Court Opinion

ID: 3208006
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-31 17:12:16.704391+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:01:41.928714
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                         San Antonio, Texas
                                                 May 24, 2016

                                             No. 04-16-00190-CV

                                            John M. DONAHUE,
                                                 Appellant

                                                        v.

    CITY OF BOERNE CHIEF OF POLICE JAMES KOEHLER, Officer Pablo Morales,
                           and Martha L. Donohue,
                                Appellee-s

                         From the County Court at Law, Kendall County, Texas
                                    Trial Court No. 15-003-CCL
                           Honorable William R. Palmer Jr., Judge Presiding

                                                ORDER
       John M. Donohue has filed a notice of restricted appeal, seeking to appeal the judgments
dismissing his claims against James Koehler in his capacity as Chief of Police of the City of
Boerne, Officer Pablo Morales, and Martha L. Donohue.

        Appellant’s claims against Chief Koehler and Officer Morales were dismissed on
September 10, 2015, when the trial court granted those defendants’ plea to the jurisdiction. In an
order signed on that date, the trial court also severed the claims against Chief Koehler and
Officer Morales, making the judgment final. However, the record does not reflect that the trial
court clerk assigned a new cause number to the severed action.

       On September 23, 2015, Donohue filed a timely motion to reconsider the dismissal of his
claims against Chief Koehler and Officer Morales. Accordingly, a notice of appeal from the
severed dismissal was due December 9, 2015, or a motion for extension of time to file the notice
of appeal was due fifteen days later, on December 24, 2015. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.1(a), 26.3.

        On October 2, 2015, the trial court dismissed with prejudice the remaining claims in the
case, including those against Martha L. Donohue.1 On October 22, Donohue filed a timely

1
  It appears from the record that Martha L. Donohue was never served with process, nor did she make an appearance
in the case. Donohue’s appeal of the trial court’s October 2, 2015, dismissal of his claims against defendants other
than Martha L. Donohue is the subject appeal no. 04-15-00695-CV, which is proceeding separately.
motion to reinstate and to allow him to amend his pleadings. Accordingly, a notice of appeal
from the October 2 dismissal was due December 31. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.1(a); Kirschberg v.
Lowe, 974 S.W.2d 844, 847-48 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1998, order)(holding appellate
timetable is extended by any postjudgment motion that assails the trial court’s judgment and that
is filed within time for filing motion for new trial), disp. on merits, No. 04-98-00307-CV, 1999
WL 816119 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1999, no pet.).

        Donohue mailed a notice of appeal on November 1, 20152, identifying Chief Koehler and
Officer Morales as appellees and also indicating his desire to appeal the October 2, 2015
dismissal. On December 18, 2015, Donohue mailed3 a motion expressly requesting that an
appeal proceed against City of Boerne Chief of Police James Koehler, Officer Pablo Morales,
and Martha L. Donohue. On April 1, 2016, Donohue filed a notice of restricted appeal against
these three appellees.

       The record has been filed. Having reviewed the clerk’s record, we conclude that
Donohue’s November 1, 2015 and December 18, 2015 filings were timely and sufficient to effect
an appeal against these appellees. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.1(a), 26.3; Verburgt v. Dorner, 959
S.W.2d 615 (1997). We therefore order this appeal to proceed as a timely, regular appeal
against James Koehler in his capacity as Chief of Police of the City of Boerne, Officer Pablo
Morales, and Martha L. Donohue.

       Appellant has filed a request for a copy of the appellate record and for an extension of
time to file his brief. We grant the motion and order the Clerk of this court to send appellant a
copy of the record. We order appellant’s brief in compliance with Rule 38.1 of the Texas Rules
of Appellate Procedure is due June 23, 2016.

                                                          _________________________________
                                                          Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice

       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said
court on this 24th day of May, 2016.

                                                          ___________________________________
                                                          Keith E. Hottle
                                                          Clerk of Court

2
 The notice was received and file-stamped November 5, 2015. See Warner v. Glass, 135 S.W.3d 681, 684 (Tex.
2004) (holding pro se inmate’s civil pleading is filed when inmate places document into prison mail system).
3
 The motion was file-stamped December 28; however, it was mailed December 18 and was post-marked December
21, 2015. See Warner, 135 S.W.3d at 684.