SCHWARZER v. WAINWRIGHT DRC (2020)

Mark Cliff Schwarzer, Texas prisoner # 1433741, appeals the dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint and the denial of his Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e) motion to alter judgment. However, the issues Schwarzer raises on appeal concern the dismissal of his § 1983 action rather than the denial of his Rule 59(e) motion. As a threshold matter, this court “must examine the basis of its jurisdiction, on its own motion if necessary.” Mosley v. Cozby, 813 F.2d 659, 660 (5th Cir. 1987). A timely notice of appeal in a civil case is a jurisdictional prerequisite. See Hamer v. Neighborhood Hous. Servs., ––– U.S. ––––, 138 S. Ct. 13, 17, 199 L.Ed.2d 249 (2017).

Schwarzer's Rule 59(e) motion was entered on the district court's docket on November 4, 2019, which was after the October 30, 2019, deadline for filing the motion. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e). However, under the prison mailbox rule, Schwarzer's Rule 59(e) motion is deemed filed on the date it was placed in the prison's mail system. See Stoot v. Cain, 570 F.3d 669, 671 (5th Cir. 2009). The motion was dated October 30, 2019, but the record does not reveal when Schwarzer deposited it in the mail. It is therefore unclear whether his Rule 59(e) motion was timely filed. As a result, on the present record, this court cannot determine whether it has jurisdiction to review the underlying dismissal of Schwarzer's § 1983 complaint. See Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(4)(A). Accordingly, we hold the appeal in abeyance and remand for the limited purpose of determining when Schwarzer placed his Rule 59(e) motion in the prison mail system. See Thompson v. Montgomery, 853 F.2d 287, 288 (5th Cir. 1988).

APPEAL HELD IN ABEYANCE; LIMITED REMAND.

FOOTNOTES

FOOTNOTE.  

Per Curiam:* FN* Pursuant to 5th Circuit Rule 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Circuit Rule 47.5.4.