Opinion
No. 73-1312.
June 11, 1973.
Johnnie A. Jones, Walter C. Dumas, Baton Rouge, La., for plaintiffs-appellants.
William J. Guste, Jr., Atty. Gen. of La., Reginald Coco, Asst. Atty. Gen., Thomas Rayer, Sp. Counsel, Victor A. Sachse, Baton Rouge, La., Thomas A. Rayer, New Orleans, La., for defendants-appellees.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.
Before GEWIN, THORNBERRY and SIMPSON, Circuit Judges.
After a complete review of the record, it is our considered opinion that this court does not have jurisdiction to hear the instant appeal and thus we are compelled to dismiss. We reach this conclusion on two alternative grounds. First, this is an appeal from the lower court's order denying appellant's motion to consolidate its case with a suit previously filed in that court. A trial court has broad discretion in determining whether to consolidate a case pending before it. An order denying consolidation is not a final appealable order. See, 9 Wright Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure, § 2386 (1971); United States v. Chelsea Towers, Inc., 404 F.2d 329 (3d Cir. 1968).
Furthermore, appellant did not timely perfect an appeal. Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure requires that a notice of appeal be filed in the district court within thirty days. The order denying consolidation was entered on November 28, 1972, but appellant did not file its notice of appeal until December 29, 1972. Thus thirty-one days elapsed before the notice of appeal was filed and therefore this court is without jurisdiction to hear this appeal, in the absence of further proceedings in the district court under Rule 4(a), F.R. A.P., to determine the existence of excusable neglect in the late filing of the notice of appeal.
Appeal dismissed.