Keith v. Newcourt, Inc., 75--1513
| Decision Date | 11 March 1976 |
| Docket Number | No. 75--1513,75--1513 |
| Citation | 530 F.2d 826 |
| Parties | Richard K. KEITH and Esther J. Keith, Appellees, v. NEWCOURT, INC., Appellant. |
| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit |
Gene Matthews, Jr., Wootton, Land & Matthews, Hot Springs, Ark., for appellant.
Don M. Schnipper, Wood, Smith & Schnipper, Hot Springs, Ark., for appellees.
Before LAY, ROSS and STEPHENSON, Circuit Judges.
This appeal arises out of an action brought by Richard and Esther Keith against the defendant, Newcourt, Inc., for personal injuries arising from an automobile accident on December 14, 1972 in Hot Springs County, Arkansas.
Defendant Newcourt counterclaimed for contribution from Richard Keith, as a joint tortfeasor under Arkansas law. The counterclaim was dismissed, the jury awarded Mrs. Keith $5,218.45 and rendered a verdict for defendant on Richard Keith's claim. On June 12, 1975, after judgment was entered on the verdict, plaintiff Esther Keith moved for a new trial on the ground inter alia that the damages awarded were insufficient. On July 1, 1975, an appeal was filed by Newcourt, Inc. from the dismissal of the defendant's counterclaim against Richard K. Keith. The docket entries of the district court reflect that no July 3, 1975, the trial court granted plaintiff's motion for new trial against Newcourt, Inc.
On the basis of the above record this court lacks jurisdiction to review the judgment appealed from. At the time that the notice of appeal was filed, a motion for new trial was pending and was subsequently granted. Under these circumstances, the judgment of the district court is not final without certification from the district court pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 54(b). See Sargent v. Johnson, 521 F.2d 1260 (8th Cir. 1975).
Furthermore, it is clear until the motion for new trial is ruled upon, a judgment is not final and any appeal therefrom is subject to dismissal as premature. See Leishman v. Associated Wholesale Electric Co., 318 U.S. 203, 205, 63 S.Ct. 543, 544, 87 L.Ed. 714, 716 (1943); Sykes v. United States, 392 F.2d 735, 738 n. 1 (8th Cir. 1968). 1
The appeal is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
1 Since a new trial was granted there exists no certainty that plaintiff will recover on the second trial, rendering the defendant's need for contribution speculative.
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Kirtland v. J. Ray McDermott & Co.
...context it has been suggested that a patently premature appeal should not divest the trial court of jurisdiction. See Keith v. Newcourt, 8 Cir. 1976, 530 F.2d 826; Hodgson v. Mahoney, 1 Cir. 1972, 460 F.2d 326, 328; Ruby v. Secretary of United States Navy, 9 Cir. 1966, 365 F.2d 385, 389, ce......
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U.S. v. Hitchmon, 77-5587
...United States v. Rumpf, 576 F.2d 818 (10th Cir. 1978); Resnik v. La Paz Guest Ranch, 289 F.2d 814 (9th Cir. 1961); Keith v. Newcourt, 530 F.2d 826 (8th Cir. 1976); Hodgson v. Mahoney, 460 F.2d 326 (10th Cir. 1972). On the other hand, the Third, Sixth and Seventh Circuits appear to share thi......
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Century Laminating, Ltd. v. Montgomery, 77-1541
...any appeal from the judgment is premature and subject to dismissal. Wiggs v. Courshon, 485 F.2d 1281 (5th Cir. 1973); Keith v. Newcourt, Inc., 530 F.2d 826 (8th Cir. 1976). In other circuits it has been held that a premature appeal taken from a judgment which is not final, but which is foll......
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U.S. v. Hitchmon
...by anything done in relation thereto." 58 F. at 493 (citation omitted). A more recent Eighth Circuit opinion, Keith v. Newcourt, Inc., 530 F.2d 826 (8th Cir. 1976), suggests agreement. The court there rejected an appeal of a dismissal of a counterclaim without 54(b) certification while a mo......
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28 APPENDIX U.S.C. § 4 Appeal As of Right-When Taken
...court has before it a motion the granting of which would vacate or alter the judgment appealed from. See, e. g., Kieth v. Newcourt, 530 F.2d 826 (8th Cir. 1976). Under the present rule, since docketing may not take place until the record is transmitted, premature filing is much less likely ......