Conclusory and speculative testimony in affidavits or moving papers is insufficient to raise genuine issues of material fact to defeat summary judgment.
A plaintiff filed an antitrust suit alleging that defendants conspired to monopolize the telephone directory market and restrained trade through various anticompetitive acts. The defendants moved for summary judgment, arguing the alleged conduct was purely intrastate and lacked a sufficient nexus to interstate commerce to fall under the Sherman Act. The court applies the rule that a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction may attack the allegations of the complaint or serve as a speaking motion attacking the existence of jurisdiction in fact. Because the undisputed facts established the business was local and did not substantially affect interstate commerce, the court granted summary judgment for the defendants.
At page 733 Distinguishing jurisdictional attacks from merits issues263 citing cases“a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction may either attack the allegations of the complaint or may be made as a 'speaking motion' attacking the existence of subject matter jurisdiction in fact.”
- Stasi v. Inmediata Health Grp. Corp., 501 F. Supp. 3d 898 (S.D. Cal. 2020).published([N]o 19 presumptive truthfulness attaches to plaintiff’s allegations, and the existence of disputed 20 material facts will not preclude the trial court from evaluating for itself the merits of 21 jurisdictional claims.)
- Biagro W. Sales, Inc. v. Helena Chem. Co., 160 F. Supp. 2d 1136 (E.D. Cal. 2001).published ([N]o presumptive truthfulness attaches to plaintiffs allegations, and the existence of disputed material facts will not preclude the trial court from evaluating for itself the merits of jurisdictional claims.)
- George W. v. United States Dep't of Educ., 149 F. Supp. 2d 1195 (E.D. Cal. 2000).published (no presumptive truthfulness attaches to plaintiffs allegations, and the existence of disputed material facts will not preclude the trial court 'from evaluating for itself the merits of jurisdictional claims)
- Love, No. 2:23-cv-02149 (D. Nev. Dec. 29, 2025).Co., Inc. v. General Tel. & Electronics Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 733 (9th 25 26 4 The Director’s decision to reopen a claim, or deny a request to do so, is completely discretionary.
- Saltzman v. United States Dep't of the Interior, No. 2:25-cv-00223 (D. Ariz. Oct. 7, 2025).“Where the jurisdictional 4 issue is separable from the merits of the case, the [court] may consider the evidence 5 presented with respect to the jurisdictional issue and rule on that issue, resolving factual 6 disputes…”
- Smith v. McDowell, No. 2:25-cv-01441 (D. Ariz. Sept. 24, 2025).“Where the jurisdictional 20 issue is separable from the merits of the case, the [court] may consider the evidence 21 presented with respect to the jurisdictional issue and rule on that issue, resolving factual 22 disput…”
- 505 SFD, LLC v. Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp., No. 3:24-cv-01751 (N.D. Cal. July 25, 2025).Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 733 (9th Cir. 1979); Safe Air for 3 Everyone v. Meyer, 373 F.3d 1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 2004) (“A Rule 12(b)(1) jurisdictional attack may 4 be facial or factual.”).
- Lussier v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., No. 3:24-cv-05492 (W.D. Wash. June 2, 2025).Id. at 1121–22 (first citing Safe Air, 373 F.3d at 1039–40; then citing Augustine v. 21 United States, 704 F.2d 1074, 1077 (9th Cir. 1983); and then citing Thornhill, 594 F.2d at 733). 22 Article III, they are properly raised in a motion t…
- Marquez Rivas v. Kern Cnty. Hosp. Auth., No. 1:24-cv-00859 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 22, 2025).(Doc. 12 at 6, citing Complaint at 4 ¶ 11.) In these circumstances, however, no 13 presumptive truthfulness applies to Plaintiffs’ allegations.6 Thornhill, 594 F.2d at 733.
- (PC) Kauth v. Manuel, No. 1:23-cv-01731 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 20, 2025). “[n]o presumptive truthfulness attaches to plaintiff’s 26 allegations”
Show 197 more citing cases
- Ferrari Fin. Servs., Inc. v. Murapa, No. 2:24-cv-01640 (D. Nev. Mar. 19, 2025).Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 733 (9th Cir. 1979).
- Caremark LLC v. Allied Health Servs. Inc., No. 2:23-cv-01994 (D. Ariz. Sept. 19, 2024).“Where the jurisdictional 8 issue is separable from the merits of the case, the [court] may consider the evidence 9 presented with respect to the jurisdictional issue and rule on that issue, resolving factual 10 disputes…”
- Baker Ranches, Inc. v. Haaland, No. 3:21-cv-00150 (D. Nev. Aug. 23, 2024).Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 733 (9th Cir. 1979) 25 (noting that the court may consider evidence presented in a factual dispute).
- (PC) Roberts v. Newsom, No. 1:21-cv-00506 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 12, 2024).“[n]o presumptive truthfulness attaches to plaintiff’s 5 allegations”
- White Cloud Ranch LLC v. United States, No. 4:21-cv-00110 (D. Idaho May 20, 2024).(In a factual challenge, “no presumptive truthfulness attaches to plaintiff’s allegations, and the existence of disputed material facts will not preclude the trial court from evaluating for itself the merits of jurisdict…)
- (PC) Tri v. Gutierrez, No. 1:22-cv-00836, 2024 WL 1801392 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 25, 2024). “[n]o presumptive truthfulness attaches to plaintiff’s 10 allegations”
- Ahmed v. Jaddou, No. 3:23-cv-04259 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 5, 2024).Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 733 (9th Cir. 1979); Safe 20 Air for Everyone v. Meyer, 373 F.3d 1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 2004).
- Graham v. Sunnova Energy Int'l, Inc., No. 1:22-cv-00622 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 28, 2024).Tel. & Electronics 4 Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 733 (9th Cir. 1979) (citing Land v. Dollar, 330 U.S. 731, 735 (1947)).
- Quinalty v. FocusIT LLC, No. 2:23-cv-00207, 2024 WL 342454 (D. Ariz. Jan. 30, 2024).“Where the jurisdictional 3 issue is separable from the merits of the case, the [court] may consider the evidence 4 presented with respect to the jurisdictional issue and rule on that issue, resolving factual 5 disputes…”
- (PC) Barrett v. Messer, No. 1:20-cv-01313 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 29, 2023).Thornhill Publ'g Co., 594 F.2d at 733. 12 Rule 12(b)(6) 13 A motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) “tests the legal sufficiency of a claim.” Navarro 14 v. Block, 250 F.3d 729, 732 (9th Cir. 2001).
- Cassey v. Vets. Admin. Med. Ctr., No. 2:23-cv-01503 (W.D. Wash. Dec. 1, 2023).Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 733 (9th Cir. 1979). 4 The United States is correct that it is immune from suit unless it consents to be 5 sued.
- Souther v. Nez Perce Tribe Jud. Servs., No. 3:23-cv-00246 (D. Idaho Nov. 29, 2023).Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 733 (9th Cir. 1979).
- Morris v. Melling, No. 4:23-cv-05108 (E.D. Wash. Oct. 17, 2023).Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 733 (9th Cir. 1979). 26 Subject matter jurisdiction is conferred on federal courts either through 27 diversity jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332 or through federal question 28 jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.…
- Abatti v. Imperial Irrigation Dist., No. 3:22-cv-01323 (S.D. Cal. Sept. 13, 2023).Generally, “if the existence of jurisdiction turns on disputed factual issues, the 19 district court may resolve those factual disputes itself.” Id. at 1121–22 (first citing Safe 20 Air for Everyone, 373 F.3d at 1039–40; then citing August…
- Reid v. Salomon Smith Barney Inc., No. 2:23-cv-00674 (D. Ariz. Sept. 13, 2023).Thornhill, 17 594 F.2d at 733.
- Garza v. Woods, No. 2:22-cv-01310, 2023 WL 5608414 (D. Ariz. Aug. 30, 2023).“Where the jurisdictional issue is separable from the merits of the case, the [court] 4 may consider the evidence presented with respect to the jurisdictional issue and rule on that 5 issue, resolving factual disputes if…”
- (PS) Hedrington v. David Grant Med. Ctr., No. 2:23-cv-00801 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 18, 2023). Thornhill Publ’g Co., 594 F.2d at 733.
- Williams v. DDR Media, LLC, No. 3:22-cv-03789, 2023 WL 5352896 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 18, 2023).Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 733 (9th Cir. 1979); Safe 27 Air for Everyone v. Meyer, 373 F.3d 1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 2004).
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- Aupuni O Hawaii v. Trump, No. 1:19-cv-00597 (D. Haw. May 29, 2020).
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- Navajo Health Found. - Sage Mem'l Hosp., Inc. v. Razaghi Dev. Co., No. 2:19-cv-00329 (D. Nev. Mar. 15, 2021).
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- My Daily Choice, Inc. v. Jackson, No. 2:20-cv-02237 (D. Nev. Aug. 6, 2021).
- My Daily Choice, Inc. v. Donnell, No. 2:20-cv-02225 (D. Nev. Aug. 6, 2021).
- My Daily Choice, Inc. v. Butler, No. 2:20-cv-02178 (D. Nev. Aug. 6, 2021).
- My Daily Choice, Inc. v. Lambert, No. 2:20-cv-02228 (D. Nev. Aug. 6, 2021).
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- Kinkaid v. United States, No. 3:19-cv-05867 (W.D. Wash. May 28, 2020).
- Spice v. Internal Revenue Serv., No. 3:20-cv-05005 (W.D. Wash. June 15, 2020).
- Brower v. United States, No. 3:20-cv-05315 (W.D. Wash. July 24, 2020).
- Anderson v. Meneses, No. 3:19-cv-05574 (W.D. Wash. Sept. 30, 2020).
- Gordon v. United States, No. 2:20-cv-00980 (W.D. Wash. Nov. 4, 2020).
- Ruhmshottel v. United States, No. 3:20-cv-05425 (W.D. Wash. Apr. 21, 2021).
- Lang v. Strange, No. 3:21-cv-05286 (W.D. Wash. Jan. 19, 2022).
- Barton v. Serve All Help All Inc, No. 3:21-cv-05338 (W.D. Wash. Sept. 7, 2022).
- Doscher v. Timberland Reg'l Library, No. 3:22-cv-05340 (W.D. Wash. Sept. 28, 2022).
- Disability Rights Washington v. Meneses, No. 3:22-cv-05651 (W.D. Wash. Nov. 1, 2022).
- Disability Rights Washington v. Meneses, No. 3:22-cv-05651 (W.D. Wash. Dec. 15, 2022).
- J.W. ex rel. J.E.W. v. Fresno Unified Sch. Dist., 570 F. Supp. 2d 1212 (E.D. Cal. 2008).published
- Donell v. Braun, 546 F. Supp. 2d 1013 (D. Nev. 2008).published
- Comm. for Immigrant Rights v. Cnty. of Sonoma, 644 F. Supp. 2d 1177 (N.D. Cal. 2009).published
- Whalen v. State of Ariz., 962 F. Supp. 1218 (D. Ariz. 1997).published
- Barapind v. Reno, 72 F. Supp. 2d 1132 (E.D. Cal. 1999).published
- Lorenzo v. United States, 719 F. Supp. 2d 1208 (S.D. Cal. 2010).published
- Kinlichee v. United States, 929 F. Supp. 2d 951 (D. Ariz. 2013).published
- Sarei v. Rio Tinto PLC., 221 F. Supp. 2d 1116 (C.D. Cal. 2002).published“A motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction may either attack the allegations of the complaint or may be made as a ‘speaking motion’ attacking the existence of subject matter jurisdiction in fact...”
At page 738 Insufficiency of conclusory testimony to defeat summary judgment273 citing casesConclusory, speculative 10 testimony in affidavits and moving papers is insufficient to raise genuine disputes of fact 11 and defeat summary judgment.
- Appel v. Boston Nat'l Title Agency, LLC, No. 3:18-cv-00873 (S.D. Cal. Sept. 17, 2021).(Conclusory, speculative 10 testimony in affidavits and moving papers is insufficient to raise genuine disputes of fact 11 and defeat summary judgment.)
- Sample, No. 3:23-cv-00428 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 16, 2026).However, conclusory and speculative 16 testimony does not raise genuine issues of fact and is insufficient to defeat summary judgment. 17 See Thornhill Publ’g Co., Inc. v. GTE Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 738 (9th Cir. 1979). 18 DISCUSSION 19 I.
- Parker, No. 3:24-cv-02821 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 23, 2025).Thornhill Publ’g Co., 10 Inc. v. GTE Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 738 (9th Cir. 1979).
- OpenAI, Inc. v. Open Artificial Intelligence, Inc., 791 F. Supp. 3d 1106 (N.D. Cal. 2025).publishedThornhill Publ’g Co., Inc. v. GTE Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 738 (9th Cir. 1979). 12 Because of the “intensely factual nature of trademark disputes,” summary judgment is 13 generally disfavored in trademark cases and should be granted sparingly.
- Saxton v. Cnty. of Sonoma, No. 3:21-cv-09499 (N.D. Cal. June 17, 2025).Thornhill Publ’g Co., Inc. v. GTE Corp., 9 594 F.2d 730, 738 (9th Cir. 1979).
- McCaffrey v. Repub. Servs., Inc., No. 3:23-cv-06224 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 31, 2025).Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 738 (9th Cir. 1979).
- Williams v. DDR Media, LLC, 757 F. Supp. 3d 989 (N.D. Cal. 2024).publishedCorp., 594 F.2d 730, 738 (9th Cir. 1979).
- Eteghaei v. Cnty. of Alameda, No. 4:22-cv-04298 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 16, 2024).Tel. & Electronics 18 Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 738 (9th Cir. 1979). 19 In deciding a motion for summary judgment, a court must view the evidence in the light 20 most favorable to the nonmoving party and draw all justifiable inferences in its f…
- Roblox Corp. v. WowWee Grp. Ltd., No. 3:22-cv-04476, 2024 WL 4057418 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 3, 2024).Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 738 (9th Cir. 1979). 24 25 DISCUSSION 26 I.
- Lotte Global Logistics Co. v. One Way Only Trans Inc., No. 2:23-cv-03558 (C.D. Cal. Aug. 19, 2024).Villiarimo, 7 281 F.3d at 1061 ; Thornhill Publ’g, 594 F.2d at 738.
Show 188 more citing cases
- Ciria v. City & Cnty. of San Francisco, No. 4:22-cv-07510 (N.D. Cal. May 21, 2024).Tel. & Electronics 18 Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 738 (9th Cir. 1979). 19 In deciding a motion for summary judgment, a court must view the evidence in the light 20 most favorable to the nonmoving party and draw all justifiable inferences in its f…
- Avery v. Arreola, No. 3:22-cv-08940 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 23, 2024).Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 738 (9th Cir. 1979).
- Bell v. Lee, No. 3:13-cv-05820 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 11, 2024).Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 738 (9th Cir. 1979).
- Zheng v. Mayorkas, No. 4:23-cv-02707, 2024 WL 130157 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 11, 2024).Tel. & Electronics 25 Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 738 (9th Cir. 1979). 26 In deciding a motion for summary judgment, a court must view the evidence in the light 27 most favorable to the nonmoving party and draw all justifiable inferences in its f…
- Morgan v. Rohr, Inc., No. 3:20-cv-00574 (S.D. Cal. Dec. 20, 2023).Cal. Dec. 15, 2017) (citing Thornhill Publ’g Co., Inc. v. GTE Corp., 18 594 F.2d 730, 738 (9th Cir. 1979)). 19 DISCUSSION 20 Plaintiffs move for summary judgment on the meal period claims asserting that (1) 21 Defendants had an obligation…
- Allen v. Regents of the Univ. of California, No. 4:21-cv-03856 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 6, 2023).Tel. & Electronics 16 Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 738 (9th Cir. 1979). 17 In deciding a motion for summary judgment, a court must view the evidence in the light 18 most favorable to the nonmoving party and draw all justifiable inferences in its f…
- Nguyen v. Columbia River People's Util. Dist., No. 3:21-cv-00977 (D. Or. Oct. 10, 2023).Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 738 (9th Cir. 1979) (citation omitted).
- Sauln v. PODS Enter., LLC, No. 2:22-cv-00497 (D. Nev. Sept. 5, 2023).Co., Inc. v. GTE Corp., 18 594 F.2d 730, 738 (9th Cir.1979)). 19 IV.
- Melissa Dalton v. Pepsi Americas, 440 F. App'x 594 (9th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- Soremekun v. Thrifty Payless, Inc., 509 F.3d 978 (9th Cir. 2007).published
- Heffelfinger v. Elec. Data Sys. Corp., 580 F. Supp. 2d 933 (C.D. Cal. 2008).published
- Atl. Recording Corp. v. Howell, 554 F. Supp. 2d 976 (D. Ariz. 2008).published
- Daghlian v. DeVry Univ., Inc., 582 F. Supp. 2d 1231 (C.D. Cal. 2008).published
- In re Advanced Packaging & Prods. Co., 426 B.R. 806 (C.D. Cal. 2010).published
- In re Tft-Lcd (Flat Panel) Antitrust Litig., 822 F. Supp. 2d 953 (N.D. Cal. 2011).published
- Dietz Int'l Pub. Adjusters of California, Inc. v. Evanston Ins., 796 F. Supp. 2d 1197 (C.D. Cal. 2011).published
- Estrella v. Freedom Fin. Network, LLC, 778 F. Supp. 2d 1041 (N.D. Cal. 2011).published
- Hill v. Opus Corp., 464 B.R. 361 (C.D. Cal. 2011).published
- Media Queue, LLC v. Netflix, Inc., 672 F. Supp. 2d 1022 (N.D. Cal. 2009).published
- Montwillo v. Tull, 632 F. Supp. 2d 917 (N.D. Cal. 2008).published
- Milton H. Greene Archives, Inc. v. CMG Worldwide, Inc., 568 F. Supp. 2d 1152 (C.D. Cal. 2008).published
- Est. of Kalahasthi v. United States, 630 F. Supp. 2d 1120 (C.D. Cal. 2008).published
- Rodden v. Jefferson Pilot Fin. Ins., 591 F. Supp. 2d 1113 (N.D. Cal. 2008).published
- AMBAT v. City & Cnty. of San Francisco, 693 F. Supp. 2d 1130 (N.D. Cal. 2010).published
- Teknowledge Corp. v. Cellco P'ship, 626 F. Supp. 2d 1027 (N.D. Cal. 2009).published
- Pelayo v. City of Downey, 570 F. Supp. 2d 1183 (C.D. Cal. 2008).published
- Miller v. Yamhill Cnty., 620 F. Supp. 2d 1241 (D. Or. 2009).published
- United States v. Union Pac. R.R., 565 F. Supp. 2d 1136 (E.D. Cal. 2008).published
- Ctr. for Biological Diversity v. U.S. Bureau of Land Mgmt., 746 F. Supp. 2d 1055 (N.D. Cal. 2009).published
- Rombeiro v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of Am., 761 F. Supp. 2d 862 (N.D. Cal. 2010).published
- United States v. Real Prop. in Santa Paula, Cal., 763 F. Supp. 2d 1175 (C.D. Cal. 2011).published
- Fed. Trade Comm'n v. Medlab, Inc., 615 F. Supp. 2d 1068 (N.D. Cal. 2009).published
- Pengilly Masonry, Inc. v. Aspen Ins. UK Ltd., 674 F. Supp. 2d 1150 (E.D. Cal. 2009).published
- Jordan v. Paul Fin., LLC, 644 F. Supp. 2d 1156 (N.D. Cal. 2009).published
- Multifamily Captive Grp., LLC v. Assurance Risk Managers, Inc., 629 F. Supp. 2d 1135 (E.D. Cal. 2009).published
- Cavanaugh v. S. California Permanente Med. Grp., Inc., 583 F. Supp. 2d 1109 (C.D. Cal. 2008).published
- Newmont USA Ltd v. Am. Home Assurance Co., 676 F. Supp. 2d 1146 (E.D. Wash. 2009).published
- Levi Strauss & Co. v. Esprit US Distrib. Ltd., 588 F. Supp. 2d 1076 (N.D. Cal. 2008).published
- McGranahan v. Ins. Corp. of New York, 544 F. Supp. 2d 1052 (E.D. Cal. 2008).published
- Harbison v. Am. Motorists Ins., 636 F. Supp. 2d 1030 (E.D. Cal. 2009).published
- Whitlock v. Pepsi Americas, 681 F. Supp. 2d 1116 (N.D. Cal. 2010).published
- Rand v. Am. Nat'l Ins., 717 F. Supp. 2d 948 (N.D. Cal. 2010).published
- Chao v. Westside Drywall, Inc., 709 F. Supp. 2d 1037 (D. Or. 2010).published
- Butler v. City of Eugene, 707 F. Supp. 2d 1100 (D. Or. 2010).published
- Porch v. Masterfoods, USA, Inc., 685 F. Supp. 2d 1058 (C.D. Cal. 2008).published
- Ariosa Diagnostics, Inc. v. Sequenom, Inc., 19 F. Supp. 3d 938 (N.D. Cal. 2013).published
- Arizona Green Party v. Bennett, 20 F. Supp. 3d 740 (D. Ariz. 2014).published
- Medtronic Minimed Inc. v. Animas Corp., 21 F. Supp. 3d 1060 (C.D. Cal. 2014).published
- United States v. Boyce, 38 F. Supp. 3d 1135 (C.D. Cal. 2014).published
- Kyles v. Baker, 72 F. Supp. 3d 1021 (N.D. Cal. 2014).published
- Auto. Indus. Pension Trust Fund v. Tractor Equip. Sales, Inc., 73 F. Supp. 3d 1173 (N.D. Cal. 2014).published
- Chang v. Biosuccess Biotech Co., 76 F. Supp. 3d 1022 (C.D. Cal. 2014).published
- Carpenters Pension Trust Fund v. Walker, 78 F. Supp. 3d 1035 (N.D. Cal. 2015).published
- Grigoryan v. Experian Info. Solutions, Inc., 84 F. Supp. 3d 1044 (C.D. Cal. 2014).published
- Ridgeway v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 107 F. Supp. 3d 1044 (N.D. Cal. 2015).published
- California River Watch v. Fluor Corp., 119 F. Supp. 3d 1108 (N.D. Cal. 2015).published
- Tuan Anh Le v. Bank of New York Mellon, 152 F. Supp. 3d 1200 (N.D. Cal. 2015).published
- Oman v. Delta Air Lines, Inc., 153 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (N.D. Cal. 2015).published
- McCann v. Camico Mut. Ins., 161 F. Supp. 3d 858 (N.D. Cal. 2016).published
- Flintkote Co. v. Aviva PLC, 177 F. Supp. 3d 1165 (N.D. Cal. 2016).published
- Fed. Trade Comm'n v. Lake, 181 F. Supp. 3d 692 (C.D. Cal. 2016).published
- Cleveland v. Groceryworks.com, LLC, 200 F. Supp. 3d 924 (N.D. Cal. 2016).published
- Swiss Re Int'l SE v. Comac Investments, Inc., 212 F. Supp. 3d 797 (N.D. Cal. 2016).published
- Elsayed v. Maserati North Am., Inc., 215 F. Supp. 3d 949 (C.D. Cal. 2016).published
- Hartford Cas. Ins. Co. v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co., 220 F. Supp. 3d 1008 (N.D. Cal. 2016).published
- Smith v. Blue Shield of California Life & Health Ins. Co., 228 F. Supp. 3d 1056 (C.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Moersch v. Zahedi, 228 F. Supp. 3d 1079 (C.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Greer v. City of Hayward, 229 F. Supp. 3d 1091 (N.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Oman v. Delta Air Lines, Inc., 230 F. Supp. 3d 986 (N.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Hoopa Valley Tribe v. Nat'l Marine Fisheries Serv., 230 F. Supp. 3d 1106 (N.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Yurok Tribe v. United States Bureau of Reclamation, 231 F. Supp. 3d 450 (N.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Phigenix, Inc. v. Genentech Inc., 238 F. Supp. 3d 1177 (N.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Bowerman v. Field Asset Servs., Inc., 242 F. Supp. 3d 910 (N.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Westport Ins. Corp. v. California Cas. Mgmt. Co., 249 F. Supp. 3d 1164 (N.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Sazerac Co. v. Fetzer Vineyards, Inc., 251 F. Supp. 3d 1288 (N.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Tokio Marine Speciality Ins. Co. v. Thompson Brooks, Inc., 252 F. Supp. 3d 753 (N.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Castro v. State Farm Gen. Ins. Co., 256 F. Supp. 3d 1048 (N.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Sec. & Exch. Comm'n v. Liu, 262 F. Supp. 3d 957 (C.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Tekoh v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, 270 F. Supp. 3d 1163 (C.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Ginger Root Off. Assocs., LLC v. Farmer, 426 B.R. 806 (C.D. Cal. 2010).published
- Bank of Am., N.A. v. Cd-04, Inc. (In re Owner Mgmt. Serv., LLC Tr. Corps), 530 B.R. 711 (Bankr. C.D. Cal. 2015).published
- Betz v. Trainer Wortham & Co., 829 F. Supp. 2d 860 (N.D. Cal. 2011).published
- Carlson v. Century Sur. Co., 832 F. Supp. 2d 1086 (N.D. Cal. 2011).published
- Dollar Tree Stores Inc. v. Toyama Partners LLC, 875 F. Supp. 2d 1058 (N.D. Cal. 2012).published
- Pixion, Inc. v. Citrix Sys., Inc., 887 F. Supp. 2d 881 (N.D. Cal. 2012).published
- Whitlock v. Pepsi Americas, 681 F. Supp. 2d 1123 (N.D. Cal. 2010).published
- Leatherbury v. C & H Sugar Co., 911 F. Supp. 2d 872 (N.D. Cal. 2012).published
- In re Toyota Motor Corp., 915 F. Supp. 2d 1151 (C.D. Cal. 2013).published
- In re Conseco Life Ins., 920 F. Supp. 2d 1050 (N.D. Cal. 2013).published
- Messick v. Novartis Pharm. Corp., 924 F. Supp. 2d 1099 (N.D. Cal. 2013).published
- Willits v. City of Los Angeles, 925 F. Supp. 2d 1089 (C.D. Cal. 2013).published
- B-K Lighting, Inc. v. Vision3 Lighting, 930 F. Supp. 2d 1102 (C.D. Cal. 2013).published
- Day v. Sears Holdings Corp., 930 F. Supp. 2d 1146 (C.D. Cal. 2013).published
- Graebner v. James, 963 F. Supp. 2d 938 (N.D. Cal. 2013).published
- Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. v. Santana, 964 F. Supp. 2d 1067 (N.D. Cal. 2013).published
- United States ex rel. Ruhe v. Masimo Corp., 977 F. Supp. 2d 981 (C.D. Cal. 2013).published
- Donahoe v. Arpaio, 986 F. Supp. 2d 1091 (D. Ariz. 2013).published
- Polnicky v. Liberty Life Assurance Co., 999 F. Supp. 2d 1144 (N.D. Cal. 2013).published
- Thompson Metal Fab, Inc. v. United States Dep't of Transp., 289 F.R.D. 637 (D. Or. 2013).published
- Centeno v. Am. Liberty Ins. Co., No. 2:18-cv-01059, 2019 WL 568926 (D. Ariz. Oct. 1, 2019).
- Stonehocker v. Kindred Healthcare Operating, LLC, No. 4:19-cv-02494 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 19, 2019).
- Collins v. Davis, No. 5:17-cv-06976 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 18, 2019).
- Simmons v. Mischel, No. 5:18-cv-02193 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 27, 2019).
- Sanger v. Ahn, No. 3:18-cv-07204 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 15, 2019).
- Abel v. Oceanic Arcata, LP, No. 3:17-cv-03734 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 12, 2019).
- Spingola v. BMW of North Am., LLC, No. 3:18-cv-00528 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 15, 2019).
- Steinle v. United States, No. 3:16-cv-02859, 2020 WL 60204 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 6, 2020).
- Shaw v. United States, 436 F. Supp. 3d 1315 (N.D. Cal. 2020).published
- Steward v. Cnty. of Santa Clara, No. 3:18-cv-04119 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 2, 2020).
- Simmons v. Mischel, No. 5:18-cv-02193 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 3, 2020).
- California Capital Ins. Co. v. Repub. Underwriters Ins. Co., No. 3:19-cv-02141 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 27, 2020).
- Smith v. Golden State Warriors, LLC, No. 3:18-cv-06794 (N.D. Cal. May 26, 2020).
- Rogers v. Fed. Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, No. 3:19-cv-01978 (N.D. Cal. May 26, 2020).
- Celinda Vazquez v. Joes Mkt., No. 3:18-cv-07817 (N.D. Cal. July 29, 2020).
- Chrimar Sys., Inc. v. Ruckus Wireless Inc., No. 3:16-cv-00186, 2020 WL 4431787 (N.D. Cal. July 31, 2020).
- Webcor-Obayashi Jt. Venture v. Zurich Am. Ins. Co., 476 F. Supp. 3d 987 (N.D. Cal. 2020).published
- Ocampo v. HeiTech Servs., Inc., No. 4:19-cv-04176 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 16, 2020).
- Am. Alt. Ins. Corp. v. Warner, No. 4:19-cv-04628 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 22, 2020).
- Carlson v. Clapper, No. 5:18-cv-07195-VKD (N.D. Cal. Jan. 28, 2021).
- Davis v. Zurich Am. Ins. Co., No. 3:19-cv-04397 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 3, 2021).
- Cobarrubia v. Edwards, No. 4:19-cv-07899 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 25, 2021).
- Holland v. City of San Francisco, No. 3:19-cv-02545 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 24, 2021).
- Arteaga v. City of Oakley, No. 3:19-cv-05725 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 13, 2021).
- Horn v. Safeway Inc., No. 3:19-cv-02488-JCS (N.D. Cal. May 6, 2021).
- Travelers Prop. Cas. Co. of Am. v. 127 Bayo Vista Condo. Ass'n- Oakland, No. 3:19-cv-04697 (N.D. Cal. May 28, 2021).
- United States v. Wolff, No. 3:20-cv-03315 (N.D. Cal. July 5, 2021).
- Dowling v. Starr, No. 3:19-cv-05777 (N.D. Cal. July 8, 2021).
- AirWair Int'l Ltd. v. Pull & Bear Espana SA, No. 3:19-cv-07641 (N.D. Cal. July 12, 2021).
- Harrison v. Kernan, No. 1:16-cv-07103-RMI (N.D. Cal. Sept. 21, 2021).
- E.G. v. Castro Valley Unified Sch. Dist., No. 3:19-cv-06691-JCS (N.D. Cal. Sept. 23, 2021).
- Dudgeon v. Sonoma, No. 3:19-cv-05615 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 18, 2021).
- Richards v. Dep't of Bldg. Inspection of The City & Cnty. of San Francisco, No. 3:20-cv-01242 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 19, 2021).
- Gordon v. Pacchetti, No. 3:20-cv-03910 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 22, 2021).
- Carr v. Internal Revenue Serv., No. 3:20-cv-00744 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 22, 2021).
- Bell v. Williams, No. 3:18-cv-01245 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 21, 2021).
- Cole v. Sierra Pac. Mortg. Co., No. 3:18-cv-01692 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 15, 2021).
- Pascal v. Arms, No. 3:19-cv-02559 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 14, 2021).
- Wiley v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of Am., No. 3:19-cv-02756 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 21, 2021).
- Parducci v. AMCO Ins. Co., No. 3:18-cv-07162 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 14, 2021).
- Young v. Chao, No. 3:19-cv-01411 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 25, 2022).
- Kelee Williams v. Robert Half Int'l, Inc., No. 4:20-cv-03989 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 8, 2022).
- Pak v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., No. 3:21-cv-05032 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 10, 2022).
- Webcor-Obayashi Jt. Venture v. Zurich Am. Ins. Co., No. 3:19-cv-07799 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 15, 2022).
- Thryv, Inc. v. Int'l Bhd. of Elec. Workers, Local 1269, No. 3:21-cv-04280 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 28, 2022).
- Rael v. Pantoja, No. 1:20-cv-01932 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 3, 2022).
- Contour IP Holding, LLC v. GoPro, Inc., No. 3:17-cv-04738 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 4, 2022).
- Starr Indem. & Liab. Co. v. Amguard Ins. Co., No. 3:20-cv-00959 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 15, 2022).
- Borges v. Cnty. of Mendocino, 598 F. Supp. 3d 846 (N.D. Cal. 2022).published
- Silver v. BA Sports Nutrition, LLC, No. 3:20-cv-00633 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 29, 2022).
- Valdovinos v. Cushman & Wakefield U.S., Inc., No. 3:21-cv-01924 (N.D. Cal. May 10, 2022).
- Chamberlin v. Hartog, Baer & Hand, APC, No. 3:19-cv-08243 (N.D. Cal. May 12, 2022).
- Anderson v. Contra Costa Cnty., No. 3:20-cv-03647 (N.D. Cal. May 12, 2022).
- Regents of the Univ. of California v. LTI Flexible Prods., Inc., No. 3:20-cv-08686 (N.D. Cal. May 18, 2022).
- Gomez v. Trinitas Cellars, LLC, No. 3:21-cv-09006 (N.D. Cal. June 17, 2022).
- Hall v. Cultural Care, Inc., No. 3:21-cv-00926 (N.D. Cal. July 22, 2022).
- Rushing v. Williams-Sonoma, Inc., No. 3:16-cv-01421 (N.D. Cal. July 20, 2022).
- Pak v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., No. 3:21-cv-05032 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 19, 2022).
- Filho v. Chinatown Cmty. Dev. Ctr., Inc., No. 3:21-cv-05664 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 19, 2022).
- Shiheiber v. Hernandez, No. 3:21-cv-00609 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 18, 2022).
- Paychex Advance LLC v. Deploy HR, Inc., No. 3:21-cv-04685 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 2, 2022).
- Jain v. Jaddou, No. 5:21-cv-03115, 2023 WL 2769094 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 31, 2023).
- Richter v. Ausmus, No. 3:19-cv-08300-WHO (N.D. Cal. Apr. 6, 2023).
- Foster Farms, LLC v. Everest Nat'l Ins. Co., 670 F. Supp. 3d 953 (N.D. Cal. 2023).published
- Successor Agency to The Former Emeryville Redevelopment Agency & The City of Emeryville v. Swagelok Co., No. 3:17-cv-00308 (N.D. Cal. June 1, 2023).
- McCalla v. Nord, No. 4:22-cv-00675 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 4, 2023).
- Peterson v. Sutter Med. Found., No. 3:21-cv-04908 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 6, 2023).
At page 734 Jurisdiction and merits entanglement in motions to dismiss8 citing cases“when a statute provides the basis for both the subject matter jurisdiction of the federal court and the plaintiffs' substantive claim for relief, a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction rather than for failure to state a claim is proper only when the allegations of the complaint…”
- Morris v. Hotel Riviera, Inc., 704 F.2d 1113 (9th Cir. 1983).published
- Alexis Holyweek Sarei Paul E. Nerau Thomas Tamausi Phillip Miriori Gregory Kopa Methodius Nesiko Aloysius Moses Rapheal Niniku Gabriel Tareasi Linus Takinu, Leo Wuis Michael Akope Benedict Pisi Thomas Kobuko John Tamuasi Norman Mouvo John Osani Ben Korus Namira Kawona Joanne Bosco John Pigolo Magdalene Pigolo, Individually & on Behalf of Themselves & All Others Similarly Situated v. Rio Tinto, PLC Rio Tinto Ltd., Alexis Holyweek Sarei Paul E. Nerau Thomas Tamausi Phillip Miriori Gregory Kopa Methodius Nesiko Aloysius Moses Rapheal Niniku Gabriel Tareasi Linus Takinu, Leo Wuis Michael Akope Benedict Pisi Thomas Kobuko John Tamuasi Norman Mouvo John Osani Ben Korus Namira Kawona Joanne Bosco John Pigolo Magdalene Pigolo, Individually & on Behalf of Themselves & All Others Similarly Situated v. Rio Tinto, PLC Rio Tinto Ltd., 487 F.3d 1193 (9th Cir. 2007).published
- Murtaugh v. New York, 810 F. Supp. 2d 446 (N.D.N.Y. 2011).published
- Sarei v. Rio Tinto, PLC, 487 F.3d 1193 (9th Cir. 2007).published
- Berkadia Real Est. Advisors LLC v. Wadlund, No. 4:22-cv-00049 (D. Ariz. Aug. 9, 2022).
- Johnson v. Mantena LLC, No. 5:19-cv-06468, 2020 WL 1531355 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 31, 2020).
- Johnson v. JKLM Props., L.L.C., No. 5:20-cv-01078, 2021 WL 796274 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 2, 2021).
At page 735 Distinguishing jurisdictional and substantive issues under the Sherman Act6 citing casesthe 21 jurisdictional question . . . is whether defendants’ conduct had a sufficient relationship to 22 interstate commerce . . . [while] the substantive issue . . . is whether defendants 1 participated in anti-competitive conduct
- Hawkins v. United States, No. 2:16-cv-00498 (W.D. Wash. Dec. 19, 2024).(the 21 jurisdictional question . . . is whether defendants’ conduct had a sufficient relationship to 22 interstate commerce . . . [while] the substantive issue . . . is whether defendants 1 participated in anti-competi…)
- Belyea, No. 3:20-cv-01693 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 22, 2025).Corp., 18 594 F.2d 730, 735 (9th Cir. 1979) (citation omitted); see also Bowen v. Energizer Holdings, Inc., 19 118 F.4th 1134, 1143 (9th Cir. 2024) (holding “when jurisdictional issues are ‘intertwined with an 20 element of the merits of t…
- Sun Microsystems, Inc. v. Hynix Semiconductor Inc., 608 F. Supp. 2d 1166 (N.D. Cal. 2009).published
- Timberlane Lumber Co. v. Bank of Am. Nat'l Trust & Sav. Ass'n, 749 F.2d 1378 (9th Cir. 1984).published
- Abadjian v. Gulf Oil Corp., 602 F. Supp. 874 (C.D. Cal. 1984).published
- U.S. Bancorp v. Ike, 171 F. Supp. 2d 1122 (D. Nev. 2001).published
At page 737 Defining the scope of interstate commerce jurisdiction4 citing cases“In Copp Paving we held that “the production of asphalt for use in interstate highways rendered the producers ‘instrumentalities’ of interstate commerce and placed them ‘in’ that commerce as a matter of law.” 487 F.2d at 204.”
- Constr. Aggregate Transp., Inc. v. Florida Rock Indus., Inc., 710 F.2d 752 (11th Cir. 1983).published
- Bartleys Town & Country Shops, Inc. v. Dillingham Corp., 530 F. Supp. 499 (D. Haw. 1982).published
- Aron v. Michigan Health Care Corp., 600 F. Supp. 483 (D. Nev. 1984).published
Other citing cases
- Stovall v. Align Tech., Inc., No. 5:18-cv-07540 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 28, 2022).
v.
GENERAL TELEPHONE & ELECTRONICS CORPORATION, General Telephone Company of the Northwest, Inc., and General Telephone Directory Company, corporations
Plaintiff-appellant Thornhill Publishing Company, Inc. (“Thornhill”), brought this antitrust suit against defendant-appellee General Telephone & Electronics Corporation (“GTE”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries, General Telephone Company of the Northwest, Inc. (“Northwest”), and General Telephone Directory Company (“Directory”), alleging violations of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act and Section 7 of the Clayton Act. Thornhill, a publisher and distributor of telephone directories, alleged that appellees combined ánd conspired to unreasonably restrain and to monopolize trade in the publication and sale of telephone directories and in the sale of advertising space and linage in telephone directories. Thornhill claimed that appellees refused to sell, lease, or otherwise make available to Thornhill the names, addresses, and[*732] phone numbers of Northwest’s telephone customers. The complaint also charged that appellees made false representations concerning appellant’s business, confiscated appellant’s telephone directories, and threatened certain financial institutions with withdrawal of patronage or litigation if they continued doing business with Thornhill. Finally, Thornhill alleged that as part of this combination and conspiracy appellees instituted a lawsuit against Thornhill. In that lawsuit, filed in the Western District of Washington in 1970, Northwest obtained a judgment against Thornhill for infringement of Northwest’s copyright on certain of its telephone directories and was awarded injunctive relief and damages. Thornhill claims that that lawsuit and appellees’ other alleged activities constitute violations of Sections 1 ai\d 2 of the Sherman Act. Thornhill also contends that GTE’s acquisition of Directory, prior to 1970, had the effect of eliminating competition among those seeking to acquire the names, addresses and telephone numbers of customers of GTE and Northwest, since GTE allegedly agreed with Directory not to disclose that information. Thornhill therefore claims that the acquisition violated Section 7 of the Clayton Act.
Appellees moved for summary judgment under Rule 56 on two grounds. First, appellees argued that Thornhill’s antitrust claims were barred by principles of res judicata because Thornhill should have raised them as compulsory counterclaims in the prior copyright infringement suit. Second, they contended that the acts complained of were outside the jurisdictional reach of the Sherman Act, as Thornhill’s telephone directory business is not in and does not substantially affect interstate commerce. The district court ruled in favor of appellees on both grounds and dismissed the suit. This appeal followed. We affirm the district court’s ruling on the interstate commerce issue and therefore do not reach the compulsory counterclaim issue.
I. PROCEDURAL POSTURE OF THE CASE
Appellees moved for summary judgment under Rule 56, asserting that “the alleged conduct claimed to have violated the antitrust laws affected (if at all) purely intrastate activities and is thus beyond the jurisdictional reach of the Sherman Act,” and asked that the “motion for summary judgment be granted dismissing the complaint in all respects.” The trial court granted the motion and dismissed the complaint with prejudice.[1]
The Sherman Act prohibits every contract, combination or conspiracy “in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States,” 15 U.S.C. § 1, and also prohibits monopolizing “any part of the trade or commerce among the several States.” 15 U.S.C. § 2. The requirement that the restraint of trade be a restraint on interstate commerce is generally referred to as a prerequisite for federal jurisdiction. Many courts have dismissed Sherman Act claims for lack of subject matter jurisdiction where the required nexus with interstate commerce was lacking.[2] Other courts have considered the interstate commerce issue in the context of motions going to the merits of the case — either motions for dismissal for failure to state a claim for relief[*733] under Rule 12(b)(6),[3] or motions for summary judgment under Rule 56.[4] In many cases the defendants move for dismissal under both Rule 12(b)(1) and Rule 12(b)(6).[5]
In this case appellees moved for summary judgment under Rule 56, thus seeking a judgment on the merits,[6] yet their motion was phrased in terms of an attack on the court’s jurisdiction. In ruling on appellee’s motion, the trial court apparently applied the standards applicable to a motion for summary judgment.
We affirm the trial court’s ruling. We find that the material facts relating to the interstate commerce issue are not in dispute and that the undisputed facts establish that the nexus with interstate commerce required by the Sherman Act is not present in this ease.
Since the material facts are not in dispute, we need not decide whether the trial court was required to apply summary judgment standards in ruling on appellees’ motion or whether the court could properly have considered this a purely jurisdictional issue and therefore could have treated the motion as a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1). A motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction may either attack the allegations of the complaint or may be made as a “speaking motion” attacking the existence of subject matter jurisdiction in fact. Land v. Dollar, 330 U.S. 731, 735 & n.4, 67 S.Ct. 1009, 91 L.Ed. 1209 (1947); Mortensen v. First Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n, 549 F.2d 884, 890-892 (3 Cir. 1977); Exchange Nat’l Bank v. Touche Ross & Co., 544 F.2d 1126, 1130-1131 (2 Cir. 1976). Where the jurisdictional issue is separable from the merits of the case, the judge may consider the evidence presented with respect to the jurisdictional issue and rule on that issue, resolving factual disputes if necessary. Berardinelli v. Castle & Cooke, Inc., 587 F.2d 37 (9 Cir. 1978); Mortensen v. First Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n, supra, 549 F.2d at 891; Sinclair v. Spatocco, 452 F.2d 1213 (9 Cir. 1971), cert. denied, 409 U.S. 886, 93 S.Ct. 102, 34 L.Ed.2d 142 (1972); Appelt v. Whitty, 286 F.2d 135 (7 Cir. 1961). The standards applicable to a Rule 12(b)(1) speaking motion differ greatly from the standards for ruling on a motion for summary judgment. Faced with a factual attack on subject matter jurisdiction,
“the trial court may proceed as it never could under Rule 12(b)(6) or Fed.R.Civ.P. 56. * * * [N]o presumptive truthfulness attaches to plaintiff’s allegations, and the existence of disputed material facts will not preclude the trial court from evaluating for itself the merits of jurisdictional claims. Moreover, the plaintiff will have the burden of proof that jurisdiction does in fact exist.” Mortensen v. First Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n, supra, 549 F.2d at 891 (footnote omitted).
If the interstate commerce requirement of the Sherman Act is an element of the substantive offense as well as a jurisdictional requirement, a motion directed to the interstate commerce issue should be accorded Rule 56 treatment, for a ruling on that issue would be a ruling on the merits. Although a court considering a motion relat[*734]ing to jurisdiction as well as a motion on the merits generally would decide the jurisdictional issue first,[7] if the attack on jurisdiction requires the court to consider the merits of the case, the court has jurisdiction to proceed to a decision on the merits. Land v. Dollar, supra, 330 U.S. at 739, 67 S.Ct. 1009. See also Romero v. International Terminal Operating Co., 358 U.S. 354, 359, 79 S.Ct. 468, 3 L.Ed.2d 368 (1958); Bell v. Hood, 327 U.S. 678, 682-683, 66 S.Ct. 773, 90 L.Ed. 939 (1946).
In Timberlane Lumber Co. v. Bank of America, 549 F.2d 597, 602 (9 Cir. 1976), we concluded that in a Sherman Act case a motion challenging the existence of a sufficient relationship with foreign commerce should be accorded Rule 56 treatment rather than being treated as a speaking motion under Rule 12(b)(1), because the existence of a sufficient relationship with foreign commerce relates to the merits of the claim as well as to subject matter jurisdiction. This conclusion was based on the Supreme Court’s statement in Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Trustees of Rex Hospital, 425 U.S. 738, 742 n.1, 96 S.Ct. 1848, 48 L.Ed.2d 338 (1976), that the interstate commerce issue is identical whether a dismissal is sought under Rule 12(b)(1) or under Rule 12(b)(6). We reasoned that since the interstate commerce element went to the merits of the claim, a dismissal should be based on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion or a summary judgment motion, rather than a Rule 12(b)(1) motion:
Although the Supreme Court in Hospital Building did not elaborate, it seems settled that, when a statute provides the basis for both the subject matter jurisdiction of the federal court and the plaintiffs’ substantive claim for relief, a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction rather than for failure to state a claim is proper only when the allegations of the complaint are frivolous. O’Neill v. Maytag, 339 F.2d 764, 766 & n.3 (2d Cir. 1964). See Bell v. Hood, 327 U.S. 678, 682-83, 66 S.Ct. 773, 90 L.Ed. 939 (1946).” Timberlane Lumber Co. v. Bank of America, supra, 549 F.2d at 602.
Timberlane is consistent with language in several Supreme Court cases indicating that the interstate commerce requirement is tied to the merits as well as to the jurisdictional aspects of an antitrust case and therefore warrants Rule 56 treatment. In Gulf Oil Corp. v. Copp Paving Co., 419 U.S. 186, 203 n.19, 95 S.Ct. 392, 402, 42 L.Ed.2d 378 (1974), for example, the Supreme Court, discussing the interstate commerce requirement of the Clayton Act, stated:
“[Ajssuming that the interstate commerce requirements of §§ 3 and 7 are properly deemed issues of subject-matter jurisdiction, rather than simply necessary elements of the federal claims, * * * there is * * * an identity between the ‘jurisdictional’ issues and certain issues on the merits, and hence, under Land v. Dollar, 330 U.S. 731, 67 S.Ct. 1009, 91 L.Ed. 1209 (1947), no objection to reserving the jurisdictional issues until a hearing on the merits. By the same token, however, there is no objection to use, in appropriate cases, of summary judgment procedure to determine whether there is a genuine issue of material fact as to the interstate commerce elements.”
Moreover, the Supreme Court has consistently considered the interstate commerce issue in terms of whether the complaint alleged a sufficient nexus with interstate commerce to state a claim for relief,[8] thus addressing the merits of plaintiff’s claim.
Although Timberlane apparently viewed the interstate commerce requirement as a substantive element of a Sherman Act violation, this Court has recently relied on Ninth Circuit opinions preceding Timber-lane that distinguish the jurisdictional interstate commerce issue from the substan[*735]tive issues. We stated in Berardinelli v. Castle & Cooke, Inc., supra, 587 F.2d at 38:
“ ‘The jurisdictional issue under the Sherman Act is distinct from the substantive issue of whether a given defendant’s conduct was of the kind prohibited by the Act,’ Gough v. Rossmoor Corp., 487 F.2d 373, 375 (9th Cir. 1973). Specifically, ‘the jurisdictional question ... is whether defendants’ conduct had a sufficient relationship to interstate commerce to be subject to regulation by Congress [while] the substantive issue . is whether defendants participated in anti-competitive conduct of the kind encompassed within the statutory terms “restraint of trade,” “monopolize,” or “attempt to monopolize.” ’ Id. at 376.”
In Berardinelli we held that the trial court could properly resolve factual disputes related to the interstate commerce issue in ruling on a Rule 12(b)(1) speaking motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.[9] Our holding, however, was based on appellant’s concession that the jurisdictional issue and the substantive issues were separable. We acknowledged that where the jurisdictional issue and the substantive issues are so intermeshed that the question of jurisdiction is dependent on decision of the merits,[10] a party is entitled to have the jurisdictional issue submitted to the jury, rather than having the court resolve factual issues. Berardinelli, supra, 587 F.2d at 39.
In the present case we need not decide the many complex procedural issues that arise in the context of motions concerning the interstate commerce requirement of the Sherman Act. Under the standards governing a - motion for summary judgment under Rule 56, the trial court’s ruling on the interstate commerce issue should be affirmed. Thus, it is unnecessary to consider whether the less rigorous standards applicable to a Rule 12(b)(1) speaking motion could properly have been applied in this case.
II. SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE ISSUE
A. Appellees’ Motion
Appellees moved for summary judgment contending that no genuine issues of material fact existed with respect to the issue of interstate commerce and that on the basis of the undisputed facts the motion should be granted. The district court ruled in favor of appellees on the ground that the acts complained of were entirely intrastate and clearly did not have a substantial effect on interstate commerce. We affirm the district court’s ruling.
Appellees based their motion for summary judgment on the deposition testimony of Mr. Thornhill, president and sole stockholder of the appellant corporation, and on appellant’s answers to interrogatories. That testimony fully supports appellees’ contention that the product market at issue in this case is a purely local market and that appellant’s business was solely intrastate.
[*736] Mr. Thornhill testified at his deposition that the appellant corporation, incorporated in Olympia, Washington, in April 1969, has published and distributed two local telephone directories — one for South Snohomish-North King County, Washington, issued in May 1970, and the other for Whidbey Island, Washington, issued in January 1971. These directories, contained listings of Washington residents and businesses.[11] The listings were compiled within the State of Washington. Listings were obtained from a Seattle mail order company, from listings of landowners at a local courthouse, and through copying Directory’s telephone directories.[12]
Since the telephone directories were distributed free of charge, appellant’s revenues were generated through the sale of advertising space and linage. Mr. Thornhill testified at his deposition that the company solicited advertisements exclusively from local businesses and professional concerns. Appellant’s directories were printed within the State of Washington and virtually all the supplies were purchased within the state. The directories were then distributed within the State of Washington in the communities they served.
These undisputed facts all support the conclusion that the alleged restraints of commerce were directed at a wholly intrastate market and that the alleged restraints did not have a substantial effect on interstate commerce. Appellant has not contested the facts set forth above, but has advanced a number of possible bases for a finding that the required nexus with interstate commerce exists in this case. However, appellant’s factual and legal assertions are inadequate to avoid summary judgment on the interstate commerce issue.
B. The Interstate Commerce Requirement of the Sherman Act
In enacting the Sherman Act, Congress intended to exercise its power under the Commerce Clause to the maximum possible extent. United States v. South-Eastern Underwriters Ass’n, 322 U.S. 533, 558, 64 S.Ct. 1162, 88 L.Ed. 1440 (1944); Rasmussen v. American Dairy Ass’n, 472 F.2d 517, 521 (9 Cir. 1972), cert. denied, 412 U.S. 950, 93 S.Ct. 3014, 37 L.Ed.2d 1003 (1973). The scope of the Act must be determined by the courts on a case-by-case basis:
“When Congress itself determines that particular conduct adversely affects interstate commerce, the courts defer to Congress’ judgment so long as there is ‘a rational basis for finding a chosen regulatory scheme necessary to the protection of commerce ..’ Katzenbach v. McClung, 379 U.S. 294, 303-304, 85 S.Ct. 377, 13 L.Ed.2d 290 (1964). However, under the Sherman Act, ‘Congress has . left it to the courts to determine whether the intrastate activities have the prohibited effect on [interstate] commerce . ..’ United States v. Darby, 312 U.S. 100, 120, 61 S.Ct. 451, 460, 85 L.Ed. 609 (1941). While the underlying standard remains the same, the judicial function is not that of reviewing a decision made by Congress, but rather that of determining in the first instance whether the facts permit the exercise of power under the commerce clause.” Rasmussen, supra, 472 F.2d at 524 (footnote omitted).
Accord, Gulf Oil Corp. v. Copp Paving Co., supra, 419 U.S. at 197 n.12, 95 S.Ct. 392.
The test for determining whether an alleged restraint of trade is sufficiently related to interstate commerce to come within the scope of the Sherman Act was set forth in our opinion in Las Vegas Merchant Plumbers Ass’n v. United States, 210 F.2d 732, 739 n.3 (9 Cir. 1954), cert. denied, 348 U.S. 817, 75 S.Ct. 29, 99 L.Ed. 645 (1954):
“A case under the antitrust laws, so far as the interstate commerce element is concerned may rest on one or both of two theories:
[*737] “(1) That the acts complained of, occurred within the flow of interstate commerce. This is generally referred to as the ‘in commerce’ theory.
“(2) That the acts complained of, occurred wholly on the state or local level, in intrastate commerce, but substantially affected interstate commerce.”
Accord, e. g., Rasmussen, supra, 472 F.2d at 526; Sun Valley Disposal Co. v. Silver State Disposal Co., 420 F.2d 341, 343 (9 Cir. 1969). Furthermore, we held in Page v. Work, 290 F.2d 323, 330 (9 Cir. 1961):
“The test of jurisdiction is not that the acts complained of affect a business engaged in interstate commerce, but that the conduct complained of affects the interstate commerce of such business.”
C. The “In Commerce Test”
In this case, undisputed facts establish that appellant is not engaged in interstate commerce and that its local telephone directories, produced and distributed within the state of Washington, were not a part of the flow of interstate commerce. Appellant’s argument that the directories must be regarded as “in commerce” is based on our decision in Copp Paving Co. v. Gulf Oil Co., supra, 487 F.2d 202, cert. denied on the Sherman Act issue, 415 U.S. 988, 94 S.Ct. 1586, 39 L.Ed.2d 885 (1974). In Copp Paving we held that
“the production of asphalt for use in interstate highways rendered the producers ‘instrumentalities’ of interstate commerce and placed them ‘in’ that commerce as a matter of law.” 487 F.2d at 204.
Appellant asserts that the rationale employed in Copp Paving is applicable here because a user of one of appellant’s local telephone directories would consult the directory before making a telephone call, and the telephone network is a instrumentality of interstate commerce. Unlike the plaintiff in Copp Paving, however, Thornhill does not actually produce instrumentalities of interstate commerce. Copp Paving would be far more analogous if Thornhill manufactured telephones or telephone equipment rather than a directory designed to facilitate local communication. Furthermore, we are reluctant to extend the reach of the Copp Paving decision in light of the Supreme Court’s disposition of the Clayton Act interstate commerce question presented in that case. Although the Supreme Court denied certiorari on the Sherman Act interstate commerce issue, and thus did not review our holding that the producers of asphaltic concrete were “in commerce” for purposes of the Sherman Act, the Court did reject our “in commerce” theory in reviewing the Clayton Act claim. Gulf Oil Corp. v. Copp Paving Co., 419 U.S. 186, 95 S.Ct. 392, 42 L.Ed.2d 378 (1974).
We find that Copp Paving Co. is distinguishable from the instant case and that the facts presented here would not support a jury finding that the alleged restraints were directed at a product in the flow of interstate commerce.[13]
D. The “Affecting Commerce” Test
Alternatively, appellant contends that the appellees’ alleged acts substantially affected interstate commerce. Even a wholly local business restraint is covered by the Sherman Act if the restraint substantially and adversely affects interstate commerce. Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Trustees of Rex Hospital, supra, 425 U.S. at 743, 96[*738] S.Ct. 1848. Appellant’s complaint alleges in conclusory terms that appellant engages in interstate commerce and that appellees have monopolized and unreasonably restrained interstate commerce. However, the facts set forth in the deposition of Mr. Thornhill, submitted in support of appellees’ motion for summary judgment, refute these allegations of the complaint and have not been adequately countered by appellant. Rule 56(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides in pertinent part:
“When a motion for summary judgment is made and supported as provided in this rule, an adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of his pleading, but his response, by affidavits or as otherwise provided in this rule, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. If he does not so respond, summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against him.”
Appellant has not met the burden imposed by Rule 56(e). In an attempt to avoid summary judgment, appellant submitted conclusory and speculative affidavits that fail to set forth specific facts in support of appellant’s “substantial effect on interstate commerce” theory. Appellant relies on an affidavit submitted by Mr. Thornhill, in which Mr. Thornhill states that although appellant’s directories carried local advertising, “it was common knowledge throughout the directory industry that local dealers in many instances received advertising subsidies from national manufacturers.” However, Mr. Thornhill failed to set forth any specific facts within his personal knowledge in support of this assertion. As the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has stated:
“If, indeed, evidence was available to underpin [the] conclusory statement, Rule 56 required [the party opposing summary judgment] to come forward with it.” Donnelly v. Guion, 467 F.2d 290, 293 (2d Cir. 1972).
Mr. Thornhill’s affidavit also states that the Seattle mail order firm that supplied listings for the directories “to the best of my knowledge” is engaged in interstate business. Appellant argues that this interstate business could have been affected by the appellees’ acts. No specific facts are presented in support of this theory, however. Mr. Thornhill also alleges that appellant purchased some manila folders and format sheets out of state, yet he stated at his deposition that he did not have “the remotest idea” of the cost of these supplies. His deposition testimony establishes that most of the company’s supplies were purchased in the state of Washington.[14] Finally, appellant argues that because of appellees’ alleged harassment, many local businessmen were dissuaded from purchasing advertising in appellant’s directories and that appellant therefore was forced to seek additional local financing, one condition of the financing being that appellant print one of the directories locally rather than out of state, as previously planned. ‘It is extremely doubtful that this sequence of events, if proved, could be shown to have produced a substantial and adverse effect on interstate commerce. At any rate, appellant failed to substantiate this theory with specific facts. Appellant was unable to name any of the allegedly harassed businessmen and did not specify the dollar amount of the interstate commerce purportedly involved.[15]
Appellant clearly has not met the burden of opposing the factual showing made by appellees in support of their motion for[*739] summary judgment. Appellees, relying on Mr. Thornhill’s deposition testimony, established the purely local nature of appellant’s business. Appellant failed to rebut appellees’ showing that no genuine issue of material fact concerning the interstate commerce requirement remained for trial.
On these facts, summary judgment for appellees was proper, as the facts are insufficient to support a jury finding that the activities complained of were either in the flow of interstate commerce or substantially affected interstate commerce. Although the Constitutional reach of the Commerce Clause is extremely broad, it is not limitless.
“[Tjhere must be some limit on the intrusiveness of Sherman Act regulation. Since every enterprise, however localized, inevitably has some effect, however remote, on the flow of commerce among the states, some ‘localness,’ ‘remoteness,’ or ‘de minimis’ factor must intervene or federal regulation is boundless.” Rasmussen v. American Dairy Ass’n, supra, 472 F.2d at 526.
The limits are evident in those cases holding that a Sherman Act complaint failed to state a cause of action because the facts alleged did not satisfy the interstate commerce requirement,[16] in those cases in which summary judgment or dismissal for want of jurisdiction has been granted on the issue of interstate commerce,[17] or where a judgment n. o. v. was granted on the ground that there was insufficient evidence to support a jury’s finding that the interstate commerce requirement had been met.[18]
A determination of whether the interstate commerce requirement of the Sherman Act has been met requires an evaluation of the particular facts presented in each case. The cases do not provide easily applicable standards for determining whether the necessary relationship with interstate commerce exists. See Rasmussen, supra, 472 F.2d at 527, n.20. We note, however, that the required nexus with interstate commerce has been found lacking in similar cases involving an intrastate market. In Page v. Work, supra, 290 F.2d 323, for example, we held that the alleged restraint of the sale of legal advertising in Los Angeles County was directed solely at a local market and that the alleged monopoly of this market had no substantial effect on interstate commerce. Similarly, in Yellow Cab Co. v. Cab Employers, Local 881, supra, 457 F.2d 1032, we found that a cab company’s business was almost wholly intrastate and that a motion for summary judgment on the interstate commerce issue had been properly granted, as the company was not “in commerce” and there was no factual basis to support an “affecting commerce” theory.
We find it unnecessary to catalog the facts of each case cited by the parties, as there emerges no “bright line” dividing the cases in which the required nexus with interstate commerce has been found and those in which it has not. In Rasmussen, supra, 472 F.2d at 526, we noted this difficulty yet emphasized that some line must be drawn “or federal regulation is boundless.” To find on the facts presented in this case that the interstate commerce requirement of the Sherman Act has been met would effectively eliminate that requirement from the Act.
Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s grant of summary judgment on the ground that the conduct complained of is beyond the scope of the Sherman Act.
The trial court concluded that the conduct complained of was beyond the jurisdictional reach of the antitrust laws. The court dismissed the entire suit, thus dismissing the Clayton § 7 as well as the Sherman Act claims. In its briefs on appeal, appellant only addressed the Sherman Act ruling, presumably because the jurisdictional reach of the Clayton Act is more limited than that of the Sherman Act. See United States v. American Bldg. Maintenance Industries, 422 U.S. 271, 283, 95 S.Ct. 2150, 45 L.Ed.2d 177 (1975). Our opinion only considers the jurisdictional issue raised by appellant on appeal.
See, e. g., Berardinelli v. Castle & Cooke, Inc., 587 F.2d 37 (9 Cir. 1978); Save Our Cemeteries, Inc. v. Archdiocese of New Orleans, Inc., 568 F.2d 1074 (5 Cir. 1978), U.S. Supreme Court cert. denied,-U.S.-, 99 S.Ct. 120, 58 L.Ed.2d 133 (1978), Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc. v. Greater Des Moines Board of Realtors, 521 F.2d 1343 (8 Cir. 1975); Rosemound Sand & Gravel Co. v. Lambert Sand & Gravel Co., 469 F.2d 416 (5 Cir. 1972).
See, e. g., Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Trustees of Rex Hospital, 425 U.S. 738, 96 S.Ct. 1848, 48 L.Ed.2d 338 (1976); United States v. Employing Plasterers Ass’n, 347 U.S. 186, 74 S.Ct. 452, 456, 98 L.Ed. 618 (1954); Mandeville Farms v. Sugar Co., 334 U.S. 219, 68 S.Ct. 996, 92 L.Ed. 1328 (1948); United States v. Yellow Cab Co., 332 U.S. 218, 67 S.Ct. 1560, 91 L.Ed. 2010 (1947); Dreibus v. Wilson, 529 F.2d 170 (9 Cir. 1975); Lieberthal v. North Country Lanes, Inc., 332 F.2d 269 (2 Cir. 1964).
See, e. g., Yellow Cab Co. v. Cab Employers, Local 881, 457 F.2d 1032 (9 Cir. 1972); Sun Valley Disposal Co. v. Silver State Disposal Co., 420 F.2d 341 (9 Cir. 1969); Page v. Work, 290 F.2d 323 (9 Cir. 1961), cert. denied, 368 U.S. 875, 82 S.Ct. 121, 7 L.Ed.2d 76 (1961). These decisions, however, refer to the summary judgment motions as raising issues of jurisdiction.
See, e. g., Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Trustees of Rex Hospital, 511 F.2d 678, 680 (4 Cir. 1975); Bryan v. Stillwater Board of Realtors, 578 F.2d 1319, 1320 (10 Cir. 1977); Mortensen v. First Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n, 549 F.2d 884, 888 (3 Cir. 1977).
See O'Donnell v. Wien Air Alaska, Inc., 551 F.2d 1141, 1145 n.4 (9 Cir. 1977).
See Mortensen v. First Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n, supra, 549 F.2d at 895 n.22.
See, e. g., Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Trustees of Rex Hospital, supra, 425 U.S. 738, 96 S.Ct. 1848, 48 L.Ed.2d 338; United States v. Employing Plasterers Ass’n, supra, 347 U.S. 186, 74 S.Ct. 452, 456, 98 L.Ed. 618; Mandeville Farms v. Sugar Co., supra, 334 U.S. 219, 68 S.Ct. 996, 92 L.Ed. 1328; United States v. Yellow Cab Co., supra, 332 U.S. 218, 67 S.Ct. 1560, 91 L.Ed. 2010.
But see Washington State Bowling Prop. Ass’n v. Pacific Lanes, Inc., 356 F.2d 371, 379 (9 Cir. 1966), cert. denied, 384 U.S. 963, 86 S.Ct. 1590, 16 L.Ed.2d 674 (1966); Marks Food Corp. v. Barbara Ann Baking Co., 274 F.2d 934, 936 (9 Cir. 1960).
In McBeath v. Inter-American Citizens for Decency Committee, 374 F.2d 359 (5 Cir. 1967), cert. denied, 389 U.S. 896, 88 S.Ct. 216, 19 L.Ed.2d 214 (1967), the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit concluded that the jurisdictional interstate commerce issue was inseparable from the merits of the case and therefore held that the district court had erred in dismissing the case for want of jurisdiction. In Berardinelli, supra, 587 F.2d at 39, we distinguished McBeath, relying on plaintiffs concession that the jurisdictional and substantive issues were not intertwined. Yet if the interstate commerce issue were to be viewed as a substantive element of the offense, the jurisdictional issue would necessarily be tied to the merits of the case.
McBeath was cited approvingly by Justice Douglas in his dissent in Gulf Oil Corp. v. Copp Paving Co., 419 U.S. 186, at 212-214 n.9, 95 S.Ct. 392, 42 L.Ed.2d 378 (1974). The majority agreed with Justice Douglas that there is “an identity between the ‘jurisdictional’ issues and certain issues on the merits,” if in fact the interstate commerce requirements of Clayton §§ 3 and 7 “are properly deemed issues of subject-matter jurisdiction, rather than simply necessary elements of the federal claims.” 419 U.S. at 203 n.19, 95 S.Ct. at 402.
Mr. Thornhill testified at his deposition that “like any directory there could be some Oregon listings or something but 99 percent of it is Washington.”
Mr. Thornhill testified that after “waxing” listings from Directory’s telephone books, his employees called the numbers listed to verify each listing.
Appellant’s primary argument in support of its “in commerce” theory is that the case is analogous to Copp Paving. Appellant also relies on Mr. Thornhill’s affidavit as raising genuine issues of material fact regarding Thornhill’s nexus with interstate commerce. The affidavit is discussed below in connection with the “affecting commerce” theory. Mr. Thornhill’s affidavit was not adequate to establish that genuine issues of fact existed with respect to either the “in commerce” theory or the “affecting commerce” theory.
As discussed below, the affidavit included an assertion that it was “common knowledge” that local businesses often receive advertising subsidies from national manufacturers. Appellant therefore argues that this case is indistinguishable from Greenville Publishing Co. v. Daily Reflector, Inc., 496 F.2d 391 (4 Cir. 1974). In that case, however, the “in commerce” theory was based on the uncontroverted fact that the defendant newspaper did carry national advertising.
Compare Rasmussen v. American Dairy Ass’n, supra, 472 F.2d at 525, where the local product at issue “in economic terms * * * consisted] almost wholly of the ingredients that move in interstate commerce.” The case before us is also distinguishable from Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Trustees of Rex Hospital, supra, 425 U.S. at 741, 96 S.Ct. at 1851, where plaintiffs allegation that it “purchase[d] a substantial portion — up to 80% — of its medicines and supplies from out-of-state sellers” and in a single year had spent $112,000 on such items was considered sufficient to withstand a Rule 12(b)(6) motion.
This is not a case where appellant was not afforded sufficient time for discovery. The motion for summary judgment was made nearly two years after the complaint was filed in this case.
See, e. g., United States v. Yellow Cab Co., supra, 332 U.S. 218, 67 S.Ct. 1560, 91 L.Ed. 2010; Dreibus v. Wilson, supra, 529 F.2d 170; Lieberthal v. North Country Lanes, Inc., supra, 332 F.2d 269.
See cases cited at note 2, supra, and note 4, supra.
See, e. g., Ford Wholesale Co. v. Fibreboard Paper Products Corp., 493 F.2d 1204 (9 Cir. 1974), cert. denied, 419 U.S. 876, 95 S.Ct. 138, 42 L.Ed.2d 115 (1974).