Court Opinion

ID: 9514695
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 22:51:15.54066+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:20.237807
License: Public Domain

MILLER, Chief Justice
(dissenting).
[¶ 38.] For reasons set forth below I would dismiss the appeal as untimely. I disagree with the majority’s holding on that issue.
[¶ 39.] The majority holds that Farm Bureau timely filed its notice of appeal because the judgment was not final until September 25, 1999. In so holding, it incorrectly applies SDCL 15-26A-6.
[¶ 40.] The record clearly establishes that the trial court entered the judgment on August 13, 1999. Farm Bureau timely renewed its JNOV motion on August 20, 1999. The trial court’s failure to rule on the parties’ JNOV motions within twenty days (or enter an order extending such time for ruling) resulted in the denial of the motions on September 9, 1999 under the clear language of SDCL 15-6-50(b). Although the majority opinion inexplicably and incorrectly dismisses this point in footnote 3 as not dispositive, SDCL 15-26A-6 dictates otherwise. Accordingly, the sixty-day period began to run on September 10, 1999 not September 25, 1999 as erroneously asserted by the majority. SDCL 15-26A-6
[¶ 41.] The majority states that “an appeal must be taken within 60 days after the judgment is signed, attested, filed and notice given to the adverse party,” under SDCL 15-26A-6. This is true, however that only applies when the trial court acts within the twenty-day period prescribed in the statute or the extension it has granted to itself. That is not the case here.
[¶ 42.] Farm Bureau tendered the trial court an order extending the time for its *654determination of the motions, but it did not enter the order. Thus, the trial court’s order entered on September 22, 1999 is untimely and a nullity because it was not entered within the parameters of the statute. Bedney v. Heidt, 1998 SD 50, ¶¶ 12-13, 578 N.W.2d 570, 572.
[¶ 43.] SDCL 15-26A-6 specifically speaks to the circumstance before this Court. It states in pertinent part:
The running of the time for filing a notice of appeal is terminated as to all parties by a timely motion filed in the circuit court by any party pursuant to § 15-6-59 or § 15 — 6—50(b), or both, and the full time for appeal fixed by this section commences to run and is to be computed from the attestation and filing of an order made pursuant to such motion or if the circuit court fails to take action on such motion or fails to enter an order extending the time for taking action on such motion within the time prescribed, then the date shall be computed from the date on which the time for action by the circuit court expires.
SDCL 15-26A-6 (emphasis added). The statute clearly applies to this case and mandates that the sixty days began to run on the day the trial court’s time for action expired, specifically September 9, 1999. Thus, Farm Bureau’s notice of appeal filed on November 17, 1999 is untimely because the sixty-day period expired on November 8, 1999. The majority simply ignores the portion of SDCL 15-26A-6 quoted above, which clearly dictates the outcome in this case, choosing instead to rely on the inapplicable portion of the statute.
[¶ 44.] Furthermore, although Farm Bureau claims to have been misled by Sawyer’s cooperation in scheduling the motion hearing outside the twenty-day period for trial court action, a letter from Farm Bureau’s counsel belies its claim. The August 24, 1999 letter written to the trial court shows that Farm Bureau understood the statutory timeframes. The letter states in pertinent part:
2. Defendant’s Motion for Judgment n.o.v., or in the alternative, Motion for New Trial.
This motion has been scheduled for a hearing before you on September 8, 1999, at 3:30 P.M. I advised the court in my original cover letter that Defendant did not feel oral argument on this Motion was necessary. In cooperation with Steve Sanford and Clyde, and in your absence, we set the Motion for hearing should the court believe further argument on the issues would be helpful. Based upon the date of filing of the Motion the court must file its Order not later than September 9, 1999. If no order is filed the Motions are deemed to be denied. The court may extend the date for filing of its order by twenty (20) days should the court find there is good cause to extend the deadline. For your convenience I am enclosing an order extending the deadline should the court want more time to consider the motions ....
3. Plaintiff’s Motion for Judgment n.o.v.:
Plaintiffs Motion for Judgment n.o.v. is set for hearing on September 8, 1999 at 3:30 P.M. Defendant intends to oppose this motion, therefore, absent the court extending the deadline for ruling on Judgment n.o.v. it will be necessary to have the hearing on September 8th unless the court advises counsel that she intends to rule based upon written submissions. Defendant will serve and file a written response. Defendant is not requesting oral argument, however, we will appear and argue should the court believe it will be helpful. If the court extends the deadlines we could argue all Judgment n.o.v. motion’s [sic] on the 16th.
This letter clearly shows that Farm Bureau fully understood the statutory time-frames affecting any appeal it may have wished to take. Farm Bureau should not now be allowed to complain when it is clear that it was not misled by any action of
*655Sawyer and fully understood the statutes governing its right to appeal.
[¶ 45.] Therefore, under clear and settled law, Farm Bureau’s appeal should be dismissed as untimely.
[¶ 46.] AMUNDSON, J., joins this dissent.