David Mark Kramer v. American Postal Workers Union, Afl-Cio

The district court’s memorandum granting the defendants’ motion to dismiss was filed on December 2, 1975. As directed by the memorandum, the defendants prepared an order of dismissal, which was forwarded to the court, with copy to plaintiff, on December 11, 1975. The order was thereafter signed by the court and entered on December 15, 1975.

On April 6, 1976, plaintiff moved to “Vacate and Reenter Order of Dismissal to Preserve Rights of Appeal.” In support of that motion, plaintiff’s attorney submitted an affidavit stating that he had never received a signed copy of the order of dismissal, but only an unsigned one, and that he had not learned that judgment had been entered until he telephoned the district court on March 18, 1976. The attorney further averred that he told his client that until a signed copy of the order (or notice thereof) had been received, no decision need be made regarding an appeal.

The district court granted the plaintiff’s motion and reentered the order of dismissal as of May 5,1976. Plaintiff appealed within 30 days of the district court’s order.

Although a district court may for compelling reasons reenter an order preserving a party’s right of appeal,…