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U.S. v. MASK OF KA-NEFER-NEFER, 4:11CV504 HEA. (2012)

Court: District Court, E.D. Missouri Number: infdco20120604711 Visitors: 1
Filed: May 30, 2012
Latest Update: May 30, 2012
Summary: OPINION, MEMORANDUM AND ORDER HENRY EDWARD AUTREY, District Judge. This matter is before the Court on Motion for Reconsideration of the Court's March 31, 2012 Memorandum and Order [ECF. No. 34] filed by Plaintiff The United States of America's ("the Government"). Claimant, St. Louis Art Museum ("Museum"), filed opposition to the motion [ECF No. 40], to which the Government filed a reply [ECF No. 42]. For the reasons set forth below, the Government's Motion to Reconsider is denied. Additionall
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OPINION, MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

HENRY EDWARD AUTREY, District Judge.

This matter is before the Court on Motion for Reconsideration of the Court's March 31, 2012 Memorandum and Order [ECF. No. 34] filed by Plaintiff The United States of America's ("the Government"). Claimant, St. Louis Art Museum ("Museum"), filed opposition to the motion [ECF No. 40], to which the Government filed a reply [ECF No. 42]. For the reasons set forth below, the Government's Motion to Reconsider is denied. Additionally, the Government has filed a Motion to Clarify Orders and to Extend Time for Filing Notice of Appeal [ECF No. 44] which Motion will be denied in part, and granted in part.

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure "do not mention motions for reconsideration." Broadway v. Norris, 193 F.3d 987, 989 (8th Cir.1999). "Rule 59(e) permits a court to alter or amend a judgment, but it `may not be used to relitigate old matters, or to raise arguments or present evidence that could have been raised prior to the entry of judgment.' 11 C. Wright & A. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 2810.1, pp. 127-128 (2d ed.1995) (footnotes omitted)." Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker, ___ U.S. ___, 128 S.Ct. 2605, 2617, n. 5 (2008). Rule 59(e) was adopted to clarify that "the district court possesses the power to rectify its own mistakes in the period immediately following the entry of judgment." White v. New Hampshire Dep't of Employment Sec., 455 U.S. 445, 450, 102 S.Ct. 1162, 71 L.Ed.2d 325 (1982) (internal quotations omitted). Moreover, "Rule 59(e) motions serve the limited function of correcting manifest errors of law or fact or to present newly discovered evidence." Innovative Home Health Care, Inc. v. P.T .-O.T. Assocs. of the Black Hills, 141 F.3d 1284, 1286 (8th Cir.1998), (internal punctuation and citations omitted). "Such motions cannot be used to introduce new evidence, tender new legal theories, or raise arguments which could have been offered or raised prior to entry of judgment." United States v. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer Dist., 440 F.3d 930, 933 (8th Cir.2006) (quoting Innovative Home Health Care, 141 F.3d at 1286)).

In its Motion, the Government argues that the Court wrongly held it to an inappropriately high burden with regard to 19 U.S.C. § 1595a and whether the artifact was "stolen." The analysis this Court employed in its March 31, 2012 ruling is the same analysis other courts have applied to facts similar to those presented here. The Government has presented nothing new, nor has it pointed the Court to any severe mistake so as to establish manifest error. This Court's rational was plainly articulated in finding that the Government was not entitled to relief. Upon contemplation and review of the matters asserted in the motion, the Court will deny Defendants' Motion to Reconsider.

Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Government's Motion for Reconsideration of the Court's March 31, 2012 Memorandum and Order [ECF. No. 34] is DENIED.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Claimant St. Louis Art Museum's Motion for Leave to File Sur-Reply in Opposition to the Government's Motion to Reconsider Order and Opinion Dismissing Verified Complaint [ECF No. 40] is DENIED as moot.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Government's Motion to Clarify Orders [ECF No. 44] is DENIED.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that The Government's Motion to Extend Time for Filing Notice of Appeal [ECF No. 44] is GRANTED.

Source:  Leagle

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