Court Opinion

ID: 9393011
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-05-08 23:05:44.392771+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:50.364846
License: Public Domain

C:„IGINAL                                        05/08/2023

           IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                                                                      Case Number: DA 22-0629

                                         DA 22-0629
                                                                      FILED
BILLY BUDD SULLIVAN and HARRY                                          MAY 0 8 2023
RICHARDS,                                                            Bowen Greenwood
                                                                                    Court
                                                                   Clerk of Supreme
                                                                      State of Montana

            Plaintiffs and Appellants,
                                                                   ORDER
      v.

ALICIA DORMAN and JASON FORTNEY,

            Defendants and Appellees.

      On May 8, 2023, appearing on their own behalf, Billy Sullivan and Harry Richards
filed an opening brief on appeal. Rules 11 through 13 of the Montana Rules of Appellate
Procedure set forth the requirements for filing appellate briefs. After reviewing the brief
filed by Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Richards on May 8, 2023, this Court has determined that
the brief does not comply with the Rules and must be resubrnitted.
       In prior orders, we granted Appellants' motion for out-of-time appeal and their
motion to proceed without securing a transcript. As indicated in those orders, the Court
will give some leeway to the Appellants, like it does all self-represented parties, but there
are certain requirements of the Rules of Appellate Procedure that are essential to an
appeal.
       The Appellants appear to be appealing from the District Court's final order issued
October 4, 2022, but they also call into question a previous summary judgment order
declaring that Appellees Dorman and Fortney hold an easement. Appellants must include
as an appendix to their brief copies of the order or orders from which they are appealing,
as required by M. R. App. P. 12(h). Further, because this Court may consider only facts
and materials presented to the District Court, Appellants may not attach photographs as
exhibits to their brief unless they show that the photographs were included in the
evidence the District Court considered, by reference to an exhibit number or a document
filed with the court to which these photographs were attached.           (See Rule 12(9).)
Appellants are cautioned that, without a sufficient record, this Court may be unable to
fully review their arguments regarding errors in the District Court's factual findings. For
that reason, even though they have been unable to secure a transcript of the testimony,
Appellants should make reference to anything else in the record that supports their
arguments.
       Finally, pursuant to M. R. App. P. 13(2), Appellants must provide seven copies of
the revised brief, along with the signed original, to the Clerk of this Court.
       Although the brief lacks compliance with other particulars of the appellate rules,
the Court will accept a revised brief with the corrections noted above.
Therefore,
       IT IS ORDERED that the signed original of the referenced brief be returned for
revisions necessary to comply with the specified Rules;
       IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a signed original and seven copies of the
revised brief ordered herein be filed within thirty (30) days of the date of this Order with
the Clerk of this Court and that one copy of the revised brief be served on all parties of
record;
       IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that no changes, additions, or deletions other than
those specified in this Order may be made to the brief as originally filed;
       IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the postage costs for returning the referenced
copies of Appellants' brief will be billed to Appellants by the Clerk of this Court and
shall be due and payable upon receipt; and
       IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the times for the Appellees to file their response
brief, contained in M. R. App. P. 13, shall run from the date of filing of the revised brief.
       The Clerk of this Court is directed to mail a true copy of this Order to the
Appellant to mail a true copy of this Order to all parties of record.
       DATED this It day of May, 2023.
                                                          For the Court,

                                                          By
                                                                         Justice ( -7&.--L--
                                               2