Free Motion to Strike - District Court of Arizona - Arizona

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TERRY GODDARD Attorney General CATHERINE M. BOHLAND, Bar No. 022124 Assistant Attorney General 1275 W. Washington Phoenix, Arizona 85007-2997 Phone: (602) 542-4531 Fax: (602) 542-7670 [email protected] Attorneys for Defendants IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA KEITH ROBERT BARDEN, No. CV 04-0138 PHX EHC (GEE) Plaintiff, v. DORA B. SCHRIRO, et al., Defendants. Defendant1, by and through the undersigned attorney, hereby responds to Plaintiff's Reply in Opposition of Defendant's Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 22) as follows: MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES A court may grant a motion to strike pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f) if the contested language constitutes an "insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter." Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 12(f). "Redundant DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO STRIKE PLAINTIFF'S REPLY IN OPPOSITION OF DEFENDANT'S UNENUMERATED 12(B)(6) MOTION TO DISMISS (DKT. 22)

matter" is that which "consists of allegations that constitute a needless repetition of other averments." 5A Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1382, at 704 (2d ed.1990). Matter which is "immaterial" is "that which has no essential or important relationship to the claim for relief or the defenses being pleaded." Fantasy,
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Dora Schriro Document 23 Filed 11/21/2005 Page 1 of 3

Case 2:04-cv-00138-EHC-GEE

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Inc. v. Fogerty, 984 F.2d 1524, 1527 (9th Cir.1993), rev'd on other grounds, 510 U.S. 517, 114 S.Ct. 1023, 127 L.Ed.2d 455 (1994)(citing 5A Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller § 1382, at 706-07)(internal citations omitted). "`Impertinent' matter consists of statements that do not pertain, and are not necessary to the issues in question." Id. (citing 5A Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller § 1382, at 711). "Scandalous" matter "improperly casts a derogatory light on someone, most typically on a party to the action." 5A Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller § 1382, at 712. Federal courts generally disfavor motions to strike. See Germaine Music v.

Universal Songs of Polygram, 275 F.Supp.2d 1288, 1299-300 (D.Nev.2003). "[M]otions to strike should not be granted unless it is clear that the matter to be stricken could have no possible bearing on the subject matter of the litigation." Choleric v. Sun Microsystems, Inc., 758 F.Supp. 1335, 1339 (N.D.Cal.1991)(citing sources); see United States v. 729.773 Acres of Land, More or Less, Situate in City and County of Honolulu, 531 F.Supp. 967, 971 (D.Haw.1982) ("A motion to strike is a severe measure and it is generally viewed with disfavor."). On September 28, 2005, Defendant filed a Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6). (Dkt. 17) On October 27, 2005, Plaintiff, Keith Robert Barden ("Barden") responded to Defendant's Motion to Dismiss. (Dkt. 19) Defendant replied in support of her Motion to Dismiss on October 31, 2005. (Dkt. 20) Barden's current Response is in fact a sur-reply which is not permitted. See L.R.Civ. 7.2. The Local Rules permits a motion, a response and a reply. Id. Accordingly, Petitioner's current response should be stricken.

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RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED this 21st day of November, 2005. TERRY GODDARD Attorney General

s/Catherine M. Bohland Catherine M. Bohland Assistant Attorney General Attorneys for Defendants

Original e-filed this 21st day of November, 2005, with: Clerk of the Court United States District Court District of Arizona 401 West Washington Street, SPC 1 Phoenix, AZ 85003-2118 Copy mailed the same date to: Keith Robert Barden, #155866 ASPC - Eyman - Meadows Unit P.O. Box 3300 Florence, AZ 85232 s/A. Palumbo Secretary to: Catherine M. Bohland IDS05-0269/RSK:G
#935564

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