Vanpelt v. Oxner et al
Filing
88
ORDER granting pltf's 84 Motion to Amend Complaint; defts' 43 Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED as moot, without prejudice. Signed by Magistrate Judge Beth Deere on 9/12/12. (vjt)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
NORTHERN DIVISION
MARIO KEITH VANPELT
ADC #119581
VS.
PLAINTIFF
NO. 1:11CV00019-KGB-BD
JACK OXNER
AND JAMES GUYNES
DEFENDANTS
ORDER
Mr. Vanpelt, though his attorney, has filed a motion to amend his complaint to add
a due process claim, a retaliation claim, an access to the courts claim, and several state
law claims. (Docket entry #84) Defendants have responded to the motion (#87) and
oppose the request to amend. They argue that they will suffer undue prejudice if the
Court allows Mr. Vanpelt to amend his complaint.
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a), courts “should freely give leave [to
amend] when justice so requires.” Defendants note that they have a summary judgment
motion (#43) pending and that they have been prejudiced by exposing their theory of the
case. They also argue that the proposed amendment would cause additional delay. But,
“[d]elay alone is not enough to deny a motion to amend; prejudice to the nonmovant must
also be shown.” Doe v. Cassel, 403 F.3d 986, 991 (8th Cir. 2005); Bediako v. Stein Mart,
Inc., 354 F.3d 835, 841 (8th Cir. 2004).
The Defendants have not shown that they will suffer unfair prejudice if Mr.
Vanpelt is allowed to amend. While the Court previously denied Mr. Vanpelt’s pro se
motion to amend, his counsel has now articulated specific claims against the existing and
new defendants that arose out of the events described in the original complaint.
Accordingly, the motion (#84) is GRANTED.
In light of the Court’s decision to allow Mr. Vanpelt to amend, Defendants’
motion for summary judgment (#43) is DENIED as moot, without prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 12th day of September, 2012.
______________________________________
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
2
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