Opinion ID: 2506087
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: FCC Citation

Text: After the circuit court dismissed the complaint, the plaintiff filed a motion for relief pursuant to Rules 59(e) and 60(b) of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure after being informed that the FCC issued a citation against Pep Boys. Rule 59(e) of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure [8] provides the procedure for a party who seeks to change or revise a judgment entered as a result of a motion to dismiss or a motion for summary judgment. Syllabus Point 4, James M.B. v. Carolyn M., 193 W.Va. 289, 456 S.E.2d 16 (1995). When reviewing a circuit court's order concerning a Rule 59(e) motion, we typically apply the standard of review applicable to the underlying judgment that the motion seeks to alter or amend. In Syllabus Point 1 of Wickland v. American Travellers Life Ins. Co., 204 W.Va. 430, 513 S.E.2d 657 (1998), we stated: The standard of review applicable to an appeal from a motion to alter or amend a judgment made pursuant to W.Va.R.Civ.P. 59(e), is the same standard that would apply to the underlying judgment upon which the motion is based and from which the appeal to this Court is filed. The underlying judgment the plaintiff's Rule 59(e) motion addresses is the circuit court's order granting the defendant's motion to dismiss. We therefore apply a de novo standard of review, the same standard applicable to a motion to dismiss. A Rule 59(e) motion may be used to correct manifest errors of law or fact, or to present newly discovered evidence. See In re Transtexas Gas Corp., 303 F.3d 571 (5th Cir.2002). A motion under Rule 59(e) is not appropriate for presenting new legal arguments, factual contentions, or claims that could have previously been argued. See Freeman v. Busch, 349 F.3d 582 (8th Cir. 2003) (Arguments and evidence which could, and should, have been raised at an earlier time in the proceedings cannot be presented in a Rule 59(e) motion.); Holland v. Big River Minerals Corp., 181 F.3d 597, 605-606 (4th Cir. 1999) (issue presented for first time in Rule 59(e) motion is not timely raised); Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians v. Engler, 146 F.3d 367, 374 (6th Cir.1998) (Rule 59(e) motion cannot raise arguments that were not raised prior to judgment); Santiago v. Canon U.S.A., Inc., 138 F.3d 1, 3-4 (1st Cir.1998) (new legal theory as to liability may not be raised in motion for reconsideration); Stone v. Wall, 135 F.3d 1438, 1441-1442 (11th Cir.1998) (argument that law of other jurisdiction should have applied could not be raised in Rule 59(e) motion); Global Network Techs., Inc. v. Regional Airport Auth., 122 F.3d 661, 665-666 (8th Cir.1997) (evidence that could have been introduced prior to judgment may not be offered through Rule 59(e) motion). While Rule 59(e) does not itself provide a standard under which a circuit court may grant a motion to alter or amend, other courts and commentators have set forth the grounds for amending earlier judgments. For instance, the Litigation Handbook on West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure states that a Rule 59(e) motion should be granted where: (1) there is an intervening change in the controlling law; (2) new evidence not previously available comes to light; (3) it becomes necessary to remedy a clear error of law or (4) to prevent obvious injustice. Franklin D. Cleckley, Robin J. Davis, & Louis J. Palmer, Jr., Litigation Handbook on West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure, § 59(e) at 1178-1179 (3d. Ed.2008). [9] Under Rule 59(e), a party who relies on newly discovered evidence must produce a legitimate justification for not presenting the evidence during the earlier proceeding. Small v. Hunt, 98 F.3d 789, 798 (4th Cir.1996). Under Rule 59(e), the reconsideration of a judgment after its entry is an extraordinary remedy which should be used sparingly. See Palmer v. Champion Mortgage, 465 F.3d 24, 29 (1st Cir.2006); Templet v. HydroChem Inc., 367 F.3d 473, 479 (5th Cir.2004); Pacific Ins. Co. v. Amer. Nat. Fire Ins. Co., 148 F.3d 396, 403 (4th Cir. 1998). See also 11 Wright et. al., Federal Practice and Procedure § 2810.1 (3d ed.2010). [10] The plaintiff also requested relief under Rule 60(b) of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure, which provides, in relevant part: On motion and upon such terms as are just, the court may relieve a party ... from final judgment order or proceeding for the following reasons: (1) Mistake, inadvertence, surprise, excusable neglect or unavoidable cause; (2) newly discovered evidence ...; (3) fraud ...; (4) the judgment is void; (5) the judgment has been satisfied, released or discharged ...; or (6) any other reason justifying relief from the operation of the judgment. This Court accords broad discretion to a circuit court deciding a Rule 60(b) motion. A motion to vacate a judgment made pursuant to Rule 60(b), W.Va. R.C.P., is addressed to the sound discretion of the court and the court's ruling on such motion will not be disturbed on appeal unless there is a showing of an abuse of such discretion. Syllabus Point 5, Toler v. Shelton, 157 W.Va. 778, 204 S.E.2d 85 (1974). The plaintiff argues that the circuit court erred by failing to grant her motion for relief after being informed that the FCC issued a citation against Pep Boys. The plaintiff filed a consumer complaint with the FCC twelve days after the circuit court granted the defendants' motion to dismiss. The citation the FCC sent to the defendants states, [t]he complaints (attached to the citation) address alleged TCPA violation(s) [.] (Emphasis added.) The FCC citation was based on the plaintiff's consumer complaint. The defendants did not respond to the complaint before receiving the citation and argue that it is merely a complaint or `charge' consisting of allegations, not a decision of liability or a determination on the merits. The plaintiff argues that this citation is the FCC's interpretation of its own regulations and is therefore entitled to considerable weight and deference. In Syllabus Point 4 of Security Nat. Bank & Trust Company v. First W.Va. Bancorp., Inc., 166 W.Va. 775, 277 S.E.2d 613 (1981), we held, [interpretations of statutes by bodies charged with their administration are given great weight unless clearly erroneous. The problem with the plaintiff's argument is that the citation is a form document that does not detail what, if any, investigation the FCC undertook prior to issuing it. This form document was issued before the defendants had an opportunity to respond to it. By contrast, the circuit court ruled on the motion to dismiss after considering the briefs and oral arguments of both parties, and analyzing these arguments under the TCPA. The circuit court issued a detailed order explaining its reasons for granting the motion to dismiss. Because we have the briefs the parties filed before the circuit court, the transcript of the oral argument and the circuit court's order before us, we can meaningfully review the circuit court's conclusions. It is difficult to perform a similar review of a form document that cites alleged violations. The plaintiff contends that the citation entitles her to relief pursuant to Rule 59(e) because it is new evidence that has come to light since the dismissal order. However, the plaintiff offers no explanation why the FCC citation could not have been filed and presented to the circuit court prior to entry of judgment. The plaintiff's failure to file her consumer complaint with the FCC prior to the judgment does not make the citation new evidence for purposes of Rule 59(e). Similarly, the plaintiff has failed to show that the circuit court abused its discretion in denying her motion pursuant to Rule 60(b). A circuit court is not required to grant a Rule 60(b) motion unless a moving party can satisfy one of the criteria enumerated under it. Powderidge Unit Owners Association v. Highland Properties, Ltd., 196 W.Va. 692, 706, 474 S.E.2d 872, 886 (1996). The plaintiff failed to establish that the form citation entitles her to relief under any of the six grounds set forth by Rule 60(b). We therefore find that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion by denying the plaintiff's motion for relief pursuant to Rule 60(b).