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Appellate Practice

Jul. 4, 2002

In Some Cases, Appeal Will Lie From an Order, Not a Judgment

Focus Column - By Paul D. Fogel and Benjamin G. Shatz - For some time now, the Courts of Appeal have admonished litigants that an appeal lies only from a judgment and not from the order that gave rise to it. For example, in Modica v. Merin, 234 Cal.App.3d 1072 (1991), the court dismissed an appeal taken from an order granting summary judgment, expressing exasperation with the bar for failing to comprehend the distinction between a nonappealable order and an appealable judgment.

Paul D. Fogel

Judge (retired) Reed Smith LLP

Appellate Law

101 2nd St Ste 1800
San Francisco , CA 94105

Phone: (415) 659-5929

Fax: (415) 391-8269

Email: pfogel@reedsmith.com

UCLA SOL; Los Angeles CA

Paul D. Fogel is a partner in Reed Smith LLP's Appellate Group, and served as the group's leader from 2012 to 2015

Benjamin G. Shatz

Partner Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP

Appellate Law (Certified), Litigation

Email: bshatz@manatt.com

Benjamin is a certified specialist in appellate law who co-chairs the Appellate Practice Group at Manatt in the firm's Los Angeles office. Exceptionally Appealing appears the first Tuesday of the month.

For some time now, the Courts of Appeal have admonished litigants that an appeal lies only from a judgment and not from the order that gave rise to it. For example, in Modica v. Merin, 234 Cal.App.3d 1072 (1991), the court dismissed an appeal taken from an order granting summary judgment, expressing exasperation with the bar for failing to comprehend the distinction between a nonappealable order and an appealable judgment. See also Shpiller v. Harry C's Redlands, 13 Cal.App.4...

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