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MUELLER,", "paragraph_id": "para_8" }, { "text": "Plaintiff-Appellant,", "paragraph_id": "para_9" }, { "text": "versus", "paragraph_id": "para_10" }, { "text": "WALMART CORPORATION,", "paragraph_id": "para_11" }, { "text": "BRANDON ZACHARY BURSTON,", "paragraph_id": "para_12" }, { "text": "Defendants-Appellees,", "paragraph_id": "para_13" }, { "text": "JOHN DOE, et al.,", "paragraph_id": "para_14" }, { "text": "Defendants.", "paragraph_id": "para_15" }, { "text": "____________________", "paragraph_id": "para_16" }, { "text": "Appeal from the United States District Court", "paragraph_id": "para_17" }, { "text": "for the Northern District of Georgia", "paragraph_id": "para_18" }, { "text": "D.C. Docket No. 1:21-cv-04273-VMC", "paragraph_id": "para_19" }, { "text": "____________________", "paragraph_id": "para_20" }, { "text": "Before JORDAN, JILL PRYOR, and NEWSOM, Circuit Judges.", "paragraph_id": "para_21" }, { "text": "NEWSOM, Circuit Judge:", "paragraph_id": "para_22" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 1 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_23" }, { "text": "2 Opinion of the Court 23-12854", "paragraph_id": "para_24" }, { "text": "This case principally concerns the rules governing district", "paragraph_id": "para_25" }, { "text": "courts’ exercise of so-called “supplemental jurisdiction.” In partic-", "paragraph_id": "para_26" }, { "text": "ular, we must decide whether and under what circumstances a dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_27" }, { "text": "trict court, having dismissed all federal-law claims in a case before", "paragraph_id": "para_28" }, { "text": "it, may proceed to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over some", "paragraph_id": "para_29" }, { "text": "but not all of the remaining state-law claims.", "paragraph_id": "para_30" }, { "text": "Todd Mueller sued Walmart and one of its employees, al-", "paragraph_id": "para_31" }, { "text": "leging that they violated two federal civil-rights statutes, 42 U.S.C.", "paragraph_id": "para_32" }, { "text": "§§ 1981 and 1982, as well as state law on various grounds—false", "paragraph_id": "para_33" }, { "text": "arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, assault, and bat-", "paragraph_id": "para_34" }, { "text": "tery. The district court (1) found that Mueller had conceded and", "paragraph_id": "para_35" }, { "text": "thus abandoned his §§ 1981 and 1982 claims, and accordingly dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_36" }, { "text": "missed them; (2) exercised supplemental jurisdiction over and", "paragraph_id": "para_37" }, { "text": "granted summary judgment on Mueller’s false-arrest, false-impris-", "paragraph_id": "para_38" }, { "text": "onment, and malicious-prosecution claims; and (3) declined to ex-", "paragraph_id": "para_39" }, { "text": "ercise supplemental jurisdiction over Mueller’s assault and battery", "paragraph_id": "para_40" }, { "text": "claims. On appeal, Mueller contends that the district court abused", "paragraph_id": "para_41" }, { "text": "its discretion in exercising supplemental jurisdiction over only", "paragraph_id": "para_42" }, { "text": "some of his state-law claims, rather than all or none of them, and", "paragraph_id": "para_43" }, { "text": "erred in granting summary judgment on his malicious-prosecution", "paragraph_id": "para_44" }, { "text": "claim.", "paragraph_id": "para_45" }, { "text": "For reasons we will explain, we hold that the district court", "paragraph_id": "para_46" }, { "text": "acted within its broad discretion in exercising supplemental juris-", "paragraph_id": "para_47" }, { "text": "diction over some but not all of the remaining state-law claims. We", "paragraph_id": "para_48" }, { "text": "also conclude, though, that the court should not have rejected", "paragraph_id": "para_49" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 2 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_50" }, { "text": "23-12854 Opinion of the Court 3", "paragraph_id": "para_51" }, { "text": "Mueller’s malicious-prosecution claim at summary judgment. Ac-", "paragraph_id": "para_52" }, { "text": "cordingly, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further", "paragraph_id": "para_53" }, { "text": "proceedings consistent with this opinion.", "paragraph_id": "para_54" }, { "text": "I", "paragraph_id": "para_55" }, { "text": "A", "paragraph_id": "para_56" }, { "text": "While Todd Mueller was shopping at a Walmart in Duluth,", "paragraph_id": "para_57" }, { "text": "Georgia, a store employee, Brandon Burston, suspected him of", "paragraph_id": "para_58" }, { "text": "shoplifting and proceeded to surveil him. After Mueller checked", "paragraph_id": "para_59" }, { "text": "out, Burston and another Walmart associate, Clifton Moore, ap-", "paragraph_id": "para_60" }, { "text": "proached and asked him to join them in an office. The parties dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_61" }, { "text": "pute what happened next. At a minimum, though, we know this", "paragraph_id": "para_62" }, { "text": "much: Mueller turned back into the store and exited through a rear", "paragraph_id": "para_63" }, { "text": "entrance. Moore called the police, and Mueller fled.", "paragraph_id": "para_64" }, { "text": "The police successfully pursued Mueller, tased him, and ar-", "paragraph_id": "para_65" }, { "text": "rested him for obstruction of justice. Burston later submitted to", "paragraph_id": "para_66" }, { "text": "the Magistrate Court of Gwinnett County a sworn arrest-warrant", "paragraph_id": "para_67" }, { "text": "application for theft by shoplifting, which the court promptly is-", "paragraph_id": "para_68" }, { "text": "sued. In the meantime, Mueller pursued his own claims with the", "paragraph_id": "para_69" }, { "text": "police against Burston and Moore for assault. A detective investi-", "paragraph_id": "para_70" }, { "text": "gated Mueller’s statement but couldn’t substantiate it. Accord-", "paragraph_id": "para_71" }, { "text": "ingly, an additional arrest warrant was issued against Mueller for", "paragraph_id": "para_72" }, { "text": "filing a false police report. When Mueller later returned to the", "paragraph_id": "para_73" }, { "text": "same Walmart, police arrested him on the outstanding false-police-", "paragraph_id": "para_74" }, { "text": "report warrant.", "paragraph_id": "para_75" }, { "text": "All told, Mueller faced three charges: (1) obstruction of jus-", "paragraph_id": "para_76" }, { "text": "tice, (2) shoplifting, and (3) filing a false police report. The district", "paragraph_id": "para_77" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 3 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_78" }, { "text": "4 Opinion of the Court 23-12854", "paragraph_id": "para_79" }, { "text": "attorney’s office served Mueller with a Notice of Intent Not to", "paragraph_id": "para_80" }, { "text": "Prosecute with respect to the false-police-report charge. Mueller", "paragraph_id": "para_81" }, { "text": "and the prosecutor negotiated a plea on the obstruction count in", "paragraph_id": "para_82" }, { "text": "return for a one-year probationary sentence, and the prosecutor", "paragraph_id": "para_83" }, { "text": "simultaneously dropped the shoplifting charge.", "paragraph_id": "para_84" }, { "text": "The parties dispute whether and to what extent the obstruc-", "paragraph_id": "para_85" }, { "text": "tion and shoplifting charges and their dispositions are linked—and", "paragraph_id": "para_86" }, { "text": "in particular, whether the latter was dismissed in connection with", "paragraph_id": "para_87" }, { "text": "the plea agreement. Mueller stated in a declaration that he entered", "paragraph_id": "para_88" }, { "text": "the plea “exclusively in exchange for [the probationary] sentencing", "paragraph_id": "para_89" }, { "text": "recommendation,” and that, unrelatedly, “the District Attorney’s", "paragraph_id": "para_90" }, { "text": "Office unilaterally had decided not [to] pursue the [f]elony shoplift-", "paragraph_id": "para_91" }, { "text": "ing case at that time because they were not prepared for trial which", "paragraph_id": "para_92" }, { "text": "was scheduled the same day.” Br. of Appellant at 40 n.2. By con-", "paragraph_id": "para_93" }, { "text": "trast, as proof that the obstruction and shoplifting charges were re-", "paragraph_id": "para_94" }, { "text": "solved as part of a single compromise, Walmart and Burston em-", "paragraph_id": "para_95" }, { "text": "phasize that the two were presented side-by-side in the charging", "paragraph_id": "para_96" }, { "text": "document and that Mueller’s counsel discussed them in tandem at", "paragraph_id": "para_97" }, { "text": "the plea hearing. See Br. of Appellee at 18–21.", "paragraph_id": "para_98" }, { "text": "B", "paragraph_id": "para_99" }, { "text": "Initially proceeding pro se, Mueller sued Walmart and", "paragraph_id": "para_100" }, { "text": "Burston in federal district court, raising federal-law claims under 42", "paragraph_id": "para_101" }, { "text": "U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1982, as well as state-law claims for negligence,", "paragraph_id": "para_102" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 4 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_103" }, { "text": "23-12854 Opinion of the Court 5", "paragraph_id": "para_104" }, { "text": "negligent hiring, false arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prose-", "paragraph_id": "para_105" }, { "text": "cution, assault, and battery.1 Walmart and Burston moved for", "paragraph_id": "para_106" }, { "text": "summary judgment. In response, Mueller conceded and therefore", "paragraph_id": "para_107" }, { "text": "abandoned his only two federal claims, and the district court dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_108" }, { "text": "missed them. The district court also denied Mueller’s motion to", "paragraph_id": "para_109" }, { "text": "amend his operative complaint to substitute a claim under 42", "paragraph_id": "para_110" }, { "text": "U.S.C. § 1983. The court then turned to Mueller’s state-law claims,", "paragraph_id": "para_111" }, { "text": "disposing of them as follows:", "paragraph_id": "para_112" }, { "text": "• Negligence and negligent-hiring: The district court", "paragraph_id": "para_113" }, { "text": "held that Muller had abandoned his negligence-based", "paragraph_id": "para_114" }, { "text": "claims.2 Summ. J. Order at 11–12, Dkt. No. 95.", "paragraph_id": "para_115" }, { "text": "• False-arrest and false-imprisonment: The district court", "paragraph_id": "para_116" }, { "text": "granted summary judgment to Walmart and Burston on", "paragraph_id": "para_117" }, { "text": "the ground that Mueller had been neither detained nor", "paragraph_id": "para_118" }, { "text": "arrested for shoplifting by Walmart employees. Instead,", "paragraph_id": "para_119" }, { "text": "he was arrested for obstruction of justice only after he", "paragraph_id": "para_120" }, { "text": "left the store. Id. at 13–14. That fact foreclosed Mueller’s", "paragraph_id": "para_121" }, { "text": "claims, because, the court observed, Georgia law distin-", "paragraph_id": "para_122" }, { "text": "guishes “cases where a party directly or indirectly urges", "paragraph_id": "para_123" }, { "text": "a law enforcement official to begin criminal proceedings", "paragraph_id": "para_124" }, { "text": "[from] cases where a party merely relays facts to an offi-", "paragraph_id": "para_125" }, { "text": "cial who then makes an independent decision to arrest or", "paragraph_id": "para_126" }, { "text": "1 Mueller initially sued Moore, as well, but the district court dismissed Moore", "paragraph_id": "para_127" }, { "text": "as a party when Mueller failed to serve him after obtaining leave to do so.", "paragraph_id": "para_128" }, { "text": "Mueller doesn’t contest that dismissal on appeal.", "paragraph_id": "para_129" }, { "text": "2 Mueller does not appeal that decision.", "paragraph_id": "para_130" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 5 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_131" }, { "text": "6 Opinion of the Court 23-12854", "paragraph_id": "para_132" }, { "text": "prosecute.” Id. at 14 (quoting Smith v. Walmart Stores E.,", "paragraph_id": "para_133" }, { "text": "LP, 765 S.E.2d 518, 523 (Ga. Ct. App. 2014)).", "paragraph_id": "para_134" }, { "text": "• Malicious prosecution: The district court granted sum-", "paragraph_id": "para_135" }, { "text": "mary judgment to Walmart and Burston on the ground", "paragraph_id": "para_136" }, { "text": "that the shoplifting charge—which underlies Mueller’s", "paragraph_id": "para_137" }, { "text": "malicious-prosecution claim—was dropped in connec-", "paragraph_id": "para_138" }, { "text": "tion with the same plea agreement that covered the ob-", "paragraph_id": "para_139" }, { "text": "struction charge. See id. at 14–19. That fact foreclosed", "paragraph_id": "para_140" }, { "text": "Mueller’s claim because under Georgia law, a malicious-", "paragraph_id": "para_141" }, { "text": "prosecution plaintiff must demonstrate that the underly-", "paragraph_id": "para_142" }, { "text": "ing charge was “terminated favorably” to him, id. at 14–", "paragraph_id": "para_143" }, { "text": "15 (quoting Sheffield v. Futch, 839 S.E.2d 294, 301 (Ga. Ct.", "paragraph_id": "para_144" }, { "text": "App. 2020)), which he can’t do if the charge was resolved", "paragraph_id": "para_145" }, { "text": "as part of a plea or compromise, see id. at 15 (citing Garner", "paragraph_id": "para_146" }, { "text": "v. Heilig-Meyers Furniture Co., 525 S.E.2d 145, 147 (Ga. Ct.", "paragraph_id": "para_147" }, { "text": "App. 1999)).", "paragraph_id": "para_148" }, { "text": "• Assault and battery: The district court declined to exer-", "paragraph_id": "para_149" }, { "text": "cise supplemental jurisdiction and, finding that it had no", "paragraph_id": "para_150" }, { "text": "independent basis for original jurisdiction (e.g., diversity", "paragraph_id": "para_151" }, { "text": "of citizenship), dismissed these claims. Id. at 19–20 (cit-", "paragraph_id": "para_152" }, { "text": "ing 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3)). In so doing, the court noted", "paragraph_id": "para_153" }, { "text": "that the claims were “bitterly dispute[d],” particularly", "paragraph_id": "para_154" }, { "text": "with respect to the credibility of Mueller’s testimony. Id.", "paragraph_id": "para_155" }, { "text": "The upshot: Having dismissed Mueller’s only claims that", "paragraph_id": "para_156" }, { "text": "provided an independent basis for exercising original jurisdiction—", "paragraph_id": "para_157" }, { "text": "the federal-question §§ 1981 and 1982 claims—the district court", "paragraph_id": "para_158" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 6 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_159" }, { "text": "23-12854 Opinion of the Court 7", "paragraph_id": "para_160" }, { "text": "opted to (1) exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Mueller’s false-", "paragraph_id": "para_161" }, { "text": "arrest, false-imprisonment, and malicious-prosecution claims, de-", "paragraph_id": "para_162" }, { "text": "ciding them in Walmart and Burston’s favor, and (2) decline sup-", "paragraph_id": "para_163" }, { "text": "plemental jurisdiction over Mueller’s assault and battery claims.", "paragraph_id": "para_164" }, { "text": "Through appointed counsel, Mueller raises two issues on ap-", "paragraph_id": "para_165" }, { "text": "peal. First, he contends that the district court abused its discretion", "paragraph_id": "para_166" }, { "text": "by exercising supplemental jurisdiction over some of the state-law", "paragraph_id": "para_167" }, { "text": "claims but declining jurisdiction over others. Second, he argues", "paragraph_id": "para_168" }, { "text": "that the district court erred in granting summary judgment on his", "paragraph_id": "para_169" }, { "text": "malicious-prosecution claim.", "paragraph_id": "para_170" }, { "text": "II", "paragraph_id": "para_171" }, { "text": "The most salient question presented is whether, having dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_172" }, { "text": "missed Mueller’s federal claims, the district court abused its discre-", "paragraph_id": "para_173" }, { "text": "tion by exercising jurisdiction over his state law false-arrest, false-", "paragraph_id": "para_174" }, { "text": "imprisonment, and malicious-prosecution claims but not his as-", "paragraph_id": "para_175" }, { "text": "sault or battery claims. Mueller insists that the district court erred", "paragraph_id": "para_176" }, { "text": "for two reasons. First, and more broadly, he contends that absent", "paragraph_id": "para_177" }, { "text": "extenuating circumstances that don’t exist here, a district court per", "paragraph_id": "para_178" }, { "text": "se abuses its discretion when, after dismissing all federal claims, it", "paragraph_id": "para_179" }, { "text": "exercises supplemental jurisdiction over some state-law claims but", "paragraph_id": "para_180" }, { "text": "not others. See Br. of Appellant at 19–22. Second, and more nar-", "paragraph_id": "para_181" }, { "text": "rowly, Mueller contends that the “balance” of the relevant “fac-", "paragraph_id": "para_182" }, { "text": "tors” required the district court to dismiss all the state-law claims—", "paragraph_id": "para_183" }, { "text": "and that, in any event, the court erred by failing to more clearly", "paragraph_id": "para_184" }, { "text": "explain its assessment of those factors. Id. at 17–19. For reasons", "paragraph_id": "para_185" }, { "text": "we’ll get into, we disagree on both scores. Accordingly, we hold", "paragraph_id": "para_186" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 7 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_187" }, { "text": "8 Opinion of the Court 23-12854", "paragraph_id": "para_188" }, { "text": "that the district court did not abuse its discretion by exercising sup-", "paragraph_id": "para_189" }, { "text": "plemental jurisdiction over some but not all of Mueller’s state-law", "paragraph_id": "para_190" }, { "text": "claims.", "paragraph_id": "para_191" }, { "text": "A", "paragraph_id": "para_192" }, { "text": "At the outset, a bit of background—about the governing", "paragraph_id": "para_193" }, { "text": "statutory language and the applicable standard of review.", "paragraph_id": "para_194" }, { "text": "First, the text. The rules governing federal courts’ exercise", "paragraph_id": "para_195" }, { "text": "of “supplemental jurisdiction” are codified in 28 U.S.C. § 1367. For", "paragraph_id": "para_196" }, { "text": "present purposes, two subsections are relevant. Subsection (a)", "paragraph_id": "para_197" }, { "text": "states that", "paragraph_id": "para_198" }, { "text": "[e]xcept as provided in subsections (b) and (c) or as", "paragraph_id": "para_199" }, { "text": "expressly provided otherwise by Federal statute, in", "paragraph_id": "para_200" }, { "text": "any civil action of which the district courts have orig-", "paragraph_id": "para_201" }, { "text": "inal jurisdiction, the district courts shall have supple-", "paragraph_id": "para_202" }, { "text": "mental jurisdiction over all other claims that are so re-", "paragraph_id": "para_203" }, { "text": "lated to claims in the action within such original juris-", "paragraph_id": "para_204" }, { "text": "diction that they form part of the same case or con-", "paragraph_id": "para_205" }, { "text": "troversy . . . .", "paragraph_id": "para_206" }, { "text": "28 U.S.C. § 1367(a). Subsection (c), in turn, provides that a district", "paragraph_id": "para_207" }, { "text": "court “may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over a", "paragraph_id": "para_208" }, { "text": "claim under subsection (a)” in any of four instances, the third of", "paragraph_id": "para_209" }, { "text": "which is particularly pertinent here:", "paragraph_id": "para_210" }, { "text": "(1) the claim raises a novel or complex issue of State", "paragraph_id": "para_211" }, { "text": "law,", "paragraph_id": "para_212" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 8 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_213" }, { "text": "23-12854 Opinion of the Court 9", "paragraph_id": "para_214" }, { "text": "(2) the claim substantially predominates over the", "paragraph_id": "para_215" }, { "text": "claim or claims over which the district court has orig-", "paragraph_id": "para_216" }, { "text": "inal jurisdiction,", "paragraph_id": "para_217" }, { "text": "(3) the district court has dismissed all claims over", "paragraph_id": "para_218" }, { "text": "which it has original jurisdiction, or", "paragraph_id": "para_219" }, { "text": "(4) in exceptional circumstances, there are other com-", "paragraph_id": "para_220" }, { "text": "pelling reasons for declining jurisdiction.", "paragraph_id": "para_221" }, { "text": "Id. § 1367(c).", "paragraph_id": "para_222" }, { "text": "Next, the standard of review. A district court’s decision to", "paragraph_id": "para_223" }, { "text": "exercise or decline supplemental jurisdiction over a state-law claim", "paragraph_id": "para_224" }, { "text": "is reviewed only for abuse of discretion. See Ameritox, Ltd. v. Mil-", "paragraph_id": "para_225" }, { "text": "lennium Lab’ys, Inc., 803 F.3d 518, 532 (11th Cir. 2015) (retaining ju-", "paragraph_id": "para_226" }, { "text": "risdiction); Silas v. Sheriff of Broward Cnty., 55 F.4th 863, 865 (11th", "paragraph_id": "para_227" }, { "text": "Cir. 2022) (declining jurisdiction). “A district court does not abuse", "paragraph_id": "para_228" }, { "text": "its discretion when it has a range of choices and the court’s choice", "paragraph_id": "para_229" }, { "text": "does not constitute a clear error of judgment.” Estate of Amergi ex.", "paragraph_id": "para_230" }, { "text": "rel. Amergi v. Palestinian Auth., 611 F.3d 1350, 1365 (11th Cir. 2010)", "paragraph_id": "para_231" }, { "text": "(quotation omitted).", "paragraph_id": "para_232" }, { "text": "Giving district courts latitude to exercise or decline supple-", "paragraph_id": "para_233" }, { "text": "mental jurisdiction comports with the statutory text, longstanding", "paragraph_id": "para_234" }, { "text": "judicial policy, and common sense. For starters, as just noted,", "paragraph_id": "para_235" }, { "text": "§ 1367(c) provides that a district court “may” decline to exercise", "paragraph_id": "para_236" }, { "text": "supplemental jurisdiction if any of several circumstances obtains.", "paragraph_id": "para_237" }, { "text": "28 U.S.C. § 1367(c). Moreover, long before Congress codified the", "paragraph_id": "para_238" }, { "text": "rules governing supplemental jurisdiction in 1990, the Supreme", "paragraph_id": "para_239" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 9 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_240" }, { "text": "10 Opinion of the Court 23-12854", "paragraph_id": "para_241" }, { "text": "Court had referred to what it then called “pendent jurisdiction” as", "paragraph_id": "para_242" }, { "text": "embodying a “doctrine of discretion” that entailed a balancing of", "paragraph_id": "para_243" }, { "text": "various practical considerations. United Mine Workers of Am. v.", "paragraph_id": "para_244" }, { "text": "Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715, 726 (1966). And finally, there’s this important", "paragraph_id": "para_245" }, { "text": "practical point: While not precisely identical, the “wide discretion”", "paragraph_id": "para_246" }, { "text": "given to a district court to make supplemental-jurisdiction deter-", "paragraph_id": "para_247" }, { "text": "minations, Carnegie-Mellon Univ. v. Cohill, 484 U.S. 343, 353 (1988),", "paragraph_id": "para_248" }, { "text": "superseded by statute on other grounds, Judicial Improvements Act of", "paragraph_id": "para_249" }, { "text": "1990, PL 101-650, 104 Stat. 5089, 5113, as recognized in Royal Canin", "paragraph_id": "para_250" }, { "text": "U.S.A., Inc. v. Wullschleger, 604 U.S. 22, 41 (2025), coheres with the", "paragraph_id": "para_251" }, { "text": "“broad discretion” that a district court “is allowed . . . to manage its", "paragraph_id": "para_252" }, { "text": "own docket,” United States v. McCutcheon, 86 F.3d 187, 190 (11th Cir.", "paragraph_id": "para_253" }, { "text": "1996). In both circumstances, the court must weigh multiple case-", "paragraph_id": "para_254" }, { "text": "specific considerations “with a view toward [the matter’s] efficient", "paragraph_id": "para_255" }, { "text": "and expedient resolution.” Dietz v. Bouldin, 579 U.S. 40, 47 (2016).", "paragraph_id": "para_256" }, { "text": "Bottom line: The applicable abuse-of-discretion standard reflects", "paragraph_id": "para_257" }, { "text": "the indisputable fact that district courts are in the best position to", "paragraph_id": "para_258" }, { "text": "determine how best to proceed with the cases before them.", "paragraph_id": "para_259" }, { "text": "Now, to be sure, a district court’s discretion is neither un-", "paragraph_id": "para_260" }, { "text": "bounded nor unmoored. The Supreme Court has held that in de-", "paragraph_id": "para_261" }, { "text": "ciding whether to exercise or decline supplemental jurisdiction", "paragraph_id": "para_262" }, { "text": "over a state-law claim, the court must account for several relevant", "paragraph_id": "para_263" }, { "text": "considerations—most notably, “judicial economy, convenience,", "paragraph_id": "para_264" }, { "text": "fairness, and comity.” City of Chicago v. Int’l Coll. of Surgeons, 522", "paragraph_id": "para_265" }, { "text": "U.S. 156, 173 (1997) (quoting Cohill, 484 U.S. at 350). And we’ve", "paragraph_id": "para_266" }, { "text": "also said that the “balance of factors” will usually “point toward de-", "paragraph_id": "para_267" }, { "text": "clining to exercise” supplemental jurisdiction “after the federal", "paragraph_id": "para_268" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 10 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_269" }, { "text": "23-12854 Opinion of the Court 11", "paragraph_id": "para_270" }, { "text": "claims that supported its jurisdiction are dismissed.” Silas, 55 F.4th", "paragraph_id": "para_271" }, { "text": "at 866 (quoting Cohill, 484 U.S. at 350 n.7). Importantly, though,", "paragraph_id": "para_272" }, { "text": "that’s not “a mandatory rule to be applied inflexibly in all cases”—", "paragraph_id": "para_273" }, { "text": "just a “recogni[tion]” that the factors may well tilt against jurisdic-", "paragraph_id": "para_274" }, { "text": "tion in that circumstance. Cohill, 484 U.S. at 350 n.7. In all events,", "paragraph_id": "para_275" }, { "text": "district courts retain ample discretion to meet the needs of the cases", "paragraph_id": "para_276" }, { "text": "before them. So to repeat, supplemental jurisdiction is very much", "paragraph_id": "para_277" }, { "text": "a “doctrine of flexibility.” Silas, 55 F.4th at 866 (quoting Ameritox,", "paragraph_id": "para_278" }, { "text": "803 F.3d at 530).", "paragraph_id": "para_279" }, { "text": "B", "paragraph_id": "para_280" }, { "text": "When Mueller abandoned his two federal claims and the dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_281" }, { "text": "trict court dismissed them, the court lost the sole basis for “original", "paragraph_id": "para_282" }, { "text": "jurisdiction” over the case. 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a).3 Faced with seven", "paragraph_id": "para_283" }, { "text": "remaining state-law claims, the district court opted to exercise sup-", "paragraph_id": "para_284" }, { "text": "plemental jurisdiction over several of them but to dismiss others.", "paragraph_id": "para_285" }, { "text": "Mueller argues at the outset that this “split exercise of jurisdiction”", "paragraph_id": "para_286" }, { "text": "was a per se abuse of discretion. Reply Br. of Appellant at 12.4", "paragraph_id": "para_287" }, { "text": "3 As the district court correctly observed, see Summ. J. Order at 20, Dkt. No.", "paragraph_id": "para_288" }, { "text": "95, it couldn’t have exercised diversity jurisdiction over any of the state-law", "paragraph_id": "para_289" }, { "text": "claims because both Mueller and Burston were Georgia citizens. See 28 U.S.C.", "paragraph_id": "para_290" }, { "text": "§ 1332(a)(1); Lincoln Prop. Co. v. Roche, 546 U.S. 81, 89 (2005) (requiring com-", "paragraph_id": "para_291" }, { "text": "plete diversity).", "paragraph_id": "para_292" }, { "text": "4 Mueller acknowledges that there might exist a few carveouts to a no-split", "paragraph_id": "para_293" }, { "text": "rule—an expired statute of limitations, a substantial sunk cost, or a state claim", "paragraph_id": "para_294" }, { "text": "that either falls with a federal claim or is patently frivolous on its face. See Br.", "paragraph_id": "para_295" }, { "text": "of Appellant at 21–22 (citing Wright v. Associated Ins. Cos., 29 F.3d 1244, 1251–", "paragraph_id": "para_296" }, { "text": "52 (7th Cir. 1994)). But he contends that the false-arrest, false-imprisonment,", "paragraph_id": "para_297" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 11 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_298" }, { "text": "12 Opinion of the Court 23-12854", "paragraph_id": "para_299" }, { "text": "We find no basis for so rigid a rule in either statutory text or", "paragraph_id": "para_300" }, { "text": "existing precedent. Quite the opposite. On balance, § 1367’s lan-", "paragraph_id": "para_301" }, { "text": "guage seems to contemplate (if not quite expressly authorize) the", "paragraph_id": "para_302" }, { "text": "very claim-by-claim assessment that the district court here made.", "paragraph_id": "para_303" }, { "text": "Our own precedent confirms that district courts enjoy ample lee-", "paragraph_id": "para_304" }, { "text": "way to make supplemental-jurisdiction determinations. And our", "paragraph_id": "para_305" }, { "text": "sister circuits that have addressed the issue head on have uniformly", "paragraph_id": "para_306" }, { "text": "held that district courts can act on a claim-by-claim basis.", "paragraph_id": "para_307" }, { "text": "First, and most importantly, there’s the text. Notably,", "paragraph_id": "para_308" }, { "text": "§ 1367 uses both singular and plural terminology in ways that we", "paragraph_id": "para_309" }, { "text": "think are telling. As already noted, subsection (a) states that except", "paragraph_id": "para_310" }, { "text": "as provided elsewhere—most significantly here, in subsection (c)—", "paragraph_id": "para_311" }, { "text": "in any case in which a district court has original jurisdiction, it shall", "paragraph_id": "para_312" }, { "text": "have supplemental jurisdiction over “all other claims” (plural) that", "paragraph_id": "para_313" }, { "text": "are so related to the original-jurisdiction claims that “they” (plural)", "paragraph_id": "para_314" }, { "text": "form part of the same Article III case or controversy, and goes on", "paragraph_id": "para_315" }, { "text": "to clarify that such supplemental jurisdiction extends to “claims”", "paragraph_id": "para_316" }, { "text": "(plural) that require the joinder of additional parties. 28 U.S.C.", "paragraph_id": "para_317" }, { "text": "§ 1367(a) (emphasis added). Clearly, therefore, subsection (a) envi-", "paragraph_id": "para_318" }, { "text": "sions that a district court might well have supplemental jurisdiction", "paragraph_id": "para_319" }, { "text": "over multiple “claims.”", "paragraph_id": "para_320" }, { "text": "Subsection (c)’s phrasing—and in particular, its conspicuous", "paragraph_id": "para_321" }, { "text": "use of the singular term “claim” where it matters—strongly indi-", "paragraph_id": "para_322" }, { "text": "and malicious-prosecution claims are sufficiently debatable to survive that", "paragraph_id": "para_323" }, { "text": "they don’t qualify under any of those exceptions. See id. at 25–27.", "paragraph_id": "para_324" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 12 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_325" }, { "text": "23-12854 Opinion of the Court 13", "paragraph_id": "para_326" }, { "text": "cates that, in determining whether to exercise or decline supple-", "paragraph_id": "para_327" }, { "text": "mental jurisdiction, a court may act on a claim-by-claim basis. As", "paragraph_id": "para_328" }, { "text": "already noted, subsection (c) states that the district court may de-", "paragraph_id": "para_329" }, { "text": "cline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over “a claim” (singular)", "paragraph_id": "para_330" }, { "text": "in any of several instances—most notably, (1) where “the claim”", "paragraph_id": "para_331" }, { "text": "(singular) raises a novel state-law issue, (2) where “the claim” (sin-", "paragraph_id": "para_332" }, { "text": "gular) “substantially predominates over the claim or claims over", "paragraph_id": "para_333" }, { "text": "which the district court ha[d] original jurisdiction,” and (3) where", "paragraph_id": "para_334" }, { "text": "the district court has dismissed “all claims” (notably plural, harken-", "paragraph_id": "para_335" }, { "text": "ing back to subsection (a)) over which it had original jurisdiction.", "paragraph_id": "para_336" }, { "text": "Id. § 1367(c).", "paragraph_id": "para_337" }, { "text": "The juxtaposition, we think, is both clear and instructive:", "paragraph_id": "para_338" }, { "text": "Subsection (a) contemplates that a district court may well have sup-", "paragraph_id": "para_339" }, { "text": "plemental jurisdiction over multiple state-law “claims”; subsection", "paragraph_id": "para_340" }, { "text": "(c), in turn, empowers the court to decline to exercise that jurisdic-", "paragraph_id": "para_341" }, { "text": "tion over any individual “claim.”", "paragraph_id": "para_342" }, { "text": "Second, there’s our own precedent. To be sure, we’ve never", "paragraph_id": "para_343" }, { "text": "squarely decided the question whether a district court may “split”", "paragraph_id": "para_344" }, { "text": "(to use Mueller’s term) its supplemental-jurisdiction determina-", "paragraph_id": "para_345" }, { "text": "tion—exercising jurisdiction over some state-law claims while de-", "paragraph_id": "para_346" }, { "text": "clining jurisdiction over others.5 As already noted, though, we", "paragraph_id": "para_347" }, { "text": "5 In one unpublished opinion, we held that the district court “did not abuse its", "paragraph_id": "para_348" }, { "text": "discretion by exercising supplemental jurisdiction over [a plaintiff’s] breach of", "paragraph_id": "para_349" }, { "text": "contract claim but remanding the remaining state law claims.” Browning v.", "paragraph_id": "para_350" }, { "text": "Bay Radiology Associates, No. 23-13842, 2024 WL 3200472, at *4 (11th Cir. June", "paragraph_id": "para_351" }, { "text": "27, 2024).", "paragraph_id": "para_352" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 13 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_353" }, { "text": "14 Opinion of the Court 23-12854", "paragraph_id": "para_354" }, { "text": "have emphasized that supplemental jurisdiction is a “doctrine of", "paragraph_id": "para_355" }, { "text": "flexibility” and that in exercising its discretion over supplemental-", "paragraph_id": "para_356" }, { "text": "jurisdiction matters, the district court must “sensibly accommo-", "paragraph_id": "para_357" }, { "text": "date[] a range of concerns and values.” Silas, 55 F.4th at 866 (quot-", "paragraph_id": "para_358" }, { "text": "ing Ameritox, 803 F.3d at 530). Imposing a rigid rule that requires a", "paragraph_id": "para_359" }, { "text": "district court to deal with state-law claims en masse, as an undiffer-", "paragraph_id": "para_360" }, { "text": "entiated whole, would scuttle that flexibility. Under an all-or-noth-", "paragraph_id": "para_361" }, { "text": "ing approach, a district court, having determined that the balance", "paragraph_id": "para_362" }, { "text": "of factors cut one way with respect to some claims and the other", "paragraph_id": "para_363" }, { "text": "way with respect to others, would then have to embark on one of", "paragraph_id": "para_364" }, { "text": "two undesirable courses: either dismiss claims it thinks it should", "paragraph_id": "para_365" }, { "text": "keep or keep claims it thinks it should dismiss. That’s the opposite", "paragraph_id": "para_366" }, { "text": "of the flexibility we have recognized and promised.6", "paragraph_id": "para_367" }, { "text": "Finally, we note that in rejecting an all-or-nothing approach", "paragraph_id": "para_368" }, { "text": "and permitting district courts to make supplemental-jurisdiction", "paragraph_id": "para_369" }, { "text": "6 Again, to be fair, Mueller’s proposed rule allows for three carveouts that add", "paragraph_id": "para_370" }, { "text": "a bit of nuance. See supra note 4. But those carveouts can hardly be said to", "paragraph_id": "para_371" }, { "text": "confer additional discretion on the district court. If anything, they do the op-", "paragraph_id": "para_372" }, { "text": "posite. By asking us to determine, categorically, whether the district court has", "paragraph_id": "para_373" }, { "text": "already expended considerable resources on an issue or whether a given state-", "paragraph_id": "para_374" }, { "text": "law claim is largely decided by an already-resolved federal-law claim, Mueller", "paragraph_id": "para_375" }, { "text": "would replace a flexible balancing test with a rule-bound framework that per-", "paragraph_id": "para_376" }, { "text": "mits appellate override when certain elements are present. Neither § 1367 nor", "paragraph_id": "para_377" }, { "text": "Wright, the Seventh Circuit case Mueller cites in support of this proposition,", "paragraph_id": "para_378" }, { "text": "demands such a rigid approach. If anything, the latter doubles down on using", "paragraph_id": "para_379" }, { "text": "a “balance of factors,” merely observing that in certain “unusual” cases (i.e.,", "paragraph_id": "para_380" }, { "text": "what Mueller takes to be carveouts) the factors “point” toward an exercise of", "paragraph_id": "para_381" }, { "text": "federal jurisdiction. Wright, 29 F.3d at 1251.", "paragraph_id": "para_382" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 14 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_383" }, { "text": "23-12854 Opinion of the Court 15", "paragraph_id": "para_384" }, { "text": "determinations on a claim-by-claim basis, we follow the unani-", "paragraph_id": "para_385" }, { "text": "mous consensus of our sister circuits that have addressed the issue.", "paragraph_id": "para_386" }, { "text": "See Figueroa v. Buccaneer Hotel Inc., 188 F.3d 172 (3d Cir. 1999); South-", "paragraph_id": "para_387" }, { "text": "erland v. Hardaway Mgmt. Co., 41 F.3d 250, 256–57 (6th Cir. 1994);", "paragraph_id": "para_388" }, { "text": "Nielander v. Bd. of Cnty. Comm’rs, 582 F.3d 1155, 1172 (10th Cir.", "paragraph_id": "para_389" }, { "text": "2009).", "paragraph_id": "para_390" }, { "text": "* * *", "paragraph_id": "para_391" }, { "text": "For these reasons, we hold that § 1367(c) does not entail any", "paragraph_id": "para_392" }, { "text": "per se prohibition that disables a district court from exercising sup-", "paragraph_id": "para_393" }, { "text": "plemental jurisdiction over some claims while declining jurisdic-", "paragraph_id": "para_394" }, { "text": "tion over others.", "paragraph_id": "para_395" }, { "text": "C", "paragraph_id": "para_396" }, { "text": "Mueller separately—and more narrowly—contends that in", "paragraph_id": "para_397" }, { "text": "the particular circumstances of this case, the district court abused", "paragraph_id": "para_398" }, { "text": "its discretion by exercising jurisdiction over some of his state-law", "paragraph_id": "para_399" }, { "text": "claims but not others. Mueller makes two arguments, which we", "paragraph_id": "para_400" }, { "text": "will address in turn.", "paragraph_id": "para_401" }, { "text": "1", "paragraph_id": "para_402" }, { "text": "First, Mueller says that the “balance” of the relevant “fac-", "paragraph_id": "para_403", "court_paragraph": 1 }, { "text": "tors” required the district court to dismiss all the state-law claims.", "paragraph_id": "para_404" }, { "text": "Br. of Appellant at 17–19. We agree with Mueller that in making", "paragraph_id": "para_405" }, { "text": "its supplemental-jurisdiction determination the district court was", "paragraph_id": "para_406" }, { "text": "obliged to “consider and weigh . . . the values of judicial economy,", "paragraph_id": "para_407" }, { "text": "convenience, fairness, and comity.” Int’l Coll. of Surgeons, 522 U.S.", "paragraph_id": "para_408" }, { "text": "at 173 (quoting Cohill, 484 U.S. at 350). But giving the district court", "paragraph_id": "para_409" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 15 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_410" }, { "text": "16 Opinion of the Court 23-12854", "paragraph_id": "para_411" }, { "text": "the deference it’s due, we cannot agree that it abused its discretion", "paragraph_id": "para_412" }, { "text": "in so doing.", "paragraph_id": "para_413" }, { "text": "As a reminder, the district court retained jurisdiction over", "paragraph_id": "para_414" }, { "text": "Mueller’s false-arrest, false-imprisonment, and malicious-prosecu-", "paragraph_id": "para_415" }, { "text": "tion claims, but dismissed his assault and battery claims. Although", "paragraph_id": "para_416" }, { "text": "the district court didn’t explain its decision to retain jurisdiction", "paragraph_id": "para_417" }, { "text": "over the three claims it kept—more on that shortly—it disposed of", "paragraph_id": "para_418" }, { "text": "them in the same order in which it dismissed the federal claims. See", "paragraph_id": "para_419" }, { "text": "Summ. J. Order, Dkt. No. 95. In other words, the court retained", "paragraph_id": "para_420" }, { "text": "jurisdiction of those claims only as long as it took to reject them.", "paragraph_id": "para_421" }, { "text": "Reviewing the summary judgment order, we can’t say that", "paragraph_id": "para_422" }, { "text": "the district court abused its discretion by retaining jurisdiction over", "paragraph_id": "para_423" }, { "text": "three of Mueller’s state-law claims and declining to exercise juris-", "paragraph_id": "para_424" }, { "text": "diction over the other two. By that point, the district court had", "paragraph_id": "para_425" }, { "text": "reviewed the parties’ papers, and it seems to have had a clear sense", "paragraph_id": "para_426" }, { "text": "of which claims it thought it could easily resolve. Mueller’s false-", "paragraph_id": "para_427" }, { "text": "arrest and false-imprisonment claims, for instance, fell on the", "paragraph_id": "para_428" }, { "text": "wrong side of the “line of demarcation” that Georgia law draws", "paragraph_id": "para_429" }, { "text": "“between cases where a party directly or indirectly urges a law en-", "paragraph_id": "para_430" }, { "text": "forcement official to begin criminal proceedings” and those “where", "paragraph_id": "para_431" }, { "text": "a party merely relays facts to an official who then makes an inde-", "paragraph_id": "para_432" }, { "text": "pendent decision to arrest or prosecute.” Summ. J. Order at 14,", "paragraph_id": "para_433" }, { "text": "Dkt. No. 95 (quoting Smith, 765 S.E.2d at 523). Mueller was even-", "paragraph_id": "para_434" }, { "text": "tually arrested, to be sure, but only after he left the Walmart, fol-", "paragraph_id": "para_435" }, { "text": "lowing an independent encounter with law enforcement, and on a", "paragraph_id": "para_436" }, { "text": "charge related to an allegedly false police report. See id.", "paragraph_id": "para_437" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 16 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_438" }, { "text": "23-12854 Opinion of the Court 17", "paragraph_id": "para_439" }, { "text": "Mueller’s malicious-prosecution claim likewise failed, the", "paragraph_id": "para_440" }, { "text": "district court held, because it lacked an essential element. In par-", "paragraph_id": "para_441" }, { "text": "ticular, the court concluded that Mueller’s shoplifting charge,", "paragraph_id": "para_442" }, { "text": "which underlies his malicious-prosecution claim, was resolved as", "paragraph_id": "para_443" }, { "text": "part of a plea agreement and, therefore, that Mueller couldn’t show", "paragraph_id": "para_444" }, { "text": "that the shoplifting charge was “terminated favorably” to him, as", "paragraph_id": "para_445" }, { "text": "required by Georgia law. See id. at 14–19. (We’ll unpack the details", "paragraph_id": "para_446" }, { "text": "of the district court’s determination in that respect, which Mueller", "paragraph_id": "para_447" }, { "text": "challenges on the merits, in Part III.)", "paragraph_id": "para_448" }, { "text": "By contrast, the district court didn’t think the assault and", "paragraph_id": "para_449" }, { "text": "battery claims could be so easily decided. They were “bitterly dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_450" }, { "text": "pute[d],” the court found, and they turned largely on Mueller’s", "paragraph_id": "para_451" }, { "text": "credibility as a witness, so it left them for resolution in state court.", "paragraph_id": "para_452" }, { "text": "See id. at 19–20.", "paragraph_id": "para_453" }, { "text": "Put simply, the district court decided the claims it thought it", "paragraph_id": "para_454" }, { "text": "could resolve quickly, and declined to decide those it thought it", "paragraph_id": "para_455" }, { "text": "couldn’t. The court concluded that the Georgia law governing the", "paragraph_id": "para_456" }, { "text": "false-arrest, false-imprisonment, and malicious-prosecution claims", "paragraph_id": "para_457" }, { "text": "was clear-cut in its articulation and application, and thus presented", "paragraph_id": "para_458" }, { "text": "no knotty comity issues arising out of a “novel or complex question", "paragraph_id": "para_459" }, { "text": "of state law” or significant expenditure of judicial resources. Amer-", "paragraph_id": "para_460" }, { "text": "itox, 803 F.3d at 540. The assault and battery claims, by contrast,", "paragraph_id": "para_461" }, { "text": "required fact-bound judgments based on a mosaic of contested ev-", "paragraph_id": "para_462" }, { "text": "idence. Faced with those circumstances, the court exercised its", "paragraph_id": "para_463" }, { "text": "supplemental jurisdiction with respect to some but not all of", "paragraph_id": "para_464" }, { "text": "Mueller’s state-law claims. In so doing, the court was comfortably", "paragraph_id": "para_465" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 17 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_466" }, { "text": "18 Opinion of the Court 23-12854", "paragraph_id": "para_467" }, { "text": "within the “range of choices” available to it. Amergi, 611 F.3d at", "paragraph_id": "para_468" }, { "text": "1365 (quoting Vanderberg v. Donaldson, 259 F.3d 1321, 1326 (11th", "paragraph_id": "para_469" }, { "text": "Cir. 2001)).", "paragraph_id": "para_470" }, { "text": "2", "paragraph_id": "para_471" }, { "text": "Second, and separately, Mueller contends that the district", "paragraph_id": "para_472", "court_paragraph": 2 }, { "text": "court’s failure to explain its decision to retain jurisdiction over", "paragraph_id": "para_473" }, { "text": "some of his state-law claims but decline it over others was itself an", "paragraph_id": "para_474" }, { "text": "abuse of discretion. In short, we disagree. It is clear from the face", "paragraph_id": "para_475" }, { "text": "of the district court’s order—from its reasoning and disposition—", "paragraph_id": "para_476" }, { "text": "that it deemed some claims easy and others more difficult. Were", "paragraph_id": "para_477" }, { "text": "we to fault the court for not stating more explicitly what is abun-", "paragraph_id": "para_478" }, { "text": "dantly clear, we’d be impermissibly interfering with the “wide dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_479" }, { "text": "cretion” it enjoys to manage this aspect of its docket. Cohill, 484", "paragraph_id": "para_480" }, { "text": "U.S. at 353.7", "paragraph_id": "para_481" }, { "text": "7 Citing Royal Canin U.S.A., Inc. v. Wullschleger, 604 U.S. 22 (2025), Mueller also", "paragraph_id": "para_482" }, { "text": "argues that a federal court loses jurisdiction whenever “no federal hook re-", "paragraph_id": "para_483" }, { "text": "mains because of the plaintiff’s decision to eliminate federal claims from the", "paragraph_id": "para_484" }, { "text": "lawsuit.” Reply Br. of Appellant at 4. That is incorrect. In Royal Canin, the", "paragraph_id": "para_485" }, { "text": "Supreme Court held only that when a plaintiff amends his complaint to drop", "paragraph_id": "para_486" }, { "text": "his federal claims, a federal court may not continue to adjudicate “the now", "paragraph_id": "para_487" }, { "text": "purely state-law suit.” 604 U.S. at 25. That’s not what happened here. Mueller", "paragraph_id": "para_488" }, { "text": "abandoned his federal claims in open court, and the district court accordingly", "paragraph_id": "para_489" }, { "text": "dismissed them. Whereas the amendment of a complaint implicates", "paragraph_id": "para_490" }, { "text": "§ 1367(a)’s non-discretionary grant of jurisdiction—namely, by eliminating", "paragraph_id": "para_491" }, { "text": "it—the mid-case dismissal of a claim implicates § 1367(c)(3) and “makes [] ju-", "paragraph_id": "para_492" }, { "text": "risdiction discretionary.” Id. at 33–34.", "paragraph_id": "para_493" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 18 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_494" }, { "text": "23-12854 Opinion of the Court 19", "paragraph_id": "para_495" }, { "text": "III", "paragraph_id": "para_496" }, { "text": "Separate and apart from the district court’s jurisdictional de-", "paragraph_id": "para_497" }, { "text": "termination, Mueller contends that the court erred in granting", "paragraph_id": "para_498" }, { "text": "summary judgment on his malicious-prosecution claim.8 Mueller", "paragraph_id": "para_499" }, { "text": "insists that a reasonable jury could find that he was subjected to", "paragraph_id": "para_500" }, { "text": "malicious prosecution in connection with his shoplifting charge be-", "paragraph_id": "para_501" }, { "text": "cause, he says, there is a genuine dispute of material fact about", "paragraph_id": "para_502" }, { "text": "whether he obtained what we’ll call “favorable termination” of that", "paragraph_id": "para_503" }, { "text": "charge. Although it’s close, we agree with Mueller.", "paragraph_id": "para_504" }, { "text": "Under Georgia law, a malicious-prosecution claim requires", "paragraph_id": "para_505" }, { "text": "the plaintiff show that there was a “(1) prosecution for a criminal", "paragraph_id": "para_506" }, { "text": "offense; (2) instigated without probable cause; (3) with malice; (4)", "paragraph_id": "para_507" }, { "text": "under a valid warrant, accusation, or summons; (5) which has ter-", "paragraph_id": "para_508" }, { "text": "minated favorably to the plaintiff; and (6) which has caused damage", "paragraph_id": "para_509" }, { "text": "to the plaintiff.” Sheffield, 839 S.E.2d at 301 (quoting McKissick v.", "paragraph_id": "para_510" }, { "text": "S.O.A., Inc., 684 S.E.2d 24, 27 (Ga. Ct. App. 2009)). The dispute", "paragraph_id": "para_511" }, { "text": "8 “We review de novo the district court’s grant of summary judgment, draw-", "paragraph_id": "para_512" }, { "text": "ing all reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to” the nonmoving", "paragraph_id": "para_513" }, { "text": "party. Bowen v. Manheim Remarketing, Inc., 882 F.3d 1358, 1362 (11th Cir. 2018)", "paragraph_id": "para_514" }, { "text": "(citation modified). Summary judgment may be granted only if “there is no", "paragraph_id": "para_515" }, { "text": "genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment", "paragraph_id": "para_516" }, { "text": "as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). “A genuine issue of material fact", "paragraph_id": "para_517" }, { "text": "exists ‘if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for", "paragraph_id": "para_518" }, { "text": "the nonmoving party.’” Edmondson v. Velvet Lifestyles, LLC, 43 F.4th 1153, 1159", "paragraph_id": "para_519" }, { "text": "(11th Cir. 2022) (quoting Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248", "paragraph_id": "para_520" }, { "text": "(1986)).", "paragraph_id": "para_521" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 19 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_522" }, { "text": "20 Opinion of the Court 23-12854", "paragraph_id": "para_523" }, { "text": "here is over the fifth element—“favorable termination.” Im-", "paragraph_id": "para_524" }, { "text": "portantly for present purposes, the favorable-termination element", "paragraph_id": "para_525" }, { "text": "is satisfied—and a malicious-prosecution claim may proceed—", "paragraph_id": "para_526" }, { "text": "when the government “voluntarily abandon[s]” the charge in ques-", "paragraph_id": "para_527" }, { "text": "tion, Laster v. Star Rental, Inc., 353 S.E.2d 37, 38 (Ga. Ct. App. 1987),", "paragraph_id": "para_528" }, { "text": "but not when the prosecution is “terminated because of a compro-", "paragraph_id": "para_529" }, { "text": "mise and agreement of the parties,” Garner, 525 S.E.2d at 147.", "paragraph_id": "para_530" }, { "text": "Here, all agree that Mueller entered into a compromise on", "paragraph_id": "para_531" }, { "text": "the obstruction charge—in return for a plea, he received a 12-", "paragraph_id": "para_532" }, { "text": "month probationary sentence. See Final Disposition, Dkt. No. 76-", "paragraph_id": "para_533" }, { "text": "26. The government also entered a “[n]olle [p]ros” (essentially a", "paragraph_id": "para_534" }, { "text": "decision not to continue prosecution) on the shoplifting charge.", "paragraph_id": "para_535" }, { "text": "See id. The question for us is whether the government entered the", "paragraph_id": "para_536" }, { "text": "nolle pros because it voluntarily abandoned the shoplifting charge,", "paragraph_id": "para_537" }, { "text": "or because the nolle pros was part of a package deal that included", "paragraph_id": "para_538" }, { "text": "Mueller’s negotiated plea on the obstruction charge. If the govern-", "paragraph_id": "para_539" }, { "text": "ment unilaterally abandoned the shoplifting charge, then perhaps", "paragraph_id": "para_540" }, { "text": "a malicious-prosecution claim could succeed. But if it was related", "paragraph_id": "para_541" }, { "text": "to Mueller’s plea agreement, then the claim fails ipso facto.", "paragraph_id": "para_542" }, { "text": "Although it’s a close call, when we examine the record in the", "paragraph_id": "para_543" }, { "text": "light most favorable to Mueller, we hold that the evidence is suffi-", "paragraph_id": "para_544" }, { "text": "cient to permit a reasonable jury to conclude that the decision to", "paragraph_id": "para_545" }, { "text": "drop the shoplifting charge was made independently of the plea", "paragraph_id": "para_546" }, { "text": "agreement. First, at his deposition, Mueller testified that at least", "paragraph_id": "para_547" }, { "text": "“as [he] understood it,” his plea agreement wasn’t related to the", "paragraph_id": "para_548" }, { "text": "district attorney’s decision to nolle pros the shoplifting charge. See", "paragraph_id": "para_549" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 20 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_550" }, { "text": "23-12854 Opinion of the Court 21", "paragraph_id": "para_551" }, { "text": "Mueller Dep. at 38, Dkt. No. 76-16. Second, and similarly, in a", "paragraph_id": "para_552" }, { "text": "sworn declaration, Mueller said that it was his “express understand-", "paragraph_id": "para_553" }, { "text": "ing” that “the District Attorney’s Office unilaterally had decided", "paragraph_id": "para_554" }, { "text": "not to pursue the Felony shoplifting case at that time because they", "paragraph_id": "para_555" }, { "text": "were not prepared for trial which was scheduled the same", "paragraph_id": "para_556" }, { "text": "day . . . .” Mueller Decl. ¶ 18, Dkt. No. 82; see United States v. Stein,", "paragraph_id": "para_557" }, { "text": "881 F.3d 853, 858–59 (11th Cir. 2018) (en banc) (“A non-conclusory", "paragraph_id": "para_558" }, { "text": "affidavit which complies with Rule 56 can create a genuine dispute", "paragraph_id": "para_559" }, { "text": "concerning an issue of material fact, even if it is self-serving and/or", "paragraph_id": "para_560" }, { "text": "uncorroborated.”). Third, neither at the plea hearing on Mueller’s", "paragraph_id": "para_561" }, { "text": "obstruction charge nor in the final disposition of that charge did the", "paragraph_id": "para_562" }, { "text": "trial judge document or mention any connection between", "paragraph_id": "para_563" }, { "text": "Mueller’s nolo plea and the government’s decision to drop the", "paragraph_id": "para_564" }, { "text": "shoplifting charge. See Tr. of Guilty Plea Hr’g at 1-9, Dkt. No. 76-", "paragraph_id": "para_565" }, { "text": "25; Final Disposition, Dkt. No. 76-26. We think that this evidence,", "paragraph_id": "para_566" }, { "text": "taken together, is sufficient to permit a reasonable jury to conclude", "paragraph_id": "para_567" }, { "text": "that the nolle pros was independent of the plea agreement.", "paragraph_id": "para_568" }, { "text": "To be sure, Walmart has marshaled some evidence to the", "paragraph_id": "para_569" }, { "text": "contrary. At the plea hearing, for instance, Mueller’s counsel dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_570" }, { "text": "cussed the obstruction and shoplifting charges in tandem: “For just", "paragraph_id": "para_571" }, { "text": ". . . shoplifting and obstruction there’s a lot of pieces and parts to it,", "paragraph_id": "para_572" }, { "text": "but the State’s been pretty fair and wants to resolve it. We ask the", "paragraph_id": "para_573" }, { "text": "Court to accept the terms as negotiated . . . .” Tr. of Guilty Plea", "paragraph_id": "para_574" }, { "text": "Hr’g at 8, Dkt. No. 76-25. And even though it doesn’t expressly", "paragraph_id": "para_575" }, { "text": "link them, the final-disposition document does seem to cover both", "paragraph_id": "para_576" }, { "text": "charges—suggesting, at least, that both were resolved in the same", "paragraph_id": "para_577" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 21 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_578" }, { "text": "22 Opinion of the Court 23-12854", "paragraph_id": "para_579" }, { "text": "instrument at the same time. Each of these datapoints may well", "paragraph_id": "para_580" }, { "text": "persuade a jury that a deal existed.", "paragraph_id": "para_581" }, { "text": "At the summary-judgment stage, though, we needn’t—and", "paragraph_id": "para_582" }, { "text": "therefore don’t—weigh the evidence. We conclude only that there", "paragraph_id": "para_583" }, { "text": "is enough evidence on both sides to permit a reasonable jury to find", "paragraph_id": "para_584" }, { "text": "that Mueller has satisfied the favorable-termination element and,", "paragraph_id": "para_585" }, { "text": "in turn, made out a prima facie case for malicious prosecution. Ac-", "paragraph_id": "para_586" }, { "text": "cordingly, we reverse the district court’s grant of summary judg-", "paragraph_id": "para_587" }, { "text": "ment.", "paragraph_id": "para_588" }, { "text": "IV", "paragraph_id": "para_589" }, { "text": "The district court did not abuse its discretion in exercising", "paragraph_id": "para_590" }, { "text": "supplemental jurisdiction over the false-arrest, false-imprisonment,", "paragraph_id": "para_591" }, { "text": "and malicious-prosecution claims, while declining supplemental ju-", "paragraph_id": "para_592" }, { "text": "risdiction over the assault and battery claims. But the district court", "paragraph_id": "para_593" }, { "text": "erred in granting summary judgment on Mueller’s malicious-pros-", "paragraph_id": "para_594" }, { "text": "ecution claim. Accordingly, we AFFIRM the district court’s juris-", "paragraph_id": "para_595" }, { "text": "dictional determination, but we REVERSE its grant of summary", "paragraph_id": "para_596" }, { "text": "judgment and REMAND for further proceedings.", "paragraph_id": "para_597" }, { "text": "USCA11 Case: 23-12854 Document: 86-1 Date Filed: 09/16/2026 Page: 22 of 22", "paragraph_id": "para_598" } ], "word_count": 5592, "cites": [ "383 U.S. 715", "484 U.S. 343", "604 U.S. 22", "579 U.S. 40", "522\nU.S. 156", "546 U.S. 81", "477 U.S. 242", "803 F.3d 518", "55 F.4th 863", "611 F.3d 1350", "86 F.3d 187", "29 F.3d 1244", "188 F.3d 172", "41 F.3d 250", "582 F.3d 1155", "259 F.3d 1321", "882 F.3d 1358", "43 F.4th 1153", "881 F.3d 853" ], "cited_by": [], "sha256": "2fa1916f4eacc28e5beca7ed8221603eb2df97e3f2b6b1b81cc7fc5b20995a61", "source_url": "http://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/202312854.pdf", "fetched_at": "2026-10-01T15:13:13.585+00:00", "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/ai/judgments/us/ca11-23-12854-2026-09-16", "risk_graph": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:ca11-23-12854-2026-09-16", "relations_graph": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:ca11-23-12854-2026-09-16", "changes": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/changes", "agent": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/agent?id=us:ca11-23-12854-2026-09-16", "verification": { "stored_sha256": "2fa1916f4eacc28e5beca7ed8221603eb2df97e3f2b6b1b81cc7fc5b20995a61", "recomputed_sha256": "2fa1916f4eacc28e5beca7ed8221603eb2df97e3f2b6b1b81cc7fc5b20995a61", "intact": true, "checked_at": "2026-10-10T18:57:55.079Z" } }, "hash": "sha256:03dde11388e980fa02d2aac871ddcf5ba78306b5681afaf164c77361c4c5c106", "version": "legal-2026-10-10", "expires": "2026-10-11T00:00:00.000Z", "dependency": { "index_version": "legal-2026-10-10+legal-2026-10-10+2026-10-10T17:33:01", "content_hash": "sha256:03dde11388e980fa02d2aac871ddcf5ba78306b5681afaf164c77361c4c5c106", "revalidate_after": "2026-10-10T19:57:55.214Z", "max_copy_age_seconds": 3600, "policy": "revalidate-required; attribution-preferred", "changelog": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/dependency", "verify": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/verify", "stale_copy_invalid": true }, "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ca11-23-12854-2026-09-16", "follow": [ { "rel": "risk", "href": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:ca11-23-12854-2026-09-16" }, { "rel": "relations", "href": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:ca11-23-12854-2026-09-16" }, { "rel": "agent", "href": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/agent?id=us:ca11-23-12854-2026-09-16" }, { "rel": "obligations", "href": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/obligation-chain" }, { "rel": "changes", "href": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/whats-new?jurisdiction=us" } ], "disclaimer": "Source reference with official identifier. 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