Fontenot v. Willis

District Court, W.D. Louisiana

Fontenot v. Willis

Trial Court Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA LAKE CHARLES DIVISION

ANTHONY FONTENOT CASE NO. 2:16-CV-00395 VERSUS JUDGE JAMES D. CAIN, JR. JOSEPH WILLIS, ET AL. MAGISTRATE JUDGE KAY

MEMORANDUM RULING Before the court is a statement filed by defense counsel on February 12, 2019, and notifying the court that defendant William Coleman died on September 16, 2018, during the pendency of this action. Doc. 62. Neither plaintiff nor any other party has filed a response to the statement. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25, “[i]f a party dies and the claim is not extinguished, the court may order substitution of the proper party.” If, however, no motion to substitute is made within 90 days of service of the statement noting the death, claims by or against the decedent must be dismissed. Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(a)(1); see, e.g., Sampson v. ASC Indus.,

780 F.3d 679, 681

(Sth Cir. 2015). “[I]f the right sought to be enforced survives only to or against the remaining parties, the action does not abate, but proceeds in favor of or against the remaining parties.” Jd. at 25(a)(2). Having received no response within the 90 day timeframe, the court notes Coleman’s death for the record and will dismiss all claims against him with prejudice. Plaintiff’s civil rights claims against the remaining defendants survive this dismissal; accordingly, these claims will proceed. -l-

. > 1A yor Sul y THUS DONE in Chambers on this day of wv , 2019.

— JAMES D. CAIN, JR. UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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