Court Opinion

ID: 9941702
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-16 19:02:19.048753+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:46:56.841395
License: Public Domain

USCA11 Case: 23-11133    Document: 36-1     Date Filed: 02/16/2024   Page: 1 of 3

                                               [DO NOT PUBLISH]
                                   In the
                United States Court of Appeals
                        For the Eleventh Circuit

                          ____________________

                                No. 23-11133
                          Non-Argument Calendar
                          ____________________

       UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
                                                      Plaintiﬀ-Appellee,
       versus
       TOMMY R. FINDLEY,

                                                  Defendant-Appellant.

                          ____________________

                 Appeal from the United States District Court
                     for the Southern District of Florida
                    D.C. Docket No. 9:17-cr-80226-RLR-1
                          ____________________
USCA11 Case: 23-11133      Document: 36-1       Date Filed: 02/16/2024     Page: 2 of 3

       2                       Opinion of the Court                  23-11133

       Before ROSENBAUM, LUCK, and LAGOA, Circuit Judges.
       PER CURIAM:
              Upon review of the record and the parties’ responses to the
       jurisdictional question, we conclude that this appeal is untimely.
       Tommy Findley, proceeding pro se, filed a notice of appeal on
       March 31, 2023. See Fed. R. App. P. 4(c)(1); Jeffries v. United States,
       748 F.3d 1310, 1314 (11th Cir. 2014). Although unclear, it appears
       that Findley is challenging his underlying criminal conviction.
       However, his notice of appeal is untimely to challenge his convic-
       tion and any other district court orders, as it was filed more than 14
       days after the last order the district court entered prior to the filing
       of the notice of appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 4(b)(1)(A).
               And because the government has objected to Findley’s un-
       timely appeal, we must apply the time limits of Federal Rule of Ap-
       pellate Procedure 4(b). See United States v. Lopez, 562 F.3d 1309,
       1313-14 (11th Cir. 2009) (holding that we must apply Rule 4(b)’s
       14-day time limit when the government objects to an untimely no-
       tice of appeal). Additionally, because Findley filed his notice of ap-
       peal more than 30 days after the expiration of the 14-day appeal
       period for any of the district court’s orders, he is not eligible for
       relief under Rule 4(b)(4). See Fed. R. App P. 4(b)(4) (providing that,
       upon a finding of excusable neglect or good cause, the district court
       may extend the time to file a notice of appeal for up to 30 days);
       United States v. Ward, 696 F.2d 1315, 1317-18 (11th Cir. 1983) (not-
       ing that we customarily treat a late notice of appeal, filed within
USCA11 Case: 23-11133      Document: 36-1      Date Filed: 02/16/2024     Page: 3 of 3

       23-11133               Opinion of the Court                          3

       the 30 days during which an extension is permissible, as a motion
       for extension of time under Rule 4(b)(4) and remand to the district
       court). Further, to the extent that Findley is challenging his judg-
       ment of conviction, the appeal is duplicative, and, thus, not
       properly before us, as he has already appealed the judgment. See
       Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. v. Risjord, 449 U.S. 368, 374 (1981) (not-
       ing that a party “must ordinarily raise all claims of error in a single
       appeal following final judgment on the merits”); I.A. Durbin, Inc. v.
       Jefferson Nat’l Bank, 793 F.2d 1541, 1551-52 (11th Cir. 1986) (noting
       that we have inherent administrative power to dismiss duplicative
       litigation to avoid wasting judicial resources).
              Accordingly, this appeal is DISMISSED.