Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_09-cv-05019/USCOURTS-cand-3_09-cv-05019-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 140
Nature of Suit: Negotiable Instruments
Cause of Action: 15:1601 Truth in Lending

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UNITED 

STATES 

DISTRICT 

COURT

For the Northern District of California

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UNITED 

STATES 

DISTRICT 

COURT

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

Northern District of California

SERENA TURCHIE

Plaintiff(s),

v.

EMC MORTGAGE

Defendant(s).

_____________________________________/

No. C 09-05019 MEJ

ORDER DENYING AS MOOT

DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO

DISMISS

Pending before the Court is Defendant's Motion to Dismiss. (Dkt. #5.) However, on January

21, 2010, Plaintiff filed an Amended Complaint. (Dkt. #22.) Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

15(a), a party may amend its pleading once "as a matter of course" at any time before a responsive

pleading is served. “A motion to dismiss is not a ‘responsive pleading’ within the meaning of Rule

15.” Crum v. Circus Circus Enters., 231 F.3d 1129, 1130 n. 3 (9th Cir. 2000). Thus, where a

motion to dismiss is filed instead of an answer, Rule 15(a) allows a plaintiff to amend the original

complaint once without obtaining permission from the court. An “amended complaint supersedes

the original, the latter being treated thereafter as non-existent.” Forsyth v. Humana, Inc., 114 F.3d

1467, 1474 (9th Cir.1997).

Here, Defendant did not file an answer, but instead filed a motion to dismiss. As no prior

amended complaints have been filed, Plaintiff was entitled to file an amended complaint as a matter

of course under Rule 15(a). The amended complaint supersedes the original complaint, and the

original complaint is treated as non-existent. Since Defendant's motion is based on Plaintiff's

original and now “non-existent” complaint, Defendants' motion is now moot. Accordingly, the

Court hereby DENIES Defendant's motion as moot. Defendant shall file an answer or other

responsive pleading within 30 days from the date of this Order.

Case 3:09-cv-05019-MEJ Document 23 Filed 01/22/10 Page 1 of 2
UNITED 

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DISTRICT 

COURT

For the Northern District of California

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UNITED 

STATES 

DISTRICT 

COURT

For the Northern District of California

Further, the Court instructs Plaintiff that no further amendments may be made without

seeking leave of Court pursuant to Rule 15 and Civil Local Rule 7. Any attempt to file an amended

complaint without proper notice to Defendant under Civil Local Rule 7 and a court order shall be

stricken.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 22, 2010 _______________________________

Maria-Elena James 

Chief United States Magistrate Judge 

Case 3:09-cv-05019-MEJ Document 23 Filed 01/22/10 Page 2 of 2