Central Alabama Diagnostics LLC v. Toshiba American Medical Systems Inc

Filing 76

MEMORANDUM OPINION Signed by Chief Judge Karon O Bowdre on 8/17/16. (SAC )

FILED
2016 Aug-17 AM 08:59
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION

CENTRAL ALABAMA
DIAGNOSTICS, LLC,
Plaintiff,
v.
TOSHIBA AMERICA MEDICAL,
SYSTEMS, INC.,
Defendant.

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CASE NO: 2:15-cv-01840-KOB

MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter is before the court on “Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.’s Motion to
Dismiss Rodney Fountain’s Counterclaim Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6)” (doc. 73) and the
“Response of Rodney Fountain to Toshiba’s Motion to Dismiss Counterclaim and, Alternatively,
Motion to Amend Counterclaim” (doc. 75).
On July 8, 2016, Third-Party Defendant Rodney Fountain filed an Answer to Toshiba’s
Third-Party Complaint and asserted a Counterclaim against Toshiba. (Doc. 64). On July 29,
2016, Toshiba moved to dismiss Fountain’s Counterclaim pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 12(b)(6). (Doc. 73). That same day, the court ordered Fountain to show cause in
writing by August 12, 2016 why the court should not grant Toshiba’s Motion and dismiss his
counterclaim for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. (Doc. 74). On
August 12, 2016, Fountain responded in opposition to Toshiba’s Motion to Dismiss and,
alternatively, asked the court for leave to file an Amended Answer and Counterclaim. (Doc. 75).

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For the reasons stated below, the court will GRANT Toshiba’s Motion to Dismiss and will
DENY without prejudice Fountain’s Motion to Amend.
I.

Motion to Dismiss
A Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss attacks the legal sufficiency of the complaint.

Generally, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require only that the complaint provide “‘a short
and plain statement of the claim’ that will give the defendant fair notice of what the plaintiff’s
claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957)
(quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)). The United States Supreme Court has explained that “[t]o survive
a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state
a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009)
(quoting and explaining its decision in Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). If
the court determines that the well-pleaded facts, accepted as true, do not state a claim that is
plausible, the claim must be dismissed. Id. at 679.
Fountain’s entire original Counterclaim consists of four conclusory sentences. Fountain
does not allege any facts in support of his Counterclaim. Accordingly, the court finds that
Fountain’s Counterclaim does not “contain sufficient factual matter . . . to state a claim for relief
that is plausible on its face.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. Therefore, the court will GRANT Toshiba’s
Motion to Dismiss Fountain’s Counterclaim.
II.

Motion to Amend
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15 provides that a party may amend his Complaint “once

as a matter of course within . . . 21 days after serving it, or . . . if the pleading is one to which a
responsive pleading is required, 21 days after service of a responsive pleading . . . .” Fed. R. Civ.
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P. 15(a)(1). In all other cases, a party must obtain leave of court to amend his Complaint. “The
court should freely give leave when justice so requires.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2). This “rule
contemplates that leave shall be granted unless there is a substantial reason to deny it.”
Halliburton & Assoc., Inc. v. Henderson, Few & Co., 774 F.2d 441, 443 (11th Cir. 1985).
Substantial reasons justifying the denial of leave to amend include “undue delay, bad faith
or dilatory motive on the part of the movant, repeated failure to cure deficiencies by amendments
previously allowed, undue prejudice to the opposing party by virtue of allowance of the
amendment, futility of amendment, etc. . . . .” Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182 (1962).
In his Response in Opposition to Toshiba’s Motion to Dismiss, Fountain alternatively
asks the court for leave to file an Amended Answer and Counterclaim. After reviewing
Fountain’s Proposed Amended Counterclaim, the court finds that it is still deficient. Although
Fountain’s newly proposed Counterclaim contains more facts, it still fails to set out Fountain’s
cause of action, specific facts to support a cause of action, and an alleged basis for relief. In his
Counterclaim, Fountain appears to claim that Toshiba should indemnify him; however, Fountain
fails to identify any basis for an indemnity claim or even from what he seeks to be indemnified.
Accordingly, the court finds that the proposed Amendment to Fountain’s Answer and
Counterclaim would be futile. Therefore, the court will DENY without prejudice Fountain’s
Motion for Leave to Amend.
The court will enter a separate Order along with this Opinion.
DONE and ORDERED this 17th day of August, 2016.
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KARON OWEN BOWDRE
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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