Court Opinion

ID: 37919
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 20:00:36+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:37:31.781871
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                                                                 Fifth Circuit
                                                               F I L E D
               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT                   April 11, 2005

                                                          Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                  Clerk
                           No. 04-10469
                         Summary Calendar

GLORIA ZAMUDIO,

                                       Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

NORMAN Y. MINETA, SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION;
PAUL S. MILLER, Commissioner, The U.S. Equal Employment
Commission (EEOC),

                                       Defendants-Appellees.

                       --------------------
          Appeal from the United States District Court
               for the Northern District of Texas
                     USDC No. 6:03-CV-110-C
                       --------------------

Before DAVIS, SMITH and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Gloria Zamudio appeals from the district court’s grant of

the defendants’ motion to dismiss filed pursuant to FED. R. CIV.

P. 12(b)(1), (5), and (6) and from the district court’s denial

of her FED. R. CIV. P. 59(e) motion.    Zamudio argues that the

dismissal of her complaint violated due process because she did

not have notice of the filing of the defendants’ motion to

dismiss prior to the dismissal of her complaint.     She argues that

     *
       Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that
this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except
under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
                           No. 04-10469
                                -2-

the district court erred in 1) dismissing her complaint as a

disciplinary sanction; 2) denying her Rule 59(e) motion; and

3) dismissing her complaint with prejudice rather than without

prejudice.   Zamudio also argues that this court should address

the issue whether an employee’s spouse has a right to file a

claim with the EEOC against her spouse’s employer.

     The certificate of service attached to the defendants’

motion to dismiss reflects that service on Zamudio was complete

on February 26, 2004, when the defendants mailed it to Zamudio’s

last known address.   FED. R. CIV. P. 5(b)(2)(B) (“Service by mail

is complete upon mailing.”); accord, Vincent v. Consolidated

Operating Co., 17 F.3d 782, 785 n.9 (5th Cir. 1994).    Zamudio has

not shown that the district court abused its discretion in

denying her Rule 59(e) motion, which argued lack of notice of the

filing of the motion to dismiss as a ground for postjudgment

relief.   See Midland West Corp. v. FDIC, 911 F.2d 1141, 1145

(5th Cir. 1990).   Zamudio’s argument that the district court’s

dismissal was but a disciplinary sanction is conclusional and

speculative.

     Although Zamudio argues that a dismissal for lack of subject

matter jurisdiction should be without prejudice rather than with

prejudice, Zamudio does not challenge directly the district

court’s dismissal of her complaint for lack of subject matter

jurisdiction and/or for failure to state a claim.    Arguments must

be briefed to be preserved.   Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222,
                           No. 04-10469
                                -3-

225-25 (5th Cir. 1993).   When an appellant fails to address a

potential error in the district court’s analysis, it is the same

as if the appellant had not appealed the judgment.   Brinkmann v.

Dallas County Deputy Sheriff Abner, 813 F.2d 744, 748 (5th Cir.

1987).   Zamudio has abandoned her challenge to the district

court’s Rule 12(b) dismissal by failing to challenge the legal

analysis forming the basis for the dismissal.

     Zamudio asks this court to address the issue whether an

employee’s spouse has a right to file a claim or complaint

against her spouse’s employer with the United States Equal

Employment Opportunity Commission.   We decline to address this

issue, the resolution of which was not necessary in the district

court’s dismissal of Zamudio’s complaint.

     AFFIRMED.