Opinion
04-23-01068-CV
03-08-2024
Kenneth THOMAS, Appellant v. ASCENT AT MEDICAL, Appellee
From the County Court At Law No. 10, Bexar County, Texas Trial Court No. 2023CV05272 Honorable David J. Rodriguez, Judge Presiding.
ORDER
Liza A. Rodriguez, Justice.
The trial court signed a final judgment on October 27, 2023. Because appellant did not file a motion for new trial, motion to modify the judgment, motion for reinstatement, or request for findings of fact and conclusions of law, the notice of appeal was due to be filed on November 27, 2023. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.1(a). A motion for extension of time to file the notice of appeal was due on December 12, 2023. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.3. Although appellant filed a notice of appeal within the fifteen-day grace period allowed by Rule 26.3, he did not file a motion for extension of time.
A motion for extension of time is necessarily implied when an appellant, acting in good faith, files a notice of appeal beyond the time allowed by Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 26.1 but within the fifteen-day grace period provided by Rule 26.3 for filing a motion for extension of time. See Verburgt v. Dorner, 959 S.W.2d 615, 617 (Tex. 1997) (construing the predecessor to Rule 26). However, the appellant must offer a reasonable explanation for failing to file the notice of appeal in a timely manner. See id.; TEX. R. APP. P. 26.3, 10.5(B)(1)(C).
We ORDER appellant to file, within fifteen days from the date of this order, a response presenting a reasonable explanation for failing to file the notice of appeal in a timely manner. If appellant fails to respond within the time provided, the appeal will be dismissed. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(C).