Desvignes v. Ethicon, Inc. et al
Filing
27
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER granting 19 MOTION by Vilinda Elizabeth Desvignes for Leave to File First Amended Complaint; the Clerk is instructed to file the plaintiff's Amended Complaint on this date; denying without prejudice 14 12(b)(6) and 12(b)(3) MOTION by Cook Biotech, Inc., Cook Medical Inc., Cook Group, Inc. to Dismiss. Signed by Judge Joseph R. Goodwin on 11/27/2012. (cc: attys; any unrepresented party) (skh)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA
CHARLESTON DIVISION
VILINDA ELIZABETH DESVIGNES,
Plaintiff,
v.
Civil Action No. 2:12-cv-06032
ETHICON, INC., et al.,
Defendants,
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Pending are (1) Cook’s 12(b)(6) and 12(b)(3) Motion to Dismiss, filed October 4, 2012
[ECF 14]; and (2) the plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to File First Amended Complaint, filed
October 10, 2012 [ECF 19]. Cook Biotech Incorporated, Cook Medical Incorporated and Cook
Group Incorporated (collectively referred to as the “Cook defendants”) filed their motion,
followed by the plaintiff’s motion for leave to file an amended complaint. The Cook defendants
have not responded formally to the plaintiff’s motion seeking leave to amend.
The Cook defendants’ motion, filed pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure, seeks dismissal based on Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662 (2009), and Bell Atl.
Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007), and because venue is improper under Rule 12(b)(3).
The plaintiff did not respond to the motion to dismiss, but instead, filed a motion for
leave to file a first amended complaint on October 10, 2012. No defendant in this action has
objected to the motion for leave to file an amended complaint. The court contacted the Cook
defendants’ counsel by email, and she indicated no objection to the plaintiff’s motion.
I find, pursuant to Rule 15(a)(1)(b) and (a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,
that the plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to File First Amended Complaint should be granted. The
plaintiff filed her motion within twenty one (21) days after the Cook defendants filed their
motion to dismiss, making the filing of an amended pleading as a matter of course appropriate
based on Rule 15(a)(1)(b). Furthermore, leave should be given freely when justice so requires,
as I find that it does in this instance. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2).
Based on the above, it is ORDERED that the plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to File First
Amended Complaint is GRANTED. The Clerk is instructed to file the plaintiff’s Amended
Complaint on this date. It is further ORDERED that Cook’s 12(b)(6) and 12(b)(3) Motion to
Dismiss is DENIED without prejudice.
The court DIRECTS the Clerk to file a copy of this Memorandum Opinion and Order
and to send a copy to counsel of record and any unrepresented party.
ENTER: November 27, 2012
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