Court Opinion

ID: 2932691
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-15 02:01:27.862978+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:40:04.034074
License: Public Domain

Dismissed and Memorandum Opinion filed January 31, 2006

Dismissed and Memorandum Opinion filed January 31,
2006.
 
In The
 
Fourteenth Court of Appeals
____________
 
NO. 14-05-00558-CV
____________
 
GREGORY H. REAGAN,
Appellant
 
V.
 
RUBY HAZEL MORGAN,
Appellee
 

 
On Appeal from County Civil Court
at Law No. 2 
Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 836,298 
 

 
M E M O R A N D U M   O P I N I O N
This appeal is from a judgment signed May 20, 2005.  Gregory H. Reagan filed a notice of appeal
from the trial court=s judgment granting Ruby Hazel Morgan possession of 2809
Thomas Avenue, his former residence.  On
December 2, 2005, appellee filed a motion to dismiss the appeal on the grounds
the case is moot.  See Tex. R. App. P. 42.3.  Because the question of possession is
moot, we dismiss the appeal.
 

An action for forcible detainer is intended to be a summary,
speedy, and inexpensive remedy.  See
McGlothlin v. Kliebert, 672 S.W.2d 231, 232 (Tex.1984).  For that reason, a county court=s judgment may not be stayed pending
appeal unless a supersedeas bond is filed by appellant within ten days of the
judgment being signed.  Tex. Prop. Code Ann. ' 24.007 (Vernon 2000).  Otherwise, the judgment may not be stayed and
the prevailing party may move to take possession.  See McCartney v. California Mortgage Serv.,
951 S.W.2d 549, 550 (Tex.App.‑‑El Paso 1997, no writ).  Once this has occurred, the case becomes moot
because a justiciable controversy must exist at every stage of the legal
proceedings, including the appeal.  See
Shelby Operating Co. v. City of Waskom, 964 S.W.2d 75, 81 (Tex.App.‑‑Texarkana
1997, pet. denied); Zimmerman v. Ottis, 941 S.W.2d 259, 263 (Tex.App.‑‑Corpus
Christi 1996, no writ); James v. Hubbard, 21 S.W.3d 558, 560 (Tex.App.‑‑San
Antonio 2000, no pet.).  We are
prohibited from deciding moot controversies. 
See National Collegiate Athletic Ass'n v. Jones, 1 S.W.3d 83, 86
(Tex.1999).
The record does not show Reagan filed a supersedeas
bond.  On October 7, 2005, writ of
possession was issued.  A certified copy
of the officer=s return reflects Reagan voluntarily
removed himself from the premises. 
Accordingly, the case is moot.  See
Kemper v. Stonegate Manor Apartments, Ltd., 29 S.W.3d 362, 363 (Tex.App.‑Beaumont
2000, no pet.).
We therefore grant appellee=s motion and order the appeal
dismissed.
 
                                                                        PER
CURIAM
 
Judgment rendered
and Memorandum Opinion filed January 31, 2006.
Panel consists of
Justices Fowler, Edelman, and Guzman.