Peter Barton v. Ana Lisa Garza

Ana Fourth Court of Appeals San Antonio, Texas May 29, 2014 No. 04-14-00207-CV Peter BARTON, Appellant v. Ana Lisa GARZA, Appellee From the 229th Judicial District Court, Duval County, Texas Trial Court No. DC-12-308 Honorable Dick Alcala, Judge Presiding ORDER On March 31, 2014, the trial court clerk filed a clerk’s record and a supplemental clerk’s record in this appeal. Despite these filings, the clerk’s record is incomplete because it fails to contain the live pleadings in this case. On May 9, 2014, we ordered the trial court clerk to file a supplemental clerk’s record containing the live pleadings in this case, or a notification of late record stating the reasons for failing to file such a supplemental clerk’s record. On May 27, 2014, the trial court clerk filed a notification of late record stating that it has not filed the supplemental clerk’s record because appellant (1) has not provided a designation of the clerk’s record, and (2) has not paid for the clerk’s record. Rule 34.5(a) of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure lists the documents to be included in the clerk’s record “[u]nless the parties designate the filings in the appellate record by agreement under Rule 34.2.” TEX. R. APP. P. 34.5. In civil cases, the documents to be included are the following: (1) all pleadings on which the trial was held; (2) the court’s docket sheet, (3) the court’s charge and the jury’s verdict, or the court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law; (4) the court’s judgment or other order that is being appealed; (5) any request for findings of fact and conclusions of law, any post- judgment motion, and the court’s order on the motion; (6) the notice of appeal; (7) any formal bill of exception; (8) any request for a reporter’s record, including any statement of points or issues under Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 34.6(c); (9) any request for preparation of the clerk’s record; (10) a certified bill of costs including the cost of preparing the clerk’s record, showing credits for payments made; and (11) any filing that a party designates to have included in the record. Thus, an appellant is not required to file a designation of materials to be included in the clerk’s record. See TEX. R. APP. P. 35.3(a); 34.5(a). Nevertheless, an appellant is usually required to pay for the clerk’s record. We, therefore, ORDER appellant to provide written proof to this court within ten days of the date of this order that either (1) the clerk=s fee has been paid or arrangements have been made to pay the clerk=s fee; or (2) appellant is entitled to appeal without paying the clerk=s fee. If appellant fails to respond within the time provided, this appeal will be dismissed for want of prosecution. See TEX. R. APP. P. 37.3(b). _________________________________ Karen Angelini, Justice IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court on this 29th day of May, 2014. ___________________________________ Keith E. Hottle Clerk of Court