Case ID: f-appx_560/html/1003-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Susana B. JAVILLONAR, Claimant-Appellant, v. Eric K. SHINSEKI, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Respondent-Appellee.
    No. 2014-7062.
    United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit.
    May 29, 2014.
    Susana B. Javillonar, pro se.
    Ellen Mary Lynch, Trial Attorney, Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent-Appellee.
    Before RADER, Chief Judge, NEWMAN and HUGHES, Circuit Judges.
   ORDER

PER CURIAM.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs moves to file a response to this court’s show cause order out of time and moves to dismiss.

This case originally arose out of a claim filed by Susana B. Javillonar seeking benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs based on the service of her deceased husband, Felipe J. Javillonar. While Mrs. Javillonar’s appeal was pending, the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (“Veterans Court”) was informed that she had also died.

The Javillonars’ son, Artemio B. Javillo-nar, subsequently filed a motion to substitute. The Veterans Court, however, denied that motion and entered judgment setting aside the underlying decision and dismissing the appeal. The Veterans Court issued its judgment on November 22, 2013.

Although Artemio’s notice of appeal was originally received on or about December 24, 2013 by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of General Counsel, the Veterans Court did not receive the notice of appeal until February 7, 2014, 77 days after judgment.

To be timely, a notice of appeal must be received by the Veterans Court within 60 days of the entry of judgment. See 38 U.S.C. § 7292(a); 28 U.S.C. § 2107(b); Fed. R.App. P. 4(a)(1). This statutorily-prescribed time for filing appeals from the Veterans Court to this court is mandatory and jurisdictional. See Wagner v. Shinseki, 733 F.3d 1343, 1348 (Fed.Cir.2013). Thus, even in circumstances in which it would be equitable to do so, this court is without authority to waive the deadline for filing an appeal to this court from the Veterans Court. See Bowles v. Russell, 551 U.S. 205, 214, 127 S.Ct. 2360, 168 L.Ed.2d 96 (2007).

Because Javillonar’s appeal was filed past the statutory deadline for taking an appeal to this court, we must dismiss the appeal.

Accordingly,

It Is ORdered That:

(1) The Secretary’s motion for leave to file his response out of time is granted.

(2) The Secretary’s motion to dismiss is granted. The appeal is dismissed.

(3) Each side shall bear its own costs.