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Appeals

Motion for Stay Pending Appeal

Drafting a motion for stay pending appeal requires careful analysis of four complex factors, extensive legal research on applicable standards, and persuasive writing that balances competing interests. Attorneys typically spend 4-5 hours researching case law, analyzing irreparable harm, and crafting arguments that demonstrate likelihood of success on appeal—all while racing against tight appellate deadlines.

Automation ROI

Time savings at a glance

Manual workflow8 hoursAverage time your team spends by hand
With CaseMark25 minutesDelivery time with CaseMark automation
EfficiencySave 22.5x time with CaseMark

The Problem

After an adverse judgment, you have days—not weeks—to file a motion for stay pending appeal. Manually researching the four-factor test, calculating supersedeas bonds, and drafting persuasive arguments about irreparable harm takes 8+ hours of intensive work under extreme time pressure. Missing the deadline or filing a weak motion means your client faces immediate enforcement that could destroy their business or render any appellate victory meaningless.

The CaseMark Solution

CaseMark analyzes your judgment, case facts, and jurisdiction to instantly generate a comprehensive, court-ready motion for stay pending appeal. Our AI applies the correct legal standard, constructs persuasive arguments across all four factors, calculates appropriate bond amounts, and drafts supporting declarations—all in minutes. You get a professional motion that protects your client's interests while you focus on the appeal itself.

Key benefits

How CaseMark automations transform your workflow

Generate complete stay motions in 12 minutes vs. 4+ hours manually

Automatically addresses all four required factors with persuasive legal analysis

AI-powered analysis of your specific case facts and judgment terms

Includes supersedeas bond calculations and proposals tailored to your jurisdiction

Court-ready formatting that complies with appellate procedural rules

What you'll receive

Introduction
Legal Standard for Stay Pending Appeal
Likelihood of Success on the Merits
Irreparable Injury Analysis
Substantial Injury to Other Parties
Public Interest Considerations
Supersedeas Bond Proposal
Conclusion

Document requirements

Required

  • Trial Court Judgment or Order
  • Notice of Appeal
  • Case Docket or Procedural History

Optional

  • Financial Records
  • Enforcement Correspondence
  • Trial Court Briefs
  • Expert Reports or Declarations
  • Relevant Appellate Precedent

Perfect for

Appellate attorneys handling civil appeals
Litigation attorneys representing judgment debtors
Solo practitioners in general civil litigation
Small to mid-size law firms with appellate practices
In-house counsel managing adverse judgments
Commercial litigators protecting business clients from enforcement

Also useful for

This workflow is applicable across multiple practice areas and use cases

Commercial litigators frequently need to stay enforcement of money judgments or injunctions pending appeal to protect business clients from immediate execution or operational disruption.

Commercial litigation regularly results in substantial judgments requiring stays pending appeal, and the workflow's supersedeas bond calculations and irreparable injury analysis are directly applicable to business disputes.

Employment attorneys representing employer defendants need to stay enforcement of adverse judgments for back pay, reinstatement orders, or injunctive relief while pursuing appeals.

Employment litigation often involves injunctive relief and substantial damages awards that require immediate stays to prevent irreparable harm during the appellate process, particularly for reinstatement or workplace policy orders.

Real estate litigators need stays to prevent enforcement of judgments ordering property transfers, evictions, or foreclosures while appeals are pending.

Real estate disputes frequently involve irreversible consequences like property transfers or possession changes that necessitate stays pending appeal, making the workflow's irreparable injury analysis particularly valuable.

IP litigators must stay preliminary or permanent injunctions that would shut down product lines or business operations while appealing adverse rulings on patent, trademark, or copyright claims.

Intellectual property cases often result in injunctive relief that can immediately halt business operations, making stays pending appeal critical and the workflow's public interest and irreparable injury sections highly relevant.

Bankruptcy litigators need to stay enforcement of bankruptcy court orders or adversary proceeding judgments while pursuing appeals to district or appellate courts.

Bankruptcy litigation involves frequent appeals of court orders affecting asset distribution, plan confirmation, and creditor rights, where stays are essential to preserve the status quo during appellate review.

Frequently asked questions

Q

What documents do I need to generate a motion for stay pending appeal?

A

At minimum, you need the trial court judgment being appealed, your filed notice of appeal, and the case procedural history. CaseMark works better with additional documents like financial records showing hardship, correspondence about enforcement threats, and your trial briefs that establish the legal errors. The more context you provide, the more tailored and persuasive your motion will be.

Q

How does CaseMark determine the appropriate supersedeas bond amount?

A

CaseMark calculates the bond based on your jurisdiction's rules, typically the judgment amount plus estimated interest during appeal and costs. If you're seeking a reduced bond due to financial hardship, the system analyzes your financial documents and generates detailed justification citing authority that permits reduced bonds. You can also specify alternative security arrangements like letters of credit or asset pledges.

Q

Can CaseMark handle stays in different jurisdictions with different legal standards?

A

Yes. CaseMark applies the specific legal standard for your jurisdiction, whether it's the traditional four-factor test, a sliding scale approach, or specialized standards for particular case types. The system cites controlling statutes (like FRCP 62 or state equivalents) and leading cases from your jurisdiction that articulate how courts analyze stay motions.

Q

What if I need to file the motion on an emergency basis?

A

CaseMark generates your complete motion in approximately 25 minutes, making it ideal for emergency situations where you're facing tight deadlines. The system produces a court-ready document with all required sections, proper formatting, and supporting analysis, allowing you to file quickly while maintaining quality and persuasiveness.

Q

Does the motion include analysis of irreparable harm specific to my case?

A

Absolutely. CaseMark analyzes your case documents and financial records to identify specific, concrete harms your client will suffer from immediate enforcement—whether that's business closure, asset liquidation, loss of unique property, or other irreversible consequences. The motion includes factual detail and quantification that demonstrates why monetary damages cannot adequately compensate for the harm, which is essential to persuading courts to grant stays.