Opinion
12-22-00196-CV
08-24-2022
ELIJAH JOHNSON, JR., APPELLANT v. AVEANNA HEALTHCARE, LLC AND ANGELA MICKENS, LVN, APPELLEES
APPEAL FROM THE 145TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT NACOGDOCHES COUNTY, TEXAS (Tr.Ct.No. C-2136524)
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
PER CURIAM
This appeal is being dismissed for failure to comply with the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. See Tex. R. App. P. 42.3.
Elijah Johnson, Jr., acting pro se, filed a notice of appeal on July 8, 2022. Pursuant to Rule 32.1, his docketing statement was due to have been filed at the time appeal was perfected. See Tex. R. App. P. 32.1. On July 13, this Court requested that Appellant file a docketing statement within ten days if he had not already done so. Appellant did not file a docketing statement as requested. On August 2, the Clerk of this Court issued a notice advising Appellant that his docketing statement was past due. The notice provided that unless the docketing statement was filed on or before August 12, the appeal would be presented for dismissal in accordance with Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 42.3. Appellant did not file the docketing statement as requested.
Pro se litigants are held to the same standards as licensed attorneys and must comply with all applicable rules of procedure; otherwise, pro se litigants would benefit from an unfair advantage over parties represented by counsel. Muhammed v. Plains Pipeline, L.P., No. 12-16-00189-CV, 2017 WL 2665180, at *2 n.3 (Tex. App.- Tyler June 21, 2017, no pet.) (mem. op.).
Additionally, the Clerk of this Court notified Appellant on July 13 that his notice of appeal failed to contain the information specifically required by Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.5 and Section 51.017(a) of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. See Tex. R. App. P. 9.5 (service); see also Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 51.017(a) (West Supp. 2019) (notice of appeal must be served on each court reporter responsible for preparing reporter's record). The notice warned that, unless Appellant filed a proper notice of appeal on or before August 12, the appeal would be referred to the Court for dismissal. Appellant did not file a compliant notice of appeal or otherwise respond to this Court's notice.
Because Appellant failed, after notice, to comply with Rules 9.5 and 32.1 and Section 51.017(a), the appeal is dismissed. See Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(c) (on its own initiative after giving ten days' notice to all parties, appellate court may dismiss appeal if appeal is subject to dismissal because appellant failed to comply with a requirement of these rules, a court order, or a notice from the clerk requiring a response or other action within a specified time). Opinion delivered August 24, 2022.
JUDGMENT
THIS CAUSE came to be heard on the appellate record; and the same being considered, it is the opinion of this Court that this appeal should be dismissed.
It is therefore ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED by this Court that the appeal be, and the same is, hereby dismissed; and that this decision be certified to the court below for observance.