Diane Westin v. Fred Nitowski

FILED
NOT FOR PUBLICATION JUN 17 2010
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
DIANE WESTIN, No. 08-56853
Plaintiff - Appellant, D.C. No. 2:08-cv-03925-R-SH
v.
MEMORANDUM *
FRED NITOWSKI; et al.,
Defendants - Appellees.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Central District of California
Manuel L. Real, District Judge, Presiding
Submitted May 25, 2010 **
Before: CANBY, THOMAS, and W. FLETCHER, Circuit Judges.
Diane Westin appeals pro se from the district court’s order dismissing her
diversity action arising from a property dispute with family members. We have
*
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
**
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a dismissal based on res
judicata. Mpoyo v. Litton Electro-Optical Sys., 430 F.3d 985, 987 (9th Cir. 2005).
We review for an abuse of discretion a vexatious litigant order, De Long v.
Hennessey, 912 F.2d 1144, 1146 (9th Cir. 1990), and an award of Rule 11
sanctions, Retail Flooring Dealers of Am., Inc. v. Beaulieu of Am., LLC, 339 F.3d
1146, 1150 (9th Cir. 2003). We affirm in part and reverse in part.
The district court properly dismissed the action because Westin’s claims
have already been litigated, or could have been litigated, by the parties or their
privies in state court. See Westin v. Nitowski, No. B198460, slip op. at 2 (Cal. Ct.
App. Mar. 27, 2008) (affirming California Superior Court’s determination that
defendants Fred and Gwen Nitowski are the holders of title to the property); see
also Kay v. City of Rancho Palos Verdes, 504 F.3d 803, 808 (9th Cir. 2007)
(describing elements of res judicata under California law).
We reverse the vexatious litigant order entered against Westin because the
district court did not create an adequate record for review or make substantive
findings as to the frivolous or harassing nature of Westin’s actions, and the order
restricting Westin from filing any new actions is overbroad. See De Long, 912
F.2d at 1147-48. We also reverse the district court’s imposition of Rule 11
2 08-56853
sanctions because defendants failed to comply with Rule 11’s “safe harbor”
provision. See Retail Flooring, 339 F.3d at 1150.
Westin’s remaining contentions are unpersuasive.
Appellees’ request for double attorney’s fees on appeal is denied.
The parties shall bear their own costs on appeal.
AFFIRMED in part and REVERSED in part.
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