Phyllis Bowser v. Ronald Wren

Fourth Court of Appeals San Antonio, Texas MEMORANDUM OPINION No. 04-16-00480-CV Phyllis BOWSER, Appellant v. Ronald WREN, Appellee From the County Court at Law No. 10, Bexar County, Texas Trial Court No. 2014CV02075 Honorable David J. Rodriguez, Judge Presiding PER CURIAM Sitting: Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice Jason Pulliam, Justice Delivered and Filed: November 16, 2016 DISMISSED FOR WANT OF PROSECUTION In this appeal, Appellant’s brief was due on September 14, 2016. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6(a). Two days before the brief was due, pro se appellant Phyllis Bowser filed a motion for extension of time to file the brief until October 14, 2016, and this court granted Appellant’s motion. On October 14, 2016, Appellant filed a pro se motion asking for the case to be transferred to a lower county court or for this court to dismiss her appeal—whichever is the appropriate action. She also stated she has been unable to retain an attorney for her appeal, but she “needs to be able to represent herself Pro Se.” 04-16-00480-CV We construed Appellant’s filing as a motion to dismiss this appeal. See id. R. 42.1(a)(1). On October 18, 2016, we advised Appellant she could represent herself in this appeal, but if she wished to do so, we ordered her to advise this court in writing by October 28, 2016, and file a motion for extension of time to file her brief. We warned Appellant that unless she affirmatively responded in writing as ordered, we would dismiss her appeal without further notice. See id.; id. R. 42.3(b), (c); In re J.R., No. 04-08-00494-CV, 2009 WL 97632, at *1 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Jan. 14, 2009, no pet.) (mem. op.) (per curiam). On October 31, 2016, after the deadline to respond had passed, Appellant filed a “Motion for Continuance and Mediation.” Appellant’s response, contrary to the express requirement in our October 18, 2016 order, is not her brief or a motion for extension of time to file her brief. Instead, Appellant requests that we refer this case to mediation. Appellant’s motion to refer this case to mediation is denied. As we warned Appellant we would do if she did not timely respond by filing her brief or a motion for extension of time to file her brief, we dismiss this appeal for want of prosecution. See id. R. 38.8(a)(1), 42.3(b). PER CURIAM -2-