Supreme Court of Arkansas, 2001

Western Carroll County Ambulance District v. Johnson

Western Carroll County Ambulance District v. Johnson
Supreme Court of Arkansas · Decided May 8, 2001
344 Ark. 625; 42 S.W.3d 495; 2001 Ark. LEXIS 290

Western Carroll County Ambulance District v. Johnson

Opinion of the Court

PER CURIAM.

On February 8, 2001, appellants timely filed their brief in this matter. Under Ark. Sup. Ct. R. 4-4(b), appellee had thirty days from February 8, 2001, to file his brief with this court. According to counsel for appellee, he attempted to mail his brief on March 5, 2001, but the brief was sent to a mail recovery center in Atlanta, Georgia. Once the mistake was discovered, he filed a motion for belated brief on May 2, 2001, and he also tendered appellee’s brief on that date. In his motion, counsel for appellee states that appellants’ counsel, Mr. John Casteel, acknowledged timely receipt of appellee’s brief and authorized appellee’s attorney to state that Mr. Casteel has no opposition to the court allowing the belated filing of the brief.

Unlike the requirement for timely filing a record, as discussed in Ortho-Neuro Medical Assoc. v. Jeffery, 343 Ark. 466, 37 S.W.3d 577 (2001), the court has discretion to consider the belated filing of a brief tendered late. We note that the motion was filed before the case was taken under submission by this court, and that opposing counsel does not object to the belated filing.

Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 4-4(b) clearly states that appellee’s brief is due thirty days after the filing of appellant’s brief. Counsel made no inquiries concerning this case from the time his brief was due until the motion for a belated submission of the brief was tendered on May 2, 2001. Therefore, a copy of this per curiam will be forwarded to the Committee on Professional Conduct. See Board of Trustees v. Stodola, 326 Ark. 581, 931 S.W.2d 443 (1996).

Motion granted.

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