Court Opinion

ID: 3067829
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-15 22:58:04.577437+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:46:41.423389
License: Public Domain

DISMISS; and Opinion Filed September 5, 2014.

                                           Court of Appeals
                                                             S      In The

                                    Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                                         No. 05-13-01473-CV

                                              ROBERT E. WYATT, Appellant
                                                         V.
                                               CYNTHIA BEAN, Appellee

                                 On Appeal from the 116th Judicial District Court
                                              Dallas County, Texas
                                      Trial Court Cause No. DC-13-00558

                                           MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                   Before Justices FitzGerald, Fillmore, and Stoddart
                                              Opinion by Justice Fillmore

          Pro se appellant Robert E. Wyatt filed this appeal of the trial court’s order dismissing his

claims of defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress against appellee Cynthia

Bean pursuant to section 101.106(f) of the civil practice and remedies code. After Wyatt’s

appeal was perfected, attorney James L. Schutza, acting as a Friend of the Court, filed a

“Suggestion of Death,” advising this Court that Wyatt had passed away.

          Under rule of appellate procedure 7.1(a)(1), a civil appeal may proceed upon the death of

the appellant. See TEX. R. APP. 7.1(a)(1); 1 see also Casillas v. Cano, 79 S.W.3d 587, 590 (Tex.

App.—Corpus Christi 2002, order, no pet.). The executor or administrator of the deceased

   1
       Rule of appellate procedure 7.1(a)(1) provides:

                If a party to a civil case dies after the trial court renders judgment but before the case has been finally disposed of on
          appeal, the appeal may be perfected, and the appellate court will proceed to adjudicate the appeal as if all parties were
          alive. The appellate court’s judgment will have the same force and effect as if rendered when all parties were living. The
          decedent party’s name may be used on all papers.
appellant’s estate may appear. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 151. 2 Alternatively, an heir may appear on

the deceased appellant’s behalf by filing written verification that (1) he or she is the deceased

appellant’s heir; (2) no administration of the deceased appellant’s estate is pending or planned;

(3) no personal representative has been appointed for the estate; and (4) no administration of the

estate in probate court is necessary or desired by those interested in the estate. See Casillas, 79
S.W.3d at 590. 3

          On July 14, 2014, we ordered that any appearance by an executor or administrator of

Wyatt’s estate; an attorney with authority to proceed; or an heir of Wyatt, by filing written

verification that he or she is Wyatt’s heir, no administration of Wyatt’s estate is planned or

pending, no personal representative has been appointed for Wyatt’s estate, and no administration

of Wyatt’s estate in probate court is necessary or desired by those interested in Wyatt’s estate, be

filed by August 13, 2014. We advised that if no such appearance was made by August 13, 2014,

this appeal may be dismissed without further notice. This Court’s order was sent to Wyatt’s

address, Schutza, and Bean’s attorney.

          To date no appearance has been entered in accordance with this Court’s July 14, 2014

order.

   2
       Rule of civil procedure 151 provides:

                If the plaintiff dies, the heirs, or the administrator or executor of such decedent may appear and upon suggestion of
          such death being entered of record in open court, may be made plaintiff, and the suit shall proceed in his or their name. If
          no such appearance and suggestion be made within a reasonable time after the death of the plaintiff, the clerk upon the
          application of defendant, his agent or attorney, shall issue a scire facias for the heirs or the administrator or executor of
          such decedent, requiring him to appear and prosecute such suit. After service of such scire facias, should such heir or
          administrator or executor fail to enter appearance within the time provided, the defendant may have the suit dismissed.
   3
       See also Spigener v. Ray, No. 10-08-00280-CV, 2009 WL 4353751, at *1 (Tex. App.—Waco Nov. 25, 2009, no pet.) (mem. op.).

                                                                     –2–
      Accordingly, we dismiss this appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(b), (c).

                                                   /Robert M. Fillmore/
                                                   ROBERT M. FILLMORE
                                                   JUSTICE

131473F.P05

                                             –3–
                                       S
                              Court of Appeals
                       Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                      JUDGMENT

ROBERT E. WYATT, Appellant                          On Appeal from the 116th Judicial District
                                                    Court, Dallas County, Texas,
No. 05-13-01473-CV        V.                        Trial Court Cause No. DC-13-00558.
                                                    Opinion delivered by Justice Fillmore,
CYNTHIA BEAN, Appellee                              Justices FitzGerald and Stoddart
                                                    participating.

       In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the appeal is DISMISSED.

       It is ORDERED that each party bear its own costs of appeal.

Judgment entered this 5th day of September, 2014.

                                             –4–