Opinion ID: 461646
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Finality in Bankruptcy Proceedings.

Text: 10 Section 104(a) of the Bankruptcy Amendments and Federal Judgeship Act of 1984, Pub.L. No. 98-353, 98 Stat. 333, governs our jurisdiction in this case. Section 104(a) added a new section 158 to Title 28, replacing 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1293 (1982), formerly governing our jurisdiction in bankruptcy appeals. Under section 158(d), we have jurisdiction of appeals from all final decisions, judgments, orders, and decrees of district courts reviewing decisions of bankruptcy courts. 98 Stat. at 341 (to be codified at 28 U.S.C. Sec. 158(d)). 11 Because former section 1293 also referred to final judgments, orders, or decrees as the basis for appellate court jurisdiction in bankruptcy cases, our previous decisions discussing finality under section 1293 are applicable in this case involving section 158. Teleport Oil Co. v. Security Pacific National Bank (In re Teleport Oil Co.), 759 F.2d 1376, 1377 n. 1 (9th Cir.1985). 12 Under former section 1293, we adopted a test that emphasizes the need for immediate review, rather than whether the order is technically interlocutory, in determining what is appealable as a final judgment in bankruptcy proceedings. White v. White (In re White), 727 F.2d 884, 885 (9th Cir.1984) (citing Mason v. Integrity Insurance Co. (In re Mason), 709 F.2d 1313 (9th Cir.1983)). Those orders that  'may determine and seriously affect substantive rights' and 'cause irreparable harm to the losing party if it had to wait to the end of the bankruptcy case'  are immediately appealable, In re Mason, 709 F.2d at 1316 (quoting R. Levin, Bankruptcy Appeals, 58 N.C.L.Rev. 967, 985-86 & n. 140 (1980)), so long as the orders finally determine the discreet [sic] issue to which [they are] addressed.... Four Seas Center, Ltd. v. Davres, Inc. (In re Four Seas Center, Ltd.), 754 F.2d 1416, 1418 (9th Cir.1985). But [w]hen further proceedings in the bankruptcy court will affect the scope of the order, the order is not subject to review in this court under [section 158]. Id. 13 In the instant case, the district court affirmed a bankruptcy court order which resolved two separate motions. We conclude that neither the bankruptcy court's denial of the beneficiaries' motion to dismiss the chapter 11 proceedings nor its grant of the corporation's motion to cure the defaults under the first deed of trust is final and reviewable in this court. 14