1The Honorable Richard G. Kopf, Chief Judge, United States District Court for

the District of Nebraska.

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

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No. 99-1343

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James F. Tierney, *

 *

Appellant, *

 * Appeal from the United States

v. * District Court for the

 * District of Nebraska 

Nebraska Department of Education, *

 * [UNPUBLISHED]

Appellee. *

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 Submitted: December 7, 1999

 Filed: January 24, 2000

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Before McMILLIAN, RICHARD S. ARNOLD, and HANSEN, Circuit Judges. 

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PER CURIAM.

James F. Tierney appeals from the final order entered in the District Court1 for

the District of Nebraska denying his Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b) motion. For the reasons

discussed below, we affirm.

Tierney filed this action pro se against the Nebraska Department of Education

(the State), alleging the State thrice failed to hire him because of his disability and his
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age, in violation of federal and state law. The district court granted summary judgment

to the State and entered judgment dismissing the case on December 8, 1998. On

December 28, 1998, Tierney filed a “brief requesting new trial,” which the district

court construed as a Rule 60(b) motion and denied on December 30, 1998. On January

26, 1999, Tierney filed a notice of appeal, designating the December 30 order; on

appeal, however, he argues the merits of the December 8 summary judgment order.

Because Tierney filed the Rule 60(b) motion on December 28--more than ten

days after judgment was entered on December 8--the time for filing a notice of appeal

was not tolled. See Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(4)(A)(vi) (time for filing notice of appeal is

tolled if Rule 60(b) motion is filed within 10 days of judgment’s entry); see also Fed.

R. Civ. P. 6(a) (computation of time period). Thus, Tierney had thirty days from

December 8 in which to appeal the grant of summary judgment to the State. See Fed.

R. App. P. 4(a)(1)(A) (appellant has 30 days from entry of judgment to file notice of

appeal). Because Tierney did not appeal until January 26, the notice of appeal was

untimely filed and we lack jurisdiction to review the order granting summary judgment.

See United States v. Robinson, 64 F.3d 403, 404-05 (8th Cir. 1995) (noting this court

lacks jurisdiction to review untimely appeal). 

Although Tierney’s notice of appeal is timely as to the December 30 order

denying his Rule 60(b) motion, such a motion is “not a substitute for appeal.” Fox v.

Brewer, 620 F.2d 177, 180 (8th Cir. 1980). In reviewing the denial of a Rule 60(b)

motion, we determine only whether the district court abused its discretion in denying

relief from the judgment. See Sanders v. Clemco Indus., 862 F.2d 161, 169 (8th Cir.

1988). We conclude the district court did not abuse its discretion in this case:

Tierney’s “new trial” motion did not allege any grounds for post-judgment relief, but

merely reasserted the merits of his failure-to-hire claim. See Broadway v. Norris, 193

F.3d 987, 990 (8th Cir. 1999) (Rule 60(b) authorizes relief based on certain enumerated

circumstances, and is “not a vehicle for simple reargument on the merits”); Sanders v.

Clemco Indus., 862 F.2d at 169 (appeal from denial of Rule 60(b) motion does not
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raise underlying judgment for review). Further, we conclude Tierney did not otherwise

demonstrate exceptional circumstances warranting Rule 60(b) relief. See Brooks v.

Ferguson-Florissant Sch. Dist., 113 F.3d 903, 904 (8th Cir. 1997) (Rule 60(b) movant

must demonstrate “exceptional circumstances” to justify relief). 

Accordingly, we affirm the order of the district court.

A true copy.

Attest:

CLERK, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CIRCUIT.