Source: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/318/203/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 18:19:17+00:00

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Justia › US Law › US Case Law › US Supreme Court › Volume 318 › Leishman v. Association Wholesale Elec. Co.
Leishman v. Association Wholesale Electric Co.
1. Where a motion under Rule 52(b) of the Rules of Civil Procedure (made within an enlargement of time under Rule 6(b)) to amend and supplement the findings and conclusions relates to matters of substance and would, if granted, require an amendment of the judgment to conform thereto, even though amendment of the judgment was not specifically requested, the time for taking an appeal from the judgment (28 U.S.C. § 230) runs from the date of the order disposing of the motion. P. 318 U. S. 205.
2. Rule 59 of the Rules of Civil Procedure, relating to new trials, held inapplicable. P. 318 U. S. 206.
Certiorari, 317 U.S. 612, to review a decree dismissing an appeal for want of jurisdiction.
The question in this case is whether petitioner appealed to the Circuit Court of Appeals within the time provided by law (28 U.S.C. § 230).
"Consistently with these findings, the conclusions of law should be amended to state that the claims . . . in suit are valid; that an injunction shall issue in the usual form, and that there be an accounting for past infringement."
This motion was denied on June 9, 1941.
judgment, contrary to 28 U.S.C. § 230. In so holding, that court recognized the general rule that, where a petition for rehearing, a motion for a new trial, or a motion to vacate, amend, or modify a judgment is seasonably made and entertained, the time for appeal does not begin to run until the disposition of the motion. [Footnote 3] But this case was differentiated on the ground that the instant motion was not one to amend the judgment but merely one to amend and supplement the findings and conclusions. 128 F.2d 204. We granted certiorari, 317 U.S. 612, to settle the important question of practice presented under the Rules of Civil Procedure.
judgment would have to be amended or altered to conform to those findings and the conclusions resulting from them. We conclude that a motion under Rule 52(b), such as the instant one, which seeks to amend or supplement the findings of fact in more than purely formal or mechanical aspects tolls the appeals statute, and that the time for taking an appeal runs from the date of the order disposing of the motion. Cf. Continental Oil Co. v. United States, 299 U.S. 510.
The motion was not one for a new trial under Rule 59, and respondent's argument, based on that premise, that it was not filed in time, [Footnote 4] is not pertinent.
"Upon motion of a party made not later than 10 days after entry of judgment, the court may amend its findings or make additional findings and may amend the judgment accordingly."
This is the proper method of taking an appeal.Rule 73(a).
Morse v. United States, 270 U. S. 151, 270 U. S. 153-154, and cases cited. Compare Joplin Ice Co. v. United States, 87 F.2d 174; Suggs v. Mutual Ben. Health & Accident Assn., 115 F.2d 80; Neely v. Merchants Trust Co., 110 F.2d 525; United States v. Steinberg, 100 F.2d 124. See also Citizens' Bank v. Opperman, 249 U. S. 448; Gypsy Oil Co. v. Escoe, 275 U. S. 498; Pfister v. Northern Illinois Finance Corp., 317 U. S. 144.
The 10-day limit for filing fixed in Rule 59 cannot be enlarged under Rule 6(b) except as provided in subsection (c) of Rule 59.

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