Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca10-09-02251/USCOURTS-ca10-09-02251-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 690
Nature of Suit: Other Forfeiture and Penalty Suits
Cause of Action: 

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FILED

United States Court of Appeals

Tenth Circuit

February 3, 2010

Elisabeth A. Shumaker

Clerk of Court

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff - Appellee,

v.

1963 BEECHCRAFT BONANZA

AIRCRAFT (Serial No. D-7293),

Defendant,

and

LAWRENCE RUNKE,

Claimant,

and

MICHAEL JOSEPH KEARNS,

Claimant - Appellant.

No. 09-2251

(D.C. No. 1:08-CV-00938-BB-RHS)

ORDER

Before BRISCOE, HARTZ, and HOLMES, Circuit Judges.

This appeal is before the court based on a show cause order challenging appellate

jurisdiction and directing the parties to obtain a district court order either granting

certification under Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b) as to the August 6, 2009 Order appealed by

Appellate Case: 09-2251 Document: 01018361044 Date Filed: 02/03/2010 Page: 1 
-2-

Claimant Michael Kearns or explicitly adjudicating the in rem civil forfeiture action initiated

by the Government. See Stockman's Water Company, LLC v. Vaca Partners, L.P., 425 F.3d

1263, 1265 (10th Cir. 2005); Lewis v. B. F. Goodrich Co., 850 F.2d 641, 645-46 (10th Cir.

1988).

This court lacks jurisdiction. The parties failed to move in the district court for a Rule

54(b) certification, and did not file anything in this court explaining their failure to do so.

No final judgment has been entered by the district court in the forfeiture action.

Consequently, the August 6, 2009 Order, which granted the Government’s motion to dismiss

Claimant Kearns’ counterclaim, is interlocutory and not immediately appealable under 28

U.S.C. § 1291 or under any recognized exception to the final judgment rule. 

The appeal is DISMISSED for lack of appellate jurisdiction. 

Entered for the Court,

Elisabeth A. Shumaker, Clerk

Kathleen T. Clifford

Attorney - Deputy Clerk

Appellate Case: 09-2251 Document: 01018361044 Date Filed: 02/03/2010 Page: 2