GOODLEY vs AECOM, et al.

25CV145867: GOODLEY vs AECOM, et al. 07/16/2026 Hearing on Motion for Leave to Amend Answer in Department 18

Tentative Ruling - 07/15/2026 Patrick McKinney

PARTIES TO APPEAR.

Defendant Baxter Healthcare (“Defendant”) seeks to amend its answer, filed on March 10, 2026, in order to correct the name of the entity being sued from Baxter Healthcare Corporation to Baxter International, Inc., erroneously sued as Baxter Healthcare. Baxter International, Inc. was separately named in Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint. Defendant contends in reply that this separate entity answered the FAC on June 25, 2026.

The court is inclined to grant the motion based on the courts’ longstanding policy of liberally granting leave to amend pleadings, but it appears that the amended party name is identical to the named party in the June 25, 2026 answer, which was also filed by “Baxter International, Inc., erroneously sued as Baxter Healthcare.”

Defendant should be prepared to clarify why two answers from apparently identically named defendants is warranted.

CONTESTING TENTATIVE ORDERS

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