Opinion ID: 774554
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Leave to Amend the Plaintiff's Complaint

Text: 48 Thornton also appeals the district court's affirmation of the magistrate judge's denial of her second motion for leave to amend her complaint. Thornton sought to add a state-law claim for wrongful termination in violation of public policy. Under Rule 15 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, after responsive pleadings have been filed and in the absence of the adverse party's written consent, a party may amend its complaint only by leave of the court. Such leave shall be freely given when justice so requires. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15. We review the district court's denial of a request to amend for abuse of discretion. Simon v. Value Behavioral Health, Inc., 208 F.3d 1073, 1084 (9th Cir. 2000), cert. denied, 121 S. Ct. 843 (2001) . 49 Liberality in granting a plaintiff leave to amendis subject to the qualification that the amendment not cause undue prejudice to the defendant, is not sought in bad faith, and is not futile. Bowles v. Reade, 198 F.3d 752, 757 (9th Cir. 1999). In this case, the magistrate judge found that the plaintiff's motion was unduly delayed, with resulting prejudice to the defendant, and that the motion was filed in bad faith. 7 50 The magistrate's conclusion that Thornton's motion was filed in bad faith falls within the scope of the magistrate's discretion. The magistrate specifically referenced the plaintiff's history of dilatory tactics and the doubtful value of the proposed amendment. Both the magistrate judge and the district court supervised these parties over a lengthy period, and their views on this fact-specific issue are entitled to considerable deference. We find no abuse of discretion on this record. See Sorosky v. Burroughs Corp., 826 F.2d 794, 804 (9th Cir. 1987). 51 As an independent ground for denial of the motion for leave to amend, the magistrate judge and the district court concluded that Thornton had needlessly delayed the filing of her motion. The magistrate judge pointed to specific evidence in the record to support his finding of undue delay. He noted Thornton's failure to pursue the proposed claim and that amendment at such a late date in the proceedings would prejudice McClatchy. The district court agreed with Thornton that such prejudice would be limited, but was unable to conclude that the magistrate's decision was clearly erroneous or contrary to law. This decision was well within the discretion of the district court. See Ascon Props., Inc. v. Mobil Oil Co., 866 F.2d 1149, 1161 (9th Cir. 1989).