Security National Insurance v. United States

637 F. App'x 347

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: February 17, 2016
• Docket: No. 14-15479
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

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Security National Insurance Company appeals the district court’s Rule 12(b)(1) dismissal of its action alleging claims against the United States under the Federal Tort Claims Act. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and review de novo. Brady v. United States, 211 F.3d 499, 502 (9th Cir.2000).' We affirm.

The district court properly dismissed the lawsuit for lack of subject matter jurisdiction because neither the plaintiff insurance company, nor its insured (in whose shoes the insurance company stands) filed an administrative claim prior to filing suit. See 28 U.S.C. § 2675(a); McNeil v. United States, 508 U.S. 106, 113, 113 S.Ct. 1980, 124 L.Ed.2d 21 (1993); Brady, 211 F.3d at 502-03. Security National’s arguments that it should be excused from § 2675(a)’s exhaustion requirement because other parties with overlapping .interests have filed their own claims lack merit. Section 2675(a) is jurisdictional. Brady, 211 F.3d . In the absence of jurisdiction, Security National’s arguments based on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are beside the point. Fed.R.Civ.P. 82; Canatella v. California, 404 F.3d 1106, 1113 (9th Cir.2005). Procedural rules cannot create jurisdiction. See Canatella, 404 F.3d at 1113.

AFFIRMED.

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