Gonzalez v. Ahern

Opinion

1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 DANIEL GONZALEZ, et al., Case No. 3:19-cv-07423-JSC

8 Plaintiffs, ORDER RE: WELLPATH’S MOTION 9 v. TO DIMISS PLAINTIFF TIKISHA UPSHAW 10 COUNTY OF ALAMEDA, et al., Re: Dkt. No. 398 Defendants. 11

12 13 Wellpath’s motion to dismiss Plaintiff Tikisha Upshaw is now pending before the Court. 14 (Dkt. Np. 398.) After carefully considering the parties’ briefs and the relevant legal authority, the 15 Court concludes that oral argument is unnecessary, see Civ. L.R. 7-1(b), and DENIES Wellpath’s 16 motion. 17 Wellpath moves for dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) on the grounds 18 that Plaintiffs added Ms. Upshaw as a Plaintiff in the Fifth Amended Complaint filed April 20, 19 2022 without leave of the Court. Dismissal under Rule 41(b) is discretionary. In re 20 Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Prod. Liab. Litig., 460 F.3d 1217, 1226 (9th Cir. 2006). Wellpath 21 offers no explanation for why it waited nearly two years to bring this motion. While Wellpath 22 filed an untimely joinder in the County’s motion to dismiss the Fifth Amended Complaint, neither 23 Wellpath nor any other Defendant raised an issue regarding Ms. Upshaw. (Dkt. Nos. 196, 204, 24 205, 216.) To the contrary, Wellpath proceeded to litigate the case with Ms. Upshaw as a 25 Plaintiff, even noticing and taking her deposition on June 23, 2023. (Dkt. No. 401-1 at ¶¶ 2-3.) 26 Wellpath does not explain why—after fact discovery has closed and on the eve of expert discovery 27 and summary judgment briefing—it now moves to dismiss Ms. Upshaw. Nor has it articulated 1 too little too late. The Court declines to exercise its discretion and dismiss Ms. Upshaw’s claims. 2 This Order disposes of Docket No. 398. 3 IT IS SO ORDERED. 4 Dated: March 18, 2024 5 6 ne J&CQUELINE SCOTT CORLEY 7 United States District Judge 8 9 10 11 a 12

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