Montgomery v. Kitsap County
Montgomery v. Kitsap County
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
The Kitsup County Deputy Sheriffs Guild appeals the order denying its motion to reconsider the summary judgment entered in favor of Kitsap County, and the order granting that motion. We affirm.
I
The district court’s grant of summary judgment to the County on the Guild’s claims was proper. Neither did the district court abuse its discretion, nor make an incorrect legal determination, in declining to reconsider its. ruling on the ground that the County violated Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 7(b). See Smith v. Pac. Prop. & Dev. Corp., 358 F.3d 1097, 1100 (9th Cir. 2004) (noting standard of review). In addition to whether the Guild’s claims were time-barred by the statute of limitations or laches, the County’s motion challenged the sufficiency of the Guild’s evidence. The Guild was evidently on notice the motion contained such challenge, as it submitted new declarations supporting its theories along with its brief in opposition. Thus, the district court could conclude that the County’s reply challenging the declaration as inadmissible hearsay, and offering Gulla’s declaration to the contrary, followed naturally and was not fundamentally unfair. Cf. Katz v. Children’s Hosp. of Orange County, 28 F.3d 1520, 1534 (9th Cir. 1994) (addressing case where the motion for summary judgment gave no notice that it was based on the plaintiffs lack of injury). .
II
The district court did not err in holding that the Guild’s evidence was insufficient. Rodrique’s declaration about what Gulla told him was hearsay, consequently inadmissible. See, e.g., In re Sunset Bay Assocs., 944 F.2d 1503, 1514 (9th Cir. 1991) (noting that hearsay statements are inadmissible at summary judgment). While Gulla may have been authorized to speak for the County about Deputy Montgomery’s termination at the time of the
III
Because the Guild was on notice that the County was challenging the sufficiency of its evidence, the district court did not abuse its discretion in holding that the Guild’s Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(f) argument fails. See Burlington N. Santa Fe R.R. Co. v. Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes, 323 F.3d 767, 773-74 (9th Cir. 2003). The Guild offered Rodrique’s declaration in response to the County’s motion for summary judgment, but neither then nor in connection with its request to reconsider did the Guild adequately indicate why it could not present other facts essential to justify its position.
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit R. 36-3.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.