Opinion ID: 200913
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Whether the district court correctly denied Crowley's untimely submission

Text: 22 Crowley contends that even if her fee petition was untimely, the district court should have excused her tardiness and accepted the petition. In the district court, she argued that her interpretation of the local rule, even if incorrect, was permissible: To the extent that this Court disagrees [with Crowley's interpretation of Rule 54.2], plaintiff asks that her petition for fees nonetheless be considered, her interpretation of the applicable rule being excusable and the result being just. Crowley advanced no other explanation for her tardiness. Nor did she submit an affidavit in support of her excuse. 23 We see no excusable neglect in this situation. Misinterpretation or misunderstanding of the law does not excuse a late filing in the absence of extraordinary circumstances. See Graphic Communications Int'l Union, Local 12-N v. Quebecor Printing Providence, Inc., 270 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir.2001) (failure to file a timely notice of appeal was not excused). No extraordinary circumstances were asserted here. 24 On appeal, Crowley references the purported ambiguity of Local Rule 54.2 as an explanation for her tardiness. It appears, however, that she was on notice that the rule was susceptible to the interpretation she now disputes. Her Request for Clarification on Filing of Attorneys' Fee Application stated: 25 Historically, the clerk's office has interpreted Local Rule 54.2 to require that attorneys' fees applications to [sic] be made only after disposition of any appeal.... plaintiff requests that the Court's historical practice of requiring that fee petitions not be filed until after the disposition of all appeals be set forth in an order in this case ... In the alternative, plaintiff requests an extension of time to file a fee petition until the disposition of all appeals in this case. 26 (emphasis added). The district court responded: It is hereby ordered the attorneys' fees application be filed with this Court within 30 days of the disposition of any appeal. Crowley did not file a motion for enlargement of time, nor did she seek additional clarification of the rule. 27 Crowley's filing evidenced an awareness that the local rule might be applied so as to require the application to be filed within thirty days of the disposition of this court's appeal. Although the district court's response was perhaps not as illuminating as it could have been, it provided additional notice to Crowley that she would be wise to file her application within thirty days of this court's mandate. Accordingly, Crowley may not rely on her ignorance or misunderstanding of the rule as an excuse for her late filing. 28 As did the district court, we recognize the harshness of the result in this case. Forfeiting as much as $180,000 in fees is a steep price to pay for missing a filing deadline. There is no evidence of prejudice to L.L. Bean as a result of the delay. It certainly would have been permissible, and perhaps indeed appropriate, for the district court to have considered the fee application notwithstanding its tardiness. 29 That decision was committed to the district court's discretion, however. Citing the essential nature of uniform enforcement of the rules, the district court permissibly (if somewhat rigidly) exercised its case management duties. See Top Entertainment Inc. v. Ortega, 285 F.3d 115, 117 (1st Cir.2002), and cases cited. Rules of procedure are vitally important in judges' efforts to manage burgeoning caseloads with some semblance of efficiency. Within wide limits, it is for courts, not litigants, to decide what rules are desirable and how rigorously to enforce them. Air Line Pilots Ass'n, 26 F.3d at 224. In light of Crowley's apparent awareness of the strong possibility that the court would interpret the local rule as it did, the court did not abuse its discretion to enforce the deadline and impose consequences for her tardiness. 7 Under the specific facts of this case, therefore, we will not disturb the court's decision to deny consideration of the fee application. 30 For the reasons set forth supra, we AFFIRM the district court's denial of attorneys' fees.