HIGGINS VS. CATELO (FAMILY)

Key holdings

Practitioner summary

The Nevada Supreme Court dismissed this appeal for failure to comply with the docketing prerequisites of NRAP 3. The appeal was docketed on August 19, 2025, without the filing fee required under NRAP 3(e) and without proof of service of the notice of appeal required under NRAP 3(d). The court issued same-day notices directing the appellant to pay the filing fee or demonstrate compliance with NRAP 24 (governing in forma pauperis applications) within 14 days, and to file proof of service within 14 days, with dismissal as the stated consequence of noncompliance. The appellant did not pay the fee, file proof of service, or respond. The court dismissed pursuant to NRAP 3(a)(2).

In plain language

When someone files an appeal with the Nevada Supreme Court, they must pay a filing fee and show that they sent a copy of the notice of appeal to the other side. Christopher Higgins filed an appeal but did neither. The court sent him notices on the day his appeal was docketed, telling him he had 14 days to pay the fee (or show that he qualifies for a fee waiver) and 14 days to file proof that he had served the notice of appeal. The notices warned that if he did not comply, the case would be thrown out. According to the court, Higgins did not pay the fee, did not file proof of service, and did not otherwise respond. The Nevada Supreme Court therefore dismissed the appeal without reaching the merits of any underlying family-court issue.