Opinion ID: 551844
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Propriety of Motions After the Cut-Off Date

Text: 10 First, Brown claims that the trial court should not have considered the motion because it was presented after the scheduling order's motion cut-off date had passed. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure direct that such an order limits the time ... to file and hear motions. Fed.R.Civ.P. 16. The rules also, however, give district judges the power to modify or amend scheduling orders upon a showing of good cause. Id. Although Judge Black never explicitly ruled on appellee's motion to amend the pretrial order, he impliedly granted it when he allowed appellee to file its motion for summary judgment after the original cut-off date (over Brown's objections). Cf. Reeves v. MCI Telecommunications Corp., 909 F.2d 144, 144 (5th Cir.1990) (denial of motion can be inferred by inconsistent order or judgment); Addington v. Farmer's Elevator Mutual Insurance Co., 650 F.2d 663, 666 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 1098, 102 S.Ct. 672, 70 L.Ed.2d 640 (1981) (same). 11 The Fifth Circuit has repeatedly held that it will review the modification of a pretrial order under the 'abuse of discretion' standard. Bradley v. United States, 866 F.2d 120, 124 (5th Cir.1989); Lirette v. Popich Bros. Water Transportation, Inc. 660 F.2d 142, 144 (5th Cir.1981). This court finds no abuse of discretion in Judge Black's determination that good cause existed to allow a motion after the pretrial order's motion cut-off date.