Opinion ID: 2546139
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: facts and proceedings in this court

Text: ¶ 5. During the first week of November 2009, after the Meadowses perfected this appeal and after the filing of both the appellants' brief and the appellees' briefs, Lavelle died. Thus, on November 12, 2009, counsel for the Meadowses filed a Notice of Suggestion of Death; and Motion to Stay Briefing Schedule or, in the Alternative, for Enlargement of Time to File Reply Brief with this Court. The following was stated within the Suggestion of Death and Motion: The above identified sole heirs [5] of the deceased Appellant intend to open an estate in the name of their deceased father, seek appointment as administratrix(es), and move this Court for substitution as party Appellant(s) in the above styled cause pursuant to Miss. R.App. P. 43(a). Undersigned counsel, therefore, moves this Court for a suspension of the briefing schedule pursuant to Miss. R.App. P. 43(a) to allow a reasonable time for the sole heirs to be appointed personal representative(s) of Appellant's estate and until the heirs have an opportunity to move the Court for substitution as the party Appellant(s). An Order was entered in which this Court stated that the Notice of Suggestion of Death; and Motion to Stay Briefing Schedule or, in the Alternative, for Enlargement of Time to File Reply Brief filed by counsel for Appellants is granted in that Appellants' reply brief is due on January 12, 2010. In their timely-filed reply brief, the Meadowses incorporated the following motion: Contemporaneous with the filing of this Reply brief, and in light of the recently issued letters of administration, the Meadows move this Court pursuant to Miss. R.App. P. 43(a) to substitute as named plaintiffs and appellants in place of Lavelle Meadows, deceased, and Louise Meadows, deceased, the following: Kaye Burt, individually and as administratrix, heir and wrongful death beneficiary of the estate of Louise Meadows, deceased, and as administratrix and heir of the estate of Lavelle Meadows, deceased; and Judy Brown, individually and as heir and wrongful death beneficiary of the estate of Louise Meadows, deceased, and as heir of the estate of Lavelle Meadows, deceased. [6] ¶ 6. On January 28, 2010, Blake filed his Motion to Strike Appellants' Request for Substitution, or, in the Alternative, for Additional Briefing on Whether Requested Substitution is Permissible Under Mississippi Law, and Baptist filed its Joinder. This Court subsequently entered its Order denying the Motion; however, this Court ordered counsel for the Meadowses to file the appropriate motion for substitution of parties pursuant to Mississippi Rule of Appellate Procedure 43(a) and gave Baptist and Blake the opportunity to file their responses, including any citation of authority in opposition to the motion for substitution of parties. This Court also stated that it would consider this additional issue on appeal as well as the other issues already raised. Pursuant to this Court's Order, the Meadowses filed their Appellants' Rule 43(a) Motion to Substitute, and Baptist and Blake filed their responses in opposition to the Motion to Substitute which are now before this Court. [7]