Scott Waller v. City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Fort Worth Independent School District, Tarrant County College District, Tarrant County Hospital District, and Tarrant Regional Water District

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COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS FORT WORTH NO. 02-16-00307-CV SCOTT WALLER APPELLANT V. CITY OF FORT WORTH, TARRANT APPELLEES COUNTY, FORT WORTH INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE DISTRICT, TARRANT COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, AND TARRANT REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT ---------- FROM THE 96TH DISTRICT COURT OF TARRANT COUNTY TRIAL COURT NO. 096-D03252-14 ---------- MEMORANDUM OPINION1 ---------- Appellant Scott Waller attempts to appeal from a default judgment entered against South & West Lifestyles, Inc. 1 See Tex. R. App. P. 47.4. On September 2, 2016, we notified Waller that it appeared we lacked jurisdiction over this appeal because he was not a party to the trial court’s judgment. We explained that a company may not appear in court through its directors or officers who are not attorneys and that a notice of appeal filed by such a director or officer is not effective. See Globe Leasing, Inc. v. Engine Supply & Mach. Servs., 437 S.W.2d 43, 45 (Tex. Civ. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1969, no writ); see also Kunstoplast of Am., Inc. v. Formosa Plastics Corp., 937 S.W.2d 455, 456 (Tex. 1996) (“Generally a corporation may be represented only by a licensed attorney . . . .”); Dell Dev. Corp. v. Best Indus. Uniform Supply Co., 743 S.W.2d 302, 303 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1987, writ denied) (“Corporations may appear and be represented only by a licensed attorney.”). We advised Waller that this appeal could be dismissed unless he, or any party desiring to continue the appeal, filed a response showing grounds for continuing the appeal on or before September 12, 2016. See Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(a), 43.2(f). Waller did not file a response, nor did any party. Because the notice of appeal does not confer jurisdiction on this court, we dismiss this appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(a), 43.2(f); S & B Consulting Group, LLC v. Dietzman, No. 02-14-00165-CV, 2014 WL 2922311, at *1 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth June 26, 2014, no pet.) (mem. op.) (dismissing appeal of 2 limited liability companies for lack of jurisdiction when nonlawyer member signed notice of appeal on behalf of the companies).2 PER CURIAM PANEL: WALKER, MEIER, and GABRIEL, JJ. DELIVERED: October 27, 2016 2 The only defendant named in the suit below was South & West Lifestyles, Inc., and the judgment is against South & West Lifestyles, Inc. only. 3