-
USCA1 Opinion
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT
____________________
No. 94-1854
CREDIT FRANCAIS INTERNATIONAL, S.A.,
Plaintiff, Appellee,
v.
BIO-VITA, LTD., HEMO-INNOVATIONS, LTD.,
Defendants, Appellants.
____________________
No. 95-1091
BIO VITA, LTD., ET AL.,
Plaintiffs, Appellees,
v.
CARL W. RAUSCH, ET AL.,
Defendants, Appellants,
________
IDEAL ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS, INC.,
Counterclaimant, Appellant.
____________________
No. 95-1092
BIO VITA, LTD., ET AL.,
Plaintiffs, Appellees,
v.
CARL W. RAUSCH, ET AL.,
Defendants, Appellees,
________
PETER FISHER & BALFOUR HOLDINGS, INC.,
Counterclaimants, Appellants.
____________________
APPEALS FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
[Hon. James L. Watson,* Senior Judge] ____________
____________________
Before
Selya, Circuit Judge, _____________
Campbell, Senior Circuit Judge, ____________________
and Cyr, Circuit Judge. _____________
____________________
David M. Mermell on Opposition to Motion to Vacate Order __________________
Dismissing Appeal for appellants, Bio-Vita, Ltd. and Hemo-Innovations,
Ltd.
S. Elaine McChesney, with whom Robert A. Buhlman and Bingham, ____________________ __________________ ________
Dana & Gould were on brief for appellees Biopure Corporation, Biopure _____________
Associates Limited Partnership and Carl W. Rausch.
James B. Hicks, with whom Kathy A. Jorrie, Andrews & Kurth _______________ _________________ _________________
L.L.P., Evan Slavitt and Hinckley, Allen & Snyder were on brief for ______ ____________ _________________________
appellants, Peter Fisher, Balfour Holdings, Inc. and Ideal
Environmental Systems, Inc.
Marc S. Palay, with whom Eric W. Bloom, Winston & Strawn, Jerome _____________ _____________ _________________ ______
M. Leonard, John D. Donovan, Jr. and Ropes & Gray were on brief for __________ _____________________ _____________
appellee, Credit Francais International, S.A.
____________________
February 29, 1996
____________________
____________________
*Of the United States Court of International Trade, sitting by
designation.
2
CYR, Circuit Judge. In this consolidated, multiparty CYR, Circuit Judge ______________
proceeding, the district court entered two separate summary
judgment orders for intervenor CFI.1 The first judgment was
against Trainor and awarded CFI a constructive trust over Trai-
nor's "choses in action" against Biopure. The second judgment
awarded CFI similar relief against Fisher. The second judgment
was also favorable to Biopure. Each judgment was certified,
though at different times, as final and immediately appealable
under Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b).
The two judgments spawned appeals by three parties.
Trainor appealed from the first judgment, but then voluntarily
dismissed the appeal. Fisher noticed an appeal from the second
judgment, along with a purported "cross-appeal" from the first
judgment, as did Ideal. Fisher and Ideal also moved to vacate
the voluntary dismissal of the Trainor appeal.
Based on a thorough record review, we conclude that:
____________________
1The various parties are referred to as follows:
"Fisher" collectively designates Peter Fisher and
Balfour Holdings, Inc. ("Balfour"), an entity con-
trolled by Fisher.
"Ideal" designates Ideal Environmental Systems, Inc.
"Trainor" collectively designates William Trainor, his
daughter Diane Trainor, and Trainor-controlled compa-
nies, Bio-Vita, Ltd. ("Bio-Vita"), Hemo-Innovations,
Ltd. and Laurel Mountain Trust ("LMT").
"Biopure" collectively designates Biopure Corporation
and Biopure Associates Limited Partnership ("BALP"), as
well as Carl W. Rausch.
"CFI" designates Credit Francais International, S.A.
3
(1) the Ideal appeal was filed late and, in all events, Ideal
lacks standing to appeal; (2) the Trainor appeal was properly
dismissed; (3) the Fisher "cross-appeal" brief challenging the
first judgment should be stricken; and (4) the court lacks
appellate jurisdiction over Fisher's challenge to the second
judgment.
At the outset, we note that our consideration of these
appeals has been severely hampered by the failure of Fisher and
Ideal to conform their briefs and appendices as required by the
applicable rules. Their briefs do not include necessary juris-
dictional information, a meaningful description of the district
court proceedings, nor comprehensible record references. See ___
Fed. R. App. P. 28(a)(2)(ii), (a)(4), (e). The first three
volumes of their appendices, approximating 2500 pages, are poorly
indexed, not in chronological order, and not consecutively
paginated. See Fed. R. App. P. 30(d). Prior to oral argument, ___
despite a careful search of the appendices and the eight volumes
of record originally designated on appeal, we were unable to
locate crucial pleadings and exhibits, including documents
referenced in appellants' own briefs.
At oral argument, these matters were brought to appel-
lants' attention and we invited an appropriate motion. Appel-
lants later sought and were granted leave to file a two-volume
supplemental appendix consisting of an additional 1400 pages.
The supplement contains many but not all of the missing
documents. It also contains, however, unindexed documents of
4
uncertain relevance, some of which may not have been before the
district court. Moreover, appellants did not seek leave to
repaginate and rearrange the first three volumes of their appen-
dices, obliquely explaining instead that these volumes "have been
used by the Court and parties for over three months." And they
failed to revise their record references to the documents cited
in their briefs. See Fed. R. App. P. 30(c). ___
It is appellants' responsibility to provide the court
with intelligible briefs and appendices sufficient to support
their points on appeal, United States v. One Motor Yacht Named ______________ ______________________
Mercury, 527 F.2d 1112, 1113 (1st Cir. 1975), failing which "the _______
court in its discretion . . . may scrutinize the merits of the
case insofar as the record permits, or may dismiss the appeal if
the absence of a [record] thwarts intelligent review." Moore v. _____
Murphy, 47 F.3d 8, 10 (1st Cir. 1995). Accordingly, in the ______
instant case, wherever material uncertainties result from an
incomplete or indecipherable record and impede or affect our
decision, we resolve such uncertainties against appellants. See ___
Real v. Hogan, 828 F.2d 58, 60 (1st Cir. 1987) ("It is the ____ _____
appellant who must bear the brunt of an insufficient record on
appeal."). With this caveat, we recount the background facts as
best we can.
I I
BACKGROUND BACKGROUND __________
Although significant differences distinguish the
parties' versions of the relevant facts, we recite the skeletal
5
scenario upon which the parties predicate their claims.
Trainor, the central figure in the dispute, allegedly
defrauded all the other parties. Fisher entered into a joint
venture with Trainor to invest in, and develop, Biopure's hemo-
globin-based products. Each partner was to contribute 50% of the
capital needed to finance their undertaking. Trainor was respon-
sible for negotiating a contract with Biopure. Fisher was to
arrange for human testing of a Biopure product Hemopure in
Guatemala.
Earlier, acting through Ideal as the nominal borrower,
Trainor had obtained more than $14 million from CFI in a fraudu-
lent loan transaction. Although Fisher likewise was involved in
the CFI loan transaction, his knowledge of the fraud perpetrated
by Trainor remains in dispute. Trainor used approximately $3
million in "tainted" CFI loan proceeds to finance the Biopure
contract. These monies have been traced directly from Trainor's
bank account to the Biopure deal. The "ownership" of this $3
million at the time it was invested in Biopure is a contested
matter as between Fisher and Ideal.
Allegedly at about the same time, Trainor secretly
forced Fisher out of the Biopure deal by substituting Bio-Vita,
Trainor's own company, as the named party to the contract with
Biopure. The contract entitled Trainor to an equity interest in
Biopure and licensing rights to the Biopure products. Biopure
subsequently rescinded the contract and awarded similar equity
and licensing rights to Upjohn. According to Fisher, by then the
6
rights licensed to Upjohn were worth at least $179 million.
7
The District Court Proceedings The District Court Proceedings ______________________________
Fisher sued Trainor, and later Biopure, for $250
million or a 50% share in the Biopure rights ("Fisher v. Trai- ______ _____
nor"). Trainor then sued Biopure. Biopure counterclaimed ___
against Trainor for fraud, adding Fisher as a third party defen-
dant in the Trainor lawsuit ("Trainor v. Biopure"). Fisher's _______ _______
third party answer included a counterclaim against Trainor
seeking to impose a constructive trust upon any Trainor recover-
ies from Biopure.
The first count in the Fisher v. Trainor complaint was ______ _______
tried to a jury in November, 1992, resulting in a special verdict
that Trainor had breached a binding oral contract with Fisher
whereby the two were to have shared equally in the Biopure deal.
A mistrial was declared later, however, because Trainor and
Fisher were unable to agree on the meaning of the special verdict
and how to proceed with respect to the separate action in Trainor _______
v. Biopure. We denied Fisher's ensuing petition for a writ of _______
mandamus. In re Peter Fisher & Balfour Holdings, Inc., 7 F.3d _____________________________________________
218 (Table), No. 93-1914 (1st Cir. Oct. 12, 1993), cert. denied, ____ ______
114 S. Ct. 1299 (1994).
CFI then intervened in the Trainor v. Biopure action, _______ _______
claiming a constructive trust over the Trainor and Fisher rights
against Biopure. CFI also demanded judgment on certain direct
claims against Biopure.
The district court first entered summary judgment for
CFI and against Trainor, imposing a constructive trust upon
8
Trainor's claims against Biopure based on findings that: (1)
Trainor's fraud against CFI was undisputed,2 (2) CFI had traced
approximately $3 million of its loan funds through Trainor to the
Biopure investment, and (3) all monies advanced by Trainor in
furtherance of the Biopure deal were traceable to CFI.
Fisher did not oppose CFI's motion for summary judgment
against Trainor, but ambiguously purported to reserve a right to
demand a share of Trainor's rights in the Biopure transaction.
The district court accordingly ruled,
[T]he court notes the existence of another
claim to rights arising from the transaction
with Biopure . . . Fisher claims to have had
a joint venture agreement with Trainor to
share in the outcome of the transaction with
Biopure . . . [T]his opinion does not address
his claims and their effect, if any, on CFI's
constructive trust.
June 28, 1994 Order at 6. The district court certified the CFI
summary judgment against Trainor as final under Rule 54(b), and
judgment entered on July 1, 1994.
Trainor filed a premature notice of appeal shortly
after Fisher moved to amend the judgment pursuant to Fed. R. Civ.
P. 59(e), notwithstanding Fisher's earlier decision not to
interpose objection to the CFI motion for summary judgment.
Contemporaneously, Fisher filed a "first amended counterclaim"
which purported to add Ideal as a party to the pending litigation
____________________
2This finding was predicated in substantial part on an
earlier Ohio consent judgment for fraud against Trainor. In the _______
same Ohio action, a default judgment was entered against Ideal
and remains outstanding, according to CFI, because Ideal is
defunct.
9
for the first time. Ideal also purported to join as a party in
the Rule 59(e) motion to amend the earlier Trainor judgment.3
In response to a motion to strike the amended counterclaim,
Fisher and Ideal formally moved for leave to amend it by, inter _____
alia, "adding Ideal as a party plaintiff." Finally, CFI and ____
Biopure moved for summary judgment against Fisher.
On November 22, 1994, the district court issued a
memorandum opinion denying the Rule 59(e) motion to amend,
striking as untimely the first amended counterclaim which had
attempted to insinuate Ideal as a party to the case, and granting
the Biopure and CFI motions for summary judgment against Fisher.
Based on its conclusion that the only claims Fisher had asserted
against Biopure were those Fisher and Trainor jointly held
against Biopure, the district court ruled: "there is no ground
whatsoever in law or equity that gives Fisher a right to share in
the benefits of his co-venturer's fraud to the detriment of a
prior innocent party."
The district court's memorandum order provides the
following explanation for its decision to enter a second Rule
54(b) certification, covering the summary judgments against
Fisher:
____________________
3The docket sheets list two Rule 59(e) motions filed on the
same day, one by Ideal and one by Fisher, but we can locate only
one such motion in the appendix and record. It purports to have
been "submitted" by both Fisher and Ideal, although it is titled
"Ideal's Motion to Alter or Amend Judgment." Fisher complains
that the district court never ruled on his motion. Given the
record before us, however, we conclude that there was a single,
joint motion, which was denied by the court. See accompanying ___
text.
10
In the opinion of the court the granting of
these motions for summary judgment is likely
to lead to the simplification of the case and
the elimination of a future trial. For this
reason the court finds it advisable to make
these judgments final under Rule 54(b). The
court finds no just reason to delay final
judgment on these matters.
Nov. 22, 1994 Order at 13.
On December 6, 1994, a "separate document," incorporat-
ing the second Rule 54(b) judgment, was entered on the district
court docket:
In accordance with this Court's Memorandum,
Opinion and Order entered on November 22,
1994, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
Judgment is entered in favor of Biopure and
Credit Francais International, S.A. ("CFI")
as against Balfour Holdings, Inc. and Peter
Fisher.
By supplementary order under Rule 60(a), the district court noted
the pendency of additional, unspecified claims, but reiterated
its intention to certify the second Rule 54(b) judgment for
immediate appeal "in the interests of justice." As best we can
glean from the record, at that time all claims remained pending ___ ______ ________ _______
(with CFI substituted as plaintiff on some) and all parties ___ ___ _______
remained in the case on other claims.
The Appeals The Appeals ___________
Following the denial of the Rule 59(e) motions to
amend, Trainor reinstated his appeal from the July 1, 1994
judgment (No. 94-1854). See Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(4). On January ___
3, 1995, Fisher and Ideal each filed a notice of appeal. The
Fisher notice, a single document titled "Notice of Appeal and
11
Cross-Appeal," purported to notice an appeal from the December 6
judgment and a "cross-appeal" from the July 1 judgment.4 The
Ideal notice, identically titled, likewise purported to notice an
appeal from the December 6 judgment and a "cross-appeal" from the
July 1 judgment, as well as another "cross-appeal" from the
December 6 judgment, identified only as taken in response to _
Fisher's notice of appeal. The Fisher notice was docketed as No.
95-1092; the Ideal notice as 95-1091. Trainor and CFI jointly
moved for voluntary dismissal of the Trainor appeal on March 20,
1995, and the motion was granted the same day. Fisher and Ideal
moved to vacate the voluntary dismissal.5
I. Standing to Appeal (No. 95-1091) I. Standing to Appeal (No. 95-1091) ________________________________
Notwithstanding the wording of its notice of appeal,
Ideal has attempted to join in the Fisher challenge to two
district court orders: the denial of the Rule 59(e) motion to
amend the first judgment (referred to as a "cross-appeal"), and
the denial of the motion to amend the Fisher counterclaim. Ideal
was not a party of record before the district court. Its stand-
____________________
4The term "cross-appeal" is a misnomer in this context. It
normally denotes an appeal by an initial appellee against the
initial appellant from an order or decision entered in favor of
the initial appellant. See 9 James Wm. Moore, Moore's Federal ___ ________________
Practice 204.11[1] (1995). Fisher and Ideal were not named as ________
appellees in the Trainor appeal, and their so-called "cross-
appeals," as a logical matter, were separate appeals from the ________
first judgment in favor of appellee CFI, not the original appel-
lant Trainor. Ideal's additional "cross-appeal" against
Fisher is simply an enigma.
5We reserved decision on this motion pending oral argument.
Fisher and Ideal then filed an opaque motion to consolidate the
dismissed and pending appeals, which we denied.
12
ing to appeal thus turns on whether its attempted appellate
challenges are excepted from the general rule that only parties
to the district court proceedings may appeal a district court
judgment. See United States v. Little Joe Trawlers, Inc., 780 ___ _____________ __________________________
F.2d 158, 161 (1st Cir. 1986). By itself, the Ideal challenge to
the denial of the Rule 59(e) motion, briefed separately under the
rubric "cross-appeal," appears to come within no exception to the
general rule.
Nonetheless, the denial of Ideal's motion to amend the
Fisher counterclaim by, inter alia, "adding Ideal as a party _____ ____
plaintiff," may have been an appealable order. As the nominal
borrower of the funds loaned by CFI, Ideal claims that it, not
CFI, was entitled to assert a constructive trust over the equity
claims acquired by Trainor when he wrongly diverted the loan
proceeds to Biopure.6 Ideal thus asserts an interest at least
superficially akin to those cognizable under Fed. R. Civ. P.
24(a)(2).7
An order denying a motion to intervene of right is
____________________
6There are no district court findings which would enable
confident determinations as to who controlled Ideal at various
material times. Moreover, the record suggests that Ideal was a
shell, wholly owned and controlled by Trainor, at the time of the
CFI loan. During the CFI loan transaction ("in or about 1989"),
however, Fisher allegedly gained control of Ideal.
7See supra note 6. Ideal purports to be a bona fide pur- ___ _____
chaser of the CFI loan proceeds, so as to cut off any right CFI
might have to "trace" its loan funds into the Biopure deal.
Ideal claims that, through Fisher, it innocently acquiesced in
the CFI loan arranged by Trainor, then innocently redirected the
loan proceeds to Trainor (allegedly for the purchase of a worth-
less landfill). Trainor used the money to finance the Biopure
deal.
13
immediately appealable, without the need for certification under ___________
Rule 54(b). Flynn v. Hubbard, 782 F.2d 1084, 1086 (1st Cir. _____ _______
1986); 6 James Wm. Moore et al., Moore's Federal Practice 54.38 ________________________
n.4 (1995). The appeal cannot be kept in reserve; it must be
taken within thirty days of the entry of the order, or not at
all. See B.H. by Pierce v. Murphy, 984 F.2d 196, 199 (7th ___ _______________ ______
Cir.), cert. denied, 113 S. Ct. 2930 (1993). As Ideal filed no ____________
timely notice of appeal from the denial of its motion to inter-
vene, we lack jurisdiction over its appeal. The thirty-day
appeal period extended from the date of entry (November 28, 1994)
of the November 22, 1994, order denying intervention, see Fed. R. ___
App. P. 4(a)(1),8 and Ideal did not file its notice of appeal _____
until January 3, 1995.9 Appeals from the First Judg- Appeals from the First Judg- ______________________________
____________________
8The entry of the Rule 54(b) judgment against Fisher on
December 6, 1994, did not enlarge the appeal period, for two
reasons. The judgment did not include Ideal's claims and, as an
exception to Rule 54(b), the denial of intervention was appeal-
able without an "express direction for the entry of judgment" on
a separate document. Cf. Willhauck v. Halpin, 953 F.2d 689, 701 ___ _________ ______
(1st Cir. 1991). Since Ideal sought intervention in the still-
pending litigation, and not relief from a final judgment, there
is no reason to consider further the applicability of the "sepa-
rate document" rule in relation to the denial of this motion.
Compare infra note 12. _______ _____
9Ideal did not move for an extension of time to appeal the
denial of its motion to intervene/amend the counterclaim, al-
though it joined Fisher in a motion to extend the time to file
the so-called "cross-appeal" from the first judgment. The latter
request was denied for failure to show good cause or excusable
neglect.
We simply add that the district court did not abuse its
discretion in denying the motion to amend/intervene as untimely.
See Conservation Law Found. v. Mosbacher, 966 F.2d 39, 41 (1st ___ _______________________ _________
Cir. 1992). The case had been pending since 1990, the CFI loan
transaction had been addressed in pleadings dating back to April,
1991, and CFI had moved to intervene ten months before the
attempted counterclaim. The court rightly explained that "so
14
ment: the Fisher "Cross-Ap- ment: the Fisher "Cross-Ap- ______________________________
peal" and the Voluntary Dis- peal" and the Voluntary Dis- ______________________________
missal of the Trainor Appeal missal of the Trainor Appeal ____________________________
Fisher contends that the voluntary dismissal of the
Trainor appeal should be vacated, as a collusive attempt to
foreclose his so-called "cross-appeal" from the same judgment.10-
CFI and Trainor respond that Fisher has no standing to oppose
dismissal of the Trainor appeal, nor to appeal from the first
judgment in his own right, because he elected initially not to
contest CFI's motion against Trainor below.11 Fisher's stand-
____________________
much blood has passed under the bridge" that it would work a
"perversion" of the liberal amendment policy of Rule 15 to permit
Ideal to introduce a new claim so late in the proceedings. Other
"timeliness" criteria weighed against Ideal as well. First,
appellees would have been unfairly prejudiced had intervention
been allowed. Second, Ideal can point to no clear probability of
success on the merits, since its independence from Trainor during
the relevant time period, as well as Ideal's capacity to sue, are
open to serious question. And, third, no "exceptional circum-
stances" are suggested. See Banco Popular de Puerto Rico v. ___ ______________________________
Greenblatt, 964 F.2d 1227, 1231-34 (1st Cir. 1992) (setting forth __________
factors to be considered in determining timeliness of interven-
tion). Thus, the district court properly denied the motion to
amend and Ideal lacked standing to appeal.
10As already noted, see supra pp. 12-13, note 9, Ideal lacks ___ _____
standing to appeal either judgment. Fisher argues that he should
have been given prior notice and an opportunity to challenge the
dismissal. Although we agree that the better practice is to give
notice to all "cross-appellants" prior to any voluntary dismiss-
al, unless the cross-appellant has joined in an agreement that
includes the payment of costs, see Fed. R. App. P. 42(b), in ___
these circumstances neither Fisher nor Ideal was prejudiced by
the failure to provide separate notice to Fisher. See supra note ___ _____
4 and infra pp. 14-18. _____
11We note, moreover, that Fisher's ambiguous response to the
CFI motion in the district court implicates a separate issue. A
party may have standing to appeal, yet lose because he has waived
or forfeited the arguments sought to be raised on appeal. Cf. ___
Dopp v. HTP Corp., 947 F.2d 506, 512 (1st Cir. 1991) (holding ____ __________
that a defendant who was dismissed from the case for lack of _________
personal jurisdiction had no standing to appeal judgments entered
15
ing to appeal turns on his status before the district court at
the time the challenged judgment was entered, and the extent to
which he is "aggrieved" by the judgment. See I.C.C. v. Holmes ___ ______ ______
Transp. Inc., 983 F.2d 1122, 1125 n.4 (1st Cir. 1993); Little Joe ____________ __________
Trawlers, Inc., 780 F.2d at 161; 9 Moore's Federal Practice ______________ _________________________
203.06. Fisher was a party of record at the time the first
judgment was entered. Arguably, at least, he was "aggrieved" by
the judgment since it entitled CFI alone to a constructive trust _____
over the Trainor claims against Biopure relief which Fisher
had sought for himself in his counterclaim against Trainor.
Thus, we conclude that Fisher has standing to appeal the first
judgment and, for present purposes, we assume arguendo that the ________
appeal is not time-barred.12
A motion for voluntary dismissal of an appeal should be
denied only "in the interest of justice or fairness." American ________
____________________
after it voluntarily absented itself from the proceedings).
12The parties have assumed that the appeal period ran from
the November 22 decision denying his Rule 59(e) motion, hence
that the January 3 notice of appeal was late. They disagree as
to whether the timeliness of a cross-appeal is jurisdictional,
and, if not jurisdictional, as to the effect of the denial of
appellants' motion to enlarge the time to file a cross-appeal.
However, the "separate document" rule does apply to orders ____ _____
denying Rule 59(e) motions. The lengthy November 22 district
court opinion contained numerous orders, such that, arguably at
least, the Fisher appeal period ran from the December 6 entry of
judgment against him in a separate document. See Fiore v. ___ _____
Washington County Community Mental Health Ctr., 960 F.2d 229, 235 ______________________________________________
n.9 (1st Cir. 1992) (en banc); see also RR Village Ass'n, Inc. v. ________ ______________________
Denver Sewer Corp., 826 F.2d 1197, 1201 (2d Cir. 1987) (words "so __________________
ordered" at end of a 14-page opinion denying Rule 59(e) motion do
not satisfy "separate document" requirement). Since we conclude
that Fisher failed to prosecute his "cross-appeal," we need not
dwell on these other matters.
16
Auto. Mfrs. Ass'n v. Commissioner, Massachusetts DEP, 31 F.3d 18, _________________ _______________________________
22 (1st Cir. 1994). We discern no legitimate basis for disallow-
ing the motion to withdraw the Trainor appeal.
Withdrawal of the Trainor appeal does not terminate the
Fisher appeal from the same judgment, nor in any way impede
Fisher's ability to protect his own interests before this court.
It became clear at oral argument that Fisher's misapprehension in
this regard was driven by an erroneous assumption on the part of
counsel that the "cross-appeal" bore the same docket number as
the Trainor appeal. But the docket sheets, as well as the
appellate rules, see Fed. R. App. P. 12(a) (requiring clerk to ___
docket each notice of appeal when received); see also First ___ ____
Circuit Internal Operating Procedures VI.A.2 (1992) ("in the case
of cross-appeals, the appeals are treated as two separate appeals
for briefing purposes"), indicate otherwise.13 It appears that
this misconception also contributed to Fisher's decision to offer
for filing, together with Ideal, a late so-called "cross-appeal"
brief challenging the first judgment, and to affix to this late
filing the docket number assigned to Trainor's previously dis-
missed appeal. Had Fisher consulted the docket sheets and
____________________
13The parties did not notify the Clerk that they wished to
proceed under Fed. R. App. P. 28(h). See First Circuit Internal ___
Operating Procedure VI.A.2. The docket sheets identify Fisher as
the "appellant and cross-claimant" in appeal no. 95-1092 -- the
number assigned to his "notice of appeal and cross-appeal."
(Ideal is identified the same way in appeal no. 95-1091). The
Trainor docket sheet cross-references Fisher's and Ideal's appeal
numbers, respectively labeling the Fisher appeal as a "cross-
appeal" and the Ideal appeal as a "companion case." The rules do
not allow a party simply to assume as his own a docket number
previously assigned to an appeal taken by another party.
17
complied with the briefing schedule issued by the Clerk, he could
have offered a complete initial brief some three weeks earlier
bearing the pending docket number assigned to his singular
"notice of appeal and cross-appeal."
We must decide, therefore, whether Fisher may proceed
with his appellate challenge to the first judgment on the basis
of his untimely and misnumbered "cross-appeal" brief. Although
such mistakes are not jurisdictional under Rule 3(a), see 9 ___
Moore's Federal Practice 203.12 (1995), Fisher did not seek _________________________
discretionary relief from his errors and omissions (e.g., by ____
requesting leave to file a late supplement to the brief timely
filed in number 95-1092). Instead, he filed two opaque motions
claiming that wrongdoing by other parties relating to the volun-
tary dismissal of the Trainor appeal had hampered his prosecution
of the cross-appeal. Appellees spent time responding to those
motions and court time was devoted to considering them. As a
further consequence, there was no occasion to issue a revised
briefing schedule, and appellees have had no occasion to file
briefs in response. At this stage, therefore, it would be unfair
to foster further delay and expense by countenancing these
practices at the expense of innocent appellees.
Accordingly, we decline to relieve Fisher of these
errors and omissions, and we direct that his so-called cross-
appeal brief be stricken from the record. Cf. United States v. ___ _____________
Hanks, 24 F.3d 1235, 1238-39 (10th Cir. 1994) (declining to _____
relieve appellant of nonjurisdictional delay in perfecting an
18
appeal where appellant corrected the irregularity but caused
additional prejudice and unnecessary consumption of court re-
sources by failing to give notice of the correction). As Fisher
failed to take proper steps to pursue his challenge to the first
judgment, we turn our attention to the final question: the
appealability of the second Rule 54(b) judgment entered below.
The Fisher Appeal from the Second Judgment: Rule 54(b) The Fisher Appeal from the Second Judgment: Rule 54(b) _______________________________________________________
Certification Certification _____________
Rule 54(b) permits entry of a final judgment as to
fewer than all claims or parties upon an express determination
that there is "no just reason for delay" in entering judgment.
Maldonado-Denis v. Castillo-Rodriguez, 23 F.3d 576, 579 (1st Cir. _______________ __________________
1994). Although no party has challenged these Rule 54(b) certif-
ications, we are "duty bound to take the matter up sua sponte," ___ ______
since "it implicates the scope of our appellate jurisdiction."
Spiegel v. Trustees of Tufts College, 843 F.2d 38, 43 (1st Cir. _______ _________________________
1988). The required jurisdictional analysis comprises two steps.
First, we inquire whether the trial court action
underlying the judgment disposed of all the rights and liabili-
ties of at least one party as to at least one claim. See Cur- ___ ____
tiss-Wright Corp. v. General Elec. Co., 446 U.S. 1, 7 (1980); 10 _________________ _________________
Charles A. Wright et al., Federal Practice and Procedure: Civil ______________________________________
2d 2656 n.9, 2657 n.17 (2d Ed. 1983 & Supp. 1995) (citing __
cases); 6 Moore's Federal Practice 54.34[2-2] n. 4 (citing _________________________
cases); cf. Maldonado-Denis, 23 F.3d at 580 (the ruling should ___ _______________
dispose "completely either of all claims against a given defen-
19
dant or of some discrete substantive claim or set of claims
against the defendants generally"). The first requirement was
met here with respect to the summary judgments entered against
Fisher and in favor of Biopure and CFI. Although CFI's deriva-
tive rights against Biopure remain unresolved, as to Fisher
nothing remained but to enter judgment.
Second, we must examine the sufficiency of the district
court's assessments of (1) any interrelationship or overlap among
the various legal and factual issues involved in the dismissed
and the pending claims, and (2) any equities and efficiencies
implicated by the requested piecemeal review.
In its critical role as a Rule 54(b) "dis-
patcher" . . . the district court is to con-
sider the strong judicial policy disfavoring ______ ________ ______ ___________
piecemeal appellate review . . . by carefully _________ _________ ______
comparing the dismissed and the unadjudicated
claims for indications of substantial overlap
-- to ensure that the appellate court is not
confronted in successive appeals with common
issues of law or fact to the detriment of
judicial efficiency.
Kersey v. Dennison Mfg. Co., 3 F.3d 482, 487 (1st Cir. 1993) ______ __________________
(citations omitted) (emphasis added). When the district court
provides a sufficient written statement of the grounds for
certification, as it should, "we normally accord its discretion-
ary decision `substantial deference' and will dismiss for lack of ` '
appellate jurisdiction only if the court's certification was
`clearly unreasonable.'" Id. at 486 (citation omitted); see also ` ' ___ ___ ____
Curtiss-Wright, 446 U.S. at 10 ("The court of appeals must of ______________
course, scrutinize the district court's evaluation of such
factors as the interrelationship of the claims . . . But once
20
such juridical concerns have been met, the discretionary judgment ,
of the district court should be given substantial deference.")
Although it is clear from the Rule 54(b) certification
that the district court anticipated that an immediate appeal
might avoid a trial, this ground "is rarely, if ever, a self-
sufficient basis for a Rule 54(b) certification." Kersey, 3 F.3d ______
at 488; see also Spiegel, 843 F.2d at 43 n.4 (cautioning that "a ___ ____ _______
concise list of reasons will likely be needed" to facilitate
appellate understanding of the certification decision). The
district court certification contained no evaluation of the
interdependence of dismissed and pending claims, no identifica-
tion or analysis of the remaining claims, and no reference to
"compelling evidence that the equities favor early appellate
review." Id. Consequently, we have culled the entire record on __ ______ ______
appeal for any "compelling considerations favoring the entry of
an earlier than usual judgment," such as might warrant a piece-
meal appellate review notwithstanding the absence of specific
findings. Feinstein v. Resolution Trust Corp., 942 F.2d 34, 40 _________ ______________________
(1st Cir. 1991) (quoting Spiegel, 843 F.2d at 43 n.4); see also _______ ___ ____
Scarfo v. Cabletron Sys., Inc., 54 F.3d 931, 936 (1st Cir. 1995) ______ ____________________
(nothing is gained by remanding a case for entry of a properly-
crafted judgment where in due course the same issues will be
returned to the appellate court).
At the time the appeal was taken from the judgment
against Fisher, the only appropriate consideration apparently
favoring Rule 54(b) certification was the possibility that it (in
21
combination with the earlier judgment against Trainor) might prod
the parties to settle their differences, particularly in light of
the fact that the district court rulings effectively substituted
CFI as the sole plaintiff with respect to the purported joint
venturers' claims against Biopure.
Still in the case, however, were all the same claims,
with CFI as a derivative plaintiff on some. Moreover, all
parties remained in the case in connection with other claims.
"Rule 54(b) certification is particularly suspect when the
contestants on appeal remain, simultaneously, contestants below."
Kersey, 3 F.3d at 487 (citations omitted); cf. Feinstein, 942 ______ ___ _________
F.2d at 40 (upholding a district court certification which lacked
specific findings, but where the judgment had disposed of all ___
claims against all six appellees). ___
Settlements during the pendency of the present appeal
did winnow out some claims. Trainor settled with CFI and Bio-
pure. Appellees suggest that there will be a further reduction
in the number of pending claims should we affirm the district
court judgment. CFI and Biopure represent that they have condi- ______
tionally settled CFI's derivative claims between themselves. At ________
oral argument, all parties indicated that they would likely forgo
their remaining claims were the court to affirm the judgment
against Fisher. These prospects nonetheless do not affect the
required threshold jurisdictional analysis: "To entertain an
early appeal just because . . . a [particular] ruling . . . might _____
transpire and might expedite a particular [party's] case would _____
22
defoliate Rule 54(b)'s protective copse." Spiegel, 843 F.2d at _______
46.
As we scan the present landscape, the following claims
remain pending before the district court. In Fisher v. Trainor, ______ _______
all Fisher claims against Trainor remain pending.14 In Trainor _______
v. Biopure, the following remain pending: (1) Biopure's third- _______
party claims against Fisher, (2) the Fisher counterclaim against
Trainor,15 and (3) CFI's derivative and direct claims against
Biopure. Thus, all claims against Fisher remain in the case, and
all parties as well.
There is a substantial interdependence and overlap
between pending and dismissed claims. In Trainor v. Biopure, the _______ _______
pending CFI derivative claims against Biopure are entirely
dependent on the validity and value of the constructive trust
over the Fisher claims. In addition, there is a problematic
factual overlap as between the pending Biopure claims against
Fisher (for violations of RICO, Mass. Gen. L. ch. 93A, securities
fraud, common law fraud and declaratory judgment) and the con-
structive trust, declaratory judgment and unjust enrichment
claims resolved favorably to CFI.
____________________
14Although we consider each of the consolidated actions
separately in order to expedite our analysis, we note as well
that there are obvious overlaps among the dismissed and the
pending claims, which cut across these consolidated actions. Cf. ______ ___
FDIC v. Caledonia Inv. Corp., 862 F.2d 378, 381 (1st Cir. 1988). ____ ____________________
15Apparently, no judgment has been entered on this counter-
claim, although the district court denied Fisher's motion to
expand and amend it, and the logic of the two judgments in favor
of CFI may moot it. An earlier motion by Trainor to dismiss the
counterclaim also appears to remain pending.
23
Biopure alleges that Fisher, as well as Trainor,
defrauded CFI in connection with the CFI loan transaction; that
Fisher misrepresented or failed to disclose that the funds he and
Trainor invested in Biopure had been fraudulently obtained from
CFI; and that their investment in Biopure was but one in a series
of fraudulent transactions jointly undertaken by Trainor and
Fisher. Similarly, although CFI charged Trainor alone with
actual fraud, it alleged that Fisher "knew or should have known"
that the funds invested in Biopure had been fraudulently obtained
from CFI, without consideration.
The overlapping issues the scope of the fraud on
CFI, and Fisher's knowledge, role, and legal responsibility for
it, if any "bid fair to form an essential focus of successive
appeals." Kersey, 3 F.3d at 487. CFI and Biopure prevailed below ______
by proffering factual concessions solely for purposes of their ______ ___ ________ __ _____
summary judgment motions. Their concessions which have varied _______ ________ _______
somewhat on appeal raise ambiguous inferences and actually
conflict in important respects. CFI offers to stipulate that
Fisher had no actual knowledge of the tainted source of the
funds, and that Trainor's fraud on CFI was independent of, and
committed prior to, the formation of the joint venture. Biopure
tenders similar factual concessions based on fragments from
Fisher's pleadings, but does not assume that Trainor's prior
fraud was independent of the joint venture. Both parties offer
to stipulate that Trainor may have defrauded Fisher as well.
CFI argues that under Massachusetts partnership law,
24
Mass. Gen. L. ch. 108A, 12, and equitable restitutionary
principles, it is entitled to a constructive trust over Fisher's
claims without regard to Fisher's state of mind, because Trai-
nor's independently-acquired guilty knowledge is to be "imputed"
automatically to the Trainor-Fisher joint venture. On the other
hand, Biopure apparently assumes that the joint venture must be
"liable" for Trainor's fraud, or if not the fraud, then the
"fraudulent investment." See Mass. Gen. L. ch. 108A, 13. ___
Their theories are problematic.
The determinative equity-based principles at work here
are highly fact-sensitive.16 See Restatement (Second) of Agen- ___
cy 274 cmts. b & c, 282 cmts. h & i (1958); Restatement of
Restitution 172-74, 202, 203, 208(3), 210-213, 215 (1937); 1
Alan R. Bromberg & Larry E. Ribstein, Bromberg & Ribstein on _______________________
Partnership 4.06 & nn. 13-16, 4.07 & nn. 23, 27-30 (1991 & ___________
Supp. 1994); see also Loring v. Baker, 329 Mass. 63, 65, 106 ___ ____ ______ _____
N.E.2d 434, 436-37 (1952); New England Trust Co. v. Farr, 57 F.2d _____________________ ____
____________________
16The district court made no express choice-of-law determi-
nation, but assumed, as do the parties, that Massachusetts law
governs the partnership issues (the Trainor-Fisher joint venture
allegedly was formed in Massachusetts). We are less clear as to
what law the court utilized in determining the remedy available
to CFI for the fraudulent loan transaction. Appellees rely
primarily on federal cases which apply the law of states other
than the forum. See Federal Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Braemoor ___ ____________________________ ________
Assocs., 686 F.2d 550 (7th Cir. 1982) (Illinois law), cert. _______ ____
denied, 461 U.S. 927 (1983); Higgins v. Shenango Pottery Co., 256 ______ _______ ____________________
F.2d 504 and 279 F.2d 46 (3d Cir.) (Pennsylvania law), cert. ____
denied, 364 U.S. 899 (1960). As we need not resolve the choice- ______
of-law question, we intimate no opinion. We note only that the
cited rulings likewise were highly fact-dependent, and are of
little assistance given the ambiguities and conflicts in the
hypothesized facts presented in the instant case. ____________
25
103, 111 (1st Cir.) (applying Massachusetts partnership law),
cert. denied, 287 U.S. 612 (1932). ____ ______
The crux of the Rule 54(b) certification problem in the
present context is that any substantive ruling based on the
present record would require that we determine the hypothetical ____________
reach of the governing partnership law and restitutionary princi-
ples. The materiality of the conflicting stipulations would have
to be addressed and their limitations and ambiguities resolved.
Meanwhile, Fisher's knowledge of the fraud and the scope of the
Trainor-Fisher joint venture would remain crucial, unresolved
considerations underlying the Biopure claims. Subsequent dis-
trict court proceedings could very well render superfluous
whatever interim appellate resolution might be predicated on this
fragile hypothetical foundation, and another panel could be
required to revisit the central question of Fisher's knowledge
and participation in the alleged scam. Such piecemeal appellate
exercises sacrifice judicial efficiency and risk serious, unin-
tended res judicata effects. See Kersey, 3 F.3d at 487 (citing ___ ________ ___ ______
cases abjuring such risks).
On the face of the pleadings in Fisher v. Trainor ______ _______
alone, there appears "so substantial a prospect of contextual
overlap" between Fisher's dismissed claims (against Biopure) and
his unadjudicated claims (against Trainor), as to "counsel[]
strongly against Rule 54(b) certification." Id. The crux of the __
Fisher claims against both Trainor and Biopure for unjust enrich-
ment (Count Five), and against Biopure for promissory estoppel
26
(Count Eight), is that Fisher contributed substantial time and
expertise ("sweat equity") to the venture, resulting in a sub-
stantial increase in the value of the Biopure stock and product
licensing rights. In addition, the Fisher "breach of contract"
claim against Biopure, and the "interference with contract" claim
against Trainor, rest on identical factual allegations, viz., the
"switch" in contracting parties. See supra p. 6. ___ _____
These overlapping issues were not focused upon in the
district court opinion granting summary judgment to Biopure (and
a constructive trust to CFI). The court presumably was able to
disregard the overlaps largely because Fisher failed to oppose
the motions for summary judgment on the ground that he had a
right to recover for his "sweat equity" contributions. Thus, the
success of the motions for summary judgment depended upon an
assumption that Fisher's only investment in Biopure consisted of ____
funds fraudulently obtained from CFI. Notwithstanding the fact
that Fisher's "sweat equity" was a focus of his complaint and
that there was competent testimonial evidence of his efforts,17
he did not counter with the claim that he (or the joint venture)
had contributed untainted value which enhanced the worth of the __
Biopure stock and licensing rights. Instead, he argued simply
____________________
17Of course, it was for Fisher to generate a material issue
of fact that might enable him, and not merely CFI, to recover
from Biopure for unjust enrichment and promissory estoppel.
Fisher adverted to his "sweat equity" only as "consideration" for
a loan which Trainor allegedly promised Fisher. See accompanying ___
text. Passing mention of facts from which a theory might later
be carved does not place an undeveloped argument in issue.
United States v. Slade, 980 F.2d 27, 30 (1st Cir. 1992). _____________ _____
27
that he was a bona fide purchaser of the loan funds fraudulently
obtained from CFI by Trainor, on the theory that Trainor had made
a false promise to lend the CFI monies to Fisher.
By offering his "sweat equity" theory of recovery for
the first time at oral argument on appeal, Fisher essentially
urged that we relieve him of his district court waiver.18 But
the Rule 54(b) safeguards against inefficient piecemeal review
would be severely undermined were we to attempt to speculate at
this juncture as to the labrynthine consequences of Fisher's
failure to assert this theory before the district court in the
first instance. Moreover, an argument "surfacing for the first
time on appeal" may be excepted from the raise-or-waive rule only
if it is "so compelling as virtually to insure appellant's
success, and a gross miscarriage of justice would result from
[the] failure to address it." American Auto. Mfrs. Ass'n, 31 ___________________________
F.3d at 26; see also Johnston v. Holiday Inns, Inc., 595 F.2d ___ ____ ________ __________________
890, 893 (1st Cir. 1979) (waiver rule is relaxed only in "horren-
dous cases" where a gross miscarriage would occur).
A fortiori, we think it clear that the waiver rule _ ________
should be rigorously applied to interlocutory appeals certified
pursuant to Rule 54(b). The strength of the forfeited Fisher
____________________
18Fisher made reference to this theory in an "introductory"
comment to his reply brief as well. Arguments omitted from an
opening brief on appeal ordinarily are deemed waived. See ___
Pignons S.A. de Mecanique v. Polaroid Corp., 701 F.2d 1, 3 (1st __________________________ ______________
Cir. 1983) ("An appellee is entitled to rely on the content of an
appellant's brief for the scope of the issues appealed, and
appellant generally may not preserve a claim merely by referring
to it in a reply brief or at oral argument.").
28
theory can be assessed only by focusing on the core factual
allegations underlying both the dismissed and the pending claims,
as well as the closely intertwined legal issues governing any
remedy. See and compare, e.g., Meehan v. Shaughnessy, 404 Mass. _____________________ ______ ___________
419, 445-46, 535 N.E.2d 1255, 1270 (1989) (award of constructive
trust based on usurped partnership opportunities may entail a
proportionate assessment of profits generated by each partner's
efforts); Provencher v. Berman, 699 F.2d 568, 572 (1st Cir. 1983) __________ ______
(allowing non-partner wrongdoers to retain proportionate share of
property held in constructive trust for another where wrongdoers
had contributed value to the property in the form of untainted __
personal labor).
The "gross miscarriage of justice" test likewise
requires consideration of interrelated factual and legal theo-
ries. Typically, a miscarriage of justice may be shown where a
litigant would suffer grave personal harm, such as a loss of
liberty or domicile, see American Auto. Mfrs. Ass'n, 31 F.3d at ___ __________________________
26 (citations), or where the issue involves sensitive matters of
federalism or the public interest. See Capitol Indem. Corp. v. ___ _____________________
Keller, 717 F.2d 324, 328-29 (7th Cir. 1983). A "gross miscar- ______
riage of justice" also may be found, however, if the forfeited
claim would "seriously effect[] [sic] the fairness, integrity or
public reputation of a proceeding." Desjardins v. Van Buren __________ __________
Community Hosp., 969 F.2d 1280, 1282 (1st Cir. 1992).19 _______________
____________________
19New arguments may be entertained on appeal in "exceptional
circumstances" where no prejudice would result either to other
parties or to the administration of justice. United States v. _____________
29
Any showing that a "miscarriage of justice" might
obtain in the present context ultimately would depend on whether
the constructive trust awarded CFI constituted an unwarranted
"windfall," grossly disproportionate to any losses. However, the
injustice in any such "windfall" is inextricably bound to the
remedial principles utilized to resolve the dismissed claims and ___
the pending claims. See, e.g., Provencher, 699 F.2d at 570-72 ___ ____ __________
(applying restitutionary principles where more than one claimant
contributed to value of property claimed under constructive
trust); Janigan v. Taylor, 344 F.2d 781, 787 (1st Cir.) (explain- _______ ______
ing restitutionary principles applicable to "constructive trust"
remedy), cert. denied, 382 U.S. 879 (1965); see generally 1 ____ ______ ___ _________
George E. Palmer, Law of Restitution 2.14 (1978 & Supp. 1995); ___________________
Austin W. Scott & William F. Fratcher, Scott on Trusts 508 (4th _______________
ed. 1989 & Supp. 1994); Dale A. Oesterle, Deficiencies of the ____________________
Restitutionary Right to Trace Misappropriated Property in Equity _________________________________________________________________
and in UCC 9-306, 68 Cornell L. Rev. 172 (1983). Moreover, ____________________
crucial, unresolved facts including the value of the claims
over which CFI has been awarded a constructive trust,20 and the
____________________
Rivera, 55 F.3d 703, 708 (1st Cir. 1995); cf. City of Newport v. ______ ___ ________________
Fact Concerts, 453 U.S. 247, 255 (1981) (holding that a forfeited _____________
claim may be considered on appeal where the trial court addressed
the merits of a belated objection, and the appellate court does
not disagree with the substance of the trial court ruling).
20Fisher asserted at oral argument that these claims were
worth at least $179 million, an estimate apparently based on the
Biopure/Upjohn contract. Biopure stated that no proof was
presented below as to the value of the claims. Fisher's supple-
mentary appendix includes an unindexed copy of the contract, but
there is no indication that it was before the district court at
summary judgment, and we have seen no record findings as to
30
value of Fisher's belatedly asserted untainted contributions __
remain central to the disputed claims still pending before the
district court. Thus, the insufficiently developed trial court
record precludes any reliable determination as to whether a
miscarriage of justice would obtain were the waiver rule to be
applied to the Fisher v. Trainor action. ______ _______
____________________
value.
31
III III
CONCLUSION CONCLUSION __________
Accordingly,
(1) As the second Rule 54(b) certification was improv-
idently granted, we lack appellate jurisdiction of the Fisher
appeal in No. 95-1092, which is hereby dismissed without preju- _________
dice;
(2) the Ideal appeal in No. 95-1091 is dismissed for _________
lack of appellate jurisdiction and lack of standing;
(3) the motion to vacate the voluntary dismissal of
the Trainor appeal in No. 94-1854 is denied, and the so-called ______
"cross-appeal brief" filed by Fisher and Ideal in No. 94-1854 is
hereby stricken; ________
(4) the case is remanded to the district court for
further proceedings consistent with this opinion; and
(5) double costs are awarded to CFI and Biopure. See ____________ ___
Fed. R. App. P. 38.
SO ORDERED. SO ORDERED. __ _______
32
Document Info
Docket Number： 94-1854
Filed Date： 2/29/1996
Precedential Status： Precedential
Modified Date： 9/21/2015