Document: 524 U.S. 38118 S.Ct. 1862141 L.Ed.2d 32 UNITED STATES, Petitioner,v.Chris W. BEGGERLY et al. No. 97-731. Supreme Court of the United States Argued April 27, 1998. Decided June 8, Syllabus * In 1979, sued respondents and others to quiet title land it sought for a federal park, contending that did not have clear because Government had never patented disputed after acquiring as part Louisiana Purchase. officials searched public records during discovery, but reported they found no proof grant private landowner. A 1982 settlement agreement quieted in Government's favor return payment respondents. 1994, set aside obtain damages, claiming evidence showing been granted owner before Purchase, District concluded jurisdiction hear case. The Fifth Circuit reversed, finding two jurisdictional bases: (1) suit was an "independent action'' under Federal Rule Civil Procedure 60(b); (2) Quiet Title Act (QTA or Act). reaching second conclusion, court QTA's 12-year statute limitations subject equitable tolling therefore barred by fact known about claim since 1979. then vacated instructed respondents' favor. Held: over suit. Pp. ____-____. (a) 60(b)'s history language are inconsistent with position judgment requires independent source jurisdiction. original 60(b) established new system govern requests reopen judgments. Because unclear whether provided exclusive means obtaining postjudgment relief, amended 1946 clarify nearly all old forms relief from were abolished survived. However, this does mean requirements meritorious action met here. Such actions should be available only prevent grave miscarriage justice. See Hazel-Atlas Co. v. Hartford Co., 322 238, 244, 64 997, 1000, 88 L.Ed. 1250. Respondents' allegation failed thoroughly search its make full disclosure regarding obviously approach demanding standard. (b) Equitable is QTA permissible where relevant statute's text. express runs date plaintiff his predecessor interest "knew known'' States' claim. 28 U.S.C. §2409a(g). Thus, has already effectively allowed tolling. Irwin Department Veterans Affairs, 498 89, 96, 111 453, 457-458, 112 435. Given unusually generous period, extension statutory period would unwarranted. P. ____. 114 F.3d 484, reversed remanded. REHNQUIST, C.J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. STEVENS, J., filed concurring opinion, which SOUTER, joined. Paul R.Q. Wolfson, petitioner. Ernest G. Taylor, Jr., Jackson, MS, CHIEF JUSTICE REHNQUIST 1 brought (the Adams litigation) Southern Mississippi against 200 other defendants. On eve trial, entered into whereby $208,175.87. Judgment based on agreement. some 12 years judgment, damage award land. Their claims Court's ancillary jurisdiction, relating back litigation, (QTA). §2409a. We hold entitled either these grounds. 2 dispute between located Horn Island. Situated Gulf Mexico approximately 13 miles southwest Pascagoula, Island currently within state Mississippi. It was, at various times late 18th early 19th centuries, controlled France, Britain, Spain. territory came control result Purchase 1803. 1950, Clark Beggerly, predecessor-in-interest, purchased color tracts tax sale Jackson County. Beggerly paid $51.20 one 626-acre tract. He friend also tract $31.25. retained 103 acres upon later division 3 1971, Congress enacted legislation authorizing Interior create Islands National Seashore, park lands include 16 §459h. authorized Secretary acquire privately owned proposed park's boundaries. §459h-1. Park Service (NPS) began negotiating purchase Before any deal could completed, however, NPS learned property. Believing meant title, backed out deal. 4 During discovery their told nothing proving ever Even continued patent supported title. 1991 hired genealogical record specialist conduct research Archives Washington. materials that, according her, showed August 1, 1781, Bernardo de Galvez, Governor General Spanish Louisiana, Catarina Boudreau. If party prior 1803, presumably passed Respondents believed Boudreau proved superior States. 5 Armed information, complaint 1994. They asked them damages "not less than $14,500 per acre'' App. 26. without dismissed complaint. 6 Appeals reversed. there bases First, satisfied elements action,'' term used 60(b). According Appeals, those are: 7 " ought not, equity good conscience, enforced; defense alleged cause founded; (3) fraud, accident, mistake prevented defendant benefit defense; (4) absence fault negligence defendant; (5) adequate remedy law.'' 487 (C.A.5 1997). 8 view, aside. Second, conferred includes limitations, begins run knows noted knew more suit, tolled 9 Satisfied addressed merits. Relying grant, "United legitimate [and that] validity Beggerlys' legal certainty.'' F.3d, 489. remanded case instructions enter quieting One judge dissented. certiorari, 522 ----, 118 679, 139 628 (1998), now reverse. 10 primary contention erred concluding 1994 first attacks lower court's conclusion meaning argues must and, States, waiver sovereign immunity. Whereas litigation plaintiff, §1345, basis action, correct it. 11 think Prior 1937 adoption Rules Procedure, availability order turned still same "term'' challenged entered. "had plenary power . modify error law even revoke altogether.'' Zimmern 298 167, 169-170, 56 706, 707, 80 1118 (1936). expired, resort made handful writs, precise contours "shrouded ancient lore mystery.'' Advisory Committee's Notes Amdt. Fed. Civ. Proc. 60, U.S.C.App., p. 787. away notion continuation expiration affect power. 6(c), rescinded 1966. New 60(b)1 establish provided: Mistake; Inadvertence; Surprise; Excusable Neglect. motion court, such terms just, may relieve representative order, proceeding taken him through mistake, inadvertence, surprise, excusable neglect. shall reasonable time, exceeding six months taken. subdivision finality suspend operation. This rule limit entertain proceeding, year, Section 57 Judicial Code, U.S.C., 28, §118, obtained actually personally notified.'' (1940). following Rules, courts differed post-judgment writs problem, along several others, Amendment revised read substantially reads now: 14 Mistakes; Neglect; Newly Discovered Evidence; Fraud, Etc. party's final reasons: neglect; newly discovered due diligence time move trial 59(b); fraud (whether heretofore denominated intrinsic extrinsic), misrepresentation, misconduct adverse party; void; satisfied, released, discharged, otherwise vacated, longer prospective application; (6) reason justifying operation judgment. reasons (1), (2), year notified §1655, court. Writs coram nobis, vobis, audita querela, bills review nature bill review, abolished, procedure prescribed rules action. 15 thus i.e., abolished. revision equally clear, forms, action,''2 Committee notes confirmed this, indicating [i]f right lost limits fixed rules, procedural principles applied action.'' Notes, supra, sounded equity. While somewhat unclear, appears broadly narrow exemplifies category Pacific R.R. Missouri R. 505, 583, (1884).3 17 underlying resulted decree foreclosing mortgage railroad property ordering sale. enforced shortly thereafter company whose foreclosed impeach foreclosure just affirmed. plaintiffs conspired attorney directors subsequent ensure forfeited. corporation, named citizens defendants seeking 18 When matter reached Court, we rejected State. question said: 19 "On [subsequent] regarded [prior] so regard citizenship present parties bill, though chancery sense word, former Court.'' U.S., 522, S.Ct., 592. 20 diversity, relied proceed. wrong suggest lawsuit 21 say, most charged failure furnish information best form 60(b)(3) motion, strict 1-year motions naught. Independent must, if interpreted coherent whole, reserved cases "injustices which, certain instances, deemed sufficiently gross demand departure'' rigid adherence doctrine res judicata. Glass Hartford-Empire 1250 (1944). 22 Marshall Holmes, 141 589, 62, 35 870 (1891), her forged document. 23 "According averments petition injunction judgments rendered Mrs. use letter forged. evidently intended presented where, negligence, laches petitioner, [respondent] fraudulently he seeks, enforce execution.'' Id., 596, 64. 24 expressions Rule, case, obvious allegations do allege "thoroughly Court'' grant. 23. Whether might succeed need decide; surely work "grave justice,'' perhaps justice all, allow stand. sufficient justify reopening litigation.4 25 merely litigation. directed QTA, §2409a, this. permits "plaintiffs name [the States] civil adjudicate disputes involving real interest.'' Block North Dakota ex rel. Board Univ. School Lands, 461 273, 275-276, 1811, 1813-1814, 75 840 (1983). plaintiff's accrued. An "shall accrued States.'' 26 acknowledged Beggerlys least barred, tolling, "in light displayed [respondents] truth pursuing rights,'' demanded our deciding 27 text statute. Brockamp, 519 347, 117 849, 136 818 (1997). Here, providing will begin until States,'' 435 (1990) ("We situations claimant actively pursued judicial remedies filing defective pleading complainant induced tricked adversary's allowing deadline pass''). fact, additional particularly true given deals ownership special importance landowners know certainty what rights are, challenge. incorporated throw cloud uncertainty rights, incompatible Act. Appeals' further proceedings consistent opinion. 29 ordered. 30 Justice whom SOUTER joins, concurring. 31 As correctly observes, Act, §2409a(g), expressly allows aware holds confronted fraudulent concealment estoppel apply guilty outrageous fully knowing own Those doctrines distinct see Charles Alan Wright & Arthur Miller, Practice §1056 (Supp.1998); cf. Locke, 471 84, 94, n. 10, 105 1785, 1792, 85 (1985) (referring separately tolling), conceivably unlikely hypothetical situation. (and, therefore, properly not) address quite different type Accordingly, I join reservation. syllabus constitutes prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Timber Lumber 321, 337, 282, 287, 50 499. 60(a) dealt then, now, clerical mistakes referred "original authorities cited accompanying amendment list example Moore Rogers, Relief Judgments, 55 Yale L.J. 623, 656 (1946); J. Friedman, Moore's 3257, (1938). requirement changed outcome See, e.g., Pickford Talbott, 225 651, 657, 687, 689, 1240 (1912).

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