Opinion
9:21-CV-0596 (GTS/ATB)
12-02-2021
NATHAN RICHARDSON, Plaintiff, v. LIEUTENANT KUCMACK, et al., Defendants.
DECISION AND ORDER
ANDREW T. BAXTER, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
I. INTRODUCTION
Pro se plaintiff Nathan Richardson ("Plaintiff") commenced this action by filing a Complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 ("Section 1983") with a request for leave to procee in forma pauperis ("IFP"). Dkt. No. 1 ("Compl."), Dkt. No. 4 ("IFP Application"). By Decision and Order filed September 3, 2021 (the "September Order"), the Hon. Glenn T. Suddaby granted Plaintiff's IFP application and reviewed the sufficiency of the Complaint in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. See Dkt. No. 8. On the basis of that review, the Court dismissed the Complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relie could be granted. See Id. In light of his pro se status, Plaintiff was afforded an opportunity t submit an Amended Complaint. See Id. Presently before the Court is Plaintiff's "Amended Complaint." Dkt. No. 12.
II. DISCUSSION
The filing of amended and supplemental pleadings is governed by Rule 15 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. A party may amend, as of right, if the pleading is one to which a responsive pleading is required, 21 days after service of a responsive pleading or 21 days after service of a motion under Rule 12(b), (e), or (f), whichever is earlier. Fed.R.Civ.P. 15. Local Rule 15.1 further states that a "party shall not incorporate any portion of its prior pleading into the proposed amended pleading by reference." N.D.N.Y.L.R. 15.1. Rather, amended pleadings must be complete pleadings which will supersede the original pleading in all respects. Id. "One of the purposes of the requirement that an amended complaint be a complete pleading is to ensure that all of the allegations asserted against the defendant(s) are contained in a single document, thereby reducing the likelihood that a party will overlook one or more allegations against him." See Walker v. Fischer, No. 10-CV-1431 (MAD/DEP), 2012 WL 1029614, at *10 (N.D.N.Y. Mar. 26, 2012) (citation omitted). This requirement eliminates the confusing nature of "piecemeal" amended complaints. See Chapdelaine v. Keller, 9:95-CV-1126 (HGM/GS), 1999 WL 34998130, at *1 (N.D.N.Y. Sep. 28, 1999).
"While we have insisted that the pleadings prepared by [ pro se litigants] be liberally construed . . . we have never suggested that procedural rules in ordinary civil litigation should be interpreted so as to excuse mistakes by those who proceed without counsel." McNeil v. U.S., 508 U.S. 106 (1993). Once accepted for filing, the amended complaint becomes the operative pleading, and the original complaint is no longer considered. See Dluhos v. Floating & Abandoned Vessel, 162 F.3d 63, 68 (2d Cir. 1998) ("[I]t is well established that an amended complaint ordinarily supersedes the original, and renders it of no legal effect.") (citing Shields v. Citytrust Bancorp, Inc., 25 F.3d 1124, 1128 (2d Cir. 1994)).
Plaintiff's submission presently before the Court is not in compliance with N.D.N.Y. Local Rule 15.1. The submission is unsigned and does not include a caption, a list of parties, any claims, or a request for relief. Rather, the submission appears to be a letter explaining the deficiencies in the original pleading as discussed in the September Order. See Dkt. No. 12. Compliance with this Court's local rules is "not merely technical in nature." See Cusamano v. Sobek, 604 F.Supp.2d 416, 508 (N.D.N.Y. 2009).
Plaintiff did not move for reconsideration of the September Order.
At this juncture, the Court will not accept the pleading, identified at Dkt. No. 12, as the Amended Complaint or the operative pleading. Plaintiff is directed to, within SIXTY DAYS of the within Order, submit a proposed amended pleading that complies with this Court's Local Rules. Any amended complaint must be a complete pleading which sets forth all of the claims Plaintiff seeks to assert in this action against the persons named as defendants. At this juncture, the Complaint (Dkt. No. 1) remains the operative pleading.
The Clerk of the Court is directed to amend the docket and rename Dkt. No. 12 as a "Submission from Plaintiff."
WHEREFORE, it is hereby
ORDERED that Plaintiff must comply with the directives set forth in this Order within SIXTY days; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall amend the docket report consistent with this Order; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall serve a copy of this Decision and Order, the September Order, and the original Complaint on Plaintiff in accordance with the Local Rules.