Filed: Jul. 22, 2013
Latest Update: Feb. 12, 2020
Summary: Case: 12-14189 Date Filed: 07/22/2013 Page: 1 of 3 [DO NOT PUBLISH] IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT _ No. 12-14189 Non-Argument Calendar _ D.C. Docket No. 9:12-cv-80578-KMW, BKCY No. 07-16853-BKC-PGH In Re: MELANIE H. CABOT, Debtor. _ MICHAEL CABOT, Plaintiff-Appellant, versus MICHAEL R. BAKST, Defendant-Appellee. _ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida _ (July 22, 2013) Case: 12-14189 Date Filed: 07/22/2013 Page: 2 of
Summary: Case: 12-14189 Date Filed: 07/22/2013 Page: 1 of 3 [DO NOT PUBLISH] IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT _ No. 12-14189 Non-Argument Calendar _ D.C. Docket No. 9:12-cv-80578-KMW, BKCY No. 07-16853-BKC-PGH In Re: MELANIE H. CABOT, Debtor. _ MICHAEL CABOT, Plaintiff-Appellant, versus MICHAEL R. BAKST, Defendant-Appellee. _ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida _ (July 22, 2013) Case: 12-14189 Date Filed: 07/22/2013 Page: 2 of 3..
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Case: 12-14189 Date Filed: 07/22/2013 Page: 1 of 3
[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
________________________
No. 12-14189
Non-Argument Calendar
________________________
D.C. Docket No. 9:12-cv-80578-KMW,
BKCY No. 07-16853-BKC-PGH
In Re: MELANIE H. CABOT,
Debtor.
___________________________________________
MICHAEL CABOT,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
versus
MICHAEL R. BAKST,
Defendant-Appellee.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Florida
________________________
(July 22, 2013)
Case: 12-14189 Date Filed: 07/22/2013 Page: 2 of 3
Before TJOFLAT, PRYOR and BLACK Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Michael Cabot, proceeding pro se, appeals from the district court’s dismissal
of his bankruptcy appeal. On June 12, 2012, acting sua sponte, the district court
dismissed Cabot’s appeal because he had not timely filed his initial brief. Cabot
filed his brief that same day. Cabot later moved for reconsideration, arguing that
he had believed his appeal was docketed on May 29, 2012, because that is the date
the Bankruptcy Notice of Entry was entered on the docket. The district court
denied Cabot’s motion for reconsideration, explaining that it was apparent from the
record that Cabot’s appeal was docketed on May 25, 2012, and that Cabot had
failed to show excusable neglect for his belated filing. The district court also
reviewed Cabot’s brief, and concluded the brief was “patently meritless” because
“it fail[ed] to sufficiently provide the Court with a basis to reverse or modify the
decision of the bankruptcy court.” On appeal, Cabot argues the district court
abused its discretion in denying his motion for reconsideration of the order
dismissing his appeal. Cabot also raises arguments related to his separate appeal of
the bankruptcy court’s order striking his designated issues on appeal to the district
court.
Any error that the district court may have made in dismissing Cabot’s appeal
for failure to comply with Bankruptcy Rule 8009(a)(1)’s 14-day deadline was
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Case: 12-14189 Date Filed: 07/22/2013 Page: 3 of 3
harmless because the district court reviewed Cabot’s brief when it denied his
motion for reconsideration. See Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9005 (incorporating Fed. R. Civ.
P. 61’s harmless error standard). The district court did not err in determining that
Cabot’s brief was without merit because he failed to raise any arguments on appeal
in the district court. See Timson v. Sampson,
518 F.3d 870, 874 (11th Cir. 2008)
(stating that although pleadings filed by a pro se litigant are construed liberally, a
pro se appellant abandons any issues not meaningfully addressed in the initial
brief). Rather, Cabot’s brief contained one short paragraph of argument with no
citations to the record or any authority, in which he stated broadly that the
bankruptcy court had attempted to prevent his appeal and acted erroneously in
striking his designated issues on appeal. Moreover, Cabot’s argument concerning
the bankruptcy court’s order striking his designated issues on appeal was not
properly before the district court and is not properly before us because he has
appealed that order in a separate proceeding. See
id. (noting that where an
appellant notices the appeal of a particular judgment, the reviewing court lacks
jurisdiction to review other judgments or issues not expressly referenced or
impliedly intended for appeal). Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s
dismissal of Cabot’s appeal.
AFFIRMED.
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