Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_09-cv-01606/USCOURTS-azd-2_09-cv-01606-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 445
Nature of Suit: Americans with Disabilities Act - Employment
Cause of Action: 42:12101 Americans with Disabilities 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

WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Steve J. Longariello,

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Phoenix Union High School District,

Defendant. 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

No. CV-09-1606-PHX-LOA

ORDER

This case arises on pro se Plaintiff’s Motion to Strike and Motion for

Judgment by Default which are combined with Plaintiff’s Response to Motion to Dismiss,

filed on November 3, 2009. (docket # 18) No response will be required by Defendant to

these two Motions.

MOTIONS TO STRIKE

Motions to strike are not favored by the District Court. First Horizon Home

Loan Corp. v. Phillips, 2008 WL 906698, * 4 (D.Ariz. 2008) (citation omitted). Local

Rule (“LRCiv”) 7.2(m)(1) provides:

Generally. Unless made at trial, a motion to strike may be filed only

if it is authorized by statute or rule, such as Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure 12(f), 26(g)(2) or 37(b)(2)(C), or if it seeks to strike any

part of a filing or submission on the ground that it is prohibited (or

not authorized) by a statute, rule, or court order.

LRCiv 7.2(m)(1) (emphasis added). “Nonetheless, a Rule 12(f) motion may be proper

when a defense is insufficient as a matter of law.” Phillips, 2008 WL 906698 at * 4.

Case 2:09-cv-01606-LOA Document 22 Filed 11/13/09 Page 1 of 3
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

1

 LRCiv 5.5(g) provides in relevant part: 

(g) Signatures. The log-in and password required to

submit documents to the ECF System constitute the Registered

User’s signature on all electronic documents filed with the

Court for purposes of Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure. . . .

LRCiv 5.5(g).

- 2 -

While Rule 12(f), Fed.R.Civ.P., empowers the district court to “strike from

a pleading an insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or

scandalous matter[,]” Plaintiff’s Motion to Strike is not well-taken because the Local

Rules and the ECF Manual allow counsel to sign an electronically-filed pleading or

motion as defense has done herein. See, LRCiv 5.5(g)1

 and ECF Manual at II, C, 1, page

8. It is beyond dispute that all defense counsel appearing herein are properly registered

and have used the appropriate symbol “‘s/’” in the space where the signature would

otherwise appear.” ECF Manual at II, C, 1, page 8. Rule 11, FED.R.CIV.P., applies equally

to a lawyer’s electronic signature or the customary signature of a pro se litigant. 

 Plaintiff provides no lawful grounds to dismiss Defendant’s dispositive

motion, enter a default judgment against Defendant or strike the pending dispositive

motion as an insufficient defense. Plaintiff’s Motions are frivolous and will be summarily

denied.

IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Motion to Strike and Motion for

Judgment by Default, combined with Plaintiff’s Response to Motion to Dismiss, docket #

18, are summarily DENIED. In an abundance of fairness, the Court hereby authorizes pro

se Plaintiff to file a Supplemental Response to the merits of Defendant’s pending Motion 

Case 2:09-cv-01606-LOA Document 22 Filed 11/13/09 Page 2 of 3
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 - 3 -

to Dismiss, docket # 13, on or before Monday, November 30, 2009 or Defendant’s

Motion to Dismiss will be granted and this case terminated in its entirety.

DATED this 13th day of November, 2009.

Case 2:09-cv-01606-LOA Document 22 Filed 11/13/09 Page 3 of 3