United States of America v. Cordes

Filing 33

ORDER Denying 25 Motion for Reconsideration, Striking 28 Response to Motion for Reconsideration, Denying 29 Motion for Leave to File, Cancelling Hearing, and Denying as Moot 30 Motion to Adjourn. Signed by District Judge Thomas L. Ludington. (Sandusky, K)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
NORTHERN DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,

Case No. 15-cv-10040

v

Honorable Thomas L. Ludington

JAMES C. CORDES and
CROSSING CONSULTING GROUP, LLC,
Defendants.
__________________________________________/
ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION, STRIKING RESPONSE TO
MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION, DENYING MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE,
CANCELLING HEARING, AND DENYING AS MOOT MOTION TO ADJOURN
On January 7, 2015, the United States filed suit against Defendant James Cordes (and,
later, against Crossing Consulting Group, LLC), seeking a judgment for his tax liabilities in the
amount of $3,245,374.48 plus statutory additions.

Because there is currently a parallel

proceeding in bankruptcy court addressing several of the same issues present in the instant case,
the Court stayed the proceedings pending resolution of certain related issues in the bankruptcy
proceeding.
On May 28, 2015, the United States filed a motion for reconsideration of the Court’s May
20, 2015 Order. In its motion for reconsideration, the United States request the Court to (1)
reconsider its decision to stay the proceedings; (2) appoint a receiver pendent lite; and (3)
reconsider consolidation of the case.

Because the United States has not identified a palpable

error in the Court’s May 20, 2015 Order, the motion for reconsideration will be denied.
I.

The Local Rules of the Eastern District of Michigan provide that any motion for
reconsideration must be filed within fourteen days after entry of the judgment or order. E.D.
Mich. L.R. 7.1(h)(1). No response to the motion or oral argument shall be allowed unless the
court orders otherwise. E.D. Mich. L.R. 7.1(h)(2). Pursuant to Rule 7.1(h)(3) “the court will not
grant motions for rehearing or reconsideration that merely present the same issues ruled upon by
the court, either expressly or by reason of implication.” E.D. Mich. L.R. 7.1(h)(3). In a motion
for reconsideration, the movant must demonstrate that the court and the parties were misled by a
“palpable defect.” E.D. Mich. L.R. 7.1(h)(3). A “palpable defect” is a defect that is obvious,
clear, unmistakable, manifest, or plain. Witzke v. Hiller, 972 F. Supp. 426, 427 (E.D. Mich.
1997). The movant must also show a palpable defect which, if corrected, would result in a
different disposition of the case. E.D. Mich. L.R. 7.1(h)(3). A motion for reconsideration is not
a vehicle to re-hash old arguments, or to proffer new arguments or evidence that the movant
could have presented earlier. Sault Ste. Marie v. Engler, 146 F.3d 367, 374 (6th Cir. 1998)
(motions under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e) “are aimed at re consideration not initial
consideration”) (citing FDIC v. World Universal Inc., 978 F.2d 10, 16 (1st Cir. 1992)).
II.
As noted above, the United States makes three requests in its motion for reconsideration:
(1) reconsider the decision to stay the proceedings; (2) appoint a receiver pendent lite; and (3)
reconsider consolidation of the case.
First, the United States requests that the case not be stayed because “if the Court stays the
District Court action, it is effectively postponing the suit to collect over $90,000 in recent
liabilities that Cordes does not claim were discharged while the parties litigate the
dischargeability of older tax liabilities.” Mot. Recons. 4. The United States represents that

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Defendants agreed with the request to lift the stay to the extent that the alter ego issue could be
decided. Id. at 10.
The United States has not, however, identified a palpable defect in the Court’s May 20,
2015 Order staying the case. Although the parties prefer to have two proceedings occurring
simultaneously, mere disagreement with the prior Order is insufficient to warrant
reconsideration. Because the United States has not identified a palpable defect in the decision to
stay the case, the request to lift the stay will be denied.
Second, the United States requests that a receiver pendent lite be appointed to manage the
collection of income and the disbursement of business expenses for Crossing Consulting. This
issue was not previously addressed or briefed; the United States raised it for the first time in its
motion for reconsideration. A motion for reconsideration is not an appropriate method to raise
new issues, and therefore this request will be denied.
Lastly, the United States requests that this Court consolidate the two proceedings
currently before the Court—United States v. Cordes (14-cv-10040) and In re Cordes (15-cv10727): “[T]he United States requests that the Court reconsider whether the relationship between
the issues before the District Court and Bankruptcy Court calls for consolidation and thus
overrides any interest in having bankruptcy courts determine dischargeability in run-of-the-mill
dischargeability cases.” Once again, however, the United States has not identified a palpable
defect in the prior Order, and disagreement with the prior Order is insufficient to prevail on a
motion for reconsideration. Therefore the request will be denied.
III.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the United States of America’s Motion for
Reconsideration (ECF No. 25) is DENIED.

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It is further ORDERED that Defendants’ Response to the Motion for Reconsideration
(ECF No. 28) is STRICKEN pursuant to Eastern District of Michigan Local Rule 7.1(h)(2).
It is further ORDERED that the United States of America’s Motion for Leave to File
(ECF No. 29) is DENIED.
It is further ORDERED that the July 2, 2015 motion hearing is CANCELLED.
It is further ORDERED that Defendants’ Motion to Adjourn the July 2, 2015 motion
hearing is DENIED AS MOOT.

s/Thomas L. Ludington
THOMAS L. LUDINGTON
United States District Judge
Dated: July 7, 2015

PROOF OF SERVICE
The undersigned certifies that a copy of the foregoing order was served
upon each attorney or party of record herein by electronic means or first
class U.S. mail on July 7, 2015.
s/Karri Sandusky
Karri Sandusky, Acting Case Manager

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