate argument that she did not

voluntarily sign the affidavit because the Rule 11 agreement is unenforceable

is not an argument that she did not voluntarily sign the affidavit because she

was incapable of exercising her free agency and was unable to withhold

consent due to some kind of threat. E.L.’s appellate argument that she did not

voluntarily sign the affidavit because the Rule 11 agreement is unenforceable

is not an argument that she did not voluntarily sign the affidavit because there

was some active misrepresentation or passive silence which was an act,

omission, or concealment in breach of a legal duty, trust, or confidence justly

imposed   that   caused   her   injury   or   caused   her   to   be   unduly   and

unconscientiously taken advantage of. Thus, E.L.’s appellate argument that she

did not voluntarily sign the affidavit because the Rule 11 agreement is

unenforceable is not an argument that she involuntarily signed the affidavit of

relinquishment because of fraud, duress, or coercion.

      Because E.L.’s appellate argument does not comport with the grounds

asserted in her amended motion for new trial or the testimony at the hearing on

her motion for new trial, she has failed to preserve her complaint for appellate

                                         10
review.   See Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a)(1); L.M.I., 119 S.W.3d at 710–12

(holding that appellant failed to preserve for appeal complaints regarding signed

affidavits relinquishing parental rights).

      Even if E.L. had preserved her complaint, the trial court did not abuse its

discretion by denying her motion for new trial.

      Appellate courts review a trial court’s decision denying a motion for new

trial under an abuse of discretion standard of review. Dir., State Employees

Workers’ Comp. Div. v. Evans, 889 S.W.2d 266, 268 (Tex. 1994). A trial

court abuses its discretion when it acts in an arbitrary or unreasonable manner

or when it acts without reference to any guiding rules or principles. Downer v.

Aquamarine Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238, 241–42 (Tex. 1985), cert.

denied, 476 U.S. 1159 (1986).

      Once an affidavit has been shown to comply with the requirements of

section 161.103 of the family code, the affidavit may be set aside only upon

proof, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the affidavit was executed as

a result of fraud, duress, or coercion. In re R.B., 225 S.W.3d 798, 804 (Tex.

App.—Fort Worth 2007, no pet.); In re N.P.T., 169 S.W.3d 677, 679 (Tex.

App.—Dallas 2005, pet. denied); In re D.R.L.M., 84 S.W.3d 281, 296 (Tex.

App.—Fort Worth 2002, pet. denied), superseded by statute on other grounds,

Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 263.405(i) (Vernon 2008); see also Tex. Fam. Code

                                        11
Ann. § 161.211(c). The burden of proving such wrongdoing is on the party

opposing the affidavit. R.B., 225 S.W.3d at 804. 4

      E.L. contends that she executed the affidavit of relinquishment in

exchange for the rule 11 visitation agreement and that because the rule 11

visitation agreement is unenforceable, she involuntarily executed the affidavit

of relinquishment. At the hearing on her motion for new trial, she testified that

“[t]he agreement wasn’t done by [her] own will,” that she “didn’t sign [the

affidavit of relinquishment] out of [her] own will,” that she signed the affidavit

because she felt “pressured” and “forced,” and that she did not sign the

agreement under her “free will.” The lack of “free will,” the “pressure,” and the

“force” that E.L. testified she experienced at the mediation, however, was not

coercion, fraud, or duress as identified and defined above. See Gaspard, 36

S.W.3d at 234–35; Edna Gladney Home, 677 S.W.2d at 831; Arnett, 2008 WL

1912058, at *1. Norma Bartholomew, E.L.’s counselor, testified that E.L. was

informed that if her case went to trial, the likely outcome would be that she

would have her rights terminated and that she would never see D.E.H. again.

E.L.’s other option was to sign the affidavit of relinquishment and enter into a



      4
         In R.B., this court did not adopt the standard of review suggested by
the concurring and dissenting opinions in L.M.I., nor do we adopt it here. See
R.B., 225 S.W.3d at 805 (stating that “we need not expressly decide that issue
here”).

                                       12
rule 11 agreement with the intervenors for limited visitation with D.E.H.

Consistent with E.L.’s options, Bartholomew specifically identified the source

of the pressure that E.L. experienced as “losing her parental rights and never

being able to see her child again versus some hope of limited visitation for the

life of the child until the child was grown.” [Emphasis added.]      As for the

“coercion” that E.L. purportedly experienced, Bartholomew testified, “I think

[E.L.] was very frightened about her options and she felt a threat of losing

contact with her child.” [Emphasis added.] Although Bartholomew thought

there was “some degree” of coercion based on how E.L. explained the options

to her (if the case went to court, E.L. would never see the child again),

Bartholomew opined that it was uncertainty, confusion, and anguish that E.L.

experienced in weighing her limited options.

      James Masek, E.L.’s attorney, opined similarly. He testified that there

was not any undue pressure exerted on E.L. by anyone at the mediation.

Instead, he testified that “[i]t’s just a very emotional time. She’s giving up a

child. She was very emotional at the time . . . .” Masek agreed that E.L. had

made a “thoughtful decision, albeit a very emotional decision,” to sign the

affidavit of relinquishment.

      Consistent with Bartholomew’s and Masek’s testimony, E.L. herself

identified the source and nature of the “pressure” and the “force” that she

                                      13
claimed to have experienced at the mediation as feeling like she “didn’t have

any way out,” that is, her only options were to sign the affidavit of

relinquishment and the rule 11 visitation agreement and hope to have limited

future visitation with D.E.H. or go to trial and take the chance of having her

parental rights terminated. She testified as follows:

      [Intervenors’ attorney]: You testified that you signed [the affidavit
      of relinquishment] under duress. Do you remember that word?

      [E.L.]: Yes.

            ....

      [Intervenors’ attorney]: What does duress mean to you?

      [E.L.]: Pressure.

      [Intervenors’ attorney]: What kind of pressure?

      [E.L.]: That I didn’t have anything more to do.

      [Intervenors’ attorney]: Anything else?

      [E.L.]: I didn’t have another way out.

      [Intervenors’ attorney]: That was the extent of your pressure, that
      you didn’t have any way out? Is that your testimony?

      [E.L.]: Yes. [Emphasis added.]

      Further, E.L. testified that the consequences of signing the affidavit of

relinquishment were explained to her, that she discussed the rule 11 agreement



                                       14
and affidavit of relinquishment at length with her attorney, that she “[m]ore or

less” understood the “finality of signing [the agreement],” and that she spoke

with her attorney about having a jury trial prior to the mediation. Masek, who

is fluent in Spanish, spent at least half of the mediation talking to E.L. about the

affidavit of relinquishment. He interpreted the affidavit of relinquishment for

her, he read it to her at least twice (some parts more than twice), and he went

over it with her line by line. E.L. acknowledged that Masek discussed with her

the meaning of the affidavit of relinquishment and that Masek told her that it

was her choice to sign it or not sign it. E.L. initialed every page of the affidavit,

and she placed her initials beside every single line of a paragraph that is written

in bold letters and located at the end of the affidavit that states as follows:

      I REALIZE THAT I SHOULD NOT SIGN THIS AFFIDAVIT UNTIL I
      HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD EACH WORD, SENTENCE, AND
      PARAGRAPH IN IT. I REALIZE THAT I SHOULD NOT SIGN THIS
      AFFIDAVIT OF RELINQUISHMENT IF THERE IS ANY THOUGHT IN
      MY MIND THAT I MIGHT SOMEDAY SEEK TO CHANGE MY MIND.
      I REALIZE THAT I SHOULD NOT SIGN THIS AFFIDAVIT OF
      RELINQUISHMENT IF I AM NOT THINKING CLEARLY BECAUSE OF
      ILLNESS, MEDICATION, MY EMOTIONAL STATE, OR ANY OTHER
      REASON. BECAUSE I REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THIS DECISION
      IS FOR THE FUTURE OF MY CHILD, I HAVE PUT MY INITIALS
      BESIDE EVERY LINE OF THIS PARAGRAPH SO THAT IT WILL
      ALWAYS BE UNDERSTOOD THAT I HAVE READ THIS AFFIDAVIT
      OF RELINQUISHMENT, UNDERSTAND IT, AND DESIRE TO SIGN
      IT.




                                         15
E.L. declared in the affidavit that she was relinquishing her parental rights freely

and voluntarily. The affidavit states in relevant part as follows:

      I declare that I fully understand the meaning of this affidavit of
      relinquishment and the finality of my action in signing it, and,
      understanding all this, I am signing this freely, voluntarily, and with
      the firm conviction that this decision is the best available
      alternative for my child. [Emphasis added.]

Three of E.L.’s family members were present at the mediation and participated

to a certain extent. According to Masek,

      [W]e did it [review the affidavit of relinquishment] slowly. We
      would stop. And the judge was there. The judge spoke . . .
      Spanish, so she would also -- we would kind of back off and say,
      we would kind of rest for a little while and the family would talk.
      It went really slowly.

Masek also explained to E.L. that the rule 11 agreement was an agreement

between only her and the intervenors and that it was not “a contract that we

could take to court.” Towards the end of her testimony, E.L. said, “[B]ottom

line, it was my decision.”

      Bartholomew’s, Masek’s, and E.L.’s testimony clarifies that E.L. did not

experience coercion, fraud, or duress as contemplated by family code section

161.211(c). See Gaspard, 36 S.W.3d at 234–35; Edna Gladney Home, 677

S.W.2d at 831; Arnett, 2008 WL 1912058, at *1. E.L. failed to demonstrate

by a preponderance of the evidence that her execution of the affidavit of

relinquishment in exchange for an allegedly legally unenforceable promise

                                        16
resulted from fraud, duress, or coercion. Assuming that E.L. had preserved her

appellate argument for appeal, which she did not do, the trial court did not

abuse its discretion by denying her motion for new trial.

      We overrule E.L.’s sole point and affirm the trial court’s judgment.




                                           DIXON W. HOLMAN
                                           JUSTICE

EN BANC

LIVINGSTON, J. filed a dissenting opinion.
WALKER, J. filed a concurring and dissenting opinion in which DAUPHINOT and
GARDNER, JJ., join.

DELIVERED: December 3, 2009




                                      17
                        COURT OF APPEALS
                        SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
                             FORT WORTH


                              NO. 2-07-347-CV


IN THE INTEREST OF D.E.H.,
A MINOR CHILD

                                   ------------

        FROM THE 323RD DISTRICT COURT OF TARRANT COUNTY

                                   ------------

        DISSENTING OPINION TO OPINIONS ON EN BANC
                    RECONSIDERATION

                                   ------------

      Repeatedly throughout the motion for new trial hearing, appellant, E.L.,

testified that she would not have signed the affidavit of relinquishment as

required by the mediated settlement agreement if she had known that the

promised visitation would not continue. For this reason, I respectfully dissent

to the plurality opinions on rehearing en banc and the resulting judgment.
                                   The Law

      “Implicit in the family code is the requirement that the affidavit of

voluntary relinquishment be voluntarily executed.” In re D.R.L.M., 84 S.W.3d

281, 296 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2002, pets. denied), superseded by statute

on other grounds, Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 263.405(i) (Vernon 2008).           An

involuntarily executed affidavit is a complete defense to a termination decree

based solely on such an affidavit. Id. (citing Vela v. Marywood, 17 S.W.3d

750, 759 (Tex. App.—Austin 2000), pet. denied, 53 S.W.3d 684 (Tex.

2001)). The proponent of the voluntary affidavit of relinquishment has the

burden to establish by clear and convincing evidence that the affidavit was

executed in accordance with family code section 161.103. Tex. Fam. Code

Ann. § 161.103 (Vernon 2008); D.R.L.M., 84 S.W.3d at 296 (citing In re

V.R.W., 41 S.W.3d 183, 190 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, no pet.),

and Vela, 17 S.W.3d at 758). Previously, we have recognized that evidence

that an affidavit of voluntary relinquishment was signed, notarized, witnessed,

and executed in compliance with family code section 161.103 is prima facie

evidence of its validity. See D.R.L.M., 84 S.W.3d at 296. The opponent of the

affidavit may set it aside only upon proof, by a preponderance of the evidence,

that the affidavit was executed as a result of fraud, duress, or coercion. Id.

(citing Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.211(c) (Vernon 2008)).

                                      2
      Recently, however, this court has noted a shift in the way some Texas

Supreme Court justices would handle reviews of terminations based upon a

challenge to the voluntariness of an affidavit of relinquishment. See In re R.B.,

225 S.W.3d 798, 804 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2007, no pet.). In R.B., we

noted that the supreme court “has opined that both the burden and standard

of   proof   for   setting   aside   an   affidavit   of   relinquishment   should   be

‘reformulated.’” Id. (citing In re L.M.I., 119 S.W.3d 707 (Tex. 2003), cert.

denied, 541 U.S. 1043 (2004)). In L.M.I., the plurality noted that when there

is an issue on the voluntariness of an affidavit of relinquishment, due process

requires that the proponent of the affidavit retain the burden to prove, by clear

and convincing evidence, that it was executed voluntarily. Id. (citing L.M.I.,

119 S.W.3d at 715–16 (Wainwright, J., concurring), 720 (Owen, J.,

concurring and dissenting), 739 (Hecht, J., dissenting)). According to L.M.I.—

and likewise R.B., in which we looked with favor on the analysis in L.M.I. but

declined to adopt it as unnecessary,

      The United States Supreme Court has held that the Due Process
      Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment requires that before a state
      can irrevocably sever the rights of a parent, the evidence of
      grounds for termination must at least be clear and
      convincing. Accordingly, when the basis for termination is an
      affidavit of relinquishment, there must be clear and convincing
      evidence that the waiver was knowing, intelligent, and voluntary.




                                            3
L.M.I., 119 S.W.3d at 716 (Owen, J., concurring and dissenting) (citation

omitted); R.B., 225 S.W.3d at 804–05. 1      Neither our court in R.B. nor the

Dallas court in N.P.T. specifically adopted the standard because it was

unnecessary to the disposition of those cases—both courts held that the

proponent of the affidavit would have been successful under either

standard.   R.B., 225 S.W.3d at 805; N.P.T., 169 S.W.3d at 680.            Here,

however, the answer is less clear. For that reason, we should adopt the L.M.I.

standard in this case to ensure that all parents’ due process rights are

protected; the plurality opinion on rehearing en banc in this case fails to shift

the burden of proof back to the proponent of the affidavit to show by clear and

convincing evidence that the affidavit was executed voluntarily. I dissent from

the plurality opinion on rehearing en banc’s failure to apply this standard.

                             Preservation of Error

      The plurality opinion on rehearing en banc also states that appellant has

waived her complaint on appeal because it was not presented at trial and does

not comport with any complaint she presented at trial.        In particular, the




      1
        We did, however, indicate agreement with the Dallas Court of
Appeals’s acknowledgment in N.P.T. that “there is considerable merit in
applying” the standard proposed by the supreme court plurality in L.M.I. See
R.B., 225 S.W.3d at 805 & n.33 (citing In re N.P.T., 169 S.W.3d 677, 680
(Tex. App.—Dallas 2005, pet. denied)).

                                       4
plurality opinion on rehearing en banc contends that appellant did not raise the

Rule 11 and mediated settlement agreements’ failure to comply with the family

code   at   trial.   See   Tex.   Fam.   Code   Ann.   §   161.2061(a)   (Vernon

2008). However, appellant could not object or complain until she actually saw

that the Order of Termination completely failed to incorporate the terms of the

mediated settlement agreement or the Rule 11 agreement into it. See D.R.L.M.,

84 S.W.3d at 297 (holding mother could not have pleaded in trial court the

involuntariness of her affidavit on the ground that she believed the trial court

was required to follow her choice of managing conservator and therefore had

not waived right to challenge voluntariness of affidavit). Therefore, she clearly

brought the issue to the trial court’s attention as soon as practicable. A review

of the amended motion for new trial and the reporter’s record from the hearing

on the motion for new trial show more clearly what occurred.

       The amended motion for new trial attacks quite clearly the sole basis for

the termination: appellant’s affidavit of relinquishment. The motion challenges

the voluntariness of the affidavit, a fundamental prerequisite for termination

granted solely on this basis. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.001(1)(K), (2)

(Vernon Supp. 2009). The voluntariness of her relinquishment is appellant’s

sole complaint. The motion broadly claims coercion “through promises and

threats” to induce appellant to sign the affidavit of relinquishment, along with

                                         5
fraud in the inducement to convince appellant that she had no choice but to

sign the affidavit.       While it does not mention the mediated settlement

agreement’s failure to comply with specific provisions of the Texas Family

Code, it clearly mentions promises, threats, or fraud being involved. Therefore,

I would conclude and hold that E.L. preserved her challenge to the voluntariness

of her affidavit.

                      Evidence of Voluntariness of Affidavit

      Furthermore, as explained by the plurality opinion on rehearing en banc,

appellant signed two documents at the end of the mediated settlement

conference: a mediated settlement agreement and an attached Rule 11

agreement, which were properly filed as part of the record in the termination

proceeding. The mediated settlement agreement and the Rule 11 agreement

clearly   provide   for    appellant’s   post-termination   visitation   with   her

daughter. Additionally, the agreements state that it is the intent of the parties

that the agreements shall be enforceable under sections 6.602 and 153.0071

of the Texas Family Code, both of which provide for the enforceability of such

agreements as judgments in court.            See id. § 6.602 (Vernon 2006),

§ 153.0071 (Vernon Supp. 2009). The agreements also clearly contemplate

the preparation of additional documents to effect the agreements and require

the parties’ future cooperation in the preparation and execution of such

                                         6
documents. Moreover, throughout the hearing on appellant’s motion for new

trial, appellant continuously and repeatedly testified to her main complaint,

without objection:     that she would not have signed any affidavit of

relinquishment and would have gone to trial if she had not been given the

promises of the continuous right to see and visit her daughter in the future.

      For example, at the beginning of her direct examination, appellant testified

without objection, “The agreement wasn’t done by my own will. The

agreement, I did it because they told me, whether I signed or not, they were

going to take my rights.” And she continued, “[T]hey told me about the paper,

it says that with this paper, neither the [foster parents] or me could break the

plan that we made,” again without objection. And again, on redirect, appellant

testified, “[I believed] that the [mediated settlement] agreement was going to

be held.   It was going to be in place forever.”      The licensed professional

counselor testified that appellant believed “she would be allowed to see her

child for the rest of her life because there had been a judge who had overseen

the mediation.”

      Moreover, the mediated settlement agreement says that the parties will

appear in court “to present evidence and secure rendition of judgment in

accordance with [it]” and that “EITHER PARTY SHALL BE ENTITLED TO




                                        7
JUDGMENT ON THIS AGREEMENT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION

153.0071 OR SECTION 6.602 OF THE TEXAS FAMILY CODE.”

      Further supporting the lack of voluntariness, the record shows that

appellant is non-English speaking. She was not provided an interpreter prior to

the hearing on the motion for new trial, although her trial counsel and the

Department’s caseworker were Spanish-speaking. However, a careful reading

of the record shows—even with this help—the obvious problems with the

language barrier and counsel’s ability to inform or examine appellant. Appellant

had to rely on what her attorney told her because she could not understand

what people were saying when they testified. The record also shows that

appellant had numerous difficulties in terminology, both legal and otherwise.

      For example, appellant testified on cross-examination that no one read the

entire English Affidavit of Relinquishment to her: “Well, they explained it to me,

but it wasn’t read to me.” No one was telling appellant what was being asked

or said during questions in the hearing. And in support of her claim of pressure

or coercion, appellant called her therapist to the stand, who said that appellant

telephoned her during the actual mediation process because she was “very

distressed” and “pressured” to sign the mediated settlement agreement or risk

losing seeing her child forever. Her therapist, who spoke Spanish, said that

appellant had a difficult time understanding English, especially in terms of the

                                        8
court or legal system. Ultimately, in the therapist’s opinion, appellant signed

the agreement because she thought it was irrevocable and would ensure her

lifetime visitation.

      Of even greater concern is the testimony of the CPS specialist and

caseworker, who, on direct examination by the assistant district attorney during

the termination proceeding stated,

      Q     And it’s your understanding that [E.L.] has executed a
      Relinquishment of Parental Rights?

      A      Yes.

      Q      And in your knowledge, was it signed freely and voluntarily?

      A      Yes, it was.

      Q     Did the Department promise [E.L.] anything for signing the
      relinquishment?

      A      No promises were made. [Emphasis added.]

While this was a technically correct response because the Department was not

a signatory to the mediated settlement agreement or the Rule 11 agreement,

at the very least the statement is misleading to the court; it ignores the

actuality of the settlement negotiations and the Rule 11 agreement between the

foster parents and the mother, despite the Department’s clear knowledge of the

basis for the settlement. In final arguments at the motion for new trial hearing,

the attorney for the Department even said that “[E.L.] was not misled into

                                       9
believing any promises were given to her from the Department at any

point. We were not part of any of the mediation proceedings in that we were

not in the room with her.” Thus, while the Department wants to rely upon the

Affidavit of Relinquishment as the basis for termination of E.L.’s parental rights,

it is unwilling to even recognize that at the very least she was misled about the

permanence of the visitation rights after an adoption was complete. And more

importantly, I would conclude that the Department’s testimony before the trial

court at the hearing on the motion for new trial was incomplete at best. For all

these reasons, I would hold that E.L. sufficiently submitted evidence showing

her lack of voluntariness in the execution of the Affidavit of Relinquishment and

the execution of the mediated settlement agreement and the Rule 11

agreement.

                                En Banc Review

      This case was initially filed in our court on October 10, 2007; it was

submitted to a panel of three justices on April 1, 2008. The original panel

plurality opinion was authored by Justice Dixon Holman on December 4, 2008;

the chief justice concurred without opinion while I dissented with opinion to the

trial court’s denial of the motion for new trial. Appellant filed a motion for

rehearing en banc on December 19, 2008.          At the time appellant filed her

motion for rehearing en banc this court was still composed of the same seven

                                        10
justices: Chief Justice Cayce, Justices Dauphinot, Holman, Gardner, Walker,

McCoy, and myself.         On December 31, 2008, Justice Holman reached

mandatory retirement. 2

       On January 1, 2009, Justice William C. Meier was sworn in to Place 2,

Senior Justice Holman’s previously vacated seat.       Thus, Justice Meier also

participated in the court’s ruling on the motion for rehearing en banc as required

by the rules. See Tex. R. App. P. 49.7. Our court granted the motion and

resubmitted the case for oral argument on April 1, 2009, but by then the en

banc court was composed of eight justices, instead of the regular seven

justices. 3

       En banc consideration of a case is disfavored.      See Tex. R. App. P.

41.2(c).      It should not be ordered “unless necessary to secure or maintain

uniformity of the court’s decisions or unless extraordinary circumstances

require” it.      Id. (emphasis added).      There have been several different

interpretations of what constitutes extraordinary circumstances, but the Texas

Supreme Court has acknowledged that appellate courts have the right to


       2
         Justice Holman was appointed to sit on this case to hear and
participate in the court’s decision on the motion for rehearing en banc while the
motion was pending. See Tex. R. App. P. 41.2(a).
       3
       Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 41.2(a) requires all members of the
court to participate, as well as a prior justice who originally heard the
case. Tex. R. App. P. 41.2(a).

                                        11
”consider a case en banc if the circumstances require and the court votes to do

so.”   See Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Miller, 102 S.W.3d 706, 708 n.1 (Tex.

2003); see also Unifund CCR Partners v. Villa, 273 S.W.3d 385, 392 (Tex.

App.—San Antonio 2008) (Marion, J., dissenting) (stating, “when there is no

conflict among panel decisions, the existence of ‘extraordinary circumstances’

is required before en banc consideration may be ordered” (emphasis added)),

rev’d, No. 08-1026, 2009 WL 3403326 (Tex. Oct. 23, 2009); Ex parte Ellis,

279 S.W.3d 1, 30 (Tex. App.—Austin 2008, pet. granted) (Henson, J.,

dissenting) (observing that need for en banc review must be balanced with

court’s mandate to do substantial justice and to hear accelerated matters at the

earliest practicable time, citing Tex. R. App. P. 31.2 and 41.2(c)); Rodriguez v.

Cuellar, 143 S.W.3d 251, 263–64 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2004, pet. denied)

(Lopez, C.J., dissenting) (complaining of majority opinion granting en banc

review because of the “high degree of public interest . . . and to maintain

uniformity of the court’s decisions,” and the impropriety of en banc review

because the majority “simply disagreed with the result that the panel majority

reached”).

       A “plurality opinion” is an “appellate opinion without enough judges’

votes to constitute a majority, but having received the greatest number of votes

of any of the opinions filed.” Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern Legal

                                       12
Usage 419 (1987) (emphasis added). “Majority” is “a number that is more than

half of a total.”   Black’s Law Dictionary 1040 (9th ed. 2009).           Thus, the

opinion we issue today is not a majority opinion or even really a plurality

opinion; it is merely a majority judgment, thus ultimately not justifying en banc

submission, something we could not have known at the time we voted to go

en banc.

      The   final   plurality   opinion   on   rehearing   en   banc   reflects   the

following: four justices believe that appellant preserved her complaint at trial

and on appeal regarding the voluntariness of her signing the affidavit of

relinquishment, and four justices believe she did not. However, because three

justices (those joining the concurring and dissenting opinion) also believe

appellant has other remedies available to her to enforce her rights, seven

justices join in the judgment only.

                                    Conclusion

      Therefore, I would hold that appellant timely and properly preserved her

complaint as to the voluntariness of the affidavit of relinquishment by raising

the issue in her motion for new trial, that she offered sufficient evidence to

show the lack of voluntariness in the execution of the affidavit because the

terms of the mediated settlement agreement and Rule 11 agreement were not

properly incorporated into the Order on Termination as agreed, and that we

                                          13
should retain and ensure the application of the clear and convincing burden of

proof on the proponents of the affidavit in conformity with the L.M.I.

plurality. Therefore, I would hold that the trial court abused its discretion in

denying appellant’s motion for new trial, reverse the termination order, and

remand this case for a new trial. Thus, I respectfully dissent to the result in this

case for those reasons and also because there is no majority or even plurality

opinion in this en banc case.




                                             TERRIE LIVINGSTON
                                             JUSTICE

DELIVERED: December 3, 2009




                                        14
                        COURT OF APPEALS
                         SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
                              FORT WORTH


                              NO. 2-07-347-CV


IN THE INTEREST OF D.E.H.,
A MINOR CHILD

                                   ------------

        FROM THE 323RD DISTRICT COURT OF TARRANT COUNTY

                                   ------------

             CONCURRING AND DISSENTING OPINION
            TO OPINION ON EN BANC RECONSIDERATION

                                   ------------

      For the reasons set forth below, I agree with the dissenting opinion that

E.L. preserved her appellate complaint that her affidavit of relinquishment was

not executed voluntarily; I dissent from the plurality opinion’s holding to the

contrary.   But, because I believe that the mediated settlement agreement

entered into by the parties is, in fact, legally enforceable, I concur with the

plurality opinion’s holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by

denying E.L.’s motion for new trial.
      E.L. and her attorney, both of the foster parents and their attorney, and

the attorney ad litem for D.E.H. all signed a mediated settlement agreement.

The mediated settlement agreement complies with the requirements of family

code section 153.0071(d), making it binding on the parties to the agreement.

See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 153.0071(d) (Vernon Supp. 2009).                When a

mediated    settlement   agreement     meets    the   requirements   of   section

153.0071(d), “a party is entitled to judgment on the mediated settlement

agreement notwithstanding Rules 11, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, or another

rule of law.” Id. § 153.0071(e).

      The body of the parties’ mediated settlement agreement simply contains

boilerplate provisions concerning the enforceability of the agreement; it contains

no specific agreed terms. Instead, the mediated settlement agreement states

that the “[t]erms of the settlement are set out in Exhibit ‘A’ attached to this

agreement.” At the end of the agreement, after the provision “EACH PARTY

UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT IS NOT REVOCABLE,”

is a handwritten notation that the “attached Rule 11 is agreement of parties.”

A three-page document titled “Rule 11 Agreement” is attached to the mediated

settlement agreement. The rule 11 agreement attached to and incorporated in

the mediated settlement agreement is also signed by all the parties.         That




                                        2
document outlines the agreed-upon terms of the post-termination and post-

adoption visitation of D.E.H. by E.L. 1

      Following   the   execution   of    the   mediated   settlement   agreement

incorporating the rule 11 agreement, E.L. executed an affidavit of voluntary

relinquishment, relinquishing her parental rights to D.E.H.       The trial court

subsequently signed an order terminating E.L.’s parental rights to D.E.H. based

solely on her affidavit of voluntary relinquishment. See id. § 161.001(1)(K)

(Vernon Supp. 2009).

      E.L. filed a motion for new trial and testified at the motion for new trial

hearing that she had signed the affidavit of voluntary relinquishment in reliance

on the provisions of the rule 11 agreement, which was incorporated into the

parties’ mediated settlement agreement and which provided her with post-

termination and post-adoption visitation with D.E.H. E.L. now complains on

appeal that because the parties’ agreement is purportedly legally unenforceable,

she was fraudulently induced into executing her affidavit of relinquishment.

      I cannot agree with the plurality opinion’s conclusion that E.L. did not

raise her appellate complaint in the trial court.     The family code expressly




      1
       For example, the agreement sets forth visitation “after the child turns
3” and provides that if E.L. misses two consecutive visits with D.E.H., all
contact for E.L. shall cease.

                                          3
authorizes a parent to pursue a direct attack on a termination order that is

based on the parent’s affidavit of voluntary relinquishment on the ground of

fraud in the execution of the affidavit of relinquishment. See id. § 161.211(c)

(Vernon 2008). The Texas Supreme Court and numerous courts of appeals

have recognized that a false representation of a right to continued, post-

termination visitation made to a biological parent to encourage that parent to

sign an affidavit of voluntary relinquishment constitutes fraud.         See, e.g.,

Rogers v. Searle, 544 S.W.2d 114, 115 (Tex. 1976) (recognizing in bill of

review proceeding that fraudulent misrepresentations inducing execution of

affidavit of voluntary relinquishment constitute extrinsic fraud); Jones v. Tex.

Dep’t of Protective & Regulatory Servs., 85 S.W.3d 483, 492–93 (Tex.

App.—Austin 2002, pet. denied) (same); Queen v. Goeddertz, 48 S.W.3d 928,

931–32 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2001, no pet.) (same); In re S.A.B., No. 04-01-

00795-CV, 2002 WL 1573431, at *3 (Tex. App.—San Antonio July 17, 2002,

pet. denied) (not designated for publication) (same). Because E.L.’s appellate

complaint that she did not voluntarily sign the affidavit of relinquishment is,

exactly,   an   argument   that   she   involuntarily   signed   the   affidavit   of




                                        4
relinquishment because of fraud, I respectfully dissent from the plurality

opinion’s holding that E.L. failed to preserve this complaint. 2

      I nonetheless concur with the plurality opinion’s disposition of this appeal

because I believe that the parties’ mediated settlement agreement that

incorporates the rule 11 agreement providing for post-termination and continued

post-adoption visitation of D.E.H. by E.L. is legally enforceable, contrary to the

position taken by the plurality opinion and by the dissenting opinion. The family

code expressly provides that, when a mediated settlement agreement meets the



      2
        The position taken by the plurality opinion—that “E.L.’s appellate
argument that she did not voluntarily sign the affidavit because the Rule 11
agreement is unenforceable is not an argument that she involuntarily signed the
affidavit of relinquishment because of fraud, duress, or coercion”—has been
expressly rejected in a similar case. See Vela v. Marywood, 17 S.W.3d 750,
763 (Tex. App.—Austin 2000), pet. denied, 53 S.W.3d 684 (Tex. 2001). In
Vela, the appellate court explained,

      Marywood [as the majority here] takes this testimony [testimony by
      the mother that she was not physically threatened or coerced or
      defrauded into signing the relinquishment affidavit] out of context.
      [Biological mother] was not threatened, coerced, or defrauded into
      physically signing the relinquishment affidavit. At the time she
      signed the affidavit, [biological mother] did not know that the
      post-adoption plan was unenforceable and thus had no reason to
      believe that she would not have access to her child. [Biological
      mother’s] testimony cannot be considered evidence that the
      affidavit was signed knowingly and voluntarily because she was
      testifying about her state of mind before she knew that the
      post-adoption plan was unenforceable.

Id.

                                        5
requirements of section 153.0071(d), “a party is entitled to judgment on the

mediated settlement agreement notwithstanding Rule 11, Texas Rules of Civil

Procedure, or another rule of law.” See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 153.0071(e)

(emphasis added).      Here, the mediated settlement agreement meets the

requirements of section 153.0071(d). Consequently, both E.L. and the foster

parents, as parties to the mediated settlement agreement, are “entitled to

judgment on the mediated settlement agreement notwithstanding Rule 11,

Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, or another rule of law.”       See id. (emphasis

added). “Notwithstanding Rule 11, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, or another

rule of law” means, by its plain language, notwithstanding another rule of law

set forth in the family code, that is, notwithstanding sections 161.206(b) and

161.2062 (the provisions E.L. claims make the mediated settlement agreement

legally unenforceable). See id. § 161.206(b) (Vernon 2008) (providing that

termination order divests parent and child of all legal rights except child’s right

of inheritance); § 161.2062 (Vernon 2008) (providing that termination order

“may not require that a subsequent adoption order include terms regarding

limited post-termination contact”); Beyers v. Roberts, 199 S.W.3d 354,

358–59 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, pet. denied) (holding section

153.0071’s “notwithstanding any other law” provision meant that the trial

court could enforce a mediated settlement agreement providing for joint

                                        6
managing conservatorship with no designation of conservator who had right to

determine child’s primary residence despite section 153.133(a)(1)’s requirement

for such designation); see also In re L.M.M., 247 S.W.3d 809, 811–12 (Tex.

App.—Dallas 2008, pet. denied) (enforcing mediated settlement agreement in

child custody dispute); see generally, e.g., In re Marriage of Joyner, 196

S.W.3d 883, 890 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2006, pet. denied) (recognizing

absolute enforceabilty of mediated settlement agreements).

      Moreover, holding that the parties’ mediated settlement agreement is

enforceable is not inconsistent with the provisions of family code sections

161.206(b) and 161.2062. D.E.H. will retain the right to inherit from E.L. if the

mediated settlement agreement and its post-termination, post-adoption

visitation provisions are enforced. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.206(b).

And while family code section 161.2062 prohibits a termination order from

requiring that a subsequent adoption order include terms regarding limited post-

termination contact between the child and parent, that section does not, on its

face, prohibit a pre-termination agreement between prospective adoptive

parents and the biological parent concerning post-termination visitation. Even

the foster parents, who are the prospective adoptive parents here and who




                                       7
have filed a response to E.L.’s motion for en banc reconsideration, contend that

the parties’ mediated settlement agreement may be legally enforceable. 3

      Finally, sections 161.206(b) and 161.2062 deal generally with orders

terminating parental rights while section 153.0071(d) deals specifically with

mediated settlement agreements.        A fundamental principle of statutory

construction is that a more specific statute controls over a more general one.

Beyers, 199 S.W.3d at 359 (citing Horizon/CMS Healthcare Corp. v. Auld, 34

S.W.3d 887, 901 (Tex. 2000)). The government code provides that general

and specific provisions should be construed, if possible, to give effect to both,

but when they cannot be reconciled, the specific provision should prevail. Id.;

Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 311.026 (Vernon 2005). Thus, to the extent, if any,

that enforcement of the parties’ mediated settlement agreement conflicts with

family code sections 161.206(b) and 161.2062, section 153.0071—specifically




      3
         The foster parents point out that while a termination decree (as
opposed to an adoption decree) cannot require post-termination, post-adoption
visitation because the adoptive parents cannot be forced to permit visitation,
nothing would prohibit an adoption decree from including an agreement
between the adoptive parents and the biological parent permitting post-adoption
visitation. The foster parents also point out that although section 161.206(b)
divests a biological parent of legal rights and duties “innately accompanying the
parent-child relationship” it does not divest a biological parent of any
contractual rights negotiated by the biological parent such as those set forth in
the mediated settlement agreement here.

                                       8
dealing with mediated settlement agreements in suits affecting the parent-child

relationship—controls. See Beyers, 199 S.W.3d at 359.

      Because I would hold that the parties’ mediated settlement agreement,

including provisions for post-termination visitation, is legally enforceable and

because there has been no showing that the foster parents have violated this

agreement, I concur with the plurality opinion’s holding that the trial court did

not abuse its discretion by denying E.L.’s motion for new trial.




                                                  SUE WALKER
                                                  JUSTICE

DAUPHINOT and GARDNER, JJ., join.

DELIVERED: December 3, 2009




                                       9
