“Affording dispositive weight to [the third] factor accords with our precedents, which have described the reason for the delay as the most important Pioneer factor”
How later courts described this case
- “Affording dispositive weight to [the third] factor accords with our precedents, which have described the reason for the delay as the most important Pioneer factor”
- noting that the Second Circuit has applied Pioneer’s definition of excusable neglect beyond the bankruptcy context, including to Rule 60(b)(1)
- failure to act with diligence is not excusable neglect
- “As a pro se plaintiff, [movant] is entitled to liberal construction of his pleadings and briefs.”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT NOT FOR PUBLICATION
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
---------------------------------------------------------------x
In re: :
:
Mack McKinley Hunt, III, : Case No. 25-11694 (JPM)
: Chapter 7
Debtor. :
---------------------------------------------------------------x
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER DENYING
MOTION TO VACATE ORDER DISMISSING CHAPTER 7 CASE
A P P E A R A N C E S :
MACK MCKINLEY HUNT, III
Pro Se Debtor
1990 Lexington Ave., Apt. 26B
New York, NY 10035
UNITED STATES TRUSTEE
Alexander Hamilton Custom House
One Bowling Green, Room 534
New York, NY 10004-1408
By: Andrea Schwartz
HON. JAMES L. GARRITY, JR.
U.S. BANKRUPTCY JUDGE
INTRODUCTION1
Mack McKinley Hunt III (“Movant”) formerly was a pro se chapter 7 debtor herein. On
November 6, 2025, the Court issued an order (the “Dismissal Order”)2 granting the United States
Trustee’s (the “UST”) unopposed motion to dismiss the case (the “Motion to Dismiss”).3 The
1 Capitalized terms have the meanings ascribed to them herein. References to “ECF No. __” are references to
documents filed on the electronic docket in the Chapter 7 Case, No. 25-11694.
2 Order Dismissing Chapter 7 Case, ECF No. 21.
3 Motion for (1) Dismissal of Chapter 7 Case, or, Alternatively, (2) Directing Debtor to Appear at Meeting of
Creditors and Extending Time to Object to Debtor’s Discharge and Dischargeability of Debts, ECF No. 12.
matter before the Court is Movant’s motion pursuant to Rule 60(b)(1) and (6) of the Federal Rules
of Civil Procedure (“Rule 60”)4 to vacate the Dismissal Order, reinstate Movant’s bankruptcy case
(the “Chapter 7 Case”), and restore the automatic stay (the “Amended Motion” or “Am. Mot.”).5
Movant filed a declaration in support of the Amended Motion.6 Movant also requests the Court to
waive or defer payment of the reopening fee. The UST filed an objection to the Amended Motion
(the “Objection”).7
On December 23, 2025, the Court held a hearing on the Amended Motion. The UST
appeared through counsel. Movant did not appear at the hearing.8 At the hearing, the UST rested
on his papers. The Court will resolve the matter based on the parties’ papers. For the reasons
discussed herein, the Court denies Movant’s request to vacate the Dismissal Order. The Court need
not address the balance of Movant’s requests for relief in the Amended Motion.
BACKGROUND
On July 31, 2025 (the “Petition Date”), Movant filed a voluntary petition for relief under
chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code (the “Petition”).9 Movant filed the Petition without Schedules.
On July 31, 2025, the Court issued a deficiency notice, among other things, advising Movant that
pursuant to the automatic dismissal provisions of section 521(i) of the Bankruptcy Code, his case
4 With certain exceptions/modifications, Rule 9024 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (“Bankruptcy
Rule 9024”) makes Rule 60 applicable herein. See Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9024.
5 Amended Short-Form Motion to Vacate Dismissal, Reinstate Case, and Restore Automatic Stay, ECF No. 28.
6 Declaration of Excusable Neglect Regarding Late Service, ECF No. 29.
7 United States Trustee’s Objection to Debtor’s Amended Shortform Motion to Vacate Dismissal, Reinstate Case,
and Restore Automatic Stay, ECF No. 30
8 Later that day, Movant advised Chambers that he mistakenly registered for a December 26, 2025 hearing. The
Court did not schedule a hearing in this case for December 26.
9 Chapter 7 Voluntary Petition for Individuals, ECF No. 1.
could be dismissed if he didn’t file the appropriate papers within 46 days of commencement of his
case (here, September 15, 2025), including:
• Statement of Your Current Monthly Income (Official Form 122A−1) due August
14, 2025;
• Declaration About an Individual Debtor’s Schedules (Official Form 106Dec) due
August 14, 2025;
• Schedule A/B: Property (Official Form 106A/B) due August 14, 2025;
• Schedule C: The Property You Claim as Exempt (Official Form 106C) due August
14, 2025;
• Schedule D: Creditors Who Hold Claims Secured by Property (Official Form
106D) due August 14, 2025;
• Schedule E/F: Creditors Who Have Unsecured Claims (Official Form 106E/F) due
August 14, 2025;
• Schedule G: Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases (Official Form 106G) due
August 14, 2025;
• Schedule H: Your Codebtors (Official Form 106H) due August 14, 2025;
• Schedule I: Your Income (Official Form 106I) due August 14, 2025;
• Schedule J: Your Expenses (Official Form 106J) due August 14, 2025;
• Statement of Intention due August 14, 2025;
• Statement of Financial Affairs due August 14, 2025;
• Summary of Assets and Liabilities due August 14, 2025; (collectively, the
“Schedules”).10
Movant failed to file the Schedules. On the Petition Date, Alan Nisselson (the “Trustee”)
was appointed as interim trustee of Movant’s estate, and the section 341(a) meeting of creditors
(the “341(a) Meeting”) was scheduled to be held on September 11, 2025.11 Movant received notice
of the 341(a) Meeting, but failed to appear at the meeting.
On September 17, 2025, the UST filed the Motion to Dismiss. In it, the UST sought an
order dismissing the Chapter 7 Case or, in the alternative, directing Movant to appear at the 341(a)
Meeting, and extending time to object to discharge. Motion to Dismiss at 2. In support of the
10 See Deficiency Notice, ECF No. 7.
11 Notice of Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Case, ECF No. 4.
motion, the UST annexed an affirmation of the Trustee (the “Trustee Affirmation”).12 In part, the
Trustee stated (i) “[Movant] failed to appear and submit to examination at the initial Bankruptcy
Code § 341(a) meeting of creditors on September 11, 2025, as required by Bankruptcy Code §
343,” and (ii) “[t]o date, [Movant] has not appeared at a Bankruptcy Code § 341(a) meeting of
creditors and has not been examined by the Trustee.” Trustee Affirmation ¶¶ 3-4.
On October 1, 2025, while the Motion to Dismiss was pending, Westlake Financial
Services (“Westlake”) filed a motion for relief from the automatic stay (the “Stay Relief
Motion”),13 essentially seeking leave to repossess a 2018 Jeep Compass (the “Jeep”). The return
date of the Stay Relief Motion was November 13, 2025.
On October 28, 2025, Movant filed a motion pursuant to section 362(k) of the Bankruptcy
Code for sanctions against American Airlines Federal Credit Union (“AAFCU”) for alleged
violations of the automatic stay (the “Sanctions Motion”).14 Movant argued that on October 28,
2025, while on notice of the Chapter 7 Case, AAFCU willfully violated the automatic stay when
it repossessed a 2017 Dodge Durango (the “Dodge”). Sanctions Motion ¶¶ 3, 6. Movant sought
return of the Dodge, and payment of $12,500 in actual and punitive damages. Id. ¶¶ 7-8.
On November 3, 2025, Movant opposed the Stay Relief Motion (the “Stay Relief
Opposition”).15 He asked the Court to deny the Stay Relief Motion, order Westlake to produce all
documents, records, and photographs related to the repossession of the Jeep, direct Westlake to
12 Affirmation in Support of Trustee’s Motion for (I) Dismissal of Case for Cause for Debtor’s Failure to Attend
and be Examined at a Bankruptcy Code § 341(a) Meeting of Creditors, and (II) Pending a Hearing in this Matter, an
Extension of Time to Object to Discharge of Debtor, ECF No. 12-2.
13 Motion for Relief from Automatic Stay Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §362(d)(1), ECF No. 15.
14 Motion for Sanctions for Willful Violation of the Automatic Stay Under 11 U.S.C. § 362(k), ECF No. 17.
15 Debtor’s Opposition to Motion for Relief from Automatic Stay, ECF No. 20.
allow immediate retrieval of the Jeep, direct an independent appraisal of the Jeep, and sanction
Westlake for acting in bad faith. Stay Relief Opposition at 3-4.
The Motion to Dismiss was returnable on November 4, 2025 (the “Hearing Date”), with
responses, if any, to be filed seven days prior to the Hearing Date. Movant did not file a response
to the Motion to Dismiss and did not appear at the hearing. He did not seek an extension of time
to respond to the motion or an adjournment of the Hearing Date. On November 4, 2025, the Court
conducted a hearing on the Motion to Dismiss and thereafter entered the Dismissal Order and
discharged the Trustee.16
The Amended Motion17
On November 3-4, 2025, Movant was admitted to Lennox Hill Hospital for chest pain and
cardiopulmonary distress. Am. Mot. at 1. On November 5-11, 2025, he was “[r]eadmitted to Mount
Sinai Hospital under telemetry (heart) monitoring and medical supervision.” Id. at 2. Movant
argues that, because “[d]ismissal occurred while [he] was medically incapacitated and physically
unable to appear, communicate, or file court-required documents,” the Court must vacate the
Dismissal Order “to prevent further hardship, restore legal protections, and allow the Court to
16 Dismissal Order, ECF No. 21; Order Discharging Trustee, ECF No. 22.
17 The Amended Motion supersedes Movant’s Motion to Reopen Chapter 7 Case, Request for Fee Waiver, and
Statement of Good Faith, ECF No. 25. That motion sought to reopen the Chapter 7 Case pursuant to section 350 of
the Bankruptcy Code. That section provides:
(a) After an estate is fully administered and the court has discharged the trustee, the court shall close
the case. (b) A case may be reopened in the court in which such case was closed to administer assets,
to accord relief to the debtor, or for other cause.
11 U.S.C. § 350. By its plain language, section 350(b) only applies where a party seeks to reopen a fully administered
closed case. Accordingly, “‘a case cannot be reopened unless it was closed pursuant to section 350(a) after it has been
administered; [t]herefore, a dismissed case [can] not be reopened under section 350(b).’” In re Truong, No. 09-11047,
2011 WL 2894580, at *6 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. July 15, 2011) (quoting 3 Collier on Bankruptcy ¶ 350.03 (16th ed. 2011));
accord In re Locascio, 481 B.R. 285, 289 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2012). The Court does not have the authority to reopen
the Chapter 7 Case under section 350(b), as the case was dismissed under section 707(a) of the Bankruptcy Code. It
was not closed pursuant to section 350(a), after being fully administered.
supervise creditor conduct — including a post-petition repossession executed before dismissal and
without relief from stay.” Id. at 1. Movant states that he was incapacitated from November 3 to
November 11, and that such medical incapacity constitutes good cause for relief under Rules
60(b)(1) and 60(b)(6). Id. at 1-2. Movant also asserts that AAFCU’s repossession of the Dodge
violated the automatic stay, and turnover of the Dodge to Movant is required by Second Circuit
law, id., at 2, and that Westlake’s repossession of the Jeep warrants “Court supervision . . . to
determine next steps in compliance with chapter 7 procedures,” id. at 3. Movant requests the Court
to (i) vacate the Dismissal Order and reinstate the Chapter 7 Case; (ii) restore the automatic stay,
retroactive to the date of dismissal; (iii) order AAFCU to return the Dodge immediately, or at least
disclose its storage location and allow immediate retrieval of personal and medical items; (iv)
preserve and enforce Movant’s rights under section 362(k); and (v) provide procedural guidance
appropriate for a pro se filer. Id.
The Objection
The UST argues that Movant has not established cause under section 350(b) of the
Bankruptcy Code to support the reopening of this case. Objection at 1. The UST asserts that
Movant’s incapacity, by his own admission, occurred on or after November 3, 2025, and the case
was dismissed because of Movant’s failure to attend the 341(a) Meeting scheduled for September
11, 2025, two months prior to Movant’s alleged hospitalization. Id. at 5. He states that the bases
for dismissal predated Movant’s asserted medical capacity, and therefore there is no cause to
reopen the case. Id. at 6.
DISCUSSION
Movant is proceeding pro se and, as such, the Court must construe his pleadings liberally
and interpret them to raise the strongest arguments they suggest. See Rosa v. Doe, 86 F.4th 1001,
1007-08 (2d Cir. 2023); see also Chinniah v. FERC, 62 F.4th 700, 702 (2d Cir. 2023) (“As a pro
se plaintiff, [movant] is entitled to liberal construction of his pleadings and briefs.”). Nonetheless,
“[a] pro se complaint, like any other, must present a claim upon which relief can be granted.”
Corley v. Jahr, No. 11 CIV. 9044, 2014 WL 772253, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 10, 2014) (citation
omitted).
The Court granted the Motion to Dismiss pursuant to section 707(a) of the Bankruptcy
Code. See Dismissal Order. A court may dismiss a case under section 707(a) “only for cause.” 11
U.S.C. § 707(a). It is settled that the failure to attend a duly noticed and scheduled section 341
meeting is cause for dismissal under section 707(a). See In re Antar, No. 24-30480, 2024 WL
5000502, at *3 (Bankr. D. Conn. Nov. 8, 2024) (collecting cases); In re Shuang, No. 24-10996,
2024 WL 4668429, at *5 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Nov. 4, 2024). The Court found cause to dismiss the
Chapter 7 Case, as it is undisputed that Movant failed to appear at the 341(a) Meeting and failed
to provide justification for missing the meeting. Movant does not contend that the Court erred in
making that determination. Rather, he contends the Court should excuse his failure to attend the
meeting based on his “medical incapacity” and vacate the Dismissal Order pursuant to Rules
60(b)(1) and (6). Am. Mot. at 1-2.
A case dismissed by Court order may be reopened pursuant to Rule 60(b). In re Locascio,
481 B.R. at 289. As relevant, Rule 60 provides
(b) On motion and just terms, the court may relieve a party or its legal
representative from a final judgment, order, or proceeding for the following
reasons:
(1) mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect;
. . .
(6) any other reason that justifies relief.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 60.18
Motions under Rule 60(b) appeal to the sound discretion of the trial court. Mendell on
Behalf of Viacom, Inc. v. Gollust, 909 F.2d 724, 731 (2d Cir. 1990), aff'd sub nom. Gollust v.
Mendell, 501 U.S. 115 (1991). “The need for finality and predictability mandates caution in
reopening judgments, and accordingly, relief under Rule 60(b) is considered an extraordinary
remedy.” In re N. Bergman Ins. Tr., No. 1-12-40822, 2014 WL 1258168, at *4 (Bankr. E.D.N.Y.
Mar. 26, 2014) (internal quotation marks omitted); accord In re Celsius Network LLC, No. 22-
10964, 2023 WL 471231, at *3 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Jan. 26, 2023). In applying Rule 60(b), Courts
“strike[ ] a balance between serving the ends of justice and preserving the finality of judgments.”
Nemaizer v. Baker, 793 F.2d 58, 61 (2d Cir. 1986).
Below, the Court considers whether Movant has established grounds for relief under either
Rule 60(b)(1) or Rule 60(b)(6).
Rule 60(b)(1)
“Rule 60(b)(1) permits relief from a judgment based on ‘mistake, inadvertence, surprise,
or excusable neglect.’” Lawtone-Bowles v. Brown, No. 21-1242-CV, 2022 WL 839280, at *1 (2d
Cir. Mar. 22, 2022) (summary order) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b)(1)). For these purposes,
“excusable neglect” refers to “inadvertence, mistake, or carelessness.” FedEx TechConnect, Inc.
v. OTI, Inc., No. 12 CIV. 1674, 2013 WL 5405699, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 23, 2013). It “is an
‘elastic concept,’ that considers all relevant circumstances, including prejudice to the nonmovant,
18 The remaining provisions of Rule 60(b), which permit post-judgment relief on the grounds of newly discovered
evidence, fraud or misconduct by an opposing party, or a judgment that is void or has been satisfied, released, or
discharged, are inapplicable in this matter. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b)(2)–(5). Rule 60(c) provides that a motion seeking
relief under Rule 60(b) must be brought within a “reasonable time” and for relief under Rule 60(b)(1), (2) or (3), the
motion must be made within a year after the entry of the judgment or order. Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(c). Bankruptcy Rule
9024 provides that the one-year limitation prescribed in Rule 60(c) is not applicable to a motion to reopen a case under
the Bankruptcy Code. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9024. Movant has timely sought relief herein.
length of the delay, potential impact on judicial proceedings, reason for the delay (including
whether it was within the control of the movant), and whether the movant acted in good faith.” In
re Wassah, 417 B.R. 175, 183 (Bankr. E.D.N.Y. 2009) (quoting Pioneer Inv. Servs. Co. v.
Brunswick Assoc. Ltd., 507 U.S. 380, 392, (1993) (“Pioneer”)); see also Silivanch v. Celebrity
Cruises, Inc., 333 F.3d 355, 366 (2d Cir. 2003) (noting that the Second Circuit has applied
Pioneer’s definition of excusable neglect beyond the bankruptcy context, including to Rule
60(b)(1)).
Courts in the Second Circuit examine the factors set forth in Pioneer (the “Pioneer
Factors”) to determine whether there is excusable neglect pursuant to Rule 60(b)(1). The Pioneer
Factors are
the danger of prejudice . . . , the length of the delay and its potential impact on
judicial proceedings, the reason for the delay, including whether it was within
the reasonable control of the movant, and whether the movant acted in good
faith.
Pioneer, 507 U.S. at 395. The Second Circuit has taken a “hard line” in applying the Pioneer
Factors. Silivanch, 333 F.3d at 368. It has noted that three of the four Pioneer factors “usually
weigh in favor of the party seeking the extension.” Silivanch, 333 F.3d at 366. With respect to the
first two Pioneer factors, “the length of the delay ‘must be considered in the context of the
proceeding as a whole,’ [and] is evaluated in terms of whether it contributes to prejudice to the
Debtors.” In re Tronox Inc., No. 09-10156, 2010 WL 1849394, at *3 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. May 6,
2010)). As to the fourth factor, “rarely in the decided cases is the absence of good faith at issue.”
Id. Thus, “despite . . . the existence of the four-factor test . . . , [the Second Circuit] and other
circuits have focused on the third factor: the reason for the delay, including whether it was within
the reasonable control of the movant.” Silivanch, 333 F.3d at 366 (internal quotation marks and
citations omitted); see, e.g., Alexander v. Saul, 5 F.4th 139, 149 (2d Cir. 2021) (“Affording
dispositive weight to [the third] factor accords with our precedents, which have described the
reason for the delay as the most important Pioneer factor”) (citations omitted); Watts-Devine v.
United States, 616 F. App’x 9, 11 (2d Cir. 2015) (summary order) (noting that the reasons for
delay, the third factor, predominates in a motion to vacate under Rule 60(b)(1)). “[I]t is the third
factor-the reason for the delay-that predominates, and the other three are significant only in close
cases.” Williams v. KFC Nat. Mgmt. Co., 391 F.3d 411, 415–16 (2d Cir. 2004).
Applying those factors here, Movant has not demonstrated grounds for relief under Rule
60(b)(1). Application of the first two factors supports Movant’s request for relief, as Movant did
not delay in seeking relief and the risk of prejudice is low. Moreover, the record is “insufficient
for it to conclude that [Movant] failed to act in good faith.” In re N. New England Tel. Operations,
LLC, No. 09-16365, 2014 WL 3952925, at *12 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 12, 2014), aff’d sub nom. In re N.
New England Tel. Operations LLC, 795 F.3d 343 (2d Cir. 2015). However, those factors do not
off-set Movant’s failure to provide any reason, let alone a persuasive reason, for excusing his
failure to attend the 341 Meeting.
Movant argues that the Dismissal Order was entered as a result of his inability to comply
with, or respond to, Court orders or other obligations associated with his bankruptcy case due to
his hospitalization. See Am. Mot. at 1. The Court conducted the hearing on the Motion to Dismiss
on November 4, 2025. He states that he was hospitalized on November 3, 2025, to November 11,
2025. Id. at 1-2. However, the “cause” under the Dismissal Order for dismissing the case was not
Movant’s failure to appear at the hearing on the Motion to Dismiss. The Court dismissed the
Chapter 7 Case because Movant failed to appear at the 341(a) Meeting, and failed to account for
his failure to do so. Dismissal Order at 1. That meeting was scheduled for September 11, 2025.19
19 See Notice of Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Case, ECF No. 6.
Movant did not appear at the meeting or seek to adjourn it. Moreover, the Motion to Dismiss was
filed on September 17, 2025, and Movant had more than five weeks in which to respond to it. He
failed to do so. He was hospitalized a week after the last day to respond to the Motion to Dismiss.
Further, prior to his hospitalization, and while the Motion to Dismiss was pending, Movant filed
the Sanctions Motion and the Stay Relief Opposition. Movant offers no explanation for why he
failed to respond to the Motion to Dismiss, or why he was unable to comply with the obligations
imposed on debtors in a bankruptcy proceeding.
Although Movant’s hospitalization may have interfered with his ability to attend the
hearing on the Motion to Dismiss, it does not excuse his failure to attend the 341 Meeting or to
account for his failure to do so. See Padilla v. Maersk Line, Ltd., 721 F.3d 77, 84 (2d Cir. 2013)
(failure to act with diligence is not excusable neglect); see, e.g., Kingvision Pay-Per-View Ltd. v.
La Aroma Del Cafe, Inc., No. CV-02-0786, 2006 WL 842398, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 27, 2006)
(holding plaintiff’s counsel’s failure to prosecute case was not excusable neglect where counsel
“was ill, at most, only until September of 2004. Thus, his illness cannot justify his failure to
prosecute the case between September 2004, when he recovered, and May 2005 when the motion
for reconsideration was filed.”); accord Kantor v. Air Atl. Med., P.C., No. 19-CV-3597, 2023 WL
2329800, at *4 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 2, 2023) (“In any case, and critically, counsel’s May 2020
diagnosis does not account for Defendants’ failure to follow court orders or defend the case
beginning well before that date.”). Movant failed to demonstrate grounds for relief under Rule
60(b)(1).20
20 Movant cites three cases to support his contention that his medical problems provide grounds for vacating the
Dismissal Order under Rule 60(b)(1) and 60(b)(6). Am. Mot. at 1-2 (citing In re Bonder, 224 B.R. 580 (Bankr.
S.D.N.Y.); In re Prochilo, 578 B.R. 401 (Bankr. D. Mass.); In re Williams, 256 B.R. 885 (B.A.P. 8th Cir.)). He
misplaces his reliance on Williams, as it does not concern a Rule 60(b) motion. The Court is unable to locate the either
Bonder and Prochilo. Movant’s citation to Bonder -- 224 B.R. 580 -- leads to the case Hall v. Goforth, 224 B.R. 580
(S.D. Tex. 1998), aff’d sub nom. In re Goforth, 179 F.3d 390 (5th Cir. 1999). His citation to Prochilo -- 578 B.R. 401
The Court denies Movant’s request for relief under Rule 60(b)(1).
Rule 60(b)(6)
“Rule 60(b)(6) grants federal courts broad authority to relieve a party from a final judgment
upon such terms as are just, provided that the motion is made within a reasonable time and is not
premised on one of the grounds for relief enumerated in clauses (b)(1) through (b)(5).” Mandala
v. NTT Data, Inc., 88 F.4th 353, 361 (2d Cir. 2023) (internal quotation marks omitted). In that
way, Rule 60(b)(6) is a catchall provision, that permits “courts to vacate judgments whenever
necessary to accomplish justice . . . .” Aczel v. Labonia, 584 F.3d 52, 61 (2d Cir. 2009) (citing
Liljeberg v. Health Serv. Acquisition Corp., 486 U.S. 847, 863 (1988)). However, Rule 60(b)(6)
“must be read in conjunction with the other sections of that Rule, and is applicable only where the
more specific provisions do not apply.” PRC Harris, Inc. v. Boeing Co., 700 F.2d 894, 898 (2d
Cir. 1983). In other words, “a Rule 60(b)(6) motion must be based upon some reason other than
those stated in clauses (1)-(5).” United Airlines, Inc. v. Brien, 588 F.3d 158, 175 (2d Cir.
2009) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). Accordingly, “if the reasons offered for
relief from judgment can be considered in one of the more specific clauses of Rule 60(b), such
reasons will not justify relief under Rule 60(b)(6).” United States v. Int’l Bhd. of Teamsters, 247
F.3d 370, 391-92 (2d Cir. 2001) (citations omitted); accord Am. Tissue, Inc. v. Arthur Andersen
L.L.P., No. 02 Civ. 7751, 2005 WL 712201, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 28, 2005).
Therefore, relief under Rule 60(b)(6) is foreclosed where, as here, Movant’s “Rule 60(b)
motion is premised on grounds fairly classified as mistake, inadvertence, or neglect . . . .” Stevens
-- leads to In re Omni Lion’s Run, L.P., 578 B.R. 394 (Bankr. W.D. Tex. 2017). Neither case is relevant to Movant’s
request for relief under Rule 60(b).
v. Miller, 676 F.3d 62, 67 (2d Cir. 2012); accord Brooks v. Doe Fund, Inc., No. 17CV3626, 2020
WL 5706451, at *6 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 24, 2020).
The Court denies Movant’s request for relief under Rule 60(b)(6).
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, the Court denies Movant’s request to vacate the Dismissal Order.
The Court will not address the balance of the relief Movant seeks on the Amended Motion.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: December 27, 2025
New York, New York
/s/ James L. Garrity, Jr.
Honorable James L. Garrity, Jr.
United States Bankruptcy Judge