Court Opinion

ID: 2763481
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-12-22 17:01:31.360545+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:44:34.744059
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                            No. 08-700C

                                     Filed: December 22, 2014
                                            _________

                                                 *
 JAY ANTHONY DOBYNS,
                                                 *
                                                 *
                     Plaintiff,
                                                 *
                                                 *
           v.
                                                 *
                                                 *
 THE UNITED STATES,
                                                 *
                                                 *
                     Defendant.
                                             _________

                                             ORDER
                                            __________

        On December 1, 2014, the court granted plaintiff’s request that it submit a notice of an
indicative ruling, pursuant to RCFC 62.1(a)(3), that this court would grant a motion if the
Federal Circuit were to remand for the purposes of allowing this court to consider the motion.
On December 18, 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued an
order remanding this case for further proceedings pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 12.1(b), but
otherwise retaining jurisdiction. The next day, December 19, 2014, defendant filed a notice of
appeal of this court’s order of October 24, 2014; the latter order limits who may appear before
this court in this case. See also Docket No. 305. Defendant’s December 19, 2014, notice of
appeal makes reference neither to the Federal Circuit’s December 18, 2014, order; to the ruling
with respect to the indicative motion; or to the cross-appeals that have been filed previously in
the Federal Circuit regarding this case. 1

        It is unclear whether defendant’s December 19 “notice of appeal” should be legally
cognizable; relates to the Federal Circuit’s December 18 order; or somehow otherwise implicates
this court’s prior orders in this case. This is especially so given the likelihood that, in response to
the Federal Circuit’s recent order, the court will order depositions of at least some of the
attorneys and other witnesses in this case, as well as the receipt of other relevant evidence.

       1
          The Federal Circuit’s remand order indicates that the briefing schedule in the cross-
appeals is stayed.
       Accordingly, before proceeding further in this matter, on or before January 5, 2015,
defendant shall file a memorandum (not to exceed 30 pages) addressing the following questions:

       1. Whether defendant’s most recent notice of appeal was from a “final decision”
       of this court under 28 U.S.C. § 1491 or some, as yet, unidentified other source of
       authority? Cf. 20 George C. Pratt, et al., Moore's Federal Practice and Procedure
       § 303.32(2)(b)(iv)(B) (3d. ed. 2014) (“[i]f an appeal is taken from a non-
       appealable order the [trial court] may proceed with the case as if the notice of
       appeal had not been filed.”); see also O’Donnell v. United States, 62 Fed. Cl. 64,
       64-65 (2004). 2

       2. Whether the October 24, 2014, order is somehow appealable as a “collateral
       order,” despite the fact, inter alia, that issues involving defendant’s response to
       the Federal Circuit’s December 18, 2014, order appear to implicate important
       matters relating to the merits of this case, defendant’s subsequent conduct in this
       proceeding, and the Federal Circuit’s most recent order? Cf. Coopers & Lybrand
       v. Livesay, 437 U.S. 463, 468 (1978); Cohen v. Beneficial Indus. Loan Corp., 337
       U.S. 541 (1949).

       3. Whether defendant, alternatively, intends to seek review of the October 24,
       2014, order via a petition for a writ of mandamus under the All Writs Act, 28
       U.S.C. § 1651(a), despite the issuance of the Federal Circuit’s December 18,
       2014, order and this court’s prior orders? Cf. Cheney v. U.S. Dist. Ct., 542 U.S.
       367, 380 (2004); In re United States, 460 Fed. Appx. 914 (Fed. Cir. 2011). 3

       4. Whether defendant has any other appropriate legal basis to disregard or delay
       implementation of the Federal Circuit’s order of December 18, 2014, or any other
       appropriate legal basis to delay the execution by this court of the Federal Circuit’s
       remand order?

        On or before January 12, 2015, plaintiff may file a response to defendant’s memorandum
(not to exceed 30 pages). The court will not permit any enlargements of these deadlines for
any reason. The parties shall ensure that copies of all filings relating to this order be provided
to the Federal Circuit judges dealing with the remand order.

       IT IS SO ORDERED.
                                                               s/Francis M. Allegra
                                                               Francis M. Allegra
                                                               Judge

       2
          To be clear, the court is not agreeing to certify issues regarding the October 24, 2014,
order to the Federal Circuit.
       3
           To be clear, the court is not agreeing to the issuance of such a petition.

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