Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-3_24-cv-00126/USCOURTS-ared-3_24-cv-00126-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

NORTHERN DIVISION

DORLETHA LAMBERT PLAINTIFF

ADC # 719450

v. 3:24CV00126-DPM-JTK

DEXTER PAYNE, et al. DEFENDANTS

ORDER

Dorletha Lambert (“Plaintiff”) has filed a Motion to Amend Complaint. (Doc. No. 21). 

Plaintiff’s Motion (Doc. No. 21) is DENIED without prejudice for the reasons set out below.

“An amended complaint ‘ordinarily supersedes the original and renders it of no legal 

effect.’” In Home Health, Inc. v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America, 101 F.3d 600, 603 (8th Cir. 

1996) (quoting International Controls Corp. v. Vesco, 556 F.2d 665, 668 (2d Cir. 1994) (other 

citations omitted)). When an amended complaint is not filed as a matter of course, “a party may 

amend its pleading only with the opposing party’s written consent or the court’s leave.” Sherman 

v. Winco Fireworks, Inc., 532 F.3d 709, 715 (8th Cir. 2008) (quoting FED. R. CIV. P. 15(a)(2)). 

A court should give leave to amend freely where justice so requires. (Id.) (citing FED. R. CIV. P. 

15(a)(2)). A plaintiff, however, does not have “an absolute or automatic right to amend.” 

Sorace v. United States, 788 F.3d 758, 767 (8th Cir. 2015) (internal citation omitted). “A district 

court appropriately denies the movant leave to amend if ‘there are compelling reasons such as 

undue delay, bad faith, or dilatory motive, repeated failure to cure deficiencies by amendments 

previously allowed, undue prejudice to the non-moving party, or futility of the amendment.’” 

Wagstaff & Cartmell, LLP v. Lewis, 40 F.4th 830, 841 (8th Cir. 2022) (citing Sherman, 532 F.3d 

at 715). 

Case 3:24-cv-00126-DPM-JTK Document 23 Filed 12/05/24 Page 1 of 2
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In her Motion, Plaintiff says only that she would like to add Wellpath as a party to this 

lawsuit. But Plaintiff does not provide any detail about the claim she would like to add, and her 

original Complaint does not contain specific allegations of fact against Wellpath (Doc. No. 2 at 3-

5). Granting Plaintiff’s Motion at this point would be futile. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 

678 (2009) (bare allegations void of factual enhancement are insufficient to state a claim for relief 

under § 1983). 

Plaintiff may file another motion to amend if she wishes to do so. If Plaintiff wishes to 

sue Wellpath, she should provide factual allegations that describe her claim. Plaintiff is cautioned 

that an Amended Complaint would render her original Complaint without legal effect.1 If Plaintiff 

elects to amend her Compliant, only claims properly set out in the Amended Complaint will be 

allowed to proceed, and those claims will be subject to screening under the Prison Litigation 

Reform Act.

The Clerk of the Court is directed to send Plaintiff a blank 42 U.S.C. § 1983 form.

IT IS SO ORDERED this 5th day of December, 2024. 

____________________________________

JEROME T. KEARNEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

1 “An amended complaint ‘ordinarily supersedes the original and renders it of no legal 

effect.’” In Home Health, Inc. v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America, 101 F.3d 600, 603 (8th Cir. 1996), 

quoting International Controls Corp. v. Vesco, 556 F.2d 665, 668 (2d Cir. 1994) (other citations 

omitted).

Case 3:24-cv-00126-DPM-JTK Document 23 Filed 12/05/24 Page 2 of 2