Cooper v. Jones

Filing 36

ORDER granting 35 Motion to Reopen Case. Plaintiff has 14 days from the entry of this Order to file his Notice of Appeal. Signed by Honorable Susan O. Hickey on May 12, 2015. (mll)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
TEXARKANA DIVISION
VINCENT COOPER
v.

PLAINTIFF
Case No. 4:14-CV-04059

CARLTON JONES

DEFENDANTS
ORDER

Before the Court is Plaintiff Vincent Cooper’s request to reopen his case. (ECF No. 35). The
Defendant Carlton Jones has not responded. Cooper requests that his case be reopened so that he can
file a notice of appeal.
The Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure establish the deadlines that govern appeals. See
Fed. R .App. P. 1(a)(1). When a party is properly notified of a judgment, Rule 4(a)(1)(A) provides
the party with 30 days to appeal. Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1)(A). Pursuant to Rule 4(a)(5), a movant may
request a filing extension of up to 30 days upon a showing of “excusable neglect or good cause,” Fed.
R. App. P. 4(a)(5)(A)(ii), but must do so within the 30 days following the initial 30-day appeal period.
Fed. R .App. P. 4(a)(5)(A)(i). This Court adopted the Report and Recommendation dismissing this
case on March 3, 2015. The time to file his notice of appeal expired 30 days later, on April 3, 2015.
He moved to extend his time to file a notice of appeal on April 23, 2015, within 30 days of the
expiration of the initial 30-day period expired. (ECF No. 35). Cooper has shown good cause for
failing to comply with the deadline, his inability to obtain the proper appeal forms. Therefore, the
Court will extend his time to file a notice of appeal.
Accordingly, Cooper’s Motion to Reopen his Case is GRANTED. He has fourteen (14) days
from the entry of this Order to file his notice of appeal.
IT IS SO ORDERED, this 12th day of May, 2015.
/s/ Susan O. Hickey
Susan O. Hickey
United States District Judge