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Watt v. Roth

United States District Court, N.D. California, Oakland Division
Oct 21, 2008
No. C 05-05234 SBA (N.D. Cal. Oct. 21, 2008)

Opinion


TANIS JOCELYN WATT, Plaintiff, v. DAVID LEE ROTH, et al., Defendants. No. C 05-05234 SBA [Docket No. 38]. United States District Court, N.D. California, Oakland Division. October 21, 2008

          ORDER

          SAUNDRA BROWN ARMSTRONG, District Judge.

         Before the Court is plaintiff's Motion to Vacate Judgment according to FRCP 60(a) (b)(1, 2, 6) (the "Motion") [Document No. 38]. On July 10, 2006, the Court dismissed this matter as frivolous. Docket No. 12. It has a lengthy procedural history which the Court will not repeat here. On September 5, 2008, the Court ordered plaintiff to file a declaration as to (1) why she delayed for over a year in filing her motions to reopen; and (2) why she was unaware of the Court's dismissal of her matter. Docket No. 36. Plaintiff was warned if she failed to file the declaration or provide either explanation by September 19, 2008, the Court would deny her pending motions to set aside its prior dismissal. Id. Plaintiff failed to file a response, and on September 24, 2008, the Court denied her pending motions to vacate. Docket No. 37.

         On October 3, 2008, plaintiff filed the Motion before the Court. In it, plaintiff raises three issues. First, she claims she did not receive an e-mail or a copy of an e-mailed order dated September 5, 2008. Mot. at 1. The Court notes the docket shows the Clerk of the Court mailed both the September 5 and September 24, 2008 orders to plaintiff's Palo Alto address, which she provided to the Court as her correct address, on September 7, 2007. See Docket No. 20. There is no indication these items were undelivered by the Postal Service. Further, plaintiff, who is in propria persona, does not receive notices via e-mail, and was thus properly noticed by the Clerk via the United States Postal Service.

         Second, plaintiff declares that the Clerk of the Court incorrectly served her at the wrong address, from March through July 2008. Mot. at 1-2 & Exs. 108-12, 133. In its September 5, 2008 Order the Court explained in detail that the Clerk of Court directed notices pursuant to plaintiff's instructions. Docket No. 36 at 1-2. Any mis-directed mail was thus solely attributable to plaintiff's failure to update the Court with her current addresses.

         Finally, plaintiff declares she changed her Palo Alto mailing address, effective September 8, 2008. Mot. at 2 & Ex. 133. The Court notes, even if true, (1) the Clerk sent her the Court's first order on September 5, 2008; (2) if plaintiff completed the proper documents, the Postal Service would forward first-class mail to her new address; and (3) plaintiff did not notify the Clerk of her new address until October 3, 2008, via the Motion before the Court.

The remainder of the Motion is an attempt to argue the merits of plaintiff's complaint, which issue is not relevant to why she delayed prosecuting her matter. See Mot. at 3-5.

         In conclusion, the Court finds that plaintiff's assertions do not indicate that she failed to receive timely notice of the Court's September 5, 2008 Order. Further, the Court finds the assertions made in response to the Court's September 5, 2008 Order, are untimely. Even if deemed timely, however, they do not explain why she delayed for over a year to prosecute her matter or seek to vacate its dismissal. Accordingly, the Court DENIES plaintiff's Motion to Vacate Judgment according to FRCP 60(a) (b)(1, 2, 6) [Document No. 38].

         IT IS SO ORDERED.


Summaries of

Watt v. Roth

United States District Court, N.D. California, Oakland Division
Oct 21, 2008
No. C 05-05234 SBA (N.D. Cal. Oct. 21, 2008)
Case details for

Watt v. Roth

Case Details

Full title:TANIS JOCELYN WATT, Plaintiff, v. DAVID LEE ROTH, et al., Defendants

Court:United States District Court, N.D. California, Oakland Division

Date published: Oct 21, 2008

Citations

No. C 05-05234 SBA (N.D. Cal. Oct. 21, 2008)

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