Opinion ID: 1934296
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: john's cross-appeal

Text: John did not raise in the trial court the first assignment of error he sets forth in his brief, in which he states that the court erred in applying L.B. 1041 retroactively. In the absence of plain error, when an issue is raised for the first time in an appellate court, it will be disregarded inasmuch as a lower court cannot commit error in resolving an issue never presented and submitted to it for disposition. Lackman v. Rousselle, 257 Neb. 87, 596 N.W.2d 15 (1999); Jirkovsky v. Jirkovsky, 247 Neb. 141, 525 N.W.2d 615 (1995). John also has failed to properly cross-appeal in either case. John's brief is entitled simply Brief of Appellee. John is an appellee, as provided by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-1913 (Reissue 1995), which provides: The cause shall be docketed in the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court under the same title it had in the district court. The party or parties asking for the reversal, vacation, or modification of such judgment, decree, or final order shall be designated as appellant or appellants, and the adverse party or parties shall be designated as appellee or appellees. John is not merely resisting the claims of the appellant, however. He is seeking affirmative relief, but his argument is not designated as a cross-appeal as required by rule 9D(4), which provides: Where the brief of appellee presents a cross-appeal, it shall be noted on the cover of the brief and it shall be set forth in a separate division of the brief. This division shall be headed Brief on Cross-Appeal and shall be prepared in the same manner and under the same rules as the brief of appellant. The appellate courts of this state have repeatedly indicated that a cross-appeal must be properly designated, pursuant to rule 9D(4), if affirmative relief is to be obtained. See, Schindler v. Walker, 256 Neb. 767, 592 N.W.2d 912 (1999); Osborn v. Kellogg, 4 Neb.App. 594, 547 N.W.2d 504 (1996); Ainslie v. Ainslie, 4 Neb.App. 70, 538 N.W.2d 175 (1995), aff'd 249 Neb. 656, 545 N.W.2d 90 (1996). Compare, Knaub v. Knaub, 245 Neb. 172, 512 N.W.2d 124 (1994) (considering assignment of error where appellee mistakenly filed notice of appeal and designated brief as that of appellant); In re Application A-16642, 236 Neb. 671, 463 N.W.2d 591 (1990) (considering assignments of error where cross-appellants mistakenly designated themselves as appellants). In Schindler v. Walker, supra , the appellee did not designate a cross-appeal on the cover of its brief, nor did it set forth a specific assignment of error. This court affirmed the determination of the Court of Appeals that the appellee had defaulted the argument, given its failure to assign an error or comply with the requirements of rule 9D(4). Id. In Osborn v. Kellogg, supra , the appellant landlords appealed from a judgment in favor of the appellee tenant from the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission. In her brief on appeal, the appellee argued that she was entitled to greater compensatory damages than she had been awarded. Id. She did not, however, assign the alleged error, nor did she label her brief as a cross-appeal pursuant to rule 9D(4). Id. The Court of Appeals refused to consider her argument on those bases. Id. In Ainslie v. Ainslie, supra , the husband appealed from a divorce decree which awarded him what he alleged was insufficient alimony. In her appellee's brief, the wife argued that no alimony should have been awarded at all and sought a reversal of that portion of the decree. Id. The Court of Appeals noted that the wife failed to present a cross-appeal pursuant to rule 9D(4) and, accordingly, viewed her position as merely resisting the increase in alimony sought by the husband. Id. In Knaub v. Knaub, supra , the trial court awarded the divorcing wife attorney fees against both the husband and the husband's attorney. The first notice of appeal was filed by the husband's attorney in his individual capacity. Id. Subsequently, the husband filed his own notice of appeal through counsel. Id. The husband and his attorney filed a combined brief, which designated both of them as appellants. Id. Upon further review of the Court of Appeals, this court noted that since the husband's attorney had filed the first notice of appeal, the husband himself was actually an appellee, and had not complied with the rules for presenting a cross-appeal. Id. Since the combined appellants' brief comported with the rules for an appellants' brief, however, this court considered the husband's assignments of error. Id. In re Application A-16642, supra, presented an instance in which a number of parties challenged an order of the Director of Water Resources granting a permit sought by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. One of the objectors filed a notice of appeal, thereby relegating the other objectors to the status of appellees and cross-appellants. Id. Two of the objectors mistakenly designated themselves as appellants. Id. This court noted the error, but nonetheless considered their assignments of error. Id. The present case is governed by the rule set forth in Schindler v. Walker, 256 Neb. 767, 592 N.W.2d 912 (1999); Osborn v. Kellogg, 4 Neb.App. 594, 547 N.W.2d 504 (1996); and Ainslie v. Ainslie, 4 Neb.App. 70, 538 N.W.2d 175 (1995), aff'd 245 Neb. 172, 512 N.W.2d 124 (1994). The distinguishing factor is that in Knaub v. Knaub, 245 Neb. 172, 512 N.W.2d 124 (1994), and In re Application A-16642, supra, a party who was an appellee and should have cross-appealed mistakenly designated itself as an appellant, rather than as a cross-appellant. In this case, as in Schindler v. Walker, supra ; Osborn v. Kellogg, supra ; and Ainslie v. Ainslie, supra , the party that should have cross-appealed designated itself as an appellee, yet still sought affirmative relief. In short, the appellate courts of this state have always refused to consider a prayer for affirmative relief where such a claim is raised in a brief designated as that of an appellee. We have, in the past, decided to entertain a procedurally defective cross-appeal only where such cross-appeal has been mistakenly asserted as an appellant's brief. Even this is a matter left solely to the discretion of the courts and does not imply a willingness to consider such defective appeals in the future. Parties wishing to secure appellate review of their claims for relief must be aware of, and abide by, the rules of this court and the Court of Appeals in presenting such claims. Any party who fails to properly identify and present its claim does so at its peril. See State v. Woods, 255 Neb. 755, 587 N.W.2d 122 (1998). John has not complied with the rules of this court in the instant case, and we decline to waive those rules on his behalf.