Opinion ID: 169651
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Issues Disposed of Summarily

Text: We can briefly dispose of two issues raised by the parties on appeal. TMJI contends that the district court resolved several issues of fact against it and ignored issues of disputed material fact. But because our review is de novo, we need not concern ourselves with any such alleged misstatements or errors by the district court. Second, Aetna appears to contend that TMJI has presented no evidence to support some allegations in its complaint and is not entitled to discovery to elicit such evidence. It points out that TMJI did not ask the district court to convert the motions for dismissal into ones for summary judgment and to delay its decision pending the results of discovery. We reject Aetna's apparent contention because TMJI had no obligation to provide evidentiary support for its allegations, nor did it have an obligation to request that the court convert the motions into ones for summary judgment. When Aetna moved to dismiss the complaint under Rule 12(b)(6), it could not contest the truth of the complaint's factual allegations. See County of Santa Fe, N.M., 311 F.3d at 1034. Of course, if the allegations are sufficient, so that dismissal is improper, TMJI would then need to prove those allegations. At that stage of the proceeding, discovery would be proper. TMJI's opposition to the Rule 12(b)(6) motion hardly waived or forfeited its right to conduct discovery at a later stage of the litigation.