Opinion ID: 8704902
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Michael A. Cottrell

Text: Mr. Cottrell also filed a motion for leave to file a Second Amended Complaint. The proposed Second Amended Complaint would add a new plaintiff, Mr. Cottrell’s brother, Michael A. Cottrell. See Second Am. Compl. [Dkt. 19-1] ¶¶ 6-31, 6-35, 8-1-8-18. Michael Cottrell asserts that the USDA discriminated against him in 1988 and 1994 when it denied his applications to rent inventory farm property and that USDA failed to maintain the “Master File” of his 1989 CRP contract. As with Mr. Morrison’s claims, Michael Cottrell’s claims are improperly joined and he may not be added to this case. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 20. Moreover, to add Michael Cottrell’s claims would be futile. See Howell v. Gray, 843 F.Supp.2d 49, 54 (D.D.C.2012) (a motion to amend may be denied if to do so would be futile); Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a)(2). If the amendment were allowed, Michael Cottrell’s claims would have to be dismissed for the same reasons that Mr. Cottrell’s claims will be dismissed.