Rollinson v. Top Tier Solar Solutions, LLC

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA CHARLOTTE DIVISION CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:23-CV-191-RJC-DCK ANDREW JACKSON ROLLINSON, ) VANESSA FRI-CIA ROLLINSON, and ) ANDREW O’DARIUS ROLLINSON, ) ) ORDER Plaintiffs, ) ) v. ) ) TOP TIER SOLAR SOLUTIONS, LLC, et al., ) ) Defendants. ) )

THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE COURT on Defendants’ “Motion To Dismiss” (Document No. 8) and “Defendant Austin Taylor’s Motion to Dismiss” (Document No. 9) filed May 5, 2023. These motions have been referred to the undersigned Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b), and immediate review is appropriate. Having carefully considered the motions, the record, and applicable authority, the undersigned will direct that the pending motions 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). Rule 15 further provides: (2) Other Amendments. In all other cases, a party may amend its pleading only with the opposing party’s written consent or the court’s leave. The court should freely give leave when justice so requires. Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a)(2).

DISCUSSION In this case, Plaintiffs timely filed an “Amended Complaint” (Document No. 12) which supersedes the original Complaint on May 22, 2023. It is well settled that a timely-filed amended pleading supersedes the original pleading, and that motions directed at superseded pleadings may be denied as moot. 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 contend the Amended Complaint is deficient, this Order is without prejudice to Defendants filing renewed motions to dismiss the Amended Complaint, as appropriate. IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that Defendants’ “Motion To Dismiss” (Document No. 8) is DENIED AS MOOT. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that “Defendant Austin Taylor’s Motion to Dismiss” (Document No. 9) is DENIED AS MOOT. SO ORDERED.

Signed: May 22, 2023

David C. Keesler Tw United States Magistrate Judge et