Storey v. Paramo
Filing
81
ORDER granting Motion for Enlargement of Time. Storey's motion to extend the time to file the amended notice of appeal is GRANTED. Pursuant to Rule 4(a)(5)(C), the time to file an amended notice of appeal is extended to fourteen (14) calendar days from the date of this Order. Signed by Judge Larry Alan Burns on 4/15/2022. (USCA Case Number 19-56156. Order electronically transmitted to the US Court of Appeals. All non-registered users served via U.S. Mail Service.) (akr)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11
DONTAZE A. STOREY,
Case No.: 17cv23-LAB (BGS)
Petitioner,
12
13
v.
14
ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR
ENLARGEMENT OF TIME [Dkt. 80]
DAINEL PARAMO,
15
Respondent.
16
17
On August 27, 2019, the Court denied Dontaze A. Storey’s habeas corpus
18
petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 and entered judgment against him. (Dkt. 66).
19
Storey filed a timely notice of appeal. (Dkt. 73). He also filed objections to the
20
Report and Recommendation issued in his case by Magistrate Judge Michael
21
Berg, which the Court treated as a motion for relief from judgment under Federal
22
Rule of Civil Procedure 59. (Dkt. 72).
23
On July 7, 2021, this Court overruled Storey’s objections and also denied his
24
motion for reconsideration of the Court’s earlier order denying his habeas corpus
25
petition. (Dkt. 78). That order was entered on July 8, 2021. (Id.). Storey didn’t file
26
an amended notice of appeal from this post-judgment order. Instead, on August
27
19, 2021, he filed a motion for enlargement of time to file an amended notice of
28
appeal. (Dkt. 80-1). The Ninth Circuit has remanded the appeal to this Court for
1
17cv23-LAB (BGS)
1
the limited purpose of determining whether Storey’s August 19, 2021 filing may
2
properly be treated as a motion for extension of time to appeal (Fed. R. App. P.
3
4(a)(5)) and, if so, whether relief is warranted. (Dkt. 80).
4
In a civil case, a notice of appeal must generally be filed in a district court
5
within thirty days after entry of judgment. See S.L. v. Upland Unified Sch. Dist.,
6
747 F.3d 1155, 1161 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1)(A)). Under Rule
7
4(a)(5), a district court may extend the time to file a notice of appeal if: (1) the party
8
moves to extend no later than 30 days after the time allotted under Rule 4(a) (that
9
is, after the original 30 days); and (2) the party is able to demonstrate excusable
10
neglect or good cause. Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(5)(A). Good cause “applies in
11
situations in which there is no fault—excusable or otherwise. In such situations,
12
the need for an extension is usually occasioned by something that is not within the
13
control of the movant.” Arias-Maldonado v. Sisto, 2012 WL 219190, *2 n.2 (E.D.
14
Cal. Jan. 24, 2012) (quoting Advisory Comm. Note to 2002 Amendment of Fed. R.
15
App. P. 4(a)(5)(A)(ii)). Rule 4(a)(5)(C) authorizes an extension of up to thirty days
16
beyond the original time for filing, or up to fourteen days from entry of the extension
17
order, whichever is later. See id. (“No extension under this Rule 4(a)(5) may
18
exceed 30 days after the prescribed time or 14 days after the date when the order
19
granting the motion is entered, whichever is later.”).
20
Storey requested an extension of time to file an amended notice of appeal
21
because the building in which he was being housed is undergoing electrical
22
refitting, necessitating his move to a new housing unit and causing delays in the
23
delivery of his mail that had to be rerouted. (Dkt. 80-1). He maintains that because
24
he required additional time to prepare an amended notice of appeal, good cause
25
exists to grant the enlargement of time. (Id.). Storey’s thirty-day period for filing an
26
amended notice of appeal expired on August 7, 2021, and the deadline for
27
requesting an extension was September 6, 2021. Although he did not file a timely
28
amended notice, he did submit a motion for enlargement of time on August 19,
2
17cv23-LAB (BGS)
1
2021. (See Dkt. 80-1). His extension request was therefore timely, and this Court
2
has jurisdiction to consider his motion.
3
Courts considering Rule 4(a)(5) extension motions have pointed out that
4
while a “more structured and exacting analysis is appropriate where a party seeks
5
protection from his own negligence,” “justice permits greater discretion” when a
6
litigant is affected by unforeseeable circumstances. Ingram v. Warden, 2011 WL
7
318300, *2-*3 (D.N.J. Jan. 24, 2011) (quoting Price v. Gen. Cable Indus., Inc., 466
8
F. Supp.2d 610, 612-13 (W.D. Pa. 2006)). “[C]ourts have found that difficulties . . .
9
such as prison transfers, confinement in segregated housing units, and/or limited
10
access to legal materials, especially when considered in light of their pro se status,
11
constitute ‘good cause’ for purposes of Rule 4(a)(5).” Momoh v. Valenzuela, No.
12
LACV0906770VBFCW, 2015 WL 13037530, at *2 (C.D. Cal. Apr. 13, 2015)
13
(quoting Levesque v. Clinton County, 2014 WL 2090803, *2 (N.D.N.Y. May 19,
14
2014)); Williams v. Adams, No. CVF04-5203DLBHC, 2006 WL 1071962, at *1
15
(E.D. Cal. Apr. 24, 2006) (“Petitioner filed his motion to extend time within the thirty-
16
day time frame for filing a notice of appeal and Petitioner demonstrates good cause
17
for the extension, citing prison transfers over which he has no control.”). The record
18
here doesn’t suggest Storey delayed in bad faith or that Respondent will be
19
prejudiced if Storey is allowed to file an amended notice of appeal.
20
Storey’s motion to extend the time to file the amended notice of appeal is
21
GRANTED. Pursuant to Rule 4(a)(5)(C), the time to file an amended notice of
22
appeal is extended to fourteen (14) calendar days from the date of this Order.
23
24
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: April 15, 2022
25
26
27
Honorable Larry Alan Burns
United States District Judge
28
3
17cv23-LAB (BGS)
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?