Document: 356 U.S. 227 78 S.Ct. 674 2 L.Ed.2d 721 UNITED STATES of America, Petitioner,v.F. & M. SCHAEFER BREWING CO. No. 79. Argued Jan. 6, 1958. Decided April 7, Mr. Leonard B. Sand, Washington, D.C., for petitioner. Thomas C. Burke, New York City, respondent. Justice WHITTAKER delivered the opinion Court. 1 This case presents questions concerning timeliness an appeal by Government from a summary judgment District Court to Appeals in action recovery money only. The basic question presented is which two series judicial and ministerial acts—one on 14 other May 24, 1955—constituted 'judgment' 'entry judgment.' If it was former, out time, but if latter, not. overt facts are clear undisputed. Respondent sued $7,189.57, alleged have been illegally assessed collected as federal stamp taxes, interest thereon date payment. After issue joined, respondent moved judgment. district judge, after hearing motion, filed 14, 1955 (130 F.Supp. 322, 324), which, finding that had paid taxes amout $7,012.50 amount $177.07, making no or dates payment, he referred earlier decision same legal his colleague, Judge Leibell, United States v. National Sugar Refining Co., 113 157, concluded, saying: 'I am agreement with Leibell's analysis and, accordingly, plaintiff's motion granted.' Thereupon, clerk made following notation civil docket: 'April 1955. Rayfiel, J. Decision rendered Motion granted. See file.' 3 Thereafter, 1955, counsel latter signed filed, formal document captioned 'Judgment,' 'opinion' then, 4 'Ordered, adjudged decreed plaintiff, F. Schaefer Brewing recover defendant, sum $7189.57 February 19, 1954 $542.80, together costs taxed Clerk $37, aggregating $7769.37, plaintiff against defendant therefor.' 5 On day stamped 'Judgment Rendered: Dated: 24th, 1955,' 6 'May Judgment docketed $7,189.57 $542.80 $37 amounting all $7,769.37. Bill Costs attached July 21, its notice order 'entered this 25th, * *.' dismiss upon ground constituted 'judgment,' clerk's entry judgment,' not taken within 60 days required Rule 73(a).1 Appeals, holding 'decisive complete act adjudication,' docket judgment' meaning 58 adequately disclosed 'substance' 79(a), sustained dismissed untimely. 236 F.2d 889, 891. Because asserted conflict among circuits2 public importance proper interpretation uniform application provisions Federal Rules governing time appeals may be judgments Courts actions only tried without jury, we granted certiorari. 353 907, 77 667, 662. 7 Stated summarily, contends (1) practical considerations require final contained separate so labeled; (2) judge's did contain any elements nor manifest intention case; (3) 24 awarded invoked 58, saying 'When court directs party relief denied, shall enter forthwith receipt him direction'; (4) where, here, judge prima facie decision, inasmuch nothing indicated contrary intention, decision; (5) indicate award therefore, 'show substance (a money) court,' 79(a) hence, constitute 'the (a) money, start running under 73(a). 8 Resolution these contentions depends principally construction pertinent 79(a). part, provides: 9 direction *. provided constitutes judgment; effective before such entry.' (Emphasis supplied.) 10 So much here 11 'All noted These notations brief show each 12 At outset considerations—namely, certainty what pronouncements intended avoid both premature untimely appeals, render certain liens, enable procurement writs execution, transcripts certified copies judgments—require labeled, urges us hold. Whatever needs respects, answer present statute rule requires, concedes, decisional law seems settled '(n)o form words necessary evince (the) rendition (of judgment).' Hark, 320 531, 534, 64 359, 361, 88 L.Ed. 290. also In re Forstner Chain Corporation, Cir., 177 572, 576. 13 While embody whether does has clearly declared respect opinion. Therefore, when, only—whether liquidated unliquidated amount, makes distinction—it determine language embodies essential evidences case. so, 'directs of) money,' 'upon (the clerk) (opinion),' requires 'enter forthwith' found liable awarded, done 'notation (showing court) 79(a).' When appear pronounced entered, starts run And, correctly held later filing more could second extend appeal. at page 892. But, hand, leaves doubtful case—and, failure either expressly reference strong evidence lack intention—one cannot say 'shall forthwith'; can one docket'—if sets forth than directed opinion, being (In supra, 576) do more—' show(s) court, 'constitutes 58. 15 While, stated, there specifies judgment, peculiar judgment)' (United 361), yet obvious must, least, determine, specify means determining, Cooke, 215 528, 530); case, reveals doubt, very 'complete adjudication'—to borrow phrase Appeals—or 16 But argues, held, stated determined incorporated reference, it, too, contention might well accepted were fact sought payment state compute included Cf. 530. effort counter effect omissions, states search record, should make, would Government's admitted thus furnish information It relies statement 'Whether primarily gathered record whole argument reason Surely vital part substance. To hold must ignore quoted provision 17 circumstances, Hark case—though criminal governed Civil Procedure, shown afford aid determining intent—is exactly apposite controlling. 18 'Where, rather entry. conscious, are, power He entered record. We unwilling assume deemed empty acted purpose indirectly overtly. absence anything lead conclusion, take March 31 pronouncement court's fixing ran.' pages 534—535, 361. Higginson, 238 439, 443. 19 concerned—of stating docket; appealing 'opinion'; preparing presenting 24; finally, himself signing none them understood thereof ran. 20 Reversed. 21 HARLAN, dissenting. 22 gone into least ended happily point view preserving integrity those Procedure bearing appeals. Court's dissent Frankfurter I issue, namely, running, agree determinative given merits disposition matter. en banc decided instance intend make thought considered better course affirm below, appropriate suggestion judges, leave room about their intentions respecting finality, reverse essentially fact. 23 Even perhaps silver lining, daresay will stimulate judges pains future, cf. Matteson States, 240 517, 518, give opinions 'money' cases affirmative indication regarding finality nonfinality decisions. healthy thing, surely commonplace affair permitted breed litigation. FRANKFURTER, whom HARLAN joins, 25 sixty-day period established 73(a) Procedure. Ultimately turns need felt nation-wide uniformity detailed rules procedure system, regard local conditions experience different circuits construing phrased broad functional terms. Though formulated Court, underlying believe brought review discrete instance, particular, nonrecurring set wish encourage petitions certiorari review, individual circumstances. issues basis said because they affected 'all litigants courts.' 26 taxpayer specifically complaint, 'Memorandum Decision' relying tax, collected, concluded that, 130 324. 'Rayfiel, 27 Over month later, paper, submitted respondent, entitled 'Judgment.' recited having 'It ordered, $7,769.37, $7769.37. 28 ninety-eight granting fifty-eight 24. Second Circuit, six sitting banc, unanimously sixty when granted, 'Judgment' docketed. 29 30 appealed unless shorter law, except officer agency parties 54(a) defines as: 'a decree lies.' 'Entry Judgment,' provides that: 32 'Unless otherwise subject 54(b), verdict jury clerk; direct special general accompanied answers interrogatories returned pursuant 49. direction; relief, promptly settle approve clerk. delayed taxing costs.' 33 describes mentioned goes declare 34 papers clerk, process issued returns thereon, appearances, orders, verdicts, chronologically nature paper writ 35 Thus, begins 73(a), contemplated compliance docket. properly decisive procedural moment. memorandum Rules, was, showed 36 nowhere define mechanical exactitude term 'judgment.' 54(a), however, includes lies,' emphasizes confined described, performs function bringing litigation determination. describing illumines contemplation Rules. interrogatories, further court. complex, However, only, situation direction. 37 One thing close reading light 'to secure just, speedy, inexpensive determination every action.' Fed.Rules Civ.Proc., 1. Simplicity speed, consonant protection interests parties, touchstones especially strategically placed advance conclusion. regards required, denied informal memorandum, end written even orally bench. Of many decisions question, suggested expressed formal, autonomous document, cumbersome, wasteful practice some States. Such requirement contradict liberal policy recognized, 'No judgment) mature right appeal.' complex convincing requirement. 38 1946 amendment underscored particular explicit entered. recovery, 308 737. amended read: 329 863. According Notes Advisory Committee, 'The substitution inclusive denied' 'there recovery', situations specified awaiting approved court.' U.S.C., p. 4343, U.S.C.A. note. Moreover, elimination act, explicitly framed manner. 39 may, exercise control over shape rendition, until drawn up, approved, signed. themselves recognized cases, according careful formulation indispensable evidencing circumstances registration divers purposes unrelated taking example, Treasury Department procedures, secured submitting copy precise plus costs. requirements, admitting relevance designed, justify eroding important favor speed simplicity demanding definitive adjudication claim all. 40 What indicates adjudicated, wholly completed dependent Furthermore, since position intelligent choice appeal, inform decided. assessing requirements met appellate naturally looks import trial reasonably appeared parties. Certainty appealable consideration, meritorious lost through inadvertence. attained directing explicitness expression insisting archaic formalities pointlessly delay As Chief Clark 'adjusted accommodate carelessness, cost serious losses 519. 41 readily apparent criteria limits considerable scope left variation custom practice, country diversified vast ours. 290, involving Criminal Act, now U.S.C. § 3731, significantly There defendants' quash indictment, weeks effect. statute, timely. conclusion reached, customary Massachusetts, come, quashing indictment refused, diversity lower courts, lay down 'hard fast rule' necessarily regarded presumption overcome showing contrary. 42 Commissioner Internal Revenue Estate Bedford, 325 283, 65 1157, 89 1611, petition common understanding long-continued mandate respected because, said, announcement amounts await ought nice-spun argumentation disregard habits whose called bar practising who traditions, assumption reviewing 287—288, 1159. Procedural system fitted Procrustean bed. extent contemplate manner doing things, respected. require, intimately associated dealt basis, loyalty precludes imposition merely own sake. 43 Circuit complete, clear, adjudication, though word unanimous this. number years consistently enforcing, dissent, adheres active litigant hardly unaware first squarely Wissahickon Tool Works, Inc., 200 936, 938, reflected line authorities,1 repeated increasing emphasis clarity.2 That continually admonished adjudications sacrificed confused, less concerned, volume courts harried circuit widespread criticism law's delays, formulate enforce procedures best expedite 44 is, standing alone, sufficient refused reassess significance weight situation, found, increase diminish uncertainty confusion, vary depending chance, often later. temptation too great approval simply cast doubt action, improperly Although appears e.g., 441—443, adopted inappropriate practicalities circuit.3 varying problems circuits, should, matter, measure freedom interpret relations between itself courts. 45 unreasonable applied informed respondent's remotely adjudication. costs, tax agreed dispute, due simple, mathematically ascertainable item, neither qualified aspect 46 recognizes finally completely adjudicates litigation, ultimately ascertaining Nevertheless, reverses rest unusual slender reed failed face interest. judging correct concluding trivial circumstance outweighed 47 inconclusive ambiguous contemplated, impossible complicated computations available renders decision. these. striking reasonable relevantly applied. Nor material 24th. 14th commenced automatically force proceeded desirable obtain whatever reason, way enlarge invoke jurisdiction prevent 48 rendering applies equally rendered. 'Substance' context Aristotelian metaphysics; apart realities adequacy conduct entries convey. not, contention, nugatory shown, interprets terms designed. 49 file. turn told say, related understanding, erred how alone doubtless convey little stranger familiar attentive comprehensively conveyed protect interests. use recital more, flat recitals convert common-sense maintain useful interested demand pointless technicalities seriously inconvenience them. docket, also, argued, injunction, inclusions usefulness index history proceedings substantially impaired defeated. 50 remembered problem concerns niceties abstract logic symmetry, administration York, Connecticut, Vermont, comprising Circuit. Doubtless insofar govern observed throughout eleven Appeals. self-defining specifications mechanically enforceable details matters, including judgments, obedience express? Does observance imply application? large business any. By guided years, occasion consider question. membership reflects longest our judiciary, extensive private competence domain procedure.4 A authenticated weighty certificate legitimacy nullified elegantia juris. Certainly upset compelled unambiguous legislation enforcement unassailable implicit standards fair justice. 51 Unless references herein First declined follow Circuit's instant 10(a) Southern Eastern Districts providing, 'memorandum order,' concluded: 'To apply where exists, accord it.' Id., 234 Higginson 'Since viewed corroborative actually F.R. Hartigan's disapproving reasoning.' 518. Fourth Papanikolaou Atlantic Freighters, 232 663, appears, result Prince Line, Ltd., 157 987, 989; Murphy Lehigh Valley R. 158 481, 484 485; Binder Commercial Travelers Mut. Acc. Ass'n, 165 896, 901; Markert Swift 173 519, note 2. Roth, 208 467; Napier Delaware, L. W.R. 223 28; 517; Edwards Doctors Hospital, 242 888; Repan American President Lines, 243 876. invokes carefuly views York. 'A order; order, originally resettlement, extended form.' explained 'viewed included: Clark—6 years' member Committee Frank—22 administrative service, Medina—35 Hincks—14 Lumbard—21 Attorney's Office, Waterman—29 Other sat cited were: Learned Hand—12 retirement. Augustus N. Hand—19 Swan—13 Chase—7

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