Pals et al v. Weekly et al

Filing 45

ORDER that Defendant's Motion to Strike (Filing No. 29 ) is denied. Defendant shall submit an answer to the Amended Complaint no later than July 21, 2017. Ordered by Magistrate Judge Susan M. Bazis. (LAC)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA
KATHRYNN PALS, as personal representative
of the Estate of Jamison B. Pals and personal
representative of the Estate of Ezra A. Pals; and
GORDON ENGEL, as personal representative
of the Estate of Kathryne L. Pals, personal
representative of the Estate of Violet J. Pals,
and personal representative of the Estate of
Calvin B. Pals;

8:17CV27
ORDER

Plaintiffs,
vs.
TONY WEEKLYJR., BOHREN LOGISTICS,
INC.,
INTERSTATE
HIGHWAY
CONSTRUCTION, INC., and D.P. SAWYER,
INC.,
Defendants.
This matter is before the Court on Defendant D.P. Sawyer, Inc.’s (“Defendant”) Motion
to Strike. (Filing No. 29.) Specifically, Defendant requests that the Court strike paragraphs 7985, 88-92, and 96-98 of Plaintiffs’ Amended Complaint pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 12(f). (Filing No. 19.) For the reasons set forth below, the motion will be denied.

DISCUSSION

This case arises out of a motor-vehicle accident which resulted in the deaths of Jamison
and Kathryne Pals, and their three children. Plaintiffs contend that Defendant is liable for the
wrongful deaths of the Pals family because Defendant failed to provide “warning signage
consistent with the [Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices] and consistent with applicable
industry standards for the purpose of protecting the driving public.” (Filing No. 19.)
Defendant maintains that certain paragraphs of Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint should be
stricken pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f).

Defendant argues that these

paragraphs are evidentiary in nature, not necessary to give Defendant “fair notice” of the claims
against it, and violate Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8’s requirement that allegations in a
pleading be simple, concise, and direct. Defendant contends that these paragraphs are prejudicial
because Defendant must choose between admitting irrelevant evidence and denying allegations
at the risk of sanctions under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11.

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f) provides that a court may strike from a pleading
“any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(f). Courts
enjoy liberal discretion in ruling on motions under Rule 12(f). BJC Health Systems v. Columbia
Casualty Company, 478 F.3d 908, 917 (8th Cir. 2007). However, the Eighth Circuit Court of
Appeals has found that “[d]espite this broad discretion . . . striking a party’s pleadings is an
extreme measure” and, thus, such motions are “viewed with disfavor and are infrequently
granted.” Stanbury Law Firm v. IRS, 221 F.3d 1059, 1063 (8th Cir. 2000) (quotation omitted).
Therefore, “even matters that are not strictly relevant to the principal claim at issue should not
necessarily be stricken, if they provide important context and background to claims asserted or
are relevant to some object of the pleader’s suit.”

Holt v. Quality Egg, LLC, 777 F. Supp.2d

1160, 1069 (N.D. Iowa 2011) (internal quotations omitted). Generally, “[t]o prevail on a motion
to strike text from the complaint, the movant must clearly show that the challenged matter has no
bearing on the subject matter of the litigation and that its inclusion will prejudice the movant.”
Super 8 Worldwide, Inc. v. Riro, Inc., No. 8:11CV319, 2011 WL 5827801, *2 (D. Neb. Nov. 18,
2011) (quotation omitted).

Defendant has not shown that the challenged allegations have no bearing on the subject
matter of this litigation or are otherwise redundant or scandalous. The assertions contained in the
paragraphs that Defendant requests be stricken are seemingly relevant to the elements of
Plaintiffs’ negligence claim. In summary, these paragraphs (1) discuss and quote portions of the
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (“MUTCD”); (2) discuss crash data for the
construction zone at issue in the accident; and/or (3) make accident causation assertions based on
the absence of certain signs in the construction zone. The paragraphs discussing and quoting the
MUTCD and crash data are apparently aimed at defining Defendant’s duty of care and

2

Defendant’s alleged failure to meet this burden. Likewise, paragraphs 96 and 97, which discuss
the absence of signage, seem to be directed towards the issue of causation.

Moreover, the Court is not convinced that Defendant would be prejudiced by responding
to these allegations. Although Defendant maintains that it faces a “Hobson’s choice” between
admitting irrelevant evidence and risking Rule 11 sanctions, Defendant has not shown that it
would actually be burdened by attempting to respond to the allegations. In fact, all other
defendants in this action have submitted answers to the Amended Complaint. (Filing No. 32;
Filing No. 33.) Given the circumstances presented here, and courts’ general disfavor of motions
to strike, Defendant’s motion will be denied.

Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED that Defendant’s Motion to Strike (Filing No. 29) is denied.
Defendant shall submit an answer to the Amended Complaint no later than July 21, 2017.
Dated this 7th day of July, 2017.
BY THE COURT:
s/ Susan M. Bazis
United States Magistrate Judge

3