Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_18-cv-05544/USCOURTS-cand-4_18-cv-05544-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 33:1319 Clean Water Act

---

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

United States District Court 

Northern District of Californi

a

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

EDEN ENVIRONMENTAL CITIZEN'S GROUP 

LLC, 

Plaintiff, 

vs. 

LAPTALO ENTERPRISES, INC., ET AL., 

Defendants.

CASE NO. 18-cv-05544-YGR 

ORDER STRIKING SECOND AMENDED 

COMPLAINT

Re: Dkt. Nos. 49, 50 

The Court has received the second amended complaint (“SAC”) filed by plaintiff Eden 

Environmental Citizen’s Group, LLC, (“Eden”) against defendants Laptalo Enterprises, Inc., dba 

JL Precision (“Laptalo”), Jakov Laptalo, Michael Laptalo, Carl Italiano, and Does 1-10. (Dkt. No. 

49 (“SAC”).) On March 14, 2019, the Court denied Laptalo’s second motion to dismiss. (See 

Dkt. No. 39 (“MTD Order”) at 8.) Therein, the Court found that Eden had “alleged, by way of its 

FAC [first amended complaint] and supplemental declarations [including that of member 

Theophilus Austin Mills, III], that one of its current members has suffered, and continues to suffer, 

a concrete injury traceable to defendants’ alleged activity at their [property at in San Jose, 

California (the “Facility”)] and therefore currently has standing in its own right under Article III.” 

(Id.) Although Eden failed to include all of the relevant information in its FAC, the Court noted 

that if it dismissed Eden’s complaint for lack of standing, plaintiff could simply refile immediately 

thereafter. In order to avoid “elevat[ing] form over substance[,]” the Court declined to dismiss 

Eden’s complaint and instructed plaintiff “to file a supplemental pleading under Rule 15(d) 

alleging member Mills’ membership in the plaintiff-organization at the time of the supplemental 

filing.” (Id. (citing Northstar Financial Advisors Inc. v. Schwab Investments, 779 F.3d 1036, 

1043-44 (9th Cir. 2015).) 

Case 4:18-cv-05544-YGR Document 61 Filed 04/29/19 Page 1 of 2
2 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

United States District Court 

Northern District of Californi

a

Instead, Eden filed a second amended complaint without seeking leave of the Court, as 

required by Rule 15(a)(2). See SAC; Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2). Accordingly, the Court STRIKES

plaintiff’s SAC.1 The Court will provide Eden one more opportunity to address the failures in its 

complaint identified in the Court’s March 14 order. 

The Court once again instructs Eden to file a supplemental pleading pursuant to Rule 

15(d) that: 

1. Identifies, either by name or other specific identifying information, a current 

member who has suffered, and continues to suffer, a concrete injury traceable to 

defendants’ alleged activity at the Facility and therefore has standing in his own 

right under Article III, Ecological Rights Found. v. Pac. Lumber Co., 230 F.3d 

1141, 1147 (9th Cir. 2000) (quoting Hunt v. Washington State Apple Advertising 

Comm'n, 432 U.S. 333, 343 (1977)); and 

2. Alleges that said current member is a member of Eden at the time of the filing of 

the supplemental pleading. 

Plaintiff shall so file no later than Monday, May 6, 2019. Laptalo shall file its response thereto 

no later than Monday, May 13, 2019. Failure to file a supplemental pleading that comports with 

the specific requirements of this Order, by May 6 will be construed as an inability to do so and 

will result in sua sponte dismissal of plaintiff’s action. The Court CONTINUES the initial case 

management conference currently scheduled for May 13, 2019 to June 3, 2019. 

This Order terminates Docket Number 50. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: 

 YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

 1

 Thus, the Court DENIES AS MOOT Laptalo’s motion to dismiss the SAC. 

April 29, 2019

Case 4:18-cv-05544-YGR Document 61 Filed 04/29/19 Page 2 of 2