Opinion ID: 4644702
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: We Deny Schmitz’s Request for Sanctions

Text: Even if we excused the evident procedural deficiencies, Schmitz’s request for sanctions is meritless.10 He argues we should sanction Appellants because their arguments “are frivolous as they are either without merit or beyond the scope of 9 The Eleventh Amendment provides an independent basis to dismiss the tort claim against the State Patrol. The State Patrol is an arm of the State of Colorado for purposes of the Eleventh Amendment. See Benton v. Town of South Fork, 587 F. App’x 447, 450 (10th Cir. 2014) (unpublished). The Eleventh Amendment bars Schmitz’s claim for damages against the State Patrol in federal court, even when the claim for relief is, as here, based in state law. See Pennhurst State Sch. & Hosp. v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89, 120–21 (1984) (clarifying that pendent jurisdiction over state-law claims doesn’t abrogate Eleventh Amendment immunity). 10 Schmitz failed to file a separate motion for sanctions, instead merely incorporating his request within his Response Brief. This alone provides grounds to deny his request. See Abeyta v. City of Albuquerque, 664 F.3d 792, 797 (10th Cir. 2011) (“We must deny this request [for sanctions] because [Appellee] failed to file a separate motion or notice requesting sanctions.” (citing Fed. R. App. P. 38 advisory committee’s note)). 31 appellate review.” Appellee’s Resp. Br. at 9. As discussed above, Appellants’ arguments lie comfortably within the scope of our review. And they aren’t frivolous. See Melea, Ltd. v. Jawer SA, 511 F.3d 1060, 1071 (10th Cir. 2007) (“An appeal is considered frivolous when the result is obvious, or the appellant’s arguments of error are wholly without merit.” (quoting F.D.I.C. v. McGlamery, 74 F.3d 218, 222 (10th Cir. 1996))). Reasonable jurists could disagree about whether Schmitz sufficiently alleged willful and wanton conduct—it’s not the kind of baseless appeal asserted merely to harass an opponent that would justify sanctions. We thus reject Schmitz’s request.