Fermin v. United Healthcare Insurance

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT June 30, 2005 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 05-50260 Summary Calendar FREDERICK C. FERMIN, Plaintiff-Appellant, versus UNITED HEALTHCARE INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant-Appellee. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division CA No. SA-04-CA-463-PM -------------------- Before DAVIS, SMITH and DENNIS, Circuit Judges PER CURIAM:* Plaintiff Frederick C. Fermin appeals the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of defendant United Healthcare Insurance Company (“United”). Fermin, acting as pro se litigant, brought suit against United, asserting a variety of claims based upon United’s denial of coverage for two extended stay visits under three group hospital indemnity plans provided under master group policies issued by United to the American Association of * Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4. No. 04-10594 -2- Retired Persons (“AARP”). The plans provided limited hospital benefits to AARP covered members, including Fermin. I. The district court held that Fermin failed to state a claim for which relief may be granted because (1) his claim for violations of 28 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §§ 3.3073, 3.4020 and TEX. INS. CODE arts 3.51-2, 3.70-3 do not apply to the plans at issue and do not afford Fermin a private right of action, (2) his claims for violation of 28 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §§3.3009 3.3040(d) and TEX. INS. CODE art. 3.70-4-(B) do not apply to the plans or coverage at issue, and (3) Fermin has no private right of action for federal criminal mail fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1341. The district court further held that United properly denied Fermin’s claims for reimbursement for his two facility stays because there was no genuine issue of material fact that the two facilities did not meet the definition of a covered “hospital” provided under the plan. Additionally, the district court granted summary judgment for Untied on all of Fermin’s claims, included claims for violations of TEX. INS. CODE arts. 21.21, 21.55, and TEX. BUS. & COMM. Code §§ 17.41-17.43 (“DTPA”), usury, and gross negligence and fraud, because of his failure to adduce evidence or facts supporting any of those claims. The court also held that Fermin is not entitled to have the district court reopen a matter before and reconsider an order issued by another district judge. And No. 04-10594 -3- finally, the court denied Fermin’s request for a trial on the issue of alleged perjury based on United’s consolidation of his AARP accounts because Fermin failed to show any change in his coverage as a result of the consolidation or why a trial would be appropriate. Thus, the district court dismissed all of Fermin’s claims with prejudice. Fermin timely appealed. II. We review a district court’s grant of summary judgment de novo, applying the same standard as the district court. Blakely v. State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co., 406 F.3d 747, 750 (5th Cir. 2005). On appeal, Fermin’s brief raises arguments that fall into two categories: (1) arguments raised for the first time on appeal, and (2) arguments previously raised and properly disposed of by the district court. We do not consider evidence or arguments that were not presented to the district court for its consideration in ruling on the motion. Louque v. Allstate Ins. Co., 314 F.3d 776, 779-80, n. 1 (5th Cir. 2002). As for the arguments raised below, Fermin raises no coherent arguments, nor does he present any evidence to support a finding of judicial error to justify reversal of the district court. Therefore, after a review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the district court’s grant of summary judgment for United for essentially the reasons as well-stated in its memorandum opinion and order. No. 04-10594 -4- AFFIRMED.