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New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.
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State Res Judicata Rules Determine Whether RICO Action Precluded by Prior State Court Judgment on Same Claims — Noerr-Pennington Protects Lawyers Absent Factual Allegations Establishing Sham Exception

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Alers v. Bank of Am., N.A., 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 21117 (9th Cir. Nov. 23, 2016):

*   This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

Alejandro Alers, Sr. appeals pro se from the district court's judgment dismissing his action alleging violations of the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO") arising from a withdrawal from Alers' bank account with Bank of America, N.A. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo the district court's dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 341 (9th Cir. 2010). We affirm.

The district court properly dismissed Alers' RICO claims against Bank of America, N.A. as precluded by California's doctrine of res judicata because the parties previously litigated the claims to final judgment in California state court. See Adam Bros. Farming, Inc. v. County of Santa Barbara, 604 F.3d 1142, 1148-49 (9th Cir. 2010) (describing California's res judicata requirements).

The district court properly [*2]  determined that defendant's attorneys are immune from liability under the Noerr-Pennington doctrine because Alers' factual allegations in his complaint failed to establish that the sham exception is applicable. See Sosa v. DIRECTV, Inc., 437 F.3d 923, 929-30, 938 (9th Cir. 2006) (explaining the Noerr-Pennington doctrine and the circumstances where the sham exception is applicable).

The district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Alers' motions for entry of default judgment. See Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471-72 (9th Cir. 1986) (setting forth the standard of review and factors for determining whether to enter default judgment).

We do not consider arguments that were not presented to the district court. See Smith v. Marsh, 194 F.3d 1045, 1052 (9th Cir. 1999).

Alers' request for judicial notice, filed on October 20, 2014, is granted.

AFFIRMED.

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New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.
New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.

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