A Summer Smorgasbord – Rule Changes, Constitutional Law, and Settlement Agreements
It’s the middle of a beautiful Maine summer, a good time for a few quick hits on some interesting developments . . .
First, as I previewed last month, new amendments to the Rules of Appellate Procedure became effective July 13. The new rules streamline certain procedures (such as allowing electronic signatures), make a few tweaks (particularly to the content and formatting for briefs), and provide helpful clarity (regarding cross-appeals). The latter point is worth highlighting here. As the Advisory Committee note observes, Rule 2C now makes clear that
no cross-appeal is necessary if the appellee does not seek to change any aspect of the judgment. A cross-appeal is necessary only if a party seeks a change to the judgment.
With this change and the Court’s aside in Concord General regarding cross-appeals, perhaps some clarity is beginning to enter this area of the law.
Second,