Smith, Lucille v. Zurich North America

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: September 27, 2012
• Docket: 05-12-00215-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

1)ISN1ISS; Opinion issued September 27, 2012

In The uitrt uf Apprahi iftIi itrirt uf rxa at Iallai No. 05-12-00215-CV

LUCILLE SMITH, Appellant

V.

ZURICH NORTH AMERICA, Appellee

On Appeal from the Justice Court Dallas County, Texas Justice Court Cause No. JP0800409P

MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Morris, Francis, and Murphy Opinion By Justice Francis

Appearing pro se, Lucille Smith appeals the justice court’s judgment. Because an appeal

from ajustice court lies in either the county or district court. not the court of appeals. we questioned

ourjurisdiction over this appeal and directed Smith to file a letter brief addressing our concern. See

TEX. Civ. PRAc. & REM. CODE ANN. § 51.001 (West 2008); Tejas Elevator Co. v. ConcordE/eva/or,

Inc., 982 S.W.2d 578, 578 (Tex. App.—Dailas 1998, no pet.) (mem. op.). Smith complied,

responding that the appeal should be heard in this Court because appellee Zurich North America ‘is

located.., in Dallas” and a “Dallas small claims court heard [hen small claim in Dallas.” Although

directed to file a response to Smith’s letter brief, Zurich failed to do so.

Our jurisdiction is fundamental and, subject to a few mostly statutory exceptions, can only be invoked by the timely tiling of a notice of appeal Iiom a final judgment of a district or count

court. See TFx. CR. PR. & REM. ConE ANN § 51 .012 (West Supp. 201 2) Lehinann v. Jiar—( on Corp., 39 S,W.3d 191. 195 (Tex. 2001); Carzav. H/hernia Nat’l Bank, 227 S.W.3d 233, 232 (Tex.

App.—Houston [1St Disti 2007, no pet.); K & S Interest i’. Tex. Am. Bank/Dallas, 749 S.W.2d 887,

890 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1988. writ denied). Smiths appeal trom thejustice court does not invoke

our jurisdiction. Accordingly. we dismiss the appeal. See TEx. R. App. P. 42.3(a); Te/as. 982

S.W.2d at 579.

I CI S JUSTICE

12021SF .P05 Appezt1 (nurt tif fiftI! 1itrirt ut iixai at Da11a JUDGMENT LUCiLLE SM1T 11. Appellant Appeal from the Justice Court of Dallas County, Texas. (Tr.Ct.No. JP0800409P). No. O5-l2OO2l5-CV V. Opinion delivered by Justice Francis, Justices Morris and Murphy participating. ZURICH NORTH AMERICA, Appellee

In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, we DISMISS the appeal. We ORDER that appellee ZURICIl NORTH AMERICA recover its costs, if any, of this appeal from appellant LUCILLE SMITH.

Judgment entered September 27. 2012.

MOLLY iC IS JUSTICE