J. Schaefer v. Robbins & Keehn, Apc

FILED NOT FOR PUBLICATION NOV 01 2011 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT J. MICHAEL SCHAEFER, No. 08-56448 Plaintiff - counter-defendant - D.C. No. 3:06-cv-00821-JLS-BLM Appellant, v. MEMORANDUM * ROBBINS & KEEHN, APC, Defendant - counter-claimant - Appellee, and L. SCOTT KEEHN, Defendant - Appellee. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of California Janis L. Sammartino, District Judge, Presiding Submitted October 25, 2011 ** * This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3. ** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). Before: TROTT, GOULD, and RAWLINSON, Circuit Judges. In this diversity action, J. Michael Schaefer appeals pro se from the district court’s summary judgment for Robbins & Keehn, APC, on his fraud claim, and on Robbins & Keehn’s counterclaim for unpaid legal fees. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo, Morrison v. Hall, 261 F.3d 896, 900 (9th Cir. 2001), and we affirm. The district court properly granted summary judgment on Schaefer’s fraud claim because Schaefer failed to create a genuine dispute of material fact as to the elements of fraudulent concealment. See Williamson v. Gen. Dynamics Corp., 208 F.3d 1144, 1156 n.3 (9th Cir. 2000) (setting forth requirements for fraudulent concealment under California law). The district court properly granted summary judgment to Robbins & Keehn on its account stated claim because Robbins & Keehn showed that there was no genuine dispute of material fact as to any element of this claim, and Schaefer failed to create a triable dispute as to any defense to the claim. See Nilsson, Robbins, Dalgarn, Berliner, Carson & Wurst v. La. Hydrolec, 854 F.2d 1538, 1542-43 (9th Cir. 1988) (per curiam) (discussing account stated claim under California law); Armendariz v. Found. Health Psychcare Servs., Inc., 6 P.3d 669, 689 (Cal. 2000) (addressing principles of unconscionability). 2 08-56448 The district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Schaefer’s ex parte application to continue the discovery deadline. See Zivkovic v. S. Cal. Edison Co., 302 F.3d 1080, 1087-88 (9th Cir. 2002) (setting forth standard of review and good cause requirement). Schaefer’s remaining contentions are unpersuasive. Schaefer’s “Request for Clarification,” entered on October 17, 2011, is denied as moot. AFFIRMED. 3 08-56448