Opinion ID: 700965
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Reinstatement of Claim

Text: 13 After counsel was appointed, Carey filed an agreed motion to dismiss the claims against St. Thomas School and St. Mary School with prejudice. She then filed a first amended complaint. Following trial, over a year after the voluntary dismissal of these claims, Carey sought to have the claim against St. Mary's reinstated. The district court denied her request and Carey now appeals that decision. We construe Carey's motion to be brought under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b). Appellate review of an order denying a motion under Rule 60(b) is extremely deferential and we review for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Golden Elevator, Inc., 27 F.3d 301, 302-03 (7th Cir.1994). 14 Our inquiry leads us to the interaction of two rules, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 41 and 60. Rule 41(a) governs voluntary dismissals. Dismissals under Rule 41(a)(1) are without prejudice unless otherwise stated. Carey and the defendants agreed to dismiss the claim against St. Mary School with prejudice and the court granted the motion. 5 The other rule we must consider, Rule 60(b), allows a court to relieve a party from a final judgment, order, or proceeding for: 15 (1) mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect; (2) newly discovered evidence which by due diligence could not have been discovered in time to move for a new trial under Rule 59(b); (3) fraud ... misrepresentation, or other misconduct of an adverse party; (4) the judgment is void; (5) the judgment has been satisfied, released, or discharged, or a prior judgment upon which it is based has been reversed or otherwise vacated, or it is no longer equitable that the judgment should have prospective application or (6) any other reason justifying relief from the operation of the judgment. 16 Fed.R.Civ.P. 60(b). As explanation for her request to reinstate the dismissed claim, Carey asserts that her attorney dismissed the claim without her understanding of the impact of such a dismissal with prejudice. We do not conclude that the district court abused its discretion in denying Carey's motion. Carey was aware that the claim against St. Mary School was dismissed. See Carey Dep. at 86-2. Indeed, she never asked for dismissal of counsel or brought any disagreement with counsel concerning the dismissed claims to the court's attention. Carey proceeded to trial solely on the claim against St. Cornelius School, and only after she lost did she show any interest in reviving the claim against St. Mary School. The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying reinstatement. Clearly a dismissal with prejudice was contemplated and carried out, and there is no indication Carey sought to retain any right to reinstate. See also Barkauskus v. Lane, 946 F.2d 1292, 1294 (7th Cir.1991) (no Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel in civil case); Wolfolk v. Rivera, 729 F.2d 1114, 1120 (7th Cir.1984) (no right to assistance of counsel in civil matter; unsatisfied plaintiff must seek remedy in malpractice action). Because none of the reasons for relief from a final judgment were satisfied here, the district court did not abuse its discretion. 17 AFFIRMED.