law-pro-se-litigants treatment by the court | inmate litigation | IFP in forma pauperis law suits and appeals
A pro se litigant is held to the same standards as licensed attorneys and must comply with the applicable
laws and rules of procedure. Wheeler v. Green, 157 S.W.3d 439, 444 (Tex. 2005).
PRO SE LITIGANTS AND LITIGATION CASE LAW
09-0214
MAE H. MCCRIMMON & LULA MAE CRETON v. BARRON TAYLOR D/B/A B-SURE MORTGAGE, ET AL.;
from Harris County;
1st district (01-08-00644-CV, ___ SW3d ___, 02-19-09, pet. denied July 2009)
We hold that Greene and McZeal cannot sue as pro se “next friends” on behalf of adults who have never
been declared incompetent, and we therefore affirm the trial court’s dismissal of the case.
09-0314
WILLIAM CRAIG RILEY v. GARY J. COHEN; from Travis County; 3rd district (03-08-00285-CV, ___ SW3d
___, 02‑19‑09)(sanctions appeal, appellate procedure failure to challenge all bases for judgment, pro se
litigants). Although Riley, who is incarcerated, has proceeded pro se at all stages of this case, he is bound
by the same procedural standards as parties represented by attorneys. See Mansfield State Bank v. Cohn,
573 S.W.2d 181, 184-85 (Tex. 1978) ("There cannot be two sets of procedural rules, one for litigants with
counsel and the other for litigants representing themselves. Litigants who represent themselves must
comply with the applicable procedural rules, or else they would be given an unfair advantage over litigants
represented by counsel.")
09-0354
LAWRENCE EDWARD THOMPSON v. JOSE ALISEDA AND RISSIE OWENS; from Bee County; 13th district
(13-08-00417-CV, ___ SW3d ___, 01-29-09, pet. denied June 2009)(Tex.App.- Corpus Christi, Jan. 29,
2009, pet. denied June 2009) (prisoner suit, pro se litigant, no jurisdiction over claim, habeas corpus)
"Because we evaluate pro se pleadings liberally in order to determine the merits of the complaint, we review
the same claims and grounds for jurisdiction as below." Martin v. State Bd. of Criminal Justice, 60 S.W.3d
226, 228 (Tex. App.-Corpus Christi 2006, no pet.) (citing Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972);
Johnson v. McAdams, 781 S.W.2d 451, 452 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1990, no writ)).