JOHN M. BODENHAUSEN, Magistrate Judge.
This matter is before the Court on plaintiff's motion for leave to file an amended complaint. Defendants have filed a response in opposition to the motion. The parties have consented to the jurisdiction of the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c).
Plaintiff Pius Barikpoa Nwinee, who proceeds pro se, has been employed since June 2012 as a Developmental Assistant by defendant St. Louis Developmental Disabilities Treatment Center, a facility under the Missouri Department of Health. He holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and criminology and a master's degree. First Amended Complaint at ¶¶ 3, 16, 19 [Doc. # 19]. He alleges that he applied for other positions advertised within the state system but was never interviewed. In July 2016, plaintiff protested in writing to the director of the Division of Personnel.
Plaintiff alleges that the defendants' conduct was motivated by discrimination on the basis of race and national origin and that he was exposed to a hostile environment. On July 17, 2018, he filed suit in the St. Louis County Circuit Court, asserting claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e, et seq., and the "Missouri Civil Rights Act." Defendants removed the action to this court, invoking federal question jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331.
On October 23, 2018, the Court entered a Case Management Order that established November 15, 2018, as the deadline for amending pleadings or adding parties. [Doc. # 16]. On November 15, 2018, plaintiff filed an amended complaint to name Bellefontaine Habilitation Center as an additional defendant. [Doc. # 19]. On November 26, 2018, the Court entered an order reminding plaintiff that he was required to serve the new defendant with a summons and a copy of the complaint within 90 days. The Court also provided instructions about how to request summonses and achieve service and provided plaintiff with the necessary forms. [Doc. # 20]. The docket record does not contain any entry indicating that plaintiff submitted the completed forms and no proof of service on Bellefontaine Habilitation Center has been filed.
Plaintiff now seeks leave to amend his complaint to again add Bellefontaine Habilitation Center. He also attempts to add new claims under that defendants' conduct violated his rights under the First Amendment and the Missouri Whistleblower Act. The proposed amended complaint does not make new factual allegations but does provide additional detail to some of his existing allegations. Defendants object that the time for amending pleading and joining parties has long since passed and that discovery has proceeded on the existing complaint.
The Case Management Order established November 15, 2018, as the deadline for amending pleadings and joining parties. In order to amend after this deadline, plaintiff must satisfy the standard for modifying scheduling orders.
In his motion, plaintiff states that during discovery he recalled some facts that he had omitted from his first amended complaint and discovered that he might have a cause of action under the Missouri Whistleblowers Act. He does not argue that he learned of new material facts that were not available to him when he filed his first amended complaint. The Court finds that plaintiff has not demonstrated the necessary diligence to add new causes of action under the First Amendment and Missouri Whistleblower Act.
Plaintiff's request to join Bellefontaine Habilitation Center as an additional party is moot because it was joined in November 2018 when plaintiff filed his amended complaint. His time for achieving service on this defendant expired long ago, however, and under Rule 4(m), the Court must dismiss plaintiff's claim against this defendant without prejudice, unless plaintiff can show good cause for his failure to timely serve. The Court will give plaintiff an opportunity to show the necessary good cause.
Accordingly,