From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Bright v. Mercer Advisors Inc.

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
Jan 3, 2013
502 F. App'x 710 (9th Cir. 2013)

Opinion

No. 11-16256 D.C. No. 2:09-cv-02196-GMS

01-03-2013

ERIC W. BRIGHT, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. MERCER ADVISORS INCORPORATED, A Corporation, Defendant - Appellee.


NOT FOR PUBLICATION


MEMORANDUM

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.


Appeal from the United States District Court

for the District of Arizona

G. Murray Snow, District Judge, Presiding

Before: GOODWIN, WALLACE, and FISHER, Circuit Judges.

Eric W. Bright appeals pro se from the district court's summary judgment in his employment discrimination action alleging violations of Title VII and state law. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo. Vasquez v. County of Los Angeles, 349 F.3d 634, 639 (9th Cir. 2004). We affirm.

The district court properly granted summary judgment on Bright's retaliation claims because Bright failed to raise a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether he engaged in a protected activity. See Raad v. Fairbanks N. Star Borough Sch. Dist., 323 F.3d 1185, 1197 (9th Cir. 2003) (describing the elements of a prima facie retaliation claim under Title VII, including that the plaintiff was engaged in protected activity); Jurado v. Eleven-Fifty Corp., 813 F.2d 1406, 1411-12 (9th Cir. 1987) (plaintiff failed to show that he engaged in protected activity where his complaint to his employer did not indicate a concern about discrimination).

The district court properly granted summary judgment on Bright's racial discrimination claim because Bright failed to raise a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether similarly situated individuals outside his protected class were treated more favorably, or whether defendant acted with discriminatory intent. See Vasquez, 349 F.3d at 640 & n.5 (describing the elements of a prima facie discrimination claim under Title VII).

The district court properly granted summary judgment on Bright's breach of contract claim because Bright failed to raise a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether defendant failed to comply with its employee handbook by retaliating against him or failing to investigate his alleged complaints of discrimination. See Chartone, Inc. v. Bernini, 83 P.3d 1103, 1111 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2004) (describing the elements of a breach of contract claim under Arizona law).

The district court did not abuse its discretion in modifying the scheduling order to allow defendant to amend its answer because defendant showed good cause. See Johnson v. Mammoth Recreations, Inc., 975 F.2d 604, 607-08 (9th Cir. 1992) (setting forth standard of review and explaining that a party seeking to amend its pleadings after the date set in the scheduling order must show good cause).

AFFIRMED.


Summaries of

Bright v. Mercer Advisors Inc.

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
Jan 3, 2013
502 F. App'x 710 (9th Cir. 2013)
Case details for

Bright v. Mercer Advisors Inc.

Case Details

Full title:ERIC W. BRIGHT, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. MERCER ADVISORS INCORPORATED, A…

Court:UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

Date published: Jan 3, 2013

Citations

502 F. App'x 710 (9th Cir. 2013)

Citing Cases

Pac. Fin. Ass'n v. Alexander

See First American Title Insurance Co. v. Johnson Bank, 372 P.3d 292, 297 (Ariz. 2016) (citing Graham v.…

Laatz v. Zazzle, Inc.

This discretion includes modifying scheduling orders not only with respect to discovery deadlines, but also…