Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-00570/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-00570-8/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

GREGORY E. WOOTEN,

Plaintiff,

v.

CALIFORNIA DEPT. OF 

CORRECTIONS, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:13-cv-00570-LJO-JLT (PC)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF'S REQUESTS 

FOR RECONSIDERATION PER FED. R. CIV. P. 

60(b)(1) 

(Docs. 35, 37)

Plaintiff, Gregory E. Wooten, is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis

in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The matter was referred to a United States 

Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ' 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302. This action was 

closed on December 2, 2015 because Plaintiff failed to file an opposition to Defendants’ motion 

for summary judgment, despite being ordered to do so. (Docs. 32, 33.) Some three months after 

the case was closed, Plaintiff filed a motion for an extension of time to file his opposition to 

Defendants’ motion for summary judgment (Doc. 35) and then on April 29, 2016, Plaintiff filed 

another motion seeking to excuse his failure to obey orders from this Court and prosecute this 

action, desiring direction as to how he should proceed (Doc. 37). These motions are construed as 

motions for reconsideration of the order that dismissed this action. 

The history that led up to dismissal of this action is straightforward. On August 3, 2015, 

Defendant filed a motion for summary judgment. (Doc. 27.) On August 5, 2015, the Court 

issued the Second Informational Order notifying Plaintiff of the requirements to oppose a motion 

Case 1:13-cv-00570-LJO-JLT Document 38 Filed 05/09/16 Page 1 of 4
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for summary judgment and that an opposition or statement of non-opposition must be filed within 

twenty-one days of the date Defendant’s filed their motion for summary judgment. (Doc. 29.)

Plaintiff filed neither within the requisite time. On September 29, 2015, the Court ordered 

Plaintiff to file an opposition or a statement of non-opposition to Defendant’s motion for 

summary judgment within twenty-one days of the date that order issued. (Doc. 30.) More than 

twenty-one days passed and Plaintiff failed to file an opposition, a statement of non-opposition, or 

to respond in any way to Defendant’s motion for summary judgment or to the September 29, 

2015 order. Thus, on November 3, 2015, the Magistrate Judge issued findings and 

recommendations for the action to be dismissed because of Plaintiff's failure to prosecute which 

was served on Plaintiff that same day and contained notice that any objections to it were to be 

filed within twenty-one days. (Doc. 31.) Plaintiff did not file any objections and an order 

adopting the findings and recommendation, which dismissed the action, issued on December 2, 

2015 and judgment was entered that same day. (Docs. 32, 33.) 

Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that A[o]n motion and upon 

such terms as are just, the court may relieve a party . . . from a final judgment, order, or 

proceeding for the following reasons: (1) mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect; 

(2) newly discovered evidence that, with reasonable diligence could not have been discovered in 

time to move for a new trial under Rule 59(b); (3) fraud . . . , misrepresentation, or misconduct by 

an opposing party; . . . or (6) any other reason justifying relief from the operation of judgment.@ 

Motions under Rule 60(b) "must be made within a reasonable time -- and for reasons (1), (2), and 

(3) no more than a year after the entry of the judgment or order or the date of the proceeding." 

Relief under Rule 60 “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) 

(addressing reconsideration under Rules 60(b)(1)-(5)). 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" 

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previously, "what other grounds exist for the motion,” and “why the facts or circumstances were 

not shown" at the time the substance of the order which is objected to was considered. 

“A motion for reconsideration should not be granted, absent highly unusual 

circumstances, unless the district court is presented with newly discovered evidence, committed 

clear error, or if there is an intervening change in the controlling law,” and it “may not be used to 

raise arguments or present evidence for the first time when they could reasonably have been 

raised earlier in the litigation.” Marlyn Nutraceuticals, Inc. v. Mucos Pharma GmbH & Co., 571 

F.3d 873, 880 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotations marks and citations omitted) (emphasis in 

original).

After seven months of unresponsiveness, Plaintiff seeks “grace” from this Court to reopen 

and allow him to proceed on his claims in this action. Plaintiff attempts to justify his neglect of 

this action by stating that when he was released from custody in California, on a date which he 

does not disclose, he returned to Atlanta, Georgia where he lived with a friend whose lease 

agreement did not allow Plaintiff to receive any mail at that address. Then, on September 15, 

2015,1Plaintiff was arrested and spent approximately five months in the Hall County Jail. 

Plaintiff asserts that these circumstances amounted to “hardship” and “poor adjustment to 

society” which should excuse his failure to prosecute this action. 

Neither of these circumstances were beyond Plaintiff’s control. Harvest, 531 F.3d at 749. 

Plaintiff could have obtained a Post Office Box at which to receive mail and correspond with this 

court and refrained from activities which led to his arrest in Georgia. Further, the First 

Informational Order issued within days of Plaintiff’s filing this action. (Doc. 3.) It notified 

Plaintiff that all court deadlines are strictly enforced and that he must request extensions of time 

before any established deadlines lapse -- which Plaintiff did not do. It further stated that Plaintiff 

has an affirmative duty to keep the Court and opposing counsel apprised of his address, which 

Plaintiff also failed to do. Plaintiff’s difficult circumstances since his release are unfortunate, but 

are insufficient to justify reconsideration of the order dismissing this action. 

 

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This date is notably after Plaintiff’s opposition to Defendants’ motion for summary judgment 

was due.

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In accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. ' 636(b)(1)(C) and Local Rule 303, this 

Court has conducted a de novo review of this case. Having carefully reviewed the entire file, the 

Court finds the December 2, 2015 order which dismissed this action as well as the findings and 

recommendation that issued on November 3, 2015, which the December 2, 2015 adopted, to be 

supported by the record and proper analysis.

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motions for reconsideration, filed on March 16, 2016 (Doc. 35) 

and April 27, 2016 (Doc. 37), is HEREBY DENIED and any objections based thereon are 

OVERRULED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 7, 2016 /s/ Lawrence J. O’Neill _____ 

UNITED STATES CHIEF DISTRICT JUDGE

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