Thompson v. Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services

This is an appeal from the trial courts denial of a bill of review following the termination of Mary Lou Thompsons parental rights. In March 2001, the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services filed an original petition for protection of her three minor children, for conservatorship and for termination of the parent-child relationship. Thompson was represented by court-appointed counsel and following a jury trial in early 2002, her parental rights were terminated. During the course of the trial, the childrens biological father executed a voluntary relinquishment. Robert Garcia was appointed by the court to represent Thompson in the direct appeal. Unaware of recent legislative amendments requiring accelerated appeals in termination cases, Garcia filed the notice of appeal one day late. We found the notice to be untimely and dismissed the appeal for want of jurisdiction. Thompson then filed a petition for bill of review which was denied by the trial court. She now brings one issue on appeal, complaining that the trial court erred in denying relief. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.