Court of Civil Appeals of Texas, 2014

Jameson Thottam v. Elizabeth Joseph

Jameson Thottam v. Elizabeth Joseph
Court of Civil Appeals of Texas · Decided July 29, 2014

Jameson Thottam v. Elizabeth Joseph

Opinion

COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIRST DISTRICT OF TEXAS AT HOUSTON ORDER Appellate case name: Jameson Thottam v. Elizabeth Joseph Appellate case number: 01-13-00377-CV Trial court case number: 2007-75702 Trial court: 311th District Court of Harris County Appellant, Jameson Thottam, appeals from an amended final divorce decree, signed on April 29, 2013. Appellee, Elizabeth Joseph, has filed a (1) “Motion to Compel Supplementation of the Appellate Record at Appellant’s Expense,” (2) “Motion to Compel Corrected Appellant’s Brief,” and (3) “First Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief and/or to Suspend Appellee’s Briefing Deadlines.” We deny the motion for supplementation of the appellate record and to compel a corrected appellant’s brief, and dismiss Joseph’s motion for an extension of time to file her brief. However, we order Thottam to supplement the clerk’s record and file a corrected brief that includes appropriate references or citations to the appellate record.

By her motion to compel supplementation of the appellate record, Joseph requests that we order Thottam, at his expense, “to secure the remainder of the arbitration record, namely the admitted exhibits, and properly file those with this Court as a supplement to the existing appellate record[.]” However, according to Joseph’s motion, these exhibits have not been included in a record of a hearing held in the trial court or with a pleading filed with the trial court clerk. See TEX. R. APP. P. 34.1 (providing that appellate record consists of clerk’s record and, if necessary to appeal, reporter’s record), 34.5(a) (providing for contents of clerk’s record), 34.6(a) (providing for contents of reporter’s record). Joseph further requests that we direct the trial court clerk’s office to supplement the clerk’s record, at Joseph’s expense, with additional documents specified in her motion. We DENY Joseph’s motion to compel supplementation of the appellate record at appellant’s expense.

We further DENY Joseph’s motion to compel a corrected appellant’s brief and DISMISS AS MOOT Joseph’s motion for an extension of time to file brief and/or suspend appellee’s briefing deadlines.

Nevertheless, it is apparent from the documents Thottam has included in the appendix to his Brief of Appellant that the clerk’s record is incomplete. See TEX. R. APP. P. 34.5(a)(1)-(12). Thottam is ORDERED, no later than 14 days from the date of this order, to file with this Court proof that he has paid, or made arrangements to pay, for the preparation of a supplemental clerk’s record that includes any items listed in Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 34.5(a)(1)–(12) and not included in the record filed with this Court, or the appeal may be dismissed. See TEX. R. APP. P. 34.5(a), 35.3(a)(2), 37.3(b).1 It is further ORDERED that Thottam file a corrected brief, containing all appropriate references or citations to the appellate record. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(d), (g), (i). Thottam’s corrected brief is due to be filed with this Court no later than 14 days after a supplemental clerk’s record is filed with the Clerk of this Court.

Joseph’s brief will be due no later than 30 days after the date Thottam’s corrected brief is filed. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.6(b).

It is so ORDERED.

Judge’s signature: /s/ Jim Sharp  Acting individually  Acting for the Court Date: July 29, 2014

At a minimum, the clerk’s record filed with this Court does not include the Amended Final Decree of Divorce, signed on April 29, 2013; Arbitration Award and exhibits, filed on November 28, 2012; the Fourth Amended Petition for Divorce and Suit Affecting Parent Child Relationship, filed March 1, 2010; the Fourth Amended Counter-Petition for Divorce, filed on December 20, 2011; the Motion for Attorney’s Fees and Costs, filed April 23, 2013; and the Order on Motion for Attorney’s Fees and Costs, signed April 29, 2013. See TEX. R. APP. P. 34.5(a)(1), (5) (providing that clerk’s record must include copies of “all pleadings on which the trial was held” and “court’s judgment or other order that is being appealed”).

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