Opinion
No. 07-05-0147-CV
June 2, 2005.
Appeal from the 281st District Court of Harris County, No. 2003-20697, Hon. David Bernal, Presiding.
Panel D: Before QUINN, C.J., and REAVIS and CAMPBELL, JJ.
ON ABATEMENT AND REMAND
Robert Scherer and SCS Construction Management Inc. appeal from the trial court's judgment awarding damages to appellants Dean and Sally Angell. The clerk's record was filed on May 3, 2005. The reporter's record was due on May 2, 2005. On May 13, 2005, a letter was sent to the court reporter requesting a reporter's status. No response has been received, though due by May 23, 2005.
Accordingly, we abate this appeal and remand the cause to the 281st District Court of Harris County (trial court) for further proceedings. Upon remand, the trial court shall immediately cause notice of a hearing to be given and, thereafter, conduct a hearing to determine the following:
1. why the reporter's record has not been filed;
• when the reporter's record can reasonably be filed in a manner that does not have the practical effect of depriving the appellants of their right to appeal or delaying the resolution of this appeal.
The trial court shall cause the hearing to be transcribed. So too shall it 1) execute findings of fact and conclusions of law addressing the foregoing issues, 2) cause to be developed a supplemental clerk's record containing its findings of fact and conclusions of law and all orders it may issue as a result of its hearing in this matter, and 3) cause to be developed a reporter's record transcribing the evidence and arguments presented at the aforementioned hearing. Additionally, the district court shall then file the supplemental record and reporter's record transcribing the hearing with the clerk of this court on or before June 30, 2005. Should further time be needed by the trial court to perform these tasks, then same must be requested before June 30, 2005.
It is so ordered.