Opinion ID: 1113232
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: dismissal for failure to state a claim

Text: Barnard argues that the trial court improperly dismissed his complaint against Ms. Randazzo for failure to state a claim. In reviewing this dismissal, we give no deference to the trial court's ruling and apply a correctness standard. St. Benedict's Dev. v. St. Benedict's Hosp., 811 P.2d 194, 196 (Utah 1991). In so doing, we must construe the complaint in the light most favorable to plaintiff and indulge all reasonable inferences in plaintiff's favor. Id. Applying that standard, we agree with the trial court's dismissal of the claim against Ms. Randazzo. The trial court correctly concluded that Barnard did not allege any act or omission of Ms. Randazzo that would subject her to liability. She was involved only as a party in the underlying divorce proceeding; liability on her part, if any existed, could derive only from a finding that Judge Murphy's order was invalid. Barnard has not asserted, [5] nor have we found in the record, any basis upon which he would be entitled to relief according to the facts he has alleged with respect to Ms. Randazzo. Because we hold below that Judge Murphy's order was valid and because we find no other basis for relief, we affirm the dismissal of the complaint against Ms. Randazzo.