Ayotte et al v. USF&G Insurance Company et al

Filing 29

OPINION AND ORDER granting without prejudice 16 Motion to Dismiss. Plaintiffs have ten days to file an amended complaint. Signed by Judge Kenneth A. Marra on 5/13/2011. (ir)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
CASE NO. 10-81243-CIV-MARRA
HENRY AYOTTE, et al.,
Plaintiffs,
vs.
GEOVERA SPECIALTY
INSURANCE CO.,
Defendant.
_____________________________________/
OPINION AND ORDER
THIS CAUSE is before the Court upon the Motion to Dismiss of Defendant GeoVera
Specialty Insurance Company. (DE 16). The Motion is fully briefed and ripe for review. The
Court has carefully considered the briefing and is otherwise fully advised in the premises.
On October 22, 2010, Plaintiffs Henry Ayotte, John Philips, and Susan Rambusch,
individually and on behalf of all others situated (“Plaintiffs”), filed a class action complaint
against Defendants USF&G Insurance Company and the Travelers Companies, alleging causes of
action for declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as breach of contract. (DE 1). The Court sua
sponte ordered that the Complaint be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and
permitted Plaintiffs to file an amended complaint that rectified the jurisdictional deficiencies.
(DE 3).
On November 4, 2010, Plaintiffs filed their First Amended Complaint against the same
parties. (DE 4). United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company (“USF&GC”), Travelers
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Casualty, and The Travelers Companies, Inc., filed a Motion to Dismiss (DE 9). In the motion,
Defendants asserted that the incorrect parties had been named in the First Amended Complaint.
Three days later, Plaintiffs filed their Second Amended Complaint against “Geovera Specialty
Insurance Company f/k/a USF&G Specialty Insurance Company.” (DE 13). Plaintiffs did not
move for leave of the Court before filing the Second Amended complaint. On March 11, 2011,
GeoVera Specialty Insurance Company (“GeoVera”) moved to dismiss the Second Amended
Complaint on the basis that Plaintiffs never obtained leave of court to file the amended complaint
as required by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Plaintiffs did not properly serve
GeoVera. (DE 16).
Rule 15(a) provides that, after a party has already amended its pleading once as a matter
of course, it “may amend its pleading only with the opposing party’s written consent or the
court’s leave.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a). In this case, Plaintiffs amended their complaint a second
time without the written consent of the opposing party or the Court’s leave. Therefore, the
Second Amended Complaint shall be dismissed without prejudice.
GeoVera also argues that any further amendment would be untimely as the new pleading
would be served on GeoVera after the expiration of the 120-day deadline for service of process.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m) requires that the defendant must be served within 120 days
after the complaint is filed or the complaint must be dismissed. Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(m). The rule also
states, “[b]ut if the plaintiff shows good cause for the failure, the court must extend the time for
service for an appropriate period.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(m). Because of the confusion regarding the
proper party to be named in this case, the Court finds that good cause exists to allow service after
the 120 day time period imposed in Rule 4(m).
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Based on the foregoing, it is hereby ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that
1.

The Motion to Dismiss of Geovera Specialty Insurance Company (DE 16) is GRANTED
WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

2.

Plaintiffs have ten (10) days to file an amended complaint.

3.

Good cause exists for Plaintiffs to serve Defendant beyond the 120-day time frame
required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m).
DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County,

Florida, this 13th day of May, 2011.

_______________________________________
KENNETH A. MARRA
United States District Judge
Copies to:
Counsel of record

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