KEEPERS INC v. CITY OF MILFORD (2019)

SUMMARY ORDER

Plaintiff-Appellant Keepers, Inc. appeals from the September 11, 2017 order of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut (Thompson, J.), denying its Rule 60(b) motion as barred by the one-year limitations period applicable to motions under Rule 60(b)(1). See Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(c)(1). Keepers, Inc. argues that the district court erred in not applying the “reasonable time” standard applicable to motions under Rule 60(b)(6). We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts, procedural history, and specification of issues for review.

We review a district court's ruling on a motion filed pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b) for abuse of discretion. In re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001, 741 F.3d 353, 357 (2d Cir. 2013). It is well settled that “we may affirm on any grounds for which there is a record sufficient to permit conclusions of law, including grounds not relied upon by the district court.” Chesley v. Union Carbide Corp., 927 F.2d 60, 68 (2d Cir. 1991) (internal quotation marks omitted).

A party seeking relief under Rule 60(b)(6) is required “to demonstrate that extraordinary circumstances warrant relief.” Stevens v. Miller, 676 F.3d 62, 67 (2d Cir. 2012) (internal quotation marks omitted). “[A] change in decisional law rarely constitutes the ‘extraordinary circumstances’ required to prevail on a Rule 60(b)(6) motion.” Id. at 69. Because Keepers, Inc. has failed to show such extraordinary circumstances under Rule 60(b)(6) and did not make its motion in the district court within a reasonable time, we affirm the district court's denial of its Rule 60(b) motion. We need not reach the merits of Keepers, Inc.’s argument regarding the effect of Reed v. Town of Gilbert, ––– U.S. ––––, 135 S. Ct. 2218, 192 L.Ed.2d 236 (2015), on this case. See S.E.C. v. McNulty, 137 F.3d 732, 741 (2d Cir. 1998) (“The appeal from the denial of a motion to vacate pursuant to Rule 60(b) brings up for review only the validity of that denial, not the merits of the underlying judgment itself.”); see also Matarese v. LeFevre, 801 F.2d 98, 106 (2d Cir. 1986).

We have considered the remainder of Keepers, Inc.’s arguments and find them to be without merit. Accordingly, we hereby AFFIRM the district court's order.