Opinion
No. 09-16443.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a)(2).
Filed September 7, 2010.
Pedro Barrey, Phoenix, AZ, pro se.
Rae Heimer, Arizona Certified Legal Document Preparer (AZCLDP), Phoenix, AZ, pro se.
Jody Lynn Buzicky, Jeffrey Messing, Esquire, Michael N. Poli, Esquire, Poli Ball PLC, Phoenix, AZ, for Defendant-Appellee.
Robert W. Norman, Jr., Houser Allison, APC, Irvine, CA, for Defendant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, G. Murray Snow, District Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. 2:09-cv-00573-GMS.
Before: LEAVY, HAWKINS, and THOMAS, Circuit Judges.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Rae Heimer, a non-party to the underlying action, appeals pro se from the district court's order sanctioning her under its inherent power to curb abusive litigation practices after dismissing the complaint she prepared for failure to state a claim. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review for abuse of discretion, Chambers v. NASCO, Inc., 501 U.S. 32, 55, 111 S.Ct. 2123, 115 L.Ed.2d 27 (1991), and we affirm.
The district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing nominal monetary sanctions on Heimer, an Arizona certified document preparer, under its inherent authority to curb abusive litigation practices and after finding that she improperly practiced law in drafting the complaint in this action for an improper purpose. See Ariz. Code of Jud. Admin. § 7-208(J)(5) (prohibiting document preparers from providing "legal advice or services to another" and "any kind of advice, opinion or recommendation to a consumer about possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, options or strategies."); Gomez v. Vernon, 255 F.3d 1118, 1134 (9th Cir. 2001) (affirming inherent-power sanctions based on a finding of bad faith, vexatiousness, wantonness, oppressiveness, or willful disobedience of a court order); Fink v. Gomez, 239 F.3d 989, 992 (9th Cir. 2001) (finding of bad faith for purposes of inherent-power sanctions includes a broad range of willful improper conduct, such as trying to gain a tactical advantage).
Heimer's remaining contentions are unpersuasive.