“The constitutional component of 12 ripeness is a jurisdictional prerequisite.”
How later courts described this case
- “The constitutional component of 12 ripeness is a jurisdictional prerequisite.”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
1
2
3
4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
6
7 GTE MOBILNET OF CALIFORNIA Case No. 20-cv-05460-DMR
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,
8
Plaintiff, ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS
9 FIRST AMENDED AND
v. SUPPLEMENTAL COMPLAINT
10
CITY OF BERKELEY, Re: Dkt. No. 40
11
Defendant.
12
13 Plaintiff GTE Mobilnet of California (“Verizon”) filed this action for declaratory judgment
14 under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (“TCA”), 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7) against Defendant
15 City of Berkeley (“Berkeley”), alleging that Berkeley unlawfully denied Verizon’s application to
16 construct a personal wireless service facility in Berkeley, California. Intervenor-Defendants
17 Berryman Reservoir Neighbors (“BRN”) now move pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
18 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) to dismiss Verizon’s First Amended and Supplemental Complaint
19 (“FASC”). [Docket No. 40.] This matter is suitable for resolution without oral argument. Civ.
20 L.R. 7-1(b). For the following reasons, the motion is denied.
21 I. BACKGROUND
22 A. Allegations in the FASC
23 Verizon makes the following allegations in the FASC: in December 2018, Verizon filed an
24 application with Berkeley for a use permit to build, operate, and maintain an unoccupied personal
25 wireless service facility (“the project”). The project would consist of six antennas and remote
26 radio units mounted on a new 50-foot pole, with associated equipment and a standby generator
27 installed at ground level. East Bay Municipal Utility District (“EBMUD”) owns the proposed
1 property is in the Single Family Residential—Hillside Overlay (R-1H) Zoning District. FASC ¶¶
2 17, 18. Verizon proposes to disguise the 50-foot cell tower to look like a pine tree, a so-called
3 “monopine.” According to Verizon, due to the features of the property, the ground-mounted
4 equipment would not be visible from the surrounding streets and the monopine would be largely
5 screened from view or blend into the backdrop of existing trees. Id. at ¶ 21.
6 Berkeley’s planning staff reviewed Verizon’s application, requested photo-simulations of
7 alternative designs, and hired an expert to conduct peer review of certain aspects of the
8 application. According to Verizon, the peer review confirmed that the project would comply with
9 FCC safety limits on radio-frequency (“RF”) emissions. Verizon also submitted reports
10 confirming that the project would comply with Berkeley’s noise standards. Id. at ¶¶ 23-24. Upon
11 completion of the application, the planning staff recommended that Berkeley’s Zoning Adjustment
12 Board (“ZAB”) approve the application. Id. at ¶ 25.
13 The ZAB reviewed the application at a public hearing on June 27, 2019 at which there
14 were presentations from Berkeley’s planning staff, Verizon, and members of the public who are
15 opposed to the application. Project opponents raised concerns about the environmental effects of
16 RF emissions, aesthetics, noise, property values, the need for the project, and various procedural
17 issues. Id. at ¶¶ 27-29. At the end of the hearing, the ZAB voted unanimously to deny the
18 application on the basis that Verizon had not satisfied various code requirements for approval. Id.
19 at ¶ 30.
20 Verizon timely appealed the ZAB’s denial to the Berkeley City Council (“City Council”)
21 and submitted additional evidence in support of the application. Id. at ¶¶ 31-33. The City Council
22 held a public hearing on the appeal on July 7, 2020. Project opponents again raised concerns
23 about aesthetics, environmental impacts, safety risks, and procedural issues. Id. at ¶¶ 36-38. The
24 City Council voted to deny the application. After the hearing, Berkeley posted an annotated
25 agenda on its website that summarized the denial. Verizon alleges that the application should have
26 been approved because there were no valid or lawful grounds for denial. Id. at ¶¶ 39-41.
27 Verizon alleges that it was concerned that Berkeley or a potential intervenor “might argue
1 written denial.” Therefore, it alleges, since the TCA requires that “any partly [sic] aggrieved by
2 any ‘final action or failure to act’ in violation of its provisions seek judicial review within 30
3 days,” Verizon filed the original complaint on August 6, 2020, within 30 days of the City
4 Council’s vote, “in an abundance of caution.” Id. at ¶ 42 (citing 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(v)).
5 On September 8, 2020, Berkeley issued a written denial of its application, stating that the
6 City Council “had denied its Application based on the findings in the enclosed Resolution 69,487
7 N.S. (the ‘Denial Resolution’).” FASC ¶ 43. Verizon alleges that the Denial Resolution was not
8 made available to Verizon until September 8, 2020. Id.
9 Verizon alleges three claims for relief. First, it alleges that Berkeley failed to act on its
10 application “within a reasonable period of time” after it was filed, “in violation of 47 U.S.C. §
11 32(c)(7)(B)(ii), as interpreted by the Federal Communications Commission (‘FCC’) in its ‘Shot
12 Clock Ruling,’ In re Petition for Declaratory Ruling, 24 FCC Rcd. 13994, 14005 (November 18,
13 2009) and implementing regulations.” FASC ¶ 3; see also ¶¶ 52-62 (claim one or the “failure to
14 act claim”). Verizon alleges that under the Shot Clock Ruling, the deadline for Berkeley to take
15 final action on the application was July 10, 2020, but that it did not act until September 8, 2020.
16 Id. at ¶¶ 53-61.
17 Second, Verizon alleges that Berkeley’s written denial was not based on substantial
18 evidence in violation of 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(iii) (claim two). Id. at ¶¶ 64-66.
19 Third, Verizon alleges the denial was unlawful because it had the effect of prohibiting
20 Verizon from providing personal wireless services in violation of 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(i)(II)
21 (claim three). Id. at ¶¶ 68.
22 B. Procedural History
23 Verizon filed its original complaint on August 6, 2020. In September 2020, Michael Burt,
24 Angelina DeAntonis, Joann Driscoll, Allen Myers, Regina Myers, Christian L. Raisner, Oliver
25 Raisner, Lucinda Reinold, Wendy Stock, and Paul Teicholz (collectively, “Berryman Reservoir
26 Neighbors” or “BRN”) moved for leave to intervene pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
27 24(a) and 24(b). These individuals live near the proposed cell tower. Each participated in
1 that the presence of the proposed cell tower would adversely impact their interests. Verizon
2 opposed the motion to intervene. On October 19, 2020, the court granted the motion to intervene
3 and ordered BRN to file an answer by October 23, 2020. [Docket No. 22.] Rather than filing an
4 answer, BRN moved pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) to
5 dismiss the complaint. Verizon filed a motion to amend and supplement the complaint to add the
6 “failure to act” claim shortly thereafter, which BRN opposed. In relevant part, BRN argued that
7 amendment was futile because the failure to act claim was barred by the statute of limitations. It
8 also argued that the relation back doctrine could not be used to cure Verizon’s untimely
9 amendment. The court rejected this argument and granted Verizon’s motion to amend and
10 supplement the complaint. It denied the motion to dismiss the complaint as moot. GTE Mobilnet
11 of California Ltd. P’ship v. City of Berkeley, No. 20-CV-05460-DMR, 2021 WL 308605, at *6, 8
12 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 29, 2021).
13 Verizon subsequently filed the FASC. BRN now moves pursuant to Rules 12(b)(1) and
14 12(b)(6) to dismiss the FASC.1
15 II. LEGAL STANDARDS
16 A. Rule 12(b)(1)
17 A motion to dismiss filed pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) is a challenge to the court’s subject
18 matter jurisdiction. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1). A court will dismiss a party’s claim for lack of
19 subject matter jurisdiction “only when the claim is so insubstantial, implausible, foreclosed by
20 prior decisions of th[e Supreme] Court, or otherwise completely devoid of merit as not to involve
21
22
1 Pursuant to the parties’ agreement and a court order, Berkeley will file the administrative
record before the parties file cross motions for summary judgment. [See Docket No. 39 at 7.] In
23
the motion to dismiss, BRN asks the court to take judicial notice of “[c]ertain uncontested facts” in
the administrative record, but BRN did not file a copy of the administrative record or relevant
24
portions for the court’s consideration. Instead, it provided a link through which the administrative
record may purportedly be retrieved. Mot. 3 n.1. The court declines to consider taking judicial
25
notice of facts in documents that were not properly submitted to the court.
26
Additionally, BRN attached three exhibits to its motion, none of which were authenticated.
See Civ. L.R. 7-5(a) (providing that “evidentiary matters must be appropriately authenticated by
27
an affidavit or declaration.”). The court will not consider the exhibits in ruling on this motion.
1 a federal controversy.” Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better Env’t, 523 U.S. 83, 89 (1998) (citation
2 and quotation marks omitted); see Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1). The challenging party may make a
3 facial or factual attack challenging subject matter jurisdiction. White v. Lee, 227 F.3d 1214, 1242
4 (9th Cir. 2000). A facial challenge asserts that “the allegations contained in a complaint are
5 insufficient on their face to invoke federal jurisdiction.” Safe Air for Everyone v. Meyer, 373 F.3d
6 1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 2004). In contrast, a factual attack disputes “the truth of the allegations that,
7 by themselves, would otherwise invoke federal jurisdiction.” Id. at 1039. A factual challenge
8 permits the court to look beyond the complaint, without “presum[ing] the truthfulness of the
9 plaintiff’s allegations.” White, 227 F.3d at 1242 (citation omitted). Even the presence of disputed
10 material facts “will not preclude the trial court from evaluating for itself the merits of
11 jurisdictional claims.” Roberts v. Corrothers, 812 F.2d 1173, 1177 (9th Cir. 1987) (citations
12 omitted).
13 B. Rule 12(b)(6)
14 A motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) tests the legal sufficiency of the claims alleged in
15 the complaint. See Parks Sch. of Bus., Inc. v. Symington, 51 F.3d 1480, 1484 (9th Cir. 1995).
16 When reviewing a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, the court must “accept as true all
17 of the factual allegations contained in the complaint,” Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007)
18 (per curiam) (citation omitted), and may dismiss a claim “only where there is no cognizable legal
19 theory” or there is an absence of “sufficient factual matter to state a facially plausible claim to
20 relief.” Shroyer v. New Cingular Wireless Servs., Inc., 622 F.3d 1035, 1041 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing
21 Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 677-78 (2009); Navarro v. Block, 250 F.3d 729, 732 (9th Cir.
22 2001)) (quotation marks omitted). A claim has facial plausibility when a plaintiff “pleads factual
23 content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the
24 misconduct alleged.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (citation omitted). In other words, the facts alleged
25 must demonstrate “more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of
26 a cause of action will not do.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 554, 555 (2007) (citing
27 Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 286 (1986)); see Lee v. City of L.A., 250 F.3d 668, 679 (9th Cir.
1 2002).
2 As a general rule, a court may not consider “any material beyond the pleadings” when
3 ruling on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion. Lee, 250 F.3d at 688 (citation and quotation marks omitted).
4 However, “a court may take judicial notice of ‘matters of public record,’” id. at 689 (citing Mack
5 v. S. Bay Beer Distrib., 798 F.2d 1279, 1282 (9th Cir. 1986)), and may also consider “documents
6 whose contents are alleged in a complaint and whose authenticity no party questions, but which
7 are not physically attached to the pleading,” without converting a motion to dismiss under Rule
8 12(b)(6) into a motion for summary judgment. Branch v. Tunnell, 14 F.3d 449, 454 (9th Cir.
9 1994), overruled on other grounds by Galbraith, 307 F.3d at 1125-26. The court need not accept
10 as true allegations that contradict facts which may be judicially noticed. See Mullis v. U.S. Bankr.
11 Court, 828 F.2d 1385, 1388 (9th Cir. 1987).
12 III. DISCUSSION
13 A. Subject Matter Jurisdiction
14 1. Ripeness
15 BRN argues under Rule 12(b)(1) that the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the
16 FASC because it was not filed during the 30-day window set forth in the TCA, 47 U.S.C. §
17 332(c)(7)(B)(v), and thus is not ripe. Mot. 7.
18 The TCA provides in relevant part that “[a]ny decision by a State or local government or
19 instrumentality thereof to deny a request to place, construct, or modify personal wireless service
20 facilities shall be in writing and supported by substantial evidence contained in a written record.”
21 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(iii). “[T]he denial itself needs only to be issued (or the application
22 otherwise acted upon) ‘within a reasonable period of time.’” T-Mobile S., LLC v. City of Roswell,
23 Ga., 574 U.S. 293, 304 (2015) (quoting 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(ii)). “Any person adversely
24 affected by any final action or failure to act by a State or local government or any instrumentality
25 thereof . . . may, within 30 days after such action or failure to act, commence an action in any
26 court of competent jurisdiction.” 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(v). This “30-day commencement-of-
27 suit clock” begins to run upon the “issuance of the written notice of denial.” City of Roswell, 574
1 Here, the Berkeley City Council denied the application at a public hearing on July 7, 2020.
2 On July 9, 2020, Berkeley posted an annotated agenda on its website summarizing the City
3 Council’s action. FASC ¶¶ 39, 40. Verizon filed the complaint on August 6, 2020 because it
4 “was concerned that [Berkeley] or a potential intervenor might argue that the annotated agenda . . .
5 constituted a written denial.” Id. at ¶ 42. The FASC also alleges that Berkeley did not issue a
6 written denial of the application until September 8, 2020, which was “more than a month after this
7 suit was filed.” FASC ¶ 43. Based on these allegations, BRN argues, “Verizon’s action was not
8 statutorily or constitutionally ripe for adjudication when filed [the original complaint] and
9 therefore cannot serve as the jurisdictional basis for the [FASC], which must be dismissed for lack
10 of subject matter jurisdiction” under Rule 12(b)(1). Mot. 13 (emphasis in original); see United
11 States v. Antelope, 395 F.3d 1128, 1132 (9th Cir. 2005) (“The constitutional component of
12 ripeness is a jurisdictional prerequisite.”).
13 BRN also argues that the 30-day commencement of suit requirement in section
14 332(c)(7)(B)(v) is jurisdictional and thus not subject to any equitable exceptions or the relation
15 back doctrine set forth in Rule 15(c). Mot. 7, 14.
16 BRN’s ripeness argument lacks merit. As the court previously found in granting Verizon
17 leave to file the FASC, the facts of T Mobile Northeast LLC v. City of Wilmington, Delaware, 913
18 F.3d 311 (3d Cir. 2019), “are on all fours with the facts of this case.” GTE Mobilnet, 2021 WL
19 308605, at *6. In T Mobile, the plaintiff, a wireless telecommunications service provider, applied
20 to a zoning board for permission to erect an antenna in Wilmington, Delaware. 913 F.3d at 316.
21 The zoning board orally denied the application at an October 2016 hearing but did not put the
22 decision in writing on the date of the hearing “or anytime soon thereafter.” Id. The plaintiff filed
23 suit against Wilmington in district court within 30 days of the oral decision, challenging the denial
24 under the TCA. The zoning board did not issue a written decision on the application until
25 December 2016, after Wilmington filed its answer to the complaint. Id. at 316, 322.
26 The parties subsequently filed cross motions for summary judgment. In its motion,
27 Wilmington moved in the alternative to “dismiss the complaint as unripe because it was filed
1 moved for leave to amend or supplement the initial complaint to include the issuance of the
2 written decision on the application. The district court granted the motion to supplement and
3 Wilmington moved to dismiss the supplemental complaint as untimely. The court ultimately
4 granted Wilmington’s cross motion for summary judgment, finding that the initial complaint “was
5 irreparably unripe because both the TCA and Delaware law require the [zoning board] to issue a
6 written decision before the agency’s action could be considered final.” Therefore, the plaintiff had
7 filed its complaint too soon. Id. The district court also held that the supplemental complaint
8 “could not fix the ripeness problem because it was filed past the 30-day window for seeking
9 review of the [zoning board’s] final action.” Id. It did not reach the question of whether the
10 plaintiff’s supplemental complaint was entitled to the benefit of Rule 15(c)’s relation back
11 doctrine. Id.
12 On appeal, the Third Circuit held that the zoning board’s oral decision was not a “final
13 action” within the meaning of the TCA, and that “only a written decision can serve as a locality’s
14 final action when denying an application” for purposes of starting the 30-day time limit for filing
15 suit. Id. at 318-22. Therefore, it concluded that the plaintiff’s original claim for relief, which
16 challenged the October 2016 oral decision, was not ripe for review when filed. Id. at 322. The
17 court further found that the supplemental complaint, which was filed more than 30 days after the
18 zoning board issued its written decision, was untimely under the TCA. Id. at 323. Accordingly, it
19 concluded that the district court “only had jurisdiction if [the plaintiff’s] supplemental complaint
20 cured the ripeness flaw in its original complaint by relating back to the original filing date.” Id.
21 The Third Circuit first considered whether the 30-day time limit was nonjurisdictional, in
22 which case “relation back is possible and allows a supplemental complaint to cure a defective
23 premature filing.” Id. The court answered this question in the affirmative, finding that “the text
24 and context of [the TCA], and historical treatment of timing requirements in similar statutes, do
25 not reveal a clear intent from Congress to make the review provision’s timing requirement
26 jurisdictional[.]” Id. at 324-26; see Sebelius v. Auburn Reg’l Med. Ctr., 568 U.S. 145, 153 (2013)
27 (when “determining whether to classify a statutory limitation as jurisdictional . . . [w]e inquire
1 we have cautioned, ‘courts should treat the restriction as nonjurisdictional in character.’” (citations
2 omitted)). The Third Circuit went on to hold that “an untimely supplemental complaint can, by
3 relating back, cure an initial complaint that was unripe.” 913 F.3d at 326. It observed that “Rule
4 15 does not indicate whether or under what circumstances a supplemental pleading can relate back
5 to the date of the original pleading to avoid the effect of a time limit.” However, “case law and
6 secondary sources have long instructed that once a supplemental complaint is granted, it is treated
7 like an amended complaint for purposes of relation back.” Id. at 327. Therefore, it concluded,
8 “even though Rule 15(d) is in a separate statutory provision from Rule 15(c), a supplemental
9 complaint can relate back” if “it meets the basic test for relation back prescribed by Rule 15(c)”;
10 that is, if there is a “common core of operative facts in the two pleadings.” Id. at 327-28
11 (quotation marks and citation omitted). The court found that the test was met, since “[b]oth
12 complaints rely on the same core facts. The written denial was a certification and restatement of
13 the earlier oral denial.” Id. at 328. The court emphasized both the “clear preference embodied in
14 Rule 15 . . . for merits-based decision making,” as well as the fact that “Wilmington had notice of
15 everything in the supplemental complaint.” Id. at 328. Accordingly, it concluded, “because T
16 Mobile’s motion to supplement the complaint was properly granted, that supplemental complaint
17 relates back and is ripe.” Id. at 326.
18 Not only are the facts of T-Mobile similar to the facts of this case, “[t]he Third Circuit’s
19 approach in T Mobile is consistent with Ninth Circuit law.” GTE Mobilnet, 2021 WL 308605, at
20 *6 (discussing Security Insurance Co. v. United States ex rel. Haydis, 338 F.2d 444, 445 (9th Cir.
21 1964)). For example, in Security Insurance, the plaintiff, who had supplied materials to a
22 contractor, filed his complaint against the contractor prematurely; under the relevant statute, he
23 was required to wait 90 days after the last day materials or labor were supplied to file suit. The
24 defendant moved to dismiss the complaint on the day set for trial, arguing that the case should be
25 dismissed because the complaint was premature. The plaintiff then filed a supplemental
26 complaint, and the defendant argued that the case should be dismissed anyway, because (1) the
27 original complaint was premature; (2) the supplemental pleading was filed after the one-year
1 supplemental pleading did relate back, “they must relate back to the time when the action was
2 filed and at that time the plaintiff had no claim for relief.” 338 F.2d at 446. The Ninth Circuit
3 refused to dismiss the case, holding that the supplemental pleading could relate back to the
4 original complaint under Rule 15(c) even though Rule 15(d) does not mention relation back. It
5 also held that it “was not required to apply the doctrine of relation back so literally as to carry it to
6 a time within the ninety-day period [specified in the statute], so as to prevent the maintenance of
7 the action in the first place.” Id. at 449.
8 This court previously held that “under the persuasive reasoning of T Mobile, ‘a pleading
9 filed according to Rule 15(d) can relate back’ if it meets the test for relation back under Rule
10 15(c)” and concluded that “Verizon’s proposed [FASC] relates back” under that test. Id. (citing T
11 Mobile, 913 F.3d at 327, and Security Ins., 338 F.2d at 449). Therefore, the court rejected BRN’s
12 argument that the failure to act claim was futile because it was barred by the statute of limitations.
13 GTE Mobilnet, 2021 WL 308605, at *6.2
14 BRN now argues that the Third Circuit erred in holding in T Mobile that the TCA’s 30-day
15 time limit is not jurisdictional but offers no persuasive authority or argument that the court should
16 decline to follow its reasoning on that point. See Mot. 15 n.9. The court concludes that the 30-day
17 time limit in section 332(c)(7)(B)(v) is not jurisdictional. Therefore, consistent with the court’s
18 order granting Verizon leave to file the FASC, the doctrine of relation back applies to Verizon’s
19 FASC. As a result, the FASC cured any ripeness issue with the original complaint and the court
20 has subject matter jurisdiction over the FASC. See T Mobile, 913 F.3d at 328 (“the only question
21 remaining is whether a complaint that relates back can cure an untimely initial complaint, and the
22 answer is yes”).
23
24
25
2 The court noted that BRN also argued that the failure to act claim was not ripe, since it was filed
before Berkeley’s issuance of a written decision on the application, but declined to consider it as it
26
was based on arguments in BRN’s motion to dismiss the original complaint, which was not before
the court. GTE Mobilnet, 2021 WL 308605, at *4 n.2. The court ultimately found that it did not
27
need to “resolve the question of ripeness in determining the propriety of Verizon’s proposed
2. Standing
1
BRN argues that the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over this case because Verizon
2
lacks standing to bring this action. Its argument rests on language in a November 8, 2018
3
“Telecommunications Lease” between EBMUD and Verizon, as well as purported statements by
4
“the Director of EBMUD.” The court cannot consider these materials because they have not been
5
authenticated. See Mot. 22-24 (citing Exs. 1 and 3 to the Motion to Dismiss). The motion is
6
denied on that basis. Even if BRN properly had submitted the materials for consideration under
7
Rule 12(b)(1), the parties’ arguments raise factual issues that are not conducive to determination
8
on a pleadings motion. In any event, BRN does not explain how a provision in the lease
9
purportedly giving EBMUD final authority to reject the project defeats Verizon’s Article III
10
standing to challenge Berkeley’s decision on its application under the TCA.
11
Accordingly, BRN’s motion to dismiss based on the issue of standing is denied.
12
B. Timeliness of the FASC
13
BRN argues that even if the 30-day commencement of suit provision in section
14
332(c)(7)(B)(v) is not jurisdictional, the FASC should be dismissed as untimely under Rule
15
12(b)(6) since the running of the statute of limitations is apparent on the face of the FASC. Mot.
16
16; see Von Saher v. Norton Simon Museum of Art at Pasadena, 592 F.3d 954, 969 (9th Cir. 2010)
17
(“A claim may be dismissed under Rule 12(b)(6) on the ground that it is barred by the applicable
18
statute of limitations . . . when the running of the statute is apparent on the face of the complaint.”
19
(quotation marks and citation omitted)). It notes that the FASC alleges that Verizon and Berkeley
20
entered into a series of tolling agreements extending the Shot Clock deadline, the last of which
21
extended the deadline through July 10, 2020. FASC ¶ 60. Therefore, BRN argues, Verizon had
22
only 30 days from July 10, 2020 to file its “failure to act” claim, but did not file the FASC until
23
February 1, 2021, well after that deadline. Mot. 13.
24
BRN seeks to re-litigate an issue the court already decided in granting Verizon leave to file
25
the FASC. See GTE Mobilnet, 2021 WL 308605, at *6 (“the court rejects BRN’s futility argument
26
based on the statute of limitations.”). Its position is contrary to the Ninth Circuit’s holding in
27
Security Insurance, where the Ninth Circuit permitted a supplemental pleading filed after the
1 expiration of the applicable statute of limitations to relate back to the original complaint. 338 F.2d
2 || at449. BRN argues that the Ninth Circuit’s holding in Security Insurance should be limited to the
3 facts of that case. Mot. 17-20. The court declines to so hold.
4 C. Claim for Costs and Disbursements
5 Finally, BRN moves to dismiss the FASC’s request “[f]or any order awarding Verizon
6 || Wireless the costs and disbursements incurred in connection with this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
7 Section 1920[.]” FASC, Prayer for Relief J 6. It cites City of Rancho Palos Verdes, Cal. v.
8 || Abrams, 544 U.S. 113, 122-23 (2005), in which the Supreme Court held that the remedies
9 || available under the TCA do not include attorneys’ fees and costs. Mot. 25. BRN’s argument
10 || appears to be that Verizon’s request for “costs and disbursements incurred in connection with this
11 action” amounts to an improper request for attorneys’ fees and costs under the TCA. BRN’s
12 || argument ignores the portion of the request citing 28 U.S.C. § 1920, which lists the six categories
13 of costs that may be taxed, none of which include attorneys’ fees. In other words, the FASC does
5 14 || not improperly request relief beyond that authorized by 28 U.S.C. § 1920. BRN’s motion to
8 15 dismiss this portion of the prayer for relief is denied.
16 || IV. CONCLUSION
17 For the foregoing reasons, BRN’s motion to dismiss the FASC is denied. Within 14 days
Zz 18 of the date of this order, Berkeley and BRN shall file a response to the FASC and Berkeley shall
19 || file the administrative record. Verizon’s motion for summary judgment and/or the parties’ cross
20 || motions for summary judgment shall be governed by the schedule set forth in the court’s order at
21 || Docket No. 39. KE DISTRIG>
20 y □□
IT IS SO ORDERED ey □
23 .
Seas ORDERED
24 || Dated: September 28, 2021 x0 3
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25 Ly, 5 Zz,
26 Neat Sree Mops fe Jud ae
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27 LOS LY
28 VORTRICLS