Opinion ID: 770056
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Statute of Limitations on the Mexican Illicit Behavior Claim

Text: 22 At the hearing on appellees' summary judgment motion, the district court found as follows: 23 [T]o the extent plaintiffs' allegations are cognizable under the laws of Jalisco, Mexico, the claim would be governed by Article 1831 of the form of Jalisco civil code, authorizing a claim for illicit behavior. The statute of limitations for that kind of claim is two years. 24 Plaintiff does not dispute that the cause of action accrued at the time of Coufal's termination in March of 1994. The action was filed in November of 1996. Therefore, the action is barred by the statute of limitations under the laws of Mexico. 25 On appeal, Coufal acknowledges that, under the law of Jalisco, illicit behavior claims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations. He did not dispute that, under American tortious interferencelaw, his claim accrued in March 1994. Regarding the possible illicit behavior claim, however, he argues that, under the Mexican Supreme Court's interpretation, the limitations period does not begin to run until the damage ends and that, because he has still not been paid under the contract, the damage is ongoing and the limitations period has yet to start. 26 AT&T argues that Coufal's argument regarding the interpretation of the Jalisco statute of limitations was not raised before the district court and is therefore waived. See Broad v. Sealaska Corp., 85 F.3d 422, 430 (9th Cir. 1996) (To have been properly raised below, `the argument must be raised sufficiently for the trial court to rule on it.'  (quoting In re E.R. Fegert, Inc., 887 F.2d 955, 957 (9th Cir. 1989))). We agree. AT&T raised the illicit behavior statute of limitations issue in its summary judgment motion. In his opposition papers, Coufal did not offer the district court his contrary interpretation regarding when the limitations period begins under Jalisco law. Since the district court did not have an opportunity to consider this argument, it is waived. 27 AFFIRMED.