Stephen Ireland v. Bend Neurological Associates

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Stephen Ireland v. Bend Neurological Associates

Opinion

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS APR 5 2023 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

STEPHEN IRELAND, M.D., an individual, No. 21-35337

Plaintiff-Appellant, D.C. No. 6:16-cv-02054-MK

v. MEMORANDUM* BEND NEUROLOGICAL ASSOCIATES, LLC, an Oregon limited liability company; et al.,

Defendants-Appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Oregon Mustafa T. Kasubhai, Magistrate Judge, Presiding**

Submitted April 5, 2023***

Before: WALLACE, D. NELSON, and FERNANDEZ, Circuit Judges.

Stephen Ireland appeals pro se from the district court’s summary judgment

in his action alleging federal and state law claims. We have jurisdiction under 28

* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. ** The parties consented to proceed before a magistrate judge. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). *** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo the district court’s decision on cross-motions

for summary judgment. Guatay Christian Fellowship v. Cnty. San Diego, 670 F.3d 957, 970 (9th Cir. 2011). We affirm.

The district court properly granted summary judgment for defendants on

Ireland’s “rule of reason” Sherman Act claim because Ireland failed to raise a

genuine dispute of material fact as to whether defendants either intended to harm

or unreasonably restrain competition or as to whether defendants actually caused

an injury to competition. See Austin v. McNamara, 979 F.2d 728, 738–39 (9th Cir.

1992) (setting forth elements of a “rule of reason” Sherman Act § 1 claim).

The district court also properly granted summary judgment for defendants

on Ireland’s intentional interference with economic relations claim because Ireland

failed to raise a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether defendants

intentionally interfered with a professional or business relationship through

improper means or for an improper purpose. See Kraemer v. Harding, 976 P.2d 1160, 1170 (Or. App. 1999) (establishing elements of an intentional interference

with economic relations claim).

AFFIRMED.

2 21-35337

Reference

Status
Unpublished