Ellis v. Pride

Filing 6

ORDER GRANTING appellee's 4 MOTION to Dismiss Appeal; further ORDERING that this appeal is DISMISSED with prejudice, as further set out in order. Signed by Chief Judge William Keith Watkins on 8/30/17. (djy, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
NORTHERN DIVISION
CHIP ELLIS and ELLIS
MOTORCARS, INC.,
Appellants,
v.
JENNIFER ELAINE PRIDE,
Appellee.

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CASE NO. 2:17-CV-254-WKW
[WO]

ORDER
Before the court is Appellee Jennifer Elaine Pride’s Motion to Dismiss
Appeal. (Doc. # 4.) Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 8018(a)(1) sets a thirtyday deadline for an appellant to “serve and file a brief” after the transmittal of the
record has been docketed. Should the appellant fail to meet this deadline, subsection
(a)(4) authorizes the district court to dismiss the appeal, whether sua sponte or on
the appellee’s motion.
Rule 8018 does not grant absolute discretion to dismiss appeals for failure to
prosecute. Indeed, the Eleventh Circuit has cautioned against “routine dismissal[s]
for failure to timely file briefs.” Brake v. Tavormina (In re Beverly Mfg. Corp.), 778
F.2d 666, 667 (11th Cir. 1985). Instead, “dismissal is proper only when bad faith,
negligence or indifference has been shown.” Id.

Because Appellant’s ongoing silence in this matter demonstrates negligence
and indifference, dismissal of this appeal is proper. See Pyramid Mobile Homes,
Inc. v. Speake, 531 F.2d 743, 745–46 (5th Cir. 1976) (affirming district court’s
dismissal of appeal where “for over four months after filing its appeal appellant had
made no effort to comply with the Rules”). Since the transmittal of appeal from the
bankruptcy court was docketed on April 25, 2017, Appellant has not filed any papers
with the court. The court’s August 1, 2017 Order to respond to Appellee’s motion
to dismiss similarly went unanswered. (See Doc. # 5.) This is the sort of “complete
failure to take any steps other than the mere filing of a notice of appeal” that justifies
dismissal under Rule 8018(a)(4). In re Beverly Mfg. Corp., 778 F.2d at 667.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED that Appellee Jennifer Elaine Pride’s Motion to
Dismiss Appeal (Doc. # 4) is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that this appeal
is DISMISSED with prejudice.
A final judgment will be entered separately.
DONE this 30th day of August, 2017.
/s/ W. Keith Watkins
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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