Chambers v. Courtesy Pontiac-GMC Trucks, Inc.
Chambers v. Courtesy Pontiac-GMC Trucks, Inc.
Opinion
Eddie Chambers appeals from an arbitrator's award dismissing, with prejudice, Chambers's claim for damages against Courtesy Pontiac-GMC Trucks, Inc. ("Courtesy Pontiac"). Because we conclude that Chambers's appeal is untimely, we dismiss the appeal.
On March 1, 2002, Chambers sued Courtesy Pontiac, alleging that Courtesy Pontiac had sold him a defective automobile. Courtesy Pontiac moved to compel arbitration of Chambers's claim pursuant to the *Page 168 arbitration provision in the automobile sales contract entered into by the parties. The trial court subsequently entered an order granting the motion to compel arbitration, and Chambers appealed that order to this court. On August 26, 2003, this court issued an order dismissing Chambers's appeal as being untimely filed.
Chambers's claim against Courtesy Pontiac proceeded to arbitration. On February 8, 2006, the arbitrator convened an arbitration hearing at which neither Chambers nor his attorney appeared. On February 22, 2006, the arbitrator dismissed Chambers's claim, with prejudice. On March 6, 2006, Chambers moved the trial court to order further arbitration proceedings. Chambers's motion asserted that the arbitrator had failed to notify either Chambers or his attorney of the arbitration hearing held on February 8, 2006. On June 1, 2006, Courtesy Pontiac filed a "motion to dismiss." On June 27, 2006, the trial court granted Courtesy Pontiac's motion and entered a judgment in its favor. In its judgment, the trial court stated that Chambers's proper remedy upon receiving notice of the arbitrator's award appeared to be an appeal to the appropriate appellate court, pursuant to §
On August 7, 2006, Chambers filed a notice of appeal to this court. However, this court concluded that it lacked jurisdiction and, consequently, transferred the appeal to the supreme court. The supreme court subsequently transferred the appeal to this court, pursuant to §
Courtesy Pontiac contends that Chambers's appeal is not timely. We agree. Section
"Either party may appeal from an award under this division. Notice of the appeal to the appropriate appellate court shall be filed within 10 days after receipt of notice of the award and shall be filed with the clerk or register of the circuit court where the action is pending or, if no action is pending, then in the office of the clerk or register of the circuit court of the county where the award is made. The notice of appeal, together with a copy of the award, signed by the arbitrators or a majority of them, shall be delivered with the file of papers or with the submission, as the case may be, to the court to which the award is returnable; and the clerk or register shall enter the award as the [judgment] of the court. Thereafter, unless within 10 days the court shall set aside the award for one or more of the causes specified in Section
6-6-14 [, Ala. Code 1975], the judgment shall become final and an appeal shall lie as in other cases. In the event the award shall be set aside, such action shall be a final [judgment] from which an appeal shall lie as in other cases."
The arbitrator dismissed Chambers's claim, with prejudice, on February 22, 2006. Pursuant to §
We recognize that Rule 4(a)(1), Ala. R.App. P., provides: *Page 169
"Except as otherwise provided herein, in all cases in which an appeal is permitted by law as of right to the supreme court or to a court of appeals, the notice of appeal required by Rule 3[, Ala. R.App. P.,] shall be filed with the clerk of the trial court within 42 days (6 weeks) of the date of the entry of the judgment or order appealed from. . . ."
In Birmingham News Co. v. Horn,
Because Chambers did not timely file his appeal pursuant to the filing requirements of §
APPEAL DISMISSED.
THOMPSON, P.J., and PITTMAN, THOMAS, and MOORE, JJ., concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Eddie Chambers v. Courtesy Pontiac-Gmc Trucks, Inc.
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published