Lisa M. Bartone v. Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc.

ORDER The plaintiff, Lisa M. Bartone, appeals from the entry of summary judgment in favor of the defendants Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. and OneWest Bank, FSB. This case came before the Supreme Court at a session in conference pursuant to Article I, Rule 12A(3)(b) of the Supreme Court Rules of Appellate Procedure. At this time, we proceed to decide this case without further briefing and argument. This appeal is not properly before the Court. Under “[Article I,] Rule 4(a) [of the Supreme Court Rules of Appellate Procedure], a notice of appeal must be filed ‘within twenty (20) days of the date of the entry of the judgment.’ ” Iozzi v. City of Cranston, 52 A.3d 585, 588 (R.I.2012) (quoting Rule 4(a)). “It is well settled that ‘the time specified in Rule 4(a) is mandatory, and that once the prescribed time has passed there can be no review by way of appeal.’ ” Id. (quoting Wachovia Bank v. Hershberger, 911 A.2d 278, 279-80 (R.I. 2006) (mem.)). The plaintiff in the instant case filed her notice of appeal on May 7, 2013, more than twenty days after partial final judgment under Rule 54(b) of the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure was entered on April 10, 2013. Thus, the plaintiffs notice of appeal was untimely. Because the notice of appeal was not filed in a timely fashion, this case must be dismissed without consideration of the substantive issues on appeal. Accordingly, the plaintiffs appeal is denied and dismissed.