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BENEDITH v. CUYAHOGA COUNTY OHIO (2021)

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.2021-04-27No. No. 20-55053

Summary

Holding. The appellate court affirmed the district court's dismissal, finding no abuse of discretion in enforcing the local rule requiring an opposition brief and in dismissing the remaining defendant where the appellant failed to contest that action on appeal.

Peter Benedith appealed the dismissal of his state-law claims filed in federal court against multiple defendants. The district court dismissed claims against Case Western Reserve University and MetroHealth Medical Center because Benedith failed to file a response opposing the defendants' motions to dismiss as required by local court rules. The court also dismissed the remaining defendant, Cuyahoga County, on its own initiative. Because Benedith did not specifically argue the dismissal of Cuyahoga County in his appeal, he forfeited that challenge.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

  • Whether dismissal for failure to comply with local procedural rules constitutes abuse of discretion
  • Application of procedural rules to pro se litigants
  • Waiver of arguments not raised in opening brief on appeal

Procedural posture

Benedith appealed pro se from a district court order dismissing his diversity action for state-law claims against multiple defendants.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Peter C. Benedith appeals pro se from the district courts order dismissing his diversity action alleging various state law claims. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review for an abuse of discretion the district courts dismissal under its local rules. Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53 (9th Cir. 1995). We affirm.

The district court did not abuse its discretion in dismissing Benediths claims against defendants Case Western Reserve University and The MetroHealth System, d/b/a MetroHealth Medical Center (improperly separately named and sued as Department of Medicine Metro Health Medical Center and Metro Health Medical Center) after Benedith failed to file an opposition to defendants’ motions to dismiss as required by Local Rule 7-9. See C.D. Cal. L.R. 7-12 (providing that “failure to file any required document” may be deemed consent to the granting or denial of the motion); Ghazali, 46 F.3d at 53-54 (setting forth factors to be considered before dismissing an action for failure to follow the local rules, concluding that this court may review the record independently if the district court does not make explicit findings to show its consideration of the factors, and noting that pro se litigants are bound by the rules of procedure).

Because Benedith in his opening brief failed to raise specifically and distinctly any argument regarding the district courts sua sponte dismissal of the remaining defendant, Cuyahoga County, Benedith has waived any challenge to the dismissal. See Padgett v. Wright, 587 F.3d 983, 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009); Acosta-Huerta v. Estelle, 7 F.3d 139, 144 (9th Cir. 1992) (issues not supported by argument in pro se appellants opening brief are waived).

AFFIRMED.