Gimbi v. Fairbank Capital Corp.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Gimbi v. Fairbank Capital Corp., 207 F. App'x 143 (3d Cir. 2006)

Gimbi v. Fairbank Capital Corp.

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

PER CURIAM.

Sharon Gimbi appeals the District Court’s order denying her motion filed pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 60(b). Gimbi filed the motion over four years after the District Court entered its order dismissing her complaint. The District Court dismissed the Rule 60(b) motion as untimely. Gimbi filed a timely notice of appeal. She has also filed a petition for a writ of mandamus.

We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. The denial of a Rule 60(b) motion is an appealable order; however, the scope of the appeal does not include the underlying judgment. Browder v. Director of Dep’t of Corrections, 434 U.S. 257, 263 n. 7, 98 S.Ct. 556, 54 L.Ed.2d 521 (1978). Disposition of a motion under Rule 60(b) is within the discretion of the District Court, and we review the ruling only for an abuse of that discretion. Hodge v. Hodge, 621 F.2d 590, 593 (3rd Cir. 1980). Under Rule 60(b), a party can seek relief from judgment based on the following reasons:

(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 (whether heretofore denominated intrinsic or extrinsic), misrepresentation, or other misconduct of an adverse party; (4) the judgment is void; (5) the judgment has been satisfied, released, or discharged, or a prior judgment upon which it is based has been reversed or otherwise vacated, or it is no longer equitable that the judgment should have prospective application; or (6) any other reason justifying relief from the operation of the judgment.

In her motion, Gimbi argued for relief under Rule 60(b) based on fraud and obstruction of justice. Rule 60(b) provides that a motion made under reason (3) may not be filed more than a year after the judgment. Gimbi’s Rule 60(b) motion was filed well beyond a year after the judgment. Thus, the District Court did not abuse its discretion in dismissing the motion.

Gimbi also argues on appeal that Judge Caputo should have recused himself because her expert witness is Michael Shemonsky. In March 2005, Judge Caputo entered an order recusing himself from any matter involving Shemonsky. However, Gimbi did not mention any involvement of Shemonsky in the Rule 60(b) motion or brief. Thus, the District Court was not given notice that this matter allegedly involved Shemonsky. Nor did Gimbi request that Judge Caputo recuse himself.

For the above reasons, as well as those set forth by the District Court, we will affirm the District Court’s judgment. Gimbi’s motion to file an expert report and her motion to stay inspection of the house are denied. Gimbi’s petition for a writ of mandamus is denied. Her motion to compel the District Court to convene a grand jury is denied. There is no federal right to require the government to initiate criminal proceedings. Linda R.S. v. Richard D., 410 U.S. 614, 619, 93 S.Ct. 1146, 35 L.Ed.2d 536 (1973); United States v. Berrigan, 482 F.2d 171, 173-74 (3d Cir. 1973).

Reference

Full Case Name
Sharon GIMBI; Clarence Gimbi, Appellants v. FAIRBANK CAPITAL CORP. in Re: Sharon Gimbi, Petitioner
Cited By
1 case
Status
Unpublished