Opinion ID: 2307424
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Order on Appeal

Text: At the outset, we address the question of which order is on appeal. On December 12, 1997, Richardson filed a motion to reconsider the November 24, 1997 order dismissing his complaint. As this motion was filed within 10 days of the court's order, [6] we consider it a Rule 59(e) motion which tolled the time for filing an appeal. See Coleman v. Lee Washington Hauling Co., 388 A.2d 44, 47 (D.C.1978), superseded on other grounds by statute as stated in Perry v. Sera, 623 A.2d 1210 (D.C.1993). Therefore, Richardson's February 19, 1998 notice of appeal, which was filed within 30 days of the probate court's order denying the Rule 59(e) motion to reconsider, effected a timely appeal from the original order of dismissal. See D.C.App. R. 4(a)(1) (party has 30 days after entry of a judgment or order to file notice of appeal). Because Richardson initiated this matter by complaint, his motion to reconsider is termed a Super. Ct. Civ. R. 59(e) motion rather than a Super. Ct. Prob. R. 130 motion. See Super. Ct. Prob. R. 130 (Any person who is aggrieved and participated in the determination of a trial court . . . order . . . in any matter not initiated by complaint ... in a decedent's estate proceeding, may seek reconsideration thereof ....) (emphasis added); see also Super. Ct. Prob. R. 1(f) (Except where inconsistent with the provisions of the Probate Division Rules... the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure are applicable to proceedings in the Probate Division.). Thus, we review the probate court's original order dismissing Richardson's complaint for failure to state a claim. In the subsequent order denying Richardson's motion to reconsider the dismissal of his complaint, the probate court also addressed appellees' motion for Rule 11 sanctions, requiring additional briefing from Richardson before determining if an evidentiary hearing was necessary. In his brief on appeal, Richardson represents that no further proceedings on the Rule 11 motion had been conducted as of the time the brief was filed. The pendency of the Rule 11 matter does not, however, preclude us from considering Richardson's claims on appeal. See Weaver v. Grafio, 595 A.2d 983, 986 (D.C.1991) (because Rule 11 motion is collateral to and separate from a decision on the merits, an order disposing of all issues except Rule 11 sanctions is immediately appealable) (citation omitted). We therefore turn to the trial court's dismissal of Richardson's complaint for failure to state a claim.