Document: 486 U.S. 196 108 S.Ct. 1717 100 L.Ed.2d 178 Joseph G. BUDINICH, Petitioner,v.BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY, Respondent. No. 87-283. Argued March 21, 1988. Decided May 23, Syllabus In petitioner's employment compensation action, which respondent removed from a Colorado state court to the Federal District Court on basis of diversity citizenship, judgment was entered jury's verdict for petitioner in an amount considerably less than he had sought. Petitioner timely filed new-trial motions and motion attorney's fees under law. On 14, 1984, denied new trial but found that entitled fees, and, August 1, final order determining fees. 29, notice appeal Appeals, covering all Court's post-trial orders. Although affirming award, granted respondent's dismiss as other issues grounds immediately appealable upon entry 14 denying motions, not within 30 days required by Rules Appellate Procedure 4(a)(1) (4). Held: 1. The question whether decision merits before determination made is governed federal law—specifically 28 U.S.C. § 1291, provides district "final decisions" are courts appeals—and law generally supplies rules cases, it does control resolution statute. contention application 1291 cases would violate Tenth Amendment Constitution without merit, since "rationally capable classification" procedural rule, therefore necessary proper implementing Congress' Art. III, power establish courts. Hanna v. Plumer, 380 460, 472, 85 1136, 1144, 8. Pp. 198-199. 2. A decision" purposes appealable, even though recoverability or litigation remains be determined. ends merits, remaining prevent finality, collateral to, separate from, order, cannot alter amend moot any decisions embodies. According different treatment when they deemed part recovery statutory decisional (as claims case Colorado) serve 1291's purposes, disserve interests litigants because, nonmerits status fee provision often unclear, issue finality hence jurisdictional time left doubt. argument Appeals' constitutes significant change should applied only prospectively avail petitioner, since, regardless such has occurred, untimely did give jurisdiction review decision. 199-203. 807 F.2d 155 (CA10 1986), affirmed. SCALIA, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. Thomas Frank, Evergreen, Colo., petitioner. Terre Lee Rushton, Denver, respondent. Justice SCALIA 1 brought this action recover allegedly due. Respondent United States citizenship. §§ 1332, 1441. jury awarded $5,000 (considerably been sought), 26, 1984. challenging various rulings Court, (Colorado suit collect due "the . shall include reasonable attorney favor winning party, taxed costs action." Colo.Rev.Stat. 8-4-114 (1986).) requested further briefing documentation their amount. issued its concerning Appeals Circuit, 2 appeal, arguing except award We certiorari, 484 895, 226, 98 185 (1987), resolve conflict Courts Appeals. Compare, e.g., Holmes J. Ray McDermott & Co., 682 1143, 1146 (CA5 1982), cert. denied, 459 1107, 103 732, 74 956 (1983), with, International Assn. Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, Reinforcing Ironworkers' Local Union 75 Madison Industries, Inc., 733 656, 658 (CA9 1984). 3 It common ground if then untimely. See Fed. App.Proc. 4(a)(1), (4), (6); Civ.Proc. 54(a), 58. contends governs "[u]nder claim until attorneys fully determined." Brief 13. do agree governs. 4 see 1652; Erie R. Co. Tompkins, 304 64, 78, 58 817, 822, 82 L.Ed. 1188 (1938), statute, Const., VI, cl. (Supremacy Clause); Prima Paint Corp. Flood Conklin Mfg. 388 395, 404-405, 87 1801, 1806, 18 1270 (1967). Under "all courts" appeals. using phrase Congress obviously mean borrow incorporate "Final term like "property," naturally suggests reference state-law concepts, cf. Board Regents Roth, 408 564, 577, 92 2701, 2709, 33 548 (1972); context use makes doubly implausible, applies just cases. Nor possible accept apply because Constitution. have held enactments carrying into execution vested Article 8 (1965); also Burlington Northern Woods, 480 5, n. 3, 107 967, 969, 94 (1987). statute mandating may taken one another certainly meets test. Cf. Cohen Beneficial Industrial Loan Corp., 337 541, 69 1221, 93 1528 (1949) (treating appealability jurisdiction). 5 us, therefore, matter "A 'final decision' leaves nothing execute judgment." Catlin States, 324 229, 233, 65 631, 633-634, 89 911 (1945). decided after ending will revise embodied order. See, Brown Shoe 370 294, 308-309, 1502, 1514-1515, 510 (1962); Dickinson Petroleum Conversion 338 507, 513-516, 70 322, 325-326, 299 (1950). fits description. White New Hampshire Dept. Employment Security, 455 445, 102 1162, 71 325 (1982), we request 42 1988 "to judgment" meaning Rule Civil 59(e) seek "reconsideration matters properly encompassed merits." U.S., at 451, S.Ct., 1166. This holding based our conclusion "a raises legal to" "separate from" merits. Id., 451-452, went so far observe dicta "[t]he character establishes outstanding bar recognition 'final' 'appealable.' " 452-453, 1166-1167, 14. Sprague Ticonic National Bank, 307 161, 170, 59 777, 781-782, 83 1184 (1939) (observing petition equity "an independent proceeding supplemental original modification decree"). 6 foregoing discussion ultimately question-begging, however, assumes If were regard demand itself analysis apply. concluded, exist. Liberty Mutual Insurance Wetzel, 424 737, 740-742, 96 1202, 1204-1205, 47 435 (1976). As general matter, least, think indisputable pertain. Such remedy injury giving rise indeed available party defending against action. At law, regarded element "costs" prevailing 10 C. Wright, A. Miller, M. Kane, Practice Procedure: 2665 treated judgment, Fed.Rule ("Entry delayed taxing costs"). Many statutes providing continue specify collected "costs," Marek Chesny, 473 43-48, 105 3012, 3035-3036, (1985) (BRENNAN, dissenting) (citing 63 statutes)—as does, fact, here. 7 contends, must altered authorizing them plain asserts does) judgment. proposition some support. Some creating liability can cause relief 1291. F.2d, 1146; McQurter Atlanta, 724 881, 882 (CA11 1984) (per curiam ). implicitly acknowledged possibility approach Boeing Van Gemert, 444 745, 62 676 (1980), where, apart expressly distinguished plaintiff specifically prayer his complaint. 479-480, 749-750, 5. Now squarely confronted with question, conclude effect unresolved hand turn characterization those authorizes them. said elsewhere considerations determine abstractions very real interests—not merely immediate parties, but, more particularly, pertain smooth functioning judicial system." Republic Natural Gas Oklahoma, 334 62, 69, 68 972, 977, 1212 (1948). Indeed, governing 1257, willing split "merits," regarding accounting sufficiently "dissociated" related delivery physical property "[i]n effect, controversy multiple allowing adjudication concluded of, unaffected by, happens entangled." Radio Station WOW, Inc. Johnson, 326 120, 126, 1475, 1479, 2092 practical what importance here preservation conceptual consistency particular authorization "merits" "nonmerits," rather operational predictability overall requires, think, uniform rule being final. 9 For merits-without-attorney's-fees there deeming no harmful process That "deeming" render disruptive ongoing proceedings, likely eliminate judge's opportunity reconsideration, susceptible mooted settlement, way (except nominally) piecemeal enterprise. short, interest pertinent served according recovery; disserved. appealability, having consequences, above clear. inclined adopt disposition requires each clearly established known. best bright-line accords traditional understanding, attributable case. Finally, argues prospectively. Regardless today's works change, hold "[a] lacks discretion consider over jurisdiction, thus, definition, ruling never prospective only." Firestone Tire Rubber Risjord, 449 368, 379-380, 101 669, 676, 66 571 (1981). Since untimely, taking prescribed mandatory jurisdictional, 2, 3(a), 26(b); Robinson, 361 220, 80 282, 288, 259 (1960); Farley Transportation Santa Fe Trail 778 1365, 1368-1370 1985), 11 * 12 Circuit correctly entered. Accordingly, 13 Affirmed.

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