CIVIL PROCEDURE CLASS 9 Professor Fischer Columbus School of Law The Catholic University of America Sept. 20, 2001

WRAP-UP OF LAST CLASS We discussed the possible responses in an Answer: admissions, denials, deemed denials, 12(b) defenses, and affirmative defenses

WHAT WILL WE DO TODAY? The Big Picture We will discuss FRCP 15: amendments and relation back. I will briefly take questions on Practice Exercise 9. I hope that the Model Answer helped to resolve some questions. We will hear argument on the motion in Practice Exercise 10

THE BIG PICTURE How do you fit the rules together? How do you avoid being lost in detail? Suggestions: outline, diagram, use nutshells to spot the big picture, use headings in assignment sheet Try to fit the rules together (Rule 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 15) Ask questions

AMENDMENT HYPO Jane serves a complaint on Roger in federal court alleging negligence. After Roger serves his answer, Jane wants to amend her complaint to add a claim for breach of contract. Roger refuses to consent to the amendment. Jane files a motion with the court seeking leave to amend. What is Jane’s burden on the motion? What is Roger’s burden?

LEAVE TO AMEND IS FREQUENTLY GRANTED Leave will generally be granted UNLESS: 1. The amendment would unfairly PREJUDICE the other party. 2. The party seeking amendment is guilty of unjustified DELAY. (Note that chances of successfully amending go down the closer you get to trial). 3. The party is seeking amendment in BAD FAITH. 4. The amendment would be FUTILE.

ANOTHER AMENDMENT HYPO Sylvester sues Tweetie for personal injuries. After Tweetie serves his answer, Sylvester wishes to amend his complaint to add a claim for libel. Sylvester faxes Tweetie a copy of the draft amendment, then calls Tweetie up and asks Tweetie if he will consent to the amendment. Tweetie says, “sure”. Advise Sylvester as to whether he needs to do anything more to ensure the amendment is valid.

STILL ANOTHER HYPO Polly sues Dave and Doug for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Dave serves his answer 10 days after the complaint is served on him. Doug files a Rule 12(b)(2) motion to dismiss 5 days after the complaint is served on him. Polly wants to amend her complaint to add a claim for breach of contract against Doug. Can she amend without leave of the court?

COSTS OF AMENDMENT FRCP is silent on this BUT it is well accepted that a court can require the amending party to pay the other party’s costs arising from the amendment.

AMENDMENT AT TRIAL Sometimes a party, at trial, introduces evidence that relates to causes of action that are not pleaded. What should the other party do, if this occurs? What federal rule governs amendment in this situation?

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP OF RULES 15(a) and 15(b)? 15(b) is more appropriate if suit has reached trial or post-trial stage BUT motions to amend can be made at any time under 15(a) In practice, courts are willing to grant amendments under either provision UNLESS there is PREJUDICE, DELAY, BAD FAITH, or FUTILITY.

AMENDMENTS AND THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS: RELATION BACK What’s a statute of limitations? What’s the purpose of this? How do you figure out what the statute of limitations is for a state cause of action? How about a federal one? RELATION BACK --ISSUE: When will an amended pleading be treated as having been filed at the same time, for the purposes of the statute of limitations, as the original pleading?

When will an amended claim “relate back”? What is the applicable provision of the FRCP?

FRCP 15(c) An amended claim will “relate back” to the original pleading where: 1. The claim or defense in amended pleading arose out of the same “CONDUCT, TRANSACTION, OR OCCURRENCE” as set out in the original pleading 15(c ) (2) 2. The APPLICABLE LAW ON THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS allows relation back. 15(c ) (1) 3. If you are amending to add NEW PARTIES or CHANGING NAME OF PARTY, (1) above applies AND it is not unfair to relate back because the special conditions in 15 (c ) (3) apply. DON’T FORGET THAT GENERAL RULES FOR AMENDMENTS in 15(a) or (b) STILL APPLY!

FRCP 15(c ) (3): Amendment Changing Parties in Complaint Will Relate Back If: Within the 120 day service deadline period under 4(m), the party to be added: 1. Has notice of the action and will not be prejudiced in her defense; AND 2. Knew or should have known that the action would have been brought against her if there had not been a mistake; AND 3. 15( c) (2) applies.

IMPORTANT PREREQUISITE FOR RELATION BACK Before there can be relation back, the party seeking amendment must convince court that amended pleading is permitted under FRCP 15(a) or (b).

CASE LAW ON RELATION BACK - Worthington v. Wilson State or federal court? What’s the procedural history? What is the procedural issue that this court must decide? How does the court rule on this issue? What is the court’s reasoning?

CASE LAW ON RELATION BACK: Christopher v. Duffy What court are we in? What is the substantive legal dispute in this case? What is the procedural issue that the court must decide? How does the court rule on this issue? What is the court’s reasoning? What is the court’s holding?

A Comparison of federal and state law on relation back - MA In Christopher v. Duffy, the applicable procedural rule was Mass. R. Civ. P. 15. How does this differ, if at all, from FRCP 15 (c )? What difference would it have made to Christopher v. Duffy if FRCP 15 ( c) applied? Which is a better rule, in your opinion? Why or why not?

HYPO ON RELATION BACK Jim, a pedestrian, brings a claim in negligence against Barry, the driver of a car that struck him. Jim moves to amend to add a claim that Barry negligently failed to stop and render appropriate aid at the scene of the accident. If granted, will this amendment relate back under Rule 15 (c )? Why or why not?

ANOTHER HYPO Erik is angry about a statement made by Prof. Fischer in a class hypothetical on 9/27/00. He commences a libel action on 9/12/00 naming “Marianne” Fischer as D in his complaint. Erik serves the complaint by personal service on Prof. Fischer at the law school on 9/15/00. Assume the statute of limitations is 1 year. Erik learns that Professor Fischer’s first name is not “Marianne” but “Susanna”. On 9/18/00 Erik moves to amend his his complaint to change the defendant’s name to “Susanna”. Will the amendment relate back?

SUPPLEMENTAL PLEADINGS When and why would a court permit service of a “supplemental” pleading? What rule governs supplemental pleadings? MUST a party serve a supplemental pleading?

TIME LIMITS FOR RESPONDING TO AMENDED PLEADINGS How long does a party have to respond to an amended pleading? What is the governing FRCP?

PRACTICE EXERCISE NO. 9 CB 259 (a) What effect will the admissions in paragraphs 4 and 5 of Randall Dee’s answer have on the trial?

PRACTICE EXERCISE 9 (b) Assuming that the defendant has reasonable knowledge, is the answer to paragraph six in compliance with the applicable Massachusetts rules?

PRACTICE EXERCISE 9 C. What does the denial to the allegations in paragraph eleven put in issue? Assuming that further stages of the case (such as discovery, summary judgment, pretrial conference) do not bring closure to the issue and that it remains as defined by the pleadings, how will the judge instruct the jury on the question of conscious suffering, including instructions on the burden of proof?

PRACTICE EXERCISE NO. 9 (d) Examine each of Randall Dee’s defenses, and explain what type of defense it is. Is it a defense at all or a mislabeled “denial”?

PRACTICE EXERCISE NO 9 (f) If you were a legislator or judge faced with the question, would you make the second defense an affirmative defense? Why or why not?

ORAL ARGUMENT ON MOTION TO AMEND (P.E. 10) State who you are and whom you represent Tell the judge enough about the facts and procedural issues that she can understand your argument Fully explain the legal basis for your argument (rules, statutes and/or case law) Politely answer the judge’s questions Anticipate or counter your opponent’s arguments, as applicable