Opinion ID: 6331987
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: We conduct a de novo review of a district court’s ruling on a Rule 12(c) motion for judgment on the pleadings. See In re Katrina Canal Breaches Litig., 495 F.3d 191, 205 (5th Cir. 2007). “The standard for deciding such a motion is the same as that for a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim.” Id. Our inquiry is whether “in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, the complaint states a valid claim for relief.” Id. We also conduct a de novo review of a district court’s grant of summary judgment. Sanders v. Christwood, 970 F.3d 558, 561 (5th Cir. 2020). “Summary judgment is proper ‘if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.’” Id. (citing FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a)). A dispute regarding a material fact is “genuine” if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict in favor of the nonmoving party. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). “Conclusional allegations and unsubstantiated assertions may not be relied on as evidence by the nonmoving party.” Carnaby v. City of Houston, 636 F.3d 183, 187 (5th Cir. 2011); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324 (1986). “The party opposing summary judgment is required to identify specific evidence in the record and to articulate the precise manner in which that evidence supports his or her claim.” Ragas v. Tenn. Gas Pipeline Co., 136 F.3d 455, 458 (5th Cir. 1998). “A panel may affirm summary judgment on any ground supported by the record, even if it is different from that relied on by the district court.” Reed v. Neopost USA, Inc., 701 F.3d 434, 438 (5th Cir. 2012) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). 4 Case: 21-20397 Document: 00516280839 Page: 5 Date Filed: 04/14/2022 No. 21-20397