Opinion ID: 1673978
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: GMAC's Issue # 5: Whether Ivy Properly Perfected His Appeal?

Text: Through this issue, GMAC contends that Ivy failed to properly perfect his appeal. GMAC explains that Ivy failed to file his notice of appeal until after the time for filing a notice expired. More specifically, the undisputed date of judgment is November 27, 1989. The 30-day time limit expired on December 27, 1989. Ivy filed on December 20, 1989, a letter which he wrote to both the circuit clerk and the court reporter  informing them that he desire[d] to appeal [this] cause. Ivy filed his Notice of Appeal on December 28, 1989.
Pursuant to Mississippi Supreme Court Rule 4(a), a notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days after the date of entry of the judgment or order appealed from. This is a hard-edged, mandatory rule which this Court strictly enforces. Tandy Electronics, Inc. v. Fletcher, 554 So.2d 308, 309-12 (Miss. 1989). Notwithstanding the fact that the 30-day rule is hard-edged, this Court will not dismiss an appeal for informality of form or title of the notice of appeal. See Miss. Sup.Ct.R. 3(c). Because formality of form or title is not required under Rule 3(c), this Court concludes that the letter which Ivy wrote to the circuit clerk and the court reporter sufficed as a notice of appeal  albeit Ivy's counsel should have been more conscientious in constructing a less ambiguous notice. This Court affirms on this issue and reaffirms the hard-edged, mandatory 30-day Rule 4(a).