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Gilbert v. NBC Subsidiary (KNBC-TV), Inc.

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Jul 23, 2001
15 F. App'x 475 (9th Cir. 2001)

Opinion


15 Fed.Appx. 475 (9th Cir. 2001) Richard C. GILBERT, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. NBC SUBSIDIARY (KNBC-TV), INC., Defendant-Appellee. No. 00-56341. D.C. No. CV-99-01587-AHS-EEx. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. July 23, 2001

Submitted July 9, 2001 .

The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

NOT FOR PUBLICATION. (See Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure Rule 36-3)

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of California Alicemarie H. Stotler, District Judge, Presiding.

Before KOZINSKI, T.G. NELSON, and RICHARD C. TALLMAN, Circuit Judges.

MEMORANDUM

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as may be provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

Richard C. Gilbert appeals the district court's summary judgment in favor of KNBC in his action alleging violations of the Satellite Home Viewer Act, 17 U.S.C. § 119, and the unconstitutionality of that act. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo grants of summary judgment, Robi v. Reed, 173 F.3d 736, 739 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 528 U.S. 952, 120 S.Ct. 375, 145 L.Ed.2d 293 (1999), and questions of mootness, Di Giorgio v. Lee (In re Di Giorgio), 134 F.3d 971, 974 (9th Cir.1998). We affirm.

Because KNBC granted Gilbert's waiver, the district court correctly dismissed Gilbert's claims for injunctive relief as moot. See United States v. Geophysical Corp., 732 F.2d 693, 698 (9th Cir.1984). Because intervening legislative amendments to the Satellite Home Viewer Act have eliminated the need to obtain waivers, the district court did not err in dismissing as moot Gilbert's claim for a declaratory judgment on the Satellite Home Viewer Act in effect prior to November 29, 1999. See Bunker Ltd. Partnership v. United States, 820 F.2d 308, 311 (9th Cir.1987). Because a ruling on the amendments to the Satellite Home Viewer Act would constitute an improper advisory opinion, the district court did not err in dismissing Gilbert's claims for a declaratory judgment. See id. at 313.

Gilbert's contentions regarding the Emergency Alert System are considered and rejected.

AFFIRMED.


Summaries of

Gilbert v. NBC Subsidiary (KNBC-TV), Inc.

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Jul 23, 2001
15 F. App'x 475 (9th Cir. 2001)
Case details for

Gilbert v. NBC Subsidiary (KNBC-TV), Inc.

Case Details

Full title:Richard C. GILBERT, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. NBC SUBSIDIARY (KNBC-TV)…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Date published: Jul 23, 2001

Citations

15 F. App'x 475 (9th Cir. 2001)