Case ID: f-appx_696/html/0554-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

CYBERCREEK ENTERTAINMENT, LLC, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. U.S. UNDERWRITERS INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant-Appellee.
    
    No. 17-139
    United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
    August 31, 2017
    FOR APPELLANT: Jeremy A. Colby, Webster Szanyi LLP, Buffalo, NY.
    FOR APPELLEE: Jonathan Schapp, Goldberg Segalla LLP, Buffalo, NY.
    
      PRESENT: Barrington D. Parker, Gerard E. Lynch, Susan L. Carney, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The Clerk of Court is directed to amend the caption to conform to the above.
    
   SUMMARY ORDER

Cybercreek Entertainment, LLC (“Cy-bercreek”) filed this action seeking damages stemming from U.S. Underwriters Insurance Co.’s (“Underwriters”) cancellation of the insurance policy it issued to Cybercreek. The District Court dismissed Cybercreek’s complaint under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim. On appeal, Cybercreek argues that, in doing so, the District Court erred by considering facts outside the complaint and by refusing to grant Cybercreek leave to amend its complaint. We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and the procedural history of the case, to which we refer only as necessary to explain our decision to affirm.

Cybercreek first argues that the District Court relied on facts outside the complaint when it noted in its opinion that Underwriters was an excess-line broker and, on that basis, concluded that Underwriters was not subject to New York Insurance Law. It is true that in considering a motion to dismiss, a district court may consider only the facts alleged in the complaint, documents incorporated by reference, and facts judicially noticed. See New York Pet Welfare Ass’n, Inc. v. City of New York, 850 F.3d 79, 86 (2d Cir. 2017). It is also true that Cybercreek’s complaint did not allege that Underwriters is an excess-line broker. But the District Court’s dismissal was not based on Underwriters’ status in relation to New York Insurance Law. In its complaint, Cybercreek neither purports to plead a claim under New York Insurance Law nor does it suggest that Underwriters had obligations under that law. It instead pleads a breach of the parties’ insurance contract. The District Court properly ruled that the parties’ insurance contract was incorporated by reference into the complaint. See Chambers v. Time Warner, Inc., 282 F.3d 147, 153-54 (2d Cir. 2002). It then held that the complaint failed to state a claim because of the unambiguous cancellation provisions in that contract. The District Court mentioned New York Insurance Law only to clarify that any theoretical claim based on that law would also be futile. Indeed, Cybercreek does not now maintain that Underwriters would be bound by New York Insurance Law nor does it seek leave to amend to add a claim based on that law. The District Court’s reference to Underwriters as an excess-line broker does not, therefore, constitute a basis for vacatur or reversal.

Cybercreek also argues that the District Court erred in concluding that amending the complaint to include a claim of uncon-scionability would be futile. Reviewing the District Court’s futility finding de novo and its decision to dismiss with prejudice for abuse of discretion, see Balintulo v. Ford Motor Co., 796 F.3d 160, 164 (2d Cir. 2015), we find no error. As an initial matter, Cybercreek never sought leave to amend from the District Court, and instead contends only that its arguments before the District Court constituted “at least an implicit request for leave to amend.” Appellant Br. 13-14. Cybercreek’s failure to request leave to amend alone supports the District Court’s dismissal with prejudice. See Horoshko v. Citibank, N.A., 373 F.3d 248, 249-50 (2d Cir. 2004) (“[Plaintiffs’] contention that the District Court abused its discretion in not permitting an amendment that was never requested is frivolous.”). What is more, Cy-bercreek does not challenge the substance of the District Court’s futility determination: it still has not identified any additional facts that it could plead in support of a claim for unconscionability or any other cause of action. Because Cybercreek “has not explained how it could amend the complaint to ... survive a motion to dismiss,” F5 Capital v. Pappas, 856 F.3d 61, 90 (2d Cir. 2017), we see no basis to disturb the District Court’s conclusion that amendment would be futile.

* * *

We have considered plaintiffs remaining arguments on appeal and conclude that they are without merit. The judgment of the District Court is AFFIRMED.