Lopez v. Hunter

Case: 25-1165 Document: 15 Page: 1 Filed: 01/31/2025

NOTE: This order is nonprecedential.

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

______________________

GUADALUPE LOPEZ, JR.,

Claimant-Appellant v.

TODD HUNTER, Acting Secretary of Veterans Af- fairs, Respondent-Appellee ______________________

2025-1165 ______________________

Appeal from the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in No. 24-1933, Judge Amanda L. Mere- dith.

______________________ ON MOTION ______________________

PER CURIAM.

ORDER

Guadalupe Lopez, Jr. has filed an appeal seeking re- view of an order of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims granting the Secretary of Veterans Af- fairs’s motion for an extension of time to file his brief. With that case still pending before that court, the Secretary now moves to waive the requirements of Federal Circuit Rule Case: 25-1165 Document: 15 Page: 2 Filed: 01/31/2025 2 LOPEZ v. HUNTER 27(f) and dismiss this appeal. Mr. Lopez opposes the mo- tion.

Under 38 U.S.C. § 7292(a), we have exclusive jurisdic- tion over a “decision” of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.” Consistent with longstanding traditions of the federal courts system and to help “avoid unnecessary piece- meal appellate review,” our cases have “generally declined to review non-final orders of the Veterans Court,” Williams v. Principi, 275 F.3d 1361, 1363–64 (Fed. Cir. 2002) (cita- tions omitted), which includes an order granting an exten- sion of time. We see no basis to depart from that approach here. Mr. Lopez may seek this court’s review by filing a timely notice of appeal after a final decision has been en- tered in his case.

Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED THAT: (1) The motion is granted. The appeal is dismissed. (2) All other pending motions are denied as moot. (3) Each side shall bear its own costs.

FOR THE COURT January 31, 2025

Date