Hill v. Kervin
Hill v. Kervin
Opinion of the Court
David Lee Hill, Louisiana prisoner # 100085, has moved for leave to appeal in forma pauperis (IFP) from the dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 lawsuit as frivolous under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). The district court denied Hill IFP status and certified that the appeal was not taken in good faith under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3).
Although this case is before us on Hill’s motion to proceed IFP, we are obligated to examine the basis of our jurisdiction. Mosley v. Cozby, 813 F.2d 659, 660 (5th Cir. 1987). A valid and timely notice of appeal is a jurisdictional requirement. Bowles v. Russell, 551 U.S. 205, 127 S.Ct. 2360, 2366, 168 L.Ed.2d 96 (2007); 28 U.S.C. § 2107(a).
Although Hill’s constructive Rule 59(e) motion was not a valid notice of appeal, Hill filed a motion to proceed IFP that we construe as a notice of appeal because it was filed within 30 days of judgment. See Fischer v. U.S. Dept. of Justice, 759 F.2d 461, 464 (5th Cir. 1985). Such notice of appeal is nonetheless not yet effective because the district court has never disposed of Hill’s constructive Rule 59(e) motion. Fed. R.App. P. 4(a)(4)(B)(i); Burt v. Ware, 14 F.3d 256, 260 (5th Cir. 1994). Accordingly, the case is REMANDED to the district court for the limited purpose of allowing the district court to rule on Hill’s outstanding Rule 59(e) motion. See Burt, 14 F.3d at 260-61.
LIMITED REMAND.
Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.