Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

Motions to Strike Impertinent, Immaterial or Scandalous Matters — Standards

From Smith v. Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 71041 (N.D. Cal. June 29, 2010):

"The court may order stricken from any pleading any insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous material." Fed. R. Civ. P. (12)(f). Immaterial matter "is that which has no essential or important relationship to the claim for relief or the defenses being pleaded." Cal. Dept. of Toxic Substance Control v. ALCO Pacific, Inc., 217 F. Supp. 2d 1028, 1032 (C.D. Cal. 2002) (internal citations and quotations omitted). Impertinent material "consists of statements that do not pertain, or are not necessary to the issues in question." Id. Motions to strike are regarded with disfavor because they are often used as delaying tactics and because of the limited importance of pleadings in federal practice. Colaprico v. Sun Microsystems Inc., 758 F. Supp. 1335, 1339 (N.D. Cal. 1991). "[M]otions to strike should not be granted unless it is clear that the matter to be stricken could have no possible bearing on the subject matter of the litigation." Colaprico v. Sun Microsystems Inc., 758 F. Supp 1335, 1339 (N.D. Cal. 1991). Ultimately, the decision as to whether to strike allegations is a matter within the Court's discretion. ***

Schreck and Stohlton move to strike portions of Plaintiffs' FAC as immaterial or impertinent. Motions to strike are regarded with disfavor because they are often used as delaying tactics and because of the limited importance of pleadings in federal practice. Colaprico, 758 F. Supp. at 1339. "[M]otions to strike should not be granted unless it is clear that the matter to be stricken could have no possible bearing on the subject matter of the litigation." Id. Upon consideration of Schreck and Stohlton's motion, the Court does not find that it is clear that the matter they seek to strike could have no possible bearing on the subject matter of the litigation. Accordingly, the Court declines to exercise its discretion to strike portions of Plaintiffs' FAC and denies Schreck and Stohlton's motion.

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