What does this decision mean?

The appellate court ended the appeal because the appellant did not file the required brief or ask for more time after being warned. The original trial court judgment stands unless further relief is obtained.

Who is affected by this dismissal?

Primarily the appellant, Trina Jones, because she lost the opportunity for appellate review; the appellee, NHH Reed Ltd., is affected in that the trial court's judgment remains in effect.

What happens to motions that were pending in the appeal?

The court dismissed any pending motions as moot because the appeal itself was dismissed.

Can this dismissal be undone or appealed?

A party may, in some circumstances, seek reinstatement or file a motion for rehearing or other relief in the appellate court, but relief is not guaranteed and must comply with applicable rules and timelines; consulting an attorney promptly is advisable.

Trina Jones v. NHH REED LTD.

Docket 01-25-00848-CV

Court of record · Indexed in NoticeRegistry archive · AI-enriched for research

CivilDismissed

Filed: Apr 16, 2026 · 2 weeks ago
Jurisdiction: Texas
Court: Texas Court of Appeals, 1st District (Houston)
Type: Lead Opinion
Case type: Civil
Disposition: Dismissed
Docket: 01-25-00848-CV

Appeal from the County Civil Court at Law No. 2 in Harris County, Texas dismissed for failure to prosecute

Summary

The First District of Texas dismissed Trina Jones's appeal from the County Civil Court at Law No. 2 for failure to prosecute. The appellant's brief was due January 5, 2026, and after no brief was filed the court notified her on January 22, 2026, that the appeal could be dismissed unless the brief or an extension motion was filed by February 2, 2026. The appellant did not respond, so the court dismissed the appeal and any pending motions as moot.

Issues Decided

Whether the appeal should be dismissed for want of prosecution under Texas appellate rules
Whether pending motions should be dismissed as moot following dismissal of the appeal

Court's Reasoning

The court applied Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure that permit dismissal when an appellant fails to timely file a brief and fails to respond to a notice to file or seek an extension. Because the appellant did not file the required brief or a motion for extension after receiving notice, the procedural rules authorized dismissal. Once the appeal was dismissed, any motions pending before the court were rendered moot and therefore also dismissed.

Authorities Cited

Texas Rules of Appellate ProcedureTEX. R. APP. P. 38.8(a), 42.3(b), 43.2(f)

Parties

Appellant: Trina Jones
Appellee: NHH Reed Ltd.
Judge: Per Curiam; Panel: Justices Rivas-Molloy, Johnson, and Dokupil

Key Dates

brief due date: 2026-01-05
notice to appellant issued: 2026-01-22
deadline in notice to file or move for extension: 2026-02-02
opinion issued: 2026-04-16

What You Should Do Next

1
Consult an attorney immediately
If the appellant wants relief, she should consult counsel promptly to evaluate options such as a motion for reinstatement or other post-dismissal remedies and to determine applicable deadlines.
2
Consider filing a motion for reinstatement or rehearing
If permitted by the rules and timelines, file a motion explaining the reasons for noncompliance and requesting reinstatement of the appeal, including any supporting evidence of excusable neglect.
3
Confirm status of the underlying judgment
Check the trial-court docket to see if any enforcement actions are pending and determine whether to seek a stay or other relief to protect rights while pursuing appellate remedies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this decision mean?: The appellate court ended the appeal because the appellant did not file the required brief or ask for more time after being warned. The original trial court judgment stands unless further relief is obtained.
Who is affected by this dismissal?: Primarily the appellant, Trina Jones, because she lost the opportunity for appellate review; the appellee, NHH Reed Ltd., is affected in that the trial court's judgment remains in effect.
What happens to motions that were pending in the appeal?: The court dismissed any pending motions as moot because the appeal itself was dismissed.
Can this dismissal be undone or appealed?: A party may, in some circumstances, seek reinstatement or file a motion for rehearing or other relief in the appellate court, but relief is not guaranteed and must comply with applicable rules and timelines; consulting an attorney promptly is advisable.

The above suggestions and answers are AI-generated for informational purposes only. They may contain errors. NoticeRegistry assumes no responsibility for their accuracy. Consult a qualified attorney before relying on them.

Full Filing Text

Opinion issued April 16, 2026




                                      In The

                               Court of Appeals
                                      For The

                          First District of Texas
                             ————————————
                               NO. 01-25-00848-CV
                            ———————————
                           TRINA JONES, Appellant
                                         V.
                           NHH REED LTD., Appellee


             On Appeal from the County Civil Court at Law No. 2
                           Harris County, Texas
                       Trial Court Case No. 1258951


                          MEMORANDUM OPINION

      Appellant’s brief was due on January 5, 2026. No brief was filed. On January

22, 2026, the Court issued a notice to appellant, advising her that her brief was

overdue and that the appeal might be dismissed unless she filed the brief or a motion
for extension by February 2, 2026. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.8(a). No response or brief

was filed.

      Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal for want of prosecution. See TEX. R. APP.

P. 42.3(b), 43.2(f). Any pending motions are dismissed as moot.

                                 PER CURIAM
Panel consists of Justices Rivas-Molloy, Johnson, and Dokupil.




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