in Re Lawrence Edward Thompson ( 2014 )


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  • Order filed May 13, 2014.
    In The
    Fourteenth Court of Appeals
    _______________
    NO. 14-14-00247-CV
    ______________
    IN RE LAWRENCE EDWARD THOMPSON, Relator
    ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
    WRIT OF MANDAMUS
    61st District Court
    Harris County, Texas
    Trial Court Cause No. 2013-10948
    ORDER
    This court issued its opinion in this case on April 15, 2014. Texas Rule of
    Appellate Procedure 49.1 provides for the filing of a motion for rehearing within
    fifteen days after a court of appeals’ judgment or order is rendered. Tex. R. App.
    Proc. 49.1. Relator filed his motion for rehearing on May 6, 2014, more than fifteen
    days after this court’s ruling on relator’s petition for writ of mandamus. See Tex. R.
    App. P. 49.7.
    “A court of appeals may extend the time for filing a motion for rehearing or en
    banc reconsideration if a party files a motion complying with Texas Rule of
    Appellate Procedure 10.5(b) no later than fifteen days after the last date for filing the
    motion.” Tex. R. App. P. 49.8. A party seeking an extension of time in the court
    of appeals is required to file a motion specifically stating the facts that reasonably
    explain the need for an extension. Rios v. Calhoon, 
    889 S.W.2d 257
    , 259 (Tex.
    1994); see also Tex. R. App. P. 10.5(b)(1)(C) (requiring motion to extend time to
    include facts upon which movant relies to reasonably explain the need for an
    extension). No motion for extension of time was filed in this case, however.
    The Supreme Court of Texas has consistently treated minor procedural
    mistakes with leniency to preserve appellate rights. See Verburgt v. Dorner, 
    959 S.W.2d 615
    , 616−17 (Tex. 1997) (implying extension of time when a party perfects
    an appeal in good faith within the fifteen-day period for filing an extension). Thus,
    a motion for extension of time can be implied when a motion for rehearing en banc is
    filed within the fifteen-day period for filing a motion for extension of time if the
    appellant thereafter files a motion complying with Texas Rule of Appellate
    Procedure 10.5(b)(1) that contains a reasonable explanation to support the late filing.
    See Houser v. McElveen, 
    243 S.W.3d 646
    , 647 (Tex. 2008); see also Miller v.
    Greenpark Surgery Ctr. Assoc., Ltd., 
    974 S.W.2d 805
    , 807 (Tex. App.—Houston
    [14th Dist.] 1998, no pet.) (implying extension but requiring reasonable
    explanation).
    2
    Accordingly, unless relator files with the clerk of this court a motion that
    complies with Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 10.5(b)(1) and provides a
    reasonable explanation for the late filing of the party’s motion for rehearing within
    ten days of the date of this order, the court will deny as untimely the motion for
    rehearing.
    PER CURIAM
    Panel consists of Chief Justice Frost and Justices Jamison and Wise.
    3
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 14-14-00247-CV

Filed Date: 5/13/2014

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 9/22/2015