Rule 12(f) provides in relevant part that on motion or sua sponte, “the court may strike from a pleading . . . any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter.” If Lexis annotations are a guide, relatively few litigants file Rule 12(f) motions on those grounds—and with good reason.
As with all motions, a motion to strike must state with particularity the grounds for seeking the order to strike, as well as the relief sought. FRCP 7(b); Smart Code®. Under FRCP 12(f), the court may strike from a pleading an insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter.
The court may grant a motion to dismiss if the plaintiff's complaint fails to allege all the elements of a claim adequately. Or the court may grant it if the complaint fails to allege a measurable injury.
Because it's one of the “12(b)” defenses, a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim may be raised by motion filed before an answer. FRCP 12(b). Such motions are often made at the earliest stage of the case to defeat or limit a claim or to stall the case before proceeding to costly and time-consuming discovery.
A motion to dismiss asks the court to dismiss either whole or part of a complaint, counterclaim, or crossclaim. Motion to strike or "Demurrer": In some jurisdictions, a motion to strike or a "demurrer" is the equivalent to a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.
Because it's one of the “12(b)” defenses, a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim may be raised by motion filed before an answer. FRCP 12(b). Such motions are often made at the earliest stage of the case to defeat or limit a claim or to stall the case before proceeding to costly and time-consuming discovery.
For example, if someone sues their neighbor for being annoying, but there is no law against being annoying, the defendant could argue that the plaintiff has failed to state a valid legal claim.
Federal Rule 41(a) permits voluntary dismissal without court approval only up until the filing of the answer or a motion for summary judgment; in Maine such voluntary dismissal may come as late as the eve of trial, at a time when other parties may have expended great time and effort as to the plaintiff or the defendant ...
C.C.P. § 436 allows for a motion to strike “any irrelevant, false, or improper matter asserted in any pleading” or portion of a pleading “not drawn of filed in conformity with the laws of this state.” A motion to strike is proper “when a substantive defect is clear from the face of a complaint.” (PH II, Inc.