Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_15-cv-04301/USCOURTS-cand-5_15-cv-04301-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 370
Nature of Suit: Other Fraud
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Fraud

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Case No.15-cv-04301 NC 

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL 

TREATMENT OF ANIMALS, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

WHOLE FOODS MARKET 

CALIFORNIA, INC., et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 15-cv-04301 NC 

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

Re: Dkt. No. 20

In this consumer class action, PETA filed a second amended complaint on 

November 25, 2015, without requesting leave from the Court or defendant Whole Foods to 

do so. Dkt. No. 20.

Rule 15(a) provides that “[a] party may amend the party’s pleading once as a matter 

of course at any time before a responsive pleading is served . . . Otherwise a party may 

amend the party’s pleading only by leave of court or by written consent of the adverse 

party; and leave shall be freely given when justice so requires.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a). 

Under this rule, PETA could amend its Complaint only by leave of court or by written 

consent. 

Here, PETA did not file a stipulation or motion for leave to file its second amended 

complaint, and the document “therefore has no legal effect.” Ritzer v. Gerovicap Pharm. 

Corp., 162 F.R.D. 642, 644 (D. Nev. 1995); Hoover v. Blue Cross & Blue Shield, 855 F.2d 

1538, 1544 (11th Cir. 1988) (plaintiff improperly filed amended complaint so amended

Case 5:15-cv-04301-NC Document 21 Filed 11/30/15 Page 1 of 2
Case No.:15-cv-04301 NC 2

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

complaint had no legal effect).

Therefore, PETA is ordered to show cause by December 4, 2015, why the Court 

should accept its second amended complaint.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 30, 2015 _____________________________________

NATHANAEL M. COUSINS

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 5:15-cv-04301-NC Document 21 Filed 11/30/15 Page 2 of 2