Court Opinion

ID: 2872665
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-06 04:47:56.472205+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:29:20.000280
License: Public Domain

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

                                     NO. 03-06-00394-CV

Bonnie Carter, individually, and on behalf of J. C., a minor; Scott Carter, individually, and
  on behalf of J. C., a minor; Eleanor Draughn; Andrew Draughn and Susan Draughn,
                                        Appellants

                                               v.

 Dustin McManus, Ramzi Abbyad, Jason Nuckolls, Travis McLemore, and Tyler Hunkin,
                                   Appellees

    FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 98TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
    NO. D-1-GN-04-003460, HONORABLE STEPHEN YELENOSKY, JUDGE PRESIDING

                                     NO. 03-07-00251-CV

  Bonnie Carter, Scott Carter, Jennifer Carter, Andrew Draughn, Eleanor Draughn and
                               Susan Draughn, Appellants

                                               v.

             Ramzi Abbyad, Jason Nuckolls, and Travis McLemore, Appellees

     FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 98TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
    NO. D-1-GN-07-000795, HONORABLE MARGARET A. COOPER, JUDGE PRESIDING

                           MEMORANDUM OPINION

              Appellants sought to appeal from the Order on Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss in

trial court cause number D-1-GN-04-003460. That order, signed by Judge Stephen Yelenosky, granted

motions to dismiss filed by Ramzi Abbyad, Jason Nuckolls, and Travis McLemore. One notice of
appeal was filed by Bonnie Carter, individually, and on behalf of J. C., a minor; Scott Carter,

individually, and on behalf of J. C., a minor (“the Carters”). Another notice of appeal was filed by

Eleanor Draughn, Andrew Draughn, and Susan Draughn (“the Draughns”). These notices prompted

the creation of an appellate cause, Carter v. McManus, No. 03-06-00394. Because other claims in

this case remained pending in the trial court, the order of dismissal was not final and appealable.

The notices of appeal were, thus, premature.

               The Carters and the Draughns filed a motion to sever the claims against Abbyad,

Nuckolls, and McLemore which had been dismissed from the remaining claims pending in the trial

court. Judge Margaret A. Cooper signed an Order Granting Motion to Sever on March 19, 2007.

The severance order put the severed claims into trial court cause number D-1-GN-07-000795. The

severance made the Order on Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss final and appealable. The severance

also caused the prematurely filed notices of appeal to be effective and deemed filed as of

March 19, 2007. See Tex. R. App. P. 27.1(a).

               On April 13, 2007, the Carters filed a new notice of appeal. That notice prompted

the creation of another appellate cause, Carter v. McManus, No. 03-07-00251. By virtue of having

their claims against appellees severed along with the Carters’ claims against appellees, the Draughns’

previous notice of appeal is part of the severed cause of action.

               The Carters have filed a motion to consolidate the two appellate causes. We grant

the motion to consolidate. The issues, records and documents filed in appellate cause number 03-06-

00394-CV are consolidated into appellate cause number 03-07-00251-CV. The consolidated causes

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will proceed under the style of cause number 03-07-00251-CV. Appellate cause number 03-06-

00394-CV is dismissed.

                                          G. Alan Waldrop, Justice

Before Chief Justice Law, Justices Waldrop and Henson

Dismissed

Filed: August 31, 2007

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