Javillonar v. Shinseki

Case: 14-7062 Document: 8 Page: 1 Filed: 05/29/2014 NOTE: This order is nonprecedential. United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ______________________ SUSANA B. JAVILLONAR, Claimant-Appellant, v. ERIC K. SHINSEKI, SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, Respondent-Appellee. ______________________ 2014-7062 ______________________ Appeal from the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in No. 10-4030, Judge Robert N. Davis. ______________________ ON MOTION ______________________ Before RADER, Chief Judge, NEWMAN and HUGHES, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM. ORDER The Secretary of Veterans Affairs moves to file a re- sponse to this court’s show cause order out of time and moves to dismiss. Case: 14-7062 Document: 8 Page: 2 Filed: 05/29/2014 2 JAVILLONAR v. SHINSEKI This case originally arose out of a claim filed by Su- sana B. Javillonar seeking benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs based on the service of her deceased husband, Felipe J. Javillonar. While Mrs. Javillonar’s appeal was pending, the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (“Veterans Court”) was informed that she had also died. The Javillonars’ son, Artemio B. Javillonar, subse- quently filed a motion to substitute. The Veterans Court, however, denied that motion and entered judgment set- ting aside the underlying decision and dismissing the appeal. The Veterans Court issued its judgment on November 22, 2013. Although Artemio’s notice of appeal was originally re- ceived on or about December 24, 2013 by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of General Counsel, the Veter- ans Court did not receive the notice of appeal until Feb- ruary 7, 2014, 77 days after judgment. To be timely, a notice of appeal must be received by the Veterans Court within 60 days of the entry of judg- ment. See 38 U.S.C. § 7292(a); 28 U.S.C. § 2107(b); Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1). This statutorily-prescribed time for filing appeals from the Veterans Court to this court is mandatory and jurisdictional. See Wagner v. Shinseki, 733 F.3d 1343, 1348 (Fed. Cir. 2013). Thus, even in circumstances in which it would be equitable to do so, this court is without authority to waive the deadline for filing an appeal to this court from the Veterans Court. See Bowles v. Russell, 551 U.S. 205, 214 (2007). Because Javillonar’s appeal was filed past the statu- tory deadline for taking an appeal to this court, we must dismiss the appeal. Case: 14-7062 Document: 8 Page: 3 Filed: 05/29/2014 JAVILLONAR v. SHINSEKI 3 Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED THAT: (1) The Secretary’s motion for leave to file his re- sponse out of time is granted. (2) The Secretary’s motion to dismiss is granted. The appeal is dismissed. (3) Each side shall bear its own costs. FOR THE COURT /s/ Daniel E. O’Toole Daniel E. O’Toole Clerk of Court s30 ISSUED AS A MANDATE: May 29, 2014