| name | stay-pending-appeal |
| title | Motion for Stay Pending Appeal |
| description | Drafts a Motion for Stay Pending Appeal using the four-factor balancing test and supersedeas bond analysis. Use when drafting stay motions, bond requests, post-judgment enforcement suspension, or emergency stay applications after filing a notice of appeal. |
| author | CaseMark |
| author_url | https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/stay-pending-appeal |
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| version | 0.1.0 |
| execution_mode | open |
| jurisdiction | us |
| practice | litigation |
| language | en |
Motion for Stay Pending Appeal
Drafts a motion to stay enforcement of a trial court judgment pending appellate review, applying the four-factor test with supersedeas bond analysis.
Prerequisites
Gather before drafting:
- Judgment — date of entry, relief ordered, monetary amounts
- Notice of appeal — filing date, appellate case number, court
- Enforcement status — threatened or initiated actions (liens, garnishment, foreclosure)
- Appellate grounds — legal errors identified (misapplication of law, evidentiary, procedural)
- Harm evidence — financial records, business impact, declarations
- Applicable rules — FRCP 62, FRAP 8, or state equivalents; local requirements
- Bond capacity — financial condition, surety availability, alternative security options
Document Structure
| Section | Content |
|---|
| Caption | Court, parties with appellate designations, case number |
| Introduction | Judgment date, appeal date, specific irreparable harm |
| Procedural Posture | Orders entered, amounts, enforcement steps taken |
| Legal Standard | Governing rule + seminal cases; frame as balancing test |
| Four-Factor Analysis | See below |
| Bond/Security | Amount calculation, alternatives if needed |
| Proposed Conditions | Duration, reporting, asset preservation |
| Conclusion & Prayer | Strongest arguments synthesized; numbered relief requests |
Four-Factor Analysis
Draft each factor as a separate headed section.
Factor 1 — Likelihood of Success on the Merits
- Identify 2–3 strongest legal errors; do not reproduce the appellate brief
- Cite controlling authority from the reviewing court
- Unsettled questions or first impression issues: argue uncertainty supports a stay
- Standard varies: "substantial question" vs. "strong showing" vs. sliding scale
Factor 2 — Irreparable Harm
- Quantify: dollar amounts, job losses, asset liquidation, license revocations
- Explain why monetary damages cannot compensate (unique property, dissolution, insolvency)
