Court Opinion

ID: 2904386
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-09 22:09:21.361488+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:01:25.044760
License: Public Domain

In The

Court of Appeals

Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont

____________________

NO. 09-03-253 CV

____________________

DONALD RAY MCCRAY, Appellant

V.

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Appellee

On Appeal from the 172nd District Court
Jefferson County, Texas

Trial Cause No. E-169,005

MEMORANDUM OPINION
	Donald Ray McCray, an inmate of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice,
Institutional Division, appeals from the dismissal of a suit filed against Jefferson County,
Texas.  Because the appeal involves the application of well- settled principles of law, we
deliver this memorandum opinion.  Tex. R. App. P. 47.4.

	McCray brings one issue on appeal; he maintains the trial court erred in dismissing
his suit when Jefferson County had filed neither an answer nor a motion to dismiss. 
However, McCray is incorrect.  Section 14.003(a)(2) of the Texas Civil Practices and
Remedies Code specifically authorizes the trial court to dismiss a claim, "either before or
after service of process," if the court determines the claim is frivolous or malicious.  Tex.
Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 14.003(a)(2) (Vernon 2002).  Here, the trial court found
that McCray's suit was frivolous and dismissed it pursuant to the appropriate statutory
authority.  See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. §§ 14.001-.014 (Vernon 2002).  We
overrule McCray's issue and affirm the trial court's judgment.
	AFFIRMED.  
								PER CURIAM

Submitted on September 2, 2003
Opinion Delivered September 11, 2003
 

Before McKeithen, C.J., Burgess and Gaultney, JJ.