RPM Services v. Maribel Mata Santana - Appeal Dismissed
Summary
The Texas Court of Appeals, 6th District dismissed an appeal filed by RPM Services after the appellant failed to submit an adequate brief and required appendix. The court had warned the pro se appellant that failure to cure deficiencies would result in dismissal for want of prosecution.
What changed
The Texas Court of Appeals, 6th District dismissed RPM Services' appeal for failure to comply with Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. The appellant submitted a brief that failed to meet Rule 38.1 requirements and did not file the separate appendix mandated by Rule 34.5a. After receiving notice of deficiencies and an extension deadline of March 27, 2026, the appellant still did not cure the issues, resulting in dismissal.
Parties filing appeals in Texas state courts should ensure strict compliance with briefing requirements, including separate appendices where permitted. Pro se litigants face particular risk of procedural dismissal and should consider seeking legal representation for appellate matters.
What to do next
- Monitor for updates if representing pro se clients in Texas appellate courts
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Apr 8, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
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April 2, 2026 Get Citation Alerts Download PDF Add Note
RPM Services v. Maribel Mata Santana, Jose Leonel Mata, Jr., Jose Leonel Mata, 181 South Homes Incorporated, Ricardo Canales
Texas Court of Appeals, 6th District (Texarkana)
- Citations: None known
- Docket Number: 06-26-00003-CV
- Nature of Suit: Seizure
Disposition: Dismissed
Disposition
Dismissed
Lead Opinion
In the
Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana
No. 06-26-00003-CV
RPM SERVICES, Appellant
V.
MARIBEL MATA SANTANA, JOSE LEONEL MATA, JR., JOSE LEONEL MATA, 181
SOUTH HOMES INCORPORATED, RICARDO CANALES, Appellees
On Appeal from the 123rd District Court
Panola County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2018-232
Before Stevens, C.J., van Cleef and Rambin, JJ.
Memorandum Opinion by Chief Justice Stevens
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Pro se Appellant, RPM Services (Appellant), filed a timely notice of appeal on
January 12, 2026. In its notice of appeal, Appellant indicated its intent to file an appendix in lieu
of a clerk’s record in accordance with Rule 34.5a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. See
TEX. R. APP. P. 34.5a.
Appellant’s brief was originally due on February 18, 2026. On February 18, 2026,
Appellant filed its first motion for extension of time in which to file its brief. On February 24,
2026, the Court extended Appellant’s briefing deadline to March 11, 2026. On March 11, 2026,
Appellant submitted its purported appellate brief. That document was inadequate to serve as a
brief because it did not comply with Rule 38.1 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. See
TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1. Further, Appellant was required to, but did not, file a separate appendix in
accordance with Rule 34.5a. See TEX. R. APP. P. 34.5a.
On March 13, 2026, this Court sent Appellant a letter informing it of the aforementioned
deficiencies. We also explained to Appellant that it was required to file a revised brief, along
with a separate appendix, on or before March 27, 2026. The Court warned Appellant that the
failure to file an adequate brief and a separate appendix on or before March 27, 2026, would
subject this appeal to dismissal for want of prosecution. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.8(a)(1), 42.3(b),
(c).
On March 27, 2026, Appellant filed a document entitled, “APPELLANT’S APPEAL OF
THE TACIT DENIAL OF HIS [sic] MOTION TO DISMISS PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS
2
CITIZENS [sic] PARTICIPATION ACT (TCPA).” Much like the original document Appellant
submitted as its brief, the revised document also fails to comply with Rules 38.1 and 34.5a.
Consequently, pursuant to Rules 38.8(a)(1) and 42.3(b), (c), we dismiss this appeal for
want of prosecution. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.8(a)(1), 42.3(b), (c).
Scott E. Stevens
Chief Justice
Date Submitted: April 1, 2026
Date Decided: April 2, 2026
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