Court Opinion

ID: 9961102
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-04-17 20:11:24.005094+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:20:14.710509
License: Public Domain

04/17/2024
                IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                            AT NASHVILLE
                                        April 17, 2024

     ROBIN HOOD CONDO ASSOCIATION v. WILLIAM WELLMAN

                  Appeal from the Circuit Court for Davidson County
                     No. 21C1764 Joseph P. Binkley, Jr., Judge
                      ___________________________________

                             No. M2023-01519-COA-R3-CV
                         ___________________________________

A condominium owner appeals from a final judgment awarding past due fees and
assessments to a homeowners association. Because the owner did not file his notice of
appeal within thirty days after entry of the judgment as required by Tennessee Rule of
Appellate Procedure 4(a), we dismiss the appeal.

                Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Appeal Dismissed

FRANK G. CLEMENT, JR., P.J., M.S., W. NEAL MCBRAYER, and JEFFREY USMAN, JJ.

William Wellman, Joelton, Tennessee, Pro Se.

Trent North Notestine, Nashville, Tennessee, for the appellee, Robin Hood Condo
Association.

                               MEMORANDUM OPINION1

        This appeal involves a dispute between a condominium owner and a homeowners
association over fees and assessments. The Robin Hood Condo Association (“Robin
Hood”) obtained a judgment against the owner, William Wellman, for past due fees and
assessments in the General Sessions Court for Davidson County. Mr. Wellman appealed
to the circuit court and filed a counterclaim for breach of contract. Robin Hood moved for
summary judgment. On August 31, 2023, the trial court granted the motion for summary

       1
         Under Tennessee Court of Appeals Rule 10, a case decided by memorandum opinion may not be
published, cited, or relied on for any reason in any unrelated case.
judgment and entered a final judgment in favor of Robin Hood in the amount of $7,675.20
plus attorney’s fees in the amount of $10,500.00. The trial court also dismissed
Mr. Wellman’s counterclaim. Mr. Wellman filed a notice of appeal with the clerk of this
Court on October 27, 2023.

       Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a) requires that a notice of appeal be filed
with the clerk of the appellate court within thirty days after entry of the judgment appealed.
Mr. Wellman did not file his notice of appeal until fifty-seven days after entry of the
judgment. On November 2, 2023, this Court ordered Mr. Wellman to show cause why his
appeal should not be dismissed for failure to file a timely notice of appeal. Mr. Wellman
responded, and the Court reserved judgment on the matter pending receipt of the record.
The clerk received the record on March 20, 2024.

        In his response, Mr. Wellman does not dispute that he filed his notice of appeal
more than thirty days after entry of the final judgment. While the response raises a question
concerning whether the address listed on the final judgment’s certificate of service was
Mr. Wellman’s correct address at the time, such factual questions are not for this Court to
decide.

       The thirty-day time limit for filing a notice of appeal is mandatory and
jurisdictional. Albert v. Frye, 145 S.W.3d 526, 528 (Tenn. 2004); Binkley v. Medling, 117
S.W.3d 252, 255 (Tenn. 2003). This Court can neither waive, TENN. R. APP. P. 2, nor
extend, TENN. R. APP. P. 21(b), the time period. Flautt & Mann v. Council of City of
Memphis, 285 S.W.3d 856, 868 at n.1 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2008); Jefferson v. Pneumo Servs.
Corp., 699 S.W.2d 181, 184 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1985). The failure to file a timely notice of
appeal deprives this Court of jurisdiction to hear the matter. Flautt & Mann, 285 S.W.3d
at 869 at n.1.

      The appeal is dismissed for failure to file a timely notice of appeal. The case is
remanded to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Mr. Wellman is taxed with the costs for which execution may issue.

                                                                 PER CURIAM

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