Court Opinion

ID: 6343279
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-05-24 11:12:09.121315+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:49:18.232551
License: Public Domain

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                            Fourth Court of Appeals
                                   San Antonio, Texas
                                          May 18, 2022

                                      No. 04-22-00210-CV

                                         Lawrence LAU,
                                           Appellant

                                                v.

                              BREAKAWAY PRACTICE, LLC,
                                      Appellee

                  From the 408th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
                               Trial Court No. 2018-CI-07115
                           Honorable Tina Torres, Judge Presiding

                                         ORDER
        In its original petition, Breakaway Practice, LLC (“Breakaway”) sued Lawrence Lau for
breach of contract, declaratory relief, an accounting, and several other claims pled in the
alternative to the breach of contract claim. The trial court granted summary judgment on
Breakaway’s breach of contract claim. Thereafter, on Breakaway’s motion, the trial court entered
a “Final Judgment” on March 9, 2022. While the judgment purports to be a final judgment, it
appears Breakaway’s claims requesting declaratory relief and an accounting have not been
disposed of. Lau filed a notice of appeal attempting to appeal the trial court’s “Final Judgment”
signed and entered on March 9, 2022.

         A judgment or order is final for purposes of appeal if it actually disposes of all pending
parties and claims before the court. Lehmann v. Har-Con Corp., 39 S.W.3d 191, 195 (Tex.
2001). Here, the trial court’s order of March 9, 2022, appears to be interlocutory because it does
not dispose of all parties and causes of action. Thus, it does not appear to be a final and
appealable order. Interlocutory orders may be appealed only if a specific statute authorizes such
an interlocutory appeal. For example, section 51.014 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies
Code lists circumstances under which a person may appeal from an interlocutory order of a
district court, county court at law, or county court. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN.
§ 51.014. We cannot, however, find any statutory authority that allows a party to appeal from an
interlocutory order granting summary judgment that does not dispose of all parties and causes of
action.

       Next, Lau’s notice of appeal was due to be filed on April 8, 2022. See TEX. R. APP. P.
26.1. A motion for extension of time to file the notice of appeal was due on April 25, 2022. See
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TEX. R. APP. P. 26.3. Although appellant filed a notice of appeal within the fifteen-day grace
period allowed by Rule 26.3, he did not file a motion for extension of time.

         A motion for extension of time is necessarily implied when an appellant, acting in good
faith, files a notice of appeal beyond the time allowed by Rule 26.1 of the Texas Rules of
Appellate Procedure, but within the fifteen-day grace period provided by Rule 26.3 for filing a
motion for extension of time. See Verburgt v. Dorner, 959 S.W.2d 615, 617 (Tex. 1997)
(construing the predecessor to Rule 26). However, the appellant must offer a reasonable
explanation for failing to file the notice of appeal in a timely manner. See id.; TEX. R. APP. P.
26.3, 10.5(b)(1)(C).

       We, therefore, ORDER appellant to show cause in writing, on or before June 2, 2022,
why this appeal should not be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

        We further ORDER appellant to file, on or before June 2, 2022, a response presenting a
reasonable explanation for failing to file the notice of appeal in a timely manner. If appellant
fails to respond within the time provided, the appeal will be dismissed. See TEX. R. APP. P.
42.3(c).

        We suspend all appellate deadlines pending our determination of whether we have
jurisdiction over this appeal.

       It is so on ORDERED May 18, 2022.

                                                                   PER CURIAM

       ATTESTED TO:__________________________
                   MICHAEL A. CRUZ,
                   CLERK OF COURT