Hiob v. Progressive American Insurance

McDonald, j.

It is said, in many contexts, that timing is everything. This case involves an important question of timing for an appellate lawyer—the time to appeal.

A trial court’s decision may take many forms—for example, a jury verdict, an oral ruling from the bench, a written opinion, a simple order. If there are multiple claims or multiple parties, there may be several decisions at different times that resolve the case episodically. When must a disappointed litigant commence an appeal of an adverse decision?

The time to appeal must accommodate competing values. On the one hand, appellate…