Opinion ID: 627349
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: 23 In that 1) there is nothing in the magistrate judge's report indicating that the ACJ defendants' motion to dismiss was treated as a motion for summary judgment and 2) the district court's order specifically adopted that report with its recommendation that this motion to dismiss be granted, the district court appears to have inadvertently entered summary judgment in favor of these defendants. Therefore, appellants' appeal as to them will be treated as an appeal from dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6). Only appellants' appeal as to Gatti appears from all the circumstances to be from a grant of summary judgment, and only it will be treated as such. 24 Because we treat the portion of this appeal involving the ACJ appellees as if it were from the dismissal of all claims against those appellees, the only pertinent facts on appeal are those alleged in the complaint. As to the claims against Gatti, however, which were disposed of by summary judgment in a procedurally correct manner, facts not alleged in the complaint but appearing in evidentiary sources provided in the record on appeal will be considered. 4
25 Our review of a district court's dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) is plenary. Ditri v. Coldwell Banker Residential Affiliates, Inc., 954 F.2d 869, 871 (3d Cir.1992). A 12(b)(6) motion tests the sufficiency of the allegations contained in the complaint. See id. The question, then, is whether the facts alleged in the complaint, even if true, fail to support the ... claim. Ransom v. Marrazzo, 848 F.2d 398, 401 (3d Cir.1988). The pleader is required to set forth sufficient information to outline the elements of his claim or to permit inferences to be drawn that these elements exist. 5A Charles A. Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure Sec. 1357, at 340 (2d ed. 1990). 26 We apply the same standard the district court is required to apply. We therefore accept all factual allegations in the complaint as true and give the pleader the benefit of all reasonable inferences that can be fairly drawn therefrom. Wisniewski v. Johns-Manville Corp., 759 F.2d 271, 273 (3d Cir.1985). However, we are not required to accept legal conclusions either alleged or inferred from the pleaded facts. Mescall v. Burrus, 603 F.2d 1266, 1269 (7th Cir.1979).
27 Our review of a district court's grant of summary judgment also is plenary. Carlson v. Arnot-Ogden Memorial Hosp., 918 F.2d 411, 413 (3d Cir.1990). On review the appellate court is required to apply the same test the district court should have utilized initially. Goodman v. Mead Johnson & Co., 534 F.2d 566, 573 (3d Cir.1976), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 1038, 97 S.Ct. 732, 50 L.Ed.2d 748 (1977). 28 Rule 56(c) sets forth the test to be utilized by the district court. Summary judgment is appropriate only if there are no genuine issues of material fact and the relevant law entitles the moving party to judgment. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); Carlson, 918 F.2d at 413. In addressing the question of the existence of a genuine issue of material fact, the Supreme Court has stated: 29 [T]he plain language of Rule 56(c) mandates the entry of summary judgment ... against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. [Where there is] a complete failure of proof concerning an essential element of the nonmoving party's case[, all other facts are rendered immaterial and t]he moving party is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law because the nonmoving party has failed to make a sufficient showing on an essential element of her case with respect to which she has the burden of proof. 30 Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Celotex also holds that in responding to a motion for summary judgment, Rule 56(e) requires that the non-moving party with the burden of proof on a dispositive issue at trial go beyond the pleadings and by [its] own affidavits, or by the 'depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file,' designate 'specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.'  Id. at 324, 106 S.Ct. at 2553.