Court Opinion

ID: 5117492
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-10-11 07:17:45.59149+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:22:02.983953
License: Public Domain

Appeal Dismissed and Memorandum Opinion filed October 5, 2021.

                                       In The

                     Fourteenth Court of Appeals

                               NO. 14-20-00584-CV

                  IN THE INTEREST OF M.L.R.S., A CHILD

                    On Appeal from the 309th District Court
                            Harris County, Texas
                      Trial Court Cause No. 2019-70099

                          MEMORANDUM OPINION

      This is an appeal from a final order affecting the parent-child relationship.
Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 109.002(a). On August 26, 2021 and August 30, 2021,
appellant attempted to file a brief that was not in compliance with the Texas Rules
of Appellate Procedure. In particular, the brief repeatedly included a minor’s
unredacted name in the brief in violation of Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure
9.9(a)(3) and (b). Accordingly, on September 14, 2021, this court ordered the brief
stricken and instructed appellant to file a compliant brief within 10 days. The court
further instructed appellant that the brief must not only be devoid of mentions of the
minor’s unredacted name, but it must also include aliases of that minor’s family
members, such as initialed names, pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure
9.8(b)(1)(B).     The court further warned appellant that if she filed another
noncompliant brief, the court may strike it, prohibit her from filing another, and
proceed as if she had failed to file a brief pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate
Procedure 38.9(a).

       Appellant’s new brief filed September 23, 20211 does not substantially
comply with this court’s order. Among other things, the brief lists the first and last
name of the appellant, the minor’s mother, roughly 150 times without redaction, and
further lists the first and last names of the minor’s great grandmother more than 80
times without redaction. The brief also lists the minor’s father’s unredacted name
multiple times. Moreover, the brief’s appendix lists the first name of the minor’s
sibling multiple times. As near as can be determined, appellant made little to no
effort to comply with this court’s instruction to include aliases for the minor’s family
members. In addition, the brief’s appendix includes the minor’s unredacted name at
least once.

       Due to this sensitive data included in appellant’s amended brief (in
contravention of this court’s previous instructions), the court concludes appellant
has violated briefing rules. Therefore, this court hereby orders the amended brief
STRICKEN, prohibits appellant from filing another brief, and proceeds as if
appellant has failed to file a brief. See Tex. R. App. P. 38.9(a). Therefore, this court
hereby dismisses the appeal for want of prosecution. See Tex. R. App. P. 38.8(a)(1);
In re M.A.K., No. 02-06-00204-CV, 2007 WL 495170, at *1 (Tex. App.—Fort
Worth Feb. 15, 2007) (striking appellant’s brief and dismissing his appeal when,
after being informed of substantial defects in his brief, appellant failed to file an

1
 This brief was preceded by two other briefs which were returned for deficiencies regarding an
unsearchable appendix in violation of Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.4(j) and the lack of a
valid signature in violation of Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.1(c).
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amended brief curing defects).

                                  PER CURIAM

Panel consists of Justices Spain, Hassan, and Poissant.

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