JOHN A. MENDEZ, District Judge.
Defendant Bank of America, National Association (BANA) seeks to dismiss Plaintiff Anthony Kassman's ("Plaintiff's") First Amended Complaint (FAC) under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure ("Rule") 8(a)(2) (Doc. #17). For the following reasons, the motion is GRANTED with leave to amend.
Plaintiff filed his FAC in state court in December 2015. He alleges twenty-one causes of action, related to the foreclosure of his property. Defendants Mortgage Electronic Registration System, Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc, and Bank Of New York Mellon, Inc. as Trustee for the Certificate Holder of the CWALT, Inc. Alternative Loan Trust 2005-51 Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-51 (collectively, "Removal Defendants") removed this case on February 26, 2016, asserting subject matter jurisdiction on the basis of federal question jurisdiction. Notice of Removal (Doc. #1) 3:7-11.
BANA moved to dismiss (Doc. #5), and the motion was fully briefed. Thereafter, the Court issued a minute order dismissing BANA's motion without prejudice for failure to comply with the Court's Order requiring counsel to meet and confer before filing any motion (Doc. #14). BANA filed another motion to dismiss, which Removal Defendants joined (Doc. ##17, 20). Plaintiff opposes (Doc. #22), and both BANA and Removal Defendants have replied (Doc. ##23, 24).
BANA "moves to dismiss on grounds that Plaintiff's 123-page, 613-paragraph operative complaint violates Rule 8's well-established requirement that a pleading contain `a short and plain statement of the claim.'" BANA's Mot. to Dismiss Pl.'s FAC Pursuant to Rule 8 ("Mot.") 1:6-8. BANA "requests that this Court dismiss Plaintiff's First Amended Complaint with prejudice."
In his opposition, Plaintiff argues that he was not subject to the Rule 8 pleading standard when he filed in state court. Pl.'s Opp'n to Mot. & Mem. of P. & A. ISO Same ("Opp'n") 2:26-28, 3:22. Plaintiff asks the Court to "grant his request to amend the complaint."
The Court agrees with the parties that Plaintiff's FAC does not comply with Rule 8. Rule 8(a)(2) dictates: "A pleading that states a claim for relief must contain: . . . (2) a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Rule 8(d)(1) states: "Each allegation [of a pleading] must be simple, concise, and direct."
The FAC is unnecessarily lengthy and repetitive, and it lacks "simple, concise, and direct" allegations.
BANA relies in part on
Removal Defendants present two additional reasons for dismissal without leave to amend. First, they argue Plaintiff brings the FAC "in `bad faith and with a dilatory purpose.'" Removal Defs.' Notice of Joinder & Mot. to Dismiss for Failure to Comply with Rule 8(a)(2) ("Joinder") 2:10 (quoting
Second, Removal Defendants argue in a conclusory manner that "Plaintiff cannot amend the FAC in good faith because he assigned his rights in this action to Donald Hubbard." Joinder 2:23-24. Removal Defendants submit an exhibit entitled "Assignment Agreement," which they assert is "a notarized assignment of Plaintiff's right to sue in this action." Decl. of Connor W. Olson ISO Joinder (Doc. #20-1) ¶ 4; Ex. A, at 1. Generally, the Court may not consider material beyond the pleadings in ruling on a motion to dismiss, and Removal Defendants have failed to establish a proper basis for the court to take judicial notice of this exhibit. Viewing the exhibit as currently presented, the Court is unable to verify its accuracy, and its content does not appear to be commonly known in the community.
For the reasons set forth above, the motion to dismiss is GRANTED WITH LEAVE TO AMEND. Plaintiff shall file his amended complaint within twenty (20) days from the date of this Order. This action may be dismissed with prejudice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) if Plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint within the prescribed time period. Defendants shall file their responsive pleadings to this amended complaint within twenty (20) days thereafter.
IT IS SO ORDERED.