Opinion
No. CIV 12-612-TUC-CKJ
01-29-2014
ELISEO SOLIS HARO, Plaintiff, v. CHARLES L. RYAN, JR., et al., Defendants.
ORDER
Pending before the Court are the Objection to Court Order Denying Motion to Appoint Counsel (Doc. 49), the Motion to Proceed with Summary Judgment as Timely (Doc. 43), the Motion for Extension of Time to File Response (Doc. 53), the Motion for Status (Doc. 57) filed by Plaintiff Eliseo Solis Haro ("Solis"). Also pending before the Court are the Motion to Strike (Doc. 51) and the Motion to Accept Late Filing (Doc. 60) filed by Defendant Rascon. Objection to Court Order Denying Motion to Appoint Counsel (Doc. 49)
Also pending before the Court are the Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 42) filed by Solis, the Motion to Compel Discovery (Doc. 52), and the Motion to Exceed Page Limit (Doc. 62) filed by Solis, and the Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 45) and another Motion to Strike (Doc. 55) filed by Rascon. The Court will address those motions in a separate order.
The Court accepts this document as a Motion for Reconsideration. The Court has discretion to reconsider and vacate an order. Barber v. Hawaii, 42 F.3d 1185, 1198 (9th Cir. 1994); United States v. Nutri-cology, Inc., 982 F.2d 394, 396 (9th Cir. 1992). "The purpose of a motion for reconsideration is to correct manifest errors of law or fact or to present newly discovered evidence. Harsco Corp. v. Zlotnicki, 779 F.2d 906, 909 (3rd Cir. 1985), cert. denied, 476 U.S. 1171 (1986). However, motions for reconsideration are disfavored. See generally Northwest Acceptance Corp. v. Lynnwood Equipment, Inc., 841 F.2d 918, 925-26 (9th Cir. 1988). Indeed, a motion for reconsideration is not to be used to ask a court "to rethink what the court had already thought through - rightly or wrongly." Above the Belt, Inc. v. Mel Bohanan Roofing, Inc., 99 F.R.D. 99, 101 (E.D.Va. 1983) (limiting motions for reconsideration to cases where the court has patently misunderstood a party, where the court has made a decision outside the adversarial issues presented to the court, where the court has made an error not of reasoning but of apprehension, or where there has been a controlling or significant change in the law or facts since the submission of the issue to the court); see also United States v. Rezzonico, 32 F.Supp.2d 1112, 1116 (D.Ariz. 1998).
Solis states that he understands the decision was within the Court's discretion, but objects to the material facts considered by the Court in issuing its decision. Solis asserts, contrary to the Court's statement, that he did make efforts to obtain an attorney without the Court's assistance and cites to a prior Motion to Appoint Counsel (Doc. 3). Solis also asserts the Court did not adequately consider his difficulties in obtaining discovery and responding to discovery requests. For example, Solis asserts he is restricted from receiving some documents based on his status as a prisoner. Similarly, Solis also asserts the Court did not adequately consider his difficulties based on limited access to legal materials.
The Court did not review Solis's prior Motion to Appoint Counsel (Doc. 3) when issuing its ruling on the subsequent Motion to Appoint Counsel (Doc. 31). However, the Court disagrees with Solis's assertions that the Court did not adequately consider his difficulties in obtaining discovery and responding to discovery requests or his difficulties based on limited access to legal materials. Solis has presented discovery and other legal issues to the Court and has submitted a Motion for Summary Judgment. Although Solis independently sought the assistance of counsel, this factor does not warrant the Court seeking the assistance of counsel for Solis at this time. See Richards v. Harper, 864 F.2d 85, 87 (9th Cir. 1988); Rand v. Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997); Jackson v. Dallas Police Dept., 811 F.2d 260 (5th Cir. 1986). The Court finds Solis has not pointed to any manifest errors of law or fact or presented any newly discovered evidence warranting reconsideration at this time of the Order denying the Motion to Appoint Counsel. Motion to Proceed with Summary Judgment as Timely (Doc. 43)
On April 24, 2013, this Court ordered dispositive motions to be filed by December 2, 2013. On November 27, 2013, this Court, granted Rascon's request to extend time and ordered Rascon could have up to and including December 12, 2013, to file his Motion for Summary Judgment. On December 9, 2013, Solis filed a Motion for Summary Judgment and a Motion to Proceed with Summary Judgment as Timely; these documents each include a Certificate of Service that the documents were sent for filing on December 4, 2013.
Solis requests the Court accept his Motion for Summary Judgment as timely. Solis asserts he was delayed in preparation of his Motion for Summary Judgment by the policies of the prison facility - for example. limited access to the law library, needed approval for copies. Additionally, Solis-Hara asserts he acted in good faith to meet the scheduled deadline. Rascon has filed a response stating he does not oppose Solis's motion. The Court will grant the request. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 6(b)(1) (where extension request is made after time has expired, extension may be granted with finding of excusable neglect; Pincay v. Andrews, 389 F.3d 853, 855-56 (9th Cir. 2004) (four factors to be considered in determining if excusable neglect exists: "(1) the danger of prejudice to the non-moving party, (2) the length of delay and its potential impact on judicial proceedings, (3) the reason for the delay, including whether it was within the reasonable control of the movant, and (4) whether the moving party's conduct was in good faith."). Motion to Strike (Doc. 51)
Rascon requests the Court strike Solis's Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 42) for failure to comply with LRCiv 56.1 and the submission of documents that are not affidavits, declarations, discovery responses, transcripts, or similar admissible portions of the record. Rascon asserts the non-compliance makes it unduly burdensome, if not impossible for Rascon to ascertain undisputed facts upon which Soliss's Motion relies, the support for them in the record, and their connection to applicable legal authority.
Solis requests the Court to accept his pleading in light of the difficulties in proceeding as a prisoner pro se and because pro se pleadings are to be construed liberally. Further, Solis asserts he has included admissible evidence and that he has sought in good faith to present the evidence to the Court.
Pro se pleadings are liberally construed. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972); Bernhardt v. Los Angeles County, 339 F.3d 920, 925 (9th Cir. 2003) ([c]ourts have a duty to construe pro se pleadings liberally, including pro se motions). Indeed, courts should construe liberally motion papers and pleadings filed by pro se inmates and should avoid applying summary judgment rules strictly. Thomas v. Ponder, 611 F.3d 1144, 1150 (9th Cir. 2010); see also Frost v. Symington, 197 F.3d 348, 352 (9th Cir.1999). Further, this Court has "broad discretion in interpreting and applying their local rules." Delange v. Dutra Constr. Co., Inc., 183 F.3d 916, 919 (9th Cir.1999) (quoting Miranda v. S. Pac. Transp., 710 F.2d 516, 521 (9th Cir.1983)).
Although Solis has not complied with the local rule, the Court does not find it appropriate to elevate form over substance and strictly enforce LRCiv 56 in this instance. The Court will deny the request. Rascon's Motion to Accept Late Filing (Doc. 60)
Rascon has requested the Court accept its response to Solis's Motion for Extension of Time and has lodged his proposed response. Although Rascon's response was due on Friday, January 24, 2014, Rascon was unable to file the response on that date due to a nationwide electronic filing system shutdown. The Court will accept Rascon's late filing and will direct the Clerk of Court to docket Rascon's response (Doc. 61). Motion for Extension of Time to File Response (Doc. 53)
Solis requests a 30 day extension of the deadline for filing a response to Rascon's Motion for Summary Judgment. Rascon's lodged response indicates he does not object to this request. The Court will grant this request.
Solis also requests additional time to respond to Rascon's discovery request. Rascon objects to this request. The Court will defer ruling on this request until Solis has had an opportunity to file a reply. Motion for Status (Doc. 57)
Solis requests he be informed of his pending Motion for Extension of Time. The Court having addressed the Motion in this Order, the Court will deny this request as moot.
Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED:
1. The Objection to Court Order Denying Motion to Appoint Counsel (Doc. 49) is treated as a Motion for Reconsideration and is DENIED.
2. The Motion to Proceed with Summary Judgment as Timely (Doc. 43) is GRANTED. Rascon shall file his response to the Motion for Summary Judgment within 33 days of the date of this Order; Solis shall file any reply within 17 days of the filing of the response.
3. The Motion to Strike (Doc. 51) is DENIED.
4. The Motion for Extension of Time to File Response (Doc. 53) is GRANTED IN PART.
5. The Motion for Status (Doc. 57) is DENIED AS MOOT.
6. The Motion to Accept Late Filing (Doc. 60) is GRANTED. The Clerk of Court shall docket the lodged response (Doc. 61).
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Cindy K. Jorgenson
United States District Judge