Summary
granting a motion to withdraw because the agreed-upon scope of services did not contemplate a "motion to reopen the case"
Summary of this case from United States v. RuizOpinion
No. CIV S-03-1350 FCD DAD P.
February 10, 2011
ORDER
On October 15, 2009, the parties entered into a settlement agreement in this case. Accordingly, on December 10, 2009, the parties filed a stipulation for voluntary dismissal of this action with prejudice. Pursuant to the stipulation, the case was closed. Pending before the court is plaintiff's motion to re-open the case. Defendants have filed an opposition to the motion.
In his motion, plaintiff argues that he agreed to dismiss this action with prejudice in exchange for $3,500.00. Plaintiff argues that he upheld his end of the agreement. However, plaintiff reports that on April 28, 2010, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ("CDCR") deducted the entire amount ($3325.00 plus a five percent administrative fee) from his account for purposes of satisfying his outstanding restitution obligation stemming from his underlying criminal conviction. Plaintiff argues that this violates the terms of the settlement agreement and the California Penal Code, which purportedly allows CDCR to take fifty percent of any amount posted to an inmate's trust account plus an administrative fee for purposes of satisfying restitution.
In opposition to the motion, defense counsel argues that this court lacks jurisdiction over this case. Specifically counsel contends that a claim for breach of a settlement agreement, even if part of the consideration was dismissal of a federal case, will not provide the basis of federal court jurisdiction. Here, counsel contends that the monetary amount agreed to by the parties was paid to plaintiff. In addition, according to defense counsel, the settlement agreement which plaintiff signed expressly informed him that CDCR was obligated to collect any amounts owed by a prisoner under a restitution fine or order and deduct such from the settlement.
In this case, the parties filed a stipulated dismissal with prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii). All of the parties signed the stipulation, and the dismissal was effective upon filing without a court order. To the extent that plaintiff seeks enforcement of the settlement agreement, the court lacks jurisdiction. See Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of America, 511 U.S. 375 (1994). The stipulation filed in this case contains one provision regarding the court's retention of jurisdiction. It states: "The Court shall retain jurisdiction to enforce this Settlement Agreement until such time as the monetary amount is paid." (Pl.'s Mot. to Re-open Attach.) Here, it is undisputed that CDCR paid plaintiff $3,500.00. The stipulation does not contain any further provisions regarding the court's retention of jurisdiction, and "neither the Rule nor any provision of law provides for jurisdiction of the court over disputes arising out of an agreement that produces the stipulation." Id. at 378. In this regard, any further enforcement of the settlement agreement is a matter for state court. Id. at 382. To the extent that plaintiff's motion can be construed as a motion brought pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b)(6), the Ninth Circuit has held that the repudiation or "complete frustration" of a settlement agreement can be grounds to set aside a judgment. See Keeling v. Sheet Metal Workers Int'l, 937 F.2d 408, 410 (9th Cir. 1991). See also Kokkonen, 511 U.S. at 378 (distinguishing enforcement of a settlement agreement from reopening a dismissed suit because of breach of the agreement that was the basis for dismissal). Here, however, plaintiff has not demonstrated the repudiation or "complete frustration" of the settlement agreement. As noted above, it is undisputed that CDCR paid plaintiff $3,500.00. Moreover, plaintiff signed the stipulation with the understanding that CDCR was obligated to deduct amounts from the settlement to satisfy plaintiff's restitution obligations. In this regard, the stipulation filed in this case states:
Restitution: Plaintiff understands that the CDCR is obligated by California Penal Code section 2085.5 to collect any amounts owed by a prisoner under a restitution fine or order. Any restitution that is outstanding and any related administrative fines and fees will be deducted from the settlement amount agreed to above and the remainder will be paid to Plaintiff.
(Pl.'s Mot. to Re-open, Attach.) It is well established that only extraordinary circumstances justify relief under Rule 60(b)(6).See Keeling, 937 F.2d 410. Plaintiff has not shown that any such circumstances warrant relief here.
Also pending before the court is a motion to withdraw filed by plaintiff's appointed pro bono counsel. Counsel notes that the agreed upon scope of services by Morrison Foerster was limited to representation of plaintiff in the above-caption matter. Because this case has been dismissed, appointed counsel moves to withdraw. Based upon the materials submitted by counsel, the court will grant the motion to withdraw. See Local Rule 182(d).
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. Plaintiff's motion to reopen the case (Doc. No. 96) is denied. To the extent that plaintiff seeks enforcement of the settlement agreement, this order is without prejudice to any state court proceedings plaintiff may wish to initiate concerning the settlement agreement; and
2. The motion to withdraw as counsel (Doc. No. 99) is granted.
DATED: February 10, 2011.