Opinion
12-CV-6513L
11-07-2013
CHARLES R. LIVECCHI, SR., Appellant, v. KENNETH W. GORDON, KATHLEEN DUNIVIN SCHMITT, Appellees.
DECISION AND ORDER
The appellant debtor, appearing pro se, appeals from an order by the United States Bankruptcy Court (Warren, J.), dated May 31, 2012, which denied appellant's motion to reconsider a prior order, dated April 13, 2012, denying appellant's motion to remove the Chapter 7 trustee for the subject estate. (Dkt. #1; Bankr. Case 2-09-20897, Dkt. #1019, #1054).
On June 7, 2012, appellant filed a notice of appeal with the Bankruptcy Court, which was docketed in this Court on September 24, 2012 (Dkt. #1). On September 26, 2012, the Court issued a scheduling order directing appellant to file and serve his brief within twenty days, on or before October 16, 2012 (Dkt. #2). The appellant was further provided by the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court with a notice regarding his deadlines and duties relative to perfecting the record on appeal. (Dkt. #1-6).
Despite the passage of more than a year, appellant has not filed a brief or obtained an extension of time to do so. His filing of a designation of items for the record on appeal was untimely, notwithstanding warnings that his failure to comply with the applicable deadlines could result in the dismissal of his appeal, and to date the record remains incomplete and the appeal unperfected. (Dkt. #1-8).
It is well settled that federal courts are vested with the authority to dismiss a bankruptcy appellant's claims for failure to prosecute, sua sponte. See e.g., Bristol v. Ackerman, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27647 (E.D.N.Y. 2010); Babcock v. Philp, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 88329 (E.D.N.Y. 2008). Failure to file a timely brief has been held to be inexcusable, where the appellant provides no explanation for the failure after several months. See e.g., Balaber-Strauss v. Reichard, 835 F.2d 54, 55 (2d Cir. 1987); Bristol, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27647 at *6; Adler v. Bancplus Mortgage Corp., 108 B.R. 435, 438 (S.D.N.Y. 1989).
Appellant here has failed to file a brief, and the deadline to do so expired over twelve months ago. He has failed to provide the Court with any explanation for his failure to file a brief or his delay in filing a designation of items for the record on appeal, and I find these failures to be inexcusable under the circumstances, notwithstanding plaintiff's pro se status. See Edwards v. INS, 59 F.3d 5, 8 (2d Cir. 1995) (pro se plaintiffs are required to inform themselves of relevant procedural rules, and to comply with them). Appellant was clearly on notice of the need to comply with the applicable procedural rules and filing deadlines, having been provided with adequate notice of those requirements in this Court's scheduling order and in correspondence from the Bankruptcy Court Clerk. (Dkt. #1-6, #1-8, #2). Appellant was also aware of the consequences of failing to comply with the applicable deadlines for filing briefs and completing the record, having had prior bankruptcy actions dismissed for such failures. See e.g., Livecchi v. Gordon, 10-CV-6615 at Dkt. #2 (November 18, 2010 order of Hon. Charles Siragusa, warning Livecchi to correct his failure to timely perfect the appeal within ten days or else the matter would be dismissed) and Dkt. #3 (December 20, 2010 letter order of Hon. Charles Siragusa, directing that the matter be dismissed due to Livecchi's "multiple failures . . . to properly present [his] appeal, despite detailed guidance from the Bankruptcy Court and this Court"). See also Livecchi v. Gordon, 11-CV-6227 at Dkt. #5 (April 12, 2012 order of this Court, dismissing a prior bankruptcy appeal by Livecchi for failure to file a brief more than eleven months after it was due).
The Court has considered whether lesser sanctions would be appropriate, and concludes that given the length of the appellant's extreme delay and his apparent indifference to the prosecution of the instant appeal, his conduct is willful and dismissal is warranted.
Although appellant has engaged in filings within the last year, they were unrelated to his obligations to perfect the appeal and file a brief. Instead, appellant filed, and then withdrew, a motion to "adjourn" the scheduling order. (Dkt. #3). He also moved, twice, for recusal of the judge. (Dkt. #4, #6). Those motions were denied as meritless. (Dkt. #5, #7).
The Court need not reach the merits of the pending appeal, as this action is subject to dismissal for failure to prosecute. Nonetheless, the Court has reviewed the order appealed-from denying appellant's motion for reconsideration, as well as the underlying order for which appellant sought reconsideration, and finds no basis on the merits to disturb them.
Accordingly, the instant appeal is dismissed in its entirety, with prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
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DAVID G. LARIMER
United States District Judge
Dated: Rochester, New York
November 7, 2013.