Opinion ID: 2515964
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The relation-back doctrine of I.R.C.P. 15(c)

Text: Under I.C. § 5-219, the statute of limitations in a wrongful death action is two years following the date of the decedent's death; in this case, Delbert died on February 16, 1995. Alfred brought a wrongful death action in federal court and a contract claim in state court on February 14, 1997, two days before the expiration of the statute of limitations. None of the parties dispute the fact that the statute of limitations had expired by the time Alfred moved the court to amend the state court complaint to add the wrongful death action. Consequently, unless the relation-back doctrine under Rule 15(c) applies, the wrongful death action is time-barred. Under Rule 15(c): Whenever the claim or defense asserted in the amended pleading arose out of the conduct, transaction, or occurrence set forth or attempted to be set forth in the original pleading, the amendment relates back to the date of the original pleading.... The relation back of an amendment joining or substituting a real party in interest shall be as provided in Rule 17(a).