Complex Lit Blog

§1927 Sanctions for Refiling Twice-Dismissed Claims, Ignoring Discovery Orders, Initiating Similar Proceedings in State and Bankruptcy Courts [Extrajudicial Misconduct] & Filing Meritless Motions & Appeals

Eruchalu v. United States Bank, 2019 WL 244850 (9th Cir. Jan. 17, 2019) (unpublished): MEMORANDUM* *1 In these consolidated appeals, Godson Eruchalu appeals ...

Eruchalu v. United States Bank, 2019 WL 244850 (9th Cir. Jan. 17, 2019) (unpublished): MEMORANDUM* *1 In these consolidated appeals, Godson Eruchalu appeals pro se from the district court’s order granting defendant First Option Mortgage’s amended motion for attorney’s…

Court Has “Broad Fact-Finding Powers with Respect to Sanctions & Its Findings Warrant Great Deference” / Inh. Power “Sanctions Should Be Reserved for The Rare & Exceptional Case” (Good Quotes)

Johnson v. Johnson (In re Johnson), 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 537 (9th Cir. Jan. 9, 2019): MEMORANDUM* Defendants-Appellants a ...

Johnson v. Johnson (In re Johnson), 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 537 (9th Cir. Jan. 9, 2019): MEMORANDUM* Defendants-Appellants appeal the district court's affirmance of the bankruptcy court's denial of their motion for attorneys' fees. We affirm. 1.…

The Line Between Lay/Expert Opinion Depends on Basis, Not Subject Matter, of Testimony (Good Quote) — Where Jury Not Instructed as to How to Assess Specific Testimony, Real Possibility of Jury Confusion Requires Reversal

United States v. Sarkissian, 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 31710 (9th Cir. Nov. 8, 2018) (unpublished): MEMORANDUM* ...

United States v. Sarkissian, 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 31710 (9th Cir. Nov. 8, 2018) (unpublished): MEMORANDUM* Karen ("Gary") Sarkissian appeals from the judgment of conviction sentencing him to 57 months of imprisonment after a jury found him guilty …

Rule 26(g) Sanctions Are Mandatory and “Particularly Appropriate when an Attorney Submits a Forged Discovery Document” — “Erroneous Assessment of the Evidence” = Abuse of Discretion

SPV-LS, LLC v. TransAm. Life Ins. Co., 2019 WL 124211 (8th Cir. Jan. 8, 2019): *1 The Estate of Nancy Bergman (the Estate), through its personal representative, appeals a district court order denying its motion for reconsideration of an adverse grant of summary judgment. SPV-LS, LLC (SPV) cross-appeals the district co ...

Supreme Court: Arbitration Agreement Must Fall Outside the Exclusions of FAA §1 before Court May Stay Litigation & Compel Arb. Under §§3 and 4 — Parties Cannot Delegate §1 Issue to Arbitrator

New Prime, Inc. v. Oliveira, 2019 U.S. LEXIS 724 (U.S. Jan. 15, 2019):

New Prime, Inc. v. Oliveira, 2019 U.S. LEXIS 724 (U.S. Jan. 15, 2019): The Federal Arbitration Act requires courts to enforce private arbitration agreements. But like most laws, this one bears its qualifications. Among other things, §1 says that …

§ 1782 Application Not Moot, Even If Foreign Evidentiary Record Closed, If Appellate Court Might Receive New Evid. in Some Circs. — Is Magistrate Judge R&R Reviewed De Novo or for Clear Error / Contrary to Law? — Case Law Split

Application of Qualcomm Inc., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5716 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 11, 2019): On August 20, 2018, applicant Qualcomm Incorporated ("Qualcomm") filed an Ex Pa ...

Application of Qualcomm Inc., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5716 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 11, 2019): On August 20, 2018, applicant Qualcomm Incorporated ("Qualcomm") filed an Ex Parte Application for discovery pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1782. After Magistrate Judge…

§ 1782 Application Is Moot If Foreign Evidentiary Record Is Closed, Even If Appeal Is Pending & Reversal Possible — Court’s 1782 Jurisdiction Is Limited to the Foreign Proceeding Listed in the Application

In re Fuhr, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6468 (Jan. 11, 2019): [*1] REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION This matter is before this Court on Motion of Credit Suisse AG to ...

In re Fuhr, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6468 (Jan. 11, 2019): [*1] REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION This matter is before this Court on Motion of Credit Suisse AG to Dismiss Petition as Moot filed on October 29, 2018. ECF No.…

Supreme Court: If Arbitrability Assigned to Arbitrator, No “Wholly Groundless” Exception Exists — “It Is Not Unheard-of” for Fair Adjudicators to Vigorously Disagree (Good Quote)

Henry Schein, Inc. v. Archer & White Sales, Inc., 2019 U.S. LEXIS 566I (U.S. Jan. 9, 2019):

Henry Schein, Inc. v. Archer & White Sales, Inc., 2019 U.S. LEXIS 566I (U.S. Jan. 9, 2019): HN1[] Under the Federal Arbitration Act, parties to a contract may agree that an arbitrator rather than a court…

“Rule 11 Doesn’t Authorize Sanctions for Merely Frustrating Conduct” (Good Quote) — Where Plaintiff’s Dep. Contradicted Complaint, Failure to Withdraw Claims Warrants Fees for Post-Dep. SJ & Sanctions Motion Following R. 11 Letter

Cameau v Nat’l Recovery Agency, Inc., 2018 WL 4522104 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 6, 2018) (R&R): I. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT *1 Plaintiff Jeff Cameau (“Plaintiff”) commenced this action in May of 2015 against Defendant National Recovery Agency, Inc. (“Defendant”), asserting violations of the ...

Cameau v Nat’l Recovery Agency, Inc., 2018 WL 4522104 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 6, 2018) (R&R): I. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT *1 Plaintiff Jeff Cameau (“Plaintiff”) commenced this action in May of 2015 against Defendant National Recovery Agency, Inc. (“Defendant”), asserting violations of the…

Facebook Messenger Texts from “Bob” Authenticated by Recipient, Who Knew Only One Bob; by Facebook Page Owner, Who Didn’t Send Them & Gave Access to Bob; & by Contents — Screenshots Given by Page Owner to Police, Thus Authentic

State v. Dickerson, 2018 Kan. App. Unpub. LEXIS 860, 2018 WL 5851444 (Kan. Ct. App. Nov. 9, 2018) (unpublished): Per Curiam: Robert Dickerson appeals hi ...

State v. Dickerson, 2018 Kan. App. Unpub. LEXIS 860, 2018 WL 5851444 (Kan. Ct. App. Nov. 9, 2018) (unpublished): Per Curiam: Robert Dickerson appeals his conviction for aggravated indecent liberties with a child. He raises several claims of error.…

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

§1927 Sanctions for Refiling Twice-Dismissed Claims, Ignoring Discovery Orders, Initiating Similar Proceedings in State and Bankruptcy Courts [Extrajudicial Misconduct] & Filing Meritless Motions & Appeals

Court Has “Broad Fact-Finding Powers with Respect to Sanctions & Its Findings Warrant Great Deference” / Inh. Power “Sanctions Should Be Reserved for The Rare & Exceptional Case” (Good Quotes)

The Line Between Lay/Expert Opinion Depends on Basis, Not Subject Matter, of Testimony (Good Quote) — Where Jury Not Instructed as to How to Assess Specific Testimony, Real Possibility of Jury Confusion Requires Reversal

Rule 26(g) Sanctions Are Mandatory and “Particularly Appropriate when an Attorney Submits a Forged Discovery Document” — “Erroneous Assessment of the Evidence” = Abuse of Discretion

Supreme Court: Arbitration Agreement Must Fall Outside the Exclusions of FAA §1 before Court May Stay Litigation & Compel Arb. Under §§3 and 4 — Parties Cannot Delegate §1 Issue to Arbitrator

§ 1782 Application Not Moot, Even If Foreign Evidentiary Record Closed, If Appellate Court Might Receive New Evid. in Some Circs. — Is Magistrate Judge R&R Reviewed De Novo or for Clear Error / Contrary to Law? — Case Law Split

§ 1782 Application Is Moot If Foreign Evidentiary Record Is Closed, Even If Appeal Is Pending & Reversal Possible — Court’s 1782 Jurisdiction Is Limited to the Foreign Proceeding Listed in the Application

Supreme Court: If Arbitrability Assigned to Arbitrator, No “Wholly Groundless” Exception Exists — “It Is Not Unheard-of” for Fair Adjudicators to Vigorously Disagree (Good Quote)

“Rule 11 Doesn’t Authorize Sanctions for Merely Frustrating Conduct” (Good Quote) — Where Plaintiff’s Dep. Contradicted Complaint, Failure to Withdraw Claims Warrants Fees for Post-Dep. SJ & Sanctions Motion Following R. 11 Letter

Facebook Messenger Texts from “Bob” Authenticated by Recipient, Who Knew Only One Bob; by Facebook Page Owner, Who Didn’t Send Them & Gave Access to Bob; & by Contents — Screenshots Given by Page Owner to Police, Thus Authentic

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RICO: Indirect Injury Unrecoverable — Indirect Purchaser Rule Imported from Antitrust

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The Word “Include” May Be A Word of Limitation As Opposed to a Word of Enlargement, Depending on the Context

Spoliation/Sanctions: “A Party Does Not Spoliate Evidence When, Without Notice Of The Evidence’s Potential Relevance, It Destroys The Evidence According To Its Policy Or In The Normal Course Of Its Business” (Good Quote)

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