Sladek et al v. Bank of America, N.A. et al

Filing 124

ORDER granting 117 Motion to Strike. The Court directs the Clerk of the Court to strike the Notice (docket #116) from the record by Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty on 09/16/14.(jhawk, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
Civil Action No. 13-cv-03094-PAB-MEH
DIANA SLADEK, and
DENNIS SLADEK,
Plaintiffs,
v.
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
ARONOWITZ & MECKLENBURG,
ROBERT J. ARONOWITZ,
THOMAS MOWLE, and
MERS, a division of MERSCORP,
Defendants.

ORDER ON MOTION TO STRIKE

Michael E. Hegarty, United States Magistrate Judge.
Before the Court is a Motion to Strike Plaintiffs’ Notice (Docket #116) filed by defense
counsel Catherine Hildreth [filed August 27, 2014; docket #117]. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
636(b)(1)(A) and D.C. Colo. LCivR 72.1C, this matter has been referred to this Court for disposition
[docket #118]. The motion is sufficiently briefed, and the Court finds that oral argument would not
assist the Court in its consideration of this matter. For the reasons that follow, the Court grants the
motion as follows.
BACKGROUND
On April 16, 2014, this Court granted the Plaintiffs’ request to file a Second Amended
Complaint [docket #42], which was filed April 25, 2014 [docket #52]. Essentially, Plaintiffs claim
that Defendants violated the due process and equal protection clauses of the 5th and 14th
Amendments, as well as the restraint of trade clause of Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.

See docket #52. In addition, the Plaintiffs challenge the constitutionality of Colo. Rev. Stat. § 3838-101, et seq., seek a calculation of mortgage payments, and request an order nullifying the
foreclosure of their former residence. Id. Defendant Mowle, El Paso County Trustee, responded
to the Second Amended Complaint on May 8, 2014 by filing a motion to dismiss for lack of subject
matter jurisdiction. See docket #54. The remaining Defendants filed a “joint” motion to dismiss
asserting that the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction and that the Plaintiffs fail to state claims
for relief pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). Docket #70. Defendants’ motions were referred to
this Court for Report and Recommendation. This Court recommended that the District Court grant
Defendant Mowle’s motion on July 10, 2014 (docket #94) and grant the remaining Defendants’
motion on July 30, 2014 (docket #109). Those recommendations remain pending before the District
Court.
On August 21, 2014, without permission or request from the Court, Plaintiffs filed a “Notice
to Court of Unethical Conduct by Defendant’s Counsel” (docket #116). Plaintiffs assert that a
settlement conference was held at the El Paso County Courthouse on August 14, 2014, during which
defense counsel, Ms. Hildreth, told Plaintiff Dennis Sladek that “she had spoken with the
bankruptcy attorney back east and he stated that ‘he was not happy with the pleading that Sladek
had filed and that he held Sladek in low regard.’” Notice, ¶ 3, docket #116 at 1. Plaintiffs contend
that they later learned from the bankruptcy attorney that he had never spoken with another attorney
in Denver other than Plaintiff Dennis Sladek. Id., ¶ 5. Plaintiffs contend that “Hildreth lied in an
attempt to wrongly influence Sladek,” and they “ha[ve] no other option but to report this to the
proper authorities[.]” Id., ¶ 6.
In the present motion, Ms. Hildreth argues that the Notice should be stricken as not
permitted by Court order or rules. Alternatively, Ms. Hildreth claims that the Notice is meant only

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to harass her as it seeks no relief from the Court, the alleged conduct occurred during an eviction
matter in state court, and the Notice “misrepresent[s] the contents of a discussion within the context
of a settlement conference and assert[s] ethical violations without any support therefore [sic].”
Motion, ¶¶ 9, 10, docket #117. Plaintiffs respond that Ms. Hildreth did not address the truthfulness
of the challenged statement and, thus, it is “an admission.” Response, ¶ 1, docket #123. Plaintiffs
also assert that the notice was meant “only to advise the Court as to the actions of counsel” in
making allegedly false statements “in an attempt to gain some advantage in a settlement
conference.” Id., ¶2.
The present motion is brought pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(f). Rule 12(f) permits the Court
to “strike from a pleading an insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or
scandalous matter.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(f). “The purpose of Rule 12(f) is to save the time and
money that would be spent litigating issues that will not affect the outcome of the case.” Kimpton
Hotel & Rest. Group, LLC v. Monaco Inn, Inc., No. 07-cv-01514-WDM, 2008 WL 140488, at *1
(D. Colo. Jan. 11, 2008) (citing United States v. Shell Oil Co., 605 F. Supp. 1064, 1085 (D. Colo.
1985)). Striking a portion of a pleading is a drastic remedy; the federal courts generally view
motions to strike with disfavor and infrequently grant such requests. 5C Arthur R. Miller & Mary
Kay Kane, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1380 (3d ed. 2011).
Generally, motions, briefs, and memoranda may not be attacked by a motion to strike. Ysais
v. New Mexico Judicial Standard Comm’n, 616 F. Supp. 2d 1176, 1184 (D.N.M. 2009). However,
“a Court may choose to strike a filing that is not allowed by local rule, such as a surreply filed
without leave of court.” Id. (citations and internal quotations omitted).
Here, the Plaintiffs have failed to show that their Notice, simply advising the Court of
opposing counsel’s alleged conduct without seeking relief or leave of Court, is permitted by the

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federal or local rules. Plaintiffs also fail to explain the relevance of the Notice’s contents to this
case. Accordingly, the Court finds the Notice is immaterial to the proceedings of this case and
directs the Clerk of the Court to strike the Notice (docket #116) from the record.
Accordingly, for the reasons stated above, it is hereby ORDERED that Motion to Strike
Plaintiffs’ Notice (Docket #116) filed by defense counsel Catherine Hildreth [filed August 27, 2014;
docket #117] is granted. The Court directs the Clerk of the Court to strike the Notice (docket
#116) from the record.
Dated at Denver, Colorado, this 16th day of September, 2014.
BY THE COURT:

Michael E. Hegarty
United States Magistrate Judge

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