Appeal or die!

Appellate lawyers often say that failing to file a timely appeal will "kill" your case, and that an appeal premised on an untimely appeal is "dead." But in Romania filing a timely appeal is literally a matter of life and death. Exhibit A is Constantin Reliu, who, having appealed too late, is now officially dead. See Romanian Court Tells Man He Is Not Alive. (H/t Ben Feuer.)