Voss v. Valester ( 2014 )


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  •                              The district court has broad discretion in ruling on NRCP
    60(b) motions, and an order denying relief is reviewed for an abuse of
    discretion. Kahn v. Orme, 
    108 Nev. 510
    , 513, 
    835 P.2d 790
    , 792 (1992). A
    complaint may not be amended when a final judgment has been entered,
    unless that judgment is set aside or vacated in accordance with the rules
    of civil procedure.   SFPP, L.P. v. Second Judicial Dist. Court, 
    123 Nev. 608
    , 612, 
    173 P.3d 715
    , 717 (2007).
    Appellant argues that leave to amend should have been
    granted under liberal pleading rules. While leave to amend shall be freely
    given when justice requires, the trial judge retains discretion to deny a
    motion to amend.      Stephens v. S. Nev. Music Co., 
    89 Nev. 104
    , 105, 
    507 P.2d 138
    , 139 (1973). Here, the district court observed that leave to
    amend was only sought after the original complaint had been dismissed
    and the dismissal was affirmed on appeal, that the dismissal had not been
    otherwise set aside or vacated, and that appellant's NRCP 60(b) motion for
    relief was extremely untimely. Thus, we discern no abuse in the district
    court's exercise of its discretion. SFPP, L.P., 123 Nev. at 612, 
    173 P.3d at 717
    ; Kahn, 108 Nev. at 513, 
    835 P.2d at 792
    ; Connell v. Carl's Air
    Conditioning, 
    97 Nev. 436
    , 439, 
    634 P.2d 673
    , 675 (1981).
    Appellant also argues that the district court failed to consider
    NRCP 60(b)(5) in evaluating appellant's motion because the district
    court's judgment could not be construed as equitable. Appellant
    misconstrues this rule, which addresses equity with respect to an
    injunction's prospective application and does not provide general relief
    from inequitable judgments. NRCP 60(b)(5). This appeal and appellant's
    underlying case do not involve an injunction or any other basis for
    implicating NRCP 60(b)(5). Consequently, we conclude that the district
    SUPREME COURT
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    court did not abuse its discretion in declining to order relief under NRCP
    60(b)(5).   Kahn, 108 Nev. at 513, 
    835 P.2d at 792
    . Accordingly, we
    ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.'
    J.
    Parraguirre
    Saitta
    cc: Hon. Richard Wagner, District Judge
    Steven Floyd Voss
    Attorney General/Carson City
    Pershing County Clerk
    'We have considered appellant's other arguments, including
    appellant's argument regarding NRCP 60(a) and claim preclusion, and
    conclude that they do not warrant reversal.
    SUPREME COURT
    OF
    NEVADA
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Document Info

Docket Number: 63746

Filed Date: 6/12/2014

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 10/30/2014