Court Opinion

ID: 9457249
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 20:17:12.00384+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:35:16.951883
License: Public Domain

PELL, Circuit Judge
(dissenting in part).
The first judicial determination of the $1.76 figure was on December 8, 1966. While there was a revised judgment following appeal, the figure of $1.76 remained unchanged. This is true notwithstanding changes in other figures in the price schedule which I deem not significant on the ultimate $1.76 figure.
In the federal courts, the general rule has long been recognized that while appeal with proper supersedeas stays execution of a judgment, it does not — until and unless reversed — detract from its decisiveness and finality. Huron Holding Corp. v. Lincoln Mine Operating Co., 312 U.S. 183, 189, 61 S.Ct. 513, 85 L.Ed. 725 (1941).
An appeal does not affect the finality of a judgment, it merely stays execution thereof pending appeal, and judgment of affirmance adds nothing to the finality of the original judgment. Miller v. United States, 2 Cir., 147 F.2d 372, 374 (1945).
It is true that the first payment to the State of Arizona was not made until the entry of the revised judgment of November 15, 1968. However, the payments were retroactive to the date of first production. I understand from the record that the retroactive payments covered a period going back to a date prior to 1966. This being so, and for federal purposes the $1.76 figure having been established as a final figure as of the initial judgment on December 8, 1966, I would not disturb the judgment of the district court on the matter of interest. It appears to me, as it apparently appeared to the district court, that the 1966 date was a reasonable one under all the circumstances from which interest should be computed. I would not deem it of great significance or binding effect on this court that reasons may have existed in the state litigation which resulted in no interest being allowed there on the retroactive payments.
I would therefore respectfully dissent from that portion of the majority opinion dealing with the matter of interest and would have affirmed the judgment of the district court in its entirety.
Otherwise I concur in Judge Stevens’ opinion.