Opinion ID: 429666
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the appealability of the denial of leave to amend

Text: 14 The appellee next contends that the order denying the leave to amend was a non-appealable interlocutory order. Although the appellee is correct that denial of leave to amend normally is a non-appealable interlocutory order, Wells v. South Main Bank, 532 F.2d 1005 (5th Cir.1976), here the plaintiff's appeal of the denial arises after the action has been dismissed. The plaintiff's argument on appeal that the district court erred in not allowing amendment is simply his basis for challenging the court's dismissal of the action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Indeed, if the plaintiff could not raise the denial of the amendment at this juncture, after the litigation has in effect terminated, the plaintiff would never be able to challenge the trial court's action. Such a holding would plainly contradict the undisputed propositions that dismissal of an action is an appealable order, Moore's Federal Practice p 110.08; 12.14, and that refusal to permit amendment is reviewable on appeal from a final order or judgment. Fox v. City of West Palm Beach, 383 F.2d 189 (5th Cir.1967). 15