Court Opinion

ID: 9376848
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-03-04 07:09:56.058404+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:09.878745
License: Public Domain

Opinion filed March 2, 2023

                                    In The

        Eleventh Court of Appeals
                                 __________

                              No. 11-22-00303-CV
                                  __________

                      STEVE VAN HORNE, Appellant
                                       V.
   TAYLOR COUNTY, PRECINCT 1, PLACE 2, COURT, et al.,
                     Appellees

                    On Appeal from the 350th District Court
                            Taylor County, Texas
                        Trial Court Cause No. 12749-D

                     MEMORANDUM OPINION
      Appellant, Steve Van Horne, filed a pro se notice of appeal from the trial
court’s October 5, 2022 Order on Motion to Dismiss. After this appeal was
docketed, we informed Appellant that it did not appear that the order from which
Appellant attempted to appeal was a final, appealable order, and we requested that
Appellant provide this court with a response showing grounds to continue this
appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3. Appellant filed a response in which he indicated
that he did not understand why the trial court’s order would not be final.
      After receiving Appellant’s response, we issued an order abating this appeal
pursuant to Rule 27.2 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure to permit the trial
court to enter a final order or judgment over which this court has jurisdiction. In our
abatement order, we explained that the order from which Appellant attempted to
appeal did not state that it was a final or appealable order, nor did it dispose of all
parties—specifically Appellant’s claims against defendant Tracy Kirtland.
      Unless specifically authorized by statute, appeals may be taken only from
final judgments. Tex. A & M Univ. Sys. v. Koseoglu, 233 S.W.3d 835, 840–41 (Tex.
2007); Lehmann v. Har–Con Corp., 39 S.W.3d 191, 195 (Tex. 2001). A judgment
is final and appealable if it disposes of all parties and all claims in the case.
Lehmann, 39 S.W.3d at 195. The order from which Appellant attempts to appeal is
still not final because his claims against Tracy Kirtland remain pending in this cause.
      In our December 1, 2022 abatement order, we informed the parties: “If a final,
appealable order or judgment has not been entered by February 14, 2023, we may
dismiss this appeal.” See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3. Because all parties and all claims
have not been disposed of and because Appellant has not obtained a final, appealable
order or judgment as directed by this court in the December 1 abatement order, we
now reinstate the appeal and dismiss it for want of jurisdiction.
      This appeal is dismissed for want of jurisdiction.

                                                     PER CURIAM
March 2, 2023
Panel consists of: Bailey, C.J.,
Trotter, J., and Williams, J.

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