Opinion
CASE NO. 10CV1719-LAB (RBB)
07-13-2012
TRUDI McCULLUM, Plaintiff, v. LAW OFFICES OF SCOTT CARRUTHERS, Defendant.
ORDER APPROVING
WITHDRAWAL OF ATTORNEY
APPEARANCE; AND
ORDER GRANTING IN PART
MOTION FOR LEAVE TO AMEND
COMPLAINT
The unopposed ex parte application to withdraw the appearance of Michael Agruss, Esq. (Docket no. 19) is GRANTED.
On July 10, Plaintiff filed a motion to amend the complaint, and to continue the trial date (Docket no. 25). The motion also seeks to continue the trial date, although the motion doesn't explain why a continuance is needed or appropriate.
The motion to amend represents that Plaintiff has discovered that the named Defendant, Law Offices of Scott Carruthers (also referred called "Law Offices of D. Scott Carruthers"), is not actually the proper Defendant, and that D. Scott Carruthers, Esq. is doing business under this name. The motion therefore seeks to amend the complaint to name D. Scott Carruthers as Defendant.
Defendant Law Offices of Scott Carruthers opposed the amendment primarily on the grounds that it is late without a good explanation. It inexplicably also claims it would be prejudiced by the amendment, which (for reasons not explained) would increase attorney's fees.
This last objection blurs the line between D. Scott Carruthers (who is acting as counsel for the Law Offices) and the current named Defendant, Law Offices of Scott Carruthers. Obviously, if the Law Offices is a real entity capable fo being sued, it would not be prejudiced by being dismissed as a Defendant, and would in fact welcome dismissal. On the other hand, D. Scott Carruthers himself would be prejudiced. There is, however, no reason to think Mr. Carruthers would be unfairly prejudiced. He obviously knows about this action, has been participating in it, has been representing that the Law Offices are a proper Defendant, and has been representing to Plaintiff and to the Court that "Law Offices of Scott Carruthers" are the equivalent of Carruthers himself. At the pretrial conference, for example, he referred to himself in the first person as the Defendant. See also Minute Order of Magistrate Judge Ruben Brooks (Docket no. 33) (noting that "Defendant Dennis Carruthers, pro se, appeared in this Court's chambers as instructed").
Assuming there were some distinction between the Law Offices and Carruthers himself, Carruthers would be acting under a substantial conflict of interest by opposing the amendment. It is apparent, however, that neither party seriously thinks there is any difference between the lawyer D. Scott Carruthers and the Law Offices of Scott Carruthers.
This situation is governed by Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(c)(1)(C), which permits amendment (and relation back of that amendment) when:
the amendment changes the party or the naming of the party against whom a claim is asserted, if Rule 15(c)(1)(B) is satisfied and if, within the period provided by Rule 4(m) for serving the summons and complaint, the party to be brought in by amendment:These conditions are clearly satisfied here, and the complaint is therefore DEEMED AMENDED to name D. Scott Carruthers (d/b/a Law Offices of Scott Carruthers) as Defendant. The Clerk is directed to make this change in the docket. There is no reason to continue the trial date, so that request is DENIED. The trial will commence as scheduled, and the pretrial order will issue shortly.
(i) received such notice of the action that it will not be prejudiced in defending on the merits; and
(ii) knew or should have known that the action would have been brought against it, but for a mistake concerning the proper party's identity.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
__________________
HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS
United States District Judge