WILLIAM J. HAYNES, Jr., Senior District Judge.
Plaintiff, Frank J. Visconi, filed this
Plaintiff filed five motions to supplement his pleading (Docket Entry Nos. 4, 8, 10, 20, 54) that were granted, as well as a motion for leave to file supplemental pleading (Docket Entry No. 36) that was denied, although the Court stated that it would consider the information attached to this motion on the issue of the Court's jurisdiction in this action. Plaintiff filed a motion for summary judgment (Docket Entry No. 35) and Defendant filed a motion to dismiss, or in the alternative for summary judgment (Docket Entry No. 44). The Court concluded that the decisions of the BCNR and MMMA to deny Plaintiff's requests to amend his military records were based upon substantial evidence and were neither arbitrary nor capricious. (Docket Entry No. 58 at 15). Thus, the Court denied Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment, granted Defendant's motion to dismiss, and this action was dismissed with prejudice. (Docket Entry No. 59). Plaintiff appealed the Court's decision to the Sixth Circuit, and the Sixth Circuit affirmed the Court's judgment and noted that Plaintiff's fiduciary duty claim is outside the limited scope of review authorized under the APA. (Docket Entry No. 70).
Before the Court is Plaintiff's motion to vacate (Docket Entry No. 72) the Order denying Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment, granting the Defendant's motion to dismiss, and dismissing this action with prejudice. (Docket Entry No. 59). Plaintiff has filed seven motions to file supplementary briefs (Docket Entry Nos. 73, 74, 76, 81, 82, 83, 85), a motion for "summary judgment and/or default judgment" (Docket Entry No. 77), a motion requesting oral argument (Docket Entry No. 84), a praecipe (Docket Entry No. 86), and a motion to grant his motion to vacate (Docket Entry No. 87).
In his motion to vacate, Plaintiff refers to both Fed. R. Civ. P. 59 and Fed. R. Civ. P. 60. For relief under a Rule 59(e) motion to alter or amend, there must be "(1) a clear error of law; (2) newly discovered evidence; (3) an intervening change in controlling law; or (4) a need to prevent manifest injustice."
As to Rule 60, a court may relieve a party from a final judgment, order, or proceeding under Rule 60(b) where the moving party shows:
Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b). "A motion under Rule 60(b) must be made within a reasonable time—and for reasons (1), (2), and (3) no more than a year after the entry of the judgment or order . . . ." Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(c)(1).
Here, Plaintiff primarily cites new evidence under Rule 60(b)(2) as the basis for his motion to vacate. (Docket Entry No. 72 at 4-14; Docket Entry No. 73 at 2-4; Docket Entry No. 75 at 2; Docket Entry No. 79 at 5-6; Docket Entry No. 81 at 1; Docket Entry No. 82 at 1-4; Docket Entry No. 85 at 1). Plaintiff also cites Rule 60(b)(3) regarding fraud. (Docket Entry No. 74 at 1-4; Docket Entry No. 75 at 2). Yet, Plaintiff filed his motion to vacate approximately 2 years and 9 months after the Court entered its Order dismissing this action with prejudice.
Plaintiff contends that these time requirements should be equitably tolled because Plaintiff has continually communicated with the BCNR since before he filed the complaint in this action. (Docket Entry No. 72 at 3; Docket Entry No. 79 at 2; Docket Entry No. 86 at 3). Plaintiff also argues that the Court has discretion to "override" the timing requirements of Rule 60. (Docket Entry No. 84 at 3-4). Both of Plaintiff's arguments are mistaken. The Sixth Circuit has explained that, "[r]egardless of circumstances, no court can consider a motion brought under Rule 60(b)(1), (2), or (3) a year after judgment."
Plaintiff requests that some of the new evidence cited in his motion to vacate should also be considered under Rule 60(b)(6). (Docket Entry No. 74 at 1). Plaintiff has submitted documents reflecting that he was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star to the BCNR and to this Court. Plaintiff has also submitted a letter from Samuel Killeffer, addressed to the BCNR and dated July 9, 2012, that refuted the authenticity of these documents. (Docket Entry No. 72-7 at 1-4). Plaintiff argues, in essence, that Killeffer's letter is a "reason that justifies relief" under Rule 60(b)(6) because it improperly interfered with and sabotaged Plaintiff's BCNR claim. (Docket Entry No. 75 at 2; Docket Entry No. 76 at 2-5; Docket Entry No. 79 at 6-9).
Rule 60(b)(6) "applies only in exceptional or extraordinary circumstances which are not addressed by the first five numbered clauses of the Rule."
Here, Killeffer's letter is new evidence, and should be considered untimely under Rule 60(b)(2). As stated above, a party cannot avoid the time limitations for Rule 60(b) (1), (2), and (3), by merely invoking subsection (6).
Moreover, Plaintiff must demonstrate that he filed his motion for relief under Rule 60(b)(6) "within a reasonable time." Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(c)(1). The Sixth Circuit has explained that a "reasonable time" in this context "depends on the factual circumstances of each case, and a moving party must articulate a reasonable basis for delay."
Finally, Plaintiff contends that his motion to vacate is a "new case," separate from his action that was dismissed. (Docket Entry No. 84 at 2; Docket Entry No. 86 at 4; Docket Entry No. 87 at 1). Plaintiff is mistaken. Plaintiff's motion to vacate is a part of the case Plaintiff filed on October 2, 2012, (Docket Entry No. 1), that the Court dismissed with prejudice on June 7, 2013, (Docket Entry No. 59), and that the Sixth Circuit affirmed dismissal of on April 14, 2014, (Docket Entry No. 70).
For these reasons, the Court does not discern any factual or legal basis to set aside the Court's prior Memorandum and Order of dismissal. Accordingly, Plaintiff's motion to vacate (Docket Entry No. 72) should be denied and this action should be dismissed with prejudice.
An appropriate Order is filed herewith.