BLACKBEAR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. v. YOUNGSTOWN PIPE & STEEL, LLC

Filing 121

MEMORANDUM OPINION re #88 MOTION to Reinstate Plaintiff's Complaint re #1 Complaint, filed by BLACKBEAR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. filed by BLACKBEAR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. Signed by Chief Judge Joy Flowers Conti on 7/13/17. (jp)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
)
BLACK BEAR ENERGY SERVICES, )
INC.
)
) Civil Action No. 15-50
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
v.
)
)
YOUNGSTOWN PIPE & STEEL, LLC )
d/b/a DNV ENERGY, LLC
)
)
Defendant and Counterclaimant. )

MEMORANDUM OPINION
CONTI, Chief District Judge.
Pending before the court is a motion to reinstate complaint filed by plaintiff Black Bear
Energy Services, Inc. (“plaintiff” or “Black Bear”), on April 20, 2017 (ECF No. 88). On May 19,
2017, defendant Youngstown Pipe & Steel, LLC (“defendant” or “YPS”) filed a response to
plaintiff’s motion (ECF No. 93). The court will deny plaintiff’s motion to reinstate the
complaint, because plaintiff does not cite to a specific rule to support its motion for
reinstatement, and the reasoning plaintiff provides in support of its motion does not meet the
standards for Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b), 59(e), or 54(b) or for the use of this court’s
inherent power.
I.

Background
Plaintiff, a Pennsylvania corporation, brought suit on January 13, 2015 against defendant,

an Ohio limited liability company. (ECF No. 1.) Plaintiff’s complaint alleges that it ordered
1

certain skid pipings from defendant (ECF No. 1 ¶ 8), which did not conform to the specifications
agreed upon by the parties. (ECF No. 1 ¶ 13.) Black Bear brought two counts in its complaint,
one count seeking remedy for breach of warranty pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code
(“UCC”) and the second count for breach of contract. (ECF No. 1.)
Due to an economic downturn in plaintiff’s industry and financial loss, Black Bear was
unable to pay its counsel to continue prosecuting its claims against YPS. (ECF No. 88 ¶ 2.) At a
status conference on June 29, 2016, plaintiff’s then-counsel represented to this court that plaintiff
had ceased doing business, surrendered its assets to its lender, and hired counsel to discuss the
possibility of filing for bankruptcy. (Minute Entry, 6/29/2016.) Plaintiff’s then-counsel also
stated that he would likely be filing a motion to withdraw shortly thereafter. Approximately three
months later, on September 19, 2016, counsel submitted a motion to withdraw as attorney for
Black Bear. (ECF No. 56.) On September 30, 2016, this court granted the motion to withdraw.
(ECF No. 59.)
Following the withdrawal of its counsel, this court ordered plaintiff to have new counsel
enter an appearance or show cause on or before November 2, 2016, as to why its claims should
not be dismissed for failure to prosecute. 1 (ECF No. 61.) Plaintiff failed to respond to this order.
On November 22, 2016, defendant filed a motion to dismiss for lack of prosecution. (ECF No.
68.) The court granted defendant’s motion and dismissed plaintiff’s claims without prejudice on
November 28, 2016. (ECF No. 71.) The denial was not on the merits of the claims plaintiff
wants to reinstate, and plaintiff may file another suit to pursue those claims.
On April 20, 2017, nearly five months after this court dismissed plaintiff’s claims,
plaintiff filed a motion to reinstate its complaint. (ECF No. 88.) Plaintiff claims that
1

Plaintiff is a corporation, and, therefore, could not proceed in this matter without counsel. See Simbraw, Inc. v.
United States, 367 F.2d 373, 374 (3d Cir. 1966).

2

reinstatement will cause no delay in litigating the matter, because YPS already answered the
complaint and recently joined additional defendants to the suit keeping “this matter open.” (ECF
No. 88 ¶ 10.) Defendant argues that the motion should be denied because plaintiff failed to
comply with the rules of this court and because plaintiff failed to meet the standards for a motion
to reconsider. (ECF No. 94.) Having been fully briefed, this matter is now ripe for disposition.
II.

Discussion
In its motion to reinstate the complaint, plaintiff cites no procedural rule under which this

court should consider its motion. As a preliminary matter, the court must determine whether a
procedural rule governs defendant’s motion. 2 “[T]he function of the motion, and not the caption,
dictates which Rule is applicable.” United States v. Fiorelli, 337 F.3d 282, 287–88 (3d Cir.
2003). Courts considering similar motions have applied Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b),
59(e), or 54(b), or considered the use of the court’s inherent power. While a motion for
reconsideration may be analyzed under any of these rules, each “has a particular purpose.” 3 Id.

2

The Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has warned of the risks of ambiguous motions which do not explicitly
invoke a particular Federal Rule of Civil Procedure:
This case illustrates the dangers of filing a self-styled “motion for reconsideration” that is not
described by any particular rule of federal civil procedure. Federal courts have construed this type
of motion as arising under either Rule 59(e) (motion to alter or amend the judgment) or Rule 60(b)
(relief from judgment for mistake or other reason). The two rules serve different purposes and
produce different consequences, both substantive and procedural. When the moving party fails to
specify the rule under which it makes a postjudgment motion, that party leaves the
characterization of the motion to the court's somewhat unenlightened guess, subject to the hazards
of the unsuccessful moving party losing the opportunity to present the merits underlying the
motion to an appellate court because of delay.

Sanders v. Clemco Indus., 862 F.2d 161, 168 (8th Cir. 1988) (citations omitted).
3
The Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has explained:
Rule 60(b) provides six bases for reconsideration, including “mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or
excusable neglect” . . . In contrast, Rule 59(e) permits the filing of a motion to alter or amend a
judgment. A motion under Rule 59(e) is a “device to relitigate the original issue” decided by the
district court, and used to allege legal error. Smith, 853 F.2d at 158–59 (citation omitted); see also
Ortho Pharm. Corp. v. Amgen, Inc., 887 F.2d 460, 463 (3d Cir.1989) . . . [A] Rule 60(b) motion

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at 288. The court will examine each of these rules, as well as the use of the court’s inherent
power, to determine which, if any, are applicable in this instance.

A. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b)
The court first considers whether plaintiff’s motion to reinstate the complaint should be
construed under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b). “Rule 60(b) allows a party to seek relief
from a final judgment, and request reopening of his case, under a limited set of
circumstances….” Atkinson v. Middlesex Cnty., 610 F. App’x 109, 112 (3d Cir. 2015) (quoting
Gonzalez v. Crosby, 545 U.S. 524, 528 (2005)). 4 Critically, Rule 60(b) “ ‘applies only to ‘final’
judgments and orders.’ ” Penn W. Assocs., Inc. v. Cohen, 371 F.3d 118, 125 (3d Cir. 2004)
(quoting Torres v. Chater, 125 F.3d 166, 168 (3d Cir. 1997)).
Here, plaintiff’s complaint was dismissed without prejudice on November 28, 2016.
(ECF No. 71.) “Ordinarily, an order dismissing a complaint without prejudice is not a final order

“may not be used as a substitute for an appeal, and that legal error, without more” does not warrant
relief under that provision . . . Smith, 853 F.2d at 158.
Id. at 288.
4
In accordance with the language of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b), the six bases for reconsideration are:
(1) mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect;
(2) newly discovered evidence that, with reasonable diligence, could not have been discovered in time
to move for a new trial under Rule 59(b);
(3) fraud (whether previously called intrinsic or extrinsic), misrepresentation, or misconduct by an
opposing party;
(4) the judgment is void;
(5) the judgment has been satisfied, released or discharged; it is based on an earlier judgment that has
been reversed or vacated; or applying it prospectively is no longer equitable; or
(6) any other reason that justifies relief.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b). Not included within the limited scope of Rule 60(b) is the use of the rule “as a substitute for,
or alternative to, appeal.” Hess v. Kunkle, 142 F. App'x 578, 580 (3d Cir. 2005) (citing Hill v. McDermott, Inc., 827
F.2d 1040, 1042 (5th Cir.1987)).

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unless the applicable statute of limitations would not permit the re-filing of the claims.” Core
Commc’ns, Inc. v. Verizon Pa., Inc., 493 F.3d 333, 337 (3d Cir. 2007). The Third Circuit Court
of Appeals recently explained:
While “an order dismissing a complaint without prejudice is not a final order as long as
the plaintiff may cure the deficiency and refile the complaint,” . . . “[t]his principle . . .
does not apply if the statute of limitations has run by the time the court orders dismissal
without prejudice” . . . After the statute of limitations has run, an unconditional dismissal
without prejudice is considered final.

Atkinson, 610 F. App’x at 111 (citations omitted).
The operative court order, issued on November 28, 2016, dismissed plaintiff’s complaint
without prejudice. (ECF No. 71.) In order to determine whether that order constitutes a final
order subject to Rule 60(b), the court must determine whether the statute of limitations on
plaintiff’s claims had run as of that date. See Atkinson, 610 F. App’x at 112 (“[W]e must
determine if the statute of limitations on Atkinson’s claims had expired as of May 31, 2011, the
date of the Dismissal Order.”). As of the date of this opinion the statute of limitations has not
run – i.e., December 2014 to June 2017 is less than four years.
Here, the order dismissing plaintiff’s complaint served to dismiss Black Bear’s entire
complaint against YPS. The complaint alleged a claim for breach of warranty pursuant to the
Uniform Commercial Code (“UCC”), as well as a state law breach of contract claim. The statute
of limitations for bringing a breach of warranty claim under the UCC, as adopted in
Pennsylvania and Ohio, is four years. 13 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2725; Ohio Rev. Code § 1302.98; see
U.C.C. § 2-725 (Am. Law Inst. & Unif. Law Comm’n 1977). The statute of limitations for a
breach of contract claim relating to contracts for sale under either Pennsylvania or Ohio law is

5

also four years. 5 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5525; Ohio Rev. Code § 1302.98. Under all operative
statutes, then, the statute of limitations for plaintiff’s claims is four years.
Plaintiff’s allegations concern conduct that occurred from in and around December 2014
to in and around January 2015. (ECF No. 1 ¶ 11.) As noted above, the court dismissed this
action without prejudice on November 28, 2016. (ECF No. 71.) Less than two years passed
between the time at which the alleged conduct took place and this court’s order dismissing Black
Bear’s claims. Because the court’s order was issued well before the expiration of the statutory
period of four years, the court’s order of dismissal without prejudice was not a “final order” for
purposes of Rule 60(b). See Atkinson, 610 F. App'x at 111; Brennan v. Kulick, 407 F.3d 603,
606 (3d Cir. 2005) (“[A]n order dismissing a complaint without prejudice is not a final and
appealable order . . . [unless] the statute of limitations has run by the time the court orders
dismissal without prejudice.”); Ahmed v. Dragovich, 297 F.3d 201, 207 (3d Cir. 2002) (“[A]n
order dismissing a complaint without prejudice is not a final order as long as the plaintiff may
cure the deficiency and refile the complaint.”). Relief pursuant to Rule 60(b) is, therefore,
unavailable in this matter, because the court’s order dismissing plaintiff’s complaint without
prejudice was not a final order, as required under Rule 60(b). See Penn West, 371 F.3d at 125
(holding that “relief is unavailable under Rule 60(b)” in the absence of a final order).
B. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e)
5

The parties provided the court with deficient briefing with respect to the place where the claim accrued. See GE
Med. Sys. v. Silverman, No. CIV. A. 96-4596, 1998 WL 54361, at *2 (E.D. Pa. Feb. 2, 1998) (quoting 42 Pa. Cons.
Stat. § 5521) (“The choice-of-law rule in Pennsylvania governing limitation periods is statutory and provides that
‘[t]he period of limitation applicable to a claim accruing outside this Commonwealth shall be either that provided or
prescribed by the law of the place where the claim accrued or by the law of this Commonwealth, whichever first
bars that claim.’ ”). The court, therefore, cannot presently determine whether Pennsylvania or Ohio law should be
applied for the purpose of establishing the appropriate statute of limitations for the breach of contract claim;
however, because both states have a four-year statute of limitations for breach of contract claims, as a practical
matter whether the court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s complaint is final for the purpose of Rule 60(b) is the same under
either state’s statute of limitations. Given that the court’s Rule 60(b) analysis will be the same no matter which
state’s statute of limitations period is applied, the court need not make a choice-of-law determination at this time.

6

Because the court’s order to dismiss did not constitute a final order, the court finds that
plaintiff’s motion for reinstatement of the complaint is properly treated as a motion for
reconsideration. U.S. ex rel. Streck v. Allergan, Inc., 288 F.R.D. 88, 91 (E.D. Pa. 2012). A
motion for reconsideration, or a motion to alter or amend a judgment under Rule 59(e), is a
“device to relitigate the original issue” decided by the district court and to allege legal error.
United States v. Fiorelli, 337 F.3d 282, 288 (3d Cir. 2003). Courts have construed motions
similar to Black Bear’s as Rule 59(e) motions “where [a] Plaintiff's motion for reconsideration of
the dismissal Order alleges no more than legal error.” Ali-X v. Power, Civ. Action No. 10-2990,
2014 WL 2435619, at *2 (D.N.J. May 29, 2014).
A Rule 59(e) motion “must be filed no later than 28 days after the entry of the judgment.”
Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e). This court’s order granting defendant’s motion to dismiss was entered on
November 28, 2016. (ECF No. 71.) Black Bear’s motion to reinstate the dismissed complaint
was not filed until April 20, 2017, nearly five months after this court granted the motion to
dismiss. (ECF No. 88.) Thus, plaintiff fails to satisfy the timing element of Rule 59(e) and
accordingly, relief is not available to plaintiff under a Rule 59(e) motion. 6
Even if the court were to analyze plaintiff’s motion to reinstate the complaint under the
standard for Rule 59(e) motions for reconsideration, plaintiff’s motion must nonetheless be
denied. The purpose of a motion to reconsider is “to correct manifest errors of law or fact or to
present newly discovered evidence.” Bootay v. KBR, Inc., 437 F.App’x 140, 146-47 (3d Cir.
2011) (citing Harsco Corp. v. Zlotnicki, 779 F.2d 906, 909 (3d Cir. 1985)). In order to be
6

Plaintiff’s claim was dismissed because plaintiff, a corporation, was not represented by counsel and a corporation
may not appear pro se in federal litigation. See Simbraw, Inc. v. United States, 367 F.2d 373, 374 (3d Cir. 1966).
Even were plaintiff permitted to proceed without counsel, no special consideration is to be given to a party that
attempts to navigate the complexities of the litigation process without designated counsel. McNeil v. United States,
508 U.S. 106, 113 (1993) (stating that the Court has “never suggested that procedural rules in ordinary civil
litigation should be interpreted so as to excuse mistakes by those who proceed without counsel”). “[E]xperience
teaches that strict adherence to the procedural requirements specified by the legislature is the best guarantee of
evenhanded administration of the law.” Mohasco Corp. v. Silver, 447 U.S. 807, 826 (1980).

7

successful on a motion for reconsideration, the movant must demonstrate a “definite and firm
conviction that a mistake has been committed,” or that the court overlooked arguments that were
previously made. United States v. Jasin, 292 F.Supp.2d 670, 676 (E.D. Pa. 2003). A motion for
reconsideration is “appropriate only where the court has misunderstood a party or where there
has been a significant change in law or facts since the court originally ruled.” Ray v. Ganoe, Civ.
Action No. 15-343, 2015 WL 8680582, at *5 (M.D. Pa. Nov. 10, 2015), report and
recommendation adopted, Civ. Action No. 15-343, 2015 WL 8536881 (M.D. Pa. Dec. 11, 2015).
By reason of the interest in finality, at least at the district court level, motions for reconsideration
should be sparingly granted. See Rottmund v. Cont’l Assurance Co., 813 F.Supp. 1104, 1107
(E.D. Pa. 1992); Teri Woods Pub., L.L.C. v. Williams, Civ. Action No. 12-04854, 2013 WL
6388560, at *1 (E.D. Pa. Dec. 6, 2013) (asserting that “[d]ue to the strong interest by the
judiciary in the finality of its decisions, the reconsideration of a court's judgment is an
extraordinary remedy, and therefore, should be granted sparingly.”). 7
There are three circumstances under which a court may grant a motion for
reconsideration: (1) there has been an intervening change in the law; (2) new evidence is now
available that was not available when the court entered judgment; or (3) there is a need to correct
a clear error of law or fact, or to prevent manifest injustice. Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e); Allah v. Ricci,
532 F.App’x 48, 51 (3d Cir. 2013) (citing Lazaridis v. Wehmer, 591 F.3d 666, 669 (3d Cir.
7

A motion for reconsideration is not to be used to relitigate or “rehash” issues the court already decided, or to ask a
district court to rethink a decision it, rightly or wrongly, already made. Williams v. City of Pittsburgh, 32 F.Supp.2d
236, 238 (W.D. Pa. 1998); Reich v. Compton, 834 F.Supp. 753, 755 (E.D. Pa. 1993), aff’d in part, rev’d in part, 57
F.3d 270 (3d Cir. 1995); Keyes v. Nat’l R.R. Passenger Corp., 766 F.Supp. 277, 280 (E.D. Pa. 1991). A motion for
reconsideration is not to be used as a way to advance additional arguments that the litigant could have made, but
chose not to make, sooner, or as an opportunity for a litigant, having lost, to change theories of the case and advance
new, often contradictory, evidence in support. Bell v. City of Phila., 275 F.App'x 157, 160 (3d Cir. 2008); Spence v.
City of Phila., 147 F.App’x 289, 291-92 (3d Cir. 2005); Bhatnagar v. Surrendra Overseas Ltd., 52 F.3d 1220, 1231
(3d Cir. 1995); Trenton v. Scott Paper Co., 832 F.2d 806, 810 (3d Cir. 1987); Miller v. Court of Common Pleas of
Erie Cnty., Civ. Action No. 12-206, 2014 WL 108585, at *2 (W.D. Pa. 2014). Motions for reconsideration are not
designed to provide litigants with a “second bite at the apple.” Bhatnagar, 52 F.3d at 1231.

8

2010)); Max’s Seafood Café v. Quinteros, 176 F.3d 669, 677 (3d Cir. 1999) (citing N. River Ins.
Co. v. CIGNA Reinsurance Co., 52 F.3d 1194, 1218 (3d Cir. 1995)).
Plaintiff does not meet any of the three grounds for granting a motion for reconsideration.
In support of its motion to reinstate the complaint, Black Bear cites “economic downturn in the
oil and gas market” and that it “became unable to pay for the legal representation necessary to
continue prosecuting its claims.” (ECF No. 88 ¶ 2.) These reasons are the only explanation
plaintiff offers for its failure to prosecute its claims against YPS. This justification does not meet
the standards for a motion to reconsider, as laid out by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
To begin, plaintiff fails to satisfy the first standard: that there has been an intervening
change in applicable law. Allah, 532 F.App’x at 51. Plaintiff did not cite, and the court is not
aware of, any intervening change in the controlling law.
Plaintiff also fails on the second standard. Plaintiff did not make the court aware of the
availability of any new evidence that would be relevant to the court’s prior decision to dismiss
plaintiff’s complaint for lack of prosecution. The only information presented in plaintiff’s
motion are Black Bear’s alleged economic hardship and inability to pay its former counsel. (ECF
No. 88 ¶ 2.) This information is not new to the court; in fact, Black Bear’s economic hardships
served as the basis for the motion to withdraw filed by plaintiff’s original counsel, which this
court granted on September 30, 2016. (ECF No. 59.) Plaintiff’s allegations of financial
difficulty, therefore, cannot be viewed as “new evidence” for purposes of a motion to reconsider,
because Black Bear’s economic troubles were known when plaintiff’s complaint was dismissed
on November 28, 2016. Plaintiff fails to “present [the court] with any competent proof of
material new facts which we must consider.” Ray v. Ganoe, Civ. Action No. 15-343, 2015 WL

9

8680582, at *5 (M.D. Pa. Nov. 10, 2015), report and recommendation adopted, Civ. Action No.
15-343, 2015 WL 8536881 (M.D. Pa. Dec. 11, 2015).
Plaintiff’s motion likewise fails under the third standard for a motion to reconsider.
Plaintiff failed to establish a need to correct a clear error of law or fact or to prevent manifest
injustice. According to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, “clear error [exists] if ‘after
reviewing the evidence, [the court is] left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has
been committed.’ ” Norristown Area Sch. Dist. v. F.C., 636 F. App'x 857, 861 n. 8 (3d Cir. 2016)
(quoting Oberti v. Bd. of Educ., 995 F.2d 1204, 1220 (3d Cir. 1993)). Here, plaintiff does not
allege any error of law or fact by this court in dismissing its claims for failure to prosecute. By
its own admission, Black Bear acknowledges that this court’s decision to dismiss plaintiff’s
complaint for failure to prosecute was a direct result of Black Bear’s own inaction. (ECF No. 88
¶ 7.)
Plaintiff fails to show that reconsideration would prevent manifest injustice. Manifest
injustice “[g]enerally [ ] means that the Court overlooked some dispositive factual or legal matter
that was presented to it.” Rose v. Alternative Ins. Works, LLC, Civ. Action No. 06-1818, 2007
WL 2533894, at *1 (D.N.J. Aug. 31, 2007). Manifest injustice has also been held to occur where
there is “ ‘an error in the trial court that is direct, obvious, and observable.’ ” Greene v. Virgin
Islands Water & Power Auth., Civ. Action No. 06-11, 2012 WL 4755061, at *2 (D.V.I. Oct. 5,
2012) (quoting Tenn. Prot. & Advocacy, Inc. v. Wells, 371 F.3d 342, 348 (6th Cir.2004). 8

8

The Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has not addressed a definitive standard for “manifest injustice.” See
Conway v. A.I. Dupont Hosp. for Children, Civ. Action No. 04–4862, 2009 WL 1492178, at *6 (E.D.Pa. May 26,
2009) (stating that there is “a dearth of case law within the Third Circuit” defining the term). But while “[t]here is
no judicial consensus regarding the meaning of the term ‘manifestly unjust’ as it pertains to a Rule 59(e) motion . . .
several courts have applied the Black's Law Dictionary definition, which states that ‘manifest injustice’ is an error in
the trial court that is direct, obvious, and observable, such as a defendant's guilty plea that is involuntary or that is
based on a plea agreement that the prosecution rescinds.” Von Kahle v. Roemmele (In re Roemmele), 466 B.R. 706,
712 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 2012) (citations omitted).

10

Manifest injustice is a high burden for any party to meet. Conway v. A.I. duPont Hosp.
for Children, Civ. Action No. 04-4862, 2009 WL 1492178, at *6 (E.D. Pa. May 26, 2009)
(quoting Curry v. Eaton Corp., Civ. Action No. 07–5, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 48551, at *43
(W.D. Ky. June 24, 2008)) (purporting that manifest injustice “implies that the Court must be
faced with a [record] so patently unfair and tainted that the error is manifestly clear to all who
view the record”); Shirlington Limousine & Transp., Inc. v. United States, 78 Fed. Cl. 27, 31
(2007) (quoting Pac. Gas & Elec. Co. v. United States, 74 Fed. Cl. 779, 785 (2006)) (“[w]here
reconsideration is sought due to manifest injustice, the moving party can only prevail if it
demonstrates that the injustice from the case is ‘apparent to the point of being indisputable’ ”). In
applying such a demanding standard, courts have consistently used a scrutinizing hand. 9
In Ray v. Ganoe, Civ. Action No. 15-343, 2015 WL 8680582, at *5 (M.D. Pa. Nov. 10,
2015), report and recommendation adopted, Civ. Action No. 15-343, 2015 WL 8536881 (M.D.
Pa. Dec. 11, 2015), the court dismissed the plaintiff’s complaint due to the plaintiff’s failure to
abide by filing deadlines despite explicit warning. The court denied the plaintiff’s motion to
reconsider, despite plaintiff’s declaration that he was ready to fulfill his litigation obligations. Id.
The court found that plaintiff failed to meet his burden in establishing a “threshold showing
necessary to gain rec0nsiedration [sic]” because plaintiff did “not [meet] his burden of showing
that the prior ruling, which rested in part upon [plaintiff’s] own choices ignoring filing deadlines,
resulted in a clear error of law or fact or a manifest injustice.” Id.

9

See Ali-X v. Power, Civ. Action No. 10-2990, 2014 WL 2435619, at *2 (D.N.J. May 29, 2014) (finding that the
plaintiff failed to show that reconsideration was necessary to prevent manifest injustice, despite the United States
Marshal’s failure to effect service on all defendants as ordered by the Court); Salten v. Cty. of Suffolk, Civ. Action
No. 08-5294, 2012 WL 3260266, at *1 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 6, 2012) (determining that the plaintiff’s incarceration and
lack of notice with respect to litigation conferences as reasons for his failure to prosecute constituted insufficient
justification for granting reconsideration in order to prevent manifest injustice); Devers v. N.Y. State Dep't of Corr
Serv's, Civ. Action No. 05-900F, 2011 WL 4829425, at *3 (W.D.N.Y. Oct. 12, 2011) (holding that the plaintiff
failed to illustrate a need to prevent manifest injustice by raising only his deteriorating medical condition and denied
requests for appointment of counsel).

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Here, the only “showing” Black Bear makes in its motion to reinstate the complaint is
that it previously suffered financial hardship, but is now able to retain counsel to prosecute its
claims. (ECF No. 88 ¶ 2, 9.) Nowhere in its motion does plaintiff allege that the court
overlooked any dispositive factual or legal matter presented to it, and plaintiff does not point to a
“direct, obvious, and observable” error. In re Rose, 2007 WL 2533894, at *7; Greene, WL
4755061 at *2. Like the plaintiff in Ray, Black Bear “neglected to litigate the claims which [it]
had brought,” despite this court’s order that Black Bear fulfill its obligations with respect to the
litigation it initiated. 10 WL 8680582 at *1. Now that plaintiff has hired new legal counsel to
pursue its claims, plaintiff seeks to relitigate issues it was previously provided a full and fair
opportunity to pursue, “something [plaintiff] is not permitted to do.” Id. at *5. Plaintiff concedes
that this case was dismissed due to its own inaction, specifically plaintiff’s failure to have new
counsel enter an appearance after its original attorney withdrew as counsel. (ECF No. 88 ¶ 7.)
Black Bear’s decision to now remedy its own neglect does not justify reconsideration under Rule
59(e) on the basis of preventing manifest injustice.
In fact, rather than producing injustice, preserving the original dismissal supports the
fairness of finality and protects defendant from “prejudice . . . because of . . . substantial delays
[plaintiff] brought in litigating the case.” Dively v. Seven Springs Farm, Inc., Civ. Action No.
10-126, 2012 WL 5818319, at *3 (W.D. Pa. Nov. 15, 2012) (denying plaintiff’s motion to
reinstate its complaint under Rule 60(b), because, in part, “[t]he underlying inability to move
litigation forward rests squarely on the shoulders of Plaintiffs' counsel, and is imputed to the
Plaintiffs,” who did not meet this burden). Allowing plaintiff to reinstate its claims does not
10

On October 5, 2016, this court ordered plaintiff to enter an appearance on or before November 2, 2016 or show
cause by that date as to why its claims should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute. Under that same order,
“failure to file a response showing cause on or before November 2, 2016, will be construed by the Court as
plaintiff’s consent to the dismissal of this action for failure to prosecute.” (ECF No. 61.) Plaintiff did not respond to
this order.

12

prevent manifest injustice, and instead derogates from the principle of “strict adherence to the
procedural requirements . . . [as] the best guarantee of evenhanded administration of the law.”
Mohasco Corp. v. Silver, 447 U.S. 807, 826 (1980). The court, therefore, concludes that
plaintiff’s assertion that the court should reinstate the complaint because plaintiff now has
counsel does not rise to the level of preventing manifest injustice.
Plaintiff failed to meet the timing requirement for a Rule 59(e) motion, and, in any event,
plaintiff’s explanations for its inaction fail to satisfy any of the three grounds for granting a
motion to reconsider. Accordingly, the court will deny plaintiff’s motion for reinstatement of the
complaint.
C. District Court’s Inherent Power and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b)
The court recognizes that “ ‘[s]o long as [[it] has jurisdiction over the case, it possesses
inherent power over interlocutory orders, and can reconsider them when it is consonant with
justice to do so.’ ” In re Anthanassious,418 F. App'x 91 (3d Cir.2011) (quoting United States v.
Jerry, 487 F.2d 600, 605 (3d Cir.1973)). This power is comparable to the authority recognized in
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b), which provides that “any order or other decision, however
designated, that adjudicates fewer than all the claims . . . may be revised at any time before the
entry of a judgment adjudicating all of the claims and all of the parties' rights and liabilities.”
Fed.R.Civ.P. 54. A trial judge “ ‘should exercise that discretion whenever it appears that a
previous ruling, even if ambiguous, might lead to an unjust result.’ ” In re Pharmacy Benefit
Managers Antitrust Litig., 582 F.3d 432, 438–39 (3d Cir.2009) (quoting Swietlowich v. Bucks
Cnty., 610 F.2d 1157, 1164 (3d Cir.1979)).
While “district courts have more discretion in reconsidering interlocutory orders than in
revising final judgments,” Foster v. Westchester Fire Ins. Co., Civ. Action No. 09-1459, 2012
13

WL 2402895, at *4 (W.D. Pa. June 26, 2012), the Third Circuit Court of Appeals has held that
“[t]he trial court must, of course, exercise this authority in a responsible way, both procedurally
and substantively,” and that “[e]ffective trial court management requires a presumption against
reconsideration of interlocutory decisions.” In re Anthanassious, 418 F. App'x at 96. Thus, courts
should exercise this inherent power with a “light hand.” See Foster, 2012 WL 2402895, at *4. In
discussing the scope of a district court’s discretion to reconsider an interlocutory decision, the
Third Circuit Court of Appeals has held that while “ ‘[a] court has the power to revisit prior
decisions of its own or of a coordinate court in any circumstance . . . as a rule courts should be
loathe to do so in the absence of extraordinary circumstances such as where the initial decision
was clearly erroneous and would make a manifest injustice.’ ” In re Pharmacy Benefit Managers,
582 F.3d at 439 (quoting Christianson v. Colt Indus. Operating Corp., 486 U.S. 800, 816 (1988))
While the three-part test for motions to reconsider under Rule 59(e) is distinct from the
court’s power to modify an interlocutory appeal pursuant to its inherent power or to Rule 54(b),
courts in this district have found that “[t]he ‘extraordinary circumstances’ enumerated by the
Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Pharmacy Benefit Managers align neatly with the three
categories . . . under which courts will grant motions for reconsideration under Federal Rule of
Civil Procedure 59(e).” Foster, 2012 WL 2402895, at *4. As discussed above, plaintiff’s request
to reinstate the complaint in this matter does not meet any of the three circumstances under
which a court may grant a motion for reconsideration. Furthermore, plaintiff’s argument that the
court should reinstate its complaint because its previous failure to respond to the court’s order to
obtain counsel was due to the fact that at that time plaintiff was unable to pay for legal
representation, but that now plaintiff is able to afford counsel, (ECF No. 88 ¶ 2), does not satisfy
“the high 'extraordinary circumstances' standard.” Barkley v. Ortiz, Civ. Action No. 01-4530,

14

2016 WL 4705450, at *3 (D.N.J. Sept. 8, 2016); see Dively, 2012 WL 5818319, at *4 (quoting
Budget Blinds, Inc., 536 F.3d at 255) (noting in the Rule 60(b) context that “ ‘extraordinary
circumstances rarely exist when a party seeks relief from a judgment that resulted from the
party's deliberate choices.’ ”).
For these reasons, plaintiff’s motion does not warrant this court departing from the
“presumption against reconsideration of interlocutory decisions.” In re Anthanassious, 418 F.
App'x at 96. The court, therefore, will not exercise its discretion to grant plaintiff’s motion under
its inherent power or under Rule 54(b).

III.

Conclusion
Plaintiff cannot reinstate its complaint under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b),

59(e), or 54(b), or pursuant to the court’s inherent power. Rule 60(b) is not applicable, because
this court’s November 28, 2016, order dismissing plaintiff’s claims for lack of prosecution does
not constitute a “final order” as required under Rule 60(b). Relief is similarly unavailable under
Rule 59(e), because plaintiff failed to meet the timing requirement of that rule. Furthermore,
even if relief were available under Rule 59(e), defendant’s motion does not fit within any of the
circumstances under which this court may grant such a motion. Finally, the court will not grant
relief under its inherent power or Rule 54(b), because plaintiff did not present the sort of
“extraordinary circumstances” that would justify this remedy. 11 Plaintiff’s motion to reinstate the
complaint will, therefore, be denied.
11

Should plaintiff wish to pursue its claims, the appropriate recourse is to file another suit before the expiration of
the statute of limitations period. See Wrobleski v. Acs, No. CV 2:14-0060, 2016 WL 397466, at *2 (W.D. Pa. Feb.
2, 2016) (denying plaintiff’s motion to reopen her case pursuant to Rule 60(b), while stating that the proper recourse
is to file another suit); Knutson v. Jacquez, No. C 09-05534 CW PR, 2011 WL 1196072, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 29,
2011) (explaining that “the dismissal of the amended complaint was without prejudice, which means the dismissal
does not in itself bar [the] [p]laintiff's filing a new suit on the same claims”); Aikens v. Ingram, No. 5:06-CV-185-D,
2008 WL 4831420, at *6 (E.D.N.C. Nov. 5, 2008), aff'd, 612 F.3d 285 (4th Cir. 2010), on reh'g en banc, 652 F.3d

15

An appropriate order will be entered.

Dated: July 13, 2017

/s/ Joy Flowers Conti
Joy Flowers Conti
Chief United States District Judge

496 (4th Cir. 2011), and aff'd, 652 F.3d 496 (4th Cir. 2011) (holding that although the plaintiff failed to meet the
standard required for Rule 60(b), he “may file a new action against [defendants] if he so desires.”).

16