Dyson v. Donahoe et al

Filing 82

OPINION AND ORDER: GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART 74 MOTION to Strike Defendant's Answers and Affirmative Defenses to Plaintiff's Modified Verified Third Amended Complaint Pursuant to FRCP Rule 12(f) by Plaintiff David R Dyson and STRIKING portions of the Answer and Affirmative Defenses 72 as set forth in this Opinion and Order. The Court GRANTS Defendant up to and including 6/23/2016, to FILE an Amended Answer as set forth herein. Signed by Magistrate Judge Paul R Cherry on 6/10/2016. (lhc)(cc: Dyson)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
HAMMOND DIVISION
DAVID DYSON,
Plaintiff,
v.
MEGAN J. BRENNAN, Postmaster General,
Defendant.

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CAUSE NO.: 2:14-CV-389-PRC

OPINION AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff’s Motion to Strike Defendant’s Answers and
Affirmative Defenses to Plaintiff’s Modified Verified Third Amended Complaint Pursuant to FRCP
Rule 12(f) [DE 74], filed by Plaintiff, pro se, on May 9, 2016. The Government filed a response on
May 27, 2016, and Plaintiff filed a reply on June 6, 2016.
On April 4, 2016, Plaintiff filed a Third Amended Complaint containing 79 paragraphs. On
April 22, 2016, Defendant filed an Answer. In his motion, Plaintiff asks the Court to strike numerous
paragraphs of Defendant’s Answer as well as all of Defendant’s Affirmative Defenses.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f) provides that the Court “may strike from a pleading
an insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter.” Fed. R.
Civ. P. 12(f). Motions to strike are generally disfavored because such motions often only delay the
proceedings. See Heller Fin., Inc. v. Midwhey Powder Co., Inc., 883 F.2d 1286, 1294 (7th Cir.
1989). However, if the motion removes unnecessary clutter from the case, then the motion serves
to expedite, not delay, the proceedings. Id.
A. Answer
Plaintiff asks the Court to strike Defendant’s answers to paragraphs 7, 8, 12,13, 17, 18, 20,
21, 22, 23, 25, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 43, 49, 50, 51, 53, and 56. Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure 8(b) provides that, “in responding to a pleading, a party must . . . state in short and plain
terms its defenses to each claim asserted against it; and . . . admit or deny the allegations asserted
against it by an opposing party.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(b)(1). The rule also provides, “A party that lacks
knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the truth of an allegation must so state,
and the statement has the effect of a denial.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(b)(6). The Court considers each of
Plaintiff’s arguments in turn.
1.

Use of “Avers”
Plaintiff asks the Court to strike the answers to Paragraphs 7, 8, 17, 18, 20, 21, 25, 29, 32,

33, 34, 35, and 38 because the paragraphs use the word “avers” instead of “admits.” See Fed. R. Civ.
P. 8(b)(1)(B). In almost all instances, Defendant uses the word “avers” when instead Defendant
should use the word “admit” because in using the word “avers” Defendant is agreeing with an
allegation taken directly from the paragraph of Plaintiff’s Third Amended Complaint. However, the
word “avers” is properly used in the first sentence of paragraphs 34 and 35 of the Answer because
those sentences are factual allegations made by Defendant that are not contained in Plaintiff’s
paragraphs 34 and 35.
Therefore, the Court grants the Motion to Strike, in part, and strikes those portions of
Paragraphs 7, 8, 17, 18, 20, 21, 25, 29, 32, 33, and 38 that use the word “aver” instead of “admit”
to agree with an allegation of Plaintiff’s Third Amended Complaint. Defendant is granted leave to
file an Amended Answer to change “aver” to “admit” where necessary. The Court denies the Motion
to Strike on this basis as to the first sentences in Paragraphs 34 and 35.

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2.

Rule 11
Plaintiff cites Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 not as a basis for requesting sanctions but

to note that an attorney’s signature is a certification of the factual contentions in the pleading.
Federal Rule 11(b) provides:
(b) Representations to the Court. By presenting to the court a pleading, written
motion, or other paper--whether by signing, filing, submitting, or later advocating
it--an attorney or unrepresented party certifies that to the best of the person's
knowledge, information, and belief, formed after an inquiry reasonable under the
circumstances:
(1) it is not being presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass,
cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of litigation;
(2) the claims, defenses, and other legal contentions are warranted by
existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument for extending, modifying, or
reversing existing law or for establishing new law;
(3) the factual contentions have evidentiary support or, if specifically so
identified, will likely have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity
for further investigation or discovery; and
(4) the denials of factual contentions are warranted on the evidence or, if
specifically so identified, are reasonably based on belief or a lack of
information.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(b).
To assess the reasonableness of a party’s inquiry into the factual basis of its claims, the test
is whether “competent attorneys performing a reasonable investigation could not have believed in
the merit of the position taken in the complaint.” Harlyn Sales Corp. Profit Sharing Plan v. Kemper
Fin. Servs., Inc., 9 F.3d 1263, 1269 (7th Cir. 1993). Courts consider several other factors such as
“whether the signer of the documents had sufficient time for investigation; the extent to which the
attorney had to rely on his or her client for the factual foundation underlying the pleading, motion
or other paper; whether the case was accepted from another attorney; the complexity of the facts and
the attorney’s ability to do a sufficient pre-filing investigation; and whether discovery would have

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been beneficial to the development of the underlying facts.” Brown v. Fed’n of State Med. Bds., 830
F.2d 1429, 1435 (7th Cir. 1987).
Plaintiff argues that the second sentence of Paragraphs 7, 12, 13, 18, 21, 22, 34, 35, 37, 43,
and 49 should be stricken because they claim lack of knowledge or information sufficient to form
a belief about the truth of the allegation and therefore deny the allegations. Plaintiff reasons that
defense counsel has been in possession of the original complaint for two years, had access to
Plaintiff’s personnel file, and could have reviewed the underlying EEO Complaint. Defendant
responds that her answers are accurate and consistent with the recollection of the managers and
supervisors involved in the relevant events. Many of these allegations refer to events, including
conversations, that may have only limited related documentation in Plaintiff’s personnel file or
administrative proceedings.
At this stage of the litigation, with no factual development through discovery, the Court finds
that Defendant’s answers are relevant to the subject matter of each allegation and sufficiently
respond to the allegations. The answers appear consistent with the “reasonable inquiry” expected
at this stage of the litigation and will permit Plaintiff to pursue discovery. The Court denies the
Motion to Strike on this basis.
3.

Allegations Supported by Exculpatory Evidence
Next, Plaintiff argues that Paragraphs 23, 29, 31, 39, 43, 50, 51, 53, and 56 of the Third

Amended Complaint are supported by “exculpatory documentary evidence” that comes from either
the underlying EEO Administrative review file or Plaintiff’s personnel file. In the answer to each
of these paragraphs, Defendant either denied the statement or claimed lack of knowledge or

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information sufficient to form a belief. Plaintiff contends that Defendant’s answers defy logic given
the documentary evidence that supports each allegation.
Defendant responds that Plaintiff cannot seek to strike Defendant’s responses simply because
Plaintiff disagrees with the responses. Defendant further states that some of the referenced exhibits
were of poor copy quality making it difficult to discern signatures, dates, and whether the document
was a final copy or a draft. Defendant represents that her responses reflect her different
interpretation of the documents. Defendant also notes that her investigation continues regarding the
circumstances related to the documented events.
The Court finds that Defendant has provided a response to each of the identified paragraphs
that complies with Rule 8. The fact that Plaintiff disputes Defendant’s responses or the veracity of
the responses is not a basis for striking them. The Court denies the Motion to Strike Paragraphs 23,
29, 31, 39, 43, 50, 51, 53, and 56 of the Answer.
4.

Paragraph 49
Plaintiff argues that Defendant failed to provide any answer to Paragraph 49 of the Third

Amended Complaint. This is incorrect. Defendant answered Paragraph 49. The Court denies the
Motion to Strike on this basis.
5.

Paragraphs 34 and 35
Plaintiff asks the Court to strike Paragraphs 34 and 35 of the Answer as not relevant. Having

reviewed the paragraphs, the Court finds that the additional information contained in the paragraphs
is relevant to the subject matter, provides clarification, and does not prejudice Plaintiff. The Court
denies the Motion to Strike on this basis.

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B. Affirmative Defenses
“Affirmative defenses are pleadings and, therefore, are subject to all pleading requirements
of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure” and “must set forth a ‘short and plain statement’ of the
defense.” Heller, 883 F.2d at 1294 (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)).
Plaintiff asks the Court to strike all eight of Defendant’s affirmative defenses, arguing that
they are not applicable to this matter. Plaintiff cites Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 8(c) and 12(b)
as setting forth the affirmative defenses that are available to be asserted. Defendant represents in its
response brief that it does not object to striking Affirmative Defenses 1, 7, and 8. Accordingly, the
Court grants the Motion to Strike as to those three defenses and strikes Affirmative Defenses 1, 7,
and 8. The Court considers the remaining arguments in turn.
Affirmative Defense 2 provides: “Defendant denies that Bernyce Thompson is a defendant
in this case. Plaintiff’s Third amended complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be
granted against Bernyce Thompson.” Plaintiff argues that reference to Bernyce Thompson as a
“defendant” was an inadvertent error when he drafted the Third Amended Complaint. Defendant
responds that, because Plaintiff is pro se, Defendant did not move to strike the reference but rather
preserved the defense based on the language of the Amended Complaint. “Failure to state a claim”
is a recognized defense under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), and Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 12(h)(2) provides that the defense may be brought either in a pleading or by motion. The
Court denies the Motion to Strike as to Affirmative Defense 2.
Affirmative Defense 3 provides: “Plaintiff’s Third Amended Complaint fails to state a claim
or any claim upon which relief can be granted.” Plaintiff argues that Defendant has not sufficiently
alleged facts in support of this claim. Although “failure to state a claim” is a recognized defense

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under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(h)(2)
provides that the defense may be brought either in a pleading or by motion, Defendant has not
pleaded any facts in support. Thus, the defense is insufficiently pleaded. The Court grants the
Motion to Strike in part and strikes Affirmative Defense 3.
Affirmative Defense 4 provides: “Plaintiff’s claims are limited to the allegations set forth and
exhausted in his administrative EEO complaint.” Plaintiff’s motion essentially asserts that, because
he exhausted his administrative remedies, the affirmative defense should be stricken. A motion to
strike is not the proper vehicle for addressing the merits of a defense. Affirmative Defense 4 puts
Plaintiff on notice that some or all of his claims may be barred from consideration in this lawsuit.
The Court denies the Motion to Strike as to Affirmative Defense 4.
Affirmative Defense 5 provides: “Plaintiff’s claims are barred to the extent that they are
untimely.” Plaintiff argues that his lawsuit was commenced within 90 days of receiving the EEOC
Right to Sue letter. Defendant notes that Plaintiff’s Third Amended Complaint alleges several dates
and claims. Again, Plaintiff’s challenge on the merits of the affirmative defense is not properly
brought in this motion. The Court denies the Motion to Strike as to Affirmative Defense 5.
Finally, Affirmative Defense 6 provides: “Plaintiff cannot establish a prima facie case in his
causes of action.” Plaintiff argues that, once Defendant files a proper Answer, his prima facie case
will be established. Again, Plaintiff’s challenge on the merits of the affirmative defense is not
properly brought in this motion. The Court denies the Motion to Strike as to Affirmative Defense
6.

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CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, the Court hereby GRANTS in part and DENIES in part Plaintiff’s
Motion to Strike Defendant’s Answers and Affirmative Defenses to Plaintiff’s Modified Verified
Third Amended Complaint Pursuant to FRCP Rule 12(f) [DE 74] and STRIKES portions of the
Answer and Affirmative Defenses [72] as set forth in this Opinion and Order. The Court GRANTS
Defendant up to and including June 23, 2016, to FILE an Amended Answer as set forth above.
SO ORDERED this 10th day of June, 2016.
s/ Paul R. Cherry
MAGISTRATE JUDGE PAUL R. CHERRY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
cc:

Pro se Plaintiff

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