Kathryn Stagner v. Oklahoma State Health Department et al.

Summary

The United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma denied Defendants’ Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c). The Court held that the motion was premature because Defendants had not yet filed answers, meaning the pleadings were not closed, and declined to construe the motion as one under Rule 12(b)(6).

Holdings

1. A motion for judgment on the pleadings under Rule 12(c) is unavailable before all defendants have filed answers and the pleadings are closed.
2. The court declined to construe defendants' premature Rule 12(c) motion as a Rule 12(b)(6) motion.

Questions Presented

1. Whether defendants could obtain judgment on the pleadings under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c) before filing an answer.
2. Whether the court should exercise its discretion to construe the premature Rule 12(c) motion as a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6).

Disposition

other