Opinion ID: 23930
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: bettersworth's adverse effect claim

Text: Subsection 552a(g)(1)(D) provides for a civil remedy whenever an agency “fails to comply with any other provision of this section, or any rule promulgated thereunder, in such a way as to have an adverse effect on an individual.” Bettersworth asserts that the defendant agencies kept information on him that was unnecessary to the agencies’ mandated purpose, in violation of subsection 552a(e)(1), and that the agency maintained records describing Bettersworth’s exercise of his First Amendment rights, in violation of subsection 552a(e)(7). Beyond these general assertions, Bettersworth does not describe what portions of which 16 records maintained by which agencies show such violations. Bettersworth simply states that the cause of action is supported by his affidavit. Bettersworth then relies upon the district court’s failure to address this claim in detail to excuse his own duty to brief it on appeal. Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 28 requires that appellate parties provide cogent argument, supported by citation to relevant authorities, statutes, and the record, for all points raised on appeal. Without such argument, this Court is in no position to provide any meaningful review. In the absence of such briefing, we decline to address Bettersworth's claim that the district court erroneously dismissed his § 552a(g)(1)(D) claim. See, e.g., Matter of T-H New Orleans Ltd. Partnership, 116 F.3d 790, 796 (5th Cir. 1997); Meadowbriar Home for Children, Inc. v. Gunn, 81 F.3d 521, 532 (5th Cir. 1996).