Case Name: Marc D. STEIN, Appellant v. WESTFIELD INSURANCE COMPANY; Westfield Companies
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2005-10-27
Citations: 152 F. App'x 222
Docket Number: No. 04-4617
Parties: Marc D. STEIN, Appellant v. WESTFIELD INSURANCE COMPANY; Westfield Companies.
Judges: Before SMITH, BECKER and NYGAARD, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 152
Pages: 222–224

Head Matter:
Marc D. STEIN, Appellant v. WESTFIELD INSURANCE COMPANY; Westfield Companies.
No. 04-4617.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) Oct. 21, 2005.
Decided Oct. 27, 2005.
James A. Marchewka, Canonsburg, PA, for Appellant.
Cary Valyo, Dell, Moser, Lane & Loughney, Pittsburgh, PA, for Appellees.
Before SMITH, BECKER and NYGAARD, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
OPINION
BECKER, Circuit Judge.
Plaintiff Marc D. Stein appeals from an order of the District Court granting final judgment against Stein and in favor of defendants Westfield Insurance Company and Westfield Companies (collectively 'Westfield") under Fed.R.Civ.P. 54(b), in a breach of contract action in which Stein alleged that Westfield failed to properly investigate his insurance claim. Stein also asserted a variety of statutory and tort claims, and Westfield filed assorted counterclaims. Final disposition was precipitated by the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation that: (1) Stem's contract claims be dismissed due to his failure to cooperate with Westfield in the investigation of the claim; and (2) that Stein's emotional distress claim also be dismissed due to his failure to offer medical proof. The District Court adopted the Report and Recommendation, which, as all the parties agree, rendered Stein's remaining claims moot. The 54(b) order, and this appeal, followed.
Stein's argument, stripped to its essentials, is that the Court order granting summary judgment "was premature and in error since discovery in the matter had not been completed" and that discovery should be reopened to allow him "to establish the facts necessary to defeat the motion for summary judgment as there exists a genuine issue of material fact."
The parties spar over whether Stein's former counsel filed a response brief to Westfield's motion for summary judgment (his former counsel apparently did so, despite Stein's assertion that he did not). At all events, Stein's arguments must be rejected because of his failure to file a motion under Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(f) which provides:
Rule 56. Summary Judgment
(f) When Affidavits are Unavailable. Should it appear from the affidavit of a party opposing the motion that the party cannot for reasons stated present by affidavit facts essential to justify the party's opposition, the court may refuse the application for judgment or may order a continuance to permit affidavits to be obtained or depositions to be taken or discovery to be had or may make such other order as is just.
We have frequently held that "in all but the most exceptional cases, failure to comply with Rule 56(f) is fatal to a claim of insufficient discovery on appeal." Bradley v. United States, 299 F.3d 197, 207 (3d Cir.2002) (citing Pastore v. Bell Tel. Co. of Pennsylvania, 24 F.3d 508, 511 (3d Cir. 1994)); see also Rodriguez-Cuervos v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 181 F.3d 15, 22-23 (1st Cir.1999); Potter v. Delta Air Lines, Inc., 98 F.3d 881, 887 (5th Cir.1996); In re Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Implants Prod. Liab. Litig., 113 F.3d 1484, 1490 (8th Cir.1997).
The judgment of the District Court will be affirmed.
. Stein's reliance on Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 1035.2 and on Pennsylvania Supreme Court cases does not advance his position, as this case is controlled by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.