Carollo v. ACE American Insurance Company

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

CARLO CAROLLO, JR., ET AL. CIVIL ACTION

VERSUS NO: 18-13330

ACE AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY, SECTION: “D” (4)

ET AL.

ORDER

Before the Court is Plaintiffs’ Motion for Leave to File Second Supplemental and

Amended Complaint (R. Doc. 61) filed by Plaintiffs Carlo Carollo, Jr., and Frank Carollo,

individually and on behalf of the Estate of Carlo Carollo Sr., and the Estate of Angelina Carollo,

seeking an Order from this Court granting them leave to file a Second Supplemental and Amended

Complaint. This motion is opposed. R. Doc. 66. The motion was set for submission on August 14,

2019, and was heard on the briefs.

I. Background

This action was initially filed in the 34th Judicial District Court for the Parish of St. Bernard

on November 7, 2018, as a personal injury action in negligence under the theories of both

individual and respondeat superior liability. R. Doc. 1-1. On December 11, 2018, the case was

removed to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana invoking the Court’s

diversity jurisdiction. R. Doc. 1.

Plaintiffs Carlo Carollo, Jr. and Frank Carollo, children of the deceased Carlo Carollo Sr.,

and Angelina Carollo, allege that on or about November 9, 2017, at approximately 6:33 p.m., as

Carlo Carollo Sr., attempted to make a lawful left turn onto Louisiana Highway 46 (“LA 46”) from

Volpe Drive his vehicle was struck by Defendant Kevin Owens (“Driver Owens”), operator of a

2013 Freightliner Cascadia traveling westbound on LA 46. R. Doc. 1-1, p. 2-3. Plaintiffs Carlo

Carollo Sr. and Angelina Carollo suffered fatal injuries as a result of this accident. Id.

Plaintiffs and the decedents were familiar with the intersection and general locale as they,

and their parents, lived on Volpe Drive for decades and Frank Carollo continues to live on the

Volpe Drive. R. Doc. 66, p. 6. Defendants maintain the accident was caused due to the sole fault

of passenger vehicle driver Plaintiff Carlo Carollo Sr., who failed to stop at a traffic stop sign

before turning onto the highway. See, e.g., R. Doc. 39, p. 14. Plaintiffs refute this claim and

maintain Driver Owens had the last clear chance to avoid the collision. See R. Doc. 61-1, p. 2.

Liability remains disputed.

One year to the day of the accident, Plaintiffs filed the suit in Louisiana State Court in St.

Bernard Parish. After the case was removed, a scheduling conference took place on January 31,

2019, that imposed an amended pleading deadline of March 4, 2019. R. Doc. 11. On March 4,

2019, Plaintiffs filed their First Supplemental and Amended Petition. R. Doc. 15. On June 25,

2019, Plaintiffs also filed the subject motion seeking leave to add the State of Louisiana

Department of Transportation and Development (“DOTD”) as a party defendant in their Second

Supplemental and Amended Petition, which the Court notes, coincidentally happened the same

day Plaintiffs moved to enroll additional counsel of record Lawrence Blake Jones and Joshua L.

Rubenstein. R. Docs. 60 & 61.

As to the instant motion, Plaintiffs aver that, despite the fact that discovery has been

ongoing for over eight (8) months in this case, their efforts to proceed diligently with discovery in

this matter were hampered due to unforeseen events such as an injury to their counsel, Roberta

Burns, who suffered a hip and shoulder fracture on January 19, 2019. R. Doc. 61-1, p. 2. Plaintiffs

contend that her medical condition required surgery and months of recuperation and physical

therapy. Id. They, however, do not indicate how much time Burns’ recovery actually took.

Plaintiffs further contend that it was only later when discovery resumed, that their forensic experts

uncovered information suggesting that the DOTD may bear some liability in connection with the

subject accident, namely: 1) the curvature in the sightline and stopping sight distance were

inadequate for the posted speed, 2) the sightline for entry of vehicle on to highway LA 46 was

inadequate, 3) the posted speed was excessive, 4) the signage posted along LA 46 westbound was

inadequate, and 5) the DOTD allowed a sightline obstruction in allowing the construction of a

private parking close to the shoulder and entrance of the highway. R. Doc. 61-1, p. 2-3. As such,

Plaintiffs submit that they should be allowed to add DOTD as a party defendant. R. Doc. 61-1, p.

2.

Defendants Kevin Owens, Langer Transport Corporation, and ACE American Insurance

Company contend that the proposed amendment is a fraudulent attempt by Plaintiffs to destroy

this Court’s diversity jurisdiction because 1) Burns, although injured two weeks earlier,

participated in the telephonic scheduling conference; 2) the police investigation and report

indicated driver error, and not dangerous or unreasonably unsafe road conditions, caused the

accident; and 3) two months before Plaintiffs filed the instant lawsuit, Defendants provided to the

Plaintiffs their accident reconstruction report which contained, among other things, the posted

speed limits (mph), the road curvature, sightlines, diagrams, and the tractor trailer truck’s hard

braking events (See R. Doc. 39-1). R. Doc. 66.

Defendants further contend that Plaintiffs have had more than ample time to investigate,

assess facts, and raise claims against the DOTD where more than twenty-two (22) months have

elapsed since the accident occurred and one year has since passed from when Defendants produced

to Plaintiffs a copy of their expert’s accident reconstruction report. R. Doc. 66, p. 6. The

Defendants also contend that the motion should be denied because Plaintiffs failed to address the

good cause requirement of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16(b). R. Doc. 66, p. 8. Specifically,

Defendants state the Court should not find good cause and the motion should be denied because

there are four (4) additional lawyers enrolled in the case who could have developed their theory

while Ms. Burns recuperated. Additionally, the Defendants contend the motion should be denied

because 1) Plaintiffs failed to provide a valid explanation for the importance of the amendment, 2)

Defendants would be prejudiced, and 3) the proposed amendment does not comport with the

factors set forth in Hensgens v. Deere & Co., 833 F.2d 1179, 1182 (5th Cir. 1987).

II. Standard of Review

Generally, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (“Rule”) 15(a) governs the amendment of

pleadings before trial. Rule 15(a) allows a party to amend its pleadings “only with the other party’s

written consent or the court’s leave.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2). Moreover, the Rule urges that the

Court “should freely give leave when justice so requires.” Id. “Such leave is not automatic,

however, and is at the discretion of the district court.” Muttathottil v. Mansfield, 381 Fed.Appx.

454, 457 (5th Cir. 2010).

“[T]he Fifth Circuit [has] clarified that when, as here, a scheduling order has been issued

by the district court, Rule 16(b) governs amendment of pleadings.” Royal Ins. Co. of America v.

Schubert Marine Sales, 02–0916, 2003 WL 21664701, at *2 (E.D. La. July 11, 2003 (citing S &

W Enterprises, L.L.C. v. Southtrust Bank of Ala., 315 F.3d 533, 535–36 (5th Cir. 2003)). Rule

16(b) limits changes in the deadlines set by a scheduling order “only for good cause and with the

judge’s consent.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b)(4). To determine if good cause exists as to untimely

motions to amend pleadings, the Court should consider: “(1) the movant’s explanation for its

failure to timely move for leave to amend; (2) the importance of the amendment; (3) the potential

prejudice in allowing the amendment; and (4) the availability of a continuance to cure that

prejudice.” Schubert Marine Sales, 2003 WL 21664701, at *2 (citing S & W Enterprises, 315 F.3d

at 536).

“If after removal the plaintiff seeks to join additional defendants whose joinder would

destroy subject matter jurisdiction, the court may deny joinder, or permit joinder and remand the

action to the state court.” 28 U.S.C. § 1447(e). Moore v. Manns, 732 F.3d 454, 456 (5th Cir. 2013).

When considering an amendment which would destroy the court’s diversity jurisdiction,

“Hensgens sets forth a four-factor test for determining whether the addition of a non-diverse

defendant requiring remand should be granted, or whether the amendment seeking to add the non-

diverse defendant should be denied, allowing the federal court to retain jurisdiction.” Karr v. Brice

Bldg. Co., No. CIV. A. 08-1984, 2009 WL 1458043, at *2 (E.D. La. May 22, 2009) (citing

Hensgens, 833 F.2d at 1182); see also, Doleac ex rel. Doleac v. Michalson, 264 F.3d 470, 474 (5th

Cir. 2001) (“The Hensgens factors guide the court in whether to allow an amendment to add a

“nondiverse nonindispensable party.”).

Hensgens commands the Court “should scrutinize an amended pleading naming a new

nondiverse defendant in a removed case ‘more closely than an ordinary amendment.’” Moore, 732

F.3d at 456 (citing Hensgens, 833 F.2d at 1182). Specifically, “[t]he court should consider the

extent to which the purpose of the amendment is to defeat federal jurisdiction, whether plaintiff

has been dilatory in asking for amendment, whether plaintiff will be significantly injured if

amendment is not allowed, and any other factors bearing on the equities. The district court, with

input from the defendant, should then balance the equities and decide whether amendment should

be permitted.” Hensgens, 833 F.2d at 1182. “Because the court’s decision will determine the

continuance of its jurisdiction, the addition of a nondiverse party must not be permitted without

consideration of the original defendant’s interest in the choice of forum.” Id.

III. Analysis

A. Rule 16(b) Good Cause

Because a Scheduling Order (R. Doc. 11) has been instituted in this case, Federal Rule of

Civil Procedure 16(b) governs the amendment of pleadings. As an initial note, the Court cannot

accept as “good cause” for the delay Plaintiffs’ counsel Roberta Burns’ January shoulder and hip

injuries. While the Court notes that Burns does not apparently seem to participate in this case

between the January 31, 2019 Scheduling Conference (R. Doc. 11) and Plaintiffs’ April 30, 2019

Response Memorandum in Opposition to Langer Transportation Corporation’s Motion for Partial

Summary Judgement (R. Doc. 22), between those points Plaintiffs filed three (3) additional record

documents including their First Supplemental and Amended Complaint on February 28, 2019. See

Ex Parte/ Consent Motion for Leave to File First Supplemental and Amended Complaint (R. Doc.

12), Ex Parte/ Consent Motion for Leave to File First Supplemental and Amended Complaint (R.

Doc. 13), and Status Report by All Plaintiffs (R. Doc. 16). The Court further notes that Plaintiffs

currently have six (6) enrolled counsels of record, of whom, at least two, to the Court’s knowledge,

participated in the case in Ms. Burns’ absence. This explanation, therefore, falls flat.

The Court next notes the fact that this is not Plaintiffs’ First Proposed Supplemental and

Amended Petition for Damages but their Second Proposed Supplemental and Amended Petition

for Damages. Adding an additional Defendant and alleging a different theory so close to the brink

of trial would cause Defendants severe prejudice, without even including into the consideration

the fact that allowing this amendment would divest the Court of its jurisdiction. Moreover,

considering the fact that District Judge Wendy B. Vitter recently denied Plaintiffs’ Motion for

Continuance of the November 18, 2019 trial date (R. Doc. 85, p. 11), the Court doubts the

availability of a continuance to cure such prejudice.

B. Hensgens Four-Factor Analysis

Separate and distinct of good cause, as Plaintiffs seek leave to file a second supplemental

and amended complaint that adds an additional party defendant—the State of Louisiana

Department of Transportation and Development (“DOTD”)—the Court considers the proposed

amendment in light of the four Hensgens factors. As previously noted, Defendants removed this

action to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on December 11,

2018, on the basis of the Court’s diversity of citizenship subject matter jurisdiction. R. Doc. 1. As

adding DOTD would defeat this Court’s diversity subject matter jurisdiction, the Court applies the

four (4) factor test set forth in Hensgens.

i. First Hensgens Factor

In consideration of Hensgens first factor, the extent to which the purpose of the amendment

is to defeat federal jurisdiction, this Court first notes that amending the pleading to join the DOTD

would both result in a loss of subject matter jurisdiction as a matter of destroying the Court’s

diversity jurisdiction, as well as possibly implicating the State of Louisiana’s, through the DOTD,

Eleventh Amendment protection, which bars suit against a state defendant in federal court. See,

e.g., Brown v. Foti, No. CIV. A. 94-1659, 1996 WL 271639, at *3 (E.D. La. May 21, 1996) and

Lafourche Par. Water Dist. No. 1 v. Traylor Bros., No. CIV.A. 09-3204, 2009 WL 2175983, at *2

(E.D. La. July 21, 2009) (“The . . . DOTD is an arm of the State of Louisiana.”).

While the Plaintiffs aver that there is “no” temporal proximity between removal and

Plaintiffs’ motion for amendment, the Court, nonetheless, takes note of the temporal proximity

between Plaintiffs’ first adverse ruling on July 24, 2019, and Plaintiffs’ motion for amendment on

July 25, 2019. R. Doc. 67-1, p. 5. See also R. Doc. 72 and R. Doc. 61. See, e.g., AMX Envtl.

Evolution, Ltd. v. Carroll Fulmer Logistics Corp., No. CIV A 3:08-CV-0908-G, 2009 WL 972994,

at *3 (N.D. Tex. Apr. 9, 2009) (“sudden efforts to join a non-diverse party after a case has been

properly removed weigh against allowing the joinder.”). The timing of the proposed amendment

is, in it of itself, suggestive of the fraudulent nature of the proposed joinder.

In considering the first Hensgens factor, the Court will also ask “whether the plaintiff[s]

knew or should have known the identity of the non-diverse defendant when the state court

complaint was filed.” Wells, 171 F. Supp. 3d at 505. In answering this question, the Court initially

notes that before this second proposed amendment, Plaintiffs have never voiced a scintilla of fault

against the DOTD. While Plaintiffs, retained their expert, Mr. Jeremy Hoffpauir, on November 30,

2018, to perform a crash data recorder download, it was not until April 22, 2019, nearly two months

after the March 4, 2019 pleading amendment deadline, that Plaintiffs inquired as to his availability

in performing accident reconstruction analysis. Defendants propounded their accident

reconstructionist’s report pre-suit on August 16, 2018, which included analysis of, among other

things, a CAD land site survey, sightlines, as well as photographic and aerial footage of the

accident scene. See R. Doc. 39-1. The Court is of the opinion that this is the point at which Plaintiffs

knew or should have known the identity of DOTD, the proposed non-diverse defendant. Yet, when

the state court complaint was filed nearly three months later on November 7, 2018, Plaintiffs did

not indicate any liability by DOTD.

Moreover, Plaintiffs make no indication in the instant motion as to when exactly they

learned of DOTD’s alleged involvement other than to say that it was “the confluence of the

referenced data.” R. Doc. 67-1, p. 5. This presents two problems: 1) “the confluence of referenced

data” suggest that Plaintiffs were potentially aware of DOTD to some extent; and 2) Plaintiffs have

not indicated what information they have obtained demonstrating that DOTD is only now a viable

defendant. The Court is convinced that enough facts and information existed that Plaintiffs

possibly should have known of DOTD’s potential involvement through exercise of due diligence

where Plaintiffs were in possession of Defendants’ expert report, which data would have suggested

potential liability, if any, on the part of DOTD, prior to their filing the suit in state court. As such,

the Court remains skeptical of Plaintiffs’ request.

Case law is, however, clear when considering the Hensgens first factor, the Court should

factor most greatly whether the proposed amendment states a valid claim. Wells v. Medtronic, Inc.,

171 F. Supp. 3d 493, 505 (E.D. La. 2016). Under Louisiana law, in order to find the State of

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development liable for dangerous or unreasonably

dangerous road conditions, “Plaintiff[s] must prove: (1) DOTD had custody of the thing that

caused the plaintiffs[’] injuries or damages; (2) the thing was defective because it had a condition

that created an unreasonable risk of harm; (3) DOTD had actual or constructive knowledge of the

defect and failed to take corrective measures within a reasonable time; and (4) the defect in the

thing was a cause-in-fact of the plaintiffs[’] injuries.” Britt v. Spirit Commercial RR Grp. Inc., No.

CV 17-424-JWD-RLB, 2018 WL 2275556, at *5 (M.D. La. May 2, 2018), report and

recommendation adopted, No. CV 17-424-JWD-RLB, 2018 WL 2269905 (M.D. La. May 17,

2018) (citing Netecke v. State ex rel. DOTD, 747 So. 2d 489, 494 (La. 1999)).

Despite the fact that Defendants proffer evidence to suggest Plaintiffs’ claims are

subjectively weak or perhaps not as precise as possible in attempt to rebuff the validity of

Plaintiffs’ claims (See R. Doc. 90-1), the Court finds the allegations, on their face, are enough to

state a valid claim against the DOTD under Louisiana law in connection to the instant vehicular

accident. Still, the Court ultimately finds the first Hensgens factor weighs slightly against granting

the amendment given that the Court is highly suspicious of the circumstances surrounding the

amendment. Schindler v. Charles Schwab & Co., No. CIV.A.05-0082, 2005 WL 1155862, at *4

(E.D. La. May 12, 2005) (finding the first factor weighed slightly against granting amendment

where the Court opined Plaintiff’s motivation was likely to defeat jurisdiction although plaintiff

may have stated a valid claim). “However, the fact that one factor might weigh in favor of denying

the amendment is not dispositive of this Court's inquiry because the remaining factors weigh in

favor of permitting the amendment.” Id.

ii. Second Hensgens Factor

Next, in consideration of Hensgens second factor, whether plaintiff has been dilatory in

asking for amendment, the Court takes especial note that this motion for amendment comes to the

Court beyond the deadline imposed in the Scheduling Order (R. Doc. 11). In fact, that March 4,

2019, pleading amendment deadline imposed lapsed without extension. R. Doc. 11, p. 2. While

Plaintiffs maintain there is “good cause” for the delay where the Defendants withheld certain

requested discovery, the Court finds this suggestion lacks merit where it comes more than four (4)

months past the Court imposed pleading amendment deadline. Plaintiffs do not point to a single

piece of evidence Defendants ultimately produced to them on its motion to compel—all requests

directed at Driver Owens and his truck, and not regarding the DOTD, the road, or the accident

reconstruction report’s road and terrain section—from which the Court can considered newly

discovered information requisite to allow this joinder. See R. Doc. 72.

While the portion of LA 46 may have been defective or unreasonably dangerous both as

constructed and maintained by the DOTD, the sightlines, the posted speed limit, the postage, and

the existence of a parking lot in proximity to the highway—the allegations raised in Plaintiffs’

proposed Second Supplemental and Amended Complaint—are all facts known to Plaintiffs since

the date of the accident and at minimum two (2) months before they filed suit. R. Doc. 61-2.

As just a single example, Plaintiffs submit to the Court that is was not until June 25, 2019,

at the deposition of the investigating state trooper that defendants finally provided Plaintiffs

photographs of the accident scene. R. Doc. 67-1, p. 2. To the contrary, the record indicates

Defendants’ expert’s accident reconstruction report propounded pre-suit on August 16, 2018,

contains, among other information and data, Defendants’ accident scene photographs. See R. Doc.

39-1. Plaintiffs further acknowledge their receipt of this report. R. Doc. 67-1, p.2., n.7. So, while

Defendants’ expert pre-suit report does not conclusively establish the opinions therein, the fact

that Defendants gave the Plaintiffs this report, more than eleven (11) months prior to Plaintiffs’

proposed amendment, does bear on the dilatory nature of Plaintiffs’ exercise of its obligation to

investigate the facts and assess the potential liability in connection with their claims. Id.

Defendants, in providing their expert’s reconstructionist report, should have served as a trigger for

Plaintiffs to hire their own expert reconstructionist to both refute Defendants’ expert report and

aid in Plaintiffs’ development of theories of relief. Plaintiffs, at that point, if not the moment of the

accident, had notice that sightlines and/or other road obstructions, were a potential theory that it

could pursue. The mere fact that Plaintiffs, strategically or otherwise, opted to not consult an expert

at this trigger is indicative of the dilatory nature of this request. As such, the Court finds the

Plaintiff has been dilatory in seeking this amendment and weighs the second Hensgens factor

against allowing the proposed Second Supplemental and Amended Complaint.

iii. Third Hensgens Factor

Next, in consideration of the third Hensgens factor, whether plaintiff will be significantly

injured if the amendment is not allowed, Plaintiffs submit to the Court the high potential for

piecemeal litigation. Nonetheless, while the rule states “significant injury,” the general approach

in the Eastern District has been focused mostly on inefficiency, waste of judicial resources, danger

of inconsistent results, and cost to Plaintiffs that results from forcing the Plaintiffs to bring a

separate suit on a valid claim. Herzog v. Johns Manville Prod. Corp., No. CIV.A. 02-1110, 2002

WL 31556352, at *2 (E.D. La. Nov. 15, 2002) (“the third Hensgens factor favors the Plaintiff

because forcing the Plaintiff to file a separate suit on the same facts is inefficient and a waste of

judicial resources.”). Given this emphasis, the Court feels that it must recognize these concerns.

By forcing the Plaintiffs to file an action in state court against DOTD, Plaintiffs may incur costs

of litigating proceedings in both state and federal court on a similar legal issue. Nonetheless, and

despite Plaintiffs’ assertions of undue expense, the Court does not find these costs to necessarily

be dispositive of the issue of even necessarily significant.

Courts have recognized that “[a]nother consideration bearing on this factor is whether []

plaintiff[s] can be afforded complete relief without the amendment.” Schindler, 2005 WL

1155862, at *4 (citing Jerido v. Am. Gen. Life and Acc. Ins. Co., 127 F.Supp.2d 1322, 1325 (M.D.

Ala. 2001)). Plaintiffs implicitly acknowledge that they are free to seek relief against the DOTD

by avenues, other than this proposed second amended complaint should they so choose. See, e.g.,

R. Doc. 61-1, p. 6.

Furthermore, as Defendants have pointed out, in Riggins, this Court held that “[i]t is

apparent from plaintiff's supporting memorandum that the DOTD is an alleged joint tortfeasor

[and] Rule 19 does not require joinder of joint tortfeasors because they are not indispensable

parties.” Riggins v. Anheuser-Busch, Inc., No. CIV. A. 95-3393, 1996 WL 297109, at *2 (E.D. La.

May 31, 1996). As a joint tortfeasor, all Defendants jointly and severally liable for the damages,

meaning “each liable party is individually responsible for the entire obligation, but a paying party

may have a right of contribution or indemnity from nonpaying parties.” BLACK'S LAW DICTIONARY

(11th ed. 2019). Because of this, the Court finds merit to Defendants’ argument that the Plaintiffs

can be afforded “complete relief” should their claim be successful; thus, the Court finds that there

would be no “significant injury” in denying the amendment and weighs the third Hensgens factor

against allowing the proposed amendment.

iv. Fourth Hensgens Factor

Finally, in consideration of the fourth Hensgens factor, whether there are any other factors

bearing on the equities, the Court notes the Plaintiffs’ lack of evidentiary support proffered to the

Court in support of their proposed amendment. As Defendants note, not only was the State Police’s

accident report completed and available to Plaintiffs on February 1, 2018, but on August 16, 2018,

pre-suit, counsel for Defendants’ provided Plaintiffs with a copy of Defendants’ accident

reconstruction report. R. Doc. 66, p. 2-3. See also, R. Doc. 39-1. Plaintiffs utterly fail to explain

why, especially in light of Defendants’ expert report, that Plaintiff failed to timely hire their own

expert reconstructionist. Plaintiffs also fail to explain what exact data makes their expert report

distinct from Defendants’ expert report—propounded pre-suit—that offers any sort of reason, let

alone good cause, in their choosing not to pursue this theory of liability until the last moments. In

fact, Plaintiffs did not provide the Court the accident reconstructionist’s qualification or

information and data that would indicate liability by the DOTD.

While the Court may accept the confluence of referenced data justifies amendment, here

Plaintiffs simply provide no data to reference. Whitaker v. Gen. Motors Corp., No. CV 16-3421,

2017 WL 1346271 (E.D. La. Apr. 12, 2017), aff'd, No. CV 16-3421, 2017 WL 2424717 (E.D. La.

June 2, 2017). Moreover, the Court is highly suspect that Plaintiffs waited to hire an expert

reconstructionist after nearly two (2) years has elapsed since the accident, at which point the

accident scene transmuted and the evidence dissipated. The Court also hesitates to find this

amendment equitable as Plaintiffs were in possession of all the information to support this

supposed new theory when they filed their original complaint, as well as their First Supplemental

and Amended Petition for Damages. The Court finds this bears negatively on the equities in

allowing the proposed pleading.

Still, as this Court has previously explained, “[w]hen determining ‘other factors,’ the Court

typically balances the competing interests of the parties. Courts have noted that the defendant ‘has

a compelling interest in maintaining the federal forum. The rationale behind removal statutes is

that diverse defendants have an option of selecting a state or federal forum.’” Neely v. Scottsdale

Ins. Co., No. CIV.A. 14-0048, 2014 WL 1572441, at *8 (E.D. La. Apr. 17, 2014). Here,

Defendants assert their “compelling interest” in choosing the federal forum. R. Doc. 66, p. 23.

While the Court notes that this is not enough to keep the Defendants in the federal forum, see

Lafourche Par. Water Dist. No. 1, 2009 WL 2175983, at *5, the Court finds with relation to the

first and third Hensgens factors—that the Plaintiffs likely have an improper motive to the

amendment and that there is no significant injury to the Plaintiff in denying the amendment—

bolstered weight of the Defendants’ interest in the federal forum. Legeaux v. Borg-Warner Corp.,

No. CV 16-13773, 2016 WL 6069770, at *5 (E.D. La. Oct. 17, 2016). As such, the Court finds the

fourth Hensgens factor weighs against allowing Plaintiffs’ second proposed amendment

complaint, and the overall balance of the Hensgens factors weighs in favor of denying the

amendment.

Although, Plaintiffs did not analyze Rule 16(b) and the four Hensgens factors distinct of

each other, Plaintiffs do cite to Karr v. Brice Bldg. Co., 2009 WL 1458043, at *2 (granting motion

to remand where motion for leave to amend was granted as unopposed) and Bethay v. Ford Motor

Co., No. CIV. A. 99-0367, 1999 WL 496488, at *3 (E.D. La. July 13, 1999) (finding the Magistrate

Judge’s evaluation of the second Hensgens factor not clearly erroneous where Plaintiff filed his

motion to supplement and amend before the Court imposed deadline), in support of their motion.

Nonetheless, these cases are distinguishable from the case currently before the Court that is both

opposed and after the Court imposed deadline.

As the Court finds all four of the Hensgens factors weigh against allowing the proposed

amendment, the motion for leave to file is, therefore, denied.

IV. Conclusion

Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED that the Plaintiffs’ Motion for Leave to File Second Supplemental

and Amended Complaint (R. Doc. 61) is DENIED.

New Orleans, Louisiana, this 18th day of October 2019.

KAREN WELLS ~

CHIEF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

15