Cypresswood Land Partners I and Stephen A. Morrow v. Beirne, Maynard and Parsons, LLP ( 2016 )

Order filed October 6, 2016
In The
Fourteenth Court of Appeals
____________
NO. 14-16-00389-CV
____________
CYPRESSWOOD LAND PARTNERS I AND STEPHEN A. MORROW,
Appellants
V.
BEIRNE, MAYNARD AND PARSONS, LLP, Appellee
On Appeal from the 151st District Court
Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 2014-48326
ORDER
Appellant Cypresswood Land Partners I (“Cypresswood”), which describes
itself as a joint venture, is not represented by counsel in this appeal. Rather,
Cypresswood is attempting to represent itself pro se through one of the joint
venturers, who is not an attorney. Joint ventures are generally governed by the law
of partnerships. See Truly v. Austin, 744 S.W.2d 934, 937 (Tex. 1988); Lawler v.
Dallas Statler-Hilton Joint Venture, 793 S.W.2d 27, 33 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1990,
writ denied). Except for the performance of ministerial tasks, partnerships, like
corporations, may appear and be represented only by a licensed attorney.
Kunstoplast of Am., Inc. v. Formosa Plastics Corp., U.S.A., 937 S.W.2d 455, 456
(Tex. 1996); Simmons, Jannace & Stagg, L.L.P. v. The Buzbee Law Firm, 324
S.W.3d 833, 833 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2010, no pet.) (mem op.).
On August 30, 2016, we requested that Cypresswood obtain counsel to
represent it in this appeal and file a notice of appearance by September 15, 2016. No
response has been received.
Accordingly, we ORDER Cypresswood to obtain counsel for this appeal and
to provide proof of the retention by October 13, 2016. If Cypresswood does not
comply, the court will dismiss Cypresswood’s appeal for failure to comply with our
order. See Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(c).
PER CURIAM
2