“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
CHARLOTTE DIVISION
CASE NO. 3:24-CV-277-KDB-DCK
DENNIS HANSCOM, )
)
Plaintiff, ) ORDER
)
v. )
)
NORDSEC LTD., NORDSEC B.V., )
NORDVPN S.A, TEFINCOM S.A., and )
NORD SECURITY INC.., )
)
Defendants. )
)
THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE COURT on “Defendants’ Motion To Dismiss
Plaintiff’s Complaint” (Document No. 44). This motion has been referred to the undersigned
Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b), and immediate review is appropriate. Having
carefully considered the motion, the record, and applicable authority, the undersigned will direct
that the pending motion 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).
DISCUSSION
Plaintiff timely filed its “Amended Class Action Complaint” (Document No. 50) (the
“Amended Complaint”) on July 31, 2024, in response to “Defendants’ Motion To Dismiss
Plaintiff's Complaint” (Document No. 44) filed on July 3, 2024. See (Document No. 49).
The Amended Complaint (Document No. 50) supersedes the original Complaint
(Document No. 1). See 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 contends the Amended Complaint is deficient, this Order is
without prejudice to Defendants filing a renewed motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint.
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that on “Defendants’ Motion To Dismiss Plaintiff's
Complaint” (Document No. 44) is DENIED AS MOOT.
SO ORDERED.
Signed: August 1, 2024
David C. Keesler “y
United States Magistrate Judge et