When is turnover relief warranted to enforce a money judgment?

  

REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANT OF TURNOVER ORDER

  

A turnover order is proper if the conditions of section 31.002 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code are met. See Suttles v. Vestin Realty Mortg. I, Inc., 317 S.W.3d 412, 416 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2010, no pet.). Among the requirements of section 31.002 is that the creditor must show that the debtor owns property, including present or future rights to property, that cannot readily be attached or levied on by ordinary legal process. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 31.002(a) (West 2012); see also Europa Int'l, Ltd. v. Direct Access Trader Corp., 315 S.W.3d 654, 656-57 (Tex. App.-Dallas 2010, no pet.).

  
SOURCE: DALLAS COURT OF APPEALS - 05-10-01161-CV – 5/16/12 

In this case, Barclay presented no evidence to show that HSM had any present or future rights to the property it sought to have turned over.

 

Does Application for Turnover Order require a hearing?

ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS:
 
Is the Defendant entitled to a hearing when the Plaintiff requests that the Court sign a Turnover Order?
 
Houston Court of Appeals says 'No'.

OPINION EXCERPT

On August 10, 2009, Seeman moved for post-judgment relief under the Texas Turnover Statute, and apparently, a hearing was held on his motion on August 14, 2009.  In issues 25 and 26, Cantu complains that he did not receive notice of the hearing and that the turnover was erroneously granted ex parte.

 
However, due process does not require that a complainant who has been granted an opportunity to be heard and has had his day in court should, after a judgment has been rendered against him, have further notice and hearing before supplemental proceedings are taken to reach his property in satisfaction of the judgment against him. See Endicott–Johnson Corp. v. Encyclopedia Press, Inc., 266 U.S. 285, 288, 45 S. Ct. 61, 62–63 (1924); In re Guardianship of Bays, 355 S.W.3d 715, 720 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2011, no pet.).

The turnover statute itself does not require notice and a hearing. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 31.002; Sivley v. Sivley, 972 S.W.2d 850, 861 (Tex. App.—Tyler 1998, no pet.). In the absence of a statutory requirement, it is not essential that a complainant be given notice before the issuance of an execution against his tangible property; after the rendition of the judgment, he must take notice of what will follow, no further notice being necessary to advance justice. Endicott–Johnson Corp, 266 U.S. at 288, 45 S. Ct. at 62–63; In re Guardianship of Bays, 355 S.W.3d at 720.

We overrule issues 25 and 26.

SOURCE: HOUSTON COURT OF APPEALS - 01-09-00545-CV - 5/3/12

On August 10, 2009, Seeman moved for post-judgment relief under the Texas Turnover Statute, and apparently, a hearing was held on his motion on August 14, 2009. In issues 25 and 26, Cantu complains that he did not receive notice of the hearing and that the turnover was erroneously granted ex parte.