Donaghe v. Lashway et al

Filing 38

ORDER denying 36 Motion to Substitute, by Magistrate Judge J Richard Creatura. Plaintiff may file a motion to amend the complaint for the purpose of adding this individual as a defendant on or before June 18, 2017. (GMR- cc: pltf)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT TACOMA

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SAM DONAGHE,

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Plaintiff,

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ORDER ON MOTION TO
SUBSTITUTE DEFENDANT

v.
PATRISHA LASHAWAY, KEVIN
QUIGLEY, et al.,
Defendants.

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CASE NO. 16-cv-5973-RJB-JRC

The District Court has referred this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights action to United
States Magistrate Judge J. Richard Creatura. The Court’s authority for the referral is 28
U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) and (B), and local Magistrate Judge Rules MJR3 and MJR4.

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Before the Court is plaintiff’s motion to substitute an individual as a defendant in
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his complaint. Dkt. 36. Defendants have not filed a response to plaintiff’s motion. See
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generally Dkt.
Because plaintiff has not alleged sufficient facts against this individual whom he

24 requests be added as a defendant to his complaint, his motion (Dkt. 36) is denied.

ORDER - 1

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Plaintiff requests that one named defendant -- his current therapist -- be

2 substituted for a different named defendant -- his former therapist. See Dkt. 36. However,
3 as these individuals are not public officers and do not “hold office,” a motion to substitute
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is not the proper mechanism to satisfy plaintiff’s request. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d)
(Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25(d) gives plaintiff the ability to substitute a public

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officer if the named defendant dies or otherwise ceases to hold office). Thus, Federal
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Rule of Civil Procedure 25(d) is not applicable in this circumstance. Instead, the Court
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will view plaintiff’s motion as a motion to amend the complaint.
STANDARD

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Under Rule 15(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,
(1) Amending as a Matter of Course
A party may amend its pleading once as a matter of course
within: (A) 21 days after serving it, or
(B) if the pleading is one to which a responsive pleading is
required, 21 days after service of a responsive pleading or 21
days after service of a motion under Rule 12(b), (e), or (f),
whichever is earlier.

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(2) Other Amendments

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In all other cases, a party may amend its pleading only with the
opposing party’s written consent or the court’s leave. The court
should freely give leave when justice so requires.

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20 Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a).
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DISCUSSION
Plaintiff has not filed his motion to substitute (or his previously filed motion to

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dismiss a defendant) within 21 days of effectuation of service of the complaint. The
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ORDER - 2

1 Order directing service was entered on December 6, 2016. Dkt. 6. The most recent and
2 final waiver of service of summons was mailed on February 13, 2017. See Dkt. 29, see
3 generally, Dkt. Plaintiff filed his motion to substitute on March 29, 2017. Similarly,
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defendants filed and served on the same day a motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed. R. Civ.
P. 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim on February 6, 2017, see Dkt. 26, and plaintiff’s

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March motions were not filed within twenty-one days of service of this motion to
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dismiss. See Dkt. 36. Therefore, plaintiff cannot amend his complaint as a matter of
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course. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(1).
Because defendants have not consented in writing to plaintiff’s motion to

11 substitute, which seeks to amend the complaint, plaintiff only can amend his complaint
12 with leave of the Court. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2).
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The Court should freely give leave “when justice so requires.” See id. However,

14 plaintiff’s motion to substitute does not include any facts or allegations related to the
15 defendant he seeks to substitute, other than that she is his therapist. See Dkt. 36, p. 1.
16 Plaintiff does not explain how simply being the therapist of an individual gives rise to
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any cause of action. Accordingly, plaintiff’s motion to substitute defendant (Dkt. 36) is
denied.

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This Order does not preclude plaintiff from filing a motion to amend the complaint
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to add this individual as a defendant, with a proposed amended complaint attached.
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However, if he chooses to file such a motion, plaintiff must provide allegations of fact
specific to the individual (Ms. Leslie Weir) and said alleged facts should demonstrate

24 how the individual has harmed plaintiff and should demonstrate how the individual’s

ORDER - 3

1 conduct has deprived plaintiff of rights, privileges or immunities secured by the
2 Constitution or laws of the United States. See Paratt v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527 (1981). The
3 allegations of fact must explain how the individual caused, or personally participated in
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causing, the harm alleged in the proposed first amended complaint. See Arnold v. IBM,
637 F.2d 1350, 1355 (9th Cir. 1981). For plaintiff’s motion to amend to be granted,

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plaintiff should provide “factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable
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inference that the [individual to be added as a defendant] is liable for the misconduct
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alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556,
570).
In addition, plaintiff is advised that if his motion to amend is granted, the amended

12 complaint will operate as a complete substitute for (rather than a mere supplement to) the
13 original complaint (Dkt. 5). In other words, an amended complaint supersedes the
14 original in its entirety, making the original as if it never existed. See Ferdik v. Bonzelet,
15 963 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992). Reference to a prior pleading or another document
16 is unacceptable – once plaintiff files an amended complaint, the original pleading or
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pleadings will no longer serve any function in this case.
If he choses to move to amend his complaint, plaintiff should attach a new and

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complete complaint – which he should title “First Amended Complaint.” All claims and
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the involvement of every defendant should be included in the first amended complaint;
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otherwise, the claims will no longer be the subject of the action.

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ORDER - 4

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Plaintiff may file a motion to amend the complaint for the purpose of adding this

2 individual as a defendant on or before June 18, 2017. Otherwise, this action will proceed
3 on the original complaint (Dkt. 5) without the individual as a defendant.
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CONCLUSION
(1) Plaintiff’s motion to substitute defendant (Dkt. 36) is denied.

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(2) Plaintiff may file a motion to amend the complaint for the purpose of adding this
individual as a defendant on or before June 18, 2017.
Dated this 18th day of May, 2017.

A

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J. Richard Creatura
United States Magistrate Judge

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ORDER - 5