Opinion
13-21-00396-CV
02-03-2022
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, Appellant, v. BENEDICT LOUIS BRYAN JR., Appellee.
On appeal from the County Court at Law No. 2 of Nueces County, Texas.
Before Chief Justice Contreras and Justices Benavides and Longoria.
ORDER OF ABATEMENT
PER CURIAM.
This cause is before the Court on appellant's motion to compel filing of reporter's record. The reporter's record in this cause was originally due to be filed on January 10, 2022. On January 13, 2022, the Clerk of the Court notified the court reporter, Otilia 'Tillie' Serna, that the reporter's record was past due. On January 18, 2022, the Court received a request for extension of time to file the record wherein the reporter indicated appellant has not made arrangements for the record. On January 27, 2022, appellant filed the motion to compel filing of reporter's record, now before the Court, identifying numerous attempts to make payment arrangements.
This sequence of events requires us to effectuate our responsibility to avoid further delay and to preserve the parties' rights. See Tex. R. App. P. 37.3(a)(2). Accordingly, this appeal is abated, and the cause remanded to the trial court.
Upon remand, the judge of the trial court shall immediately cause notice to be given and conduct a hearing to determine whether payment arrangements have been made. The court shall further determine if the reporter's record, or any part thereof, has been lost or destroyed, and shall make appropriate findings under Tex.R.App.P. 34.6(f), if necessary. Otherwise, the court shall determine what steps are necessary to ensure the prompt preparation of a reporter's record and shall enter any orders required to avoid further delay and to preserve the parties' rights.
The trial court shall prepare and file its findings and orders and cause them to be included in a supplemental clerk's record which should be submitted to the Clerk of this Court within thirty days from the date of this order. Appellant's motion to compel filing of reporter's record is carried with the case at this time.