Court Opinion

ID: 2716092
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-07 20:00:06.937615+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:53:41.154719
License: Public Domain

PS4-155                                                        NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                 ___________

                                      No. 14-1380
                                      ___________

                 MARC ANTWAIN X. RIVERS MUHAMMAD, SR.,
                                                     Appellant

                                            v.

              VINCENT CAPPELLINI, Court Appointed Counsel;
  LUZERNE COUNTY CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES ORPHANS COURT;
      LUZERNE COUNTY COURT COMMON PLEAS ORPHANS COURT;
                 SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA;
   JOHN A. BELLINO, Guardian ad Litem; GERRY LYNN BUTLER, Case Worker;
                THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
                  ____________________________________

                    On Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
                        (D.C. Civil Action No. 3:10-cv-02374)
                     District Judge: Honorable A. Richard Caputo
                     ____________________________________

                   Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                                  August 1, 2014
             Before: HARDIMAN, NYGAARD and ROTH, Circuit Judges

                             (Opinion filed: August 7, 2014)
                                     ___________

                                       OPINION
                                      ___________

PER CURIAM

      In November 2010, Marc Antwain X. Rivers Muhammad, Sr., filed a pro se

complaint in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
alleging various constitutional violations in connection with the termination of his

parental rights in the Orphans’ Court Division of the Luzerne County Court of Common

Pleas (“LCCCP”). Among the defendants was the Luzerne County Children and Youth

Services (“LCCYS”). The District Court dismissed the complaint. In regards to LCCYS,

the District Court ruled that Muhammad had failed to state a claim. The District Court

nonetheless allowed Muhammad to amend his complaint, noting, inter alia, that a

conspiracy claim against LCCYS could be plausible if supported by more particular facts.

         Muhammad filed an amended complaint, which the District Court also dismissed.

In relation to the conspiracy claim against LCCYS, the District Court ruled that he failed

to plead enough facts to state a plausible claim for conspiracy. Upon review, we affirmed

the District Court’s judgment. See Muhammad v. Cappellini, 477 F. App’x 935 (3d Cir.

2012).

         After his appeal, Muhammad returned to the District Court with a “Motion for

Federal Injunctive Relief & Damages Pursuant to § 1983” raising new claims against the

LCCCP, a former LCCCP judge, and Pennsylvania Superior Court judges in connection

with the LCCCP proceedings. The District Court construed the motion (with its demand

for custody of his son and $50 million in damages) as a new complaint, reviewed it

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2), and dismissed the claims raised therein on immunity

grounds. We again affirmed the District Court. See Muhammad v. Cappellini, 532 F.

App’x 127 (3d Cir. 2013).

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       Subsequently, on October 1, 2013, Muhammad again returned to the District

Court, filing a “Motion for Federal Injunctive Relief and Damages under 42 U.S.C.A.

§ 1983 pursuant to Rule 60(b)(6) of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure.” Citing Rule

60(b)(6), he sought reopening. He argued that his parental rights were improperly

terminated by LCCYS and claimed that immunity was improperly granted to LCCYS by

the District Court. In his motion, he made an offer of settlement to the LCCYS, namely

custody of his son and $100 million in damages. On December 31, 2013, Muhammad

submitted a brief in support of his motion.

       The District Court ordered Muhammad’s brief stricken from the docket as

untimely filed and denied his motion. Muhammad appeals. In his brief, he repeats his

argument that LCCYS is not entitled to immunity. He also presents arguments about

why he believes he is entitled to custody of his son.

       We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Torres v. Carter, 125 F.3d 166,

167-68 (ed Cir. 1997).

       Despite the allusion to preliminary injunctive relief in its title, Muhammad’s

motion was a motion to reopen under Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

See United States v. Fiorelli, 337 F.3d 282, 287-88 (3d Cir. 2003) (explaining that the

content of a motion, not its title, controls). Generally, we review orders denying Rule

60(b) motions for abuse of discretion. See Budget Blinds, Inc. v. White, 536 F.3d 244,

251 & n.5 (3d Cir. 2008) (explaining also that we exercise plenary review over orders

granting or denying relief under Rule 60(b)(4)). An appeal from the denial of Rule 60(b)
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relief does not bring up the underlying judgment for review. See Browder v. Dir., Dep’t

of Corr., 434 U.S. 257, 263 n.7 (1978). Also, we review how a district court controls its

docket for abuse of discretion. See In re Fine Paper Antitrust Litig., 685 F.2d 810, 817

(3d Cir. 1982). We may affirm on any basis supported by the record. See Erie

Telecomms., Inc. v. City of Erie, 853 F.2d 1084, 1089 n.10 (3d Cir. 1988).

       Upon review, we will affirm the District Court’s order. Muhammad claimed legal

error, but “legal error, without more, cannot justify granting a Rule 60(b) motion.” Smith

v. Evans, 853 F.2d 155, 158 (3d Cir. 1988). Furthermore, his claim of legal error was

based on a misapprehension of the District Court’s rulings. The complaint and amended

complaint against LCCYS were dismissed for failure to state a claim, not on the basis of

immunity. Furthermore, Muhammad did not otherwise present a basis for relief under

Rule 60(b). He did not put before the District Court material new evidence that could not

have been discovered earlier with reasonable diligence. See Compass Tech., Inc. v.

Tseng Labs,, Inc., 71 F.3d 1125, 1130 (3d Cir. 1995). He also did not make the

necessary “showing of exceptional circumstances” to justify relief under Rule 60(b)(6).

See Coltec Indus., Inc. v. Hobgood, 280 F.3d 262, 273 (3d Cir. 2002). Lastly, it was

within the District Court’s sound discretion to strike Muhammad’s late-filed brief from

the docket.

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