Court Opinion

ID: 9386372
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-04-12 14:10:34.69288+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:06.024497
License: Public Domain

In the
              Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana

                   No. 06-23-00015-CV

         CHARLES R. JOHNSON, SR., Appellant

                            V.

SWEPCO SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER CO., Appellee

         On Appeal from the 202nd District Court
                 Bowie County, Texas
             Trial Court No. 21C0613-202

      Before Stevens, C.J., van Cleef and Rambin, JJ.
      Memorandum Opinion by Chief Justice Stevens
                                 MEMORANDUM OPINION

        On January 9, 2023, the trial court entered a traditional and no-evidence summary

judgment in favor of SWEPCO Southwestern Electric Power Co. against Charles R. Johnson, Sr.

Because Johnson did not file a motion or request that extended the deadline to file a notice of

appeal, the notice of appeal was due on February 8, 2023, which was thirty days after the

judgment was signed. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.1(a). Johnson filed his notice of appeal on

February 17, 2023, making it untimely. Although the fifteen-day motion for extension of time

contemplated by Rule 26.3 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure is implied in civil cases,

an appellant must also provide a reasonable explanation for the late filing to avoid dismissal of

the appeal. In re G.J.P., 314 S.W.3d 217, 221 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2010, pet. denied).

        By letter dated March 7, 2023, we requested that Johnson file, with this Court, a

reasonable explanation for the late filing of his notice of appeal. We warned Johnson that, if we

did not receive an adequate response within thirty days of the date of our letter, we could dismiss

the appeal for want of jurisdiction. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3.

        Although Johnson responded to our letter, his response did not provide a reasonable

explanation for the late filing of his notice of appeal. As a result, this appeal is ripe for dismissal.

        We dismiss this appeal for want of jurisdiction.

                                                Scott E Stevens
                                                Chief Justice

Date Submitted:         April 11, 2023
Date Decided:           April 12, 2023

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