Jurisdiction and Statute of Limitations

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7^th Circuit Court of Appeals

Case Name: Floyd May v. Sylvia Mahone, et al.

Case No.: 15-3395

Officials: FLAUM, RIPPLE, and ROVNER, Circuit Judges.

Focus: Jurisdiction and Statute of Limitations

In our earlier examination of this case, we questioned whether Mr. May filed a timely notice of appeal from the decision of the district court but decided that we lacked sufficient information to answer that question. See May v. Mahone, 876 F.3d 896, 898 (7th Cir. 2017). While retaining jurisdiction over the case, we therefore ordered a limited remand to the district court with instructions to determine whether Mr. May had submitted a notice of appeal on or before August 10, 2015, in compliance with Rule 4(c) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. Id. at 899.

On September 12, 2018, the district court, after affording the parties an opportunity to engage in discovery, held a hearing. The evidence consisted of the testimony of two witnesses and seven exhibits. Mr. May testified on his own behalf. The district court, upon evaluation of the evidence, held that Mr. May had not carried the burden of establishing that he mailed his notice of appeal in a timely fashion. Order, May v. Mahone, No. 11-cv-07503 (N.D. Ill. Oct. 10, 2018). Specifically, the district court determined that Mr. May’s testimony lacked credibility and that the remaining evidence established that the notice of appeal was not filed until sometime around October 15, 2015.

The factual finding of the district court establishes that Mr. May’s notice of appeal was filed outside of the time prescribed for such a filing. See id. at 897 (describing the computation that fixed the deadline at August 19, 2015). Accordingly, this court lacks jurisdiction over the appeal. See Hamer v. Neighborhood Hous. Servs. of Chicago, 138 S. Ct. 13, 16–17 (2017) (statutory timelines for appeal are jurisdictional and cannot be waived, forfeited, or excused). The appeal is therefore dismissed.

Dismissed

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Derek A Hawkins is trademark corporate counsel for Harley-Davidson. Hawkins oversees the prosecution and maintenance of the Harley-Davidson’s international trademark portfolio in emerging markets.