Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_11-cv-03201/USCOURTS-cand-3_11-cv-03201-9/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

---

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TOM MCMILLIN,

Plaintiff,

 v.

FOSTER CITY, FOSTER CITY POLICE

DEPARTMENT, DOUGLAS NIX,

PIERRE MORRISON, and DOES 1–40,

Defendants. /

No. C 11-03201 WHA

ORDER DENYING MOTION

TO SET ASIDE JUDGMENT

INTRODUCTION

This order holds that plaintiff did not file his motion to set aside a final judgment within

the one year limitation under Rule 60(c). Plaintiff’s motion is DENIED.

STATEMENT

Plaintiff Tom McMillin owned and operated a private, armed security company. 

In October 2006, plaintiff heard what seemed to be a gunshot near his house in Foster City. 

He saw a group of six or seven individuals carrying what appeared to be a rifle and a handgun. 

He contacted the Foster City police to report the incident. Plaintiff then detained the individuals

until the police arrived. The police found the firearms were found to be “a bb gun, pellet gun,

and two air-soft gun-like firearms designed to resemble lethal firearms” (Dkt. No. 26 ¶¶ 23–26).

One year later, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office and Foster City Police

Department filed a criminal complaint alleging 21 counts against plaintiff in connection with

Case 3:11-cv-03201-WHA Document 62 Filed 11/05/19 Page 1 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

the above described events. The Bureau of Security & Investigative Services assured the deputy

district attorney that a no-contest plea would not impact plaintiff’s license to carry a firearm and

private patrol operator’s license. Plaintiff relied on their assurances. Plaintiff subsequently pled

no contest to one count of disturbing the peace (a new charge). The District Attorney’s Office

then dropped the other 21 counts against plaintiff. The California state trial court eventually

overturned plaintiff’s no-contest plea and all charges were therefore dismissed (Dkt. Nos. 26

¶¶ 27–29; 53 ¶¶ 4–5, 26). 

In 2009, plaintiff, represented by counsel, filed a civil action against Foster City and

several police officers in state court. The trial judge dismissed the case in full. The Court of

Appeal affirmed (Dkt. No. 26 ¶ 30).

In June 2011, plaintiff, represented by counsel, filed the instant action against defendants

Foster City, a municipal corporation operating and existing under the laws of the State of

California, Foster City Police Department, Officers Douglas Nix and Pierre Morrison, and

other individuals of the Foster City Police Department. The complaint alleged one claim under

42 U.S.C. § 1983 (Dkt. Nos. 26). Defendants moved to dismiss the claim (Dkt. No. 32). In July

2012, the undersigned dismissed the complaint in full on grounds of preclusion, statute of

limitations, failure to state a claim, and lack of ripeness (Dkt. No. 38). The order gave plaintiff

fourteen days to move for leave to file an amended complaint (ibid.). After plaintiff failed to act

within the deadline, defendants moved to dismiss the action and for entry of judgment (Dkt. No.

39). An order then issued plaintiff to show cause for failure to comply with the prior order’s

deadline (Dkt. No. 40). Plaintiff again failed to respond. An order subsequently dismissed

plaintiff’s action for failure to comply with the order. Final judgment entered in favor of

defendants in September 2012 (Dkt. Nos. 41, 42).

Separately, in 2010, the Bureau of Security & Investigative Services began investigating

plaintiff. The details of the investigation remain unclear to this order. After the investigation

ended, in October 2012, the Bureau sought to revoke plaintiff’s professional licenses based on

his no-contest plea in 2008. The Bureau and plaintiff came to an agreement to place plaintiff’s

licenses on probationary status and for plaintiff to pay $5,400 as a fine (Dkt. No. 53 ¶¶ 6, 27). 

Case 3:11-cv-03201-WHA Document 62 Filed 11/05/19 Page 2 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3

From 2013 through 2019, plaintiff filed several petitions for writs of error coram nobis

and vobis in state court to vacate the judgment and set aside his no-contest plea. The trial court

and the California Court of Appeal for the First District denied all of his petitions. The Supreme

Court of California likewise denied his petition in July 2019 (Dkt. No. 53 ¶¶ 7–9). 

Plaintiff now moves in propria persona to set aside final judgment entered against him

(Dkt. No. 53). Plaintiff claims he learned new facts regarding the status of his license in 2012. 

Plaintiff asks this Court to set aside and vacate the criminal judgment in the state court and to

re-open this case (Dkt. No. 53 at 15). Defendants oppose. Defendants also request judicial

notice (Dkt. Nos. 55; 55-1).

ANALYSIS

First, this order DENIES defendants’ request for judicial notice. Defendants’ request for

judicial notice includes plaintiff’s original and amended complaint, the order to show cause, and

judgment. All of which are available through the Court’s ECF docket.

Second, this order holds that plaintiff did not file his motion to set aside final judgment

within the one year limitation required by Rule 60. To seek relief from judgment, order, or

proceeding, Rule 60(c) requires that “the motion be made within a reasonable time.” If relief is

sought due to a mistake, newly discovered evidence, or misrepresentation by the opposing party,

then the motion must be brought “no more than a year after the entry of the judgment or order or

the date of the proceeding.” Id.

Here, this Court entered judgment in September 2012. The Bureau placed plaintiff’s

licenses on probation in 2012. Plaintiff learned about the defendants’ failure to uphold their

assurance that his licenses would not be affected in 2012. Plaintiff sat on his hands for seven

years before filing the current motion in 2019. This delay is neither reasonable nor within one

year. Plaintiff never explains why he waited so long to file the instant motion. 

Case 3:11-cv-03201-WHA Document 62 Filed 11/05/19 Page 3 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

4

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, plaintiff’s motion to set aside judgment is DENIED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 5, 2019. 

WILLIAM ALSUP

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:11-cv-03201-WHA Document 62 Filed 11/05/19 Page 4 of 4