Daniel A. Garcia v. San Juanita Garcia

NUMBER 13-12-00503-CV COURT OF APPEALS THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG ____________________________________________________________ DANIEL A. GARCIA, Appellant, v. SAN JUANITA GARCIA, Appellee. ____________________________________________________________ On appeal from the 370th District Court of Hidalgo County, Texas. ____________________________________________________________ MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Garza, Benavides, and Perkes Memorandum Opinion Per Curiam The appellant's brief in the above cause was due on October 1, 2012. On November 6, 2012, appellant filed a brief that was not in compliance with the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(k). Appellant filed a motion to waive the requirement of Rule 38.1(k) which was denied by the Court on December 18, 2012. On January 11, 2013, the Clerk of the Court notified appellant that the brief failed to comply with Rule 38.1 (k) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. The brief does not contain an appendix as required by Rule 38.1(k). See Id. Appellant was directed to file an amended brief in compliance with the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure within ten days of the date of the letter, and notified that if the Court received another brief that did not comply, the Court may strike the brief, prohibit appellant from filing another, and proceed as if appellant had failed to file a brief, under which circumstances the Court may affirm the judgment or dismiss the appeal. See Id. 38.9(a), 42.3(b),(c). Appellant failed to respond to the Court’s notice. Pro se litigants are held to the same standards as licensed attorneys, and they must therefore comply with all applicable rules of procedure. Mansfield State Bank v. Cohn, 573 S.W.2d 181, 184-85 (Tex. 1978). If the appellate court determines that the briefing rules have been flagrantly violated, it may require a brief to be amended, supplemented, or redrawn. TEX. R. APP. P. 38.9(a). If the appellant does not file another brief that complies with the rules of appellate procedure, the appellate court may strike the brief, prohibit the party from filing another, and proceed as if the party had failed to file a brief. Id. Pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 38.8(a), where an appellant has failed to file a brief, the appellate court may dismiss the appeal for want of prosecution. 2 Accordingly, we strike appellant=s non-conforming brief and order the appeal DISMISSED FOR WANT OF PROSECUTION. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.8(a), 38.9(a), 42.3(b)(c). PER CURIAM Delivered and filed the 21st day of February, 2013. 3