Opinion ID: 2829592
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Order Dismissing Lincoln County

Text: [¶32] Plaintiff next contends the district court erred in dismissing its action against Lincoln County based on Lincoln County’s affidavit of noninvolvement. Because we find that the order dismissing Lincoln County without prejudice is not a final appealable order, we dismiss this portion of Plaintiff’s appeal. [¶33] In addressing the finality of an order under Rule 1.05 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure, this Court has said: A judgment or final order must determine all liabilities of all parties, Rule 54(a), W.R.C.P.; Hoback Ranches, Inc. v. Urroz, 622 P.2d 948 (Wyo.1981), and should leave nothing for future consideration. Public Service Commission v. Lower Valley Power and Light, Inc., 608 P.2d 660 (Wyo.1980). See Rule 1.05, W.R.A.P. Stone v. Stone, 842 P.2d 545, 548 (Wyo. 1992) (quoting In re Big Horn River System, 803 P.2d 61, 66 (Wyo. 1990)). [¶34] Rule 54(b) of the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure provides as follows concerning the finality of an order: When more than one claim for relief is presented in an action, whether as a claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim, or when multiple parties are involved, the court may direct the entry of a final judgment as to one or more but fewer than all of the claims or parties only upon an express determination that there is no just reason for delay and upon an express direction for the entry of judgment. In the absence of such determination and direction, any order or other form of decision, however designated, which adjudicates fewer than all the claims or the rights and liabilities of fewer than all the parties shall not terminate the action as to any of the claims or parties, and the order or other form of decision is subject to revision at any time before the entry of judgment adjudicating all the claims and the rights and liabilities of all the parties. 14 W.R.C.P. 54(b) (LexisNexis 2015). [¶35] The district court’s order granting the School District summary judgment included a Rule 54(b) certification, but expressly limited the certification to the judgment entered in favor of the School District: In accordance with W.R.C.P. 54(b), the Court determines that there is no just reason for delay and thus directs entry of a final judgment as to the granting of summary judgment for Lincoln County School District No. 2 only. [¶36] The action below is not concluded and will continue against the Town of Thayne and, now, against the School District. In the absence of a Rule 54(b) certification, the order dismissing Plaintiff’s complaint against Lincoln County without prejudice is not a final appealable order. See W.R.A.P. 1.05; see also Mobley v. McCormick, 40 F.3d 337, 339 (10th Cir. 1994) (“dismissal of the complaint is ordinarily a non-final, nonappealable order (since amendment would generally be available)”).