Opinion ID: 199009
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Striking of Counts IV and IV

Text: 26 Defendants challenge the district court's striking of Counts IV and V of their amended counterclaim, in effect denying them leave to add those counts. We review a denial of leave to amend for abuse of discretion. See Cigna Fire Underwriters Co. v. MacDonald & Johnson, Inc., 86 F.3d 1260, 1268 (1st Cir. 1996). 27 After FDIC had answered the original counterclaim, the district court granted defendants leave to amend for the limited purpose of showing that Counts I-III were not barred by the D'Oench doctrine or 12 U.S.C. § 1823(e). However, in addition to clarifying Counts I-III, the amended counterclaim added two new theories of recovery, Count IV (infliction of emotional distress) and Count V (violation of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 93A). In the absence of leave of court or FDIC's consent, see Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a), those counts were properly struck. The district court invited defendants to seek leave to assert additional nonfutile claims but they did not avail themselves of the opportunity. The district court did not abuse its discretion by striking Counts IV and V.