*281 MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
This matter is before the court on plaintiffs motion to vacate a judgment of dismissal with prejudice and for leave to file a fourth amended complaint.
Initially, there is a disagreement between the parties as to whether plaintiff filed a timely motion to vacate the judgment.
1
As plaintiff points out in his brief, this court, by inadvertence, failed to comply with FRCP Rule 58 which requires judgment to be entered on a separate document. Rule 58 provides in relevant part: “Every judgment shall be set forth on a separate document. A judgment is effective only when so set forth and when entered as provided in Rule 79(a).” Rule 58 is designed to make certain when a judgment is effective in order to determine with certainty the time for filing notices of appeal and post-judgment motions.
United States v. Indrelunas,
Retaliatory Discharge Under Illinois Law
The court, in its order entered March 16, 1990, dismissed plaintiff’s third amended complaint with prejudice for failure to state a cause of action for retaliatory discharge under Illinois law.
Plaintiff’s third amended complaint for retaliatory discharge alleged in substance that his employer, defendant Clyde, was violating the Federal Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”). 12 U.S.C.A. §§ 2901 et seq. (West 1989). Specifically, Clyde, through the action of defendant board members, failed to adequately advertise its loan services and failed to provide VA and FHA mortgage programs to low and moderate income areas of Clyde’s designated CRA community. Plaintiff alleged that Clyde and the board’s failure and refusal to adequately advertise these services violated the CRA and was done with the inten *282 tion to discriminate in the providing of loan services to black persons and persons of low and moderate income within Clyde’s CRA community. Plaintiff alleged that his attempts to obtain Clyde’s compliance with the CRA and to stop the alleged discrimination were rejected by Clyde and its board members. Plaintiff alleged that he was fired by the board in retaliation for his attempts to obtain Clyde’s compliance with the CRA.
Plaintiff’s fourth amended complaint adds the additional allegations that Clyde’s actions violated federal civil rights laws and certain federal regulations concerning applications for loan programs with the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (“FHLBB”) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”). Plaintiff’s fourth amended complaint alleges that in signing a series of purchase and servicing agreements with the FHLBB concerning certain loans by Clyde, Clyde guaranteed that it had complied with all applicable federal civil rights laws and other anti-discrimination legislation including the CRA. Similarly, in applying for authorization with HUD to provide VA and FHA mortgage loans, Clyde guaranteed that it was in compliance with all federal anti-discrimination laws including the CRA. These assertions of compliance were false in light of Clyde’s CRA violations. Plaintiff also alleged that he refused to sign a loan purchase contract on behalf of Clyde with the FHLBB because he knew the warranties of compliance were false in light of the CRA violation by Clyde. Over plaintiff’s objections, the board authorized Clyde to enter into the agreement which contained guarantees as to Clyde’s compliance with federal antidiscrimination laws and regulations. Plaintiff also alleged for the first time that in response to inquiries from the FHLBB about Clyde’s CRA compliance, plaintiff responded to the FHLBB that although Clyde was not yet meeting CRA requirements, Clyde was undertaking to remedy the situation. Plaintiff, in addition to his prior allegations that he was fired for seeking Clyde’s compliance with the CRA, alleges in his fourth amended complaint that (1) he was fired because the board wanted to cover up the fact that they had submitted applications to the FHLBB and HUD which falsely stated their compliance with federal anti-discrimination legislation and regulation; and (2) he was fired because he had advised the FHLBB that Clyde’s CRA compliance statement was false.
The substance of plaintiff’s cause of action is still the same. Plaintiff claims he was fired in retaliation for seeking to prevent and/or remedy Clyde’s allegedly discriminatory lending practices as evidenced by Clyde’s failure or refusal to adequately advertise or otherwise provide loans in black, and low and moderate income areas of Clyde’s CRA community pursuant to the requirements of the CRA.
The court recognizes the serious and disturbing nature of plaintiff’s allegations. However, plaintiff’s reliance on the CRA and federal civil rights law does not answer the question of whether the Supreme Court of Illinois would recognize a cause of action for the tort of retaliatory discharge in Illinois. The relevant inquiry on the issue has already been addressed in this court’s March 16, 1990 order and will not be restated here. Upon further consideration and research, the court has found additional support for its determination of March 16, 1990 that plaintiff cannot state a cause of action under Illinois law.
As indicated by the Illinois Supreme Court, the public policy of the State of Illinois is to be found in the State’s constitution, statutes, and when they are silent, in its judicial decisions.
Palmateer v. International Harvester Co.,
One of the main reasons the Supreme Court of Illinois recognized an independent civil cause of action for the tort of retaliatory discharge was the absence of a remedy to vindicate the public policy involved.
Brudnicki v. General Electric Co.,
Federal Whistleblower Protection
Plaintiff in his motion, in one sentence, raises for the first time the argument that his firing violates federal law. Plaintiff cites section 1831j of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. See 12 U.S.C.A. §§ 1811 et seq. (West 1989). The Federal Deposit Insurance Act was amended as of August 9, 1989 by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (“FIRRE”), which added section 1831j. Pub.L. No. 101-73 § 932, 103 Stat. 494 (1989), codified at 12 U.S.C.A. § 1831j (West 1989). Section 1831j provides protection to whistleblowers under certain circumstances. Section 1831j provides:
(a) Prohibition against discrimination against whistleblowers
No federally insured depository institution may discharge or otherwise discriminate against any employee with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because the employee (or any person acting pursuant to the request of the employee) provided information to any Federal banking agency or to the Attorney General regarding a possible violation of any law or regulation by the depository institution or any of its officers, directors, or employees.
(b) Enforcement
Any employee or former employee who believes he has been discharged or discriminated against in violation of subsection (a) of this section may file a civil action in the appropriate United States district court before the close of the 2-year period beginning on the date of such discharge or discrimination. The complainant shall also file a copy of the complaint initiating such action with the appropriate Federal banking agency.
(c) Remedies
If the district court determines that a violation of subsection (a) of this section has occurred, it may order the *284 depository institution which committed the violation—
(1) to reinstate the employee to his former position,
(2) to pay compensatory damages; or
(3) take other appropriate actions to remedy any past discrimination.
(d) Limitation
The protections of this section shall not apply to any employee who—
(1) deliberately causes or participates in the alleged violation of law or regulation; or
(2) knowingly or recklessly provides substantially false information to such an agency or the Attorney General.
12 U.S.C.A. § 1831j (West 1989).
Plaintiff’s fourth amended complaint alleges for the first time that he informed the FHLBB in addition to Clyde’s board, of Clyde's noneompliance with the CRA as well as the falsity of Clyde’s CRA compliance statement and that plaintiff was discharged in retaliation for such actions. These allegations state a claim under section 1831j. 12 U.S.C.A. § 1831j(a) (West 1989). Section 1831j(b) requires the complaint to be filed within two years of the discharge. Plaintiff was discharged April 24, 1987, more than two years before he attempted to file his fourth amended complaint. However, the court finds the relation back provisions of FRCP Rule 15(c) applicable to this additional factual allegation. Rule 15(a) provides that leave of the court to amend the pleadings shall be freely given when justice so requires. A complaint merely serves to put the defendant on notice and is to be freely amended as the case develops, as long as amendments do not unfairly surprise or prejudice the defendant.
Toth v. USX Corp.,
Retroactive Application
The next issue the court must address is whether to apply section 1831j which became effective August 9, 1989 to plaintiff’s discharge which occurred April 24, 1987. The controlling law in the area of retroactive application of new federal law to pending cases is
Bradley v. School Board of the City of Richmond,
Statutory Direction/Legislative History
It is not necessary to find affirmative support for retroactive application in a statute or its legislative history in order to apply it to a pending case. A statute is presumed to apply to cases pending at the time it becomes effective unless there is a clear indication that it is not to apply.
U.S. v. Marengo County Commission,
Manifest Injustice
Under
Bradley,
an additional reason not to apply a new statute to a pending case is if to do so would result in a manifest injustice. Manifest injustice is examined in light of three factors: (1) the nature and identity of the parties; (2) the nature of their rights; and (3) the nature of the impact of the change in law upon those rights.
Bradley v. School Board of the City of Richmond,
The first factor is concerned with the public versus private nature of the dispute between the parties.
Bradley,
The second consideration, the nature of the rights, is intended to protect personal rights that have "matured or become unconditional”.
Bradley,
The third consideration, the nature of the impact of the new law upon existing rights, is concerned with the possibility that new and unanticipated obligations may be imposed upon a party without notice or an opportunity to be heard.
Bradley,
Plaintiffs Proposed Fourth Amended Complaint
In addition to the allegation that plaintiff was fired for informing the FHLBB of Clyde’s noncompliance with the CRA, plaintiff raises for the first time allegations concerning Clyde’s applications to the FHLBB and HUD concerning certain loan programs. These allegations do not appear closely related to plaintiff’s prior complaints. Plaintiff could have raised these allegations at an earlier time. Plaintiff does not provide a good reason for failing to timely raise these allegations. Extensive discovery has taken place directed at Clyde’s CRA compliance and not directed at these new allegations. Plaintiff admits additional discovery on these allegations would be required. Defendants would be prejudiced if after two and one-half years of defending this case, they were now forced to address these new allegations. The court finds it would not be in the interest of justice to allow these new allegations to relate back to the original complaint. FRCP Rule 15(a);
Quaker State Oil Refining v. Garrity Oil Co.
(1st Cir 1989)
Finally, the court needs to address an argument raised by the individual board members, except Sylvia Meidama, concerning plaintiffs failure to name these defendants within the two year statute of limitations for tort actions in Illinois. This court never addressed the issue in its March 16,1990 order because plaintiff, as a matter of law, could not state a claim under Illinois law. However, in light of the applicability of section 1831j of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, the issue is raised of whether plaintiffs addition of these defendants for the first time in his third amended complaint, filed on January 22, 1990, should relate back to his original complaint filed within the two year limitations period of section 1831j. FRCP Rule 15(c) allows amendments, which add parties after a limitations period has run, to relate back if certain requirements are met. In order to relate back: (1) the claim against the proposed defendant must arise out of the same conduct set forth in the original complaint; (2) the proposed defendant must have received such notice, actual or constructive, of the institution of the original action that he will not be prejudiced in maintaining a defense on the merits; and (3) the proposed defendant knew or should have known that but for a mistake concerning the identity of the proper party, the action would have been brought against the proposed defendant. FRCP Rule 15(c);
Hampton v. Hanrahan,
ORDERED: Plaintiff is granted leave to file his fourth amended complaint within fourteen days from the entry of this order subject to the following directions and limitations. Plaintiffs fourth amended complaint shall include properly plead facts as to: (1) this court’s jurisdiction arising under federal law; (2) all necessary allegations concerning Clyde’s status as a federally regulated institution to which section 1831j of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act applies; (3) only those facts, as indicated in this opinion, relevant to plaintiff’s claim concerning his discharge in alleged violation of 12 U.S.C. § 1831j for reporting Clyde’s noncompliance with the CRA to the FHLBB. Additionally, plaintiff shall file a copy of the fourth amended complaint with the appropriate federal banking agency as required pursuant to 12 U.S.C. § 1831j(b). Plaintiff shall submit proof of his compliance with section 1831j(b) to the court within seven days of the filing of his fourth amended complaint. If plaintiff fails to file his fourth amended complaint within fourteen days from the entry of this order, the Clerk of this court is directed to enter a judgment dismissing plaintiff’s complaint.
Notes
. The Resolution Trust Corporation was appointed receiver for the defendant, Clyde Federal Savings and Loan Association, during the pendency of these proceedings and was substituted in as a defendant.
