“Earlier motions made by Defendants were filed prior to and have been rendered moot by Plaintiffs’ filing of the Second Amended Complaint”
How later courts described this case
- “Earlier motions made by Defendants were filed prior to and have been rendered moot by Plaintiffs’ filing of the Second Amended Complaint”
- “The general rule ... is that an amended pleading supersedes the original pleading, rendering the original pleading of no effect.”
- “Because a properly filed amended complaint supersedes the original one and becomes the operative complaint in the case, it renders the original complaint ‘of no effect.’”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
STATESVILLE DIVISION
CIVIL ACTION NO. 5:21-CV-069-KDB-DCK
TAILORED CHEMICAL PRODUCTS, INC., )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) ORDER
)
ECO-TOTE CONTAINER SERVICES, LLC, )
and THOMAS J. MCKITTRICK, et al., )
)
Defendants. )
)
THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE COURT on “Eco-Tote Container Services, LLC’s
Motion To Dismiss” (Document No. 26) and “Thomas J. McKittrick’s Motion To Dismiss”
(Document No. 27) filed July 22, 2021. These motions have been referred to the undersigned
Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b), and immediate review is appropriate. Having
carefully considered the motions, the record, and applicable authority, the undersigned will direct
that the pending motions to dismiss be denied as moot.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15 applies to the amendment of pleadings and allows a
party to amend once as a matter of course within 21 days after serving, or “if the pleading is one
to which a responsive pleading is required, 21 days after service of a responsive pleading or 21
days after service of a motion under Rule 12(b), (e), or (f), whichever is earlier.” Fed.R.Civ.P.
15(a)(1). Rule 15 further provides:
(2) Other Amendments. In all other cases, a party may amend its
pleading only with the opposing party's written consent or the court's
leave. The court should freely give leave when justice so requires.
Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a)(2).
DISCUSSION
The Court granted Plaintiff’s consent motions for extension of time to respond to the
pending motions to dismiss on July 26, 2021, setting a deadline of August 19, 2021. See
(Document Nos. 34, 35, 36, 37). Plaintiff Tailored Chemical Products, Inc. then timely filed an
“Amended Complaint” (Document No. 49) in this action on August 12, 2021.
It is well settled that a timely-filed amended pleading supersedes the original pleading, and
that motions directed at superseded pleadings may be denied as moot. Young v. City of Mount
Ranier, 238 F.3d 567, 573 (4th Cir. 2001) (“The general rule ... is that an amended pleading
supersedes the original pleading, rendering the original pleading of no effect.”); see also, Fawzy
v. Wauquiez Boats SNC, 873 F.3d 451, 455 (4th Cir. 2017) (“Because a properly filed amended
complaint supersedes the original one and becomes the operative complaint in the case, it renders
the original complaint ‘of no effect.’”); Colin v. Marconi Commerce Systems Employees’
Retirement Plan, 335 F.Supp.2d 590, 614 (M.D.N.C. 2004) (“Earlier motions made by Defendants
were filed prior to and have been rendered moot by Plaintiffs’ filing of the Second Amended
Complaint”); Brown v. Sikora and Associates, Inc., 311 Fed.Appx. 568, 572 (4th Cir. Apr. 16,
2008); and Atlantic Skanska, Inc. v. City of Charlotte, 3:07-CV-266-FDW, 2007 WL 3224985 at
*4 (W.D.N.C. Oct. 30, 2007).
To the extent Defendants contend the Amended Complaint is deficient, this Order is
without prejudice to Defendants filing renewed motions to dismiss the Amended Complaint, as
appropriate.
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that Eco-Tote Container Services, LLC’s Motion To
Dismiss” (Document No. 26) is DENIED AS MOOT.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that “Thomas J. McKittrick’s Motion To Dismiss”
(Document No. 27) is DENIED AS MOOT.
SO ORDERED.
Signed: August 30, 2021
David C. Keesler Tw
United States Magistrate Judge et