Case Title: Powers v. Hayes

Citation: 170 Vt. 639, 751 A.2d 781

Docket Number: 

State: vermont

Court: Vermont Supreme Court

Date: 2000-04-06T00:00:00Z

Document:
Powers v. Hayes (00-033); 170 Vt. 639; 751 A.2d 781

[Filed 06-Apr-2000]

                                 ENTRY ORDER

                       SUPREME COURT DOCKET NO. 00-033

                              MARCH TERM, 2000

Rachel Powers	                       }	APPEALED FROM:
Administratix of Estate of             }
Charles Powers	                       }
                                       }
     v.	                               }	Washington Superior Court
                                       }	
Katherine A. Hayes, Esq.	       }
Barr, Sternberg and Moss, P.C.	       }	DOCKET NO. 497-9-98Wncv	

             In the above-entitled cause, the Clerk will enter:

       Appellant was directed by this Court to show cause why the appeal
  should not be dismissed as  untimely filed.  After considering appellant's
  response, we rule as follows.

       On December 3, 1999, Washington Superior Court issued an entry order
  granting defendant's motion  for summary judgment.  On December 23, 1999,
  plaintiff mailed a notice of appeal to the  Washington Superior Court. 
  However, because the court had changed its address, it did not receive  the
  notice until January 11, 2000.  In the meantime, on December 27, 1999,
  defendant had submitted  a proposed judgment to the court.  When the court
  had still not issued a judgment by March 6, 2000,  plaintiff wrote to the
  court requesting the issuance of such a judgment.  The court finally issued
  a  judgment on March 21, 2000.  

       A notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days of the entry of the
  judgment or order appealed from.  See V.R.A.P. 4; 12 V.S.A. § 2383. 
  Plaintiff's notice of appeal was filed on January 11, 2000.  If the  appeal
  period began on December 3, 1999, when the court issued its entry order
  granting summary  judgment, then the notice was not timely.  However, if
  the appeal period began only when the court  issued its judgment order on
  March 21, 2000, then it was timely.  See Lashay v. Dept. of Social and 
  Rehabilitative Serv's, 160 Vt. 60, 63,