Robert Lynn Lloyd v. Gail Phillips Mizer, Stephen Mizer, and Stephen Jack Mizer

DISMISS and Opinion Filed November 23, 2021 S In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-21-00766-CV ROBERT LYNN LLOYD, Appellant V. GAIL PHILLIPS MIZER, STEPHEN MIZER, AND STEPHEN JACK MIZER, Appellees On Appeal from the 471st Judicial District Court Collin County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 471-03228-2020 MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Myers, Molberg, and Garcia Opinion by Justice Garcia The Court questioned its jurisdiction over this appeal because there does not appear to be a final judgment or other appealable order. We directed appellant to file a letter brief addressing our concern with an opportunity for appellees to file a response. Appellant has complied. Generally, this Court has jurisdiction over final judgments and certain interlocutory orders as permitted by statute. See Lehmann v. Har–Con Corp., 39 S.W.3d 191, 195 (Tex. 2001); see also TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 51.014(a) (listing appealable interlocutory orders). A final judgment is one that disposes of all parties and claims. See Lehmann, 39 S.W.3d at 195. Gail Phillips Mizer sued appellant. Appellant filed counterclaims against Ms. Mizer and third-party claims against Stephen Mizer and Stephen Jack Mizer. In his notice of appeal, appellant states he is appealing “the final judgment rendered on August 2, 2021.” The trial court signed two orders on August 2 – (1) granting Ms. Mizer’s motion for summary judgment on appellant’s counterclaims1 and (2) granting third-party defendant Stephen Mizer’s motion for summary judgment. Although Stephen Mizer asserted a counterclaim for attorney’s fees, the trial court’s order does not dispose of it. Thus, appellant’s third-party claims against Stephen Jack Mizer and Stephen Mizer’s counterclaim for attorney’s fees remain pending. Appellant filed a letter brief wherein he acknowledged no final judgment has been signed, noting that neither of the two orders appealed contained finality language and that he would remove the “stumbling block” regarding Stephen Jack Mizer “by the time the case is re-offered for appeal.” Because no final judgment has been rendered, we dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(a). /Dennise Garcia/ DENNISE GARCIA JUSTICE 210766F.P05 1 Subsequently, Ms. Mizer filed a notice of nonsuit on all her claims against appellant. By order signed on August 31, 2021, the trial court granted the nonsuit. –2– S Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas JUDGMENT ROBERT LYNN LLOYD, Appellant On Appeal from the 471st Judicial District Court, Collin County, Texas No. 05-21-00766-CV V. Trial Court Cause No. 471-03228- 2020. GAIL PHILLIPS MIZER, STEPHEN Opinion delivered by Justice Garcia. MIZER, AND STEPHEN JACK Justices Myers and Molberg MIZER, Appellees participating. In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the appeal is DISMISSED. It is ORDERED that appellees GAIL PHILLIPS MIZER, STEPHEN MIZER, AND STEPHEN JACK MIZER recover their costs of this appeal from appellant ROBERT LYNN LLOYD. Judgment entered November 23, 2021 –3–