Newport Steel v. Laclede Steel

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• Decided: June 3, 1997
• Docket: 96-3480
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

United States Court of Appeals FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT _____________

No. 96-3480EM _____________

Newport Steel Corporation, * * Plaintiff-Appellant, * * v. * Appeal from the United States * District Court for the Eastern Laclede Steel Company; * District of Missouri. * Defendant-Appellee, * [UNPUBLISHED] * Consolidated Steel Enterprises, Inc.; * Jack Heatherington, * * Defendants. * _____________

Submitted: April 14, 1997 Filed: June 3, 1997 _____________

Before RICHARD S. ARNOLD, Chief Judge, and FAGG and MURPHY, Circuit Judges. _____________

PER CURIAM.

Newport Steel Corporation appeals the district court's grant of Laclede Steel Company's motion for summary judgment on Newport's state law claims for breach of contract and unjust enrichment against Laclede. Although the district court granted Laclede's summary judgment motion, the parties treated the proceeding as a trial on a stipulated record. Because we must treat the summary judgment proceeding as a trial on the factual issues underlying Newport's claims, we are bound by the findings of the district court unless the findings are clearly erroneous. See Hrzenak v. White- Westinghouse Appliance Co., 682 F.2d 714, 718 (8th Cir. 1982). We review de novo the questions of state law. See Salve Regina College v. Russell, 499 U.S. 225, 231 (1991). Our review satisfies us the controlling state law is clear and an extended opinion in this diversity action would have no precedential value. Having carefully considered the record and the parties' submissions, we find no error of fact or law and are satisfied the district court correctly entered judgment in Laclede's favor. Accordingly, we affirm on the basis of the district court's opinion. See 8th Cir. R. 47B.

A true copy.

Attest:

CLERK, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CIRCUIT.

-2-