Opinion ID: 398053
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: 3 Before we reach the substantive issues in this case, we must dispose of a jurisdictional problem presented only by Clifford Miller's appeal. His notice of appeal was stamped February 17, 1981, a date past the Rule 4(b) deadline mandated by the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. Normally, this would preclude our jurisdiction, but appellant claims that he filed his notice on February 12, which was timely under the rule. 4 The mistake occurred, according to appellant's affidavit from the Clerk of the District Court, El Paso Division, because the clerk failed to stamp the notice before she forwarded it to the Pecos Division. February 17 apparently is the date upon which Pecos officials received the notice. The government does not deny appellant's explanation for the untimely stamp. 5 The Supreme Court has held that the Clerk's receipt of the notice of appeal within the 30-day period satisfies the filing requirements, for civil appeals, even if the notice is not actually stamped or filed until after the deadline. J. Parissi v. Telechron, Inc., 349 U.S. 46, 75 S.Ct. 577, 99 L.Ed. 867 (1955). We find this reasoning equally applicable to appeals under Rule 4(b). When appellant offers the district clerk's uncontroverted affidavit that she received the notice before the deadline expired, and the government has not demonstrated that notice was not received on that day, this court should not find that appellant's notice of appeal is untimely. Da'Ville v. Wise, 470 F.2d 1364, 1365 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 414 U.S. 818, 94 S.Ct. 40, 38 L.Ed.2d 50 (1973); Ward v. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, 265 F.2d 75, 79-80 (5th Cir. 1959), rev'd on other grounds, 362 U.S. 396, 80 S.Ct. 789, 4 L.Ed.2d 820 (1960). We, therefore, conclude that this court may properly exercise jurisdiction. 1