Task: songer_typeiss

What follows is an opinion from a United States Court of Appeals.
Your task is to determine the general category of issues discussed in the opinion of the court. Choose among the following categories. Criminal and prisioner petitions- includes appeals of conviction, petitions for post conviction relief, habeas corpus petitions, and other prisoner petitions which challenge the validity of the conviction or the sentence or the validity of continued confinement. Civil - Government - these will include appeals from administrative agencies (e.g., OSHA,FDA), the decisions of administrative law judges, or the decisions of independent regulatory agencies (e.g., NLRB, FCC,SEC). The focus in administrative law is usually on procedural principles that apply to administrative agencies as they affect private interests, primarily through rulemaking and adjudication. Tort actions against the government, including petitions by prisoners which challenge the conditions of their confinement or which seek damages for torts committed by prion officials or by police fit in this category. In addition, this category will include suits over taxes and claims for benefits from government. Diversity of Citizenship - civil cases involving disputes between citizens of different states (remember that businesses have state citizenship). These cases will always involve the application of state or local law. If the case is centrally concerned with the application or interpretation of federal law then it is not a diversity case. Civil Disputes - Private - includes all civil cases that do not fit in any of the above categories. The opposing litigants will be individuals, businesses or groups.

VAN GRAAFEILAND, Circuit Judge:
Helen J. Rados appeals from a judgment of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York (Curtin, C.J.), dismissing her wrongful death action pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b) for failure to prosecute. Although the jurisdiction of this Court was not challenged by any of the parties, we raised the question of jurisdiction sua sponte at oral argument. See Matarese v. LeFevre, 801 F.2d 98, 104 (2d Cir.1986). After hearing argument, we dismissed the appeal by summary order, indicating that this opinion would follow.
Following Chief Judge Curtin’s order of dismissal, judgment was entered by the Clerk of the District Court on May 15, 1986. On May 29, 1986, Rados moved for reconsideration pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 60(b). Before Judge Curtin decided that motion, Rados filed a notice of appeal. Since that time, Judge Curtin has requested and obtained additional briefs from the parties on the issue of whether a sanction less severe than dismissal might have been more appropriate. That matter is still under advisement by the district judge.
Excluding weekends and Memorial Day, see Fed.R.Civ.P. 6(a), appellant’s motion for reconsideration was served within the ten-day period allowed for a motion to alter or amend a judgment under Fed.R.Civ.P. 59(e). Since the motion was served within ten days of the judgment and placed the correctness of the judgment in question, it was the functional equivalent of a motion to amend under Fed.R.Civ.P. 59(e), and should be treated as if it were a 59(e) motion for purposes of determining appellate jurisdiction. Lyell Theatre Corp. v. Loews Corp., 682 F.2d 37, 41 (2d Cir.1982); Charles v. Daley, 799 F.2d 343, 347 (7th Cir.1986); Skagerberg v. State of Oklahoma, 797 F.2d 881 (10th Cir.1986) (per curiam); Harcon Barge Co., Inc. v. D & G Boat Rentals, Inc., 784 F.2d 665, 669-70 (5th Cir.) (en banc), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 107 S.Ct. 398, 93 L.Ed.2d 351 (1986); Schaurer v. Coombe, 108 F.R.D. 180, 182 (W.D.N.Y.1985); 9 Moore’s Federal Practice If 204.12[1], at 4-67 (1985). Because Rados’ motion, construed as a Rule 59(e) motion to amend, has not yet been decided by the district court, her notice of appeal filed during the pendency of the motion was a nullity under Fed.R.App.P. 4(a)(4), and did not confer jurisdiction on this Court. Acosta v. Louisiana Dep’t of Health & Human Resources, — U.S. -, 106 S.Ct. 2876, 92 L.Ed.2d 192 (1986) (per curiam); Griggs v. Provident Consumer Discount Co., 459 U.S. 56, 103 S.Ct. 400, 74 L.Ed.2d 225 (1982) (per curiam).
It was for the above reasons that we dismissed this appeal in our summary order of November 21, 1986. If the motion now pending in the district court ultimately is denied, Rados may, of course, file a new notice of appeal.

Question: What is the general category of issues discussed in the opinion of the court?
A. criminal and prisoner petitions
B. civil - government
C. diversity of citizenship
D. civil - private
E. other, not applicable
F. not ascertained
Answer:

Answer: C