Case Name: Robert L. RUTZ, Plaintiff-Appellant v. DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES; National Arbitration Forum, Inc.; National Arbitration Forum, LLC; Dispute Management Services, LLC, doing business as Forthright; Accretive, LLC; Agora, Defendants-Appellees
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2013-05-01
Citations: 504 F. App'x 540
Docket Number: No. 12-3704
Parties: Robert L. RUTZ, Plaintiff-Appellant v. DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES; National Arbitration Forum, Inc.; National Arbitration Forum, LLC; Dispute Management Services, LLC, doing business as Forthright; Accretive, LLC; Agora, Defendants-Appellees.
Judges: Before WOLLMAN, BOWMAN, and GRUENDER, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 504
Pages: 540–541

Head Matter:
Robert L. RUTZ, Plaintiff-Appellant v. DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES; National Arbitration Forum, Inc.; National Arbitration Forum, LLC; Dispute Management Services, LLC, doing business as Forthright; Accretive, LLC; Agora, Defendants-Appellees.
No. 12-3704.
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
Submitted: April 26, 2013.
Filed: May 1, 2013.
Before WOLLMAN, BOWMAN, and GRUENDER, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
In this action seeking to overturn an adverse arbitration decision regarding domain names, Robert Rutz appeals the district court's dismissal of his claims. Upon careful de novo review, see Levy v. Ohl, 477 F.3d 988, 991 (8th Cir.2007) (Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) dismissal is reviewed de novo), we agree with the district court that Rutz failed to state a claim under 15 U.S.C. § 1114(2)(D)(v), because his own complaint allegations precluded a finding that his relevant conduct was not unlawful under the Lanham Act. See 15 U.S.C. § 1114(2)(D)(v) (domain-name registrant whose domain name has been, inter alia, transferred under implementation of registrar's reasonable policy prohibiting registration of domain name that is identical to, confusingly similar to, or dilutive of another's mark may, upon notice to mark owner, file civil action to establish that registrant's domain-name registration or use was not unlawful under Lanham Act). We further agree that Rutz failed to state a claim under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). See Crest Constr. II, Inc. v. Doe, 660 F.3d 346, 353 (8th Cir.2011) (RICO claim requires plaintiff to show conduct of enterprise through pattern of racketeering activity); see also 18 U.S.C. § 1961(1) (defining "racketeering activity"). Finally, we agree that he failed to state either a contract claim or a tort claim. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state claim to relief that is plausible on its face); Stone v. Harry, 364 F.3d 912, 914 (8th Cir.2004) (although pro se complaints are to be construed liberally, they still must allege sufficient facts to support claims advanced). We thus affirm. See 8th Cir. R. 47B.
. The Honorable Jimm Larry Hendren, United States District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas.