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Massbaum v. WNC Management

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Jan 11, 2010
361 F. App'x 904 (9th Cir. 2010)

Opinion

No. 08-55406.

Submitted December 15, 2009.

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

Filed January 11, 2010.

Ross Massbaum, Laguna Hills, CA, pro se.

Mark E. Lowary, Berman, Berman Berman, LLP, Riverside, CA, Daniel S. Roberts, Esquire, Best, Best Krieger, Ontario, CA, for Defendants-counter-claimants-Appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of California, David O. Carter, District Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. 8:07-cv-00096-DOC-RNB.

Before: GOODWIN, WALLACE, and CLIFTON, Circuit Judges.



MEMORANDUM

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

Ross Massbaum appeals pro se from the district court's summary judgment for defendants in his action alleging housing discrimination on the basis of race and disability. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo, Gamble v. City of Escondido, 104 F.3d 300, 304 (9th Cir. 1997), and we affirm.

The district court properly granted summary judgment on the Fair Housing Act claim because Massbaum failed to raise a triable issue as to whether the defendants acted with any discriminatory intent during the events at issue, or whether their practices disproportionately impacted any particular racial group. See McDonald v. Coldwell Banker, 543 F.3d 498, 505 n. 7 (9th Cir. 2008) (explaining that a disparate treatment claim under the Fair Housing Act requires some showing of discriminatory intent, while a disparate impact claim requires, inter alia, showing "a significantly . . . disproportionate impact on persons of a particular type produced by the defendant's facially neutral acts or practices").

For the same reasons, summary judgment was proper on the claims brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and Title VI. See Save Our Valley v. Sound Transit, 335 F.3d 932, 944 (9th Cir. 2003) ("Title VI itself directly reach[es] only instances of intentional discrimination."); De Horney v. Bank of America Nat'l Trust Sav. Ass'n, 879 F.2d 459, 467 (9th Cir. 1989) ("[T]o establish a § 1981 claim, the plaintiff must prove intentional or purposeful discrimination.").

Summary judgment was proper on the 42 U.S.C. § 1982 claim because Massbaum did not show he is a member of a racial minority. See Phiffer v. Proud Parrot Motor Hotel, Inc., 648 F.2d 548, 551 (9th Cir. 1980).

Summary judgment was proper on the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") and Rehabilitation Act claims, because Massbaum failed to raise a triable issue as to whether defendants discriminated against him on the basis of a disability. See Weinreich v. Los Angeles County Metro. Transp. Auth., 114 F.3d 976, 978 (9th Cir. 1997) (stating that both the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act require proof of discrimination by reason of a disability).

Massbaum's remaining contentions are unpersuasive.

AFFIRMED.


Summaries of

Massbaum v. WNC Management

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Jan 11, 2010
361 F. App'x 904 (9th Cir. 2010)
Case details for

Massbaum v. WNC Management

Case Details

Full title:Ross MASSBAUM, Plaintiff-counter-defendant-Appellant, v. WNC MANAGEMENT…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Date published: Jan 11, 2010

Citations

361 F. App'x 904 (9th Cir. 2010)

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