Opinion ID: 706993
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: equitable relief and fallen v. united states

Text: 28 We also reject the notion that general equitable considerations such as the policy arguments of Houston can allow a tolling of the time limit for appeal under some rationale separate from the interpretation of the words of the relevant rule and statutory provision. 29 As important as the policies of Houston may be, as we mentioned in the previous section, Houston is a case of interpretation of the language of the rules. It provides no authority for equitable tolling. Although several justices have characterized the Court's decision in Fallen v. United States, 378 U.S. 139, 84 S.Ct. 1689, 12 L.Ed.2d 760 (1964) as a case of equitable tolling 5 they also said that it had no applicability to a civil context governed by the jurisdictional limit of 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2107. 6 30 In deciding the case before us it is enough to note that Fallen was a narrow decision providing relief where a prisoner had done all he reasonably could have done to comply with the rules. It did not expressly or effectively provide additional time for appeal to all prisoners regardless of their ability to comply with the rules as written. 31 In our case, the prisoner, by his own admission, mailed the notice of appeal the same day he received notice of entry of the judgment in the court below. He had seven days under FED.R.APP.P. 4(a)(6) to file a motion for extension of time and clearly could have done so about as easily as he filed the notice of appeal. Under these circumstances we note that there was an adequate remedy at law and that the prisoner's failure to qualify for relief was due to his own default, not matters outside of his control. In short, Fallen would not save this appeal regardless of whether or not the relief it provided is properly characterized as equitable in nature and regardless of whether the rationale of that case or some similar rationale could conceivably save this appeal under more compelling facts. The time limit has run and we are without jurisdiction under the facts of this case in any event. 7