Opinion ID: 2284287
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Motion to Strike Mother's Statement of Facts

Text: The Adoptive Parents move to strike Mother's statement of facts in her appellant brief. They allege that the statement of facts is argumentative and casts the evidence in the light most favorable to appeal as opposed to the judgment. They also assert that the statement references evidence outside the record on appeal. They request that this Court strike the brief in its entirety and dismiss the appeal or, in the alternative, strike the statement of facts and require that Mother to resubmit her brief so that it comports with Rule 84.04(c). Rule 84.04(c) requires that the statement of facts be fair and concise, relevant to the questions presented, and without argument. Mother's appellate brief does not comply with Rule 84.04(c). Her statement of facts is long and argumentative. Nevertheless, her brief is not so deficient to require this Court to become an advocate for Mother, which is generally the basis for an appellate court's dismissal of an appeal. Brown v. Hamid, 856 S.W.2d 51, 53 (Mo. banc 1993). Cases should be heard on the merits if possible, construing the court rules liberally to allow an appeal to proceed.... While not condoning noncompliance with the rules, a court will generally, as a matter of discretion, review on the merits where disposition is not hampered by the rule violations. Id. The motion to strike Mother's brief or, in the alternative, her statement of facts, is overruled.