Opinion
NO. 12-20-00244-CV
11-10-2020
VIRGINIA REYES, APPELLANT v. LINDALE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, ET AL, APPELLEES
APPEAL FROM THE 114TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT SMITH COUNTY , TEXAS MEMORANDUM OPINION
This appeal is being dismissed for failure to comply with the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(c).
Appellant is acting pro se; however, 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.).
A party who is not excused by statute or the appellate rules from paying costs must pay--at the time an item is presented for filing--whatever fees are required by statute or Texas Supreme Court order. TEX. R. APP. P. 5. An appellate court may enforce Rule 5 by any order that is just. Id. After giving ten days' notice, an appellate court may dismiss an appeal because the appellant failed to comply with a requirement of the appellate rules, a court order, or a notice from the clerk requiring a response or other action within a specified time. TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(c).
On October 21, 2020, the Clerk of this Court notified Appellant, Virginia Reyes, that the filing fee in this appeal is due and that the appeal would be subject to dismissal if the fee was not paid on or before November 2. The date for remitting the filing fee passed, and Appellant has not paid the fee or otherwise shown that she is excused from paying the fee.
The case information sheet from the Smith County District Clerk's Office demonstrates that Appellant was not declared indigent in the trial court.
Because Appellant failed, after notice, to comply with Rule 5, the appeal is dismissed. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(c). Opinion delivered November 10, 2020.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.
We also note that Appellant has not filed the required docketing statement. See TEX. R. APP. P. 32.1. Additionally, Appellant's amended notice of appeal fails to comply with Section 51.017 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. See 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).
COURT OF APPEALS TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS
JUDGMENT
Appeal from the 114th District Court of Smith County, Texas (Tr.Ct.No. 26491-B)
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.
By per curiam opinion.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J. and Neeley, J.