Irvin E. Caraway, II v. Equifax - Appeal Dismissal
Summary
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a non-precedential opinion in the case of Irvin E. Caraway, II v. Equifax. The court is considering Equifax's motion to dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction, as Caraway's notice of appeal did not clearly identify the rulings being appealed.
What changed
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing a motion to dismiss an appeal filed by Irvin E. Caraway, II, against Equifax. The appeal stems from a civil case consolidated within the multidistrict litigation for the 2017 Equifax data breach. Equifax argues that Caraway's notice of appeal is jurisdictionally deficient because it does not clearly identify the specific rulings being appealed, and the order Caraway appears to be challenging is neither final nor otherwise appealable. The court notes that the timely filing of a notice of appeal is a jurisdictional requirement.
This case highlights the critical importance of precise appellate filings. Regulated entities and individuals involved in litigation must ensure their notices of appeal clearly identify the specific orders or judgments they intend to challenge within the prescribed timeframes. Failure to do so can result in dismissal for lack of jurisdiction. The court's decision on Equifax's motion will determine whether Caraway's appeal can proceed.
What to do next
- Review appellate filing requirements for clarity and specificity.
- Ensure all notices of appeal clearly identify the specific rulings being challenged.
- Consult legal counsel regarding appealability of district court orders.
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March 27, 2026 Get Citation Alerts Download PDF Add Note
Irvin E. Caraway, II v. Equifax
Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- Citations: None known
- Docket Number: 25-12267
- Precedential Status: Non-Precedential
Nature of Suit: NEW
Combined Opinion
USCA11 Case: 25-12267 Document: 22-1 Date Filed: 03/27/2026 Page: 1 of 4
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
In the
United States Court of Appeals
For the Eleventh Circuit
No. 25-12267
Non-Argument Calendar
IRVIN E. CARAWAY, II,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
versus
EQUIFAX,
Defendant-Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Georgia
D.C. Docket No. 1:18-cv-04753-TWT
Before ROSENBAUM, NEWSOM, and BRANCH, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Irvin E. Caraway, II, proceeding pro se, filed a notice of ap-
peal in his civil case that was consolidated in the multidistrict liti-
gation for cases arising out of the 2017 Equifax data breach, which,
USCA11 Case: 25-12267 Document: 22-1 Date Filed: 03/27/2026 Page: 2 of 4
2 Opinion of the Court 25-12267
upon approving a class action settlement, the district court dis-
missed with prejudice in 2020. In his notice, Caraway expressly
sought to appeal this case but did not clearly identify any rulings
from which he was appealing.
Premised on Caraway’s notice evincing an intent to appeal
from the district court’s most recent order denying Caraway’s post-
judgment motion to transfer venues, Equifax moves to dismiss his
appeal for lack of jurisdiction, arguing that Caraway lacks standing
to challenge the order and that the order is neither final nor other-
wise appealable. Equifax alternatively moves for summary affir-
mance. Caraway did not respond.
“[T]he timely filing of a notice of appeal in a civil case is a
jurisdictional requirement,” and we cannot entertain an appeal that
is out of time. Green v. Drug Enf’t Admin., 606 F.3d 1296, 1300 (11th
Cir. 2010) (quotation marks omitted, alteration in original). A no-
tice of appeal in a civil case must be filed within 30 days after the
entry of the challenged ruling unless there is a federal party. 28
U.S.C. § 2107 (a); Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1)(A). If the final day of an
appeal period falls on a holiday or weekend, the final day to appeal
becomes the next day that is not a holiday or weekend. Fed. R.
App. P. 26(a)(1)(C).
“Every judgment and amended judgment must be set out in
a separate document,” except orders disposing of certain motions.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 58(a). A judgment “includes a decree and any order
from which an appeal lies.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(a). When a separate
document is required by Rule 58(a), a judgment or order is deemed
USCA11 Case: 25-12267 Document: 22-1 Date Filed: 03/27/2026 Page: 3 of 4
25-12267 Opinion of the Court 3
entered under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a) when the
judgment is set forth on a separate document or 150 days have
passed from entry of the judgment on the civil docket, whichever
is earlier. Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(7)(A).
In civil cases, we treat post-judgment proceedings as “free-
standing litigation, in effect treating the final judgment as the first
rather than the last order in the case,” and, thus, deem an order
final “if it disposes of all the issues raised in the motion that initially
sparked the . . . proceedings.” Mayer v. Wall St. Equity Grp., Inc., 672
F.3d 1222, 1224 (11th Cir. 2012) (quotation marks omitted).
Upon review of the record and Equifax’s motion to dismiss,
we conclude that we lack jurisdiction over Caraway’s appeal be-
cause his notice of appeal is not timely to challenge any order in
this case. The district court entered its most recent order on the
docket on November 7, 2024, which denied Caraway’s post-judg-
ment motion and concluded the post-judgment proceeding. Be-
cause the district court did not enter judgment on a document sep-
arate from its November 7 order, the order is not deemed entered
until April 7, 2025—the first business day following 150 days after
its entry on the docket. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 58(a); Fed. R. App.
P. 4(a)(7)(A), 26(a)(1)(C); Mayer, 672 F.3d at 1224. If Caraway
sought to appeal from the November 7 order, he was therefore re-
quired to file a notice of appeal by May 7, 2025. See 28 U.S.C.
§ 2107 (a); Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1)(A). Caraway did not file his notice
until June 30, 2025.
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4 Opinion of the Court 25-12267
The notice is thus untimely to appeal from the November 7,
2024, order. See 28 U.S.C. § 2107 (a); Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1)(A). As
his notice of appeal is not timely to appeal from the court’s most
recent order, Caraway’s notice is also not timely to appeal from
any earlier order. We therefore lack jurisdiction to review his ap-
peal. See Green, 606 F.3d at 1300.
Accordingly, Equifax’s motion to dismiss is GRANTED and
Caraway’s appeal is DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction. Equifax’s
alternative motion for summary affirmance is DENIED as moot.
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