Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-01667/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-01667-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WINSTON H. KEMPER, 

Plaintiff,

 v.

POLICE OFFICER F. DAUER, et al.,

Defendants. 

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No. C 04-1667 JSW (PR)

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

LATE APPEAL AND

INSTRUCTIONS TO CLERK

(Docket No. 13)

Plaintiff, a prisoner of the State of California, filed a civil rights complaint under

42 U.S.C. § 1983 regarding the failure of police and county officials to provide him with

appropriate medical treatment after his arrest. After the Court twice dismissed Plaintiff’s

complaint with leave to amend, the Court dismissed the matter on February 28, 2005 for

failure to state a claim (docket no. 11). On February 24, 2006, Plaintiff filed a document

entitled “en banc review requested.” The Clerk is directed to file this document as a

motion. 

Although it is not entirely clear, it appears that Plaintiff is attempting to file a late

notice of appeal. An appeal of right may be taken only by filing a valid notice of appeal

in the district court. Fed. R. App. P. 3(a)(1). Rule 4(a) of the Federal Rules of Appellate

Procedure requires that a notice of appeal "be filed with the clerk of the district court

within 30 days after the entry of the judgment or order appealed from." Fed. R. App. P.

4(a)(1). Relief from the deadline for a timely notice of appeal may be obtained by a

motion in the district court under Rule 4(a)(6) (motion to reopen time to file appeal). 

Case 3:04-cv-01667-JSW Document 13 Filed 05/31/06 Page 1 of 2
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Rule 4(a)(6) provides:

The district court may reopen the time to file an appeal for a period of 14

days after the date when its order to reopen is entered, but only if all the

following conditions are satisfied:

(A) the motion is filed within 180 days after the judgment or order is entered or

within 7 days after the moving party receives notice of the entry, whichever is

earlier;

(B) the court finds that the moving party was entitled to notice of the entry of the

judgment or order sought to be appealed but did not receive the notice from the

district court or any party within 21 days after entry; and 

(C) the court finds that no party would be prejudiced 

Relief from the expiration of the time to appeal may not be sought after the 180-

day period in Rule 4(a)(6) has expired. See In re Stein, 197 F.3d 421, 425 (9th Cir.

2000). Rule 4(a) is the exclusive avenue for relief from the expiration of the period to

file a timely notice of appeal. See id. at 426-27 (Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 60(b) cannot be used

to avoid the expiration of the 180-day time period). It must be enforced without

distinction between counseled and uncounseled cases. See Clark v. Lavallie, 204 F.3d

1038, 1041 (10th Cir. 2000) (rejecting pro se prisoner's motion filed more than 180 days

after entry of judgment).

Although Plaintiff complains that this Court’s first order of dismissal of the

complaint with leave to amend which he contends failed to rule on his “main issue”

discouraged him from pursuing his claims, this does not constitute a valid excuse under

Rule 4(a)(6). As such, Plaintiff’s motion is DENIED (docket no. 13).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: May 31, 2006 

 

JEFFREY S. WHITE

United States District Judge

Case 3:04-cv-01667-JSW Document 13 Filed 05/31/06 Page 2 of 2