in Re Robert Neal Schluter ( 2016 )

COURT OF APPEALS
SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
FORT WORTH
NO. 02-16-00105-CV
DONNIE R. MARTINEK D/B/A APPELLANTS
MARTINEK GRAIN & BINS, INC.,
MARTINEK TRUCKING, AND F.U.
ENTERPRISES A/K/A F.U.E.
V.
ROBERT NEAL SCHLUTER, N & M APPELLEES
SCHLUTER FAMILY LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP, AND RN & MK,
INC.
----------
FROM THE 235TH DISTRICT COURT OF COOKE COUNTY
TRIAL COURT NO. CV88-344
----------
AND
NO. 02-16-00108-CV
IN RE ROBERT NEAL SCHLUTER RELATOR
----------
ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
TRIAL COURT NO. CV88-344
----------
MEMORANDUM OPINION1
----------
On the court’s own motion, we have combined Cause Nos. 02-16-00105-
CV and 02-16-00108-CV because resolution of the issues contained within both
causes is intertwined.
In Cause No. 02-16-00108-CV, the court has considered relator’s petition
for issuance of writ of mandamus and is of the opinion that relief should be
denied. Based on the jury’s verdict, the trial court signed its judgment on
November 19, 2015. The record indicates that Real Parties in Interest, Donnie
R. Martinek d/b/a Martinek Grain & Bins, Inc., Martinek Trucking, and F.U.
Enterprises a/k/a F.U.E., timely filed a motion for new trial electronically on
December 21, 2015, which was the first Monday following the 30th day after the
trial court’s judgment. The 30th day fell on Saturday, December 19, 2015. The
timely filing of this motion for new trial, which was overruled by operation of law
on the 75th day after judgment, extended the trial court’s plenary power until
March 3, 2016 (75 days plus 30 days), which was the 105th day after the
November 19, 2015 judgment. See Tex. R. Civ. Proc. Ann. 329b(c), (e). On
1
See Tex. R. App. P. 47.4.
2
March 3, 2016, the trial court granted the motion for new trial via letter in which it
stated, “The Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s Motion for New Trial. I will not sign Order
as presented by Plaintiff. New Order should be submitted deleting findings
under B page 4 and 5 of Proposed Order.” [Emphasis in original] The letter is
stamped by the trial court clerk on March 3, 2016; cites the cause number and
the style of case; and was sent to all parties to the case.
This case is distinguishable from this court’s holding in Barron v. Vanier,
190 S.W.3d 841, 846 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006, no pet.) (op. on reh’g). In
Barron, this court held that despite the use of “present language” in a letter by the
trial court, the trial court’s letter indicating that it would be overruling a plea of
privilege did not serve as an intended judgment. This court reasoned so
because the letter was not stamped by the trial clerk.
We conclude that the letter in this case is more akin to the letter found in
Schaeffer Homes, Inc. v Esterak, where the El Paso court of appeals held that
the trial court’s letter stating, “new trial is granted,” which was signed, dated, filed,
and sent to all parties, was sufficient to evince that the trial court had actually
rendered judgment granting the new trial. 792 S.W.2d 567, 568–69 (Tex. App.—
El Paso 1990, no writ).
Accordingly, relator’s petition for issuance of writ of mandamus is denied.
For the reasons stated above, the related appeal in Cause No. 02-16-
00105-CV is moot because there is no appealable order from which such an
3
appeal may be brought to this court. We therefore dismiss the appeal as moot.
See Wilkins v. Methodist Health Care Sys., 160 S.W.3d 559, 563 (Tex. 2005)
(holding that when the trial court grants a motion for new trial, the trial court
“essentially wipes the slate clean and starts over.”). Likewise, Appellee Robert
Neal Schluter’s “Motion to Dismiss Appeal for Want of Jurisdiction” and
“Appellant’s Motion for Extension of Time to File Notice of Appeal and Response
to Appellee’s Motion to Dismiss” are also moot and dismissed as such. Id.
/s/ Bill Meier
BILL MEIER
JUSTICE
PANEL: LIVINGSTON, C.J.; WALKER and MEIER, JJ.
WALKER, J., filed a concurring opinion.
DELIVERED: May 27, 2016
4