In this case which is presented by A1 Hamburg (Hamburg), acting as his own attorney, the primary issue is the failure of Hamburg to present cogent argument and pertinent authority in his brief as well as his failure to comply with Wyo.R.App.P. 7.01. The issue asserted by Hamburg is that he had a right to participate as a party in a case presented by his sons in the trial court. There are incidental issues relating to an attempt to exercise peremptory challenge of the judge and a motion to stay proceedings, but the consideration of those issues depends upon the resolution of the primary issue. For the failure to comply with our rules and to present cogent argument and pertinent authority, we affirm the Order Dismissing Claims of A1 Hamburg and Denying Motion to Amend Complaint. That resolution avoids the necessity of considering any collateral issues. We also assess a reasonable fee for counsel for the appellees pui’suant to Wyo.R.App.P. 10.05.
The issues as articulated by Hamburg are:
1. Did the court have legal right to dismiss A1 Hamburg as a plaintiff.
2. Did the court commit prejudicial error in removing A1 Hamburg as a plaintiff.
3. Did plaintiffs have cause to request achange of judge under W.R.C.P. 40.1(b)(2).
4. Is the Order Denying Change of Judge appealable.
5. Motion to Stay Proceedings in district court pending appeal.
In the Brief of Appellee Denise Heilbrun, the issues are articulated in this way:
1. Did the trial court improperly deny Plaintiffs Motion for a Change of Judge pursuant to W.R.C.P. 40.1(b)(2)?
2. Did the trial court improperly dismiss A1 Hamburg from the sexual harassment case he filed on behalf of his sons?
3. Did the trial court improperly deny Al Hamburg’s Motion to Amend Complaint?
4. Should proceedings in the District Court be stayed during this appeal?
5. Should appellee be awarded costs and fees pursuant to W.R.A.P. Rule 10.05?
6. Should Appellant’s appeal be dismissed for failing to comply with W.R.A.P. Rule 3.05(e)?
In its Brief of Appellee, The Torrington Telegram articulates these issues:
1. Whether the District Court Judge erroneously dismissed the Appellant?
2. Whether the District Court Judge erroneously dismissed the Appellant’s amended complaint?
3. Whether the District Court Judge’s decision not to disqualify himself for cause is an appealable order?
4. Whether the Appellee, Torrington Telegram, is entitled to costs and fees pursuant to W.R.A.P. Rule 10.05?
Hamburg sought to be recognized as a plaintiff in an action filed by his two sons seeking recovery for sexual harassment of the sons by Denise Heilbrun (Heilbrun) and The Torrington Telegram (The Telegram). Heilbrun was an employee of The Telegram and was the individual who was charged with sexual harassment in the complaint of the sons.
1 For more than thirty-five years, this Court has summarily affirmed eases or issues in cases that are not presented with cogent argument or pertinent authority.
E.g., Wilson v. State,
In any event, we are satisfied that Hamburg’s effort to join in the action brought by his sons was nothing more than a thinly-veiled attempt on his part to be recognized as their attorney. From the presentation made in this case as well as a comparison of the case of
Hamburg v. Heilbrun,
The district court exercised sound judgment with respect to what is right under the circumstances and without acting arbi
We are satisfied that an order denying a motion to disqualify the trial judge pursuant to Wyo.R.Civ.P. 40.1(b)(3) is not an appealable order.
Osborn v. Manning,
We are asked by the appellees to award attorney fees pursuant to Wyo. R.App.P. 10.05 because of the frivolous appeal. Hamburg has presented no cogent argument or pertinent authority in his brief that supports his contentions. From what was included in the Brief of Appellant, we are persuaded the appeal is frivolous. We normally do not award damages or attorney fees under Wyo.R.App.P. 10.05 when discretionary rulings of the trial court are presented.
James S. Jackson Co., Inc. v. Meyer, 677
P.2d 835, 839 (Wyo.1984) (quoting
Bacon v. Carey Company,
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed and, since we find there was no reasonable cause for this appeal, we award an attorney fee to counsel for Denise Heilbrun and an attorney fee to counsel for The Torrington Telegram.
