Court Opinion

ID: 9455021
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 19:06:32.790125+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:34:25.050161
License: Public Domain

SKELTON, Judge
(concurring):
I agree with the result reached in this case mainly for three reasons:
(1) The plaintiff has not shown any specific injury it would suffer if the defendant is allowed to file the amendment; (2) the amendment is being filed at the pretrial stage of the proceedings; and (3) we allowed defendant to file an *1361amended answer raising the same set-off issues as those involved here in Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Co. v. United States, Ct.Cl. No. 149-65, and Missouri Pacific Railroad Co. v. United States, Ct.Cl. Nos. 142-67 and 95-68, now pending before this court.
Were it not for these facts, the arguments of the plaintiff would be very convincing. Furthermore, at oral argument, counsel for the government in the case before us could give no reason or excuse for its delay except the issuance of the Revenue Ruling in 1967 relied on in filing the amendment. I do not consider this to be a valid reason. The holding of the court in Freeman v. Continental Gin Co., 381 F.2d 459, 468, 469 (5th Cir. 1967), could be invoked against the defendant, namely:
* * * Leave will be denied unless he shows some “valid reason for his neglect and delay.” * * *
The question could be a close one except for the reasons stated in the beginning. Consequently, it should be emphasized that our decision here should not be taken as a precedent in future cases for late or delayed filing of amended pleadings by either party.