Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_04-cv-06066/USCOURTS-caed-1_04-cv-06066-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Bivens Act

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28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) provides in pertinent part: 1

When a district judge, in making in a civil

action an order not otherwise appealable under

this section, shall be of the opinion that

such order involves a controlling question of

law as to which there is substantial ground

for difference of opinion and that an

immediate appeal from the order may materially

advance the ultimate termination of the

litigation, he shall so state in writing in

such order. The Court of Appeals which would

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHARLES LOWELL KENTZ, )

)

)

)

Plaintiff, )

)

vs. )

)

)

EARLENE SMITH, )

)

)

Defendant. )

)

)

No. CV-F-04-6066 REC/LJO P

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF'S

MOTION FOR CERTIFICATION FOR

IMMEDIATE APPEAL PURSUANT TO

28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) AND RULE

54(b), FEDERAL RULES OF

CIVIL PROCEDURE (Doc. 36)

Plaintiff, proceeding in pro per, moves the court to certify

the Order denying his motion for summary judgment for immediate

appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) or pursuant to Rule 1

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have jurisdiction of an appeal of such action

may thereupon, in its discretion, permit an

appeal to be taken from such order, if

application is made to it within ten days

after the entry of the order; Provided,

however, That application for an appeal

hereunder shall not stay proceedings in the

district court unless the district judge or

the Court of Appeals or a judge thereof shall

so order.

Rule 54(b) provides in pertinent part: 2

When more than one claim for relief is

presented in an action ... or when multiple

parties are involved, the court may direct the

entry of a final judgment as to one or more

but fewer than all of the claims or parties

only upon an express determination that there

is no just reason for delay and upon an

express direction for the entry of judgment.

2

54(b), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.2

Section 1292(b) is to be used only in exceptional situations

in which allowing an interlocutory appeal would avoid protracted

and expensive litigation. United States Rubber Co. v. Wright,

359 F.2d 784, 785 (9 Cir. 1966). Plaintiff must demonstrate th

that (1) there is a controlling question of law, (2) that there

are substantial grounds for difference of opinion, and (3) that

an immediate appeal may materially advance the ultimate

termination of the litigation. In re Cement Antitrust

Litigation, 673 F.2d 1020, 1026 (9 Cir. 1982). th

Plaintiff has not made such a showing in the instant motion. 

It is clear that the basis for plaintiff’s motion is his

disagreement with the denial of his motion for summary judgment. 

However, to demonstrate “a substantial ground for difference of

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opinion” on a question for Section 1292(b) certification, the

moving party must show more that its own disagreement with a

court’s ruling. The term refers to a legal standard applied in

the decision for which certification is sought and whether other

courts have substantially differed in applying that standard. 

See Harter v. GAF Corp., 150 F.R.D. 502, 518 (D.N.J. 1993). 

In certifying an appeal pursuant to Rule 54(b), the district

court must first determine that it has rendered a “final

judgment,” i.e., a judgment that is “‘an ultimate disposition of

an individual claim entered in the course of a multiple claims

action.’” Curtiss-Wright Corp. v. General Electric Co., 446 U.S.

1, 7 (1980). 

Here, because the court merely denied plaintiff’s motion for

summary judgment, plaintiff has not made the showing required for

certification under Rule 54(b).

ACCORDINGLY:

1. Plaintiff’s motion for certification of appeal pursuant

to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) and/or Rule 54(b), Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure, is denied.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 1, 2006 /s/ Robert E. Coyle 

668554 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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