Court Opinion

ID: 775308
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-04-18 12:12:14+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:14:54.088558
License: Public Domain

269 F.3d 9 (1st Cir. 2001)
AARON NETT, by and through his mother and next best friend, ROBIN NETT, and ROBIN   NETT and JAMES NETT, Individually, Plaintiffs, Appellants,v.MITCHELL J. BELLUCCI, M.D.; PETER D. GROSS, M.D., Defendants, Appellees.
No. 00-1357
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT
Entered: October 12, 2001

Before Lynch, Circuit Judge, Bownes,* Senior Circuit Judge, and Lipez, Circuit Judge.

1
OPINION: ORDER FOR CERTIFICATION OF QUESTIONS TO THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS

2
For the reasons stated in our opinion in this case, submitted with this order, we certify the following two questions to the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts:

3
(1) Is the operative date for commencement of an action      for purposes of the Massachusetts statutes of repose the      date of filing of a motion and supporting memorandum for      leave to amend a complaint to add a party (assuming      timely service), or is the operative date the date the      amended complaint is filed after leave of court is      granted, when leave of court is required by the Rules of      Civil Procedure to file an amended complaint?

4
(2) If the answer to Question No. 1 is that the      operative date is the date of    filing of the      motion for leave to amend, do the policies underlying      the statutes of repose require that such filings be in      compliance with the local rules of court applicable to      the filing of such motions, or do those policies permit      the court in its discretion to excuse non-compliance      with the local rules?

5
This court certifies that these questions may be determinative of a cause of action in this case and that it appears there is no controlling precedent in the decisions of the Supreme Judicial Court. We would also welcome any additional observations about relevant Massachusetts law the SJC may wish to offer. The clerk of this court is to forward, under the official seal of this court, seven copies of the certified questions and our opinion in this case, along with the briefs and appendix filed by the parties, to the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. We shall await its reply with interest and appreciation. In the interim, we retain appellate jurisdiction. We note that the parties have not briefed to this court the two questions certified, and we recommend that the Supreme Judicial Court receive additional briefing.

Notes:

*
 Judge Bownes heard oral argument in this matter, and participated in the semble, but he did not participate in the drafting or the issuance of the panel's opinion. The remaining two panelists therefore issue this order for certification pursuant to 28 U.S.C.  46(d).