Wilkinson v. Motor Vehicle Division, Dept. of Revenue, 80CA1066

Decision Date18 June 1981
Docket NumberNo. 80CA1066,80CA1066
PartiesSteven WILKINSON, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. MOTOR VEHICLE DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, State of Colorado, Defendant-Appellee. . II
CourtColorado Court of Appeals

Richard M. Borchers, P.C., Richard M. Borchers, Westminster, for plaintiff-appellant.

J. D. MacFarlane, Atty. Gen., Richard F. Hennessey, Deputy Atty. Gen., Mary J. Mullarkey, Roger Morris, Asst. Attys. Gen., Denver, for defendant-appellee.

STERNBERG, Judge.

Wilkinson appeals from an order of dismissal entered by the trial court, claiming that, because no motion to dismiss was before the court, dismissal was plain error. We affirm.

Wilkinson's driver's license was suspended on a hearing officer's finding that he had refused to submit to a chemical test, as required by the implied consent law. On February 22, 1980, pursuant to § 24-4-106, C.R.S.1973, he filed a complaint in the district court seeking review of the hearing officer's decision. The answer to the complaint was filed on March 10, 1980, and Wilkinson was notified on that date that he would have 40 days from the filing of the record with the court to file his opening brief. The record of the motor vehicle division was filed the same day and, on April 1, the transcript of administrative proceedings was filed.

On June 30, 1980, the motor vehicle division moved to dismiss on the grounds that the opening brief had not been filed. This motion was set for hearing on August 21, 1980. Prior to this date, Wilkinson did not file a brief, nor did he request an extension of time. On the date of the hearing, the trial court was advised that the parties had reached an agreement whereby the motion to dismiss would be withdrawn and Wilkinson's opening brief would be filed with the court within 15 days. On September 19, the brief still had not been filed and, therefore, the trial court, acting on its own motion, entered an order of dismissal. On September 30, Wilkinson moved for reconsideration of the trial court's order of dismissal, attaching a brief. From the trial court's denial of this motion, he appeals.

Under Warren Village, Inc. v. Board of Assessment Appeals, Colo., 619 P.2d 60 (1980), judicial review of agency action pursuant to § 24-4-106(4), C.R.S.1973 (1980 Cum.Supp.) is subject to time limits specified in the Colorado Appellate Rules. And C.A.R. 31(a) states that: "The appellant shall serve and file his brief within 40 days after the date on which the record is filed." (emphasis...

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4 cases
  • Estep v. People
    • United States
    • Colorado Supreme Court
    • April 18, 1988
    ...Fort Lyon Canal Co., 25 Colo. 515, 55 P. 728 (1898); Wilson v. People, 25 Colo. 375, 55 P. 721 (1898); Wilkinson v. Motor Vehicle Div., Dept. of Revenue, 634 P.2d 1016 (Colo.App.1981). The determination of whether good cause exists for permitting the late filing of a notice of appeal under ......
  • Maldonado v. Pratt
    • United States
    • Colorado Court of Appeals
    • November 17, 2016
    ...of the court whether to dismiss or proceed with an appeal when a brief is filed late. See C.A.R. 31(b) ; Wilkinson v. Motor Vehicle Div. , 634 P.2d 1016 (Colo. App. 1981). The determination depends on the circumstances of the particular case. State ex rel. Dep't of Corr. v. Pena , 788 P.2d ......
  • Cordova v. INDUST. CLAIM APPEALS OFFICE, 01CA0852.
    • United States
    • Colorado Court of Appeals
    • February 28, 2002
    ...comply with statutory time limitations for filing briefs is discretionary with this court. See C.A.R. 26(b), 31; Wilkinson v. Motor Vehicle Div., 634 P.2d 1016 (Colo.App.1981). A decision of a motions division is not always binding, see Hillen v. Colorado Compensation Ins. Auth., 883 P.2d 5......
  • Myers v. State, Dept. of Revenue, M.V.D., No. 04CA2179.
    • United States
    • Colorado Supreme Court
    • November 17, 2005
    ...668 P.2d 1 (Colo.1983); Warren Village, Inc. v. Board of Assessment Appeals, 619 P.2d 60 (Colo.1980); and Wilkinson v. Motor Vehicle Division, 634 P.2d 1016 (Colo.App.1981), is misplaced. In all those cases, the appealing party failed to file a brief — a failure that carries more serious co......

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