North End Chamber of Commerce, Inc. v. City of Boston

Summary

The court affirmed dismissal of the federal equal-protection and due-process claims and the state-law arbitrary-and-capricious claim, concluding that the complaint violated Rule 8 and that counts I–V failed on the merits. The court held that the outdoor-dining restrictions had rational bases, plaintiffs lacked a protected property interest in future outdoor-dining licenses, and no fundamental right was implicated. It vacated dismissal of the state-law unlawful-tax claim and remanded for dismissal without prejudice because supplemental jurisdiction should be declined. The court also affirmed denial of plaintiffs’ request for a continuance.