PUBLISH

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT

ALAN V. FUNK; WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., successor by assignment to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, N.A., formerly known as First Security Bank of Utah, N.A.,

Plaintiffs - Appellees,

v.

LFLM DEFENDANTS consisting of: DR. MAURICE ADAM, DR. & MRS. JEROME A. ARNDT, DR. & MRS. JAY H. ARNETT, DR. & MRS. ROBERT E. ASKEW, DR. & MRS. JOE N. BAILEY, III, MR. & MRS. ROBERT J. BARBERO, MR. & MRS. GARY R. BEYNON, DR. & MRS. JOHN BLEWETT, MR. & MRS. JACK T. BROWN, DR. & MRS. JOHN W. BUCHANAN, JR., DR. CHRISTOPHER S. CHENAULT, DR. H. ANSON CONE, ANSON CONE as personal representative of the Estate of Florence Ann Vaughan, DR. BARRY D. CUNNINGHAM, DR. & MRS. CLYDE R. DANKS, DR. & MRS. WILLIAM M. DEANE, DR. ELWOOD J. EICHLER, SUE EICHLER, ROBERT M. ELDER and IRENE ELDER individually and as Trustees of the Elder Trust, DR. & MRS. ROBERT K. EMERSON, DONNA MARIE FARACI, DR. & MRS. SAM B. FASON, DR. & MRS. CHARLES E.

FELGER, DR. JAMES R. FRICKE, DR. & MRS. PEDRO E. GARCIA, DR. EDWARD GERETY individually and as Trustee of the Edward J. & Margaret H. Gerety Revocable Trust and the Edward J. Gerety IRA, MARGARET H. GERETY individually and as Trustee of the Edward J. & Margaret H. Gerety Revocable Trust, DR. RICHARD L. GERETY, DR. J.M. GIBLIN, DR. & MRS. EARL R. GODWIN, DR. & MRS. HOMER GOEHRS, RICHARD E. GRAY, DR. DON GREENWAY, ANNE GREENWAY, DR. & MRS JOHN A. HABRA, DR. STANLEY HANDEL & CAROLYN HANDEL individually and as Trustees of the Carolyn H. Handel Trust, DR. ROBERT A. JOHNSON, DR. & MRS. MORTON L. KRUMHOLZ, DR. VICTOR J. LI-PELAEZ, VERONICA LI-PELAEZ, LYNN A. LONGFIELD, DR. RICHARD D. LUEKER individually and as Trustee of the Southwest Cardiology Associates Pension Trust and the Lueker Revocable Trust, DR. & MRS. ERNEST MAX, DR. & MRS. WILLIAM E. MCCARRON, JOHNT T. MITCHELL individually and as Trustee of the John T. Mitchell Trust, DR. & MRS. KARL R. MOEDL individually and as Trustees of the Moedl Trust, EVELYN R. DIBONA, EVELYN R. DIBONA PARISH, PED LIMITED FAMILY PARTNERSHIP, DR. & MRS. RONALD J. PINKENBURG, DR. & MRS. NORTON A. POPE, DR. & MRS. JAMES F. REEVES, DR. & MRS. J. CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS, DR. JOHN S. RICHARDSON, JANET

PUCKETT RICHARDSON, DR. JANET PUCKETT, DR. & MRS. LARRY B.

SCHRADER, LINWOOD DENMAN SHELTON, DR. THOMAS O. SHELTON, LINDA SHELTON, MR. & MRS. JACK C. SHEWMAKER, DR. WILLIAM N. STASSEN, DR. DEBORAH O'CONNELL, DR. & MRS BURT S. STRUG, DR. & MRS. FRED K. SOIFER, ROBERT L. SPERRY, DR. LAWRENCE J. SPINGOLA, MR. & MRS. WILLIAM H. STEVENS, DR. & MRS. JON B. WANG, DR. & MRS. ROBERT H. WERNECKE, DR. & MRS. BYRN WILLIAMSON, JR., VIRGINIA YOUNGBLOOD individually and as Trustee of the Virginia Youngblood Living Trust, MR. & MRS. WAYLAND K. ADAMS, DR. JOHN S. ALEXANDER, DR. & MRS. VINCENT A. AMICUCCI, DR. & MRS. EDWARD ATLER, MR. & MRS RICHARD L. BARONE, DR. & MRS. DAVID C. BARNETT, JANICE BARSON, DR. & MRS. GORDON L. BILBREY, DR. & MRS. DAVID W. BOSSLER, DR. JACK BROCK, DR. SONJA BROCK, DR. & MRS. FRED O. BRUMFIELD, MR. & MRS. MICHAEL F. BRUSTKERN, JUDITH J. BRYAN individually and as Trustee of the Judith J. Bryan Trust, DR. JAMES R. BURTON, DR PAUL M. CHAU individually and as Executor of the Betty S. Chau Estate, DR. & MRS. NORMAN H. CHENVEN, DR. & MRS. WILLIAM J. CHESNUT, MR. & MRS. STEPHEN S. CLARK, DR. M. CLARK COLVARD, DR. & MRS. COURSEN B. CONKLIN, DR. JOHN COON, LINDA COON, DR. & MRS. KERMIT COUNTS, DR. & MRS. J. BRUCE COX, DR. & MRS. CLINTON E. CRAVEN, DR. & MRS. JAMES E. CROUT, DR. & MRS. ASA CROW, MR. & MRS PHILLIP L. CURRIE, DR. & MRS GEORGE M. DECHERD, IV, DR. & MRS. ROBERT A. DENNISON, DR. & MRS. H. JOE DICKERSON, MR. & MRS. DAVID T. EACRET, DR. & MRS. MERLYN E. ECKELBERG individually and as Trustees of the Eckelberg Revocable Trust, MR. & MRS. HARRY EDWARDS, DR. & MRS. MICHAEL EMMETT, DR. & MRS. STEVEN H. FEAGLER, CARL J. FINK individually and as Trustee of the Carl J. Fink Family Trust, DR. JOHN FINLEY, AUDREY FINLEY, RAY G. FORMAN, FORMAN FAMILY ASSOCIATES, DR. ALLAN FRANK, MR. & MRS. WAYNE L. GARCEAU, SIDNEY G. GARRETT, BEVERLY GOSS, DR. JERRY E. GOSS individually and as Trustee of the Albuquerque Cardiology Associates Pension & Profit Trust, GARY GROSS, DR. CATHY GROSS, DR. & MRS. HARRIS D. HANSON, DR. BOYD A. HARDESTY individually and as Personal Representative of the Mildred Hardesty Estate, MRS. BOYD A. HARDESTY, DR. & MRS. EVERETT G. HEINZE, DR. & MRS JACK A. HILL, DR. & MRS. NEIL R. HOFFMAN, DR. & MRS. RICHARD HOLT, DAVID M. HOYT, DR. & MRS. PHILLIP T. JACOB, JANIE F. JULIAN, DR. STEVEN E. KAMMEYER, DR. & MRS JAY A. KATZ, DR. STEPHEN P. KELLY individually and as Trustee of the Stephen P. Kelly IRA, SANDRA KELLY, DR. WILLIAM L. KELLY, DR. & MRS. C. LEONARD KEMP, MR. & MRS. HARTWELL J. KENNARD, DR. & MRS. JAMES W. KENNEDY, DR.

MICHAEL W. KISTLER, MR. & MRS. GREGORY F. KITE, BARBARA N. KOONS individually and as Trustee of the Barbara N. Koons Trust, DR. & MRS. MAURICE R. LAVA, DR. LARRY LAWSON, NIKKI P. LAWSON, DR. & MRS. IHN P. LEE, HELENE DENISE LERMAN, JENNIFER EILEEN LERMAN, JEROME T. LOENDORF, DR. & MRS. GORDON LONG, DR. & MRS DEWEY L. LONG, DR. & MRS. BRUCE P. LOVETT individually and as Trustees of the Lovett Revocable Trust, DR. THOMAS I. LOWRY, DR. M.E. MAULE, DR. & MRS. WILLIAM MCCALEB, JOE L. MCCLAUGHERTY, DR. & MRS. MICHAEL EDWARD MCCUTCHEON, DR. & MRS JOE S. MCILHANEY, DR. & MRS. WALTER M. MERRITT, NELLIE S. MITCHELL, MR. & MRS. REID M.. MITCHELL, MR. & MRS. THEODORE J. MITCHELL, DR. & MRS. CHARLES W. MONTGOMERY, DR. DAVID BENJAMIN MOORE, JR., MR. & MRS. DAVID E. NAIL, DR. & MRS. MERRILL C. OAKS, ARLEITA L. OHAI COMBS, DR. & MRS. J. THOMAS OKIN, DR. JOHN P. O'REILLY, DR. & MRS. DONALD W. OWENS, DR. ARTHUR J. OZOLIN, AIJA OZOLIN, DR. & MRS. GARY N. PAMPLIN, JANE GREENOUGH PAULSON, MR. & MRS. DON G. PIXLEY, RONALD C. PRATI, DR. & MRS. GERALD F. PROHASKA, DR. ROBERT S. RIGOLOSI, DR. & MRS. SIDNEY T. ROBIN, DR. & MRS. ROBERT L. ROCK, DR. & MRS. JAMES E. RYTTING, DR. WILLIAM H. SAYRE, MARY ANN SAYRE, DR. & MRS. LARRY W. SCHORN, DR. BENNIE SCOTT, JUDY SCOTT, DR. VERN ANN SHOTTS, C. MACK SHOTTS individually and as Trustee of the C. Mack Shotts IRA, JOHN W. SKADAN, THOMAS T. SMITH, BONNIE SMITH, DR. & MRS. WILLIAM C. SMYTH, DR. & MRS. DONALD SPENCER, NANCY SPENCER, MR. & MRS. ROBERT L. STARKS, BARBARA M. STOYKO, DR. GAIL B. STRAIT, MR. DONALD J. STROCK, DEBORAH STROCK, DR. & MRS. EDWARD LEE SUMMERS, DR. THOMAS C. SUMNERS, DR. THOMAS B. SUMMERS, DR. & MRS. WILLIAM P. TAYLOR, MR. & MRS. LAWRENCE E. THATCHER, DR. & MRS. PATRICK R. THOMAS, UNION NATIONAL BANK as Trustee of the Mrs. Audrey J. Thompson Revocable Trust, DR. & MRS. RICHARD J. TOLL, DR. & MRS. F. GERALD THURMAN, MR. & MRS. BOYCE L. TUCKER, MR. & MRS. JOHN D. URQUHART, HARRIET A. VINEYARD, DR. & MRS. RICHARD F. WALKER, DR. & MRS. PETER WEISS, MR. & MRS. JOHN D. WEST, MR. & MRS. ALLAN J. WESTMAAS, DR. & MRS. MADELINE WHITE, DR. & MRS. MARTIN G. WHITE, DR. & MRS. JOHN N. WILSON, DR. & MRS. CAREY WINDLER, WINDLER FAMILY PARTNERS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, DR. DONALD A. WOLFEL and CYNTHIA A. WOLFEL individually and as Trustees of the Donald A. & Cynthia A. Wolfel Revocable Trust, DOUG BETTERS, DR. FRED CLAYSON, DONALD M. DUNCAN, P.E., MR. & MRS RICHARD E. GRAY,

MR. W.C. MUMM, DR. GARY B. STANFORD, MR. & MRS. RICHARD BERGER, DR. JACK R. BOYD, DR. & MRS FRED J. JOHNSON, III, DR. & MRS. JOHN E. LOWE,

Defendants - Appellants,

and

WOODBURY AND KESSLER DEFENDANTS consisting of: CASAS ADOBES INVESTORS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, DESERT TREE ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, FOOTHILLS WEST LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, PARK SANTA FE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, SUN TREE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, WILLOW CREEK INVESTORS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, MAURICE ADAM, MRS. MAURICE ADAM individually and as Trustee of the AMD Trust, DR. & MRS. PATRICK H. BECKHAM, DR. & MRS. RONALD L. BOLEN, DR. & MRS. SAM H. CADE, CADE FAMILY BUSINESS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, COLLEGE GARDENS UTAH, LTD., COLLEGE GARDENS II, DR. & MRS. JAMES R. COTTON, ROGER M. ELLISON, DR. & MRS. H. ALAN FLOWERS, DR. & MRS. KERMIT W. FOX, DR. & MRES DEAN KUMPURIS, MR. & MRS. E. BURNS LUNDGREEN, CDR. YVONNE RUSSELL, HARRY CAMPER, DR. EUGENE P. SCHOCH, III, DR. & MRS. KENNETH W. SMITH, RICHARD KING, RICHARD AND JANET KING individually and as Trustees of the King Family Trust,

Defendants.

ALAN V. FUNK, WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., successor by Assignment to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, N.A., formerly known as First Security Bank of Utah, N.A.,

Plaintiffs - Appellees,

v.

LFLM DEFENDANTS, consisting of: DR. MAURICE ADAM, DR. & MRS. JEROME A. ARNDT, DR. & MRS. JAY H. ARNETT, DR. & MRS. ROBERT E. ASKEW, DR. & MRS. JOE N. BAILEY,III, MR. & MRS. ROBERT J. BARBERO, MR. & MRS. GARY R. BEYNON, DR. & MRS. JOHN BLEWETT, MR. & MRS. JACK T. BROWN, DR. & MRS. JOHN W. BUCHANAN, JR., DR. CHRISTOPHER S. CHENAULT, DR. H. ANSON CONE, ANSON CONE as personal representative of the Estate of Florence Ann Vaughan, DR. BARRY D. CUNNINGHAM, DR. & MRS. CLYDE R. DANKS, DR. & MRS. WILLIAM M. DEANE, DR. ELWOOD J. EICHLER, SUE EICHLER, ROBERT M. ELDER and IRENE ELDER individually and as Trustees of the Elder Trust, DR. & MRS. ROBERT K. EMERSON, DONNA MARIE FARACI, DR. & MRS. SAM B. FASON, DR. & MRS. CHARLES E. FELGER, DR. JAMES R. FRICKE, DR. & MRS. PEDRO E. GARCIA, DR. EDWARD GERETY individually and as Trustee of the Edward J. & Margaret H. Gerety Revocable Trust and the Edward J. Gerety IRA, MARGARET H. GERETY individually and as Trustee of the Edward J. & Margaret H. Gerety Revocable Trust, DR. RICHARD L. GERETY, DR. J.M. GIBLIN, DR. & MRS. EARL R. GODWIN, DR. & MRS. HOMER GOEHRS, RICHARD E. GRAY, DR. DON GREENWAY, ANNE GREENWAY, DR. & MRS JOHN A. HABRA, DR. STANLEY HANDEL & CAROLYN HANDEL individually and as Trustees of the Carolyn H. Handel Trust, DR. ROBERT A. JOHNSON, DR. & MRS. MORTON L. KRUMHOLZ, DR. VICTOR J. LI-PELAEZ, VERONICA LI-PELAEZ, LYNN A. LONGFIELD, DR. RICHARD D. LUEKER individually and as Trustee of the Southwest Cardiology Associates Pension Trust and the Lueker revocable Trust, DR. & MRS. ERNEST MAX, DR. & MRS. WILLIAM E. MCCARRON, JOHN T. MITCHELL individually and as Trustee of the John T. Mitchell Trust, DR. & MRS. KARL R. MOEDL individually and as Trustees of the Moedl Trust, EVELYN R. DIBONA, EVELYN R. DIBONA PARISH, PED LIMITED FAMILY PARTNERSHIP, DR. & MRS. RONALD J. PINKENBURG, DR. & MRS. NORTON A. POPE, DR. & MRS. JAMES F. REEVES, DR. & MRS. J. CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS, DR. JOHN S. RICHARDSON, JANET PUCKETT RICHARDSON, DR. JANET PUCKETT, DR. & MRS. LARRY B. SCHRADER, LINWOOD DENMAN SHELTON, DR. THOMAS O. SHELTON, LINDA SHELTON, MR. & MRS. JACK C. SHEWMAKER, DR. WILLIAM N. STASSEN , DR. DEBORAH O'CONNELL, DR. & MRS BURT S. STRUG, DR. & MRS. FRED K. SOIFER, ROBERT L. SPERRY, DR. LAWRENCE J. SPINGOLA, MR. & MRS. WILLIAM H. STEVENS, DR. & MRS. JON B. WANG, DR. & MRS. ROBERT H. WERNECKE, DR. & MRS. BYRN WILLIAMSON, JR., VIRGINIA YOUNGBLOOD individually and as Trustee of the Virginia Youngblood Living Trust, MR. & MRS. WAYLAND K. ADAMS, DR. JOHN S. ALEXANDER, DR. & MRS VINCENT A. AMICUCCI, DR. & MRS EDWARD ATLER, MR. & MRS RICHARD L. BARONE, DR. & MRS. DAVID C. BARNETT, JANICE BARSON, DR. & MRS. GORDON L. BILBREY, DR. & MRS. DAVID W. BOSSLER, DR. JACK BROCK, DR. SONJA BROCK, DR. & MRS. FRED O. BRUMFIELD, MR. & MRS. MICHAEL F. BRUSTKERN, JUDITH J. BRYAN individually and as Trustee of the Judith J. Bryan Trust, DR. JAMES R. BURTON, DR PAUL M. CHAU individually and as Executor of the Betty S. Chau Estate, DR. & MRS. NORMAN H. CHENVEN, DR. & MRS WILLIAM J. SHESNUT, MR. & MRS. STEPHEN S. CLARK, DR. M. CLARK COLVARD, DR. & MRES COURSEN B. CONKLIN, DR. JOHN COON, LINDA COON, DR. & MRS. KERMIT COUNTS, DR. & MRS. J. BRUCE COX, DR. & MRS. CLINTON E. CRAVEN, DR. & MRS. JAMES E. CROUT, DR. & MRS. ASA CROW, MR. & MRS. PHILLIP L. CURRIE, DR. & MRS. GEORGE M. DECHERD, IV, DR. & MRS. ROBERT A. DENNISON, DR. & MRS. H. JOE DICKERSON, MR. & MRS. DAVID T. EACRET, DR. & MRS. MERLYN E. ECKELBERG individually and as Trustees of the Eckelberg Revocable Trust, MR. & MRS. HARRY EDWARDS, DR. & MRS. MICHAEL EMMETT, DR. & MRS. STEVEN H. FEAGLER, CARL J. FINK individually and as Trustee of the Carl J. Fink Family Trust, DR. JOHN FINLEY, AUDREY FINLEY, RAY G. FORMAN, FORMAN FAMILY ASSOCIATES, DR. ALLAN FRANK, MR. & MRS. WAYNE L. GARCEAU, SIDNEY G. GARRETT, BEVERLY GOSS, DR. JERRY E. GOSS individually and as Trustee of the Albuquerque Cardiology Associates Pension & Profit Trust, GARY GROSS, DR. CATHY GROSS, DR. & MRS. HARRIS D. HANSON, DR. BOYD A. HARDESTY individually ans as Personal Representative of the Mildred Hardesty Estate, MRS. BOYD A. HARDESTY, DR. & MRS. EVERETT G. HEINZE, DR. & MRS JACK A. HILL, DR. & MRS. NEIL R. HOFFMAN, DR. & MRS. RICHARD HOLT, DAVID M. HOYT, DR. & MRS. PHILLIP T. JACOB, JANIE F. JULIAN, DR. STEVEN E. KAMMEYER, DR. & MRS JAY A. KATZ, DR. STEPHEN P. KELLY individually and as Trustee of the Stephen P. Kelly IRA, SANDRA KELLY, DR. WILLIAM L. KELLY, DR. & MRS. C. LEONARD KEMP, MR. & MRS. HARTWELL J. KENNARD, DR. & MRS. JAMES W. KENNEDY, DR. MICHAEL W. KISTLER, MR. & MRS. GREGORY F. KITE, BARBARA N.

KOONS individually and as Trustee of the Barbara N. Koons Trust, DR. & MRS. MAURICE R. LAVA, DR. LARRY LAWSON, NIKKI P. LAWSON, DR. & MRS. IHN P. LEE, HELENE DENISE LERMAN, JENNIFER EILEEN LERMAN, JEROME T. LOENDORF, DR. & MRS. GORDON LONG, DR. & MRS DEWEY L. LONG, DR. & MRS. BRUCE P. LOVETT individually and as Trustees of the Lovett Revocable Trust, DR. THOMAS I. LOWRY, DR. M.E. MAULE, DR. & MRS. WILLIAM MCCALEB, JOE L. MCCLAUGHERTY, DR. & MRS. MICHAEL EDWARD MCCUTCHEON, DR. & MRS JOE S. MCILHANEY, DR. & MRS. WALTER M. MERRITT, NELLIE S. MITCHELL, MR. & MRS. REID M. MITCHELL, MR. & MRS. THEODORE J. MITCHELL, DR. & MRS. CHARLES W. MONTGOMERY, DR. DAVID BENJAMIN MOORE, JR., MR. & MRS. DAVID E. NAIL, DR. & MRS. MERRILL C. OAKS, ARLEITA L. OHAI COMBS, DR. & MRS. J. THOMAS OKIN, DR. JOHN P. O'REILLY, DR. & MRS. DONALD W. OWENS, DR. ARTHUR J. OZOLIN, AIJA OZOLIN, DR. & MRS. GARY N. PAMPLIN, JANE GREENOUGH PAULSON, MR. & MRS. DON G. PIXLEY, RONALD C. PRATI, DR. & MRS. GERALD F. PROHASKA, DR. ROBERT S. RIGOLOSI, DR. & MRS. SIDNEY T. ROBIN, DR. & MRS. ROBERT L. ROCK, DR. & MRS. JAMES E. RYTTING, DR. WILLIAM H. SAYRE, MARY ANN SAYRE, DR. & MRS. LARRY W. SCHORN, DR. BENNIE SCOTT, JUDY SCOTT, DR. VERN ANN SHOTTS, C. MACK SHOTTS individually and as Trustee of the C. Mack Shotts IRA, JOHN W. SKADAN, THOMAS T. SMITH, BONNIE SMITH, DR. & MRS. WILLIAM C. SMYTH, DR. & MRS. DONALD SPENCER, NANCY SPENCER, MR. & MRS. ROBERT L. STARKS, BARBARA M. STOYKO, DR. GAIL B. STRAIT, MR. DONALD J. STROCK, DEBORAH STROCK, DR. & MRS. EDWARD LEE SUMMERS, DR. THOMAS C. SUMNERS, DR. DR. THOMAS B. SUMMERS, DR. & MRS. WILLIAM P. TAYLOR, MR. & MRS. LAWRENCE E. THATCHER, DR. & MRS. PATRICK R. THOMAS, UNION NATIONAL BANK as Trustee of the Mrs. Audrey J. Thompson Revocable Trust, DR. & MRS. RICHARD J. TOLL, DR. & MRS. F. GERALD THURMAN, MR. & MRS. BOYCE L. TUCKER, MR. & MRS. JOHN D. URQUHART, HARRIET A. VINEYARD, DR. & MRS. RICHARD F. WALKER, DR. & MRS. PETER WEISS, MR. & MRS. JOHN D. WEST, MR. & MRS. ALLAN J. WESTMAAS, DR. & MRS. MADELINE WHITE, DR. & MRS. MARTIN G. WHITE, DR. & MRS. JOHN N. WILSON, DR. & MRS. CAREY WINDLER, WINDLER FAMILY PARTNERS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, DR. DONALD A. WOLFEL and CYNTHIA A. WOLFEL individually and as Trustees of the Donald A. & Cynthia A. Wolfel Revocable Trust, DOUG BETTERS, DR. FRED CLAYSON, DONALD M. DUNCAN, P.E., MR. & MRS RICHARD E. GRAY, MR. W.C. MUMM, DR GARY B. STANFORD, MR. & MRS. RICHARD BERGER, DR. JACK R. BOYD, DR. & MRS FRED J. JOHNSON, III, DR. & MRS. JOHN E. LOWE, MAURICE ADAM, MRS. MAURICE ADAM individually and as Trustee of the AMD trust, DR. & MRS. PATRICK H. BECKHAM, DR. & MRS. RONALD L. BOLEN, DR. & MRS. SAM H. CADE, CADE FAMILY BUSINESS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, COLLEGE GARDENS UTAH, LTD., COLLEGE GARDENS II, DR. & MRS. JAMES R. COTTON, ROGER M. ELLISON, DR. & MRS. H. ALAN FLOWERS, DR. & MRS. KERMIT W. FOX, DR. & MRS. DEAN KUMPURIS, MR. & MRS. E. BURNS LUNDGREEN, CDR. YVONNE RUSSELL, HARRY CAMPER, DR. EUGENE P. SCHOCH, III, DR. & MRS. KENNETH W. SMITH, RICHARD KING, RICHARD AND JANET KING individually and as Trustees of the King Family Trust,

Defendants,

and

WOODBURY AND KESSLER DEFENDANTS, Woodbury and Kessler Defendants consisting of: CASAS ADOBES INVESTORS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, DESERT TREE ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, FOOTHILLS WEST LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, PARK SANTA FE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, SUN TREE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, WILLOW CREEK INVESTORS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,

Defendants - Appellants.

04-4122

(D. Utah)

(D.C. No. 2:03-CV-204-DB)

No. 04-4141

(D. Utah)

(D.C. No. 2:03-CV-204-DB)

ORDER

Before EBEL, KELLY and BRISCOE, Circuit Judges.

This matter is before the court on the appellees' motions to dismiss. The appellees' argue that the notices of appeal were filed late. We agree and grant the motions.

The district court entered an order on September 16, 2003, adopting the recommendation of the bankruptcy court that a declaratory judgment be entered concluding that certain funds were property of the bankruptcy estate, and ordering that judgment be entered in accordance with that recommendation. Judgment, however, was not entered until May 7, 2004. One group of defendants filed an appeal on June 1, 2004; another filed its appeal on June 15.

Rule 58 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires that "[e]very judgment and amended judgment must be set forth on a separate document ...." Fed. R. Civ. P. 58(a)(1). The September order does not satisfy the separate document requirement. See Clough v. Rush, 959 F.2d 182, 185 (10th Cir. 1992) (holding that a district court order which contained detailed legal analysis and reasoning could not, standing alone, trigger the appeal process). Accordingly, the time to appeal did not begin to run.

Where a separate judgment is required, judgment is entered "when the earlier of these events occurs: A) when it is set forth on a separate document, or (B) when 150 days have run from entry in the civil docket under Rule 79(a)." Fed. R. Civ. P. 58(b)(2). Thus, where no separate judgment is entered within 150 days, judgment is deemed entered when 150 days have run from entry in the civil docket. See Caldwell v. Barnhart, No. 03-4235, 2004 WL 1234146, **2 (10th Cir. Jun. 4, 2004) (unpublished) (where the district court did not file a separate entry of judgment "judgment is considered entered 150 days after entry of the district court's [order].").

To interpret the rule otherwise would defeat the purpose of the 2002 amendments to Rule 58, which added the 150 day limit. The amendments were added "to ensure that appeal time does not linger on indefinitely." Fed. R. Civ. P. 58, Advisory Committee Notes, 2002 Amendments.

The September order was entered on the 16th. Thus, the time to appeal began to run on February 13, 150 days later. This is the date that the time to appeal begins to run because it was earlier than May 7, the day the separate judgment was entered. The time to file an appeal, therefore, expired on Monday, March 15, 2004, more than two months before these appeals were filed.

Accordingly, these appeals are DISMISSED. The mandate shall issue forthwith.

Entered for the Court

PATRICK FISHER, Clerk of Court

by:

Deputy Clerk