DUGAS v. QUINTERO (2021)

Jarvis Dugas, Texas prisoner # 1386881, filed a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights action against several defendants, asserting claims of excessive force and deliberate indifference to medical needs. The district court issued an order granting in part and denying in part the defendants’ motions for dismissal or summary judgment, and denying Dugas's motion to amend the complaint. But the order did not dismiss all of the claims or defendants. Dugas seeks to appeal that order. The defendants assert that this court lacks jurisdiction because there is no final appealable order.

Federal appellate courts have jurisdiction over appeals from: (1) final orders, 28 U.S.C. § 1291; (2) orders that are deemed final due to jurisprudential exception or which can be properly certified as final pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b); and (3) interlocutory orders that fall into specific classes, 28 U.S.C. § 1292(a), or which can be properly certified for appeal by the district court, § 1292(b). See Dardar v. Lafourche Realty Co., 849 F.2d 955, 957 (5th Cir. 1988). “As a general rule, an order is final only when it ends the litigation on the merits and leaves nothing for the court to do but execute the judgment.” Thompson v. Betts, 754 F.2d 1243, 1245-46 (5th Cir. 1985) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Further, “any decision that adjudicates the liability of fewer than all the parties does not terminate the action” absent conditions that are not present here. Id. At least one claim remains pending in the district court.

Accordingly, there is no final appealable judgment, and we lack jurisdiction. The appeal is DISMISSED. All of Dugas's motions filed in this court are DENIED AS MOOT.

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Per Curiam:* FN* Pursuant to 5th Circuit Rule 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Circuit Rule 47.5.4.