Opinion ID: 1970897
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Cummings's Appeal

Text: [¶ 17] The denial of a motion for relief from judgment is reviewed only for an abuse of discretion. Allen v. Allen, 603 A.2d 482, 483 (Me.1992). A court's interpretation of the Rules of Civil Procedure, however, is reviewed de novo. Brown v. Habrle, 2006 ME 115, ¶ 7, 908 A.2d 640, 642 (citing Mondello v. Gen. Elec. Co., 650 A.2d 941, 943 (Me.1994)). We look to the plain language of the Rules of Civil Procedure to determine their meaning. See Gerrity Co., Inc. v. Lake Arrowhead Corp., 609 A.2d 293, 295 (Me. 1992). [¶ 18] M.R. Civ. P. 60(a) provides: Clerical mistakes in judgments, orders or other parts of the record and errors therein arising from oversight or omission may be corrected by the court at any time of its own initiative or on the motion of any party and after such notice, if any, as the court orders. During the pendency of an appeal, such mistakes may be so corrected before the appeal is docketed in the Superior Court or Law Court, and thereafter while the appeal is pending may be so corrected with leave of the Superior Court or Law Court. Relief under Rule 60(a) is limited to clerical mistakes. Taylor v. Lapomarda, 1997 ME 216, ¶ 12, 702 A.2d 685, 689 (citing Daniel v. Palmer, 580 A.2d 689, 689 (Me. 1990)). In Williams v. Williams, we held that Rule 60(a) authorized relief where the court inadvertently switched the figure for the wife's marital equity with the amount of the mortgage to calculate a divorce settlement. 645 A.2d 1118, 1122 (Me.1994). Substantive errors, however, may not be corrected under Rule 60(a). Jenkins, Inc. v. Walsh Bros., Inc., 2002 ME 168, ¶ 16, 810 A.2d 929, 935. A mandate issued by us, affirming the trial court judgment, cannot be enlarged, limited or modified following the appeal. Id. ¶ 17, 810 A.2d at 935-36 (citing Meiners v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 663 A.2d 6, 8 (Me.1995); Rose v. Osborne, 136 Me. 393, 400, 11 A.2d 345, 348 (1940)). [¶ 19] In Cummings, we issued a mandate affirming the trial court's judgment that awarded damages to Bean. 2004 ME 93, ¶ 11, 853 A.2d at 224. As in Jenkins, we may not now revisit an award that has been previously upheld by the trial court and us. 2002 ME 168, ¶ 17, 810 A.2d at 935-36. Regardless of whether Cummings's assertion that the error is a clerical mistake is accurate, both the plain language of Rule 60(a) and our precedents require that post-judgment 60(a) motions be filed prior to issuance of a final ruling on appeal. Id. Accordingly, we do not disturb the original damages award, and we affirm the judgment. The entry is: Judgments affirmed.