Appealing before fees are decided
Ray Haluch Gravel v. Central Pension Fund of the International Union of Operating Engineers and Participating Employers
In brief
The Supreme Court overturned the First Circuit and sent the case back: the unresolved contract-fee request did not make Ray Haluch Gravel's appeal timely.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided 9-0 · January 15, 2014 · Opinion by Justice Kennedy
- What it’s about
- Ray Haluch Gravel appealed a ruling over unpaid contributions to a union benefit fund while the fund’s request for contractual attorney’s fees remained unresolved.
- Who it affects
- The appeal of the June 17 decision was untimely even though the fund's request for contractual attorney fees was still unresolved.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court ruled the appeal was too late, overturned the First Circuit’s ruling, and sent the case back to the lower court (remanded).
The underlying dispute involved unpaid contributions to a union benefit fund and the fund's request for attorney fees under its contract.
The case asked whether a district court's decision can start the appeal deadline before it decides a request for attorney fees under a contract.
Question presented
Is a district court's decision on the merits, which fails to resolve a request for contractual attorney's fees, a "final decision" for the purposes of appeal?
What the Court decided
Holding
The appeal of the June 17 decision was untimely. 695 F. 3d 1, reversed and remanded.
- Result
- Reversed
The Court's reasoning
The Court said attorney-fee requests generally are separate from a decision on the main case. The fund's contract-based request therefore did not delay the deadline to appeal the June 17 decision.
The vote
What's next
The case returns to the First Circuit, which must proceed under the Supreme Court's ruling that the appeal of the June 17 decision was too late.
Documents
Opinions
Docket activity
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AI analysis generated: Impact Analysis
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AI analysis generated: Decision Record
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Opinion added: Ray Haluch
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.