The Estate of Andrew Tyler Pennington v. Southern Motion, Inc.

Filing 50

ORDER granting 49 Motion for Entry of Final Judgment. Signed by District Judge Debra M. Brown on 12/6/17. (jla)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
ABERDEEN DIVISION
THE ESTATE OF ANDREW TYLER
PENNINGTON, DECEASED

PLAINTIFF

V.

NO. 1:16-CV-110-DMB-DAS

SOUTHERN MOTION, INC.

DEFENDANT

ORDER
On June 23, 2016, the Estate of Andrew Tyler Pennington filed a complaint against
Southern Motion, Inc. alleging “discrimination based on sex and pregnancy” in violation of Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. Doc. #1.
On November 9, 2016, Southern Motion, after answering the complaint, filed a motion for
judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Rule 12(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Doc.
#15.
On September 6, 2017, the Court granted the motion for judgment on the pleadings because
the Estate “failed to assert sufficient facts to plausibly suggest that Pennington was treated less
favorably than those outside his protected class.” Doc. #48 at 9. Based on this pleading deficiency,
the Court dismissed the Estate’s claims with leave to file an amended complaint within twentyone days of the order. Id. at 9–10.
On September 22, 2017, the Estate filed a “Motion for Entry of Final Judgment.” Doc.
#49. The Estate represents in the motion that it cannot amend the complaint to state a claim
pursuant to the Court’s ruling “consistent with [its] counsel’s obligation under Fed. R. Civ. P. 11.”
Id. at ¶¶ 2, 4. The Estate further represents that it “intends to appeal the [September 6, 2017] Order
to the Fifth Circuit. However, a dismissal of Plaintiff’s claims without prejudice, with allowance
to amend the Complaint to plead additional facts, is not a final appealable judgment.” Id. at ¶ 3.

“Plaintiff moves the Court to enter a Final Judgment so that Plaintiff may perfect an appeal.” Id.
at ¶ 4. According to the Estate, Southern Motion does not oppose the entry of a final judgment.
Id. at ¶ 5.
Where, as here, a complaint has been dismissed with leave to amend, “a plaintiff may
obtain an appealable final judgment by filing in writing a notice of intent to not to file an amended
complaint.” Edwards v. Marin Park, Inc., 356 F.3d 1058, 1063 (9th Cir. 2004) (quotation marks
and alterations omitted). Because the Estate will not amend its complaint, a final judgment should
be entered. Accordingly, the Estate’s motion for entry of final judgment [49] is GRANTED. A
final judgment will be separately issued.
SO ORDERED, this 6th day of December, 2017.
/s/Debra M. Brown
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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