Opinion ID: 164589
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The FOP's Belated Claim

Text: 92 The FOP claims the district court abused its discretion when it refused to award attorneys' fees as a sanction against Mr. Montgomery for filing unnecessary litigation. The FOP makes this argument under Fed. R.App. P. 4(a)(3), and acknowledges that it has not filed a cross-appeal in this case. Fed. R.App. P. 4(a)(3) provides: Rule 4. Appeal as of Right — When Taken 93 (3) Multiple Appeals. If one party timely files a notice of appeal, any other party may file a notice of appeal within 14 days after the date when the first notice was filed, or within the time otherwise prescribed by this Rule 4(a), whichever period ends later. 94 Because the FOP alleges it was not notified it would have to file an answer in this case until September 30, 2003, it somehow claims that Fed. R.App. P. 4 did not affect its status until then. See FOP's Br. at 15 n. 1. 95 We have noted above that the certificate of service attached to the Notice of Appeal included all of the defendants. In addition, on March 22, 2002, the FOP filed a response to Mr. Montgomery's motion to add parties on appeal. We declared the motion to add parties moot and ordered the parties to file response briefs on September 30, 2003. The FOP was clearly on notice of the appeal. 96 Because the FOP failed to file a cross-appeal, we do not consider its request for this Court to decide whether Mr. Montgomery should have been awarded attorneys' fees. It is well-recognized that an appellee who has failed to file a cross-appeal cannot attack the decree with a view either to enlarging his own rights thereunder or of lessening the rights of his adversary. Burgo v. Gen. Dynamics Corp., 122 F.3d 140, 145 (2d Cir.1997) (quoting Morley Constr. Co. v. Maryland Cas. Co., 300 U.S. 185, 191, 57 S.Ct. 325, 81 L.Ed. 593 (1937) (Cardozo, J.)); see Int'l Ore & Fertilizer Corp. v. SGS Control Servs., Inc., 38 F.3d 1279, 1286 (2d Cir.1994) (Although an appellee who has not cross-appealed may urge alternative grounds for affirmance [of the judgment], it may not seek to enlarge its rights under the judgment by enlarging the amount of damages or scope of equitable relief.).