Schiel-Leodoro v. Colvin
Filing
46
ORDER Granting 42 MOTION to Amend/Correct 41 Order on Motion for Attorney Fees. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Judge Lynch's Order granting Schiel-Leodoro's Motion for Attorney's Fees is STRICKEN as premature. Schiel-Leodoro's Motion for Attorney's Fees is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Schiel-Leodoro may resubmit her motion for attorney's fees upon completion of her appeal. Signed by Judge Dana L. Christensen on 10/31/2016. (APP, )
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MONTANA
MISSOULA DIVISION
CATHERINE SCIDEL-LEODORO,
CV 14-276-M-DLC-JCL
Plaintiff,
ORDER
vs.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
Commissioner of Social Security
Administration,
FILED
OCT 3 1 2016
Defendant.
Clerk, U.S District Court
District Of Montana
Missoula
Before the Court is Defendant Commissioner Carolyn Colvin' s
("Commissioner") motion, pursuant to Rule 60(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, to amend or correct United States Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C.
Lynch's order awarding Plaintiff Catherine Schiel-Leodora ("Schiel-Leodora")
attorney's fees pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)
(BAJA). Commissioner contends that: (1) Judge Lynch lacked authority to award
attorney's fees due to lack of consent from both parties, a prerequisite to exercise
jurisdiction; (2) Schiel-Leodora is not a "prevailing party" as required by statute
due to a pending appeal; and (3) the Commissioner's position was substantially
justified.
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BACKGROUND
The factual and procedural history of this case will be recited only as
relevant to explain the Court's reasoning. Schiel-Leodoro commenced this action
on December 1, 2014. On December 11, 2014, the parties were provided notice of
referral to a United States Magistrate Judge and advised of their right to consent to
exercise of jurisdiction. The record indicates that at least one party withheld
consent to the exercise of jurisdiction by a magistrate. 1
Judge Lynch issued his findings and recommendation on January 29, 2016,
recommending Schiel-Leodoro's motion for summary judgment be granted. On
February 28, 2016, Schiel-Leodoro moved for attorney's fees pursuant to the
EAJA. This Court adopted Judge Lynch's findings and recommendation in full,
granting Schiel-Leodoro's motion for summary judgment, on February 23, 2016.
Commissioner responded to Schiel-Leodoro's motion for attorney's fees on March
3, 2016, asserting that the motion was premature since no final judgment had been
1
The Court recognizes that the confidentiality of consent forms is essential to protecting
the voluntariness of the parties' consent. 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(2); Roell v. Withrow, 538 U.S. 580,
586 (2003). This is reflected in the District of Montana's local rules, which mandate anonymity
unless all parties consent. L.R. 73.l(a). Thus, the Court declines to investigate the actual
contents of the December 2014 consent form noted in the record, and relies on this Court's
previous order for the finding that consent was withheld or objected to by one or both parties.
(Doc. 7 at 1.) The Court notes that the local rules also prohibit disclosure by either party
regarding consent or lack thereof. L.R. 73. l(a). While Commissioner alleges that SchielLeodoro withheld consent (Doc. 42 at 2), the Court's resolution of the instant motion is not
affected in any manner by the apparent identity of the non-consenting party, but instead is based
only upon the determination that prior consent, explicit or inferred, did not exist.
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issued. Judgment was subsequently entered on March 8, 2016.
On March 9, 2016, Judge Lynch ordered Commissioner to respond to
Schiel-Leodoro's motion for attorney's fees on or before March 23, 2016.
Commissioner timely responded, asserting that Schiel-Leodoro's request for
attorney's fees was still premature because the appeals deadline had not yet run,
but also responded on the merits in compliance with Judge Lynch's order. SchielLeodoro filed a reply on April 5, 2016, but did not address Commissioner's
assertion of prematurity. On June 2, 2016, while her motion for attorney's fees
was pending, Schiel-Leodoro appealed a portion of this Court's order granting
summary judgment. Judge Lynch granted Schiel-Leodoro's motion for attorney's
fees on June 8, 2016, and Commissioner filed the instant motion to strike Judge
Lynch's order awarding attorney's fees on June 15, 2016.
JURISDICTION
I.
Notice of Appeal
The procedural history surrounding the filing of Commissioner's motion
presents the Court with two jurisdictional questions. First, "the filing of a notice
of appeal divests a district court of jurisdiction over those aspects of the case
involved in the appeal." Stein v. Wood, 127 F.3d 1187, 1189 (9th Cir. 1997).
However, as an exception to the general rule, "[a] district court may, for example,
retain jurisdiction to ... clarify its judgment pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 60( a),"
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and to decide Rule 60(b) motions after an appeal is taken. Id. (citing Huey v.
Teledyne, 608 F.2d 1234, 1237 (9th Cir. 1979), Morris v. Morgan Stanley & Co.,
942 F.2d 648, 654-55 (9th Cir. 1991), and Stone v. I.NS., 514 U.S. 386, 401-02
(1995)). More specifically, "[t]he district court retain[s] the power to award
attorneys' fees after the notice of appeal from the decision on the merits ha[ s] been
filed." Masalosalo v. Stonewall Ins. Co., 718 F.2d 955, 957 (9th Cir. 1983).
Plaintiffs notice of appeal did not concern attorney's fees, as they had not yet
been awarded. Therefore, this Court retains jurisdiction under Rule 60(b) to
review Judge Lynch's order granting attorney's fees even during the pendency of
the appeal.
II.
Consent Authority of the United States Magistrate Judge
With the consent of both parties, a magistrate judge may "conduct any or all
proceedings in a jury or nonjury civil matter" and "direct the entry of a judgment
of the district court" appealable to the United States court of appeals. 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(c)(l), (3); Roell v. Withrow, 538 U.S. 580, 585 (2003); see Fed. R. Civ. P.
73(b ). Absent consent, the magistrate judge may hear and determine any
nondispositive pretrial matter, and may hear and submit to the district judge
findings and recommendations for resolution of dispositive matters. 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b)(l)(B); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72.
Motions for attorney's fees have been likened to dispositive pretrial matters
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by the Ninth Circuit and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Estate of Conners
by Meredith v. O'Connor, 6 F.3d 656, 659 (9th Cir. 1993); Fed. R. Civ. P.
54(d)(2)(D). Absent consent, attorney's fees motions heard by a magistrate judge
are subject to de novo review by the district court. See Bernardi v. Yeutter, 951
F.2d 971, 973 (9th Cir. 1991). Conversely, consent of the parties confers the
authority to a magistrate judge to issue a final order awarding attorney's fees,
which is then directly appealable to the appropriate United States court of appeals.
28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(3).
While the court of appeals "ha[s] jurisdiction to determine whether [it] ha[s]
jurisdiction," a dispositive order from a magistrate judge, absent consent, is
lacking jurisdiction and is a legal nullity. Allen v. Meyer, 755 F.3d 866, 867, 868
(9th Cir. 2014) (citing Reynaga v. Cammisa, 971 F.2d 414, 417 (9th Cir. 1992)).
Such an error can be cured by de novo review and entry of an order by the district
court. 2 Estate of Conners, 6 F.3d at 659.
With regard to the form and timing of effective consent, the Montana
District's local rule provides that, upon referral to a magistrate judge, parties are
notified "that they may give or withhold consent," and served with a consent
2
While Estate of Conners predated the Federal Court Improvements Act of 1996, which
eliminated appeal to the district court of a magistrate judge's order in a§ 636(c) case, the Ninth
Circuit has subsequently cited this case for the proposition that § 636(b) cases do not give rise to
a final order, and thus do not divest the district court of jurisdiction. Durand v. Stonehouse
Court Assocs., LLC, 473 Fed. Appx. 667, 669 (9th Cir. 2012).
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election form which must be returned within 17 days of service, or consent is
deemed withheld. L.R. 73.l(c)-(d). The United States Supreme Court has also
recognized effective inferred consent where parties voluntarily try a case before a
magistrate judge and fail to object when that judge repeatedly indicates that he
believes both parties have consented. Roell, 538 U.S. at 591. In such
circumstances, inferred consent functions as a "waiver based on 'actions rather
than words,"' Wellness Int '! Network, Ltd. v. Sharif, 135 S. Ct. 1932, 1948 (2015)
(quoting Roell, 538 U.S. at 590), that prevents a party from belatedly asserting
lack of consent to defeat an unfavorable verdict.
Outside of these "limited, exceptional circumstances," the Ninth Circuit
maintains a general "stringent requirement" that litigants "clearly indicate their
consent." Anderson v. Woodcreek Venture, Ltd., 351F.3d911, 915 (9th Cir.
2003). Thus, consent must be voluntarily given prior to judgment, and retroactive
consent is not effective. Hajek v. Burlington N R.R. Co., 186 F .3d 1105, 1108
(9th Cir. 1999) (finding that express consent in appellate brief did not give rise to
a final judgment appealable to the Ninth Circuit).
Here, notice was provided to the parties about the consent requirement, and
at least one party withheld consent. (Docs. 6, 7.) Thus, this case proceeded under
28 U.S.C. § 636(b ), and Judge Lynch issued findings and recommendations for
review by this Court. (Doc. 26.) The record does not indicate that Judge Lynch
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ever inferred consent from both parties. Although Schiel-Leodoro attempts to
assert express consent in response to the instant motion, the Ninth Circuit was
clear in Hajek that retroactive consent is ineffective. (Doc. 43 at 4.)
Absent consent, this case remains within the purview of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b).
Under§ 636(b)(l), a magistrate judge's post-judgment order is not a final order
and is not directly appealable. Durand v. Stonehouse Court Assocs., LLC, 473
Fed. Appx. 667, 669 (9th Cir. 2012) (summarizing Estate of Conners, 6 F.3d at
658-659). Therefore, this Court is not divested of jurisdiction.
LEGAL STANDARD
Rule 60(b )(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides grounds for
relief from a final judgment under a limited set of circumstances "to prevent
manifest injustice." U.S. v. Alpine Land & Reservoir Co., 984 F.2d 1047, 1049
(9th Cir. 1993); see also Gonzalez v. Crosby, 545 U.S. 524, 528 (2005). "The rule
is to be utilized only where extraordinary circumstances prevented a party from
taking timely action to prevent or correct an erroneous judgment." Alpine Land,
984 F.2d at 1049. "Relief under Rule 60(b)(6) will not be granted unless the
moving party is able to show both injury and circumstances beyond its control
prevented timely action to protect its interest." Gardner v. Martino, 563 F.3d 981,
991 (9th Cir. 2009). The rule represents "an exception to finality," Gonzalez, 545
U.S. at 529, and "was not intended ... to afford a substitute for appeal."
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Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. v. Dunnahoo, 637 F.2d 1338, 1341-1342 (9th
Cir. 1981) (quoting Title v. United States, 263 F .2d 28, 31 (9th Cir. 1959)).
ANALYSIS
The Court notes that Commissioner failed to raise the issue of consent-to
prevent an erroneous judgment-at any time before the filing of the instant
motion. However, because Judge Lynch previously entered findings and
recommendations which were reviewed by this Court at the summary judgment
stage, the issue of consent was not foreseeable by Commissioner until the issuance
of Judge Lynch's June 8, 2016 order. Thus, this Court will proceed to consider
Commissioner's claims. 3
I.
Timeliness
The EAJA provides a means by which "a prevailing party" can recoup
attorney's fees incurred in a civil action against the United States. 28 U.S.C. §
2412(d)(l)(A)-(B). While "prevailing party" is not defined within the EAJA, it is
"a term of art" which has been interpreted to mean "'a party in whose favor a
judgment is rendered, regardless of the amount of damages awarded."' Klamath
Siskiyou Wild/ands Ctr. v. US. BLM, 589 F.3d 1027, 1030 (9th Cir. 2009)
(quoting Citizens for Better Forestry v. US. Forest Serv., 567 F .3d 1128, 1131
3
This Court also retains the authority to act sua sponte in any case referred to a
magistrate judge, pursuant to Local Rule 72.2(c).
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(9th Cir. 2009)). The statute further requires that the judgment be final, and
defines "final judgment" as "a judgment that is final and not appealable." 28
U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(G).
As explained by the Ninth Circuit, in the context of the BAJA, this means
that "the filing period begins after the appeal period runs" or the appeal is
completed. Hoa Hong Van v. Barnhart, 483 F.3d 600, 611-612 (9th Cir. 2007)
(quoting Adams v. SEC, 287F.3d183, 191 (D.C. Cir. 2002)). This unique
definition of final judgment stems from the concern that "applicants might be
compelled to file multiple, costly fee applications or file applications prior to when
the fees were fully ascertainable following the appellate proceedings." Id. at 606
(citing McDonald v. Schweiker, 726 F.2d 311, 314 (7th Cir. 1983)). Further,
before the appellate deadline or resolution of an appeal, a district court's judgment
is potentially "open to attack." Id. at 610 (quotingAl-Haribi v. INS, 284 F.3d
1080, 1084 (9th Cir. 2002) (citations omitted)). Thus, ajudgment is not final, and
a party cannot be said to have prevailed, until "any possibility" of attack on a
particular judgment is eliminated. Id. at 610.
Commissioner contends that Schiel-Leodoro was never a prevailing party
because this Court's judgment never became final within the meaning of the
BAJA. (Doc. 42 at 3.) Schiel-Leodoro's application for attorney's fees was
initially filed on February 18, 2016, after Judge Lynch issued his findings and
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recommendations. This was not a final judgment within the meaning of the EAJA
because, lacking consent of the parties, Judge Lynch did not exercise casedispositive authority, and the appeals deadline had not run. This prematurity was
not cured by this Court's February 23, 2016 order, nor by the entry of judgment by
the Clerk of Court on March 8, 2016, because the appeals deadline had not run.
28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(G). That deadline would have lapsed, and this Court's
judgment would have become final within the meaning of the EAJA, on May 9,
2016, but for Judge Lynch's grant of an extension of time to appeal to June 3,
2016. (Doc. 36; see F. R. App. P. 4(B) (providing 60 days within which to file a
notice of appeal when the government is a party)). Schiel-Leodoro then filed her
notice of appeal on June 2, 2016, which tolled the finality of this Court's judgment
for EAJA purposes pending the disposition of the appeal.
Schiel-Leodoro asserts that her appeal concerns only a narrow portion of
this Court's order, and thus does not impact her status as a prevailing party. (Doc.
43 at 5.) The Court finds that, while apparently proceeding under a mistaken
understanding regarding the definition of"finaljudgment," Schiel-Leodoro does
appear to have understood that filing an appeal would impact her eligibility for an
EAJA fee award, because she cited resolution of her motion for attorney's fees as
a reason to extend the appeals deadline. (Doc. 36.) However, in light of the
rationale behind the EAJA' s unique final judgment requirement, the substance of
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Schiel-Leodoro's appeal is immaterial. Judgment will be final, and attorney's fees
fully ascertainable, upon completion of Schiel-Leodoro's appeal, at which time the
EAJA application filing period will begin. Hoa Hong Van, 483 F.3d 600 at 606,
612.
Thus, because of the lack of consent to the exercise of jurisdiction by a
magistrate judge and the prematurity of the EAJA application, Commissioner has
demonstrated extraordinary circumstances beyond her control that provide
grounds for relief from judgment under Rule 60(b )(6).
Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that Commissioner's Motion to Amend or
Correct the Judgment pursuant to Rule 60(b) (Doc. 42) is GRANTED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Judge Lynch's Order granting SchielLeodoro's Motion for Attorney's Fees (Doc. 41) is STRICKEN as premature.
Schiel-Leodoro's Motion for Attorney's Fees (Doc. 27) is DENIED WITHOUT
PREJUDICE. Schiel-Leodoro may resubmit her motion for attorney's fees upon
completion of her appeal.
Dated this
3\ ~~ay of October, 201
Dana L. Christensen, Chief Judge
United States.District Court
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