Opinion ID: 2590735
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Reply Brief

Text: [¶ 14] We begin our discussion with an issue not raised by either party. Wyo. R.App. P. 7.03 governs reply briefs and provides in pertinent part as follows: ... the reply brief shall precisely and concisely set forth on the first page those new issues and arguments raised by the brief of the appellee which are addressed in the reply brief. A reply brief is limited to such new issues and arguments, and a failure to comply with these requirements may subject the party to sanctions under these rules. [¶ 15] This rule very clearly limits reply briefs to new issues and arguments raised in the appellee's brief. Rocky Mountain raised only one new issue in its brief, that is, whether it was entitled to an award of attorney's fees and costs for defending a frivolous appeal. Yet, Budd-Falen filed a lengthy reply brief in which it devoted nearly twenty-three pages to arguing, really for the first time, issues that it failed to adequately address either earlier in this appeal or in the district court. Only three pages of the reply brief are responsive to the new issue raised by Rocky Mountain. [¶ 16] In Furman v. Rural Electric Co., 869 P.2d 136, 139 (Wyo.1994), this Court disregarded a reply brief that did nothing more than re-emphasize and re-examine the arguments contained in the opening brief. We concluded the brief violated the clear directive of Rule 7.03 that reply briefs be limited to new issues and arguments. See also Slagle v. Wyoming State Board of Nursing, 954 P.2d 979, 980 (Wyo.1998). More recently, we said, a reply brief is not a second chance to raise an issue or present argument that the appellant had the responsibility, but failed, to address in its opening brief. Ultra Resources, Inc. v. McMurry Energy Co., 2004 WY 121, ¶ 11, 99 P.3d 959, ¶ 11 (Wyo.2004). [¶ 17] To the extent Budd-Falen's reply brief addresses the new issue of attorney's fees and costs for a frivolous appeal, we will consider it. We disregard the remainder of the reply brief because it presents argument that Budd-Falen had the opportunity and responsibility to address in its opening brief. Rule 7.03 does not allow a party who fails to cite authority or adequately present argument in its opening brief to cure these deficiencies by filing a reply brief.