Saul Mendoza v. Lehigh Southwest Cement Compan

540 F. App'x 813

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: October 4, 2013
• Docket: 12-16254
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Saul Mendoza appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment in his employment action alleging, among other things, harassment based on his disability, race and national origin. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo the district court’s dismissal for failure to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), Wood v. City of San Diego, 678 F.3d 1075, 1080 (9th Cir.2012), and for an abuse of discretion its decision whether to apply equitable estop-pel or tolling, Leong v. Potter, 347 F.3d 1117, 1121 (9th Cir.2003). We affirm.

The district court properly dismissed Mendoza’s federal claims because Mendoza failed to file a timely complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), and he failed to demonstrate a basis for equitable estoppel or tolling. See 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e) (setting forth the time for filing a complaint with EEOC under Title VII); Leong, 347 F.3d at 1123 (discussing the requirements for equitable estoppel and tolling); see also 42 U.S.C. § 12117(a) (adopting 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5 procedures for claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act). Moreover, the district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Mendoza’s request for leave to amend these claims. See Abagninin v. AMVAC Chem. Corp., 545 F.3d 733, 742 (9th Cir.2008) (setting forth standard of review and explaining that leave to amend may be denied if amendment would be futile or if previous amendment failed to cure deficiencies).

The district court did not abuse its discretion by dismissing Mendoza’s new claims for “Punishment, Mislead, Accomplishment, and Negligence” because Mendoza failed to seek leave to add these claims. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a)(2) (other than amending “as a matter of course,” a plaintiff may amend his complaint “only with the opposing party’s written consent or the court’s leave”). Moreover, Mendoza failed to state cognizable claims. See Johnson v. Riverside Healthcare Sys., LP, 534 F.3d 1116, 1121-22 (9th Cir.2008) (explaining that “a Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal may be based on either a ‘lack of a cognizable legal theory’ or ‘the absence of sufficient facts alleged under a cognizable legal theory’” (citation omitted)); Ladd v. County of San Mateo, 12 Cal.4th 913, 50 Cal.Rptr.2d 309, 911 P.2d 496, 498 (1996) (elements of a negligence claim under California law).

Mendoza’s contention that the district court did not consider his work-related injuries or pro se status is unpersuasive.

AFFIRMED.

** This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.