Opinion ID: 3151965
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: leoff’s cross-appeal

Text: In his cross-appeal Leoff raises what he terms equitable estoppel.1 Citing Extreme Construction Co. v. RCG Glenwood, LLC, 310 P.3d 246 (Colo. App. 2012), he argues: [A] party that disaffiliates a former partner, as S and J did as to Mr. Leoff, then proceeds with executing a project on an entirely different basis from the initial intention of the partners, cannot be heard to claim damages measured by a fictitious accounting fabricated to show alleged losses had the project continued on a vector long since abandoned for a more profitable scenario. Aplee. Br. at 10–11. 1 Leoff also argues (in two sentences) that the district court was correct in exercising judicial discretion to interpret contracts. But he fails to explain how contract interpretation is relevant to any of the issues on appeal. He then argues (in one sentence) that the court “correctly concluded that Colorado’s statutory scheme for partnership winding-up was inapposite to the remand.” Aplee. Br. at 14. But the court made no such determination, and Leoff fails to argue why the statute would not apply. We need not respond to these undeveloped arguments. See Bronson v. Swensen, 500 F.3d 1099, 1104 (10th Cir. 2007) (“[W]e routinely have declined to consider arguments that are . . . inadequately presented[] in an appellant’s opening brief.”). Also, in his reply brief on cross-appeal, Leoff argues that S & J breached its fiduciary duty to him. We need not reach this argument because it was not in his opening brief. See id. (“[T]he omission of an issue in an opening brief generally forfeits appellate consideration of that issue.”). 6 We reject the argument. To begin with, Extreme Construction is not on point. It holds only that if a contract term is ambiguous, a party’s delay in disputing the other party’s interpretation may equitably estop it from later contesting that interpretation. See Extreme Constr., 310 P.3d at 252. To make out a case for equitable estoppel by reason of delay, Extreme Construction requires establishing “(1) the other party had full knowledge of the facts, (2) the other party unreasonably delayed in asserting an available remedy, and (3) the party asserting the doctrine relied on the other party’s delay to its detriment.” Id. Leoff does not explain how Extreme Construction is relevant here. He does not point to an ambiguous contract term, explain how S & J unreasonably delayed, or assert any reliance. Second, Leoff did not raise this issue in district court. Although we occasionally permit a party to seek affirmance of a district-court judgment on a ground not raised below, we consistently refuse to do so when the new argument is fact-dependent because the opposing party has not had an opportunity to present contrary or countervailing evidence. See Elkins v. Comfort, 392 F.3d 1159, 1162 (10th Cir. 2004) (“In exercising [discretion to affirm on a ground not adopted by the district court] we consider whether the ground was fully briefed and argued here and below, whether the parties have had a fair opportunity to develop the factual record, and whether, in light of factual findings to which we defer or uncontested facts, our decision would involve only questions of law.” (brackets, citations, and internal quotation marks omitted)); Dist. 22 United Mine Workers of Am. v. Utah, 229 F.3d 982, 991 (10th Cir. 2000) (“[W]e decline to affirm the 7 judgment of the district court on this alternate ground due to the factual nature of the statute of limitations inquiry in this case.”). That is the situation here, because equitable claims are always quite fact-based. See Extreme Constr., 310 P.3d at 252 (“Whether the circumstances of a particular case support the application of the equitable estoppel doctrine is a question of fact . . . .”).