Opinion ID: 63782
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Service as to USAA GIC

Text: USAA GIC, of course, was not served in the sense of receiving a summons with its name on it until more than a month after even the October 9 date in the district court's order and approximately two months after the Rule 4(m) deadline. USAA GIC's original motion to dismiss made no mention of the alleged misnomer; instead, it treated the service as if it were service on USAA GIC and attacked only the delay in initial service. It also made a number of substantive arguments about the merits of the case, not pertinent here. It was only in USAA GIC's reply brief, served November 6, 2007, that USAA GIC stated that the wrong entity had been served. Shortly after that document was filed, on November 16, 2007, Millan filed an amended complaint naming the proper defendant, USAA GIC. While we have recognized that delays occurring between filing and service are more serious than those occurring following service, Porter, 743 F.2d at 272, here, USAA GIC received notice of Millan's claims just days after the Rule 4(m) deadline when Millan served USAA. This fact is evidenced by USAA GIC's appearance on behalf of USAA shortly after Millan served USAA. These facts do not establish a clear record of delay and, indeed, suggest the opposite. See Callip v. Harris County Child Welfare Dep't, 757 F.2d 1513, 1519-21 (5th Cir. 1985) (clear record of delay where plaintiff missed nine deadlines over two and one-half years); Morris v. Ocean Sys., Inc., 730 F.2d 248, 252 (5th Cir.1984) (holding that court exceeded its well-defined discretion in dismissing for failure to prosecute when only eight months elapsed from date of the first status conference to the date of its dismissal). The district court's original order reflected an incorrect belief that no amended complaint naming the proper defendant had been filed. Upon motion for reconsideration, the court noted the filing of the amended complaint but concluded that Millan did not show good cause. The district court did not consider the factors outlined above. Nor did it analyze any of the issues raised by USAA GIC's failure to raise this issue sooner. It did not analyze the substantial evidence filed by Millan suggesting that USAA GIC caused the confusion as to the proper party by repeatedly sending materials under the USAA name. Indeed, USAA GIC's original motion to dismiss actually stated that it was served and then focused on the four-day delay discussed above. Because the district court had already determined that the original service of process was untimely served, it did not fully consider the issues presented by the amended complaint. We decline to address these issues for the first time on appeal. Instead, we remand for consideration of all factors under FED. R. CIV. P 15(c) in view of our holding that the original service delay on USAA did not justify dismissal and in view of the authorities cited above.