Brian Heron, Plaintiff-appellant, v. James P. Reape; James P. Reape P.c., a Professionalcorporation, Defendants-appellees, 87 F.3d 1319 (9th Cir. 1996)

MEMORANDUM^** 

Brian Heron appeals pro se the district court's dismissal of his diversity action against James P. Reape and James P. Reape, P.C. (collectively "Reape"). Heron contends that the district court erred by dismissing his negligence, fraud, conversion and negligent misrepresentation claims with prejudice and dismissing his breach of contract claim for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we vacate and remand.

We review de novo a dismissal for failure to state a claim pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b) (6). Stone v. Travelers Corp., 58 F.3d 434, 436-37 (9th Cir. 1995). Review is limited to the contents of the complaint. Argabright v. United States, 35 F.3d 472, 474 (9th Cir. 1994). If matters outside the complaint are submitted, the motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b) (6) is treated as one for summary judgment. Jacobsen v. AEG Capital Corp., 50 F.3d 1493, 1496 (9th Cir. 1995).

When a Rule 12(b) (6) motion is converted into one for summary judgment, the district court must sufficiently inform the nonmoving party of that fact and afford the nonmoving party a reasonable opportunity to present all pertinent material. Garaux v. Pulley, 739 F.2d 437, 438 (9th Cir. 1984). Furthermore, when the nonmoving party is pro se, the district court must adhere strictly to the notice requirements of Rule 56(c). Id. at 439-40 (citations omitted).

Here, the district court dismissed Heron's negligence, fraud, and conversion claims for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. It is apparent from the record, however, that in ruling on the motion to dismiss, the district court considered correspondence between Heron and Reape which Reape had attached to his reply papers in the motion to dismiss.¹  Thus, the district court treated the motion to dismiss as a motion for summary judgment. See Jacobsen, 50 F.3d at 1496. Because Heron was proceeding pro se, the district court erred when it failed to notify Heron that the motion to dismiss was being treated as a motion for summary judgment and offer him the opportunity to submit relevant material in opposition to the summary judgment. See Garaux, 739 F.2d at 438-40.

Because we are vacating the dismissal of the negligence, fraud and conversion claims with prejudice, we also vacate the district court's dismissal of the action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.

VACATED AND REMANDED.