Case Name: Andrew G. POTTS, Plaintiff/Appellant, v. ST. JOHNS LUTHERAN CHURCH, Defendant/Respondent
Court: Missouri Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Decision Date: 1998-03-31
Citations: 964 S.W.2d 244
Docket Number: No. 72393
Parties: Andrew G. POTTS, Plaintiff/Appellant, v. ST. JOHNS LUTHERAN CHURCH, Defendant/Respondent.
Judges: Before GRIMM, P.J., and PUDLOWSKI and GARY M. GAERTNER, JJ.
Reporter: South Western Reporter Second Series
Volume: 964
Pages: 244–245

Head Matter:
Andrew G. POTTS, Plaintiff/Appellant, v. ST. JOHNS LUTHERAN CHURCH, Defendant/Respondent.
No. 72393.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, Division One.
March 31, 1998.
Daniel L. Mohs, St. Louis, for appellant.
Kortenhof & Ely, P.C., Cheryl Callis, Mary D. Rychnovsky, St. Louis, for respondent.
Before GRIMM, P.J., and PUDLOWSKI and GARY M. GAERTNER, JJ.

Opinion:
ORDER
PER CURIAM.
Andrew G. Potts appeals the trial court's "Court Memorandum" granting summary judgment in favor of St. John's Lutheran Church in his personal injury action. We must dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction since the "Court Memorandum" does not meet the requirements of Rule 74.01(a) and the dictates of Linzenni v. Hoffman, 937 S.W.2d 723, 726 (Mo. banc 1997).
The rules of our court mandate that a judgment must be: (1) in writing, (2) signed by the judge, (3) denominated "judgment," and (4) filed. Rule 74.01(a). In the present case, the "Court Memorandum" is not denominated as a judgment. The requirements of Rule 74.01(a) are not formalities, but establish a "bright line" test as to when a writing establishes an appealable judgment. Chambers v. Easter Fence Co., Inc., 943 S.W.2d 863, 865 (Mo.App. E.D.1997). A prerequisite toappellate review is a final judgment. Committee for Educ. Equality v. State, 878 S.W.2d 446, 450 (Mo. banc 1994). Since a final judgment has not been entered in this case, the appeal is dismissed as premature for lack of a final judgment.