Gilliam v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, No. 2:2016cv00255 - Document 13 (M.D. Fla. 2016)
Court Description: OPINION AND ORDER denying 12 Response construed as a motion for reconsideration. The deadline to file an amended motion and affidavit to proceed as an indigent based on a change in financial circumstances or pay the full filing fee is extended through January 27, 2017; and the deadline to file a Second Amended Complaint is extended through February 10, 2017. Signed by Judge John E. Steele on 12/29/2016. (RKR)
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Gilliam v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Doc. 13 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA FORT MYERS DIVISION EDWARD LEE GILLIAM, Plaintiff, v. Case No: 2:16-cv-255-FtM-99CM U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, Defendant. OPINION AND ORDER This matter comes before the Court on plaintiff's Response to Opinion and Order (Doc. #12) filed on December 27, 2016, and construed as a motion for reconsideration. For the reasons set forth herein, the motion is denied. On December 12, 2016, the Court issued an Opinion and Order (Doc. #11) noting that plaintiff’s Response to: Report and Recommendation (Doc. #10) was filed as an objection but that it appeared to be a proposed Amended Complaint. The Court found no objections to the finding that plaintiff did not qualify to proceed in forma pauperis, or the recommendation that the motion for appointment of counsel be denied, and accepted the recommendations of the magistrate judge. The Court directed plaintiff to pay the filing fee and to file a Second Amended Complaint. Dockets.Justia.com A non-final order may be revised at any time before the entry of a final judgment. Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b). The decision to grant a motion for reconsideration is within the sound discretion of the trial court and will only be granted to correct an abuse of discretion. Region 8 Forest Serv. Timber Purchasers Council v. Alcock, 993 F.2d 800, 806 (11th Cir. 1993). “The courts have delineated three major grounds justifying reconsideration of such a decision: (1) an intervening change in controlling law; (2) the availability of new evidence; (3) the need to correct clear error or prevent manifest injustice.” Sussman v. Salem, Saxon & Nielsen, P.A., 153 F.R.D. 689, 694 (M.D. Fla. 1994). Plaintiff seeks reconsideration arguing that objections were contained in his Response to: Report and Recommendation (Doc. #10) but not acknowledged or addressed by the Opinion and Order. More specifically, plaintiff refers to paragraph G, which provided that plaintiff was now only making $11 an hour with a 36 hour workweek and that he had depleted his retirement TSP account to pay attorney fees and to sustain reduced living conditions. (Doc. #10, p. 9.) Plaintiff is proceeding unrepresented in this case, and a review of the Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis and Financial Affidavit (Doc. #2) reflects this same salary. If plaintiff is asserting that he now qualifies to proceed in forma pauperis based on a change in financial circumstances, he may file an Affidavit to - 2 - that effect with a renewed motion before the deadline below to pay the filing fee. The motion for reconsideration based on paragraph G is denied. Plaintiff also refers to paragraph F providing that plaintiff was seeking an Administration appointment is (Doc. #10, p. 9.) committing of counsel criminal because violations the Veteran’s against him. A civil case must be “factually or legally so complex as to warrant the assistance of counsel”, Holt v. Ford, 862 F.2d 850, 853 (11th Cir. 1989), and the Court finds that plaintiff’s case fails to qualify for an appointment of counsel. Therefore, reconsideration based on paragraph F is denied. If plaintiff believes that criminal charges are appropriate, he must speak to the appropriate prosecutorial authorities as this is a civil case only. Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED: 1. Plaintiff's Response to Opinion and Order, construed as a motion for reconsideration (Doc. #12) is DENIED. 2. The deadline to file an amended motion and affidavit to proceed as an indigent based on a significant change in financial circumstances, or to pay the full filing fee, is extended through and including January 27, 2017. - 3 - 3. The deadline to file a Second Amended Complaint that incorporates all allegations and facts within a single document is extended through and including February 10, 2017. DONE and ORDERED at Fort Myers, Florida, this of December, 2016. Copies: Counsel of Record - 4 - 29th day
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