Case Name: Harold R. STANLEY, Appellant, v. Honorable Jack GRATE; Lester Wight; Marcia E. Stanley, Appellees
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2009-03-17
Citations: 314 F. App'x 910
Docket Number: No. 07-3728
Parties: Harold R. STANLEY, Appellant, v. Honorable Jack GRATE; Lester Wight; Marcia E. Stanley, Appellees.
Judges: Before BYE, COLLOTON, and GRUENDER, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 314
Pages: 910–910

Head Matter:
Harold R. STANLEY, Appellant, v. Honorable Jack GRATE; Lester Wight; Marcia E. Stanley, Appellees.
No. 07-3728.
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
Submitted: March 9, 2009.
Filed: March 17, 2009.
Before BYE, COLLOTON, and GRUENDER, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Harold Stanley appeals the district court's dismissal of his civil rights complaint. After careful review, we conclude that the court's judgment was not a final, appealable order because it did not dispose of the counterclaim raised by Marcia Stanley in her answer. See 28 U.S.C. § 1291 (courts of appeals shall have jurisdiction of appeals from all final decisions of district courts); Fed.R.Civ.P. 54(b) (any order that adjudicates fewer than all claims does not end action as to any claims or parties); Miller v. Special Weapons, L.L.C., 369 F.3d 1033, 1034-35 (8th Cir.2004) (noting problems with allowing counterclaims that are "dead but undismissed" or are substantively resolved by non-final orders, to proceed; dismissing appeal for lack of jurisdiction where district court failed to rule on counterclaim even though it was necessarily disposed of by summary judgment order); Thomas v. Basham, 931 F.2d 521, 522-23 (8th Cir.1991) (jurisdictional issues will be raised sua sponte when there is indication that jurisdiction is lacking; court lacked jurisdiction over appeal from summary judgment order because defendant's counterclaims were outstanding at time of order).
Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction.
. The Honorable Gary A. Fenner, United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri.