Renasant Bank Inc. v. Earth Resources of Franklin Co, et al

Filing

Opinion issued by court as to Appellants Earth Resources of Franklin County LLC and John F. Smithgall. Decision: Affirmed. Opinion type: Non-Published. Opinion method: Per Curiam. Motion for attorney's fees filed by Appellee Renasant Bank Inc. is DENIED. [8154861-3]; Motion to dismiss appeal as frivolous filed by Appellee Renasant Bank Inc. is DENIED. [8154861-2]. (See 09/06/2017 opinion)(CRW/BBM/RLA) The opinion is also available through the Court's Opinions page at this link http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions.

Case: 17-11419

Date Filed: 09/06/2017

Page: 1 of 2

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
________________________
No. 17-11419
Non-Argument Calendar
________________________
D.C. Docket No. 3:11-cv-00143-CDL
RENASANT BANK INC.,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
versus
EARTHRESOURCES OF FRANKLIN COUNTY LLC,
JOHN F. SMITHGALL,
Defendants - Appellants.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Middle District of Georgia
________________________
(September 6, 2017)
Before WILSON, MARTIN, and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:

Case: 17-11419

Date Filed: 09/06/2017

Page: 2 of 2

Renasant Bank sued EarthResources of Franklin County and John F.
Smithgall to enforce a promissory note and personal guaranty. The district court
entered judgment against EarthResources and Smithgall in 2013, and our court
affirmed. Renasant Bank, Inc. v. Earth Res. of Franklin Cty., LLC, 537 F. App’x
889 (11th Cir. 2013) (per curiam). In 2017, EarthResources and Smithgall,
pursuant to Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, filed with the
district court a motion for relief from final judgment and a motion to reopen
discovery. The district court denied the motions.
EarthResources and Smithgall now appeal, arguing that the district court
abused its discretion in denying the motions. After careful consideration of the
record and the parties’ briefs, however, we find no reversible error.
EarthResources and Smithgall have not “demonstrate[d] a justification so
compelling that the district court was required to vacate its” judgment. See Cano
v. Baker, 435 F.3d 1337, 1342 (11th Cir. 2006) (per curiam) (internal quotation
marks omitted) (discussing the “heavy” burden a party has on appeal when it is
challenging a district court’s denial of Rule 60(b) relief).
AFFIRMED. 1

1

Renasant’s motion for damages and costs for frivolous appeal is DENIED.
2