Cooper v. Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection

CourtSuperior Court of Delaware
DecidedDecember 4, 2018
DocketN18A-09-005 RRC
StatusPublished

This text of Cooper v. Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection (Cooper v. Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cooper v. Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection, (Del. Ct. App. 2018).

Opinion

SUPERIOR COURT oFTHE

STATE OF DEL.AWARE

NEW CASTLE COUNTY COURTHOUSE 500 NORTH KING STREET, SU|TE 104-00 WlLMlNGTON, DE|_AWARE 19801-3733 TELEPHONE (302) 255-0664

R lCHARD R. COOCH REleENTJuDGE

Caesar Kasarnba Cooper

5580 Heritage Court Drive, Apt. 1C Wilmington, Delaware 19808 Appellant, Pro se

Karen M. Volker, Esquire Deputy Attorney General Department of` Justice

820 North French Street, 6th Floor Wilmington, Delaware 19801 Attorney for Appellee

Re: Caesar Kasamba Cooper v. I)elawarc Department of Hea|th and Social Services Division of Long Term Care Residents

Protection C.A. No. N18A-09-005 RRC

Submitted: October 24, 2018 Decided: December 4, 2018

On Appellee’s Motion to Dismiss. GRANTED.

Dear Mr. Cooper and Ms. Volker:

Appellee Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection (“DHSS” and “DLTCRP” respectively) filed a Motion to Dismiss Appellant Caesar Kasamba Cooper’s Appeal of the Decision of the Hearing Officer on behalf of DLTCRP. Pursuant to 11 Del. C. § 8564(b), the finding of the hearing of`ficer is the final decision of DLTCRP, and is appealable on the record to the Superior Court. ' Under Superior Court Civil Rule 72(b), “[i]f no time is prescribed by statute, the notice of appeal shall be filed Within 15 days from entry of

' 11 Del. C. § 8564(b).

the final judgment, order, or disposition from Which an appeal is permitted by laW.”2 Section 8564 does not prescribe a deadline for filing an appeal. Thus, in this matter, Civil Rule 72(b) applies.3

lt is Well established that the Court lacks jurisdiction to decide a direct appeal that is untimely, and jurisdictional defects cannot be Waived.4 There is no remedy for an untimely appeal, as the Court lacks jurisdiction.5 Under Superior Court Civil Rule 72(i), the Court has discretion to dismiss any appeal sua sponte, or on a motion to dismiss by any party.6 Among other reasons, “[d]ismissal may be ordered for untimely filing of an appeal....”7

In this case, Appellant filed his appeal five days after the 15-day deadline. The hearing officer, on behalf of DLTCRP, rendered a final decision on August 31, 2018. Thus, Appellant Was required to file a notice of appeal on or before September 15, 2018, or risk Waiving any right to further appeal. Appellant filed his appeal on September 20, 2018. Appellant’s appeal must be dismissed.

Accordingly, Appellee’s Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Vel'y truly yotu's,

RRC

cc: Prothonotary Department of Health and Social Services Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection

2 Super. Ct. Civ. R. 72(b).

3 Appellant Was advised that Civil Rule 72(b) applied to his matter under Section V of the hearing officer’s Written decision. See Final Decision of the Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection, Appellee’s Mot. to Dismiss, Ex. B, Trans. ID 62593786, at 11, § V.

4 Eller v. State, 531 A.2d 951, 953 (Del. 1987).

5 Eller, 531 A.2d at 951; Irvin-Wright v. State, 2003 WL 2148100'4, at *3 (Del. Super. June 16, 2003).

6 Super. Ct. Civ. R. 72(i).

7 Id.

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Related

Eller v. State
531 A.2d 951 (Supreme Court of Delaware, 1987)

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Bluebook (online)
Cooper v. Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cooper-v-delaware-department-of-health-and-social-services-division-of-delsuperct-2018.