American Samoa § 43.0802 - Procedure applicable to appeal.

§ 43.0802. Procedure applicable to appeal.

The following procedure shall apply to appeals taken to the Appellate Division of the High Court: (a) Before filing a notice of appeal, a motion for a new trial shall be filed within 10 days after the announcement of the judgment or sentence. (b) A notice of appeal shall be filed within 10 days after the denial of a motion for a new trial. (c) The appellant shall cause the record on appeal to be filed with the appellate division and the appeal to be docketed there within 30 days from the date the notice or appeal is filed. Case Notes: Reporter’s failure to complete transcript not grounds for dismissal for failure to comply. Ripley v. Kelemete. ASR (1978). Time is computed as provided in Rule 6(a), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Ailua v. Maga Family, ASR (1978). Time for filing a notice of appeal is jurisdictional and court may not extend under Rule 26(c), Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, which allows 3 days for mailing or under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provision on excusable neglect. Taufua v. Steffany, ASR (1977). “Announcement” means “entry of judgment” which means docketing of an order or decision by the Clerk of the Court. Motion for new trial, therefor, not timely, and action taken thereon is nullify. Fai’ivae v. Tuse, ASR (1977). Motion for new trial must be filed within 10 days after judgement but may be served on parties after the tenth day. Manuma v. Bartley, 3 ASR2d 21(1986). Period for filing motion for new trial commences with formal announcement of judgement. Subsequent events such as issuance of written opinion, correction of error or receipt by counsel of notice of judgement, do not extend period for filing. Failure of clerk to file written entry of formally announced judgement does not prevent period from running. Judicial Memorandum, 4 ASR2d 172 (1987). Territorial statute requiring motions for new trial to be “filed” within ten days of judgment would not be construed to require service on opposing parties within the ten day period. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802. Olotoa v. Bartley, 3 A.S.R.2d 21 (1986). Motion for new trial is a statutory prerequisite to appeal, and no issue can be raised on appeal that was not raised in motion for new trial. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802. Kim v. Star-Kist Samoa, Inc., 8 A.S.R.2d 146 (1988). Parties who did not file a motion for new trial or reconsideration within ten days of judgment gave up their right to appeal the decision. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802(a),(b). Gi v. Temu (Mem.), 12 A.S.R.2d 33 (1989). The statutory deadline for filing motions for reconsideration or new trial is jurisdictional; if no such motion is filed within the requisite ten days, the Court no longer has the power to reconsider or amend its judgment and the losing party no longer has a right to appeal. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802(a) In re Matai Title Muagututi`a, 15 A.S.R.2d 1 (1990). The requirement that before filing a notice of appeal, a motion for a new trial shall be filed within 10 days after the announcement of the judgment or sentence is jurisdictional. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802(a). Taulaga v. Patea, 17 A.S.R.2d 34 9 (1990). If no timely motion for reconsideration or new trial conforming to the “particularity” requirement of T.C.R.C.P. 7(b)(1) is filed within the statutory ten-day deadline, then the Appellate Division lacks jurisdiction to entertain an appeal. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802(a). Taulaga v. Patea, 17 A.S.R.2d 34 (1990). The requirement that a notice of appeal shall be filed within 10 days after the denial of a motion for a new trial is jurisdictional. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802(b). Taulaga v. Patea, 17 A.S.R.2d 34 (1990). The requirement that a motion for a new trial be filed within ten days after the announcement of the judgment is a mandatory prerequisite to the exercise of jurisdiction by the Appellate Division. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802(a). In re Matai Title Mulitauaopele, 17 A.S.R.2d 75 (1990). The ten-day time limit to file a motion for a new trial is mandatory and jurisdictional; errors of law not raised within ten days of judgment or sentence are waived, at least insofar as they concern the right to appeal. A.S.C.A. §§ 43.0802(a), 46.2402(a). American Samoa Government v. Falefatu, 17 A.S.R.2d 114 (1990). The filing of a motion for new trial within ten days of the announcement of judgment is a mandatory prerequisite to appeal. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802(a). Lualemana v. Asifoa, 17 A.S.R.2d 151 (1990). A party whose motion for a new trial has been denied, in whole or in part, has ten days from that date to file a notice of appeal. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802(b). Willis v. Fai`ivae, 17 A.S.R.2d 179 (1990). The Appellate Division can hear an appeal only if a motion for new trial has been made within ten days of judgment, and only if a notice of appeal has been filed within ten days of the denial of a motion for new trial. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802. Taulaga v. Patea, 17 A.S.R.2d 206 (1990). Where a motion for reconsideration has been filed after the statutory deadline, the Appellate Division has no jurisdiction to entertain an appeal regardless of any arguments, equitable or otherwise. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802. Lualemana v. Asifoa, 18 A.S.R.2d 49 (1991). Although the statute does not provide a remedy for a situation in which, due to an error on the part of a Court employee or a theft from counsel’s Court box a litigant does not receive notice of the judgment until after the ten-day deadline, the Court might, in extraordinary situations, entertain a T.C.R.C.P Rule 60(b) motion and vacate the previous order dismissing the motion for reconsideration for lack of jurisdiction. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802. T.C.R.C.P. Rule 60(b). Lualemana v. Asifoa, 18 A.S.R.2d 49 (1991). The requirement of filing a motion for a new trial or reconsideration of judgment prior to an appeal is jurisdictional. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802(a). Rocha v. Rocha, 20 A.S.R.2d 63 (1992). In order for the appellate court to have jurisdiction over an appeal, (1) a motion for new trial or reconsideration must be filed within ten days after the announcement of the judgment or sentence, and (2) the notice of appeal must be filed within ten days after the denial of that timely motion. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802. Toluao v. Fuimaono, 21 A.S.R.2d 12 (1992). Attorney who was served with the court’s opinion and judgment had a duty to inform his clients of the result in time for them to decide whether they wished to file a motion for new trial or reconsideration. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802(a),(b). Gi v. Temu (Mem.), 12 A.S.R.2d 33 (1989). Statute imposing ten day time limit on motions for new trial is jurisdictional and leaves court no discretion to extend or disregard the time limit. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802(a). Satele v. Uiagalelei, 8 A.S.R.2d 97 (1988). Although deadlines for filing motions for new trial and appeal are set by the legislature and court is not free to overlook or extend them, a party may file a motion for relief from judgment after the statutory deadline for filing a motion for new trial. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802(a),(b); T.C.R.C.P. Rule 60(b). Gi v. Temu (Mem.), 12 A.S.R.2d 33 (1989). To prevail on a motion for relief from judgment, a party must show not only that the judgment was wrong but also that he has some compelling justification for not having called the mistake to the court’s attention within the ten days provided for filing a motion for new trial. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802(a),(b); T.C.R.C.P. Rule 60(b). Gi v. Temu (Mem.), 12 A.S.R.2d 33 (1989). Depending on the circumstances, parties’ receipt of notice of judgment from their attorney after expiration of the statutory time limit for filing a motion for reconsideration or new trial might support a motion for relief from the judgment. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802(a),(b); T.C.R.C.P. Rule 60(b). Gi v. Temu (Mem.), 12 A.S.R.2d 33 (1989). A failure to respond to the court’s notice of dismissal and to move within the ten days required by statute for a reconsideration of its order of dismissal did not constitute “excusable neglect” under Rule 60(b). A.S.C.A. § 43.0802(a); T.C.R.C.P. 60(b)(1). Jennings v. Jennings, 19 A.S.R.2d 34 (1991). Statute requiring mediation of disputes over communal land did not apply to dispute over land which trial court concluded, consistently with the record before it, to be individually owned. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802. Leota v. Sese, 12 A.S.R.2d 18 (1989). The requirement of filing a motion for a new trial or reconsideration of judgment prior to an appeal is jurisdictional. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802(a). Rocha v. Rocha, 20 A.S.R.2d 63 (1992). Statutory period for filing a motion for a new trial commences with the announcement of judgment. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802. Judicial Memorandum, 4 A.S.R.2d 172 (1987). The Clerk of Court will file a written entry of any judgment announced from the bench; the failure of the Clerk to do so, however, does not prevent the statutory period for filing motions for new trial from commencing with the announcement of judgment by the court. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802. Judicial Memorandum, 4 A.S.R.2d 172 (1987). Attorney who was served with the court’s opinion and judgment had a duty to inform his clients of the result in time for them to decide whether they wished to file a motion for new trial or reconsideration. A.S.C.A. § 43.0802(a),(b). Gi v. Temu (Mem.), 12 A.S.R.2d 33 (1989). The formal style or caption of a motion for a new trial is not essential to fulfill the statutory requirement; nor must the motion specifically request a new trial rather than some lesser or different form of relief, as long as the asserted errors are susceptible of such relief. A.S.C.A. §§ 43.0802(a), 46.2402(a). American Samoa Government v. Falefatu, 17 A.S.R.2d 114 (1990).