NO. 07-03-00431-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AT AMARILLO
PANEL A
JANUARY 16, 2004
______________________________
IN RE THE ESTATE OF GEORGE RALPH NEWBY, JR.
_________________________________
FROM THE 84TH DISTRICT COURT OF HUTCHINSON COUNTY;
NO. 35,142; HONORABLE WILLIAM D. SMITH, JUDGE
_______________________________
Before JOHNSON, C.J., and REAVIS and CAMPBELL, JJ.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Appellant Betty Ann Newby, proceeding pro se, filed a notice of appeal, received by
this court on October 10, 2003, stating that she was appealing an order dated September
8, 2003, that approved a claim against the estate of George Ralph Newby, Jr., deceased.
The notice of appeal referenced two cause numbers, 35,150 and 35,142 in the 84th District
Court of Hutchinson County, so the appeals were assigned two case numbers in this court,
07-03-0431-CV and 07-03-0432-CV. Appellant did not pay the filing fees of $125 for either
appeal or submit an affidavit of indigence pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of Appellate
Procedure.
By letter dated October 14, 2003, the clerk of this court notified appellant that the
filing fee had not been paid, and that failure to pay it could result in dismissal. We also
received correspondence dated the same date from the trial court clerk, indicating that
appellant had not paid for preparation of the clerk’s record. Having received no fee by
November 18, 2003, we directed appellant by letter of that date, to pay the filing fees on
or before December 2, 2003, and to certify to the clerk of this court by the same date,
whether appellant had complied with Rule of Appellate Procedure 35.3, concerning
payment for preparation of the record, and if not, to give a reasonable explanation for her
non-compliance. That letter again advised appellant that failure to pay the filing fees could
result in the appeals being dismissed. Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(c).
Appellant responded on December 3, 2003 with a Motion to Extend Payment Date
and an Affidavit of Indigency. Those documents did not comply with the requirements of
Rule 20.1 for establishing indigence. The affidavit was untimely; it was due to be filed in
the trial court with or before the notice of appeal. Any motion for extension of time to file
the affidavit would have been due not later than October 25, 2003. Tex. R. App. P.
20.1(c)(3). Moreover, the affidavit stated that appellant would be able to pay the court
costs and fees on January 1, 2004. By letter dated December 30, 2003, we notified
appellant that she had not complied with the requirements of Rule 20.1. We granted
appellant’s request for an extension of time to pay the fees, and directed her to pay this
court’s filing fees for both appeals, on or before January 5, 2004. Appellant was also
directed a second time to certify to the court, by the same date, whether she had complied
with Tex. R. App. P. 35.3.
2
On January 9, 2004, the court received from appellant a response, requesting we
require her to pay only one filing fee because the two causes were consolidated at the trial
court level. Documents appellant submitted with her response indicate that the
consolidation occurred on May 17, 2002, sixteen months before appellant filed her notices
of appeal. But appellant did not tender even one filing fee with her response and did not
provide the certifications of compliance with Tex. R. App. P. 35.3, as directed.
Appellant is not excused by statute or the Rules of Appellate Procedure from paying
costs. Tex. R. App. P. 5. Despite more than reasonable opportunities to do so, appellant
has persistently failed to comply with the requirement that she pay the filing fees this court
is obligated to collect, and with this court’s orders with respect to the filing fees and the
preparation of the clerk’s record. All parties having had more than ten days’ notice that
dismissal could result from appellant’s continued failure to comply with the rules and this
court’s orders, these appeals are dismissed. Tex. R. App. Proc. 5, 37.3, 42.3(b) and (c).
Per Curiam
3