Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_04-cv-06539/USCOURTS-caed-1_04-cv-06539-13/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ALFRED BROWN,

Plaintiff,

v.

DAVID KYLE, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

CASE NO. 1:04-cv-06539-AWI-SMS PC

ORDER DENYING MOTION 

FOR RECONSIDERATION

(Doc. 42)

Plaintiff Alfred Brown is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil

rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On August 21, 2009, Plaintiff filed a motion seeking

leave to file a second amended complaint to request a court trial rather than a jury trial. The Court

denied Plaintiff’s motion on November 16, 2009, and December 9, 2009, Plaintiff filed a motion

seeking reconsideration. Defendants Kyle and Domingo did not file a response.

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b)(6) allows the Court to relieve a party from an order

for any reason that justifies relief. Rule 60(b)(6) “is to be used sparingly as an equitable remedy to

prevent manifest injustice and is to be utilized only where extraordinary circumstances . . .” exist. 

Harvest v. Castro, 531 F.3d 737, 749 (9th Cir. 2008) (internal quotations marks and citation

omitted). The moving party “must demonstrate both injury and circumstances beyond his control

. . . .” Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Further, Local Rule 230(j) requires, in

relevant part, that Plaintiff show “what new or different facts or circumstances are claimed to exist

which did not exist or were not shown upon such prior motion, or what other grounds exist for the

motion,” and “why the facts or circumstances were not shown at the time of the prior motion.” 

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Plaintiff sought leave to amend to request a court trial rather than a jury trial, and his motion

was denied, without prejudice, as futile in light of the fact that once a jury trial is demanded, trial

must be by jury unless the parties stipulate to a nonjury trial. In his motion for reconsideration,

Plaintiff argues that at the time he filed his motion, neither defendant had made an appearance and

he was therefore entitled to amend once as a matter of right.

Although Defendant Domingo filed an answer prior to the issuance of the Court’s order,

Plaintiff is correct that at the time he filed his motion, no defendant had appeared. However, the

Court properly denied Plaintiff’s motion on the ground of futility. See Montz v. Pilgrim Films &

Television, Inc., No. 08-56954, 2010 WL 2197421, at *5 (9th Cir. Jun. 3, 2010) (citing Albrecht v.

Lund, 845 F.2d 193, 195 (9th Cir. 1988)) (a district court may cut off a party’s right to amend as a

matter of course if amendment would be futile). 

Plaintiff’s amended complaint does not contain a demand for trial by jury. (Doc. 17.) The

right to a trial by jury must be preserved by making a demand, and unless a demand is properly filed

and served, the right to a trial by jury is waived. Fed. R. Civ. P. 38(b),(d). Because Plaintiff waived

his right to a jury trial, Plaintiff’s desire to specify he wants a court trial serves no purpose. Further,

and dispositive of the matter, once a jury trial has been properly demanded by any party, all parties

must consent to its withdrawal and stipulate to a court trial. Fed. R. Civ. P. 38(d), 39(a)(1). 

Defendants Kyle and Domingo filed a timely demand for trial by jury, and as a result, this case must

be tried by a jury unless all parties stipulate to a court trial. (Docs. 37, 46.) Allowing Plaintiff to file

a second amended complaint stating that he wants a court trial would be futile. 

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration, filed December 9, 2009, is HEREBY

DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 10, 2010 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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