IN THE

TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

No. 10-08-00282-CV

Ralph B. Smith,

                                                                                    Appellant

 v.

Kim Johnson, Rec Coordinator,

                                                                                    Appellee

From the 87th District Court

Freestone County, Texas

Trial Court No. 08-224-B

            Ralph B. Smith, a prison inmate, appeals the trial court’s dismissal of his lawsuit against a prison employee.  Smith has not filed a brief in this appeal.  By letter dated September 23, 2008, the Clerk of this Court notified Smith that the Court may dismiss the appeal for want of prosecution unless, within 21 days from the date of the letter, Smith filed a response showing grounds for continuing the appeal.  More than 21 days have passed, and Smith has not responded. 

            Further, absent a specific exemption, the Clerk of the Court must collect filing fees at the time a document is presented for filing.  Tex. R. App. P. 12.1(b); Appendix to Tex. R. App. P., Order Regarding Fees (September 1, 2007).  See also Tex. R. App. P. 5; 10th Tex. App. (Waco) Loc. R. 5; Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 51.207(b) (Vernon 2005).  Under these circumstances, we suspend the rule and order the Clerk to write off all unpaid filing fees in this case.  Tex. R. App. P. 2. 

            Accordingly, this appeal is dismissed.  See Tex. R. App. P. 38.8(a)(1) and 42.3(b). 

                                                                        TOM GRAY

                                                                        Chief Justice

Before Chief Justice Gray,

            Justice Vance, and

            Justice Reyna

Appeal dismissed

Opinion delivered and filed October 29, 2008

 [CV06]