Complex Lit Blog

RICO Extraterritoriality: Focus of Mail or Wire (MoW) Fraud Stat. Is Use of MoW in Aid of Scheme, Is Domestic If Use Is Domestic & Core Component of Scheme — Bank Fraud Domestic If Core Component Is Use of Domestic MoW to Steal Property in US

Bascuñán v. Elsaca, 2019 WL 2455168 (2d Cir. June 13, 2019) (Bascuñán II) (the Second Circuit’s opinion in Bascuñán I is contained in our November 20, 2018 blog post): *1 This is the second time we have been asked to decide whether Jorge Yarur Bascuñán and affiliated parties (collec ...

Bascuñán v. Elsaca, 2019 WL 2455168 (2d Cir. June 13, 2019) (Bascuñán II) (the Second Circuit’s opinion in Bascuñán I is contained in our November 20, 2018 blog post): *1 This is the second time we have been asked to …

RICO Enterprise: Only Some Defendants with Forum Selection Clause (FSC) or Arbitration Clause — All Defs “in Cahoots” with Signatory Stuck with FSC, All Plaintiffs with Arb. Clauses May Ask FSC Court Not to Enforce Them—FSC = Fed Law Iss.

Wilson v. 5 Choices, LLC, 2019 WL 2451068 (6th Cir. June 12, 2019): *1 Rebecca K. Wilson and twenty other Plaintiffs appeal the district court’s dismissal of Plaintiffs’ claims against 5 Choices, LLC and twenty-five other Defendants. Plaintiffs argue on appeal that the district court erred in dismissing their clai ...

Pro Se Not Entitled to Rule 37 Attorney’s Fees — Pro Se Lawyer May Receive Attorney’s Fees per Inherent Power — Destruction of Records Per Business Policy before Notice of Claim Unsanctionable

Lucas v. Telemarketer Calling From (407) 476-5680 & Other Tel. Nos., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 16106 (6th Cir. May 29, 2019) (unpublished): Vincent Lucas, a pro se ...

Lucas v. Telemarketer Calling From (407) 476-5680 & Other Tel. Nos., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 16106 (6th Cir. May 29, 2019) (unpublished): Vincent Lucas, a pro se Ohio resident, appeals a district court judgment dismissing his complaint based upon…

New Trial for Fraud Requires More Than “Differences in Recollection or Opinion” — 60(b) Denial of New Trial for Fraud Bars New Fraud Action — Action “Plainly Barred by Res Judicata” Is Baseless, Warrants Rule 11 Sanctions (Good Quotes)

Elkharwily v. Franciscan Health Sys., 2019 WL 2406946 (9th Cir. June 7, 2019) (unpublished): MEMORANDUM* In No. 17-35009 (“Elkharwily I”), Alaa Elkharwily, M.D., appeals the district court’s judgment after a jury trial his action against Franciscan Health System (“FHS”), alleging defamation and disabili ...

Elkharwily v. Franciscan Health Sys., 2019 WL 2406946 (9th Cir. June 7, 2019) (unpublished): MEMORANDUM* In No. 17-35009 (“Elkharwily I”), Alaa Elkharwily, M.D., appeals the district court’s judgment after a jury trial his action against Franciscan Health System …

RICO Not Preempted by ERISA — Issue Waived on Appeal if Arguments “Underdeveloped, Conclusory or Unsupported by Law” — Failure to “Engage with the Reasons the District Court Gave” = Waiver (Good Quotes)

DiJoseph v. Standard Ins. Co., 2019 WL 2406629 (7th Cir. June 7, 2019) (unpublished): Teresa Di Joseph appeals the district court’s dismissal of her claims against Standard Insurance Company and UnitedHealth Group. Di Joseph sued the companies for terminating her long-term disability benefits. She brought thirteen claims u ...

Judicial Immunity: 2 Exceptions — 26(a) Disclosure of Amount of Attorney’s Fees But Failure to Produce Discovery Justifying It = 37(c) Exclusion — 5 Factor Substantial Justification / Harmless Error Test (6th Cir. = 4th)

HLV, LLC v. Van Buren Cnty., 2019 WL 2273400 (6th Cir. Mary 28, 2019): *1 As many cases do, this one has taken on a new life as it progressed through the courts. What began as a collection action in state court has evolved into a federal civil rights and

HLV, LLC v. Van Buren Cnty., 2019 WL 2273400 (6th Cir. Mary 28, 2019): *1 As many cases do, this one has taken on a new life as it progressed through the courts. What began as a collection action in …

§1782 Application Denied Where It Sought (1) Discovery Available from Party to Foreign Litigation, (2) to Circumvent Restrictive Foreign Discovery Practices & (3) Evidence from Foreign Subsidiary of Subpoenaed U.S. Entity

Effecten-Spiegel AG v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 17061, 2019 WL 2354776 (2d Cir. June 4, 2019) (unpublished): UPON DUE C ...

Effecten-Spiegel AG v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 17061, 2019 WL 2354776 (2d Cir. June 4, 2019) (unpublished): UPON DUE CONSIDERATION, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the order of the…

Discovery Sanctions (26, 37, 1928, Inherent Power) Properly Denied Where All Materials Eventually Produced, None of the Late-Produced Documents Affected the Outcome, and Both Sides Contributed to Delay and Expense

Green v. City of Southfield, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 15744 (6th Cir. May 28, 2019): Two cars collided in a busy intersection in a Detroit suburb. The police decid ...

Green v. City of Southfield, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 15744 (6th Cir. May 28, 2019): Two cars collided in a busy intersection in a Detroit suburb. The police decided that one of the drivers, Dawn Green, ran a red…

Arbitration — 4 Triggers for the New York Convention — Because Convention Is a Treaty, It Is Unaffected by Statute Protecting State Regulation from Any “Act of Congress” — Convention Preempts Contrary State Statute

McDonnel Grp., L.L.C. v. Great Lakes Ins. SE, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 14177, 2019 WL 2082905 (5th Cir May 13, 2019): In this appeal, relating to arbitrati ...

McDonnel Grp., L.L.C. v. Great Lakes Ins. SE, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 14177, 2019 WL 2082905 (5th Cir May 13, 2019): In this appeal, relating to arbitration under the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards,…

Declining Supplemental Jurisdiction on Dismissal of Federal Claims without Considering Diversity Abuses Discretion when Diversity Possible from Complaint — Pro Se Should Get One Amendment

Stoller v. Walworth Cty., 2019 WL 2305033 (7th Cir. May 30, 2019): *1 Christopher Stoller (along with Michael Stoller, who is not a party to this appeal) sued Walworth County, Wisconsin, and many of its public officials for allegedly selling tax-delinquent property at inflated prices based on “sham” apprai ...

Stoller v. Walworth Cty., 2019 WL 2305033 (7th Cir. May 30, 2019): *1 Christopher Stoller (along with Michael Stoller, who is not a party to this appeal) sued Walworth County, Wisconsin, and many of its public officials for allegedly selling …

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

RICO Extraterritoriality: Focus of Mail or Wire (MoW) Fraud Stat. Is Use of MoW in Aid of Scheme, Is Domestic If Use Is Domestic & Core Component of Scheme — Bank Fraud Domestic If Core Component Is Use of Domestic MoW to Steal Property in US

RICO Enterprise: Only Some Defendants with Forum Selection Clause (FSC) or Arbitration Clause — All Defs “in Cahoots” with Signatory Stuck with FSC, All Plaintiffs with Arb. Clauses May Ask FSC Court Not to Enforce Them—FSC = Fed Law Iss.

Pro Se Not Entitled to Rule 37 Attorney’s Fees — Pro Se Lawyer May Receive Attorney’s Fees per Inherent Power — Destruction of Records Per Business Policy before Notice of Claim Unsanctionable

New Trial for Fraud Requires More Than “Differences in Recollection or Opinion” — 60(b) Denial of New Trial for Fraud Bars New Fraud Action — Action “Plainly Barred by Res Judicata” Is Baseless, Warrants Rule 11 Sanctions (Good Quotes)

RICO Not Preempted by ERISA — Issue Waived on Appeal if Arguments “Underdeveloped, Conclusory or Unsupported by Law” — Failure to “Engage with the Reasons the District Court Gave” = Waiver (Good Quotes)

Judicial Immunity: 2 Exceptions — 26(a) Disclosure of Amount of Attorney’s Fees But Failure to Produce Discovery Justifying It = 37(c) Exclusion — 5 Factor Substantial Justification / Harmless Error Test (6th Cir. = 4th)

§1782 Application Denied Where It Sought (1) Discovery Available from Party to Foreign Litigation, (2) to Circumvent Restrictive Foreign Discovery Practices & (3) Evidence from Foreign Subsidiary of Subpoenaed U.S. Entity

Discovery Sanctions (26, 37, 1928, Inherent Power) Properly Denied Where All Materials Eventually Produced, None of the Late-Produced Documents Affected the Outcome, and Both Sides Contributed to Delay and Expense

Arbitration — 4 Triggers for the New York Convention — Because Convention Is a Treaty, It Is Unaffected by Statute Protecting State Regulation from Any “Act of Congress” — Convention Preempts Contrary State Statute

Declining Supplemental Jurisdiction on Dismissal of Federal Claims without Considering Diversity Abuses Discretion when Diversity Possible from Complaint — Pro Se Should Get One Amendment

Recent Posts

Temporary Restraining Order = Preliminary Injunction: 3 Supreme Court Cases (TRO=PI x 3)

Rule 37(c)(1) Sanctions — Exclusion of Untimely Expert Report — Eighth Circuit’s 4-Factor Test

RICO: So Insubstantial A Claim As to Fail to Confer Subject Matter Jurisdiction

RICO: Distinctiveness Issues Most Likely to Appear When The Enterprise Is An Entity Capable of Being Sued, Like A Corporation

FRAP 38 Sanctions: Eleventh Circuit Generally Declines to Impose FRAP 38 Sanctions on Pro Se Appellants Absent a History of Frivolous Litigation or an Explicit Warning

Paul Weiss Did The Right Thing

RICO: Unsettled Whether Legal Expenses Constitute Injury to Business or Property in Ninth Circuit — Leave to Amend Must Be Granted Unless 1 or More of 5 Factors Is Present — Request for Judicial Notice of Wikipedia Articles Fails to Satisfy The Standards Fed. R. Evid. 201

FRAP 38 Sanctions Denied Without Prejudice for Lack of Separate Motion

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