Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_02-cv-01277/USCOURTS-azd-2_02-cv-01277-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Other Contract

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

FINOVA Capital Corporation, )

)

Plaintiff, ) No. CIV 02-1277-PHX RCB

)

Vs. ) O R D E R

)

Richard A. Arledge, Inc., )

d/b/a Arledge Motor Co., )

et al., )

)

Defendants. ) )

On July 10, 2002, Plaintiff FINOVA Capital Corporation

("FINOVA") filed a complaint against Defendants Richard A.

Arledge, Inc., d/b/a Arledge Motor Co., et al. ("the Arledges"),

in this Court. Compt. (doc. 1). On October 10, 2003, the Arledges

filed an amended answer and counterclaim, as well as a third-party

complaint (doc. 91). The third-party complaint was brought

against Third-Party Defendant Leucadia National Corporation

("Leucadia"). Id. Defendants filed a First Amended Original

Third-Party Complaint on May 10, 2004. (doc. 140). 

On November 1, 2004, Leucadia filed a motion for summary 

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1 This scheduled trial is a trial on FINOVA's claims against the

Arledges, and the Arledges' claims against FINOVA. No third-party

claims shall be included in this trial.

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judgment in this matter. Mot. (doc. 179). On March 17, 2005, the

Court granted summary judgment in favor of Leucadia on all of the

counts asserted in the Third-Party Complaint. Order (doc. 190) at

33. The Arledges moved for reconsideration of the Court's ruling,

however, the Court denied such motion. Mot. for Reconsideration

(doc. 192); Order (doc. 196). 

The bench trial on the remaining claims and counterclaims

between FINOVA and the Arledges is scheduled to begin on April 11,

2006. Final Pretrial Order (doc. 231).1 In anticipation of the

start of the trial, a Final Pretrial Order was entered on January

26, 2006. FPO (doc. 231). Thereafter, Leucadia filed a motion

requesting that the Court amend the Final Pretrial Order to delete

the claims and issues listed involving Leucadia. Mot. to Amend

(doc. 235). Specifically, Leucadia asserts that, in light of the

Court's ruling granting Leucadia's motion for summary judgment, the

Final Pretrial Order should be amended to remove all references to

Leucadia, thereby prohibiting the Arledges from raising these

issues at trial. Id. at 2. "The Arledge parties will not suffer

prejudice from removing Leucadia from the Order because the claims

against Leucadia have already been dismissed by this Court." Id.

at 3.

In response, the Arledges oppose Leucadia's request. Resp.

(doc. 242). First, the Arledges assert that Leucadia chose not to

participate in the preparation of the Final Pretrial Order and

should not be allowed to alter it now. Id. at 3. Second, they

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argue that Leucadia, regardless of whether or not claims remain

against it, is an integral player in the facts and circumstances of

this case, thus requiring the Arledges "to delve into and elicit

testimony concerning Leucadia" at trial. Id. at 3-4. Third, the

Arledges maintain that they "included their claims against Leucadia

in the Final Pretrial Order solely for appellate purposes." Id. at

4. The Arledges, however, fail to cite any authority in support of

these arguments.

The Court concludes that the Final Pretrial Order should be

amended to remove all references to Leucadia. 

Therefore,

IT IS ORDERED that Leucadia's Motion to Amend the Pretrial

Order to Delete Claims and Issues Involving Leucadia (doc. 235) is

GRANTED.

DATED this 31st day of March, 2006.

Copies to counsel of record

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