Case: 18-10415 Date Filed: 04/15/2019 Page: 1 of 4
[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
________________________
No. 18-10415
Non-Argument Calendar
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D.C. Docket Nos. 9:16-cv-81993-KAM; 9:16-bkc-01046-EPK
In re: JOSEPH LLEWELLYN WORRELL,
Debtor
_____________________________________
JOSEPH LLEWELLYN WORRELL,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
versus
EMIGRANT MORTGAGE COMPANY,
RETAINED REALTY, INC.,
Defendants-Appellees.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Florida
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(April 15, 2019)
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Before JORDAN, NEWSOM, and FAY, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Joseph Worrell, proceeding pro se, appeals from the district court’s sua
sponte dismissal of his bankruptcy appeal for failure to prosecute.
We review for abuse of discretion a district court’s order dismissing a
bankruptcy appeal on procedural grounds. See In re Pyramid Mobile Homes, Inc.,
531 F.2d 743, 746 (5th Cir. 1976) (per curiam). 1
We read briefs filed by pro se litigants liberally, but issues not briefed on
appeal by a pro se litigant are abandoned. Timson v. Sampson,
518 F.3d 870, 874
(11th Cir. 2008) (per curiam). A litigant also abandons his claim by making only
passing references to it or failing to support it with arguments and authority.
Sapuppo v. Allstate Floridian Ins. Co.,
739 F.3d 678, 681 (11th Cir. 2014).
Further, we do not address arguments raised for the first time in a pro se litigant’s
reply brief.
Timson, 518 F.3d at 874 (citation omitted). Pro se litigants are also
required to conform to procedural rules. Albra v. Advan, Inc.,
490 F.3d 826, 829
(11th Cir. 2007) (per curiam).
In bankruptcy appeals to the district court, the appellant must file a brief
within 30 days after the docketing of notice that the record has been transmitted,
unless the district court specifies different time limits. Fed. R. Bankr. P.
1
See also Bonner v. City of Prichard,
661 F.2d 1206 (11th Cir. 1981).
2
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8018(a)(1). If the appellant fails to timely file a brief, the district court may
dismiss the appeal on its own motion after notice.
Id. 8018(a)(4). In the
bankruptcy context, we have explained that filing briefs, unlike filing a notice of
appeal, is not a jurisdictional prerequisite; accordingly, a showing of bad faith,
negligence, or indifference is necessary to a determination that dismissal is
appropriate for failure to file a brief. In re Beverly Mfg. Corp.,
778 F.2d 666, 667
(11th Cir. 1985) (interpreting former Bankruptcy Rule 8009(a)(1), requiring timely
filing of briefs).
Worrell has abandoned any claim that the district court abused its discretion
in dismissing his appeal for failure to prosecute on the ground that he filed his
initial brief almost seven months late. Even reading his opening brief in this Court
liberally, Worrell has not raised any argument as to the district court’s dismissal of
his appeal for failure to prosecution, let alone any argument that his failure to
prosecute was not negligent, indifferent, or done in bad faith. Instead, he has
raised arguments pertaining only to the lawfulness of the foreclosure sale of his
home. Although Worrell contends in his reply brief that the district court’s
dismissal was improper because any delay was caused by the court, not him, we
will not consider arguments raised for the first time in a reply brief, even from a
pro se litigant.
Timson, 518 F.3d at 874.
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Moreover, even if we were to conclude that Worrell had not abandoned his
position, we would hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion in
determining that he had demonstrated indifference and negligence by (1) filing his
initial district court brief almost seven months late, (2) ignoring the district court’s
initial order to explain the delay and show cause why his appeal should not be
dismissed for failure to prosecute, and then (3) failing for five months to respond to
the court’s second show-cause order. Accordingly, we AFFIRM.
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