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272 F. App'x 897

Williams v. Peake

U.S. Courts of Appeals

Decided March 11, 2008

U.S. Courts of Appeals · decided 2008-03-11

Applies 38 U.S.C. § 5103

Relies on United States v. American Ry Express Co Southeastern Express Co · Sanders v. Nicholson · Simmons v. Nicholson

Decided 2008-03-11

¶1ON MOTION

PER CÜRIAM.

¶2ORDER

¶3The Secretary of Veterans Affairs responds to the court’s November 19, 2007 order and moves to summarily affirm the judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) in Williams v. Principi, 02-1046, 2004 WL 1737854 (Jul. 29, 2004) and dismiss James L. Williams’s cross-appeal. Williams has not responded.

¶4This case was stayed pending the court’s disposition in Sanders v. Nicholson, 487 F.3d 881 (Fed.Cir.2007) and its companion case Simmons v. Nicholson, 487 F.3d 892 (Fed.Cir.2007). In Sanders, this court held that any 38 U.S.C. § 5103(a) error should be presumed prejudicial and the Secretary has the burden of rebutting this presumption. Id. at 891.

¶5*898The Secretary concedes that the only issue raised in his appeal is identical to the issue decided in Sandersand Simmonsand therefore summary affirmance is appropriate. The Secretary also asserts that Williams’s cross-appeal should be dismissed. We agree. It is only necessary and appropriate to file a cross-appeal when a party seeks to enlarge its own rights under the judgment or lessen the rights of its adversary under the judgment. Bailey v. Dart, 292 F.3d 1360, 1362 (Fed.Cir.2002) (citing United States v. Am. Ry. Excess Co., 265 U.S. 425, 435, 44 S.Ct. 560, 68 L.Ed. 1087 (1924)). Here, in his brief, Williams only seeks to preserve the CAVC’s judgment. Thus, his cross-appeal is not proper.

¶6Accordingly,

¶7IT IS ORDERED THAT:

¶8(1) The judgment of the CAVC is summarily affirmed. The case is remanded for further proceedings.

¶9(2) Williams’s cross-appeal is dismissed.

¶10(3) Each side shall bear its own costs.

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