Torres et al v. County of Madera et al

Filing 38

ORDER DENYING 33 Plaintiffs' Motion to file second amended complaint and VACATING the hearing on said motion set for 4/20/2011. Order signed by Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto on 4/7/2011. (Timken, A)

-SKO Torres et al v. County of Madera et al

Doc. 38

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 12 Plaintiffs, 13 v. 14 15 16 Defendants. 17 / 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

LUIS FERNANDO TORRES, et al.,

CASE NO. 1:10-cv-00670-LJO-SKO ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS' MOTION TO FILE SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

S. RODRIGUEZ, Badge No. 349, et al.,

(Docket No. 33)

I.

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On December 24, 2009, Plaintiffs Luis Fernando Torres, Alejandro Torres, Aurora Torres, and Armando Hernandez ("Plaintiffs") filed a complaint in Madera County Superior Court against the State of California,1 the County of Madera, the City of Madera, and Does 1 through 100. (Doc. 1.) On April 15, 2010, the County of Madera removed the complaint to this Court. Subsequently, pursuant to a motion to dismiss, the claims against the County and City of Madera were dismissed, but Plaintiffs were given an opportunity to amend their complaint. (Doc. 15.)

It appears that the State of California was never served with the original complaint.

Dockets.Justia.com

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On June 30, 2010, Plaintiffs filed a First Amended Complaint ("FAC") asserting that, inter alia, Defendants S. Rodriguez, Jesus Hernandez, Nick Rojas, Brian Esteves, and Felix Gonzalez (collectively "Defendants") entered Plaintiffs' home without consent, probable cause, or a warrant. Plaintiffs state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 as well as claims for assault, battery, false arrest, and trespass. (Doc. 17.)2 In a joint scheduling report filed on November 10, 2010, Plaintiffs represented that they anticipated amending their complaint to add James Ellenberger as a Defendant, and Plaintiffs stated they had agreed to dismiss Defendants Brian Esteves and Felix Gonzalez as they were not involved in the alleged events. (Doc. 30, 4:20-27.) The Court issued a scheduling order on November 19, 2010, permitting the parties until February 28, 2010, to file a motion or a stipulation seeking any amendment to the pleadings. II. DISCUSSION

On February 28, 2011, Plaintiffs Luis Fernando Torres, Alejandro Torres, Aurora Torres, and Armando Hernandez ("Plaintiffs") filed a motion to amend their complaint. (Doc. 33.) Plaintiffs assert that, during the course of discovery, they determined the identities of others involved in the events underlying this action that Plaintiffs wish to add as defendants. (Doc. 33, 2-3.) Plaintiffs also state that Defendants Brian Esteves and Felix Gonzalez should be dismissed. Therefore, Plaintiffs request that they be permitted to file a Second Amended Complaint ("SAC") that adds certain defendants and removes others; a proposed copy of the SAC is attached to Plaintiffs' motion. (Doc. 33-2.) On April 6, 2011, Defendants Brian Esteves and Felix Gonzalez filed a statement of nonopposition to Plaintiffs' motion to amend the complaint in the manner proposed. Defendants S. Rodriguez filed neither an opposition nor a statement of non-opposition to Plaintiffs' motion. According to Plaintiffs' counsel, as of November 10, 2010, Defendants Jesus Hernandez and Nick Rojas have not yet been served with the FAC. (Doc. 30, 4:25.)

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The City and County of Madera were not named in the FAC, and are no longer parties to this action.

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 4. The Court has reviewed Plaintiffs' proposed SAC. Plaintiffs' SAC makes reference to paragraphs and allegations contained in the First Amended Complaint. (See Doc. 33-2, ¶¶ 12, 16, 20, 25.) Whether this is a typographical error or whether Plaintiffs are attempting to reference the prior pleading in their proposed amended pleading, this is impermissible. Any amended pleading must be complete in itself without reference to prior pleadings. Local Rule 220 ("[E]very pleading to which an amended or supplement is permitted . . . shall be retyped and filed so that it is complete in itself without reference to the prior or superseded pleading."). The Court will not permit the proposed SAC to be filed until this deficiency is corrected. Moreover, it appears that Defendants Jesus Hernandez and Nick Rojas have not been served with the FAC even though the FAC was filed on June 30, 2010. (Doc. 17.) The proposed SAC names them as Defendants. Pursuant to Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, where a defendant is not served within 120 days of the complaint being filed, the court must dismiss the action without prejudice as to that defendant or order that service of the complaint be completed within a specified time. Accordingly, service of the FAC must be effected on or before April 18, 2011, with respect to these Defendants, or the Court will recommend dismissal of Defendants Jesus Hernandez and Nick Rojas. Any renewed motion to amend the complaint shall address the status of service with regard to Defendants Hernandez and Rojas. III. CONCLUSION

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT: 1. 2. 3. Plaintiffs' motion to amend the complaint is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE; The April 20, 2011, hearing on Plaintiffs' motion is VACATED; Plaintiffs may renew their motion to amend the complaint on or before April 20, 2011; As Plaintiffs represent that they have agreed to dismiss Defendants Brian Esteves and Felix Gonzalez, Plaintiffs and Defendants shall file a stipulation for dismissal of said Defendants pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41 and shall submit a proposed order to Judge O'Neill via email at [e-mail]; and 3

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4.

Plaintiffs shall complete service of process with respect to Defendants Jesus Hernandez and Nick Rojas on or before April 18, 2011, or the Court will recommend that the claims against these Defendants be dismissed.

IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: ie14hj April 7, 2011 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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