Opinion
NO. 14-13-00237-CV
05-09-2013
MICHAEL NORVIL, Appellant v. BANK OF AMERICA, Appellee
Dismissed and Memorandum Opinion filed May 9, 2013.
On Appeal from the Co Civil Ct at Law No 4
Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 1022597
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This is an attempted appeal from a judgment signed December 3, 2012. Appellant filed a timely motion for new trial. Appellant's notice of appeal was filed March 18, 2103.
When appellant has filed a timely motion for new trial, motion to modify the judgment, motion to reinstate, or request for findings of fact and conclusion of law, the notice of appeal must be filed within ninety days after the date the judgment is signed. See Tex. R. App. P. 26.1(a). Accordingly, the notice of appeal was due March 4, 2013. Appellant, however, filed his notice of appeal on March 18, 2013.
Appellant's notice of appeal was not filed timely. 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 Rule 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, 617-18 (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 Tex. R. App. P. 26.3, 10.5(b)(1)(C); Verburgt, 959 S.W.2d at 617-18; Miller v. Greenpark Surgery Center Assocs., Ltd., 974 S.W.2d 805, 808 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1998, no pet.).
On April 4, 2013, appellant was ordered to file a proper motion to extend time to file the notice of appeal or the appeal would be dismissed for want of jurisdiction. See Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(a). Appellant filed no response.
Accordingly, the appeal is ordered dismissed.
PER CURIAM
Panel consists of Justices Boyce, Jamison and Busby.