Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / May 25, 2021
Tausha Fields vs. State of Missouri
Tausha Fields appealed the dismissal of her Rule 29.15 motion for post-conviction relief, which alleged ineffective assistance of counsel. The motion court dismissed the motion as untimely because Fields failed to present evidence at an evidentiary hearing to prove her claim of "active interference," which she asserted excused the late filing. The appellate court affirmed, holding that Fields abandoned her claim by not presenting evidence and that a verified pleading alone does not constitute evidence without a stipulation.