Court Opinion

ID: 2891193
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-07 21:09:26.437244+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:43:05.260001
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-03-00431-CV

                            IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                      FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                    AT AMARILLO

                                       PANEL A

                                  JANUARY 16, 2004

                         ______________________________

               IN RE THE ESTATE OF GEORGE RALPH NEWBY, JR.

                       _________________________________

          FROM THE 84TH DISTRICT COURT OF HUTCHINSON COUNTY;

               NO. 35,142; HONORABLE WILLIAM D. SMITH, JUDGE

                        _______________________________

Before JOHNSON, C.J., and REAVIS and CAMPBELL, JJ.

                              MEMORANDUM OPINION

      Appellant Betty Ann Newby, proceeding pro se, filed a notice of appeal, received by

this court on October 10, 2003, stating that she was appealing an order dated September

8, 2003, that approved a claim against the estate of George Ralph Newby, Jr., deceased.

The notice of appeal referenced two cause numbers, 35,150 and 35,142 in the 84th District

Court of Hutchinson County, so the appeals were assigned two case numbers in this court,

07-03-0431-CV and 07-03-0432-CV. Appellant did not pay the filing fees of $125 for either

appeal or submit an affidavit of indigence pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of Appellate

Procedure.
       By letter dated October 14, 2003, the clerk of this court notified appellant that the

filing fee had not been paid, and that failure to pay it could result in dismissal. We also

received correspondence dated the same date from the trial court clerk, indicating that

appellant had not paid for preparation of the clerk’s record. Having received no fee by

November 18, 2003, we directed appellant by letter of that date, to pay the filing fees on

or before December 2, 2003, and to certify to the clerk of this court by the same date,

whether appellant had complied with Rule of Appellate Procedure 35.3, concerning

payment for preparation of the record, and if not, to give a reasonable explanation for her

non-compliance. That letter again advised appellant that failure to pay the filing fees could

result in the appeals being dismissed. Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(c).

       Appellant responded on December 3, 2003 with a Motion to Extend Payment Date

and an Affidavit of Indigency. Those documents did not comply with the requirements of

Rule 20.1 for establishing indigence. The affidavit was untimely; it was due to be filed in

the trial court with or before the notice of appeal. Any motion for extension of time to file

the affidavit would have been due not later than October 25, 2003. Tex. R. App. P.

20.1(c)(3). Moreover, the affidavit stated that appellant would be able to pay the court

costs and fees on January 1, 2004. By letter dated December 30, 2003, we notified

appellant that she had not complied with the requirements of Rule 20.1. We granted

appellant’s request for an extension of time to pay the fees, and directed her to pay this

court’s filing fees for both appeals, on or before January 5, 2004. Appellant was also

directed a second time to certify to the court, by the same date, whether she had complied

with Tex. R. App. P. 35.3.

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       On January 9, 2004, the court received from appellant a response, requesting we

require her to pay only one filing fee because the two causes were consolidated at the trial

court level. Documents appellant submitted with her response indicate that the

consolidation occurred on May 17, 2002, sixteen months before appellant filed her notices

of appeal. But appellant did not tender even one filing fee with her response and did not

provide the certifications of compliance with Tex. R. App. P. 35.3, as directed.

       Appellant is not excused by statute or the Rules of Appellate Procedure from paying

costs. Tex. R. App. P. 5. Despite more than reasonable opportunities to do so, appellant

has persistently failed to comply with the requirement that she pay the filing fees this court

is obligated to collect, and with this court’s orders with respect to the filing fees and the

preparation of the clerk’s record. All parties having had more than ten days’ notice that

dismissal could result from appellant’s continued failure to comply with the rules and this

court’s orders, these appeals are dismissed. Tex. R. App. Proc. 5, 37.3, 42.3(b) and (c).

                                                  Per Curiam

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