Victor Fonseca and Rig Cleaners, LLC v. Peggy Sue Bishop, as of Estate of Charles T. Blish, in the Right of Rig Cleaners, LLC., and the Estate of Charles T. Blish, Individually
COURT OF APPEALS
SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
FORT WORTH
NO. 02-14-00309-CV
VICTOR FONSECA AND RIG APPELLANTS
CLEANERS, LLC
V.
PEGGY SUE BISHOP, AS APPELLEE
EXECUTRIX OF ESTATE OF
CHARLES T. BLISH, IN THE RIGHT
OF RIG CLEANERS, LLC, AND THE
ESTATE OF CHARLES T. BLISH,
INDIVIDUALLY
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FROM PROBATE COURT NO. 2 OF TARRANT COUNTY
TRIAL COURT NO. 2013-PR01571-2-A
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MEMORANDUM OPINION 1
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Appellants Victor Fonseca and Rig Cleaners, LLC attempt to pursue a
restricted appeal from the trial court’s default judgment in favor of Appellee
1
See Tex. R. App. P. 47.4.
Peggy Sue Bishop, Executrix of the Estate of Charles T. Blish, in the Right of Rig
Cleaners, LLC, and the Estate of Charles T. Blish, Individually. The trial court’s
default judgment was signed March 7, 2014. The notice of restricted appeal was
therefore due within six months, 2 that is, by September 8, 2014, or, if
accompanied by a motion for extension of time, within six months and fifteen
days, 3 that is, by September 23, 2014. Appellants did not file their notice of
appeal until September 25, 2014, outside the deadline.
Accordingly, on September 26, 2014, we notified Appellants of our concern
that we might not have jurisdiction over the appeal and informed them that unless
they or any party desiring to continue the appeal filed with this court a response
showing grounds for continuing the appeal, this appeal would be dismissed for
want of jurisdiction. 4 In response, Appellants filed a late motion for extension of
time on September 30, 2014. Appellee filed an objection and response to the
motion, seeking dismissal of the appeal.
“[O]nce the period for granting a motion for extension of time . . . has
passed, a party can no longer invoke the appellate court’s jurisdiction.” 5 The
2
See Tex. R. App. P. 4.1(a), 26.1(c), 30.
3
See Tex. R. App. 4.1(a), 26.3, 30; Verburgt v. Dorner, 959 S.W.2d 615,
617 (Tex. 1997); King v. State, No. 05–03–00936–CV, 2003 WL 21710523, at *1
(Tex. App.—Dallas July 24, 2003, no pet.) (mem. op.).
4
See Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(a), 44.3.
5
Verburgt, 959 S.W.2d at 617.
2
times for filing a notice of appeal are jurisdictional in this court, and absent a
timely filed notice of appeal or an extension request, we must dismiss the
appeal. 6 Because neither appellants’ motion for extension of time nor their notice
of appeal was timely filed, we dismiss the motion, and we dismiss this appeal for
want of jurisdiction. 7
PER CURIAM
PANEL: DAUPHINOT, GARDNER, and WALKER, JJ.
DELIVERED: October 16, 2014
6
See id. at 617; see also Tex. R. App. P. 25.1(b), 26.3.
7
See Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(a), 44.3.
3