Opinion
NUMBER 13-11-00309-CV
05-10-2012
SUSANA CHAVEZ AND RALPH RICHARD SAMUDIA, Appellants, v. HERACLIO ERIC FLORES, ET AL., Appellees.
On appeal from the 93rd District Court
of Hidalgo County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Benavides, Vela, and Perkes
Memorandum Opinion Per Curiam
Appellants, Susana Chavez and Ralph Richard Samudia, attempt to appeal a summary judgment rendered in favor of appellees, Heraclio Eric Flores, et al. We dismiss the appeal for want of prosecution.
On November 10, 2011, the Court granted appellees' motion to strike appellants' brief and require brief to be redrawn. The appellants' brief was ordered stricken and the redrawn brief was due to be filed on or before December 12, 2011. Appellants' counsel filed a motion to withdraw as counsel and a motion to abate which was granted by the Court on December 12, 2011. The appeal was abated until January 20, 2012, to allow the appellants an opportunity to seek new counsel. Appellants were ordered to notify the Court by January 20, 2012, if they had obtained new counsel.
Appellants did not contact this Court and on February 24, 2012, the Court reinstated the appeal and notified appellants that the redrawn brief was due on or before March 26, 2012. Appellants were notified that if they failed to file a brief, the Court may affirm the judgment or dismiss the appeal. To date no response has been received from appellants and the brief has not been filed.
If the appellate court determines that the briefing rules have been flagrantly violated, it may require a brief to be amended, supplemented, or redrawn. TEX. R. APP. P. 38.9(a); see id. R. 44.3 ("A court of appeals must not affirm or reverse a judgment or dismiss an appeal for formal defects or irregularities in appellate procedure without allowing a reasonable time to correct or amend the defects or irregularities."). A reasonable time is given to an appellant when he is provided with an opportunity to amend his brief. See Fredonia State Bank v. General Am. Life Ins. Co., 881 S.W.2d 279, 284 (Tex. 1994). If the appellant files another brief that does not comply with the rules of appellate procedure, the appellate court may strike the brief, prohibit the party from filing another, and proceed as if the party had failed to file a brief. TEX. R. APP. P. 38.9(a). Pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 38.8(a), where an appellant has failed to file a brief, the appellate court may dismiss the appeal for want of prosecution. Id. R. 38.8(a).
Appellants have failed to file a brief. Accordingly, the appeal is DISMISSED FOR WANT OF PROSECUTION. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.8(a), 42.3(b)(c).
PER CURIAM