Opinion ID: 2657936
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Motions to Alter or Amend

Text: Finally, Smithrud argues that the district court erred by denying his motions under Fed. R. Civ. P. 52(b) and 59(e) to alter or amend. As the district court properly noted, Rule 52 applies to “an action tried on the facts without a jury” in which the district court makes findings of fact. Fed. R. Civ. P. 52(a)(1). Here, no actual trial occurred, nor did the district court make any findings of fact. Thus, the district court did not err in rejecting Smithrud’s Rule 52(b) motions. 4 Under a Monell claim, Section 1983 liability may attach to a municipality “if the violation resulted from (1) an ‘official municipal policy,’ (2) an unofficial ‘custom,’ or (3) a deliberately indifferent failure to train or supervise.” Atkinson v. City of Mountain View, Mo., 709 F.3d 1201, 1214 (8th Cir. 2013) (citations omitted) (quoting Monell, 436 U.S. at 690-91). -9- As to Smithrud’s Rule 59(e) motions, such motions serve a limited function: “correcting manifest errors of law or fact or to present newly discovered evidence.” United States v. Metro. St. Louis Sewer Dist., 440 F.3d 930, 933 (8th Cir. 2006) (citation omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted). “A district court has broad discretion in determining whether to grant or deny a motion to alter or amend judgment pursuant to Rule 59(e), and this court will not reverse absent a clear abuse of discretion.” Id. After reviewing the record, we conclude that the district court made no errors of law in need of correction. Thus, the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motions.