From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Minnis v. Washington

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT TACOMA
Nov 13, 2013
CASE NO. C11-5600 BHS (W.D. Wash. Nov. 13, 2013)

Opinion

CASE NO. C11-5600 BHS

11-13-2013

ALISON E. MINNIS, Plaintiff, v. STATE OF WASHINGTON, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, et al., Defendants.


ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF'S

MOTION TO AMEND

JUDGMENT AND MOTION TO

ALTER OR AMEND JUDGMENT

AND/OR FOR

RECONSIDERATION

This matter comes before the Court on Plaintiff Alison Minnis's ("Minnis") motion to amend judgment (Dkt. 143) and motion to alter or amend judgment and/or for reconsideration (Dkt. 144).

On October 17, 2013, the Court granted Defendants' motion for summary judgment and dismissed Minnis's claims. Dkt. 144. On October 27, 2013, Minnis filed a motion to amend judgment. Dkt. 143. On October 31, 2013, Minnis filed a motion to alter or amend judgment and/or for reconsideration. Dkt. 144.

The Ninth Circuit has instructed that amendment or alteration is appropriate under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e) "if (1) the district court is presented with newly discovered evidence, (2) the district court committed clear error or made an initial decision that was manifestly unjust, or (3) there is an intervening change in controlling law." Zimmerman v. City of Oakland, 255 F.3d 734, 740 (9th Cir. 2001).

Motions for reconsideration are governed by Local Rule CR 7(h), which provides as follows:

Motions for reconsideration are disfavored. The court will ordinarily deny such motions in the absence of a showing of manifest error in the prior ruling or a showing of new facts or legal authority which could not have been brought to its attention earlier with reasonable diligence.
Local Rule CR 7(h)(1).

In this case, Minnis moves for relief on numerous issues. Minnis, however, merely disagrees with the Court's decision and elaborates on her arguments that were previously presented. Her argument that the statute of limitations was tolled when she filed her complaint and motion to proceed in forma pauperis was adequately addressed the Court's order, and the Court's ruling is not manifest error. Her argument based on new evidence is flawed in that she has failed to submit new evidence. Minnis argues that the state was aware of her lawsuit because it offered to settle. Minnis, however, has failed to provide any case law for the proposition that an offer of settlement overcomes the jurisdictional claim filing requirements. Therefore, the Court denies the motion on the issue of whether Minnis' claims are time-barred and barred for failure to exhaust.

With regard to Minnis's argument that she sued some defendants individually, this argument was not presented in her response to overcome summary judgment. See Dkt. 126. Even if Minnis did sue some defendants in their individual capacity, the claims would have been dismissed under 28 U.S.C. 1367(c)(3) because the federal claims were dismissed and the remaining claims involve state law actions against non-diverse parties. Therefore, the Court denies the motion on this issue.

With regard to whether the Court was improperly influenced by "inflammatory and false statements," the Court's order speaks for itself; the outcome of Defendants' motion for summary judgment did not turn on the reliability of the cited statements. Therefore, the Court denies the motion on this issue.

With regard to Minnis's motion to amend the judgment (Dkt. 143), it is based on the same arguments presented in her other motion and have been addressed above.

Therefore, it is hereby ORDERED that Minnis's motion to amend judgment (Dkt. 143) and motion to alter or amend judgment and/or for reconsideration (Dkt. 144) are DENIED.

________________________

BENJAMIN H. SETTLE

United States District Judge


Summaries of

Minnis v. Washington

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT TACOMA
Nov 13, 2013
CASE NO. C11-5600 BHS (W.D. Wash. Nov. 13, 2013)
Case details for

Minnis v. Washington

Case Details

Full title:ALISON E. MINNIS, Plaintiff, v. STATE OF WASHINGTON, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL…

Court:UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT TACOMA

Date published: Nov 13, 2013

Citations

CASE NO. C11-5600 BHS (W.D. Wash. Nov. 13, 2013)