Opinion
Case No. 2:04-CR-277-KJD-RJJ
04-24-2014
UNITED STATES, Plaintiff, v. JOSEPH COPPOLA, Defendant.
ORDER
Before the Court are Joseph Coppola's ("Defendant") identical Motions to Reconsider (##105, 106) and Defendant's Motion to Strike #107 Response to Motion (#111). The Government responded to the Motions to Reconsider (#107), and to the Motion to Strike (#112). Defendant has failed to timely reply to these responses.
I. Motion to Strike
Defendant argues that the Government's response to Defendant's Motions to Reconsider should be struck because Defendant did not timely receive a copy of the response. However, this Court's prior order remedied the situation by requiring the Government to serve a paper copy on Defendant, and granting Defendant an extended period in which to reply (#109). That time has now lapsed, and Defendant has failed to reply. Defendant has suffered no prejudice and offers no substantive grounds for striking the Government's response. Accordingly, Defendant's Motion to Strike is DENIED.
II. Motions to Reconsider
First, the Court notes that Motions to Reconsider ##105, 106 are identical, and therefore DENIES #106 as duplicative of #105.
A. Legal Standard
A court should be loathe to revisit its own decisions unless extraordinary circumstances show that its prior decision was clearly erroneous or would work a manifest injustice. Christianson v. Colt Indus. Operating Corp., 486 U.S. 800, 817 (1988). This principle is embodied in the law of the case doctrine, under which "a court is generally precluded from reconsidering an issue that [it] has already [] decided . . . ." United States v. Alexander, 106 F.3d 874, 876 (9th Cir. 1997) (quoting Thomas v. Bible, 983 F.2d 152, 154 (9th Cir. 1993)). Nonetheless, in certain limited circumstances, a court has discretion to reconsider its prior decisions. Rules 59(e) and Rule 60(b) permit a district court to reconsider and amend previous orders, but this is an "extraordinary remedy, to be used sparingly in the interests of finality and conservation of judicial resources." Kona Enter., Inc. v. Estate of Bishop, 229 F.3d 877, 890 (9th Cir. 2000) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Indeed, a district court should not grant a motion for reconsideration "absent highly unusual circumstances," meaning unless the court is (1) "presented with newly discovered evidence", (2) "committed clear error," or (3) "if there is an intervening change in the controlling law." 389 Orange St. Partners v. Arnold, 179 F.3d 656, 665 (9th Cir. 1999). A motion for reconsideration "may not be used to raise arguments or present evidence for the first time when they could reasonably have been raised earlier in the litigation." Kona Enter., 229 F.3d at 890 (emphasis in original). Mere dissatisfaction with the court's order, or belief that the court is wrong in its decision, is not grounds for reconsideration. Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp. v. Dunnahoo, 637 F.2d 1338, 1341 (9th Cir.1981).
B. Application
Defendant fails to allege newly discovered evidence. Defendant further fails to allege an intervening change in the controlling law. However, the Court will generously construe Defendant's motion as alleging clear error. However, for the reasons explained in this Court's prior order (#101), Defendant is incorrect.
Lastly, the Court notes that it explained to Defendant both why the Court cannot provide the requested relief, and provided some guidance to assist Defendant in seeking his property in that prior order (#101). This counsel was apparently ignored.
III. Conclusion
Accordingly, and for the above reasons, Defendant's Motion to Strike #107 Response to Motion (#111) is HEREBY DENIED. Further, Defendant's Motion for Reconsideration (#105) is HEREBY DENIED. Additionally, Defendant's Motion for Reconsideration (#106) is HEREBY DENIED as duplicative of #105, and as moot.
The Court further places Defendant on notice that continuing to file such meritless motions will result in restrictions on Defendant's future ability to file pleadings in this case.
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Kent J. Dawson
United States District Judge