Batchelder v. Astrue

Filing 22

MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER denying 21 Motion to Reconsider/Motion for Attorney Fees. Signed by U.S. District Judge Mae A. D'Agostino on 5/30/13. (ban)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
____________________________________________
MARIANN BATCHELDER,
Plaintiff,
vs.

10-CV-00267
(MAD)

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, Commissioner of
Social Security,
Defendant.
____________________________________________
APPEARANCES:

OF COUNSEL:

OFFICE OF STEPHEN J. MASTAITIS
1412 State Route 9P
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
Attorney for Plaintiff

Stephen J. Mastaitis, Esq.

Social Security Administration
Office of Regional Counsel
Region II
26 Federal Plaza - Room 3904
New York, New York 10278
Attorney for Defendant

Michelle L. Christ, Esq.
Special Asst. U.S. Attorney

Mae A. D’Agostino, U.S. District Judge:
MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER
I.

INTRODUCTION
Plaintiff Mariann Batchelder commenced the above-captioned action pursuant to 42

U.S.C. § 405(g) seeking a review of the Commissioner of Social Security’s decision to deny her
application for disability insurance benefits (“DIB”) and supplemental social security income
(“SSI”). Familiarity with the background and procedural history in the case is assumed based on
this Court’s previous Orders. The factual and procedural background of the present action was
fully set forth in the Court's prior Memorandum–Decisions and Orders and will not be repeated

herein. Presently before the Court is plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration of this Court’s prior
Memorandum-Decision and Order (“MDO”) (Dkt. No. 20). (Dkt. No. 21).
II.

DISCUSSION
Plaintiff argues that reconsideration of the prior MDO is necessary but plaintiff does not

articulate whether the motion is made pursuant to N.D.N.Y.L.R. 7.1(g) or Rule 60(b).1 The
standards for motions to vacate under local district court rules are very similar to those used for
motions to reconsider under Rule 60(b). See McAnaney v. Astoria Fin. Corp., 2008 WL 222524
(E.D.N.Y. 2008) (discussing cases). Relief under Rule 60 is considered “extraordinary judicial
relief.” Nemaizer v. Baker, 793 F.2d 58, 61 (2d Cir.1986). For that reason, the motion will
generally be denied unless the moving party or parties can show that the court overlooked facts or
controlling law that “might reasonably be expected to alter the conclusion reached by the court.”
Shrader v. CSX Transp., Inc., 70 F.3d 255, 257 (2d Cir. 1995) (citations omitted). Generally, “[a]
court may justifiably reconsider its previous ruling if: (1) there is an intervening change in
controlling law; (2) new evidence not previously available comes to light; or (3) it becomes
necessary to remedy a clear error of law or to prevent manifest injustice.” Delaney v. Selsky, 899
F.Supp. 923, 925 (N.D.N.Y.1995). Motions to vacate or to reconsider should not be granted if a
moving party seeks only to relitigate an issue that has already been fully considered by the court.
Id. at 257. “In general, ‘[t]he standard for granting [a motion for reconsideration] is strict, and
reconsideration will generally be denied unless the moving party can point to controlling
decisions or data that the court overlooked-matters, in other words, that might reasonably be
expected to alter the conclusion reached by the court’ ”. Rispler v. Sol Spitz Co., Inc., 2006 WL

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Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure applies to final judgments and orders. Makas v. New
York State Dep’t of Motor Vehicles, 1998 WL 219588, at *1 (N.D.N.Y. 1998).
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3050885, at *1 (E.D.N.Y. 2006) (the defendants asked that the court excuse their inability to
comply with court ordered deadline simply because they were unaware of it) (citing Shrader, Inc.,
70 F.3d at 257); see also Friedman v. State Univ. of New York at Binghamton, 2006 WL 2882980
*4 (N.D.N.Y. 2006) (“law office failure in the face of clearly established ... deadlines, . . , rarely
constitutes excusable neglect”).
Plaintiff fails to cite to any caselaw or authority for the relief sought herein and has not
met the burden of establishing that she is entitled to any relief under Rule 60 or this court’s local
rules. Counsel offers no new facts or changes in law to support a motion for reconsideration.
While counsel now submits several explanations for the untimely application for EAJA fees,
counsel failed to communicate these explanations to the Court with the original application. The
Court does not question the validity of counsel's statement, however, counsel was aware of the
filing deadlines for the application for EAJA and the responsibility to comply with filing dates
lies with the attorney. Nothing in the within motion papers establishes extraordinary
circumstances warranting the relief sought herein. Accordingly, plaintiff's request to reconsider is
DENIED.
III.

CONCLUSION
It is hereby
ORDERED, that plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration of this Court’s prior Order (Dkt.

No. 21) is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: May 30, 2013
Albany, New York

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