Smith v. Equifax Inc et al

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3:24-cv-1737-CAB-DTF
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
ALVIN JAMES SMITH,
Plaintiff,
v.
EQUIFAX INC., and DOES 1–100,
Defendants.
Case No.: 3:24-cv-1737-CAB-DTF
ORDER DENYING MOTIONS FOR
RECONSIDERATION AND TO FILE
UNDER SEAL
[Doc. Nos. 17–18]
On December 15, 2025, Plaintiff filed a motion for reconsideration pursuant to Fed.
R. Civ. P. 60(b) and a motion to file documents under seal. [Doc. Nos. 17–18.] He seeks
relief from the Court’s order on March 12, 2025, which granted the parties’ joint motion to
dismiss the case with prejudice. [Doc. No. 12.] Plaintiff asserts that Defendant Equifax
Inc. has breached the parties’ settlement agreement. [Doc. No. 17 at 2.]
“[A] federal court may retain jurisdiction over a settlement agreement where the
court’s order of dismissal incorporates the terms of the settlement agreement, or the order
of dismissal explicitly states that the court retains jurisdiction over the settlement.”
Gonzalez v. United States, No. 16CV1792-MMA (KSC), 2017 WL 1094074, at *6 (S.D.
Cal. Mar. 23, 2017) (citing Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 511 U.S. 375, 381
(1994)). 	The Court’s order of dismissal did not incorporate the terms of the settlement
agreement nor state that the Court would retain jurisdiction. Moreover, the parties’ joint
Case 3:24-cv-01737-CAB-DTF Document 19 Filed 01/09/26 PageID.<pageID>
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stipulation of dismissal made no reference to any settlement agreement. [See Doc. No. 11.]
“[F]ederal courts do not have inherent or ancillary jurisdiction to enforce a settlement
agreement simply because the subject of that settlement was a federal lawsuit.” O’Connor
v. Colvin, 70 F.3d 530, 532 (9th Cir. 1995). Accordingly, the Court DENIES the motion
for reconsideration and DENIES as moot the motion to file documents under seal.
It is SO ORDERED.
Dated: January 9, 2026
Case 3:24-cv-01737-CAB-DTF Document 19 Filed 01/09/26 PageID.<pageID>
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