Opinion ID: 195499
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Pleading Issue

Text: 29 Finally, NASCO asserts that the district court erred in failing to infer from the allegations underlying its ch. 93A claim independent claims of estoppel and breach of the implied warranty of good faith and fair dealing. The issue is a close one. On the one hand, it is impossible to fault the district court for taking NASCO's complaint, which makes absolutely no mention of either estoppel or any implied warranties, at face value. On the other hand, we have construed Fed.R.Civ.P. 8 to allow recovery under an unpleaded legal theory so long as related legal theories and essential allegations have been pleaded. See Connecticut Gen. Life Ins. Co. v. Universal Ins. Co., 838 F.2d 612, 622 (1st Cir.1988). 30 It is, however, unnecessary for us to reach this question at this time. After remand, NASCO will have ample opportunity to file a Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a) motion to amend its complaint so as to state explicitly claims of estoppel and breach of the implied warranty of good faith and fair dealing. And, if NASCO is correct in arguing that allegations already made and evidence already obtained in this case are sufficient to support these claims, we are confident that its motion will be granted. See Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182, 83 S.Ct. 227, 230, 9 L.Ed.2d 222 (1962) (where there is no compelling reason for disallowing an amendment, Rule 15(a)'s admonition that leave to amend shall be freely given is to be heeded).