Motion To Strike Form For More Definite Statement In Wake
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FAQ
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.
A motion to strike is a request to a judge that part of a party's pleading or a piece of evidence be removed from the record. During the pleading stage, this can be accomplished by a tool such as Rule 12(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or a state equivalent.
(e) Motion for More Definite Statement. If a pleading to which a responsive pleading is permitted is so vague or ambiguous that a party cannot reasonably be required to frame a responsive pleading, the party may move for a more definite statement before interposing the party's responsive pleadings.
A motion for a more definite statement must be filed before filing a responsive pleading. FRCP 12(e). Therefore, unless ordered otherwise by the court, the motion must be filed within 21 days after being served with a summons and complaint, or within 60 days if service of the complaint was timely waived.
Before a case is called for trial, additional parties necessary or proper parties to the suit, may be brought in, either by the plaintiff or the defendant, upon such terms as the court may prescribe; but not at a time nor in a manner to unreasonably delay the trial of the case.
A motion for a more definite statement must be filed before filing a responsive pleading. FRCP 12(e). Therefore, unless ordered otherwise by the court, the motion must be filed within 21 days after being served with a summons and complaint, or within 60 days if service of the complaint was timely waived.
A motion for a more definite statement is a request made by one party to the court asking the other party to clarify their vague or unclear statement in a legal document. This is done when the first party cannot respond properly to the unclear statement.
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 this reason, courts claim that FRCP 12(b)(6) motions are generally viewed with disfavor and rarely granted. See Point of Law (POL).
The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure states that "The court may strike from a pleading an insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter." Similarly, for example, the California Code of Civil Procedure provides that a motion to strike may be made to strike out any "irrelevant, ...
