Barbara Brundo v. Rev. Stephen Stillmunk

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Barbara Brundo v. Rev. Stephen Stillmunk, 367 F. App'x 734 (8th Cir. 2010)

Barbara Brundo v. Rev. Stephen Stillmunk

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Barbara Brundo appeals the district court’s 1 dismissal and imposition of sanc *735 tions under Fed.R.Civ.P. 11 in her employment-discrimination suit. Defendants have filed a motion for damages and costs under Fed. R.App. P. 38.

We find that the district court properly dismissed Brundo’s complaint. See Goss v. City of Little Rock, 90 F.3d 306, 308 (8th Cir. 1996) (de novo review of dismissal for failure to state a claim); see also Bales v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 143 F.3d 1103, 1111 (8th Cir. 1998) (liability under Title VII borne by employers, not individuals); Birkbeck v. Marvel Lighting Coup., 30 F.3d 507, 510 (4th Cir. 1994) (individuals are not subject to suit under ADEA); Bill-ingsley v. BFM Liquor Mgmt. Inc., 259 Neb. 992, 613 N.W.2d 478, 484 (2000) (NFEPA is modeled on ADEA). We also hold that Brundo has not given this court any reason to find that the district court abused its discretion in imposing sanctions under Rule 11, or that the amount the district court awarded was unreasonable. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 11(b), (c); Clark v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 460 F.3d 1004, 1008-11 (8th Cir. 2006) (standard of review; describing Rule 11 procedures).

Accordingly, we affirm. See 8th Cir. R. 47B. Because we have determined that Brundo’s appeal is wholly without merit, we grant defendants’ Rule 38 motion, and award damages and costs in the requested amount of $5,196. See 28 U.S.C. § 1912 (when judgment is affirmed, court may, in its discretion, award just damages and costs to prevailing party); Fed. R.App. P. 38 (if court finds appeal frivolous, it may award just damages and single or double costs to appellees); see also Newhouse v. McCormick & Co., 130 F.3d 302, 305 (8th Cir. 1997) (per curiam order) (appeal is frivolous when result is obvious or when appellant’s argument is wholly without merit).

1

. The Honorable Richard G. Kopf, United States District Judge for the District of Nebraska.

Reference

Full Case Name
Barbara Mrzlak BRUNDO, Ed.D., Appellant, v. Rev. Stephen STILLMUNKS, Registered Agent, Christ the King Catholic School & Church; Laraine Conway, Principal, Christ the King School; Chris Segrell, Assistant Principal, Christ the King School, Appellees
Status
Unpublished