Free Motion to Alter Judgment - District Court of Colorado - Colorado

Case 1:01-cv-01451-REB-KLM

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Filed 10/10/2006

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO Judge Robert E. Blackburn

Civil Action No. 01-CV-1451-REB-PAC (Consolidated with Civil Action Nos. 01-CV-1472, 01-CV-1527, 01-CV-1616, 01-CV1799, 01-CV-1930, 01-CV-2083, 02-CV-333, 02-CV-374, 02-CV-507, 02-CV-658, 02CV-755, and 02-CV-798) In re QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC. SECURITIES LITIGATION

UNOPPOSED MOTION SEEKING RELIEF FROM JUDGMENT UNDER FED. R. CIV. P. 60(a) OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, TO ALTER OR AMEND JUDGMENT UNDER FED. R. CIV. P. 59(e)

Qwest Communications International Inc. ("Qwest") respectfully moves pursuant to FED. R. CIV. P. 60(a) to correct clerical errors in this Court's September 29, 2006, Partial Final Judgment And Order Of Partial Dismissal With Prejudice (#1050) ("Order Of Partial Dismissal With Prejudice") and its October 2, 2006 Judgment (#1057) ("Judgment").1 In the alternative, Qwest respectfully moves pursuant to FED. R. CIV. P.

Also on October 2, 2006, the Court entered parallel judgments in the following now deconsolidated cases: Stanton Disc Pharm, et al v. Qwest Comm Intl Inc, et al., 1:01-cv-1472-REB-PAC (#15); Barry, et al v. Qwest Comm Intl Inc, et al., 1:02-cv-507REB-PAC (#6); Brody, et al v. Qwest Comm Intl Inc, et al, 1:02-cv-374-REB-PAC (#13); Cline, et al v. Qwest Comm Intl Inc, et al, 1:01-cv-1799-REB-PAC (#8); Herbert S. Cohen Trust, et al v. Qwest Comm Intl Inc, et al, 1:02-cv-333-REB-PAC (#15); Grady, et al v. Qwest Comm Intl Inc, et al, 1:01-cv-1616 REB-PAC (#12); Stichting Pensioenfonds, ABP, v. Qwest Comm Intl Inc, et al, 1:04-cv-238-REB-PAC (#232); Tabacoff, et al v. Qwest Comm Intl Inc, et al, 1:02-cv-798-REB-PAC (#10); Tanner, et al v. Qwest Comm Intl Inc, et al, 1:01-cv-1930-REB-PAC (#6); Urquhart, et al v. Qwest Comm Intl Inc, et al, 1:01-cv-1527-REB-PAC (#15); Wollman, et al v. Qwest Comm

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59(e) to alter or amend the Order Of Partial Dismissal With Prejudice and the Judgment. In connection with the relief sought herein, Qwest also requests that this case be reopened and the pending stay be lifted, for the limited purpose of addressing this motion. In support of this motion, Qwest states as follows: 1. The Order Of Partial Dismissal With Prejudice expressly incorporates the

terms of the Settling Parties' Stipulation2 and dismisses "with prejudice and without costs" the Litigation against the Settling Defendants and Released Persons. See Order Of Partial Dismissal With Prejudice ¶¶ 1, 4 at 13. 2. Notwithstanding these provisions, the Order Of Partial Dismissal With

Prejudice also includes a paragraph providing "[t]hat judgment shall enter in favor of the plaintiff class as defined in this order and against the Settling Defendants, as that term is defined in the Stipulation, on the terms outlined in this order." See Order Of Partial Dismissal With Prejudice ¶ 19 at 19. The Judgment that the clerk subsequently entered on October 2, 2006 effectuated this provision, and judgment was entered "against" the Settling Defendants. 3. The Stipulation that the Settling Parties proposed for approval to this Court

did not contemplate that a judgment would be entered "in favor of the plaintiff class . . .

Intl Inc, 1:02-cv-755-REB-PAC (#11); Abdelnour, et al v. Qwest Comm Intl Inc, et al, 1:02-cv-658-REB-PAC (#10). For the reasons set forth in this motion, Qwest respectfully requests that the same correction be made to each of these judgments, except for Stichting Pensioenfonds, ABP, v. Qwest Comm Intl Inc, et al, 1:04-cv-238REB-PAC (#232), where no judgment of any kind should yet enter. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall be governed by the definitions contained in the Stipulation of Partial Settlement filed with the Court on November 23, 2005.
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and against the Settling Defendants." Rather, the Settling Parties proposed that the case be dismissed with prejudice. See, e.g., Stipulation at 6 ("It is hereby stipulated and agreed . . . that . . . the Litigation shall be dismissed with prejudice, as to all Settling Defendants, upon and subject to the terms and conditions of this Stipulation"). 4. Entry of an adverse judgment against the Settling Defendants conflicts

with the intent of the Settling Parties in reaching the Stipulation and is inconsistent with other provisions in the Order Of Partial Dismissal With Prejudice, including the Order's express incorporation of the terms of the Stipulation, and its dismissal of the Litigation with prejudice and without costs against the Settling Defendants and Released Persons. See Order Of Partial Dismissal With Prejudice ¶¶ 1, 4 at 13. 5. Qwest respectfully submits that the inclusion of Paragraph 19 of the Order

Of Partial Dismissal With Prejudice and the related provision in the Judgment constitute "[c]lerical mistakes" that the Court should correct pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(a). See In re Craddock, 149 F.3d 1249, 1254 (10 th Cir. 1998) ("[c]lerical mistakes in judgments, or orders may be corrected by the court at any time."). Clarifying that judgment was not entered "against the Settling Defendants" will resolve an ambiguity in the original order, more clearly reflect the Court's contemporaneous intent, and ensure that the Court's purpose is fully implemented. See In re Gledhill, 76 F.3d 1070, 1075 fn. 3 (10th Cir. 1996) ("[A] district court may also invoke Rule 60(a) to resolve an ambiguity in its original order to more clearly reflect it contemporaneous intent and ensure that the court's purpose is fully implemented."); Burton v. Johnson, 975 F.2d 690, 694 (10th Cir.1992) (same).

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6.

In the event this Court determines that these issues are not properly

characterized as "clerical mistakes," Qwest submits this motion, in the alternative, pursuant to FED . R. CIV. P. 59(e). The grounds "warranting a [Rule 59(e)] motion to reconsider include (1) an intervening change in the controlling law, (2) new evidence previously unavailable, and (3) the need to correct clear error or prevent manifest injustice. Thus, a motion for reconsideration is appropriate where the court has misapprehended the facts, a party's position, or the controlling law." Campfield v. State Farm Mut. Aut. Ins. Co., 2006 WL 2594702 (D. Colo. September 11, 2006) (Blackburn, J.) (Exhibit A); see also Sigala v. Hartford Underwriters Ins. Co., 2006 WL 1685250 (D. Colo. June 16, 2006) (Blackburn, J.) (Exhibit B) ("Fed.R.Civ.P. Rule 59(e) permits a court to correct errors of fact or law appearing on the record. To establish the grounds to alter or amend a judgment under this rule, the movant must clearly establish either a manifest error of law or fact or must present newly discovered evidence.") (internal citations omitted). Here, correction of the Order Of Partial Dismissal With Prejudice and the related provision in the Judgment is appropriate under Rule 59(e) to correct clear error or prevent manifest injustice ­ in agreeing to settle this case, the Settling Parties did not assent to have a judgment entered against them, they agreed only to have all claims dismissed with prejudice. 7. Pursuant to D.C.COLO.L.CIV.R. 7.1(A), undersigned counsel for Qwest

certify they have conferred with Lead Counsel, counsel for the Non-Settling Defendants, and counsel for the Individual Settling Defendants, and no party opposes this motion.

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WHEREFORE, Qwest respectfully requests that this Court substitute the following language for what is currently Paragraph 19 from the Partial Final Judgment And Order Of Partial Dismissal With Prejudice: "Pursuant to F ED.R.CIV.P. 54(b), it is hereby certified that (1) this is a final order, and (2) no just reason for delay of entry of judgment under the terms of the Stipulation exists. In connection with this certification, the Court specifically finds that the claims under review are separable from the others remaining to be adjudicated, that the nature of the claims already determined are such that no appellate court would have to decide the same issues more than once even if there were subsequent appeals, and that certification will facilitate the prompt distribution of the Settlement Fund to the Settlement Class Members. Accordingly, judgment shall be entered on the terms of the Stipulation." Qwest further requests that this Court modify the Judgment to conform with substituted Paragraph 19 from the Partial Final Judgment And Order Of Partial Dismissal With Prejudice. Qwest respectfully requests that this same correction be made for those cases identified in Footnote 1 of this motion, except for Stichting Pensioenfonds, ABP, v. Qwest Comm Intl Inc, et al., 1:04-cv-238-REB-PAC (#232), where no judgment of any kind should yet enter. Respectfully submitted, __/s/ Alfred P. Levitt_____________ Jonathan D. Schiller David Boyd Alfred Levitt BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER LLP 5301 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20015 Telephone: (202) 237-2727 Facsimile: (202) 237-6131 Terence C. Gill SHERMAN & HOWARD, L.L.C.

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633 Seventeenth Street, Suite 300 Denver, CO 80202 Telephone: (303) 297-2900 Facsimile: (303) 298-0940 Attorneys for Qwest Communications International Inc. DATED: October 10, 2006

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on this 10th day of October, 2006, a copy of the foregoing UNOPPOSED MOTION SEEKING RELIEF FROM JUDGMENT UNDER FED. R. CIV. P. 60(a) OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, TO ALTER OR AMEND JUDGMENT UNDER FED. R. CIV. P. 59(e) was electronically filed with the Clerk of the Court using the USDC CM/ECF system, which will send notification of such filing to the following e-mail addresses: X. Jay Alvarez [email protected] Counsel for Lead Plaintiffs Counsel for Defendants Arthur Andersen & Iwan Counsel for Plaintiff Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP Local Counsel for Lead Plaintiffs Counsel for Defendant Szeliga Counsel for Defendants Arthur Andersen & Iwan Counsel for Lead Plaintiffs Counsel for Defendant Woodruff Counsel for Defendants Arthur Andersen & Iwan Counsel for Defendant Woodruff

Timothy G. Atkeson

[email protected]

Michael J. Barry

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Jeffrey A. Berens

Terry W. Bird

[email protected]

Jessica Brody

[email protected]

Spencer A. Burkholz John K. Carroll

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Kwame A. Clement

[email protected]

David L. Cook

[email protected]

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Jennifer L. Coon

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Counsel for Defendant Szeliga Counsel for Plaintiff New Jersey Dept. of Treasury Counsel for Lead Plaintiffs Counsel for Defendant Szeliga Counsel for Defendant Smith Counsel for Lead Plaintiffs Counsel for Defendant J. Kozlowski in the SEC matter Local Counsel for Plaintiff Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP Local Counsel for Plaintiff Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP Counsel for Defendants Arthur Andersen & Iwan Local Counsel for Defendant Qwest Communications Int. Inc.

Merrill G. Davidoff

Michael J. Dowd

[email protected]

Mark T. Drooks

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]; [email protected]

Stephanie E. Dunn Thomas E. Egler

Kevin D. Evans

Clyde A. Faatz, Jr.

[email protected]

Christopher J. W. Forrest

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

John A. Freedman

Terence C. Gill

[email protected]

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Marcy M. Heronimus

[email protected] [email protected]

Local Counsel for Defendant Qwest Communications Int. Inc. Counsel for Defendants Anschutz & Slater Counsel for Defendants Anschutz & Slater Counsel for Defendants Arthur Andersen & Iwan Counsel for Defendant Casey Counsel for M. Schumacher Counsel for Defendant Szeliga

Michael J. Hofmann [email protected]

Kevin B. Huff

[email protected] [email protected]

Shelby Hunt

[email protected]

Richard Jacobson Gary M. Kramer Vincent J. Marella

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

David Meister

[email protected] Counsel for Defendant Woodruff [email protected] [email protected] Counsel for Defendant Woodruff Counsel for Defendant Smith Counsel for Defendant Mohebbi Counsel for Defendant Nacchio Counsel for Defendant Tempest Counsel for Plaintiff

James D. Miller Robert N. Miller

Barbara C. Moses

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Edward S. Nathan

James E. Nesland

Sharan Nirmul

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[email protected]

Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP Local Counsel for Plaintiff Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP Counsel for Defendants Arthur Andersen & Iwan Counsel for Defendant Woodruff Counsel for Defendant Szeliga Local Counsel for Defendant Nacchio Counsel for Defendants Arthur Andersen & Iwan Counsel for Defendant Mohebbi Counsel for Lead Plaintiffs Counsel for Defendants Arthur Andersen & Iwan Counsel for Defendant Tempest

Robin L. Nolan

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Elissa J. Preheim

Kimberly W. Price

[email protected]

Thomas V. Reichert [email protected] John M. Richilano Eric T. Rillorta [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Ashley Rupp

[email protected]

Scott Saham

[email protected]

Scott Schreiber

[email protected]

Paul H. Schwartz

David L. Schwarz

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Joel M. Silverstein Jeffrey A. Smith

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Counsel for Defendants Anschutz & Slater Counsel for Defendant Nacchio Counsel for Defendant Tempest

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Jeffrey Speiser

[email protected]

Counsel for Defendant Nacchio Counsel for Defendant Nacchio Counsel for Defendant Casey Counsel for Intervenor Plaintiff - The United States Dept. of Justice Counsel for Alvarado, Haines, Hellman, & Stephens

Herbert J. Stern

[email protected]

Michael Trager Kevin Traskos

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Jesus M. Vazquez, Jr.

and, I also certify that I have served same by depositing in the U.S. Mail, first-class postage prepaid, addressed to the following: Joe R. Whatley, Jr. Glen Connor Whatley Drake, LLC 2323 Second Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35202 Counsel for Plaintiff in ERISA matter Phone: 205.328.9576 Fax: 205.328.9669 [email protected] [email protected] C. Mylett PO Box 1031 Coleman, FL 33521 Plaintiff in Rogers, Mylett Matter William M. Rogers 606 S. Military Trail Deerfield Beach, FL 33442 Plaintiff in Rogers, Mylett Matter

/s/ Eileen Gould Eileen Gould

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