Court Opinion

ID: 9939811
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-12 20:05:15.658549+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:41:59.687838
License: Public Domain

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                                                         Electronically Filed
                                                         Supreme Court
                                                         SCAP-XX-XXXXXXX
                                                         12-FEB-2024
                                                         09:23 AM
                                                         Dkt. 34 OP

           IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI

                              ---o0o---

                IN THE MATTER OF THE TAX APPEAL OF
              SCHUYLER E. COLE AND MARILYN J. COLE,
                      Appellants-Appellants,

                                 vs.

                   CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU,
                        Appellee-Appellee.

                          SCAP-XX-XXXXXXX

       APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT
    (CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX; CASE NO. 1TX151000243 (Lead Case) AND
 CONSOLIDATED CASES: 1TX161000011, 1TX161000012, 1TX161000015,
    1TX161000016, 1TX161000017, 1TX161000018, 1TX161000019,
    1TX161000024, 1TX161000026, 1TX161000028, 1TX161000034,
                 1TX161000268, and 1TX161000269)

                         FEBRUARY 12, 2024

            RECKTENWALD, C.J., McKENNA, EDDINS, JJ.,
      CIRCUIT JUDGE CASTAGNETTI AND CIRCUIT JUDGE ASHFORD,
                 ASSIGNED BY REASON OF VACANCIES

                OPINION OF THE COURT BY EDDINS, J.
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                                  I.

     This case concerns Hawaiʻi Rules of Appellate Procedure

(HRAP) Rule 4(a)(3).

     We address appellate jurisdiction when a court does not

enter an order on a post-judgment motion within 90 days and the

court’s clerk does not provide notice “within 5 days after the

90th day” that the motion has been denied by operation of the

rule.

     Per HRAP Rule 4(a)(3) an order entered after 90 days “shall

be a nullity.”     We hold that if the court clerk does not timely

notify the parties that a post-judgment motion has been

automatically denied, the start-time to appeal begins when the

clerk provides notice to the parties or the court enters a

nullified order.

                                  II.

        In May 2015, Schuyler and Marilyn Cole filed a notice of

appeal to the Tax Appeal Court (TAC).      The Coles contested the

City and County of Honolulu’s (City) classification of several

investment properties they owned.       That classification resulted

in property tax assessments they disliked.      The City opposed

their challenge.

        In July 2016, the Tax Appeal Court approved a stipulation

to consolidate the Coles’ appeal with 40 similar appeals.       Those

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appeals also contested the City’s classification.          The court

designated the Coles’ appeal as the lead case (collectively, we

call the plaintiffs “the Taxpayers”).

     On July 17, 2017, Tax Appeal Court Judge Gary W.B. Chang

entered an order granting summary judgment to the City.           That

day the court also entered final judgment.        On July 26, 2017,

the Taxpayers timely moved for reconsideration.         The City

opposed the motion; the Taxpayers replied.

     The court did not rule on the Taxpayer’s motion for

reconsideration within 90 days of its filing.         Neither an order

disposing of the motion, nor a clerk’s notice that the motion

had been automatically denied per HRAP Rule 4(a)(3) were filed.

     HRAP Rule 4(a)(3) (2016) reads:

          (3) TIME TO APPEAL AFFECTED BY POST-JUDGMENT MOTIONS. If
          any party files a timely motion for judgment as a matter of
          law, to amend findings or make additional findings, for a
          new trial, to reconsider, alter or amend the judgment or
          order, or for attorney’s fees or costs, and court or agency
          rules specify the time by which the motion shall be filed,
          then the time for filing the notice of appeal is extended
          for all parties until 30 days after entry of an order
          disposing of the motion. The presiding court or agency in
          which the motion was filed shall dispose of any such post-
          judgment motion by entering an order upon the record within
          90 days after the date the motion was filed. If the court
          or agency fails to enter an order on the record, then,
          within 5 days after the 90th day, the clerk of the relevant
          court or agency shall notify the parties that, by operation
          of this Rule, the post-judgment motion is denied and that
          any orders entered thereafter shall be a nullity. The time
          of appeal shall run from the date of entry of the court or
          agency’s order disposing of the post-judgment motion, if
          the order is entered within the 90 days, or from the filing
          date of the clerk’s notice to the parties that the post-
          judgment motion is denied pursuant to the operation of the
          Rule.

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     Time passed.

     In December 2022, the court received a letter from the

Taxpayers.   They wanted the court to rule on their motion for

reconsideration.    The Taxpayers explained: “(i) the Court had

not entered an order disposing of the Motion for

Reconsideration; and (ii) that the Clerk of Courts had not

otherwise disposed of the Motion for Reconsideration as required

by Rule 4(a)(3) of the [HRAP].”

     Three days later, the court entered an order denying the

Taxpayers’ 2017 motion for reconsideration.

     Within 30 days, the Coles and 13 taxpayers appealed the

2017 order granting the City’s motion for summary judgment.

     The City applied for transfer.     We accepted the transfer to

address one issue - appellate jurisdiction.

                                III.

     HRAP Rule 4(a)(3) controls the time frame to appeal when a

party files a post-judgment motion.

     The rule’s current version dates to 2016.      Sakuma prompted

that year’s revision.    See Ass’n of Condo. Homeowners of Tropics

at Waikele v. Sakuma, 131 Hawaiʻi 254, 318 P.3d 94 (2013).

There, the circuit court entered a default judgment and

foreclosure decree.    Id. at 255, 318 P.3d at 95.    Sakuma timely

moved for reconsideration.    Id.   The circuit court failed to

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rule on her post-judgment motion within 90 days.          Id.   Almost

five months after filing the motion, she appealed.          The

Intermediate Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal.            It was too

late.   The appellate courts lacked jurisdiction.         Sakuma applied

for cert, and we accepted.

     At the time, HRAP Rule 4(a) (2012) read in part:

           (1) TIME AND PLACE OF FILING. When a civil appeal is
           permitted by law, the notice of appeal shall be filed
           within 30 days after entry of the judgment or appealable
           order.

                . . . .

           (3) TIME TO APPEAL AFFECTED BY POST-JUDGMENT MOTIONS. If
           any party files a timely motion for judgment as a matter of
           law, to amend findings or make additional findings, for a
           new trial, to reconsider, alter or amend the judgment or
           order, or for attorney’s fees or costs, the time for filing
           the notice of appeal is extended until 30 days after entry
           of an order disposing of the motion; provided, that the
           failure to dispose of any motion by order entered upon the
           record within 90 days after the date the motion was filed
           shall constitute a denial of the motion.

(Emphasis added.)

     This court sided with Sakuma.       We held that after 90 days,

the clock did not start for HRAP Rule 4(a)(1)’s “within 30 days

after entry of the judgment” appeal deadline.         Id. at 256, 318

P.3d at 96.   Why?   Rule 4(a)(3)’s clear language.        It tolled the

appeal deadline until the “entry of an order” that disposes of

the motion for reconsideration.      Id.   Thus, the thirty-day clock

for filing a notice of appeal starts with the court’s order, not

when the post-judgment motion is deemed denied.          Id.

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     Before long, HRAP Rule 4(a)(3) was revised.           Here it is in

Ramseyer format (compared to the 2012 version):

           If any party files a timely motion for judgment as a matter
           of law, to amend findings or make additional findings, for
           a new trial, to reconsider, alter or amend the judgment or
           order, or for attorney’s fees or costs, and court or agency
           rules specify the time by which the motion shall be filed,
           then the time for filing the notice of appeal is extended
           for all parties until 30 days after entry of an order
           disposing of the motion.[; provided, that the failure] The
           presiding court or agency in which the motion was filed
           shall [to] dispose of any such post-judgment motion by
           entering an order [entered] upon the record within 90 days
           after the date the motion was filed [shall constitute a
           denial of the motion].

     The 2016 amendment altered the part stating “provided, that

the failure to dispose of any motion by order entered upon the

record within 90 days after the date the motion was filed shall

constitute a denial of the motion.”        Now it read: “The presiding

court or agency in which the motion was filed shall dispose of

any such post-judgment motion by entering an order upon the

record within 90 days after the date the motion was filed.”

     The revision also added two lengthy sentences to Rule

4(a)(3):

           If the court or agency fails to enter an order on the
           record, then, within 5 days after the 90th day, the clerk
           of the relevant court or agency shall notify the parties
           that, by operation of this Rule, the post-judgment motion
           is denied and that any orders entered thereafter shall be a
           nullity. The time of appeal shall run from the date of
           entry of the court or agency’s order disposing of the post-
           judgment motion, if the order is entered within the 90
           days, or from the filing date of the clerk’s notice to the
           parties that the post-judgment motion is denied pursuant to
           the operation of the Rule.

     We again assess HRAP Rule 4(a)(3).

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     To start, Rule 4(a)(3)’s first two clauses are plain.       The

first clause describes the general rule that a party must file a

notice of appeal within 30 days after entry of an order on a

post-judgment motion.   The second clause requires the court to

enter that post-judgment order within 90 days after the party

files the motion.

     The third clause addresses the situation where the court

fails to enter an order by the 90th day.     After the 90th day the

Rule instructs the court’s clerk to do something about the

court’s inaction: notify the parties before the 95th day that “by

operation of this Rule, the post-judgment motion is denied and

that any orders entered thereafter shall be a nullity.”

     The Rule’s “shall” directive imposes a duty on the clerk.

The clerk should notify the parties, within 5 days, about the

denial of the post-judgment motion.

     The fourth clauses specifically address the two start times

to file a notice of appeal.    First, “if the order is entered

within the 90 days,” then the start time to appeal runs from the

date of entry of the court or agency’s order [e.g., if the court

enters an order regarding a post-judgment motion on the 70th

day, then the appeal is due in 30 days, 100th day from final

judgment].

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     The second start time occurs when the court fails to enter

an order disposing of the post-judgment motion within 90 days.

Rule 4(a)(3) presumes that the clerk will provide notice to the

parties within 5 days informing them that the post-judgment

motion is automatically denied.    This “filing date of the

clerk’s notice” then sets the start time for appeal [e.g., if

the clerk files notice on the 93rd day, then the appeal is due

in 30 days, 123 days from final judgment].

     Here, the court entered no order.     And the court’s clerk

gave no notice.

     Rule 4(a)(3) does not contemplate what happens when there’s

no order and no notice by day 95.     A situation, we believe, that

is apt to repeat.   If the court overlooks a deadline to rule on

a post-judgment motion, then the clerk may overlook it too.

When both the court and the court’s clerk overlook the 90-day

post-judgment order deadline, the clerk may not generate a

deemed denied notice “within 5 days after the 90th day.”      (A

clerk who knows about a looming deadline would presumably alert

the court before the 90 days are up – and later not forget to

file a notice within five days should the court not enter an

order.)   The reality of court and clerk connectivity and day-to-

day judicial administration may very well be that if the court

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forgets, the court’s clerk forgets.    And if the clerk forgets,

the court forgets.   Either way, there’s no order and no notice.

     HRAP Rule 4(a)(3)’s words are clear.     To protect the right

to appeal, we conclude that the appeal deadline tolls until the

“entry of an order disposing of the motion.”     We said it before.

“[W]hen a timely post-judgment tolling motion is deemed denied,

it does not trigger the thirty-day deadline for filing a notice

of appeal until entry of the judgment or appealable order

pursuant to HRAP Rules 4(a)(1) and 4(a)(3).”     Sakuma, 131 Hawaiʻi

at 256, 318 P.3d at 96.

     The 2016 revision to Rule 4(a)(3) added a clerk’s notice

requirement.   The Taxpayers did not receive that notice.

     Notice is a core feature of due process.     See LaChance v.

Erickson, 522 U.S. 262, 266 (1998).    So is the right to appeal.

See, e.g., State v. Uchima, 147 Hawaiʻi 64, 69, 464 P.3d 852, 857

(2020).

     We conclude that a court’s failure to comply with HRAP Rule

4(a)(3) does not undercut a party’s right to appeal.      Judicial

inaction cannot operate to foreclose a right to appeal.

     Here, the court issued an order on the Taxpayers’ motion

for reconsideration.   Five years too late.    Under Rule 4(a)(3)’s

third clause, that order is a nullity.     Courts have no power to

rule on a post-judgment motion after the 90-day period.

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     The court’s belated action, though, provides notice

regarding the time to appeal.    Per Rule 4(a)(3), the Taxpayers’

appeal clock finally started ticking.     And they appealed within

30 days.   So the ICA has jurisdiction.

                                 IV.

     Post-Sakuma, the Standing Committee to Review the Hawaiʻi

Rules of Appellate Procedure proposed an amended rule, and this

court adopted it.   HRAP Rule 4(a)(3) reveals an objective to

impose finality and a definite appellate deadline.      The rule

nullifies an order entered 90 days after a post-judgment motion.

And it tells the clerk to provide notice to the parties that the

motion has been deemed denied.

     But as this case shows, a blind spot exists.      One that

impedes finality and unbounds the time frame for appellate

jurisdiction.   Without an order or notice, the appeal deadline

extends indefinitely.

     Sure, the litigants share fault by not alerting the court

about an outstanding matter.    But HRAP Rule 4(a)(3)’s design

ignores judicial inaction.    The Taxpayers followed the rule’s

language to file an appeal.    They get their day in appellate

court.

     We believe that a sound rule does not permit an appellant

to revive a case decided (final judgment-wise) years before.       An

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ideal rule promotes finality and sets an easy-to-understand

notice of appeal deadline.    The Standing Committee to Review the

Hawaiʻi Rules of Appellate Procedure may wish to consider

proposing an amendment to HRAP Rule 4(a)(3).

                                 V.

     We hold that the Intermediate Court of Appeals has

jurisdiction over the Taxpayers’ appeal.     We remand to the ICA

for further proceedings.

Ian P. Luthringer                  /s/ Mark E. Recktenwald
(Scott W. Settle, William G.
                                   /s/ Sabrina S. McKenna
Meyer III, and Harrison K. Goo
on the briefs)                     /s/ Todd W. Eddins
for appellants
                                   /s/ Jeannette H. Castagnetti
Daniel M. Gluck                    /s/ James H. Ashford
(Robert M. Kohn, Lee M.
Agsalud, and Karen K. Lee on
the briefs)
for appellee

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