Ford v. Corizon Medical Services et al

Filing 37

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER re: 33 MOTION for Leave to Appeal filed by Plaintiff Anthony Butler Ford motion is GRANTED. Signed by District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr on 8/7/15. (MRS)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION
ANTHONY BUTLER FORD,

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Plaintiff,
v.
IAN WALLACE, et al.,
Defendants.

No. 1:14CV112 SNLJ

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on plaintiff=s motion for extension of time to file a notice of
appeal. See Doc. #33. Plaintiff, an inmate at Southeastern Correctional Center (“SECC”),
claims that he has been on “conditional lockdown” and been unable to access the prison law library
“adequately and in a timely manner.” The Court will grant the motion in part.
Under Rule 4(a)(5)(A) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, this Court may extend
the time for filing a notice of appeal if the Aparty so moves no later than 30 days after the time
prescribed by this Rule 4(a) expires@ and if the Aparty shows excusable neglect or good cause.@
ANo extension under . . . Rule 4(a)(5) may exceed 30 days after the prescribed time or 14 days after
the date when the order granting the motion is entered, whichever is later.@ Fed. R. App. P.
4(a)(5)(C). The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has counseled that pro se
appellants may be given Aspecial consideration . . . regarding their notices of appeal.@ Weekley v.
Jones, 927 F.2d 382, 386 (8th Cir. 1991).
The Court dismissed plaintiff=s case pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P.12(b)(6) on June 8, 2015.
Under Rules 4(a)(1)(A) and 25(a)(2)(C) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, plaintiff=s
notice of appeal was due to be placed in the mail system at SECC no later than July 8, 2015.

Plaintiff placed his motion for extension of time in SECC’s mail system on July 31, 2015. As a
result, plaintiff=s motion for extension of time was timely filed, as plaintiff moved for an extension
within thirty (30) days of the date his notice of appeal was due in this Court. Additionally, the
Court finds that plaintiff=s pro se status, as well as his claim that he has been in “conditional
lockdown” at SECC and unable to access the law library, good cause for granting the motion.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff=s motion for extension of time to file a notice of
appeal [Doc. #33] is GRANTED.
Dated this 7th day of August, 2015.

STEPHEN N. LIMBAUGH, JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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