Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_07-cv-01238/USCOURTS-cand-5_07-cv-01238-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 160
Nature of Suit: Stockholder's Suits
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question: Anti-trust

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

 This disposition is not designated for publication and may not be cited. 1

Case No. C 07-1238 JF (HRL)

ORDER REQUIRING PLAINTIFFS TO OBTAIN LEAVE OF COURT OR CONSENT OF DEFENDANTS BEFORE

FILING FURTHER AMENDED COMPLAINTS

(JFLC1)

NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

JAMES M. KELLEY, et al.,

 Plaintiffs,

 v.

RAMBUS, INC., et al.,

 Defendants.

Case Number C 07-1238 JF (HRL)

ORDER REQUIRING PLAINTIFFS 1

TO OBTAIN LEAVE OF COURT OR

CONSENT OF DEFENDANTS

BEFORE FILING FURTHER

AMENDED COMPLAINTS

[re: docket no. 32]

Plaintiffs, proceeding pro se, have filed four complaints in this action. Defendant

Rambus Inc. (“Rambus”) has not answered or otherwise responded to any of these complaints. 

Rambus moves for administrative relief, seeking an order that Plaintiffs be required to obtain

leave of Court prior to filing any further amended complaints. Rambus states that it will not

move to strike the second and third amended complaints, and that it instead will move to dismiss

the third amended complaint on or before June 1, 2007. 

 The first amended complaint was filed as of right under Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a), which

provides:

Case 5:07-cv-01238-JF Document 35 Filed 05/21/07 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

 Plaintiffs refer to this district’s “Handbook for Litigants Without a Lawyer,” which fails 2

to make clear that Rule 15(a) allows only one amendment as of right. However, that omission

does not change the substance of Rule 15(a).

2

Case No. C 07-1238 JF (HRL)

ORDER REQUIRING PLAINTIFFS TO OBTAIN LEAVE OF COURT OR CONSENT OF DEFENDANTS BEFORE

FILING FURTHER AMENDED COMPLAINTS

(JFLC1)

A party may amend the party’s pleading once as a matter of course at any time

before a responsive pleading is served or, if the pleading is one to which no

responsive pleading is permitted and the action has not been placed upon the trial

calendar, the party may so amend it at any time within 20 days after it 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. A party shall plead in response to an amended pleading within the

time remaining for response to the original pleading or within 10 days after

service of the amended pleading, whichever period may be the longer, unless the

court otherwise orders.

Since Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a) allows only one amendment as of right, Plaintiffs should have sought

leave of this Court before filing their second and third amended complaints. Accordingly, 2

Plaintiffs may not file a further amended complaint without prior leave of this Court or the

consent of the Defendants. However, because Rambus has indicated that it will direct its motion

to dismiss to Plaintiffs’ third amended complaint, the Court will treat that pleading as if it had

been properly filed. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: May 21, 2007.

 

JEREMY FOGEL

United States District Judge

Case 5:07-cv-01238-JF Document 35 Filed 05/21/07 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3

Case No. C 07-1238 JF (HRL)

ORDER REQUIRING PLAINTIFFS TO OBTAIN LEAVE OF COURT OR CONSENT OF DEFENDANTS BEFORE

FILING FURTHER AMENDED COMPLAINTS

(JFLC1)

This Order has been served upon the following persons:

Darryl P. Rains drains@mofo.com, dgillis@mofo.com 

Ignacio E. Salceda isalceda@wsgr.com, rlustan@wsgr.com 

Stephanie Laura Zeller szeller@mofo.com, mbarakah@mofo.com 

Notice will be delivered by other means to:

James M Kelley

14390 Douglass Lane

Saratoga, CA 95070

Miki W. Larsson

14390 Douglass Lane

Saratoga, CA 95070

Case 5:07-cv-01238-JF Document 35 Filed 05/21/07 Page 3 of 3