Opinion ID: 884240
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Does this Court have jurisdiction to hear the appeal?

Text: The Reeds contend that this Court lacks jurisdiction to hear this appeal because the Lynches filed their notice of appeal while their motion for new trial was still pending in the District Court. According to Rule 5(a)(4), M.R.App.P., a notice of appeal filed before disposition of a Rule 59 motion for new trial has no effect. On July 31, 1996, the District Court ruled that it did not have jurisdiction to hear the Lynches' motion because of the subsequent filing of the notice of appeal. The Reeds argue that because the District Court ruled that it did not have jurisdiction to rule on the motion, the Lynches' motion for a new trial was deemed denied on August 11, 1996, and, pursuant to Rule 5(a)(4), M.R.App.P., the Lynches were required to re-file a notice of appeal no later than thirty days after their motion for a new trial was deemed denied. The Reeds contend that because the Lynches did not re-file a notice of appeal, this Court does not have jurisdiction to hear their appeal. In its order ruling that it did not have jurisdiction to hear the motion for new trial, the District Court stated: Plaintiffs filed a Brief in Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for a New Trial; however, Plaintiffs never filed a Motion for a New Trial. The Lynches argue that this order led them to believe that the clerical error in failing to file the motion for a new trial with the District Court was fatal to that motion and that, therefore, their notice of appeal was timely filed. We agree. Because the motion for new trial was never filed it was a nullity and the. Lynches' subsequent notice of appeal was timely filed. This Court has jurisdiction to hear the appeal.