Columbian Financial Corporation et al v. Stork et al

Filing 101

ORDER granting 95 Motion for Substitution of Parties. See order for details. Signed by Magistrate Judge K. Gary Sebelius on 10/13/2017. (wh)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS
COLUMBIAN FINANCIAL
CORPORATION,
Plaintiff,
v.
JUDI M. STORK, et al.,
Defendants.

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Case No. 14-2168-SAC

ORDER
This matter comes before the court upon plaintiff’s Motion for Substitution of Parties
under Fed.R.Civ.P. 25(d)(ECF No. 95). For the following reasons, this motion is granted.
I.
In this action, plaintiff asserts due process claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Judi M.
Stork, in her official capacity as Deputy Bank Commissioner of Kansas, and Deryl Schuster in
his official capacity as Bank Commissioner of Kansas.

In this motion, plaintiff seeks to

substitute parties because Stork and Schuster have resigned their positions and been replaced.
Plaintiff seeks to substitute Michelle W. Bowman as the Bank Commissioner of Kansas and
Jennifer Cook as the Deputy Bank Commissioner of Kansas.
In response, defendants acknowledge that Stork and Schuster have resigned from their
respective positions and they do not oppose the substitution of Bowman for Schuster. But,
defendants contend that Cook should not be substituted for Stork, because Cook is the Deputy
Bank Commissioner of the Division of Consumer Mortgage Lending. Defendants argue that this
position is not related to any of the claims plaintiff has made in this action. Defendants point out
that the position previously occupied by Stork is now vacant. In reply, plaintiff notes that it is

unable to affirm or dispute defendants’ factual contentions. Plaintiff suggests that its claims
against the Deputy Bank Commissioner of Kansas in his or her official capacity should be
maintained against the official title until it can determined whether Cook is the proper successor,
or until Stork’s prior position is filled.
II.
If an action is brought against a public officer in the officer’s official capacity, the action
does not abate if the officer dies, resigns, or otherwise ceases to hold office.1 The successor is
automatically substituted as a party.2 The rule permits the automatic substitution of both federal
and state officers.3 A public officer who is sued in his official capacity may be designated by
official title rather than by name.4 When suit is against the officer by title, rather than by name,
the name can be added at any time if it seems necessary or desirable to do so. The manipulation
of names is merely a technicality that should not interfere with substantial rights.5
III.
The court shall grant plaintiff’s motion. Substitution is appropriate because the current
defendants have resigned from their positions. The court shall substitute Bowman for Shuster as
Bank Commissioner of Kansas.

The court shall substitute the position of Deputy Bank

Commissioner for Stork. The court shall later add the name of the Deputy Bank Commissioner
if it becomes necessary or desirable to do so.
Accordingly,
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that plaintiff’s Motion for Substitution of Parties
under Fed.R.Civ.P. 25(d)(ECF No. 95) is granted.
1

Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d).
Id.
3
Society of Separationists v. Pleasant Grove City, 416 F.3d 1239, 1241 n. 2 (10th Cir. 2005).
4
Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(d).
5
Echevarria-Gonzalez v. Gonzalez-Chapel, 849 F.2d 24, 31 (1st Cir. 1988).
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IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated October 13, 2017, at Topeka, Kansas.

s/ K. Gary Sebelius
K. Gary Sebelius
U.S. Magistrate Judge

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