Opinion ID: 1192464
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: dismissal of claims against unnamed pharmacies

Text: Hefner contends that the district court erred in dismissing its claims against the John Doe pharmacies at a time when discovery motions were pending and no motion to dismiss had been asserted with regard to these claims. We will not review alleged error on appeal unless the record discloses an adverse ruling forming the basis for the assignment of error. E.g., De Los Santos v. J.R. Simplot Co., 126 Idaho 963, 969, 895 P.2d 564, 570 (1995). Although its order provides a background discussion of all of Hefner's claims, including those asserted against the unnamed pharmacies, the district court confined its analysis and its rulings exclusively to those claims against BCI and Caremark which were challenged by the named defendants' motion to dismiss. Having concluded that the district court did not dismiss the claims against the unnamed pharmacies it would, at first blush, appear that there is no final order within the meaning of I.A.R. 11(a)(1). See, e.g., Nelson v. Whitesides, 103 Idaho 374, 647 P.2d 1246 (1982) (final judgment or decree to which Rule 11(a)(1) refers is one which finally determines the rights of the parties). Since the record contains no certificate of final judgment entered pursuant to I.R.C.P. 54(b), the question becomes whether this appeal is properly before this Court. For the following reason, we conclude that it is. To designate an unknown entity as an adverse party to a lawsuit, I.R.C.P. 10(a)(4) requires that the pleading identify the entity as one whose true name is unknown. Hefner's complaint does not designate the John Doe pharmacies as entities whose true names are unknown, but simply states that they are pharmacies operating within the State of Idaho who have entered into a contract with the other defendants. Thus, although the unknown pharmacies are named entities for purposes of the factual allegations in the complaint, they are not actual parties to this lawsuit. Cf. Watts v. Lynn, 125 Idaho 341, 348, 870 P.2d 1300, 1307 (1994) (an amended complaint stating true name of fictitious party does not relate back unless the original pleading satisfies Rule 10(a)(4)). Accordingly, the fact that the district court's order did not resolve Hefner's claims against these non-parties is of no consequence to this appeal, and we will proceed to consider the remaining issues presented.