Opinion
CIVIL ACTION NO. 6:13-cv-00015
11-08-2017
PHI, INC. v. APICAL INDUSTRIES, INC., ET AL.
BY CONSENT OF THE PARTIES RULING ON MOTION
Currently pending is the motion for reconsideration (Rec. Doc. 257), which was filed by the defendants, Apical Industries, Inc. and Offshore Helicopter Support Services, Inc., with regard to the court's recent ruling on motions in limine (Rec. Doc. 256). For the following reasons, the motion is DENIED.
ANALYSIS
There is no motion to reconsider found anywhere in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Therefore, the Fifth Circuit has instructed that such motions should be considered either as Rule 59(e) motions to alter or amend a judgment or as Rule 60(b) motions for relief from a judgment, depending on the length of time between the issuance of the order and the filing of the motion for reconsideration.
"While the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not provide for a motion for reconsideration, such a motion may be considered either a Rule 59(e) motion to alter or amend judgment or a Rule 60(b) motion for relief from judgment or order. Hamilton Plaintiffs v. Williams Plaintiffs, 147 F.3d 367, 371 n. 10 (5 Cir.1998). If the motion is filed within ten days of the judgment or order of which the party complains, it is considered a Rule 59(e) motion; otherwise, it is treated as a Rule 60(b) motion. Id. (internal citations omitted). Because plaintiffs' motion for reconsideration was filed more than ten days after the district court's order dismissing the suit, it is treated as a Rule 60(b) motion." Shepherd v. International Paper Co., 372 F.3d 326, 328 n. 1 (5 Cir. 2004). See, also, e.g., Lavespere v. Niagara Mach. & Tool Works, Inc., 910 F.2d 167, 173 (5 Cir. 1990) (holding that a motion to reconsider a summary judgment ruling should be construed as a Rule 59(e) motion if it is served within ten days after the rendition of the judgment, but a Rule 60(b) motion if served after that); Charles L.M. v. Northeast Indep. School Dist., 884 F.2d 869, 869 (5 Cir. 1989) (treating a motion to reconsider a dismissal order served within ten days of the order's issuance as a Rule 59(e) motion).
In this case, the defendants are seeking reconsideration of this Court's ruling on motions in limine, which was issued on October 26, 2017. The motion for reconsideration was filed more than ten days later, on November 7. Therefore, the motion for reconsideration must be treated as a Rule 60(b) motion.
Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure sets out five bases for relief from a final judgment: (1) mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect; (2) newly discovered evidence; (3) fraud, misrepresentation, or misconduct of an adverse party; (4) the judgment is void; and (5) satisfaction, discharge, or release of the judgment. Rule 60(b)(6) also allows a court to relieve a party from a final judgment for "any other reason justifying relief from the operation of the judgment." Relief under Rule 60(b)(6) is granted only when it is not covered by the five enumerated grounds and when "extraordinary circumstances" are present. Batts v. Tow-Motor Forklift Co., 66 F.3d 743, 747 (5 Cir. 1995). "The district court enjoys considerable discretion when determining whether the movant has satisfied any of these Rule 60(b) standards." Teal v. Eagle Fleet, Inc., 933 F.2d 341, 347 (5 Cir. 1991).
A motion to reconsider may not be used to relitigate matters, raise arguments, or submit evidence that could have been presented before the judgment or order was entered. See 11 Wright & Miller § 2810.1 at 127-28 (addressing Rule 59(e) motions in particular). "A party seeking reconsideration must show more than disagreement with the court's decision and recapitulation of the same cases and arguments already considered by the court." Texaco Exploration & Prod., Inc. v. Smackco, Ltd., No. Civ. A. 98-2293, 1999 WL 539548, at *1 (E.D. La. July 26, 1999) (citing Plaskon Elec. Materials, Inc. v. Allied-Signal, Inc., 904 F.Supp. 644, 669 (N.D. Ohio 1995)). A motion for relief under Rule 60(b) is "not a substitute for the ordinary method of redressing judicial error—appeal." Chick Kam Choo v. Exxon Corp., 699 F.2d 693, 696 (5 Cir. 1983).
In this case, the defendants argued solely that this Court's reasons for ruling as it did were incorrect. More particularly, the defendants argued that this Court misinterpreted certain rulings of the Indiana court that presided over PHI's claim against Rolls Royce arising out of the same incident as this lawsuit. This Court disagrees, stands by the reasoning articulated in the ruling, and reiterates its conclusion that, if one or both of the defendants are found liable to PHI, the defendants are not entitled to a 50% credit for the settlement between PHI and Rolls Royce.
Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED that the defendants' motion for reconsideration (Rec. Doc. 257), when construed as a ruling for relief under Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b), is DENIED.
Signed at Lafayette, Louisiana on this 8 day of November 2017.
/s/_________
PATRICK J. HANNA
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE