Ericksen v. Kaplan Higher Education, LLC et al

Filing 72

MEMORANDUM ORDER DENYING 64 Motion to Vacate 62 Memorandum Order re Report and Recommendations. Signed by Judge Richard D. Bennett on 12/20/2016. (c/m)(hmls, Deputy Clerk)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
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KAREN ERICKSEN,
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Plaintiff,
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v.

Civil Action No. RDB-14-3106
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KAPLAN HIGHER EDUCATION, LLC, et al.,
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Defendants.
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MEMORANDUM ORDER
Plaintiff Karen Ericksen asks this Court to vacate its February 22, 2016 Order (“Order”)
(ECF No. 62) adopting Magistrate Judge Coulson’s Report and Recommendations (“R&R”)
(ECF No. 58) regarding plaintiff’s spoliation of certain evidence in this case. (“Plaintiff’s
Motion”) (ECF No. 64.) The parties’ submissions have been reviewed, and no hearing is
necessary. See Local Rule 105.6 (D. Md. 2016). For the reasons stated below, Plaintiff’s Motion
(ECF No. 64) is DENIED.
BACKGROUND
The facts giving rise to this matter are set forth in Judge Coulson’s R&R (ECF No. 58)
and supplemented in this Court’s Order (ECF No. 64).
STANDARD OF REVIEW
To support a motion for relief from an Order under Rule 60(b), the moving party must
show “timeliness, a meritorious defense, a lack of unfair prejudice to the opposing party, and
exceptional circumstances.” Hale v. Belton Assoc., Inc., 305 Fed. Appx. 987, 988 (4th Cir. 2009)

(quoting Dowell v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Auto. Ins. Co., 993 F.2d 46, 48 (4th Cir. 1993)). If these
threshold requirements are met, the moving party must then show: (1) mistake, inadvertence,
surprise, or excusable neglect; (2) newly discovered evidence which by due diligence could not
have been discovered in time to move for a new trial under Rule 59(b); (3) fraud,
misrepresentation or other misconduct of an adverse party; (4) the judgment is void; (5) the
judgment has been satisfied, released, or discharged; or (6) any other reason justifying relief from
the operation of the judgment. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b). The moving party “must clearly
establish the grounds therefore to the satisfaction of the district court,” and those grounds
“must be clearly substantiated by adequate proof.” In re Burnley, 988 F.2d 1, 3 (4th Cir. 1992)
(citations omitted). “Rule 60(b) provides extraordinary relief and may only be invoked under
‘exceptional circumstances.’” Mines v. United States, No. WMN-10-520, 2010 WL 1741375, at *2
(D. Md. April 28, 2010) (quoting Compton v. Alton Steamship Co., Inc., 608 F.2d 96, 102 (4th Cir.
1982)).
ANALYSIS
I.

Plaintiff’s Motion is Timely
Rule 60(c) provides that a “motion under Rule 60(b) must be made within a reasonable

time,” and specifies a one year limit on motions made on the basis of Rule 60(b)(1), (2), and (3).
This Court’s Order was issued on February 22, 2016. (ECF No. 62.) Plaintiff asserts that she
did not receive a copy of the Order and that she first became aware of the Order on March 22,
2016. (ECF No. 64 at ¶¶ 1-2.) Plaintiff filed her Motion the following day, March 23, 2016. As
fewer than thirty (30) days passed between the issuance of the court’s Order and the filing of
plaintiff’s Motion, the Motion was filed in a reasonable time and will be considered.

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II.

Plaintiff’s Motion Fails to State a Basis for Vacation of the Order
Plaintiff has not raised any persuasive arguments why she should be afforded relief based

on Rule 60(b). The arguments raised in plaintiff’s Motion merely seek to relitigate matters
already adjudicated by both Judge Coulson and the undersigned, and do not point to any
mistake, newly discovered evidence, fraud, or misconduct by Defendant so as to warrant relief
under Rule 60(b). See generally Pac. Ins. Co. v. Am. Nat. Fire Ins. Co., 148 F.3d 396, 403 (4th Cir.
1998) (stating that the procedurally related motion for reconsideration “may not be used to
relitigate old matters, or to raise arguments or present evidence that could have been raised prior
to” the court’s decision). In addition, while the Motion challenges the manner in which defense
counsel zealously advocated1 its position, the Motion fails to demonstrate any plausible
misconduct or fraud on the part of defendants which might entitle her to relief. In sum,
plaintiff has failed to demonstrate a basis for vacation of the Court’s Order adopting Judge
Coulson’s R&R. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s Motion must be DENIED.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, it is hereby ORDERED that plaintiff Karen Ericksen’s
Motion to Vacate (ECF No. 64) is DENIED.
Dated: December 20, 2016

_____/s/___________________
Richard D. Bennett
United States District Judge

See, e.g., ECF No. 64 at 5, 14 (“They have presented only documents that were created by themselves or
their Forensic Expert…”; “Defendant’s Counsel had no ‘good faith basis’ except for their own agenda.”).
This is not the first time that the Plaintiff has made allegations against attorneys in this case. She previously
had made accusations against her own counsel in a Request to Have The Court Intervene to File Motion or
Order to Stay Proceedings. (ECF No. 47.) See Response by Counsel (ECF No. 54.) This Court ultimately
granted the Motion of her counsel to withdraw. (ECF No. 55.) She has proceeded pro se since September 30,
2015.
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