Opinion ID: 888050
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Issue One: Did the District Court abuse its discretion in denying Palmer's motion to file a second amended answer?

Text: ¶29 Palmer argues that the District Court abused its discretion when it denied her motion to file a second amended answer. However, the portion of her brief dedicated to this issue fails to comply with the most basic requirements of M. R. Civ. P. 23(a)(4). Other than a passing reference to M. R. Civ. P. 15(a), it is unsupported by authority, is neither succinct nor clear, misrepresents the testimony cited to in the record, relies on exhibits not contained in the record, and contains numerous conclusory assertions. ¶30 As we have stated on numerous occasions, relying on M. R. App. P. 23, it is not this Court's obligation to conduct legal research on behalf of a party, to guess at his or her precise position, or to develop legal analysis that may lend support to that position. In re Estate of Bayers, 1999 MT 154, ¶ 19, 295 Mont. 89, ¶ 19, 983 P.2d 339, ¶ 19. See also Hallenberg v. General Mills Operations, 2006 MT 191, ¶ 45, 333 Mont. 143, ¶ 45, 141 P.3d 1216, ¶ 45. However, given that the District Court's Order denying her motion to amend succinctly sets forth the court's rationale, we will review the court's justification for denying the motion to determine whether the court abused its discretion. ¶31 The court noted: (1) Palmer waited nine months to file a motion for leave to file a second amended answer; (2) AFM had filed a motion for summary judgment and to compel Palmer's discovery responses at least three months before Palmer moved to amend; (3) Palmer did not present any new evidence that was not available to her at the time she amended her answer the first time; (4) all previous extensions had been for the sole benefit of Palmer; (5) granting the motion to amend would result in undue delay; (6) if Palmer had obtained new evidence in July 2002, she did not act promptly upon making that discovery; and (7) allowing a second amendment would impede the orderly and expeditious progression of the case to final judgment. We conclude that the rationale of the court was well-reasoned and appropriate given the case's procedural history, and that the court did not abuse its discretion in denying leave to amend. See Peuse v. Malkuch, 275 Mont. 221, 228, 911 P.2d 1153, 1157 (1996) (court was within its discretion in denying leave to amend after a motion for summary judgment had been filed by the opposing party). We therefore affirm on this issue.