Smith, Lucille v. Zurich North America

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

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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