Court Opinion

ID: 9491856
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 14:25:35.474196+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:54:58.723650
License: Public Domain

BARKETT, Circuit Judge,
concurring:
I agree with the majority that this court lacks jurisdiction to hear this appeal under the circumstances presented. I am not prepared at this time to agree with the dicta in footnote 7 rejecting outright our sister circuits’ views permitting appellate review of a “voluntary dismissal where such a dismissal was granted only to expedite review of an order which had in effect dismissed appellant’s complaint.” Studstill v. Borg Warner Leasing, 806 F.2d 1005, 1008 (llth Cir.1986) (collecting cases). It is unnecessary to confront this issue directly, as the cases permitting such review do so only if it is clear that the appellant has “ ‘lost on the merits’ ” and “ ‘only seeks’ and ‘expeditious review.’ ” Laczay v. Ross Adhesives, 855 F.2d 351, 355 (6th Cir.1988) (quoting United States v. Procter & Gamble Co., 356 U.S. 677, 78 S.Ct. 983, 2 L.Ed.2d 1077 (1958)). The district court’s denial of Druhan’s motion to remand, however, did not have the effect of dismissing her action. Druhan still had the ability to make her claim under ERISA. Thus, even under the exceptions as noted in footnote 7 of the majority opinion, she would still not be entitled to bring this appeal.