Shales et al v. R.A. Bright Construction, Inc. et al

Filing 25

MEMORANDUM Order Signed by the Honorable Milton I. Shadur on 10/29/2009:Mailed notice(srn, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS EASTERN DIVISION MIKE SHALES, et al., Plaintiffs, v. R.A. BRIGHT CONSTRUCTION, INC., et al., Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

No.

09 C 6191

MEMORANDUM ORDER In response to this Court's brief October 20, 2009 memorandum order ("Order") that identified what it characterized as a "problematic aspect" of their original jointly filed Answer in this ERISA action, codefendants R.A. Bright Construction, Inc. ("R.A. Bright") and Route 66 Construction Company ("Route 66")--still represented by the same law firm--have now filed a joint Amended Answer. That new pleading has cured the specific

flaw identified in the Order, but the alternative pleading mode adopted by defense counsel in the Amended Answer reflects some lack of thought on the part of the pleader. Instead of one defendant not responding to a Complaint allegation that mentions only the other defendant (as had been done in the original Answer), now each defendant has appropriately responded to each allegation in the Complaint. in so doing, the unnamed defendant typically voices the disclaimer that is prescribed by Fed. R. Civ. P. ("Rule") 8(b)(5) as the predicate for a deemed denial--thus, for example, R.A. But

Bright admits the allegations in Complaint ¶2 while Route 66 invokes that disclaimer provision. That seems plainly wrong when, as here, defendants share the same counsel. After all, lawyers are authorized agents for their And if one client admits an

clients for litigation purposes.

allegation, the other can hardly claim that it lacks even information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of that allegation (unless, that is, the client doesn't trust its lawyer!). Matters may be a bit more complex where one client flatly denies (rather than admits) a complaint allegation, but normally parity of reasoning would seem to control that situation as well. That is something that defense counsel ought to mull over and discuss with the clients. Although this Court is reluctant to send counsel back to the drawing board once again, there is a positive benefit to be derived where an allegation is flat-out admitted. It obviates

any need for discovery on the issue, as well as simplifying the proof at trial to the same extent. Accordingly defense counsel

are invited to cure the defect identified here at their early convenience. ________________________________________ Milton I. Shadur Senior United States District Judge Date: October 29, 2009

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