Opinion
Nos. 09-56461, 09-56828, 09-56962.
The panel unanimously concludes these appeals are suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a)(2).
Filed July 23, 2010.
Barry Kenneth Rothman, Esquire, Law Offices of Barry K. Rothman, Los Angeles, CA, for Plaintiffs-Appellants.
Michael Herbert Fish, Niddrie, Fish Buchanan LLP, Bradley Jacobs, Esquire, Bradley L. Jacobs, APC, San Diego, CA, for Defendant-Appellant.
Appeals from the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Dean D. Pregerson, District Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. 2:09-cv-03345-DDP-JWJ.
Before: ALARCÓN, LEAVY, and GRABER, Circuit Judges.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Satanand Sharma and the Bidya Sharma Irrevocable Trust of 1996 (collectively, "Sharma") appeal from the district court's order dismissing their action alleging violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO"). National Enterprises, Inc. appeals from the order denying its motion for sanctions under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo the district court's dismissal for failure to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Odom v. Microsoft Corp., 486 F.3d 541, 545 (9th Cir. 2007) (en banc). We review for an abuse of discretion the district court's Rule 11 determination. Retail Flooring Dealers of Am., Inc. v. Beaulieu of Am., LLC, 339 F.3d 1146, 1150 (9th Cir. 2003). We affirm.
Appeal No. 09-56461
The district court properly dismissed the action because Sharma failed to allege facts showing that defendants' actions proximately caused the alleged injuries. See Hemi Group, LLC v. City of New York, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S.Ct. 983, 988-90, ___ L.Ed.2d ___(2010) (discussing proximate cause requirement for civil RICO claims).
We are not persuaded by Sharma's contention regarding leave to amend. See Lipton v. Pathogenesis Corp., 284 F.3d 1027, 1039 (9th Cir. 2002) (affirming dismissal without leave to amend where amendment would be futile).
Sharma's remaining contentions are unpersuasive.
Appeal Nos. 09-56828, 09-56962
The district court did not abuse its discretion by denying National Enterprises' motion for Rule 11 sanctions after finding that the complaint was not legally or factually baseless from an objective perspective. See Christian v. Mattel, Inc., 286 F.3d 1118, 1127 (9th Cir. 2002) (listing factors that district courts must consider in determining whether to impose Rule 11 sanctions).
APPEAL NO. 09-56461: AFFIRMED.
APPEAL NOS. 09-56828, 09-56962: AFFIRMED.