Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 490
ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION III
No. CV-17-110
RONALD SHELTON TIDWELL Opinion Delivered: September 27, 2017
APPELLANT
APPEAL FROM THE HEMPSTEAD
V. COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
[NO. 29DR-12-249]
LAUREN MADISON ROSENBAUM
APPELLEE HONORABLE DUNCAN CULPEPPER,
JUDGE
DISMISSED
WAYMOND M. BROWN, Judge
Appellant appeals from the circuit court’s order denying his combined motion to
vacate and motion for a new trial. Appellant’s sole argument on appeal is that the circuit
court erred when it interpreted its agreed order as having given appellee sole custody of the
parties’ minor child. We dismiss.
The circuit court entered its order concerning custody and child support on
September 19, 2016. Appellant filed his motion to vacate judgment and for a new trial on
September 21, 2016. The circuit court entered an order denying the motion on October
27, 2016. Appellant filed his notice of appeal on November 21, 2016.
Rule 4(b)(1) provides that “if the circuit court neither grants nor denies the motion
within thirty days of its filing, the motion shall be deemed denied by operation of law as of
the thirtieth day, and the notice of appeal shall be filed within thirty days of that date.” 1
1
Williams v. Office of Child Support Enf’t, 2013 Ark. App. 472 (citing Ark. R. App.
R.–Civ. 4(b)(1)).
Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 490
When the trial court fails to act within the thirty-day period under Rule 4(b)(1), it loses
jurisdiction to consider a motion for new trial. 2 Accordingly, since appellant’s motion was
deemed denied by operation of law on October 21, 2016, the circuit court had no
jurisdiction to enter its October 27, 2016 order.
According to Arkansas Rule of Appellate Procedure–Civil 3(e), a notice of appeal
“shall designate the judgment, decree, order or part thereof appealed from.” 3 In interpreting
this rule, our appellate courts have held that orders not mentioned in the notice of appeal
are not properly before us. 4 Appellant’s notice of appeal states that he is appealing from the
“order refusing new trial.” We acknowledge that under Arkansas Rule of Appellate
Procedure–Civil 3(e) absolute strict compliance is not always necessary, but Arkansas
appellate courts do require substantial compliance. 5 Normally, where an appellant attempts
to designate the order and simply misidentifies the order by date, our courts will find
substantial compliance. 6 Appellant’s notice of appeal references no dates and specifically
identifies the order denying his motion for a new trial. Because the circuit court had no
2
Id. (citing Murchison v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Ill., 367 Ark. 166, 238 S.W.3d 11 (2006)).
3
Flow v. Turner, 2015 Ark. App. 413, at 5 (citing Ark. R. App. P.–Civ. 3(e) (2016)).
4
Id. (citing Lindsay v. Green, 2010 Ark. 118, 369 S.W.3d 1; In re Estate of Reimer,
2010 Ark. App. 41).
5
Lovan v. Lovan, 2015 Ark. App. 515, at 2.
6
Id. (citing Callaway v. Abshure, 2013 Ark. App. 21).
2
Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 490
jurisdiction to enter the designated order, and no reference is made to the deemed denial of
his motion, this court lacks jurisdiction.
Dismissed.
GRUBER, C.J., and WHITEAKER, J., agree.
Stayton & Associates, P.C., by: Rowe Stayton, for appellant.
Jason Horton Law Firm, by: Jason Horton, for appellee.
3