Opinion
Civil Action 3:23-CV-414-KHJ-MTP
12-15-2023
JAMES PALMER PLAINTIFF v. AHERN RENTALS, INC., et al. DEFENDANTS
ORDER
KRISTI H JOHNSON UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Before the Court is Defendants United Rentals, Inc. and United Rentals (North America) Inc.'s (collectively “United”) [9] Motion to Dismiss. The Court denies the motion without prejudice and grants Plaintiff James Palmer leave to amend his [1] Complaint within 14 days.
The Court also denies without prejudice Palmer's [21] Motion to Strike United's reply in support of dismissal.
The parties dispute whether Palmer plausibly pleaded a claim against United for successor liability. United argues no because the Complaint does not allege an employment relationship or that United “was involved in any way with [Palmer] not receiving the promotion.” [9] at 1; Defs.' Mem. [13] at 2. According to United, Palmer makes only conclusory allegations that United bought Ahern's assets, which United claims “is insufficient to establish . . . liab[ility] for any action taken by Ahern.” [13] at 4. The Court agrees.
To state a plausible claim for successor liability against United, Palmer must plead facts that enable the Court to analyze the following elements:
(1) whether there is substantial continuity between the business operations of the successor and the predecessor;
(2) whether the successor had notice of potential liability when it acquired the relevant assets;
(3) whether the predecessor is able to provide relief directly; and
(4) whether the overall equities support the imposition of successor liability.Valdez v. Celerity Logistics, Inc., 999 F.Supp.2d 936, 945 (N.D. Tex. 2014). Palmer's Complaint does not allow the Court to make this inquiry. Indeed, the Complaint supplies only one paragraph to support United's liability: “On information and belief, Defendant United Rentals Inc. and/or United Rentals (North America) Inc. purchased Ahern Rentals, Inc. and took on responsibility for its unlawful actions here.” [1] ¶ 2. These limited facts do not state a plausible claim for successor liability.
See Hadassa Inv. Sec. Nigeria Ltd. v. Swiftships Shipbuilders LLC, No. 6:16-CV-01502, 2018 WL 1310104, at *5 (W.D. La. Mar. 12, 2018) (holding plaintiff “provide[d] no facts bearing on the factors of the successor liability analysis” and therefore “failed to plead facts sufficient to make a plausible showing of successor liability.”); Hunt v. Calfrac Well Servs. Corp., No. 5:16-CV-325, 2016 WL 8849824, *2 (W.D. Tex. July 29, 2016) (“In order to state a claim of successor liability, Plaintiffs must provide factual information regarding [a defendant's] ability to provide relief directly to Plaintiffs.”).
In his response, however, Palmer requests leave to amend if the “Court concludes that the allegations in the Complaint are insufficiently specific concerning the successorship of” United. Pl.'s Mem. [16] at 4. The Court grants this request because although Palmer's current Complaint “fail[s] to meet the specific pleading requirements[, that] should not automatically or inflexib[ly] result in dismissal of the complaint with prejudice to re-filing.” Hart v. Bayer Corp., 199 F.3d 239, 247 n.6 (5th Cir. 2000). While “a court may dismiss the claim, it should not do so without granting leave to amend, unless the defect is simply incurable or the plaintiff has failed to plead with particularity after being afforded repeated opportunities to do so.” Id. Here, “it is not apparent whether [Palmer] pleaded [his] best case, making it improper to permanently close the courthouse doors on [his] claims.” Harbin v. Daniels, No. 2:15-CV-110, 2016 WL 3676664, at *2 (S.D.Miss. July 7, 2016).
Accordingly, the Court DENIES without prejudice United's [9] Motion to Dismiss, DENIES without prejudice Palmer's [21] Motion to Strike, and GRANTS Palmer leave to amend his Complaint within 14 days. He must submit the filing on or before December 29, 2023. United may then reurge its motion if appropriate.
SO ORDERED