State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company v. United States Solicitor General et al

Filing 16

ORDER Granting 11 Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction. Complaint is dismissed without prejudice. Signed by Judge Robert C. Jones on 11/30/09. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - AXM)

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9 STATE FARM MUTUALAUTOMOBI E L ) I SURANCE COMPANY, subr geef r ) N as o o

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1 SHARON I ELAND,asan idiiual 3 R n vd ; ) UNI ED STATES SOLI I OR GENERAL; ) T CT

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Def ndant . e s

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P l i tf St t Far M ut al om obie I sur nce Co. i d t i I w sui as subr gee f r a n if a e m u Aut ln a fl h s a e t o o

Jeanni Studas,agai stDef ndant Shar n lel nd, he U, ,Sol iorGener l and Does er n e s o ra t S it c a,

I X, asserig cl i s f r negl ence, negl ent entus m ent and r spondeat superor t n am o i g i g rt , e i.

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Pr sentybef r t eCour i Def ndant' e l oe h ts e s unopposedMotont Dimis(/ 1 .OnNovember i o s s /1 )
11, 2009,t e Cour hel a hearng ont i moton.The Pl i t# di notappear The Cour has h td i hs i a ni d . t
consi er d t e m otons, i f , eadi gs, or l gum entand i sues t e f lo i g or er deh i bre s pl n and a ar s h o lw n d .

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I I HEREBY O RDERED t atDef ndant ' i n t di m i si G RANTED and t ecom pl it TS h e s moto o s s s h an

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i DI MI SED i iseniet wihoutprjdie. sSS n t tr y t eu c
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1 BACKGROUND . 26
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Thi materarsesout acaracci ent Pl i tf St t Far Aut m obie I sur nce Co. sti of d . an i a e m f o ln a .

(stt Fa m', lgesDe e d nt a onIea d n gl en l c u e ana cd n r s ln i ' a e r )al t e f n a Sh r r ln e i t a s d c ie t e ut g n gy i
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1 damage t Jeanni Studas'vehil . ( ef' Mot t Dimis ( 11)3:-11) Studaswas o er ce D . s .o s s # 8 .r 2 isur d bySt t Far .(d. 3:0-11) Stt Far al gesIelndwasacigi t esc pe ne ae m I at 1 . ae m l e ra tn n h o 3 ofheremplym entfrDef ndantU. .Sol i rGener l(sol i rGener l) and oper tng o oe S it co a,d i t ' co a', ai 4 a v hil r git r dt t e Solct rGener l t etme oft e ac ient (d.at3:-14) e ce e se e o h iio a at h i h cd . / 8.
5 St t Far sued lel nd and t e Sol iorGener l St t Far al o named Does I X ae m ra h it c a. ae m s -

6 asdef ndant .Ld.at3-7) OnNovember2O,2007,Def ndant r movedt f der lcour. e sl . e se oe a t

7 (d. t1 -1 ) I a 5 7.
8 On December 7,2007,Def ndant not d i t ei st t m ent of r m oval t at t e e s e n h r ae e hh
9 sum m ons and c m pl i thad notbeen ser ed on t e Unted St t s Ator ey ort e Ator ey o an v h i ae t n h tn

1 Gener lort e UniedStt s.( t t mentofRemoval( 5)1:4-26) Theyalostt dt at 0 af h t a e S ae #2 . s ae h ,
11 based On i f r aton and bel f ser i e had not been m ade on lel nd or t e Solc t r no m i i , vc e ra h i io

1 Generl (d.a 26-2:) Def ndant sat t atPlitfj iedi asat menthatseriehad 2 a. I t 2. e s t e h an ifon n t e t vc l notbeen pedeced on December17, 3 t 2007.( ef' Mott Dim is( 11)3: 1 23) Butt e D. s .o s s # 2 - . ,h

1 j itsaus r por me el r f r t t e Uni d Stt s sat men t a s r ie h d n tb en 4 on t t e t r y e e s o h t a e ' t e t h t e vc a o e e I pe f ce on Dec mb r7, 07.(oitSt t sRe o t( 6)2:-6) Ido sn tr as ed t a 5 re td e e 20 J n au p r # 4 . t e o e s h t
1 ser i e has notbeen perect d. 6 vc fe

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O n O ct ber23, o 2008, he Cl r oft i Cour not i d St t Far t ati woul m ake an t e k hs t ie f ae mh t d

1 appl aton t t e cour f rdi m i salf rwantofpr secuton i no acton was t ken wihi 30 8 i i oh c to s s o o if i a tn

1 days. ( otc (/ ).Appar nty,t e Clr di notf l w t r ughon t i.Acc r ig t te 9 N ie /7 ) e l h ek d ol ho o hs o dn o h
2 Doc et no sum m ons has been s l ed t t e Unied St t s Ator ey' Ogi e f rt e Di ti t 0 k, ev oh t ae tn s coh s rc

21 ofNevada orte Ator eyGener lf rt e Unied St t s, ( ee alo Def' Mot t Dim is h tn aoh t ae S s . s .o s s 2 ( 11 Ex.B $1 4 4 5) St t Far has l td te dat s ofser ie f reach def ndantas 2#) 1 % . ae m ie h s e vc o e

2 ' n n wn. ( IsStt men (/ 0)3:0 11 .Amon t efl g ,sa sae s mmon dae 3 ' k o ' P . ae t /1 1 - ) u '' g h in s i t t u i s td 24 Sepember26,2007,buti i notclarwho,i any ne, ser ed wih i. ( ef' Pet f r t ts e f o was v tt D. s .o
25 Removal( 1)Ex.1) # .
2 // 6/ 27 // / 28 // /

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On May 7,2009,t e Def ndant fld t i moton t dimis f rIckofj rsditon, h e s i hs i o s s o a e ui ci

2 i pr pers r i e,and f iur t st t a cl i . St t Far has notfl d an opposii n, O n mo e vc al e o a e am ae m i e to 3 Nov m ber 16,2009,t e Cour hel a hearng on Def ndant 'm oton. St t Far di not e h td i e s i ae md 4 appear . 5 I. LEOAU STANDARD I

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De r d n smu tb s r e i a c r an eFi Rul 4( ) t e Fe er l f q a t s e e v d n c o d c t e d of h d a h RulsofCllPr cedur ?orher i noperonalursditon.RuI 4( )pr vijs e vl o e t es s j l ci e a od t at def ndant m ust be per onal ser ed or ser ed i cor pl nc wlh h e s sl yv v n pi e t a at r a iesI t di 4( )6) 4( )7 .Net e a t a no ien r mpl n mig l n t i e n d ( or d ( ) ih r cu l t o sl y a n evs c t ! peron i t e capton oft e c rpl itwil j c dpf ndant t peronal h s nh i h op a n ljube t e so s jrsditon iseriewasnotmade I subsanllcompl ncewi Rul 4. u l ci f vc n t ta l a te h
Jac son v Ha akawa,682 F.d 1 k .y 2 344,1347 ( t Ci.1982) 9h r .
Loc l Rul 7- pr vi es t at t e 'ai r of an opposi g pary t fl poi t and a e 2 od h h f le u n t o ie ns aut ortes i r sponse t any m o i n shal cons iu e a cons nt o t e gr n i g oft e m oton. h ii n e o to i tt t e t h a tn h i' '

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LR 7- .Tle ' aiur t f l w adititcour' lc lr lsi apr pergr undsf rdim isal' 2 n ' l e o ol X o src ts o a u e s o o o ss . ' Ghazalv. an, F.d52' ( t Ci. i Mor 46 3 53 9 h r1995) Bef r dimisigacas f rf iigt f l w . oe s s n e o aln o o l o 14 Icalr ls,te dititcoud mustweihfvef ct r :d1)t e publ ' it r sti expediius o ue h s rc g i a os ' h ( i s ne e n c to
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r solton ofIiaton'( )t e cour' need t manage isdocket ( )t e rs ofprj diet e ui ig i ,2 h t t s o t ; 3 h ik eu c o t edef ndant '4)t epublcpolc fvorng diposiin ofcasesont eimert ,and ( )te he s, h ( i iy a i s to h r is 5h avai bii oflssdr si s ncins. Henderon v.Dunc n,779 F.d 1421,1 23( t Ci. l ly e a tc a to ' at ' s a 2 4 9h r
1986)1 .
11 ANAu sl 1. ys

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Def ndant move t di m is cl i s agai stt e Solct rGener land lel nd under e s o s s am nh iio a ra

Rue1 ( )2) d( )o Ic of e s na j rs it nan is fiin s r ieo pr c s .Th y l 2 b ( an 5 f ra k p r o lu id ci d n ufce t e vc f o e s e o
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:Thi fve-act rjqal si appear i appr prat f r unopposed motonj t di m is si f o ys sn o ieo i o ss underFedeq lRul ofCllPr cedur 12( ) Thi i pr babl because iwasfrtadopt d a e vl o e b. s s o y t ls e 2 f rdet r i l g w het era sua spont di m i s l as appr prat f rf iur t pr sec t under o e m nn h e s saw o i e o al e o o u e 5 Rul 41( ) SeeHender onv.Duncan, F.d 1421,1 23( t Ci,1986)As t Cv tov, eb , h / ek s 779 2 4 9h r , . 26 739 F.d 493,496 ( t Ci.1984) The Nit Cicui i Ghaz l,stt d t att e fve-act r 2 9h r . nh r t n ai a e h h i f o anaIsi alo appled t unopposed motgnst dimisuqder12( )6) butdi notacual ys s io i oss b( , d tl y 2- appl t e f ct r i t atcase. l s ead,l c nduct d an I dependentr vi w f rabuse gf / y h a os n h nt to e n ee o
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di cr ton. 46 F. d at53. But many cours have si c f low ed Ghaz ls pr ceden l s ei 3 , t n e ol al e n tn
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2 cCli ur kip7h fefc retouoroe m tn td ms. e,..Wytc 8 ki n ta2jtei-606,608ttnq 2008)oi so i i See , sah 'rch o p F.App, t ts ( hCl. sd. o s s lp g s , aa vx o 9 p a gr
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move t dim ist e Doe def ndant underRul 12( )1)and ( )f rIckofsubec mater ossh e s e b( 6oa jt t

jrs it n a df i r t sae a cai u o whih r l fc n b g aned. u idci n al e o t t l m p n c e i a e r t o u e
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or em pl yee sued onl i an of cl lcapacl ,a pary m ust s r e t e Unied o yn ha t y t ev h t

Toser e aUniedSt t sarqnc orc r or ton, a Uni dSt t sofi er v t ae y o p a i or t e a e fc

St t s qnd alo send acopyoft e sumql ns aqd oft e c m pl i tby r gi t r d ae s h o h o an e se e
orc ril d mai t t & agenc ,c r or ton,o%cer orempl yee. e tfe lo h y o p al , o

Fed. Ci . 4()2) R. v P. i( . To ser ea Unied St t sofieroremplyeesued i an idiiualc paci f r v t ae fc o n n vd a t o ï 7 an ac oromi si n occuri g i c nnecton wih dutes pedor ed oq t e Unljd t so rn n o iti m h t St ts'behal( het erornott eofieroremplyee i alosued I anofill ae fw h h fc o ss n fca 8 capaciy) a pary mustsewe t e Uni d St t s and aio sere t e ofieror t, t h t e ae s ' h fc v emplyee underRul 4( ) () or( ) o e e ,f, g . Fed.R. v.P.4()3) Ci i( .
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To ser e t e Unied St t s,a pary m u t vh t ae t s:
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( )idelvera cogy gft esummonsandoft ecompl itt t e UniedStt s A () i h h an o h t je ator ey f rt e dltltwher t e ac i n i br ught ort an ass s antUnled t n o h s rc e h to s o - p it t
St t s ator ey or cl rcal em pl yee w hom t e U nled St t s ato r ey ae tn ei o h t ae tn desi nat s i a wrtng fl d wih t e cour cl r - or g en ii ie t h t ek

(is nd !c p o e c byr gse e orc rie malot e cvlp o es cer ie ) o y f a h e it r d e t id it h ii r c s l k f att e Unled St t s ator ey' ofi e; h t a e t n s fc

( )send j c pyofeachbyr git r d orceriid mait t e Ator eyGener l B o e se e te f lo h t n a
oft e U nl d St t s atW ashi gt n,D . . and h t e ae no C;

( )i te acin chal nges an or erofa nonpary agency orofieroft e C f h to l e d t fc h
Unied St t s, t a e send a c py ofeach by r git r d orcerii d mait t e agenc o e se e te f lo h y orofi er fc .

Fed.R.Ci.P. i( ) v 4()1 . I a def ndanti notser ed wihi 120 days afert e qompl i ti fl d,t e f e s v tn th an s i h ç coqd- o! moton gron is own a t rnotc t t e pl itf- m ustdi m ls t e ni t fe ie o h a n lf ssh
act n wlhoutpr udi e agai stt atdef ndantoror ert atser ie be made l o t qc nh e dh vc w ihi a speciid tm e. i t e pl i tf shows good caus f rt e f iur ,t e tn fe i But f h a n if e o h al e h cour m us ext nd t e tm e f rser i e f ran appr prat perod, t te hi o vc o o ie i

Fed.R.Ci.P. m) v 4( .
2 4 25 A . Solcior Gener l it a St t Far sued t e Sol ior G ener li her ofi i lcapaciy. To est blsh per onal ae m h it c an fc a t ai s

2 j r dit n, a e Fa m ' u ts r et e Untd St t san as s n ac pyo t es mmon 6 u i c i Stt r ' s e' h i so m v e a e d lo e d o f h u s
27 and oft e com pl i tby r git r d orcerii d mait 't e SolciorGener l Fed.R.Ci .P. h an e se e tfe ! o' h it a. v

2 4()2) App r n l, ae Fa m h sd n n i e ,Sic St t Fa m fe ic mpait nJ l 8 i( , a e t Stt r a o e et r n e ae r i d t o l n o uy y h l
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1 25,2007,mor t an t o year have pass d,wel overt e 1 O days t ser e a def ndan eh w s e l h2 ov e t

2 r quiedbyRul 4( ) Dimisal tou prj dieofhecli sagais t eSol iorGener l er e m . s s wih t eu c t am n th it c a
3 i pr per so , 4 B. Iel nd ra

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St t Far s ed lel nd i heri di i ual ae m u r a n n vd capact f rac i ns done i t e sc pe ofher iy o to nh o

6 emplymentf rt e Sol iorGener l To est blshperonalursditon, at Far ' us o oh it c a. ai s j i c i St e m ' t m 7 ser et e Unied St t san alo sere'Iel nd. Fed,R.Ci.P.4()3) Appar nty,St t vh t ae d s v 'r a v i( . e l ae
8 Far has done neiher Si ce St t Far fl d i c m pl i ton Jul 25,2007,m or t an t o m t.n ae m ie t o a n y eh w

9 y ar h v pa s d,welo ert e 1 0 da s t s r e a de e dan r q ie by Rue 4( ) e s ae se l v h 2 y o ev f n t e urd l m,
I Dimis lwihoutpr jdie oft ecl l sagaistlelnd i pr per 0 s sa t eu c h am n ra s o .
11 C. Doe def ndant e s

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Pl adi g fcttous Doe def ndant i i pr peri f der l e n i ii e ssm o n e a cour . Tur ert Count of os t n yL

1 Ang ls, 8 F d. ' 59 , 96( t Ci. 0 1 (Asage e alul ,h u eo Do pe dig 3 ee 1 e Appx 2 5 9 h r 2 0 ) ' ' n r r e t e s f e la n 1 i dif vor di fder l t'; az/sev. 4 s sa e n e a cour.l Gr o ' Amerc nHor? Pr duct Cor .202 F. . . ia r/ o s p , R D 638, i 643( .Nev. 5 D 2001)(lt er ar unknownper onsoreniis, 'f h e e s tte whose r l i known,t atf ct oe s ha
1 shoul be expr s ed i t e com pl i t buti i unnecessar and i pr pert i cl de ' oe' 6 d es n h an , ts y mo onu D 1 pari s i t e pl adi gs. Thi i no way pr ci des a pary' rght upon l ar i g of t e 7 te n h en sn eu ts i , e nn h

1 pariiaton ofaddii nal tes,oseekt amendt e complit( rans er and havet e 8 tcp i to pari t o h an o w) h 1 amendmentr lt backi tme t t eorgialiig it e cicumsancesj stf i.) A cli 9 e ae n i o h i n fln f h r t u iy t'. am '

2 a an tDoe ha n ef c i f de a c ur.Dimis l t ou prj dieo t ecai sag is 0 g is s s o f tn e r l o t s s a wi t eu c f h l m a n t e h
21 t e Doe def ndant i pr per. h e ss o

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D.

Fi e- act rAnal si vF o ys

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The fve-acoranalsi f v r dimisal 'Tq e publ ' it r s i expediius i ft y s a os s s . ' h ( i s nee t n c to

24 r sol ton ofI i aton al ay f vor di m i sal' Yoursh t Cal or i Am pl i r 1 1 F. d 983, e ui ig i t w sa s s s . ' i& i na f ie , 9 3 f

2 99O ( t Ci.1999) TheCour' need t manage isdoc eti manies .Def n an i woul 5 9h r . ts o t ks ft e d ts d 26 be prj died by f dherdely. Sice dim isali wihoutprj die,a diposiin on t e eu c u a n ss s t eu c s to h
27 m ert i s i possi l . is s tl l be
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I . Cosctusl N V o

Ac or igy,T I ORDERED t a Deen an' Mo int Dimis( 1 )i GRANTED. c dn l I S ht f d t t o s s #1 s so I I FURTHER ORDERED tatPlitf sc mpliti DI M I SED wihoutprj die. TS h an ir o a n s S S t eu c
D A TE D : s 30t day ofNovem ber 2009, Thi h ,

Rb ber c J8i -t

UNIED bT s DlTRl T J DGE T A scU

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