STANLEY A. BOONE, Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This matter was referred to a United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(1)(B) and Local Rule 302.
This action proceeds on the original complaint. Plaintiff brings this action against Defendant J. Kelly, a Physician's Assistant at Avenal State Prison, where the events at issue occurred. Plaintiff also names as Defendants L. Zamora, D. McElroy, R. Chapnick and M. Boparai. Plaintiff claims that Defendants were deliberately indifferent to his serious medical needs in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Plaintiff also sets forth claims for conspiracy and violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).
On July 25, 2013, an order was entered, finding that the complaint stated a claim against Defendant J. Kelly for deliberate indifference to Plaintiff's serious medical needs in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Plaintiff failed to state a claim against any other Defendants or for conspiracy or violation of the ADA. Plaintiff was provided an opportunity to either file an amended complaint that cured the defects identified in the July 25, 2013 order, or notify the Court of his intention to proceed against Defendant Kelly only. On August 28, 2013, Plaintiff filed a notice indicating his willingness to proceed on the claims found to be cognizable by the Court on July 25, 2013.
Plaintiff chose not to file an amended complaint. Defendant Kelly was served, and filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). On August 24, 2015, findings and recommendations were entered, recommending that Defendant Kelly's motion to dismiss be denied. The Court also noted that because the July 25, 2013 screening order advised Plaintiff that if he chose to proceed only on the claims found to be cognizable, the remaining claims and Defendants would be dismissed. The Court therefore recommended that Defendant Kelly's motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) be denied, and that the remaining claims and Defendants be dismissed. On September 30, 2015, an order was entered by the District Judge, adopting the findings and recommendations and denying Defendant's motion to dismiss. On October 1, 2015, Plaintiff filed a motion for extension of time to file objections to the findings and recommendations. On October 8, 2015, Plaintiff filed objections to the findings and recommendations. Although titled as objections, Plaintiff seeks reconsideration of the July 25, 2013, screening order. On October 22, 2015, Defendant Kelly filed opposition to Plaintiff's request for reconsideration of the screening order. On October 28, 2015, Defendant Kelly filed a motion for extension of time in which to file an answer to the complaint. Defendant Kelly seeks an extension of 21 days from the date of resolution of Plaintiff's motion for reconsideration. On November 13, 2015, Plaintiff filed a motion for reconsideration (titled as a renewed motion for reconsideration) of the July 25, 2013, screening order.
Reconsideration is an "extraordinary remedy, to be used sparingly in the interests of finality and conservation of judicial resources."
Reconsideration is appropriate if the court: (1) is presented with newly discovered evidence: (2) has committed clear error or the initial decision was manifestly unjust; or (3) is presented with an intervening change in controlling law.
Rule 60(b)(6) allows the Court to relieve a party from an order for any reason that justifies relief. Rule 60(b)(6) "is to be used sparingly as an equitable remedy to prevent manifest injustice and is to be utilized only where extraordinary circumstances . . . exist."
"A motion for reconsideration should not be granted, absent highly unusual circumstances, unless the district court is presented with newly discovered evidence, committed clear error, or if there is an intervening change in controlling law."
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(c)(1), `[a] motion under Rule 60(b) must be made within a reasonable time . . . and no more than a year after the entry of judgment or the date of the proceeding." Plaintiff seeks reconsideration of an order entered on July 25, 2013. (ECF No. 11.) Plaintiff's request was not made within a reasonable time, and exceeds the one year time frame in Rule 60.
Further, Plaintiff agreed to proceed on the claims found to be cognizable in the screening order. When the Court entered the July 25, 2013, screening order, it offered Plaintiff the opportunity to either file an amended complaint or proceed on the claims found to be cognizable. On August 28, 2013, Plaintiff filed a notice, informing the Court of his willingness to proceed against Defendant Kelly on his Eighth Amendment claims only. (ECF No. 14.) Plaintiff argues that he did not have time to amend his complaint due to lack of law library resources. Plaintiff did not, however, seek an extension of time to file an amended complaint, or in any way put the Court on notice of the issue within the last two years.
The bulk of Plaintiff's motion for reconsideration is a recitation of the facts of the original complaint, which the Court held does not state a claim on Plaintiff's claims of conspiracy and violation of the Eighth Amendment against M. Boparai and L. Zamora. Plaintiff does not, however, identify any new facts or circumstances that warrant reconsideration of the July 25, 2013, order.
Defendant Kelly seeks an extension of time of twenty-one days from the date of service of the order regarding Plaintiff's motion for reconsideration to file an answer to the complaint. Good cause appearing, Defendant's motion is granted.
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
IT IS SO ORDERED.