Opinion ID: 2382833
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Procedure for seeking a remand to district court

Text: This court has repeatedly held that the timely filing of a notice of appeal `divests the district court of jurisdiction to act and vests jurisdiction in this court.' Mack-Manley v. Manley, 122 Nev. 849, 855, 138 P.3d 525, 529 (2006) (quoting Rust v. Clark Cty. School District, 103 Nev. 686, 688, 747 P.2d 1380, 1382 (1987)). We have further held that when an appeal is perfected, the district court is divested of jurisdiction to revisit issues that are pending before this court, [but] the district court retains jurisdiction to enter orders on matters that are collateral to and independent from the appealed order, i.e., matters that in no way affect the appeal's merits. Mack-Manley, 122 Nev. at 855, 138 P.3d at 529-30. In Huneycutt, however, this court adopted a procedure whereby, if a party to an appeal believes a basis exists to alter, vacate, or otherwise modify or change an order or judgment challenged on appeal after an appeal from that order or judgment has been perfected in this court, the party can seek to have the district court certify its intent to grant the requested relief, and thereafter he party may move this court to remand the matter to the district court for the entry of an order granting the requested relief. 94 Nev. at 79-81, 575 P.2d at 585-86. As outlined in Huneycutt, prior to filing a motion for remand in this court, a party seeking to alter, vacate, or otherwise change or modify an order or judgment challenged on appeal should file a motion for relief from the order or judgment in the district court. [1] As demonstrated by our Huneycutt decision, despite our general rule that the perfection of an appeal divests the district court of jurisdiction to act except with regard to matters collateral to or independent from the appealed order, the district court nevertheless retains a limited jurisdiction to review motions made in accordance with this procedure. See Mack-Manley, 122 Nev. at 855-56, 138 P.3d at 529-30; Huneycutt, 94 Nev. at 80-81, 575 P.2d at 585-86. In considering such motions, the district court has jurisdiction to direct briefing on the motion, hold a hearing regarding the motion, and enter an order denying the motion, but lacks jurisdiction to enter an order granting such a motion. [2] See Huneycutt, 94 Nev. 79, 575 P.2d 585; King v. First American Investigations, Inc., 287 F.3d 91, 94 (2d Cir.2002) (explaining that federal district courts have jurisdiction to entertain and deny Rule 60(b) motions while an appeal is pending, but cannot grant such motions without permission from the circuit court); Federal Land Bank of St. Louis v. Cupples Bros., 889 F.2d 764, 766-67 (8th Cir.1989) (same). Some of our caselaw implies, however, that the district court lacks the authority to deny requests for relief regarding matters that are not collateral to or independent from the appealed order while the appeal remains pending. See Mack-Manley, 122 Nev. at 855, 138 P.3d at 529-30; Kantor v. Kantor, 116 Nev. 886, 894-95, 8 P.3d 825, 830 (2000); Rust, 103 Nev. at 688, 747 P.2d at 1382. We take this opportunity to clarify that the district court does have jurisdiction to deny such requests. King, 287 F.3d at 94; Federal Land Bank, 889 F.2d at 766. As for the remand procedure, if the district court is inclined to grant the relief requested, then it may certify its intent to do so. Mack-Manley, 122 Nev. at 855, 138 P.3d at 530; Huneycutt, 94 Nev. at 81, 575 P.2d at 586. At that point, it would be appropriate for the moving party to file a motion (to which the district court's certification of its intent to grant relief is attached) with this court seeking a remand to the district court for entry of an order granting the requested relief. Mack-Manley, 122 Nev. at 855-56, 138 P.3d at 530; Huneycutt, 94 Nev. at 81, 575 P.2d at 586. This court will then consider the request for a remand and determine whether it should be granted or denied. See Mack-Manley, 122 Nev. at 856, 138 P.3d at 530 (noting this court's discretion to grant a motion seeking remand to the district court); see also Post v. Bradshaw, 422 F.3d 419, 422 (6th Cir.2005) (noting that appellate courts do not rubber-stamp or grant such motions as a matter of course). If the district court is not inclined to grant the requested relief, however, then as stated above, the district court may enter an order denying the motion. [3] King, 287 F.3d at 94; Federal Land Bank, 889 F.2d at 766.