Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Martin BETTWIESER, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Billy GANS, AKA William Gans, AKA Billy Gantz; et al., Defendants-Appellees.
MEMORANDUM **
Martin Bettwieser appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing his action alleging violations of the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) and Privacy Act. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo. Animal Legal Def. Fund v. U.S. Food & Drug Admin., 836 F.3d 987, 989-90 (9th Cir. 2016) (summary judgment); Cervantes v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., 656 F.3d 1034, 1040 (9th Cir. 2011) (dismissal under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) ). We affirm.
The district court properly granted summary judgment for the United States Postal Service because Bettwieser failed to raise a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether he submitted a request under FOIA and the Privacy Act. See 39 C.F.R. § 265.7(a)(1)-(2) (2015) (describing requirements for submitting a FOIA request); 39 C.F.R. § 266.6(a) (2015) (describing requirements for submitting a Privacy Act request).
The district court properly dismissed the individual defendants because individuals are not proper defendants in a FOIA or Privacy Act action. See Drake v. Obama, 664 F.3d 774, 785 (9th Cir. 2011) (“FOIA does not apply to any of the Defendants because they are all individuals, not agencies.”); Rouse v. U.S. Dep’t of State, 567 F.3d 408, 413 n.3 (9th Cir. 2009) (“Privacy Act only permits suits against an ‘agency.’ ”).
We reject as without merit Bettwieser’s contentions concerning discovery, default judgment, the representation of defendants by the Office of United States Attorneys, and Bivens remedies.
We do not consider matters not specifically and distinctly raised and argued in the opening brief. See Padgett v. Wright, 587 F.3d 983, 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009).
AFFIRMED.
Thank you for your feedback!
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Docket No: No. 17-35631
Decided: March 22, 2018
Court: United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)