Opinion
3:22-CV-00010-MMD-CLB
01-04-2023
ISAAC LEWIS, Plaintiff, v. B. GUTIERREZ, et al., Defendants.
ORDER STRIKING AMENDED COMPLAINT AND DIRECTING PLAINTIFF TO FILE MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE [ECF NO. 23]
Before the Court is Plaintiff Isaac Lewis's (“Lewis”) amended complaint. (ECF No. 23.) For the reasons discussed below, the Court strikes the amended complaint and directs Lewis to file a motion to substitute.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a)(1) allows a party to amend its pleading once as a matter of course within: (A) 21 days after serving it, or (B) if the pleading is one to which a responsive pleading is required, 21 days after service of a responsive pleading. Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a)(2) further instructs that “[i]n all other cases, a party may amend its pleading only with the opposing party's written consent or the court's leave. The court should freely give leave [to amend a pleading] when justice so requires,” and there is a strong public policy in favor of permitting amendment. Bowles v. Reade, 198 F.3d 752, 757 (9th Cir. 1999). Further, LR 15-1 requires a party to attach proposed amended pleadings to a motion seeking leave of court to file an amended pleading.
Here, Lewis filed his amended complaint on January 4, 2023-well past 21 days after the answer was filed on October 2, 2022-Lewis was required to obtain Defendants' written consent or leave of Court to file an amended pleading, which he failed to do. Accordingly, the Court will strike Lewis's amended complaint, (ECF No. 23), for his failure to follow Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a)(2) and LR 15-1.
Nonetheless, in reviewing the amended complaint, the Court notes that it appears Lewis is attempting to substitute in Doe Defendants and is not actually amending any of the allegations in his complaint. Thus, as this Court previously directed Lewis at the Case Management Conference held on November 14, 2022 (ECF No. 19), to the extent Lewis would like to properly name Doe defendants, he shall file a motion to substitute.
Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that Lewis's amended complaint, (ECF No. 23) is STRICKEN.