Opinion ID: 4486955
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: ADT’s Affirmative Defenses

Text: As a threshold matter, Claimants argue the district court should not have entertained ADT’s motion to dismiss because it was “predicated on issues that are affirmative defenses.” Aplt. Br. at 12. Since this argument is raised for the first time on appeal, we review for plain error. 2 To show plain error, Claimants must establish (1) an error, (2) that is plain, (3) which affects substantial rights, and (4) seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings. See Richison v. Ernest Grp., Inc., 634 F.3d 1123, 1128 (10th Cir. 2011). Because the district court did not err, the first prong of plain error review is dispositive here. Claimants rely on Fernandez v. Clean House, LLC, 883 F.3d 1296, 1297 (10th Cir. 2018), for the proposition that ADT’s affirmative defense regarding the timeliness of this suit was not properly before the district court. 3 In 2 Claimants contend this argument was raised below. See Aplt. Reply Br. at 5. But a review of the citations provided and an independent review of the record reveal only the most circumspect references to such an argument. In their briefing below, Claimants state, “[r]ather than addressing the causes of action actually asserted by plaintiffs, defendant is instead trying to litigate largely nonexistent contractual claims that might have been brought by the decedent had she survived the fire.” App. at 104. We do not view this as sufficient to raise the argument before the district court. Vague references to potential arguments do not sufficiently put the lower court on notice and accordingly fail to preserve the issue. See Bancamerica Commercial Corp. v. Mosher Steel of Kan., Inc., 100 F.3d 792, 798 (10th Cir. 1996). 3 Claimants also rely on Shields v. U.S. Postal Service, but this unprecedential order and judgment is similarly unavailing. See 729 F. App’x 662, (continued...) -8- Fernandez, we reversed the dismissal of Fair Labor Standards Act claims as barred under the FLSA’s limitations period. Under the FLSA, plaintiffs may bring claims within two years of ordinary violations and within three years of “willful” violations. Although plaintiffs in Fernandez had alleged willfulness, the district court dismissed their claims because it found they had not presented sufficient supporting allegations to make the “willful” violations plausible. This court reversed, holding that in such circumstances plaintiffs did not bear the burden of supporting the willfulness allegation at the pleadings stage because willfulness was an element of defendants’ limitations-based affirmative defense. See id. at 1298–99. Fernandez does not stand for the broader proposition that Claimants seek to read into it. Nothing in that case restricts district courts from interpreting contractual provisions, determining the parties’ respective rights and obligations thereunder, or enforcing a dispositive suit-limitation provision at the motion to dismiss stage. (...continued) 663 (10th Cir. 2018). -9- Here, the complaint and Contract 4 “admit[] all the elements of [ADT’s] affirmative defense.” Id. at 1299. In such circumstances, where “there is no disputed issue of fact raised by an affirmative defense, or the facts are completely disclosed on the face of the pleadings, and realistically nothing further can be developed by pretrial discovery or a trial on the issue raised by the defense” it is appropriate and expedient to dispose of a claim by a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b). See Wright & Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1277 (3d ed. 2002) (August 2019 update) (noting some disagreement among federal courts, but stating that the “more recent cases . . . hold that a complaint containing dates that show the claim is time-barred can be dismissed on a motion under Rule 12(b)(6)”). Although some affirmative defenses may present more difficult questions, the “statute of limitations defense is unusual in that . . . its effectiveness may well appear on the face of the complaint” as we find it does here. Id. Accordingly, we hold the district court did not err in reaching the suitlimitations issue. 4 Claimants criticize the district court for considering the Contract, which was not attached to the complaint but was introduced as an exhibit to ADT’s motion to dismiss. But district courts may consider evidence beyond the pleadings where the document is central to the claims presented and its authenticity is not disputed by the parties. See Alvarado v. KOB-TV, LLC, 493 F.3d 1210, 1215 (10th Cir. 2007). The Contract meets these criteria. Although Claimants state that “the contract attached to defendant’s motion is not authenticated” they do not, either here or in the proceedings below, expressly challenge its authenticity. See Aplt. Br. at 4; App. at 104–31. -10-