Court Opinion

ID: 2652423
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-02-06 16:05:48.730444+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:10:43.728016
License: Public Domain

Cite as 2014 Ark. 56

                SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS
                                       No.   CV-14-36

LINDA MARSTON, PATSY                             Opinion Delivered   February 6, 2014
ELLIFRITZ, DENNIS TAYLOR, and
WANDA GRAGG                                      MOTION FOR RULE ON CLERK

                                APPELLANTS

V.

JAMES E. TAYLOR, DIANE CRIMS,
JANICE HAGLER, and JOANN
MORGAN
                       APPELLEES                 REMANDED.

                                      PER CURIAM

       Appellants Linda Marston, Patsy Ellifritz, Dennis Taylor, and Wanda Gragg, filed a

motion for rule on clerk seeking an order of this court directing the Arkansas Supreme Court

Clerk to accept their record for filing. Appellants tendered the record on December 30, 2013,

under an extension of time granted by the circuit court on November 8, 2013. The clerk

refused to file the record because the extension order did not comply with Ark. R. App.

P.–Civ. 5(b)(1), which provides as follows:

       (b) Extension of time.

       (1) If any party has designated stenographically reported material for inclusion in the
       record on appeal, the circuit court, by order entered before expiration of the period
       prescribed by subdivision (a) of this rule or a prior extension order, may extend the
       time for filing the record only if it makes the following findings:

       (A) The appellant has filed a motion explaining the reasons for the requested extension
       and served the motion on all counsel of record;
                                    Cite as 2014 Ark. 56

       (B) The time to file the record on appeal has not yet expired;

       (C) All parties have had the opportunity to be heard on the motion, either at a hearing
       or by responding in writing;

       (D) The appellant, in compliance with Rule 6(b), has timely ordered the
       stenographically reported material from the court reporter and made any financial
       arrangements required for its preparation; and

       (E) An extension of time is necessary for the court reporter to include the
       stenographically reported material in the record on appeal.

       This court has made clear that it expects compliance with the requirements of Rule

5(b) and that it does not view the granting of an extension as a mere formality. Byrer v.

Colvard, 372 Ark. 460, 277 S.W.3d 209 (2008).

       Rule 5 and our case law require that the circuit court consider and make findings that

the conditions listed in subdivision (b)(1)(A)-(E) of Rule 5 have been met. The order before

us recites the following:

       On this 8th day of November, 2013, this matter comes before the Court, the Court
       being well and sufficiently advised does find as follows:
             1. That this Court grants an extension of 30 days.

       Although we have the appellants’ motion to the circuit court before us, we do not

infer from its averments that Rule 5 has been complied with, and the circuit court’s order

must reflect that each condition has been met. Byrer, supra. Because the order of extension

in this case makes no reference to the consideration of the Rule 5 requirements, we remand

this matter to the circuit court for compliance with Rule 5(b)(1). Byrer, supra.

       Remanded.

       Medlock & Gramlich, LLP, by: Steven Estell, for appellants.

       No response.

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