Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-01798/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-01798-8/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 220
Nature of Suit: Foreclosure
Cause of Action: 18:241 Conspiracy Against Citizen Rights

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08cv1798

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WARREN BRAD JOHNSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

TIMOTHY WENNES, et al.,

Defendants .

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Civil No. 08cv1798-L(JMA)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S

MOTION FOR

RECONSIDERATION OF ORDER

DENYING LEAVE TO FILE A SURREPLY [doc. #55]

On April 27, 2009, plaintiff filed a “formal objection to Court’s Order to deny plaintiff’s

sur-reply and to show cause.” The Court construes plaintiff’s “objection” as a motion for

reconsideration of its Order denying plaintiff’s motion for leave to file a response in opposition

to defendants’ reply – a sur-reply – and for his response to exceed 25 pages. In denying

plaintiff’s motion, the Court noted that defendants’ motion to dismiss was fully briefed, plaintiff

had been given three opportunities to file an appropriate response to defendants’ motion and

plaintiff “offer[ed] no legal or factual basis or rationale whatsoever for his request.” (Order filed 

April 20, 2009 at 2. [doc. #52])

MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION

1. Legal Standard

Civil Local Rule 7.1(i) allows parties to file motions for reconsideration. Under that local

rule, a party may apply for reconsideration “[w]henever any motion or any application or

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petition for any order or other relief has been made to any judge and has been refused in whole

or in part. . . .” CIV. L. R. 7.1(I)(1). A party must show “what new or different facts and

circumstances are claimed to exist which did not exist, or were not shown, upon such prior

application.” Id. A timely-filed motion for reconsideration under a local rule is considered a

motion under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e). Schroeder v. McDonald, 55 F.3d 454, 459

(9th Cir. 1995). 

Reconsideration under Rule 59(e) is appropriate “if the district court (1) is presented with

newly discovered evidence, (2) committed clear error or the initial decision was manifestly

unjust, or (3) if there is an intervening change in the controlling law.” School Dist. No. 1J,

Multnomah County, Oregon v. ACandS, Inc., 5 F.3d 1255, 1263 (9th Cir. 1993). A Rule 59(e)

motion “should not be granted[] absent highly unusual circumstances.” 389 Orange St. Partners

v. Arnold, 179 F.3d 656, 665 (9th Cir. 1999). A motion to reconsider is not another opportunity

for the losing party to make its strongest case, reassert arguments, or revamp previously

unmeritorious arguments. Reconsideration motions do not give parties a “second bite at the

apple”: they “are not vehicles permitting the unsuccessful party to ‘rehash’ arguments

previously presented. . . . Nor is a motion to reconsider justified on the basis of new evidence

which could have been discovered prior to the court’s ruling. . . . Finally, ‘after thoughts’ or

‘shifting of ground’ do not constitute an appropriate basis for reconsideration.” United States v.

Navarro, 972 F. Supp. 1296, 1299 (E.D. Cal. 1999), rev’d on other grounds, 160 F.3d 1254 (9th

Cir. 1998) (internal citations omitted); accord United States v. Westlands Water Dist., 134 F.

Supp. 2d 1111, 1130 (E.D. Cal. 2001); see also Backlund v. Barnhart, 778 F.2d 1386, 1388 (9th

Cir. 1985) (holding that a motion for reconsideration under Rule 59(e) was properly denied

because “it presented no arguments that had not already been raised in opposition to summary

judgment”); Costello v. United States Gov’t, 765 F. Supp. 1003, 1009 (C.D. Cal. 1991) (“courts

avoid considering Rule 59(e) motions where the grounds for amendment are restricted to either

repetitive contentions of matters which were before the court on its prior consideration or

contentions which might have been raised prior to the challenged judgment”). This rule reflects

the courts’ “concerns for preserving dwindling resources and promoting judicial efficiency.” 

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Costello, 765 F. Supp. at 1009.

2. Discussion

In objecting to the Court’s denial of his request for leave to file a sur-reply, plaintiff states

that the courts in this district have “consistently allowed ‘re-reply’” and offers a few examples in

support of his contention. Plaintiff fails to acknowledge that in each case, the party seeking

leave to file a sur-reply offered a legal and/or factual basis for its request. As previously noted,

plaintiff provided no rationale whatsoever for his request for leave to file a sur-reply. Although

the Court may in its discretion allow the filing of a sur-reply, this discretion should be exercised

in favor of allowing a sur-reply only where a valid reason for such additional briefing exists. 

Hill v. England, 2005 WL 3031136, *1 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 8, 2005). Because no valid reason was

offered for the filing of a sur-reply, there is no basis for reconsidering the Court’s Order denying

plaintiff’s motion on this basis. 

Plaintiff also argues that he “was denied access to a class, offered by this Court that

would have assured Plaintiff understands this Courts Rules on proper filing and procedures.” 

This argument is disingenuous at best. Plaintiff sought leave to file documents electronically

under the Electronic Case Filing Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual. The Court

offers a class in how to file documents electronically. But the class does not provide any

instruction on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or the Civil Local Rules. The Court denied

plaintiff’s request to file documents electronically because he failed “to comply with the most

basic requirements of Section 2.b, which demonstrates either an inability or unwillingness ‘to

follow all rules and policies in the CM/ECF Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual.’" 

(Order filed January 16, 2009 at 2 [doc. #37]) Attendance at the electronic filing class would

not have assisted plaintiff in the understanding of the Rules of Court.

Plaintiff correctly asserts that there is no mention of sur-replies in the Federal Rule of

Civil Procedure or the Civil Local Rules. Neither the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure nor the

Civil Local Rules provides a right to file a sur-reply because a sur-reply is not part of the

ordinary process for the briefing of motions. When a motion is filed, a respondent may file an

opposition to it and the movant may file a reply to that opposition. The respondent may not file a

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sur-reply unless leave of court is granted. While the court may, in its discretion, permit

additional briefing, including a sur-reply, it generally will not permit such additional briefing

absent good cause. Plaintiff offered no showing of good cause.

Finally, plaintiff states that a sur-reply “will bring forward evidence which this Court

does not currently have. Said evidence will show that a dispute still exists, between this Plaintiff

and these Defendants.” As the Court has repeatedly explained to plaintiff, a motion to dismiss

does not examine whether evidence supports plaintiff’s allegations but rather considers whether

the complaint alleges a legally cognizable claim. If a claim is not legally cognizable, there will

be no evidence sufficient to save the allegations. Accordingly, plaintiff’s stated interest in

providing evidence in opposition to defendants’ motion to dismiss is without merit. 

3. Conclusion

Plaintiff has not demonstrated that unusual circumstances require reconsideration of the

Court’s Order denying leave to file a sur-reply. Further, plaintiff has not presented the Court

with newly discovered evidence, or shown as discussed above, that the Court committed clear

error or the initial decision was manifestly unjust, or argued that there has been an intervening

change in the controlling law.” See School Dist. No. 1J, 5 F.3d at 1263. Accordingly, plaintiff’s

motion for reconsideration is denied.

VIOLATION OF COURT ORDER

The Court previously entered an Order prohibiting plaintiff from contacting Chambers by

telephone and/or by corresponding with the Court based on plaintiff’s disrespectful and rude

behavior. (Order filed January 12, 2009 [doc. #34]) On Friday, April 24, 2009, plaintiff called

the Clerk of the Court for legal information. When the information was not forthcoming,

plaintiff asked to be transferred to Chambers. Although Clerk’s Office staff was advised of this

Order restricting plaintiff’s access to Chambers, plaintiff’s call was transferred in error. Plaintiff

identified himself to Chambers’ staff and sought legal advice. Plaintiff was reminded of the

Order that he was not to have telephonic contact with Chambers. When so reminded, plaintiff

became agitated. Chambers’ staff then hung up the phone.

Plaintiff has been warned in strong terms that his behavior is unacceptable and subject to

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sanction and yet he remains intransigent. Nevertheless, the Court will not sanction plaintiff at

this time; however, any further contact with Chambers shall result in monetary and/or other

sanctions which may include dismissal of this action with prejudice. 

CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing, plaintiff’s objection, construed as a motion for reconsideration of

the Court’s April 20, 2009 Order is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: April 28, 2009

M. James Lorenz

United States District Court Judge

COPY TO: 

HON. JAN M. ADLER

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

ALL PARTIES/COUNSEL

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