WEINSTEIN v. MERITOR INC (2021)

MEMORANDUM **

M. Paul Weinstein appeals pro se from the district court's summary judgment in his diversity action alleging state law claims. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo the district court's ruling on cross-motions for summary judgment. Hamby v. Hammond, 821 F.3d 1085, 1090 (9th Cir. 2016). We affirm.

The district court properly granted summary judgment for defendant on Weinstein's claim for tortious interference with a prospective economic advantage because Weinstein failed to raise a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether a valid business expectancy existed. See Cedroni Ass'n, Inc. v. Tomblinson, Harburn Assocs., Architects & Planners, Inc., 492 Mich. 40, 821 N.W.2d 1, 3 (2012) (elements of a tortious interference with a prospective economic advantage claim; to establish the existence of a valid business expectancy, the “expectancy must be a reasonable likelihood or probability” (citation and internal quotation marks omitted)).

The district court properly granted summary judgment for defendant on Weinstein's claims for breach of oral contract and promissory estoppel because Weinstein failed to raise a triable dispute as to whether his reliance on defendant's alleged promise to issue electronic purchase orders was reasonable. See Mich. Comp. Laws § 440.2201 (statute of frauds’ writing requirement for a contract for the sale of goods for the price of $1,000 or more); Fairway Mach. Sales Co. v. Cont'l Motors Corp., 40 Mich.App. 270, 198 N.W.2d 757, 758 (1972) (a plaintiff can invoke estoppel to prevent a defendant from asserting the statute of frauds); see also State Bank of Standish v. Curry, 442 Mich. 76, 500 N.W.2d 104, 107 (1993) (elements of promissory estoppel; “the reliance interest protected by [promissory estoppel] is reasonable reliance” (emphasis in original)).

The district court properly granted summary judgment for defendant on Weinstein's claim for injurious falsehood because Weinstein failed to raise a triable dispute as to whether defendant published a false statement to a third party. See Neshewat v. Salem, 173 F.3d 357, 364 (6th Cir. 1999) (elements of injurious falsehood claim under Michigan law).

The district court properly granted summary judgment for defendant on Weinstein's claim for violation of the Nevada Deceptive Trade Practices Act because Weinstein failed to raise a triable dispute as to whether defendant knowingly made a false representation. See Nev. Rev. Stat. § 598.0915(15).

The district court did not abuse its discretion by not considering the statements allegedly made by representatives of defendant's competitors and customers because Weinstein failed to demonstrate any error. See Orr v. Bank of Am., NT & SA, 285 F.3d 764, 773 (9th Cir. 2002) (setting forth standard of review and explaining that the district court's evidentiary ruling must be affirmed unless it was manifestly erroneous).

The district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Weinstein's motion for sanctions based on alleged spoliation of evidence because Weinstein's claim of spoliation was speculative. See Ryan v. Editions Ltd. W., Inc., 786 F.3d 754, 759, 766 (9th Cir. 2015) (setting forth standard of review and the plaintiff's burden of establishing spoliation, and concluding that the district court did not abuse its discretion by denying sanctions where claim of spoliation was speculative); Glover v. BIC Corp., 6 F.3d 1318, 1329 (9th Cir. 1993) (applying federal law to issue of spoliation of evidence).

The district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Weinstein's motion for a consolidated hearing on his motion for sanctions and the cross-motions for summary judgment. See Christian v. Mattel, Inc., 286 F.3d 1118, 1129 (9th Cir. 2002) (setting forth standard of review and noting a district court's “considerable latitude in managing the parties’ motion practice”).

The district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Weinstein's request to continue summary judgment because Weinstein failed to satisfy the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(d). See Tatum v. City & County of San Francisco, 441 F.3d 1090, 1100-1101 (9th Cir. 2006) (standard of review); see also Stevens v. Corelogic, Inc., 899 F.3d 666, 678 (9th Cir. 2018) (requirements of Rule 56(d)).

We do not consider matters not specifically and distinctly raised and argued in the opening brief, or arguments and allegations raised for the first time on appeal. See Padgett v. Wright, 587 F.3d 983, 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009).

Weinstein's motion to supplement the record on appeal is denied. See Gonzalez v. United States, 814 F.3d 1022, 1031 (9th Cir. 2016) (“Absent extraordinary circumstances, we generally do not permit parties to supplement the record on appeal.”).

AFFIRMED.