B Chatterjee v. T King

1 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO
2 BANI CHATTERJEE,
3 Petitioner-Appellant
4 v. NO. 29,473
5 TAYA KING,
6 Respondent-Appellee.
7 APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF SANTA FE COUNTY
8 Daniel A. Sanchez, District Judge
9 Caren I. Friedman
10 Santa Fe, NM
11 N. Lynn Perls
12 Albuquerque, NM
13 for Appellant
14 Richard S. Lees
15 Santa Fe, NM
16 for Appellee
17 MEMORANDUM OPINION
18 VIGIL, Judge.
19 Petitioner appeals from the district court’s order of dismissal. We issued a
20 calendar notice proposing to dismiss the appeal for lack of a final order. Petitioner
1 filed a timely memorandum in opposition, which we have duly considered.
2 Unpersuaded, we dismiss this appeal.
3 DISCUSSION
4 The relevant facts are as follows. The district court filed its order of dismissal
5 on March 11, 2009. [RP 79-80] On March 24, 2009, Petitioner filed a motion to
6 reconsider the order of dismissal pursuant to Rules 1-052(D) and 1-059(E) NMRA.
7 [Id. 84-90] Petitioner filed a notice of appeal from the order of dismissal on April 8,
8 2009. [Id. 116-17] The district court did not rule on Petitioner’s motion to reconsider
9 before the notice of appeal was filed.
10 Our calendar notice noted that Petitioner’s timely motion to reconsider extended
11 the time to file a notice of appeal until thirty days from the denial of the motion,
12 pursuant to Rule 12-201(D) NMRA. Motions filed under Rules 1-052(D) and 1-
13 059(E) are not deemed denied as a matter of law. See Albuquerque Redi-Mix, Inc. v.
14 Scottsdale Ins. Co., 2007-NMSC-051, ¶ 13, 142 N.M. 527, 168 P.3d 99; Rule 1-054.1
15 NMRA (providing that the district court shall enter a judgment or order on a post-
16 judgment motion filed pursuant to Rules 1-052 and 1-059 within sixty days after
17 submission). A recent Supreme Court case has held that, when a party files a motion
18 challenging the judgment, the judgment is not final until the district court has ruled
19 on the post-judgment motion. See Grygorwicz v. Trujillo, 2009-NMSC-009, ¶ 8, 145
2
1 N.M. 650, 203 P.3d 865 (explaining that, if a party makes a post-judgment motion
2 directed at the final judgment pursuant to NMSA 1978, Section 39-1-1 (1978), the
3 time for filing a notice of appeal does not begin to run until the district court expressly
4 disposes of that motion). As we read Albuquerque Redi-Mix and Grygorwicz, when
5 a motion challenging the district court’s determination of the rights of the parties
6 pursuant to Rule 1-052(D) or 1-059(E) motion is pending in the district court, the
7 judgment or order entered by the district court remains non-final. See Dickens v.
8 Laurel Healthcare, LLC, 2009-NMCA-___, ___ N.M. ___, ___ P.3d ___ (No. 29,239,
9 June 18, 2009). Here, Petitioner filed a post-judgment motion that challenged the
10 district court order. Resolution of the post-judgment motion could alter, amend, or
11 moot the order that was challenged. Thus, our calendar notice proposed to hold that
12 the order is not final and that Petitioner’s appeal is premature. See id.13 Petitioner argues that the order of dismissal was not rendered non-final by the
14 pending motion to reconsider. [MIO 3] Petitioner further contends that the notice of
15 appeal divested the district court of jurisdiction to rule on the motion for
16 reconsideration and that she voluntarily waived the motion to reconsider by filing the
17 notice of appeal. [Id. 3-6] In the alternative, Petitioner urges this Court to issue a
18 limited remand for the district court to rule on the motion to reconsider. [Id. 8]
3
1 We recently addressed similar arguments in Dickens, noting that “the holdings
2 of our Supreme Court in Albuquerque Redi-Mix and Grygorwicz establish that a Rule
3 1-059(E) motion be expressly disposed of before the time for filing the notice of
4 appeal begins to run.” Dickens, 2009-NMCA-___, ¶ 6. We further stated, “As we
5 read those cases, when a Rule 1-059(E) motion, or other motion that challenges the
6 district court’s determination of the rights of the parties, is pending in the district
7 court, the judgment or order entered by the district court remains non-final.” See
8 Dickens, 2009-NMCA-___, ¶ 6 (referring to Grygorwicz, 2009-NMSC-009, ¶ 8).
9 Because Petitioner’s motion to reconsider remained outstanding when the
10 notice of appeal was filed, the notice of appeal was filed before there was a final order
11 in this case. For these reasons, we dismiss this appeal and remand this case to the
12 district court for further proceedings. Once a final order has been entered, Petitioner
13 may appeal in accordance with our rules of appellate procedure.
14 IT IS SO ORDERED.
15 ___________________________
16 MICHAEL E. VIGIL, Judge
4
1 WE CONCUR:
2 ______________________________________
3 MICHAEL D. BUSTAMANTE, Judge
4 ______________________________________
5 ROBERT E. ROBLES, Judge
5