Plain-English summary
Court: Rule 60(b)(6) still requires 'extraordinary circumstances' before reopening a final judgment to amend a complaint
The Court held that a party seeking to reopen a final judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b)(6) must meet the longstanding 'extraordinary circumstances' standard, and that standard does not loosen when the party wants to amend its complaint. The case was reversed and remanded to the Second Circuit.
Why this matters
This decision preserves a high hurdle for reopening final federal-court judgments. It prevents parties from evading finality by using Rule 60(b)(6) as an easy route to amend complaints after the judgment is entered. The ruling affects litigation strategy, finality of judgments, and how courts balance fairness to parties who seek relief against the public interest in ending disputes.
Who may feel it
- Civil litigants who want to amend complaints after a final judgment
- Defense and plaintiff-side trial lawyers
- Federal district and appellate courts managing post-judgment motions
- Anyone concerned with the finality and stability of civil judgments
Key questions
- Does Rule 60(b)(6)’s 'extraordinary circumstances' requirement apply with the same force when the movant seeks to reopen a final judgment in order to amend its complaint under Rule 15?