Opinion ID: 1595696
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: general motors' second cross-appeal

Text: Before addressing the merits of this appeal, we first address which assignments of error are properly before us. Caterpillar filed an appeal of the district court's order, and the Genettis and General Motors filed cross-appeals. On January 25, 2000, General Motors filed a brief of the appellee and brief on cross-appeal containing five assignments of error. On April 21, General Motors filed an answer brief on Genettis' cross-appeal and a brief on cross-appeal containing three new assignments of error. The Genettis filed an answer brief contending in part that the second brief on cross-appeal filed by General Motors was out of time and that Neb. Ct. R. of Prac. 9 (rev.2000) does not authorize the filing of two cross-appeals in the same proceeding. We agree. We have said that the purpose of an appellant's reply brief is to respond to the arguments the appellee has advanced against the errors assigned in the appellant's initial brief. Keithley v. Black, 239 Neb. 685, 477 N.W.2d 806 (1991). Thus, errors not assigned in an appellant's initial brief are waived and may not be asserted for the first time in a reply brief. Id. The rules regarding the manner of presenting a cross-appeal are the same as the rules applicable to an appellant's brief. Knaub v. Knaub, 245 Neb. 172, 512 N.W.2d 124 (1994). Thus, we conclude that errors not assigned in the initial brief on cross-appeal are waived and may not be asserted for the first time in an answer brief. Accordingly, we will not address the assignments of error raised in General Motors' second brief on cross-appeal.