Adam Rababah v. Derrick Organ

DISMISS and Opinion Filed September 9, 2014

S In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-14-00890-CV

ADAM RABABAH, Appellant V. DERRICK WAYNE ORGAN, LABOR SOURCE, LLC D/B/A LABOR FINDERS, AND MANHEIM REMARKETING, INC. D/B/A MANHEIM DALLAS-FORT WORTH, Appellees

On Appeal from the 134th Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. DC-12-00741

MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Chief Justice Wright and Justices Lang-Miers and Brown Opinion by Chief Justice Wright In a letter dated July 23, 2014, the Court questioned its jurisdiction over this appeal.

Specifically, it appeared appellant did not file a timely notice of appeal. We requested that appellant file a letter brief addressing our concern and gave appellees an opportunity to respond.

Without a timely post-judgment motion extending the appellate timetable, a notice of appeal is due thirty days after the date the judgment is signed. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.1. A timely filed motion for new trial will extend the appellate timetable. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.1(a). To be timely, a motion for new trial must be filed prior to or within thirty days after the date the judgment is signed. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 329b(a). A trial court cannot extend the time to file a motion for new trial. See Morris v. Morris, 250 S.W.3d 119, 120 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2003, no pet.). Without a timely filed notice of appeal, this Court lacks jurisdiction. See TEX. R. APP. P. 25.1(b).

The trial court signed the judgment on March 17, 2014. On March 27, 2014, appellant filed a “Motion to Extend Time for New Trial or Appeal.” Because the trial court cannot extend the time to file a motion for new trial and appellant did not file a motion for new trial within thirty days of the date the judgment was signed, the notice of appeal was due on April 16, 2014. See TEX. R. APP. P. 26.1. Appellant filed his notice of appeal on July 7, 2014. In his jurisdictional brief, appellant explains that his counsel withdrew on the day the judgment was signed. Appellant filed a motion for extension of time to file a motion for new trial to give him time to obtain new counsel.

We cannot suspend operation of the appellate rules to alter the time for perfecting an appeal in a civil case. See TEX. R. APP. P. 2. Appellant did not file a timely notice of appeal. For this reason, the Court lacks jurisdiction. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 42.3(a).

140890F.P05 /Carolyn Wright/ CAROLYN WRIGHT CHIEF JUSTICE

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S Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas JUDGMENT

ADAM RABABAH, Appellant On Appeal from the 134th Judicial District Court, Dallas County, Texas. No. 05-14-00890-CV V. Trial Court Cause No. DC-12-00741. Opinion delivered by Chief Justice Wright. DERRICK WAYNE ORGAN, Justices Lang-Miers and Brown, LABOR SOURCE, LLC participating. D/B/A LABOR FINDERS, AND MANHEIM REMARKETING, INC. D/B/A MANHEIM DALLAS-FORT WORTH, Appellees

In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the appeal is DISMISSED.

It is ORDERED that appellees DERRICK WAYNE ORGAN, LABOR SERVICE, LLC D/B/A LABOR FINDERS, AND MANHEIM REMARKETING, INC. D/B/A MANHEIM DALLAS-FORT WORTH recover their costs of this appeal from appellant ADAM RABABAH.

Judgment entered September 9, 2014

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