Ginko v. Albuquerque Health Partners

Court: New Mexico Court of Appeals
Date filed: 2013-04-17
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 1   This memorandum opinion was not selected for publication in the New Mexico Appellate Reports.
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 6        IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

 7 ROSEMARY GINKO,

 8          Plaintiff-Appellant,

 9 v.                                                                                   NO. 32,561

10 ALBUQUERQUE HEALTH PARTNERS,
11 LOVELACE HEALTH SYSTEM, INC.,

12          Defendants,

13 and

14 BRAD CUCCHETTI, DO.,

15          Defendant-Appellee.

16 APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF BERNALILLO COUNTY
17 Valerie Mackie Huling, District Judge

18 Trujillo Dodd, Torres, O’Brien, Sanchez, LLC
19 Donna S. Trujillo Dodd
20 Albuquerque, NM

21 for Appellant

22 Miller Stratvert, P.A.
23 Todd Schwarz
24 Albuquerque, NM
 1 for Defendants/Appellee




 2                             MEMORANDUM OPINION

 3 VANZI, Judge.

 4   {1}    Appellant Rosemary Ginko (Plaintiff) appeals from the district court’s

 5 dismissal of all her claims with prejudice as a sanction for her discovery abuses,

 6 including “the willful and intentional nature of Plaintiff’s conduct and deception.”

 7 [RP Vol.III/1321] Our notice proposed to dismiss for lack of a final order, in light of

 8 Plaintiff’s pro se “affidavit” [RP Vol.III/1328], which we view as tantamount to an

 9 outstanding motion to reconsider. Our notice provided, however, that in the event

10 Plaintiff should secure a final order ruling on the outstanding motion and provide this

11 Court with a copy thereof in the time for filing a memorandum in opposition, we

12 would proceed to calendar this case on the merits. Plaintiff was unable to secure a

13 final order, and for this reason we dismiss her appeal for lack of a final order. See

14 Dickens v. Laurel Healthcare, LLC, 2009-NMCA-122, ¶ 6, 147 N.M. 303, 222 P.3d

15 675 (holding that because resolution of the post-judgment motion could alter, amend,

16 or moot the order that is challenged, the order is not final and the appeal is premature).

17   {2}   While Plaintiff did not secure a final judgment from the district court, we note

18 that we are in receipt of the district court’s March 6, 2013, “order on motion to


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 1 withdraw and motion for ruling on outstanding matters” (order). [Ct.App.File, pink

 2 clip] In pertinent part, this order acknowledges the filing of Plaintiff’s pro se

 3 affidavit, prohibits Plaintiff from filing any more pro se pleadings in district court

 4 until further order of the district court, and indicates that a notice of hearing will be

 5 sent to Plaintiff’s counsel, at which time the district court will address—among other

 6 matters—the motion for ruling on outstanding matters. As relevant to our dismissal

 7 for lack of finality, this order acknowledges that matters remain to be decided below,

 8 thereby precluding finality.

 9   {3}    For reasons discussed herein and in our notice, we dismiss for lack of a final

10 order.

11   {4}    IT IS SO ORDERED.

12                                          __________________________________
13                                          LINDA M. VANZI, Judge

14 WE CONCUR:



15 _________________________________
16 RODERICK T. KENNEDY, Chief Judge



17 _________________________________
18 JONATHAN B. SUTIN, Judge




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