Opinion ID: 2561825
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Whether the district court abused its discretion in denying Three Way's motion for leave to amend its complaint?

Text: [¶16] We review the denial of a motion for leave to amend a complaint under the following standards: A motion to amend a pleading under W.R.C.P. 15(a) shall be freely given when justice so requires. However, a district court's decision to grant or deny a motion to amend is a matter best left to the judgment of that court and we will not reverse its decision absent an abuse of discretion. Ekberg v. Sharp , 2003 WY 123, ¶ 9, 76 P.3d 1250, 1253 (Wyo. 2003). Ray v. St. Vincent Healthcare, Inc. , 2006 WY 98, ¶ 7, 139 P.3d 464, 466 (Wyo. 2006). We have defined an abuse of discretion in the context of the denial of a motion for leave to amend a complaint as follows: A court abuses its discretion when it acts in a manner which exceeds the bounds of reason under the circumstances. Johnston v. Stephenson , 938 P.2d 861, 862 (Wyo. 1997). The party who is attacking the trial court's ruling has the burden to establish an abuse of discretion, and the ultimate issue is whether the court could reasonably conclude as it did. Id . Doenz v. Sheridan County Bd. of County Comm'rs , 949 P.2d 464, 465 (Wyo. 1997). [¶17] As we noted in reciting the facts above, Three Way filed its motion for leave to amend its complaint thirteen months after the original complaint was filed, and only seven weeks before trial. See supra ¶ 9. The district court denied the motion on the ground that it was untimely. Because whatever hearing on the motion that took place was not reported, the record contains no facts from which we could determine that the district court abused its discretion in denying the motion. The allegation contained in the motion that limited discovery had led to the discovery of additional facts and evidence is insufficient either to identify those facts and evidence, or to explain the long delay in their discovery. Furthermore, Burton's unrefuted response to the motion cites deposition testimony showing that Three Way was aware of these additional facts and evidence even before it filed its original complaint. Three Way has failed to establish that the district court abused its discretion in denying the motion for leave to amend its complaint.