Court Opinion

ID: 4355900
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-01-03 20:17:01.677987+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:41.466157
License: Public Domain

IN THE
                         TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

                                No. 10-18-00340-CV

TRIAD INDUSTRIES, INC.,
AND DAVID C. BURT,
                                                           Appellants
v.

CLEAR WATER, INC., LUCI A. DISHON
AND TERRY L. DISHON,
                                                           Appellees

                          From the 413th District Court
                             Johnson County, Texas
                           Trial Court No. C201300452

                         MEMORANDUM OPINION

      The notice of appeal in this case states that Appellants Triad Industries, Inc., and

David C. Burt appeal from “the trial court’s Order Granting Plaintiffs’ No Evidence

Motion for Summary Judgment Against Defendants Triad Industries, Inc. and David

Burt” and from “the trial court’s Order Granting Plaintiff’s Traditional Motion for

Summary Judgment Against Defendants Triad Industries, Inc. and David Burt.” The

former order was signed on June 27, 2018. The latter order indicates that it was signed
on December 27, 2017; however, the notice of appeal states that the date is erroneous and

that the latter order was also signed on June 27, 2018.

        The time for filing a notice of appeal is jurisdictional in this court, and absent a

timely filed notice of appeal, we must dismiss the appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.1(b). A

notice of appeal must be filed within ninety days after the judgment is signed if any party

timely files a motion for new trial. Id. R. 26.1(a). On July 27, 2018, Appellants filed a

motion for new trial and motion to reconsider the trial court’s orders. Appellants’ notice

of appeal was therefore due by September 25, 2018. See id. Appellants filed their notice

of appeal with the trial court clerk on November 2, 2018.

        Appellants’ notice of appeal states, however, that they do not believe that the

orders from which they appeal are final judgments because the orders “did not dispose

of all parties and claims or include language indicating finality.”1 But, even if the orders

from which Appellants appeal are not final judgments, we still lack jurisdiction of this

appeal. See id. R. 26.1; Robertson v. Beadles, Newman & Lawler, P.C., No. 2-08-382-CV, 2009
WL 51034, at *1 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Jan. 8, 2009, no pet.) (per curiam) (mem. op.).

This Court has no jurisdiction to hear an appeal from a judgment that is not final, unless

there is specific statutory authority permitting an appeal before final judgment. See TEX.

CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 51.012 (West 2015).

1 The clerk’s record shows that the trial court clerk gave notice to Appellants on June 27, 2018 “[i]n
accordance with the provisions of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 239(a) and/or Rule 306(a)(3)”
that “a judgment disposing of this case or an appealable judgment was signed on the 27TH DAY OF JUNE,
2018.” However, the clerk’s record also includes a “proposed Final Judgment” that Appellees filed on July
6, 2018 and that Appellees requested that the trial court sign. The clerk’s record does not include a signed
copy of the “Final Judgment.”
Triad Indus., Inc. v. Clear Water, Inc.                                                              Page 2
        On December 5, 2018, the Clerk of this Court notified the parties that this appeal

was subject to dismissal for want of jurisdiction. The letter stated that the Court may

dismiss the appeal unless, within ten days from the date of the letter, a response was filed

showing grounds for continuing the appeal.

        The trial court clerk subsequently filed a supplemental clerk’s record, which

includes an order signed by the trial court on December 6, 2018. The order states that

after considering Appellants’ motion for new trial and motion to reconsider, the trial

court “agrees with the parties that no final judgment was issued in this suit.” The order

then vacates the orders from which Appellants appeal and denies the Appellees’ no-

evidence and traditional motions for summary judgment.

        Appellants have also filed a “Motion to Dismiss Cause,” requesting that we

dismiss this appeal without prejudice. Appellants state that the trial court “has correctly

ruled that a final judgment has not been entered in this matter, and accordingly, this

appeal is not necessary at this time and the appellate court does not have jurisdiction.”

        We need not determine whether Appellants filed their notice of appeal too late or

too soon. As explained above, either way, this appeal must be dismissed for want of

jurisdiction. Accordingly, we dismiss this appeal. Appellants’ “Motion to Dismiss

Cause” is also dismissed.

                                                 REX D. DAVIS
                                                 Justice

Triad Indus., Inc. v. Clear Water, Inc.                                               Page 3
Before Chief Justice Gray,
       Justice Davis, and
       Justice Scoggins
Appeal dismissed
Opinion delivered and filed January 2, 2019
[CV06]

Triad Indus., Inc. v. Clear Water, Inc.       Page 4