Task: songer_timely

What follows is an opinion from a United States Court of Appeals. You will be asked a question pertaining to some threshold issue at the trial court level. These issues are only considered to be present if the court of appeals is reviewing whether or not the litigants should properly have been allowed to get a trial court decision on the merits. That is, the issue is whether or not the issue crossed properly the threshhold to get on the district court agenda. The issue is: "Did the court conclude that it could not reach the merits of the case because the litigants had not complied with some rule relating to timeliness, a filing fee, or because a statute of limitations had expired?" Answer the question based on the directionality of the appeals court decision. If the court discussed the issue in its opinion and answered the related question in the affirmative, answer "Yes". If the issue was discussed and the opinion answered the question negatively, answer "No". If the opinion considered the question but gave a mixed answer, supporting the respondent in part and supporting the appellant in part, answer "Mixed answer". If the opinion does not discuss the issue, or notes that a particular issue was raised by one of the litigants but the court dismissed the issue as frivolous or trivial or not worthy of discussion for some other reason, answer "Issue not discussed". If the opinion considered the question but gave a "mixed" answer, supporting the respondent in part and supporting the appellant in part (or if two issues treated separately by the court both fell within the area covered by one question and the court answered one question affirmatively and one negatively), answer "Mixed answer". If the opinion either did not consider or discuss the issue at all or if the opinion indicates that this issue was not worthy of consideration by the court of appeals even though it was discussed by the lower court or was raised in one of the briefs, answer "Issue not discussed".

PER CURIAM:
In an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding, wherein Buckingham Super Markets, Inc. was adjudged a bankrupt. Appellants, landlords, filed a preferred claim and an unsecured claim. Both were disallowed by the Bankruptcy Judge. On March 18,1975, the District Judge entered an order denying the appeal from the Bankruptcy Judge’s decision. In May, 1975, appellants retained new counsel, to handle an appeal from the order of the District Judge, and on May 14, new counsel filed a motion for extension of time to file this appeal. That motion was granted, by endorsement on the motion, on May 21. On July 9,1975, after reconsideration and argument, the District Judge vacated the order of May 21. An appeal was noted from that order.
The District Judge did not identify his reason for denying extension of time to appeal. Appellee argued that he was without jurisdiction to grant extension by an order entered after the 60-day time to appeal had expired, even though application for extension was made within the 60-day period. If that was the basis of the July 9 order, we cannot agree.
We agree with the various decisions holding that if a motion is made within the 60-day period for the appeal, an order can be entered after the expiration of that period which is effective to extend the time of appeal. Our own opinion in Conway v. Pennsylvania Greyhound Lines, 100 U.S. App.D.C. 95, 243 F.2d 39 (1957), though not precisely on point, identifies the salient considerations. While there is some authority to the contrary, we do not think it is sound.
Appellee argues that the order appealed from is also sustainable on the ground that appellant did not make an adequate showing of excusable neglect. If that ground was or will be relied on by the District Judge, we would not reverse his exercise of discretion. But the issue is in doubt as to whether that was how he intended to exercise his discretion, or would be the way he would exercise his discretion if he appreciated there was no jurisdictional constraint. Accordingly, if the District Judge reaffirms his order of July 9 on the ground that there was no adequate showing of his excusable neglect, that should end the matter for we think that lies within his discretion. If he reverses the order of July 9, an appeal will ensue in due course.
Remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.
So ordered.
. 9 Moore’s Federal Practice fl 204.13[2], at 974-75 (2d ed. 1975).
. Pasquale v. Finch, 418 F.2d 627 (1st Cir. 1969); C-Thru Products, Inc. v. Uniflex, Inc., 397 F.2d 952 (2d Cir. 1968); Reed v. Michigan, 398 F.2d 800 (6th Cir. 1968), Evans v. Jones, 366 F.2d 772 (4th Cir. 1966); cf. Torockio v. Chamberlain Mfg. Co., 456 F.2d 1084 (3d Cir. 1972).

Question: Did the court conclude that it could not reach the merits of the case because the litigants had not complied with some rule relating to timeliness, a filing fee, or because a statute of limitations had expired?
A. No
B. Yes
C. Mixed answer
D. Issue not discussed
Answer:

Answer: A