Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_07-cv-01971/USCOURTS-cand-5_07-cv-01971-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1446 Petition for Removal

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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 Although an initial Case Management Conference was held, no trial dates were set

given Plaintiff's stated intention to amend the pleadings. 

*E-filed 8/28/07*

NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

ROBERTO HERNANDEZ,

Plaintiff,

 v.

TARGET CORP.,

Defendant. /

No. C 07-01971 HRL

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S

MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE

AMENDED COMPLAINT

Re: Docket No. 19

Plaintiff sued in state court for personal injuries resulting from a collapsed chair in

Target Corporation's food court. Target removed based on diversity. During initial disclosures,

Plaintiff learned (for the first time) the name of the chair manufacturer. He now moves to

amend the complaint to include the manufacturer as a defendant.1

 

Because Target has already served a responsive pleading, Plaintiff was required either to

obtain leave of this court or written consent of Defendant. FED.R.CIV.P. 15(a). Plaintiff did not

obtain the written consent of Target and did not properly notice this motion as required by Civil

Local Rule 7-2. However, the court is satisfied that Target does not object to it. Therefore, it

will be treated as if it were a properly noticed motion. 

//

Case 5:07-cv-01971-HRL Document 22 Filed 08/28/07 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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2

 Plaintiff's counsel has been repeatedly notified to register for ECF. If counsel does

not do so immediately, sanctions pursuant to Local Rule 5-4 and General Order No. 45 will

be considered.

2

A request for leave to amend is governed by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a),

which provides that "leave shall be freely given when justice so requires." This "policy is to be

applied with extreme liberality." Owens v. Kaiser Found. Health Plan, Inc., 244 F.3d 708, 712

(9th Cir. 2001) (internal citations omitted). In deciding whether to grant leave to amend, the

Court will consider several factors, including: (1) bad faith, (2) undue delay, (3) prejudice to the

opposing party, and (4) futility. Id. at 712 (internal citations omitted). There is no sign of bad

faith as the motion is a result of Plaintiff's recent discovery of the chair manufacturer's name. 

Further, there is no undue delay given that the motion comes at a relatively early stage of the

case. As noted above, Defendant does not object to this amendment. Finally, amendment

would not be futile, since Plaintiff alleges the chair was defective. 

Accordingly, the motion is GRANTED. Plaintiff shall electronically file2

 an amended

complaint by September 4, 2007. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: 8/28/07 

HOWARD R. LLOYD

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 5:07-cv-01971-HRL Document 22 Filed 08/28/07 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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THIS SHALL CERTIFY THAT NOTICE WILL BE SENT TO: 

Gail C. Trabish gtrabish@bjg.com, abraun@bjg.com 

A COURTESY COPY WILL BE SENT TO:

Peter Michael Lazarus 

Anthony R. Lopez and Associates

1745 North First Street

Suite 275

San Jose, CA 95112

* Counsel are responsible for providing copies of this order to co-counsel who have not

registered for e-filing.

Date: 8/28/07 /s/ KRO 

 Chambers of Magistrate Judge Howard R. Lloyd

Case 5:07-cv-01971-HRL Document 22 Filed 08/28/07 Page 3 of 3