Opinion
CV-18-00414-PHX-JJT
07-09-2021
ORDER
HONORABLE JOHN J. TUCHI UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
At issue are pro se Plaintiff Richard Rynn's Motion to Set Aside Judgment (Doc. 82, Mot.), to which Defendants filed a Response (Doc. 86, Resp.); Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to File Another Copy of Motion to Set Aside Judgment (Doc. 84); and Plaintiff's Motion to Allow Electronic Filing by a Party Appearing Without an Attorney (Doc. 95).
Over two years ago, on November 6, 2018, the Court entered judgment dismissing Plaintiff's claims in this lawsuit with prejudice. (Docs. 71, 72.) Plaintiff now moves the Court to set aside its judgment for “fraud on the court” under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(d)(3), arguing that Defendants acted improperly in a subsequent lawsuit in state court leading to that court's dismissal of Plaintiff's subsequent claims.
Fraudulent conduct may rise to the level of fraud on this Court if it “harmed the integrity of the judicial process” in the resolution of Plaintiff's claims. See United States v. Estate of Stonehill, 660 F.3d 415, 443 (9th Cir. 2011). The Court agrees with Defendants (Resp. at 4) that misrepresentations in a separate, later state court proceeding—if they occurred—cannot constitute fraud on this Court in an earlier proceeding. For this reason, Plaintiff has not shown a fraud on this Court under Rule 60(b)(3) warranting relief from the Court's judgment in this action, and the Court must therefore deny Plaintiffs Motion to Set Aside Judgment (Doc. 82). As a result, the Court will deny as moot Plaintiffs two further Motions (Docs. 84, 95).
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED denying Plaintiffs Motion to Set Aside Judgment (Doc. 82).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED denying as moot Plaintiffs Motion for Leave to File Another Copy of Motion to Set Aside Judgment (Doc. 84).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED denying as moot Plaintiffs Motion to Allow Electronic Filing by a Party Appearing Without an Attorney (Doc. 95). This case remains closed.