MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER

EDWARD J. LODGE, District Judge.

INTRODUCTION

The Court has before it plaintiffs' "Verified Motion for Hearing to Determine the Court's Jurisdiction Pursuant to FRCP 60(b)(2)(3)(6)." See Dkt. 59. Additionally, defendant Tri-County Process Serving LLC has renewed its previously filed motion for attorneys' fees, which this Court denied without prejudice. See Dkts. 54, 62. Tri-County also requests entry of judgment. For the reasons explained below, the Court will deny all pending motions.

PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR RULE 60(b) RELIEF

This Court has dismissed all but one of the defendants in this action.1 See Feb. 18, 2011 Order, Dkt. 36; Aug. 12, 2011 Order, Dkt. 52. Plaintiffs seek relief from this Court's dismissal orders under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b).

Rule 60(b) allows a court to relieve a party from a final judgment, order or proceeding for various reasons, including the following:

Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b)(2), (3), and (6). Plaintiffs say they are entitled to Rule 60(b) relief for all these reasons, yet they have not specifically explained why this is so. Instead, they focus almost exclusively on their argument that the defendants wrongfully initiated foreclosure proceedings. Plaintiffs' ultimate goal is for this Court to conduct a hearing and require the defendants to prove who, if anyone, has the right to foreclose.

Plaintiffs' arguments are deficient for at least two reasons. First, they are not tethered to Rule 60(b). Second, they are foreclosed by the doctrine of res judicata. The Court previously dismissed Breinholt's claims under this doctrine because plaintiffs' claims have already been litigated in state court. The Breinholts cannot seek a different result here.

Plaintiffs have put forth two exhibits that post-date the state court foreclosure proceedings. See Exhibits A and B to Breinholt Aff., Dkts. 59-2, 59-3. These documents, however, are not the type of newly discovered evidence that suffices to upset the Court's previous dismissal order. Among other things, the exhibits have no bearing on the res judicata concerns that prompted dismissal of the Breinholt's action. Broadly speaking, plaintiffs offer these documents to support their argument that their property cannot be foreclosed upon. Again, this argument was litigated in state court, and cannot be re-litigated here. In sum, plaintiffs' request for Rule 60(b) relief lacks merit and will be denied.

TRI-COUNTY'S MOTION FOR ATTORNEYS' FEES AND ENTRY OF JUDGMENT

The Court will not direct entry of judgment at this time, however, because plaintiff is still pursuing a defendant in this action. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b) permits entry of a separate judgment in these situations, but only upon the Court's express determination "that there is no just reason for delay." Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b). Here, the Court is concerned that if it enters a separate judgment now, the appellate court might be burdened with separate appeals. The better course is to enter judgment only when this case is over as to all defendants.

The Court will deny defendant Tri-County's renewed attorneys' fee motion without prejudice. Tri-County first asked for attorneys' fees after the Court granted Tri-County's motions to dismiss. See Dkt. 54. The Court denied this motion without prejudice, but expressly warned plaintiffs that if they caused Tri-County to incur "further attorneys' fees in this action," through frivolous filings, the Court would grant Tri-County leave to file "second motions for attorneys fees." Dec. 6, 2011 Order, Dkt. 58, at 2 (emphasis added).

The Court was concerned with precisely what happened here — that plaintiffs might cause Tri-County to incur additional fees in the future. But Tri-County's motion does not indicate what additional fees have been incurred. Instead, Tri-County sets forth its pre-dismissal fees. The Court will therefore deny Tri-County's motion, but will again do so without prejudice. If Tri-County elects to renew its request for attorney's fees, it should set forth the costs incurred in defending plaintiffs' Rule 60(b) motion.

ORDER