Clervrain v. Lawson ( 2022 )


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  • Case: 22-1483     Document: 20    Page: 1   Filed: 04/01/2022
    NOTE: This order is nonprecedential.
    United States Court of Appeals
    for the Federal Circuit
    ______________________
    MANETIRONY CLERVRAIN,
    Plaintiff-Appellant
    v.
    CONNIE LAWSON, MATT HURRELL, Director of
    the Bureau of Prisons, TODD YOUNG, United
    States Senator for Indiana,
    Defendants-Appellees
    ______________________
    2022-1483
    ______________________
    Appeal from the United States District Court for the
    Southern District of Indiana in No. 1:20-cv-01306-JMS-
    DML, Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson.
    ______________________
    PER CURIAM.
    ORDER
    Manetirony Clervrain brought this suit in federal dis-
    trict court in Indiana naming government officials as de-
    fendants. In December 2020, the court dismissed his
    complaint as frivolous. In March and June 2021, the dis-
    trict court denied post-judgment motions. The court also
    imposed a filing injunction. On July 4, 2021, Mr. Clervrain
    filed an appeal that was transmitted to the United States
    Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. On July 15, 2021,
    Case: 22-1483     Document: 20      Page: 2    Filed: 04/01/2022
    2                                        CLERVRAIN   v. LAWSON
    the district court denied Mr. Clervrain’s motion for leave to
    waive the docketing fee for his appeal. The appeal was
    eventually dismissed on February 2, 2022, after Mr.
    Clervrain failed to pay the fee.
    While his first appeal was pending, Mr. Clervrain con-
    tinued to file submissions at the district court. On August
    20, 2021, the district court ordered various submissions re-
    turned to Mr. Clervrain unfiled. On February 15, 2022,
    Mr. Clervrain filed a second notice of appeal referencing
    this court. On the same day, he again moved for leave to
    waive the docketing fee. On March 1, 2022, the district
    court denied the motion, concluding that this appeal was
    not taken in good faith.
    Although this court has jurisdiction over appeals from
    certain decisions of federal district courts, see 
    28 U.S.C. § 1295
    (a), that jurisdiction is limited in a way that appears
    to apply here: This court may only hear appeals in certain
    cases stemming from proceedings before the United States
    Patent and Trademark Office, see 
    28 U.S.C. § 1295
    (a)(4)(C); civil actions arising under the patent laws,
    see § 1295(a)(1); and cases where the district court’s juris-
    diction was based in part or in whole on the Little Tucker
    Act, 
    28 U.S.C. § 1346
    (a)(2), see § 1295(a)(2).            Mr.
    Clervrain’s complaint, which is difficult to decipher, does
    not appear to raise any cause of action that would give rise
    to our limited jurisdiction.
    While this court can, under 
    28 U.S.C. § 1631
    , transfer
    an appeal to another court in which the appeal could have
    been brought at the time it was filed, the Seventh Circuit
    would likewise lack jurisdiction. The timely filing of a no-
    tice of appeal in a civil action is a “jurisdictional require-
    ment.” Bowles v. Russell, 
    551 U.S. 205
    , 214 (2007). An
    appeal from a final judgment or order in a civil action must
    be filed within 60 days if the case involves the United
    States or one of its agencies or officers in an official capac-
    ity. See 
    28 U.S.C. § 2107
    (b); see also Fed. R. App. P.
    Case: 22-1483     Document: 20     Page: 3     Filed: 04/01/2022
    CLERVRAIN   v. LAWSON                                       3
    4(a)(1)(B). The district court did not issue any order within
    60 days of receipt of the second notice of appeal at issue
    here. Mr. Clervrain’s attempt to appeal is thus clearly un-
    timely.
    Accordingly,
    IT IS ORDERED THAT:
    (1) This appeal is dismissed.
    (2) Any pending motion is denied as moot.
    (3) Each side shall bear its own costs.
    FOR THE COURT
    April 1, 2022                       /s/ Peter R. Marksteiner
    Date                          Peter R. Marksteiner
    Clerk of Court
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 22-1483

Filed Date: 4/1/2022

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 4/13/2022