Brown v. Kyle, et al

Filing 54

ORDER denying 42 Motion for Reconsideration signed by Magistrate Judge Sandra M. Snyder on 6/10/2010. (Lundstrom, T)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Plaintiff Alfred Brown is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On August 21, 2009, Plaintiff filed a motion seeking leave to file a second amended complaint to request a court trial rather than a jury trial. The Court denied Plaintiff's motion on November 16, 2009, and December 9, 2009, Plaintiff filed a motion seeking reconsideration. Defendants Kyle and Domingo did not file a response. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 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. Harvest v. Castro, 531 F.3d 737, 749 (9th Cir. 2008) (internal quotations marks and citation omitted). The moving party "must demonstrate both injury and circumstances beyond his control . . . ." Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Further, Local Rule 230(j) requires, in relevant part, that Plaintiff show "what new or different facts or circumstances are claimed to exist which did not exist or were not shown upon such prior motion, or what other grounds exist for the motion," and "why the facts or circumstances were not shown at the time of the prior motion." 1 v. (Doc. 42) DAVID KYLE, et al., Defendants. / ALFRED BROWN, Plaintiff, CASE NO. 1:04-cv-06539-AWI-SMS PC ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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Plaintiff sought leave to amend to request a court trial rather than a jury trial, and his motion was denied, without prejudice, as futile in light of the fact that once a jury trial is demanded, trial must be by jury unless the parties stipulate to a nonjury trial. In his motion for reconsideration, Plaintiff argues that at the time he filed his motion, neither defendant had made an appearance and he was therefore entitled to amend once as a matter of right. Although Defendant Domingo filed an answer prior to the issuance of the Court's order, Plaintiff is correct that at the time he filed his motion, no defendant had appeared. However, the Court properly denied Plaintiff's motion on the ground of futility. See Montz v. Pilgrim Films & Television, Inc., No. 08-56954, 2010 WL 2197421, at *5 (9th Cir. Jun. 3, 2010) (citing Albrecht v. Lund, 845 F.2d 193, 195 (9th Cir. 1988)) (a district court may cut off a party's right to amend as a matter of course if amendment would be futile). Plaintiff's amended complaint does not contain a demand for trial by jury. (Doc. 17.) The right to a trial by jury must be preserved by making a demand, and unless a demand is properly filed and served, the right to a trial by jury is waived. Fed. R. Civ. P. 38(b),(d). Because Plaintiff waived his right to a jury trial, Plaintiff's desire to specify he wants a court trial serves no purpose. Further, and dispositive of the matter, once a jury trial has been properly demanded by any party, all parties must consent to its withdrawal and stipulate to a court trial. Fed. R. Civ. P. 38(d), 39(a)(1). Defendants Kyle and Domingo filed a timely demand for trial by jury, and as a result, this case must be tried by a jury unless all parties stipulate to a court trial. (Docs. 37, 46.) Allowing Plaintiff to file a second amended complaint stating that he wants a court trial would be futile. Accordingly, Plaintiff's motion for reconsideration, filed December 9, 2009, is HEREBY DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: icido3 June 10, 2010 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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