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Nature of Suit Code: 320
Nature of Suit: Assault, Libel, and Slander
Cause of Action: 

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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 16-50984

Summary Calendar

RODNEY J. HAMMOND, 

 Plaintiff - Appellant

v.

MELVIA LOVINGS; PAUL HELFRICH; MELISSA ESQUIVEL; AMELIA 

BUSTOS; J&J WORLDWIDE SERVICES, INCORPORATED, 

 Defendants - Appellees

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Western District of Texas

USDC No. 5:15-CV-579

Before REAVLEY, OWEN, and ELROD, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Appellant Rodney J. Hammond seeks to appeal the district court’s ruling 

awarding defendants attorney fees. The order was entered July 1, 2016. 

Hammond was therefore required to file his notice of appeal by August 1, 2016. 

On that day, he attempted to file the notice of appeal, but inadvertently filed a 

document entitled “Plaintiff’s Response to Court’s Order to Show Cause.” The 

 

* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not 

be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH 

CIR. R. 47.5.4.

United States Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit

FILED

March 2, 2017

Lyle W. Cayce

Clerk

 Case: 16-50984 Document: 00513894988 Page: 1 Date Filed: 03/02/2017
No. 16-50984

2

next day, the court issued a “Deficiency Notice” informing him of the error. On 

August 2, 2016, Hammond filed his notice of appeal. 

Hammond’s notice of appeal was untimely, and this appeal must 

therefore be dismissed. See Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1)(A). The unusual 

circumstances surrounding Hammond’s late filing do not change this outcome. 

Kinsley v. Lakeview Regional Medical Center LLC is squarely on point and 

controls. See 570 F.3d 586, 590 (5th Cir. 2009).

DISMISSED. 

 Case: 16-50984 Document: 00513894988 Page: 2 Date Filed: 03/02/2017