Court Opinion

ID: 3084712
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 02:31:07.338511+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:10:06.332758
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                    San Antonio, Texas
                                           March 6, 2015

                                       No. 04-13-00371-CV

     IN THE ESTATE OF MILDRED ELIZABETH THOMAS EDWARDS, Deceased

                          From the Probate Court No 1, Bexar County, Texas
                                  Trial Court No. 2010-PC-0827-A
                          Honorable Polly Jackson Spencer, Judge Presiding

                                          ORDER

        On September 3, 2013, we issued an order abating this appeal because the appellant,
William Rowland Edwards Jr., was a debtor in an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding. We noted
in our order that this appeal would be treated as a closed case unless and until it was reinstated or
severed in accordance with Rule 8.3 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. See TEX. R. APP.
P. 8.3. On December 20, 2013, we issued an order denying a motion to reinstate and clarifying
that this appeal would remain abated until it was reinstated or severed in accordance with Rule
8.3.

       Rule 8.3(a) provides:

       If a case has been suspended by a bankruptcy filing, a party may move that the
       appellate court reinstate the appeal if permitted by federal law or the bankruptcy
       court. If the bankruptcy court has lifted or terminated the stay, a certified copy of
       the order must be attached to the motion.

TEX. R. APP. P. 8.3(a).

       On February 27, 2015, an agreed motion to dismiss this appeal was filed in this court. In
this motion, counsel represent that they have reached a settlement in this matter and that the
settlement has been approved by the bankruptcy court presiding over the William Rowland
Edwards Jr. bankruptcy case. The motion to dismiss is signed by (1) counsel for Robert
Yaquinto, Trustee for the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Estate of William Rowland Edwards Jr.; (2)
counsel for Marcus P. Rogers in his capacity as dependent administrator of the Estate of Mildred
Elizabeth Thomas Edwards; and (3) counsel for Katherine Dow and Kelly Carraba. Rogers,
Dow, and Carraba are appellees in this appeal.
        Before we can dismiss this appeal, it must be reinstated on this court’s docket in
accordance with Rule 8.3(a). The motion to dismiss does not seek reinstatement of this appeal in
accordance with Rule 8.3(a). Furthermore, the motion to dismiss fails to demonstrate that
reinstatement of this appeal is permitted by federal law or the bankruptcy court, or to include a
certified copy of an order showing the bankruptcy court has lifted or terminated the stay.

         The agreed motion to dismiss this appeal is therefore DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE
at this time.

                                                    _________________________________
                                                    Karen Angelini, Justice

       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said
court on this 6th day of March, 2015.

                                                    ___________________________________
                                                    Keith E. Hottle
                                                    Clerk of Court