Armstrong et al v. D.R. Horton Incorporated et al

Filing 47

ORDER granting 16 MOTION to Dismiss Counts/Claims : of Plaintifs Adeniji-Onasanwo, Beatty, Caggiano, Cutchon, Fornabai, Moran, and Payne Pursuant to the Statute of Repose 12-552, and Claims of all Punative Class Members Similarly Situated to the extent that Plaintiffs' Second Amended Complaint is dismissed pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(1). IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiffs may file an amended complaint by June 7, 2013. Dated this Signed by Judge Neil V Wake on 5/23/13. (LAD)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

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Scott Armstrong, Sr., et al.,
Plaintiffs,

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ORDER

vs.

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No. CV-13-00239-PHX-NVW

D.R. Horton, Inc., et al.,
Defendants.

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Before the Court is Defendants D.R. Horton, Inc. and D.R. Horton, Inc.-Dietz

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Crane’s Motion to Dismiss Claims of Plaintiffs Adeniji-Onasanwo, Beatty, Caggiano,

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Cutchon, Fornabai, Moran, and Payne Pursuant to the Statute of Repose, § 12-552 (Doc.

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16).

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To decide a motion to dismiss, “[a] court may consider evidence on which the

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complaint ‘necessarily relies’ if: (1) the complaint refers to the document; (2) the

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document is central to the plaintiff’s claim; and (3) no party questions the authenticity of

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the copy attached to the 12(b)(6) motion.” Marder v. Lopez, 450 F.3d 445, 448 (9th Cir.

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2006). Both sides have submitted exhibits (Docs. 16-1, 46-1) that do not satisfy the

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foregoing conditions and which the Court does not consider in deciding Defendants’

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motion to dismiss.

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Rule 8(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires only “‘a short and

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plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,’ in order to

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‘give the defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it

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rests.’” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (quoting Conley v. Gibson,

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355 U.S. 41, 47, 78 S. Ct. 99 (1957)). A claim must be stated clearly enough to provide

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each defendant fair opportunity to frame a responsive pleading. McHenry v. Renne, 84

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F.3d 1172, 1176 (9th Cir. 1996). “Something labeled a complaint . . ., yet without

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simplicity, conciseness and clarity as to whom plaintiffs are suing for what wrongs, fails

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to perform the essential functions of a complaint.” Id. at 1180.

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Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Complaint (Doc. 36) does not include the factual

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allegations necessary to determine whether any claims are barred by Arizona’s

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construction defect statute of repose, A.R.S. § 12-552. Because leave to amend should be

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freely given “when justice so requires,” Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2), Plaintiffs will be granted

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leave to file a further amended complaint.

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IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendants D.R. Horton, Inc. and D.R.

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Horton, Inc.-Dietz Crane’s Motion to Dismiss Claims of Plaintiffs Adeniji-Onasanwo,

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Beatty, Caggiano, Cutchon, Fornabai, Moran, and Payne Pursuant to the Statute of

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Repose, § 12-552 (Doc. 16) is granted to the extent that Plaintiffs’ Second Amended

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Complaint (Doc. 36) is dismissed pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a).

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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiffs may file an amended complaint by
June 7, 2013.
Dated this 23rd day of May, 2013.

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