State v. McColery, 297 Neb. 53

Scott McColery was charged with strangulation; bond set at $50,000 and he posted a $5,000 appearance bond.
McColery assigned the $5,000 bond to his private attorney for legal fees.
The State filed an affidavit of lien for overdue child support showing McColery owed over $18,000.
McColery moved to have the court release the bond funds to his attorney after his conviction.
The district court denied the motion, holding the funds in court pending further proceedings.
McColery appealed the denial to the Nebraska Supreme Court.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Whether the district court order denying immediate release of bond funds is a final, appealable order	McColery: denial injures his and his attorney’s right to the assigned funds and is immediately appealable	State: order does not affect any party’s substantive rights because funds remain in court and garnishment has not yet been pursued	The order is not final or appealable; appeal dismissed as premature

Big John’s Billiards v. State, 283 Neb. 496 (2012) (definition of when an order affects a substantial right)
Sutton v. Killham, 285 Neb. 1 (2013) (clarifying final-order principles)
Carlos H. v. Lindsay M., 283 Neb. 1004 (2012) (treatment of substantial-right inquiries)
Pearce v. Mutual of Omaha Ins. Co., 293 Neb. 277 (2016) (final order and substantial-right analysis)
Cattle Nat. Bank & Trust Co. v. Watson, 293 Neb. 943 (2016) (order affects substantial right when it diminishes a party’s claim or defense)