Opinion ID: 2306236
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Motion to Amend the Complaint

Text: Finally, Carter argues that the trial court erred in entering final judgment against her without ruling on her last-minute (day-of-trial) motion for leave to amend her complaint to add claims based on the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. As previously mentioned, Judge Alprin may well have been unaware of the motion. Be that as it may, Carter failed to press for a ruling on it (or even to call it to the judge's attention or renew it in her Rule 59(e) motion). A party who neglects to seek a ruling on his motion fails to preserve the issue for appeal. [29] We will excuse such a failure only in exceptional situations and when necessary to prevent a clear miscarriage of justice apparent from the record. [30] Those requirements are not met in this case. Indeed, given Carter's unjustified dilatoriness in moving to amend her complaint, [31] the additional discovery that the new causes of action would have necessitated, and their possible futility, [32] the trial judge would have acted well within [his] discretion had he denied the motion. [33] Affirmed.