Court Opinion

ID: 3171422
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-01-22 07:08:25.829936+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:01:34.397777
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
                         FIRST DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT HOUSTON

         ORDER AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO DISMISS FOR WANT OF PROSECUTION

Appellate case name:        Emma J. Thomas v. A+ Federal Credit Union

Appellate case number:      01-15-01047-CV

Trial court case number:    1065009

Trial court:                County Civil Court at Law No. 4 of Harris County

       On December 8, 2015, appellant, Emma J. Thomas, proceeding pro se (without an
attorney), timely filed a notice of appeal in the trial court from that court’s November 17,
2015 final judgment in this contract case. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.1(a), 26.1. After this
case was assigned to this Court, the Clerk of this Court mailed two notices on December
11, 2015, advising appellant that she had not timely paid the $205.00 appellate filing fee,
and that if she was not exempt or been declared indigent by the trial court, as a result, her
appeal was subject to dismissal unless she paid the filing fee within 20 days of the date of
that notice. See TEX. R. APP. P. 5 (requiring payment of fees in civil cases unless
indigent), 20.1 (listing requirements for establishing indigence), 42.3(c) (allowing
involuntary dismissal of case for failure to comply with clerk’s notice).

       In response to our Clerk’s notice, appellant filed a pro se letter in this Court, dated
December 30, 2015, and filed on January 4, 2016, claiming that, among other things, she
was not aware that there was an appellate filing fee, but is unable to pay the fee because
she cannot is representing herself, cannot afford legal representation, and her income
consists of Social Security. On January 4, 2016, the Clerk of this Court sent a late-fee
notice to the parties warning appellant that, because she had neither established indigence
nor paid the fee, if she failed to pay the filing fee by February 3, 2016, this Court may
dismiss this appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3.

       Appellant did not file an affidavit of indigence with her notice of appeal in the trial
court. See TEX. R. APP. P. 20.1(c)(1)(A). However, while we may extend the time to file
an affidavit of indigence if the appellant files a motion for an extension of time within 15
days of the notice of appeal, the appellate “court may not dismiss the appeal or affirm the
trial court’s judgment on the ground that the appellant has failed to file an affidavit or a
sufficient affidavit of indigence unless the court has first provided the appellant notice of
the deficiency and a reasonable time to remedy it.” See TEX. R. APP. P. 20.1(c)(3).

       Because appellant is proceeding pro se, the Court construes her pro se letter, filed
on January 4, 2016, as a letter-motion for an out-of-time extension of time to file an
affidavit of indigence with the trial court and an extension of time to establish indigence
to pay the filing fee, currently due by February 3, 2016, and grants both of the motions.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED that appellant file an affidavit of indigence with the trial
court or pay the $205.00 appellate filing fee to the Clerk of this Court within 30 days of
the date of this order, or else appellant is warned that this appeal may be dismissed
for want of prosecution without further notice. See TEX. R. APP. P. 5, 42.3(c).
Because the appellant is proceeding pro se, appellant is directed to contact the Harris
County Clerk’s Office for a sample affidavit of indigence that complies with Texas Rule
of Appellate Procedure 20.1(b) and the procedures that may follow the filing of such an
affidavit. See TEX. R. APP. P. 20.1(b), (e)-(j).

       It is so ORDERED.

Judge’s signature: /s/ Evelyn V. Keyes
                     Acting individually      Acting for the Court

Date: January 21, 2016