O'Keeffe v. Wolff

Filing 3

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge George Jarrod Hazel on 1/23/2015. (aos, Deputy Clerk)

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FILED

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ENTERED

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
Southern Division

TIMOTHY

--LOGGED --RECEIVED

JAN 2 3 2015

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O'KEEFFE

Appellant,

BY

ATGReeNSELT
CLERK, U.S. DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MARYLAND

DEPUTY

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v.
Case No.: G.JH-I-4-3829
Bankr. No.: 13-0-495-WIL

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MICHAEL

G. WOLFF

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Appellee.

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MEMORANDUM

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OPINION

This is an appeal of the Bankruptcy Court's Order entering judgment against Appellant
Timothy O'Keeffc. ECF NO.1-I. This Memorandum and accompanying Order address Appellee
Michael G. Wolffs

Motion to Dismiss Appeal. ECF NO.2. Appellant has not opposed the

motion and the time for doing so has passed. The Court finds that a hearing is unnecessary. See
Local Rule 105.6. For the reasons stated below, Appellee

WoW's

motion to dismiss is

GRANTED and this appeal is DISMISSED.
I.

BACKGIWUND
On August 27. 2013. WoltT filed a Complaint for Turnover and Objection to and/or

Revocation of Discharge against O'Keeffe as an adversary proceeding in the U.S. Bankruptcy
Court for the District of Maryland. Bankr. ECF No. I. O'KeelTe was served with the complaint
and failed to file an answer or dispositive motion. On October 17. 2013. a Clerk's Entry of
Default was entered against O'Keeffe. Bankr. ECF NO.6. The adversary proceeding was stayed
for a period. but the stay was lined on May 30. 2014. Bankr. ECF Nos. 11 & 14. On July 3.

2014. a second Clerk's Entry of Default was entered against O'Keeffe. Bankr. ECF No. 19. The
Bankruptcy Court granted Judgment by Default against O' Keeffe on July 21. 2014. 8ankr. ECF
No. 23. A hearing on damages was scheduled and held on October 22.2014.

Bankr. ECF Nos.

27 & 31. The Bankruptcy Court entered an Order of Final Judgment on Count IV of Wolff's
complaint on October 24. 2014. Bankr. ECF No. 32. The adversary proceeding was closed on
November 10,2014. O'Keeffe liled a notice of appeal on November 25.2014.

Bankr. ECF

'0.

34.
II.

DISCUSSION
Appellee argues that the Court lacks jurisdiction to hear this appeal due to Appellant's

untimely filing of the notice of appeal. ECF NO.2 at 5. The Court "has jurisdiction to determine.
as a threshold matter. whether a notice of appeal has been timely tiled. but it ultimately will lack
jurisdiction

to hear the appeal if the appeal was not timely tiled:' Reig \'. Wells Fargo Bank.

NA .. 2013 WL 3280035 at *1 (D. Md. June 26, 2013) (citing AgSolllh Farm Credil. ACA \'.
Bishop (In re Craig Lewis Bishop), 333 B.R. 746. 748 n.3 (D.S.C. 2005».
Under Fed. R. Bank. P. 8002(a)(1). "notice of appeal shall be tiled with the clerk within
14 days of the date of the entry of the judgment. order. or decree appealed from ...\ If the notice of
appeal is not liled timely. the federal district court is deprived of jurisdiction to hear the appeal.
SlI1ilh \'. DailJ'II1U1I.
Inc.. 790 F.2d 1107. 1109 (4th Cir. 1986) (citing Maller 'lRall1sey. 612 F.2d
1220, 1222 (9th Cir. 1980)); O/s/lInd \'. Bellinger. 2012 WL 246440 at * I (D. Md. Jan. 25.2012)
\ The time for tiling a notice of appeal may be extended if a party timely tiles certain motions
with the Bankruptcy Court. See Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002(b). The 8ankruptcy Court may also
extend the time to file a notice of appeal if a party tiles a motion within the time prescribed by
8002(a)( 1). or twenty-one days after that time. if the party shows excusable neglect. Fed. R.
Bankr. P. 8002(d)(I). In this case. Appellant did not tile any motions with the Bankruptcy Court
before or when he tiled his notice of appeal.

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("Rule 8002(a) of Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure states that such a notice must be filed
within 14 days of the entry of the order being appealed. This is a jurisdictional

requirement.

Failure to comply with this requirement results in the dismissal of an appeal. ") (citing Ballard v.
Tamojira. Inc" 106 F.3d 389 (4th Cir.1997».
Here, the Bankruptcy
Appellee's

Court entered its Order of Final Judgment on Count IV of

complaint on October 24, 2014. Bankr. ECF No. 32. Appellant filed a notice of

appeal on November 25, 2014, thirty-one days after the Bankruptcy Court's entry of judgment.
Bankr. ECF No. 34; ECF No. I at 2. Thus, this Court lacks jurisdiction over the appeal.

III, CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, Appellee Wolff's Motion to Dismiss Appeal. ECF NO.2, is
GRANTED. This case is DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction.
A separate Order shall issue.

/k£-

Dated: January 23,2015

GEORGE J. HAZEL
United States District Judge

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