Opinion ID: 202766
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Denial of Motion for Reconsideration/Return of Property

Text: 58 Finally, GNAPs contends that the district court erred in denying GNAPs' Motion for Return of Property. Although styled as such, we think GNAPs' motion should properly be understood as a motion for reconsideration. Irrespective of how a party titles his motion, `a post-judgment motion made within ten days of the entry of judgment that questions the correctness of a judgment is properly construed as a motion to alter or amend judgment under Fed.R.Civ.P. 59(e).' Aybar v. Crispin-Reyes, 118 F.3d 10, 14 n. 3 (1st Cir.1997) (quoting Skagerberg v. Oklahoma, 797 F.2d 881, 883 (10th Cir.1986)). GNAPs' statements in the motion suggest that it too may have understood its motion as effectively seeking reconsideration. 59 As a general matter, a motion for reconsideration may only be granted if the original judgment evidenced a manifest error of law, if there is newly discovered evidence, or in certain other narrow situations. See Palmer v. Champion Mortgage, 465 F.3d 24, 30 (1st Cir.2006); Marie v. Allied Home Mortgage Corp., 402 F.3d 1, 7 n. 2 (1st Cir.2005). Our review of the denial of such a motion is for abuse of discretion. Palmer, 465 F.3d at 30. 60 GNAPs' motion to reconsider developed two lines of argument that it had cursorily flagged in its opposition to Verizon's motion. First, GNAPs contended that Verizon had used an incorrect billing rate. Second, GNAPs argued that Verizon had overstated the number of minutes for which GNAPs owed access charges: Verizon's affidavits were not limited to the period the injunction was actually in force, Verizon had allegedly billed for certain calls that should have been exempt from the access charges Verizon imposed, and Verizon's private communications with GNAPs had allegedly conceded that Verizon's stated number of minutes was too high. GNAPs provided affidavits in support of its arguments. 61 The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying GNAPs' motion. Generally, a party is not entitled to present new arguments on a motion for reconsideration. Aybar, 118 F.3d at 16. Here there may well have been a strategic choice by GNAPs to cause delay in the release of the security, including by withholding material arguments until reconsideration. Even if the delayed presentation resulted from nothing more than GNAPs having second thoughts about its best arguments, parties are bound by the choices they make. 13