Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00734/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00734-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Commissioner of Social Security
Defendant
James E. Smith
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES E. SMITH, )

)

Plaintiff, )

v. )

)

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, )

Commissioner of Social )

Security, )

)

Defendant. )

)

 )

1:07-cv-00734-OWW-SMS

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION TO

DENY PLAINTIFF’S REQUEST FOR

PERMISSION TO FILE AN APPEAL

(Doc. 10)

Plaintiff filed a civil action against the Commissioner of

Social Security, which was later dismissed by the Court on August

1, 2007, because Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis

had been denied, and Plaintiff failed to pay the filing fee.

Judgment was entered by the Clerk on August 1, 2007, and was

served on Plaintiff on that date. 

Pending before the Court is Plaintiff’s request for

permission to appeal pursuant to Fed. Rules of App. Proc. 3, 4,

and 5.

No grounds are stated for the motion; no statement of facts

is set forth.

/////

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I. Extension of Time to File Notice of Appeal

Plaintiff’s action was a civil proceeding. 

Title 28 U.S.C. § 2107(a) provides that except as provided

in that section, no appeal shall bring any judgment, order, or

decree in an action of a civil nature before a court of appeals

for review unless a notice of appeal is filed within thirty days

after entry of such judgment, order, or decree. However, in civil

cases in which the United States is a party, a notice of appeal

must be filed within sixty days after the entry of judgment. 28

U.S.C. § 2107(b); Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1)(B).

The district court may, upon motion filed no later than

thirty days after the expiration of the time otherwise set for

bringing an appeal, extend the time for appeal upon a showing of

excusable neglect or good cause. 28 U.S.C. § 2107. Further, Fed.

R. Civ. P. 4(a)(5) provides:

(A) The district court may extend the time to file

a notice of appeal if

(i) a party so moves no later than 30 days after

the time prescribed by this Rule 4(a) expires; and

(ii) regardless of whether its motion is filed

before or during the 30 days after the time

prescribed by this Rule 4(a) expires, that party

shows excusable neglect or good cause.

. . .

(C) No extension under this Rule 4(a)(5) may exceed

30 days after the prescribed time or ten days after the 

date when the order granting the motion is entered,

whichever is later.

Here, the Court’s docket reflects that a separate judgment

was entered on August 1, 2007. Plaintiff filed his motion on

March 7, 2008, more than thirty days after the time for appeal

prescribed by Rule 4(a). Thus, the motion was not timely filed

under Rule 4(a)(5)(A)(I). It is established that the thirty-day

time period is jurisdictional and cannot be extended. Vahan v.

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Shalala, 30 F.3d 102, 103 (9 Cir. 1994). th

Further, Plaintiff has not shown excusable neglect or good

cause. Accordingly, Plaintiff is not entitled to an extension

under Rule 4(a)(5)(A)(ii).

Finally, Fed. R. App. Proc. 4(a)(5)(B) provides that if a

motion to extend time is filed after the expiration of the

prescribed time, notice must be given to the other parties in

accordance with the rules. Plaintiff’s proof of service filed

with the motion reflects that Plaintiff served the motion on the

Court, but there is no demonstration of giving notice to the

other parties. Thus, the notice of Plaintiff’s motion was

defective.

II. Reopening Time to File an Appeal

Upon a motion filed within the earlier of 180 days after

entry of the judgment or order, or within seven days after

receipt of notice of entry of judgment, a district court may

reopen the time for filing a notice of appeal for fourteen days

if the district court finds that 1) a party entitled to notice of

the entry of a judgment or order did not receive such notice from

the clerk or any party within twenty-one days of its entry, and

2) no party would be prejudiced. 28 U.S.C. § 2107(c); Fed. R.

App. Proc. 4(a)(6).

Here, even if it were assumed that Plaintiff did not receive

notice of entry of the judgment, more than 180 days have passed

since the entry of the judgment or order; thus, the motion was

untimely. The time periods set forth in Fed. R. App. Proc.

4(a)(6) are jurisdictional, and the Court has no authority to

consider the extension motion if it was filed more than 180 days

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after the entry of judgment. Vahan v. Shalala, 30 F.3d 102, 103

(9 Cir. 1994). th

Further, Plaintiff has made no showing of any lack of

receipt of notice of entry of the judgment or of prejudice. Thus,

Plaintiff has not met his burden. Nunley v. City of Los Angeles,

52 F.3d 792, 795-96 (9 Cir. 1995). th

III. Fed. Rule App. Proc. 5

Plaintiff cites to Rule 5 as a basis for his motion.

However, it does not appear that any interlocutory order is in

question, or that Plaintiff has requested or received

certification from this Court; rather, Plaintiff has requested

permission from this Court to appeal from the one final judgment

rendered in his case. Fed. R. App. Proc. 5 concerns relief from

the appellate court. Thus, Plaintiff does not appear to have any

grounds to proceed pursuant to Fed. R. App. Proc. 5.

IV. Recommendation

Accordingly, it IS RECOMMENDED that Plaintiff’s motion or

request for permission to appeal and/or for an extension of time

to appeal BE DENIED.

This report and recommendation is submitted to the United

States District Court Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the

provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636 (b)(1)(B) and Rule 72-304 of the

Local Rules of Practice for the United States District Court,

Eastern District of California. Within thirty (30) days after

being served with a copy, any party may file written objections

with the Court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document

should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings

and Recommendations.” Replies to the objections shall be served

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and filed within ten (10) court days (plus three days if served

by mail) after service of the objections. The Court will then

review the Magistrate Judge’s ruling pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636

(b)(1)(C). The parties are advised that failure to file

objections within the specified time may waive the right to

appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d

1153 (9th Cir. 1991).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 20, 2008 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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