I recall that SCO very much wanted a stay, so they wouldn't have to appeal, with all the expense that it entails. They asked the judge to stay at least until February. She denied that motion, so maybe they filed an appeal, knowing it would be dismissed, and in the interim maybe there would be a ruling in the IBM case that would inform them whether or not it was worth taking an appeal. That is what jurisdictional can mean, though, that you missed a deadline. The time limit for an appeal of right is jurisdictional. You have to file within the mandated time window. An appeal of right, as opposed to an appeal of leave, means you don't need permission to appeal. Here [PDF] is the checklist they follow in Michigan. And here are the rules.

I spoke with the clerk who handles the administrative end a week or so ago, and she told me this appeal was going nowhere. And it has. That doesn't mean SCO can't try again, but they can't do it this way. They'll have to ask the appeals court if they will grant them permission to appeal, a separate process with no guarantee that the court will say yes. Or, they can file a motion for reconsideration within 21 days of the dismissal and ask a panel of three judges to review the dismissal. If I were just trying to buy some time, I believe I'd file a motion for reconsideration. Even if it got denied again, it would stretch out the time I had to file an appeal of leave. I'll know more on Monday, but I didn't want to wait to let you know some good news.

Here's the docket information:

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Case Number: 260036-C

SCO GROUP INC V DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP

1 SCO GROUP INC -- PL-AT -- RET -- (26487) ROSENBAUM BARRY M [address, phone]

2 DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP -- DF-AE -- RET -- (13335) FEENEY JAMES P [address, phone]

Status: Case Concluded; File Open

12/29/2004 -- 1 -- Claim of Appeal - Civil
Proof Of Service Date: 12/29/2004
Check #: 56347 Fee: $375.00
Receipt#: 2600361
Jurisdictional Checklist: Y Register of Actions: Y
Attorney:26487 - ROSENBAUM BARRY M

12/21/2004 -- 2 -- Order Appealed From
From: OAKLAND COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
Case Number: 2004-056587-CK
Trial Court Judge: 28006 CHABOT RAE LEE
Nature of Case: Dismissal Voluntary

1/10/2005 -- 4 -- Appearance - Appellee
Date: 1/10/2005
For Party: 2 DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP DF-AE
Attorney: 13335 - FEENEY JAMES P

1/18/2005 -- 5 -- Submitted On Special Motion Docket
District: C Item #: 11

1/21/2005 -- 6 --Order: Dismissal - Administrative - Jurisdiction

Panel: WCW
Attorney: 26487 - ROSENBAUM BARRY M

Panel: WCW Attorney: 26487 - ROSENBAUM BARRY M