Opinion ID: 4541003
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: analysis

Text: The sole issue in this case is whether the Court of Appeals had jurisdiction when the notice of appeal was filed on September 19, 2019. We find that the Court of Appeals did have jurisdiction when the notice of appeal was filed because the amended version of § 25-1902 had taken effect. In order to vest the court with appellate jurisdiction, the party seeking the appeal must comply with several statutory requirements. Section 25-1902 provides the definition of what is a final order, and Neb. Rev. Stat § 25-1912 (Cum. Supp. 2018) provides the methodology for how an appeal is perfected. In interpreting the requirements of § 25-1912, we have said that “[s]ection 25-1912 sets forth the only method by which a party may invoke the jurisdiction of an appellate court . . . .” 6 There are three steps required to invest the court with jurisdiction: (1) there must be a judgment or final order entered by the court from which the appeal is taken, 7 (2) a party must timely file a notice of appeal, 8 and (3) the appealing 5 Green v. Seiffert, 304 Neb. 212, 933 N.W.2d 590 (2019). 6 State v. Schmailzl, 248 Neb. 314, 316, 534 N.W.2d 743, 745 (1995). 7 See, § 25-1902 (Supp. 2019); Fritsch v. Hilton Land & Cattle Co., 245 Neb. 469, 513 N.W.2d 534 (1994). 8 See, § 25-1912; Green v. Seiffert, supra note 5. - 613 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 305 Nebraska Reports GREAT NORTHERN INS. CO. v. TRANSIT AUTH. OF OMAHA Cite as 305 Neb. 609 party must pay the docket fee to the clerk of the court or file in forma pauperis. 9 [2,3] The order entered on August 23, 2019, did not meet the definition of a final order when entered. However, the amendment to § 25-1902 took effect before Metro’s 30-day window to appeal had expired. It is a well-established principle that statutes covering substantive matters in effect at the time of the transaction or event govern, not later enacted statutes. 10 But where there has been an amendment to a statute which was a procedural change and not a substantive change, upon the effective date of the amendment, it is binding upon a tribunal. 11 Thus, procedural amendments to statutes are ordinarily applicable to pending cases, while substantive amendments are not. 12 [4] We have explained that a substantive amendment is one that creates a right or remedy that did not previously exist and which, but for the creation of the substantive right, would not entitle one to recover. 13 A procedural amendment, on the other hand, simply changes the method by which an already existing right is exercised. 14 At issue in the larger case is the substantive question of whether Metro waived sovereign immunity under the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act. The change to § 25-1902 does not affect the substance of that claim. Rather, it changes the procedure governing when Metro can request review. By making the denial of a claim of sovereign immunity a final order, the amendment allows a sovereign to file an interlocutory appeal within 30 days of the order instead of waiting until the 9 See § 25-1912. 10 Dragon v. Cheesecake Factory, 300 Neb. 548, 915 N.W.2d 418 (2018). 11 Id. 12 Id. 13 Id. 14 Id. - 614 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 305 Nebraska Reports GREAT NORTHERN INS. CO. v. TRANSIT AUTH. OF OMAHA Cite as 305 Neb. 609 final judgment to seek review of the lower court’s decision on sovereign immunity. We hold that the amendment to § 25-1902 which took effect September 1, 2019, was a procedural change that was binding upon its effective date. Because Metro filed its notice of appeal after the effective date of the amendment to § 25-1902, the amendment governed whether that notice of appeal succeeded in divesting the lower court of jurisdiction and in bringing the matter of the lower court’s ruling on sovereign immunity to the Court of Appeals. Subsection (2) of the amended version of § 25-1902 provides that any order that meets the definition under subsection (1) (d) may be appealed pursuant to § 25-1912. The order subject to Metro’s notice of appeal meets that definition. Thus, the amended language of § 25-1902 allowed for Metro to file a notice of appeal based on the August 23, 2019, order. 15 The amended change to § 25-1902 allows for the appeal from an order denying summary judgment based on a claim of sovereign immunity as long as the appealing party complied with the requirements of § 25-1912. Metro has otherwise complied with the requirements for perfecting an appeal under § 25-1912. As such, the Court of Appeals erred in denying the appeal for a lack of jurisdiction.