Court of Appeals

Decision Information

Decision Content

Cite as 2009 Ark. App. 706 ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS DIVISION III No. CA 09-125 Opinion Delivered OCTOBER 28, 2009 NEAL HOLLINGSWORTH APPEAL FROM THE WASHINGTON APPELLANT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT, [NO. DR-08-1151-5] V. HONORABLE GARY L. CARSON, JUDGE COURTNEY HOLLINGSWORTH APPELLEE REBRIEFING ORDERED JOHN B. ROBBINS, Judge Appellant Neal Hollingsworth appeals from the trial courts order denying his petition for grandparental visitation rights. Because Mr. Hollingsworth has submitted a brief without a proper addendum in violation of Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 4-2(a)(8), we order rebriefing. Rule 4-2(a)(8) provides, in pertinent part: Following the signature and certificate of service, the appellants brief shall contain an Addendum which shall include true and legible photocopies of the order, judgment, decree, ruling, letter opinion, or Workers Compensation Commission opinion from which the appeal is taken, along with any other relevant pleadings, documents, or exhibits essential to an understanding of the case and the Courts jurisdiction on appeal. The procedure to be followed when an appellant has submitted an insufficient abstract or addendum is set forth in Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 4-2(b)(3):
Cite as 2009 Ark. App. 706 Whether or not the appellee has called attention to deficiencies in the appellants abstract or Addendum, the Court may address the question at any time. If the Court finds the abstract or Addendum to be deficient such that the Court cannot reach the merits of the case, or such as to cause an unreasonable or unjust delay in the disposition of the appeal, the Court will notify the appellant that he or she will be afforded an opportunity to cure any deficiencies, and has fifteen days within which to file a substituted abstract, Addendum, and brief, at his or her own expense, to conform to Rule 4-2(a)(5) and (8). Mere modifications of the original brief by the appellant, as by interlineation, will not be accepted by the Clerk. Upon the filing of such a substituted brief by the appellant, the appellee will be afforded an opportunity to revise or supplement the brief, at the expense of the appellant or the appellants counsel, as the Court may direct. If after the opportunity to cure the deficiencies, the appellant fails to file a complying abstract, Addendum and brief within the prescribed time, the judgment or decree may be affirmed for noncompliance with the Rule. Here, Mr. Hollingsworths brief is deficient due to the fact that his addendum lacks relevant pleadings essential to an understanding of the case. In particular, the addendum fails to include Mr. Hollingsworths petition to establish grandparental visitation rights, as well as appellee Courtney Hollingsworths response to the motion. Because Mr. Hollingsworth has failed to comply with our rules, we order him to file a substituted addendum and brief within fifteen days from the date of entry of this order. If he fails to do so within the prescribed time, the order appealed from may be affirmed for noncompliance with Rule 4-2. After service of the substituted addendum and brief, Ms. Hollingsworth shall have an opportunity to revise or supplement her brief in the time prescribed by the clerk. Rebriefing ordered. K INARD and HENRY, JJ., agree. -2-
 You are being directed to the most recent version of the statute which may not be the version considered at the time of the judgment.