Nobody, including Chupp, cares that the response was filed at 12:30am instead of the midnight deadline. Chupp even accepted the filesize excuse and deemed the 12:30am filing as timely.
But then, because of the notary fuckup, Ty WITHDREW the affidavits, and tried to refile them a couple days later. Those were filed late. He could have filed on time (and did, except for the notary thing, and the fact that the affidavits are non-identical, which is a major problem imho). Then he un-filed the fucked up affidavits and tried to re-file late.
Also, WTF is an Exhibit letter? And why do the Kiwis think that sending Chupp a letter in is inappropriate? The letter vs. motion thing is purely stylistic. In some courts, almost all the motions/briefs are written in letter format. For example, in New Jersey, the court's own suggested brief format is in a letter style. See:
https://njcourts.gov/forms/11898_create_brief_sample_letter.pdf
In libertarian Texas, you can do whatever you want stylistically (vs. California, which has very particular style rules). The only general requirements for a motion/brief/request for relief are (Tex. R. Civ. P. 21):
1) It has to be in writing (unless during trial/hearing);
2) It has to be signed by a lawyer or the litigant himself (if he doesn't have a lawyer);
3) It has to be filed of record;
4) It has to be served on all lawyers (or parties, if unrepresented) to the case. This part automatically happens at step 3 now, because when you file anything, the electronic filing system immediately e-mails the filing to all the lawyers on a case.
Now lets look at the letters to Chupp. They are all 1) in writing; 2) signed; 3) e-filed; and therefore 4) automatically served on everyone. They function exactly the same as any other written motion/brief/application/etc to the court. I've known some Boomer lawyers that are in the habit of doing almost everything via letter motion or letter brief, even at the Texas Supreme Court level (although that's damned informal, if you ask me).
More relevantly for Vic, the Fort Worth Court of Appeals explicitly permits motions and briefs by letter. (2nd Court of Appeals Local Rule 1.D:
https://www.txcourts.gov/2ndcoa/practice-before-the-court/local-rules/rules/).
So back to my question: WTF is an Exhibit letter?