Case Explained: Non-Argument Calendar BRANDON A. ROWELL v. METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Filed: 2026-07-07

Docket: 1:25-cv-05378-MLB

The eleventh-circuit dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction because the notice of appeal was filed prematurely. The court determined that the appellant sought to review a magistrate judge’s report and recommendation recommending dismissal, but such a recommendation is not a final, appealable order until the district court adopts it and enters a final judgment. Citing *CSX Transp., Inc. v. City of Garden City* and *Perez-Priego v. Alachua Cnty. Clerk of Ct.*, the court held that because the district court had not yet adopted the recommendation, the litigation was not ended on the merits, and no final judgment existed for appellate review. As a result, all pending motions in the appeal are denied as moot.

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