Opinion ID: 196118
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Conspiracy Claim Against Defense Counsel

Text: 46 Lastly, Reid challenges the denial of his motion to amend the third amended complaint by adding the claim that Attorney Renfro conspired with the prosecutors to conceal the exculpatory evidence. We review for abuse of discretion. Correa-Martinez v. Arrillaga-Belendez, 903 F.2d 49, 59 (1st Cir.1990). Where an amendment would be futile or would serve no legitimate purpose, the district court should not needlessly prolong matters. Id. 47 The allegation that Renfro saw the exculpatory evidence, yet did not bring it to Reid's attention, is too conclusory to state a viable conspiracy claim. See Hunt v. Bennett, 17 F.3d 1263, 1268 (10th Cir.) (allegation that attorney provided incompetent defense held insufficient to generate triable issue on conspiracy charge), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 115 S.Ct. 107, 130 L.Ed.2d 55 (1994). The conclusory allegation that Renfro had access to the prosecution's file is insufficient to generate a trialworthy issue as to whether he had actual knowledge of the exculpatory evidence, since there is no allegation that the prosecution materials made available to Renfro included the exculpatory material. See Slotnick v. Garfinkle, 632 F.2d 163, 165-66 (1st Cir.1980) (per curiam). Accordingly, we conclude that the refusal to allow yet another amendment to the complaint at the present time did not constitute an abuse of discretion under the Correa-Martinez standard. 19 III