Moody Ex Rel. JM v. National Football League

SUMMARY ORDER In 2016, Aura Moody, through counsel, brought a discrimination action against the National Football League (“NFL”) on behalf of her minor son, Julian Moody, in the Supreme Court of New York, Queens County. Mrs. Moody alleged that the NFL prohibited Julian from competing with his team at a national tournament because of his diabetes in violation of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 794. The NFL subsequently removed the case to the Eastern District of New York. During the proceedings, it came to light that Julian was an adult, and the complaint was amended to substitute Julian as the sole plaintiff. Julian, through counsel, then reached an agreement with the NFL and, on August 12, 2016, voluntarily dismissed the action under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41 (a)(1)(A) (ii). During a September 15, 2016 hearing before the District Court, Mrs. Moody argued that Julian had been intimidated into settling. On December 12, 2016, the District Court entered a text order advising that it would take no further action in the case. Mrs. Moody, proceeding pro se, now appeals from that order, arguing primarily that, in its treatment of her son, the NFL infringed upon her rights and caused her damages. We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts, the procedural history of the case, and the issues on appeal, to which we refer only as necessary to explain our decision to dismiss. It is a “prerequisite” of our appellate jurisdiction that the appellant “ha[ve] standing to pursue the appeal.” Concerned Citizens of Cohocton Valley, Inc. v. New York State Dep’t of Environ. Conservation, 127 F.3d 201, 204 (2d Cir. 1997); Official Comm. of Unsecured Creditors of WorldCom, Inc. v. S.E.C., 467 F.3d 73, 77 (2d Cir. 2006) (Sotomayor, J.) (“Standing to appeal is an essential component of our appellate jurisdiction”). “As a general rule, only a party of record in a lawsuit has standing to appeal from a. judgment of the district court.” Hispanic Soc’y of N.Y.C. Police Dep’t v. N.Y.C. Police Dep’t, 806 F.2d 1147, 1152 (2d Cir. 1986) (“Hispanic Society”). Our case law notes two exceptions to this general rule: “where the non-party is bound by the judgment and where the non-party has an interest plausibly affected by the judgment.” NML Capital, Ltd. v. Republic of Argentina, 727 F.3d 230, 239 (2d Cir. 2013). Neither exception applies here. First, Mrs. Moody is not bound by the District Court’s text order, which pertained only to Julian’s claim — the only matter properly before that court. Second, Mrs. Moody has not identified any legal interest of her own that may plausibly be said to be affected by the text order. The suit was based on allegations that the NFL unlawfully discriminated against Julian, not her. Although she has views about the matter, those are not legally cognizable within a setting where her adult son is a party to the proceedings. In Hispanic Society, for example, we held that nominal appellants did not have standing to appeal the district court’s approval of a settlement agreement in a class action employment discrimination suit. 806 F.2d at 1152-53. The appellants did not allege that they had been discriminated against and had not intervened in the underlying case. We concluded that the validity of the settlement agreement did not affect their rights. Id. Similarly, Mrs. Moody’s legal rights would not have been affected if the District Court had permitted additional activity related to Julian’s claims instead of entering its December 12, 2016 text order. Nor were Mrs. Moody’s legal rights affected by the stipulation with the NFL to which Julian agreed. See Cent. States Se. & Sw. Areas Health & Welfare Fund v. Merck-Medco Managed Care, LLC, 504 F.3d 229, 244 (2d Cir. 2007) (holding that non-party appellant lacked standing because it “would possess the same legal rights ... whether or not the Settlement Agreement were approved”). Finally, we note that permitting Mrs. Moody’s appeal would interfere with the affairs of the parties because, as the District Court confirmed with him and as reflected by his Rule 41 dismissal, Julian wished not to continue the case. In sum, Mrs. Moody lacks standing to appeal the District Court’s December 12, 2016 text order. Accordingly, we dismiss this appeal for want of appellate jurisdiction.