Lasko v. American Board of Surgery
Lasko v. American Board of Surgery
Opinion of the Court
Order Granting Motions to Dismiss [Docs. 21, 43], Granting in Part and Denying in Part Motions to Dismiss [Doc. 36, 45], and Denying Other Motions [Docs. 18, 29, 44, 63, 79, 97, 125,130,136,140,156]
Pro-se plaintiff Keith Alan Lasko sues eleven governmental, organizational, and individual defendants for antitrust violations, civil-rights violations, and obstruction of justice.
Background
This is not the first lawsuit involving Keith Lasko and many of the defendants. The American Board of Sur- ', gery (“ABS”) sued Lasko in the Eastern
The substantive connections between this suit and the Pennsylvania suit are expressed in Lasko’s amended complaint and motions. His first cause of action, which is for antitrust violations and interference with interstate commerce, essentially seeks a reversal of Judge Goldberg’s judgment in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Among the motions now pending before this court, five are motions to dismiss filed
Discussion
I. Motion for Recusal (Doc. 125)
Lasko has repeatedly sought to remove the district and magistrate judges assigned to his ease in Nevada.
When a party “files a timely and sufficient affidavit” showing a judge that she has “a personal bias or prejudice either against him or in favor of any adverse party, such judge shall proceed no further” in that case.
Motions for reconsideration are not expressly authorized in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, but courts may grant them under Rule 59(e).
" Lasko’s first basis for requesting recusal — or, possibly, reconsideration — essentially centers on his argument that I “support[] every decision” of the magistrate judge assigned to this case.
Second, Lasko asks me to recuse because he baldly alleges that I am “pro abortion,” while he characterizes himself and his organizations as “pro life.” On the face of his complaint, I do not see any abortion-related issues.
The motion for recusal is therefore denied.
II. Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg’s Motion to Dismiss (Doc. 21)
Judge Goldberg seeks dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), arguing that the only action he is alleged to have committed is “the issuance of orders in his official capacity, in cases over which his court had subject-matter jurisdiction.”
“It is well settled that [j]udges and those performing judge-like functions are absolutely immune from damage liability for acts performed in their official functions.”
Lasko’s allegations of misconduct by Judge Goldberg are all aimed at functions Judge Goldberg performed in his official role.
III. Motion to Dismiss Brought by Seven Defendants (Doc. 43)
In their joint motion to dismiss, the seven defendants argue that venue is improper in Nevada because (1) most of Lasko’s claims should have been filed as compulsory counterclaims in Pennsylvania and (2) Lasko is improperly using this suit as a collateral attack on decisions by the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Third Circuit.
When a case is filed in the wrong venue, 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a) provides that the district court “shall dismiss, or if it be in the interest of justice, transfer” the case. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(3) likewise permits dismissal when a party brings a motion for improper venue. Justice is not served by transferring a case “back to a jurisdiction that [a party] purposefully sought to avoid through blatant forum shopping.”
This case is effectively an appeal of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania litigation. Each of Lasko’s claims refers to perceived problems with the Pennsylvania case.
Given Lasko’s patent forum shopping to avoid the decisions rendered in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Third Circuit, this case against these moving defendants must be dismissed. With this dismissal, Lasko still has recourse: his concerns can be substantively addressed in the courts where venue properly existed in the first place. Accordingly, the seven defendants’ motion to dismiss (Doc. 43) is granted under 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a) and Rule 12(b)(3). Lasko’s claims against ABS, Cofer, Mahvi, Lewis, Buyske, Malangoni, and Bevilacqua are dismissed.
IY. American Board of Internal Medicine’s Motion to Dismiss (Doc. 36)
ABIM moves for dismissal under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 8(a), 8(d), 12(b)(6), and 41(d).
A. Motion to Dismiss
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 requires every complaint to contain “[a] short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.”
District courts employ a two-step approach when evaluating a complaint’s sufficient on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss. First, the court must accept as true all well-pled factual allegations in the complaint, recognizing that legal conclusions are not entitled to the assumption of truth.
ABIM’s dismissal motion contends that Lasko failed to provide a short and plain statement of claims, he failed to state any plausible claim to relief, and his complaint cannot be read to assert any plausible claim specifically against ABIM.
In his complaint, Lasko claims that ABIM conspired as a sister organization to ABS in “acting to divide the medical marketplace, eliminate competitors to perpetuate control of a market of medical certification”; violated the Sherman and Clayton Antitrust Acts; interfered with interstate commerce; and committed the torts of “Defamation, Libel, and False Light.”
This is the background with which I now consider the sufficiency of Lasko’s claims against ABIM.
Lasko’s first claim is for violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act, violations of the Clayton Antitrust Act, and interference with interstate commerce, which I analyze in turn.
a. Sherman Antitrust Act
Because Lasko does not specify which Sherman Act section he believes was violated, I discuss the first two sections.
Any Section 1 theory fails at the first element because Lasko never alleges any contract between ABIM and another party.
b. Clayton Antitrust Act
The Clayton Act likewise prohibits a variety of activities, and without presenting an exhaustive discussion of the
( c. Interference with interstate commerce
Interference with interstate commerce is not an independent federal tort, though it may be an aspect of a Sherman Act violation.
2. Claim two: civil-rights violations
Lasko’s second claim is for civil-rights violations by ABIM and others.
Section 1983 is a civil statute permitting suits for acts performed by a state actor under color of law.
3. Claim three: right to organize
Lasko’s third claim argues that “[u]nder the First Amendment Right of Peaceable Assembly comes the Right to Freedom of Association and the Right to Organize.”
Second, Lasko is correct in writ-' ing that “state action which may have the effect of curtailing the freedom to associate is subject to the closest scrutiny.”
Third, the National Labor Relations Act is addressed to private-sector conduct, but it relates to employer-employee relationships and collective bargaining.
Accordingly, I dismiss Lakso’s third cause of action against ABIM without prejudice as to the freedom-of-association component and with prejudice as to the right-to-organize component.
4. Claim four: defamation, libel, and false light
Lasko’s fourth claim is for defamation, libel, and false light. Because these are not federal claims, I liberally construe these as tort claims under Nevada law. The factual predicate that Lasko supplies is straightforward: ABIM, ABS, and ABMS “maintained a campaign to vilify and denégrate [sic] and destroy Reverend Lasko and his medical organizations.”
a. Defamation or libel
A plaintiff must satisfy four elements to state a defamation claim: “(1) a false and defamatory statement ; (2) an unprivileged publication to a third person; (3) fault, amounting to at least negligence; and (4) actual or presumed damages.”
Lasko’s defamation claim survives dismissal. He alleges potentially defamatory statements and alleges publication via the internet, newspapers, and journals. Liberally construing his pleading, “fault, amounting to at least negligence” can be inferred. Because the statements are directed toward his professional activities, damages may also be inferred. ABIM does not argue that any statements it may have made are privileged because they were true. Accordingly, this claim survives against ABIM. If only state-law claims survive and no federal claims remain, however, I may decline to exercise wholly supplemental jurisdiction at a future date.
b. False light
Nevada recognizes the right to privacy as discussed in the Restatement (Second) of Torts, which includes the right to sue for “publicity unreasonably placing another in a false light before the public.”
Because Lasko identifies this as a false-light claim, I infer that he intends to plead that ABIM’s statements were false. It is readily apparent that a reasonable person would be highly offended by false statements that he was “running wild,” “claims to be a doctor,” issuing “false certifications,” and so forth.
Lasko’s false-light claim against ABIM is accordingly dismissed.
5. Claim five: undue influence and obstruction of justice
On the face of his complaint, Lasko’s legal basis for alleging undue influence and obstruction of justice is unclear.
Because Lasko suggests RICO violations at various places in his motions, the closest I come to finding a legal basis for his fifth claim is 18 U.S.C. § 1503(a), which prohibits corruptly influencing judicial officers. But Section 1503(b) is a criminal statute and not a private right of action.
Even if untoward conduct occurred under a civil provision — and even if ABIM benefitted from Judge Goldberg’s orders— nothing in the complaint indicates that ABIM was involved in any bribery scheme. Nor does anything indicate that ABIM was even aware of attempts to bribe the federal judge who oversaw the Pennsylvania litigation. To state a claim for undue influence, Lasko must plead facts showing that ABIM had or at least attempted to exert influence. And to state a claim for obstruction of justice, Lasko must plausibly allege that ABIM had some knowing part in tampering,with justice. He does not. I therefore dismiss Lasko’s fifth cause of action against ABIM.
B. Amendment
Because all of Lasko’s claims against ABIM are dismissed, except for his claim for defamation, I now consider whether he should be given leave to amend his complaint.
Courts “freely give leave [to amend] when justice so requires.”
Amendment is liberally — not limitlessly — offered. If a court finds reasons that justify denying amendment,
2.Claim one: antitrust violations
Lasko is granted leave to amend his Sherman Act claim if he can allege facts that would support each element of his claim. If he amends his first claim, it must pertain to the Sherman Act only. Because the Clayton Act focuses on issues such as price discrimination and exclusive-purchase agreements, it is distinguishable from his allegations about ABIM’s attempt to control the medical-certification market. Lasko thus may not bring an amended claim for Clayton Act violations.
2. Claim two: civil-rights violations
Lasko’s claims under 18 U.S.C. §§ 241, 242, 247, and 249 cannot be raised in any amended complaint because these are criminal statutes. Lasko may amend his second claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, only if he can plausibly allege specific facts that ABIM was acting under color of state law when it violated his constitutional or civil rights.
3. Claim three: right to organize
Lasko may amend his claim for violation of his associational freedom if he can plead facts that show that ABIM acted under color of state law. He must be able to allege state action — and what specific actions ABIM took that harmed him under the relevant law on freedom of association — in order to maintain this claim. Lasko may not replead the NLRA claim because the facts he describes have nothing to do with organized labor and, in fact, indicate that he was not employed by ABIM.
4. Claim four: defamation, libel, and false light
Lasko’s claim for defamation or libel is not dismissed; he is not required to amend this part of his fourth claim. If he files an amended complaint, however, he must include his defamation claim in the new complaint in order to keep it. Lasko may amend his false-light claim only if he can allege true facts that show the elements of false light as described above in Part IV(A)(4)(b). His current complaint fails to allege that ABIM acted with knowledge or reckless disregard of falsity, so if Lasko wishes to amend his complaint to restate a false-light claim, he must, also allege facts to support this element.
5. Claim five: undue inñuence and obstruction of justice
Finally, the legal basis for Lasko’s fifth claim is unclear, and he fails to allege any
C. Summary
ABIM’s motion to dismiss is granted: all of Lasko’s claims against it' are dismissed, except Lasko’s claim for defamation, which survives. Lasko is permitted until October 3, 2014, to amend his complaint consistent with the directions provided in this order.
Y. Saul Ewing LLC and Gabriel L.I. Bevilacque’s Motion to Dismiss (Doc. 45)
Saul Ewing and Bevilacque, who is of counsel with Saul Ewing, bring a separate motion to dismiss. Because Bevilacque is party to the seven defendants’ dismissal motion, which I grant in this order, I deny his portion of this dismissal motion (Doc. 45) as moot.
A. Motion to Dismiss
Lasko alleges that Saul Ewing violated the Sherman and Clayton Acts; interfered with interstate commerce; violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 18 U.S.C. §§ 241, 242, 247, and 249, 42 U.S.C. § 1985, and eight constitutional amendments; and, “through very large donations to Mitchell S. Goldberg’s political organization and large donations to [judges’] political campaigns,” gives the appearance of “Undue Influence on a Judge” and “Obstruction of Justice under the RICO Act.”
Saul Ewing’s motion to dismiss argues that “this lawsuit is purely based on statements and conduct the Saul Ewing Defendants made in litigation pending in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania on behalf of ABS.”
1. Noerr-Pennington immunity
“The Supreme Court has described the right to petition as ‘among the
When I review Lasko’s pleading and all relevant motions, the only actions Saul Ewing is alleged to have performed are (1) its representation of ABS in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, (2) its alleged donations to Judge Goldberg’s “political organization” and other judges’ “political campaigns,” and (3) its defense against Lasko’s suit here in the District of Nevada.
This leaves only Lasko’s fifth claim for relief against Saul Ewing. In the body of Lasko’s complaint,, he alleges that “[t]he Saul Ewing LLC firm has donated large sums of money to many judges’ political campaigns and has appeared in courtrooms in Pennsylvania.”
In its motion to dismiss, Saul Ewing is— reasonably — unsure how to defend against this cause of action.
Further, while the Rule 12(b)(6) standard requires me to accept as true all well-pled actual allegations, a complaint is insufficient went it tenders mere “naked assertion[s] devoid of further factual enhancement.”
Lasko’s fifth claim, as pled, fails in two ways: it does not put the defendant on
B. Amendment
Lasko may have an opportunity to amend his complaint to replead his fifth claim against Saul Ewing. If he can (1) show a good-faith legal basis for his undue-influence and obstruction-of-justice claims and (2) plead true facts to support each element of such claims. Because NoerrPennington shields Saul Ewing from liability related to its litigation in Pennsylvania, Lasko’s other claims against Saul Ewing are dismissed with prejudice.
If Lasko amends his complaint to maintain his claims against both ABIM and Saul Ewing, he must file a motion seeking the court’s leave to amend by October 3, 2014, and follow the instructions for seeking amendment in Section VIII below.
VI. Remaining Motions
The remaining seven motions in this case are Lasko’s motions for default judgment (Docs. 18, 156); a special motion to dismiss brought by the seven defendants (Doc. 44); Lasko’s motion for pendant jurisdiction (Doc. 63); motions for reconsideration of Magistrate Judge Koppe’s orders (Docs. 79, 97); motions for sanctions by the seven defendants (Docs. 130, 136); and a motion for sanctions by Lasko against attorney Von Heinz and his client, defendant Bevilaequa (Doc. 140).
First, in his motions for default judgment, Lasko claims that no defendant timely responded to his allegations and that all defendants thus admitted committing civil-rights violations.
Second, because this case is now dismissed with respect to the seven defendants, I deny their special motion to dismiss (Doc. 44) and their motions for sanctions (Docs. 130, 136) as moot.
Third, Lasko’s motion for pendant jurisdiction, construed liberally, may be a motion for leave to amend his complaint.
Fourth, Lasko moves for reconsideration of Magistrate Judge Koppe’s order strik
Next, Lasko asks me to remove Magistrate Judge Koppe from this case.
Finally, I am left only with Lasko’s motion for sanctions against attorney Heinz and his client Bevilaequa. By way of background, Magistrate Judge Koppe issued an order striking three of Lasko’s motions on February 21, 2014.
It is with this background that I approach Lasko’s motion for sanctions: he contends that Heinz and Bevilaequa “attempted to defraud the court by claiming that Plaintiff [sic] motion for reconsideration should be ignored and struck down because it did not come without 14 days following February 21, 2014.”
VII. American Board of Medical Specialists
The sole defendant who has not filed a motion to dismiss is ABMS. Service on
VII. Directions for Amended Complaint
Given the federal courts’ liberal approach to pro-se parties, I provide Lasko with at least one more opportunity amend his complaint and adequately identify his claims. Accordingly, he has until October 3, 2014, to file an amended complaint. Lasko is advised as follows:
1. If he files an amended complaint, it must comply with all rules of this court, including the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (available on the U.S. Courts website at http://www.uscourts.gov/ useourts/rules/civil-procedure.pdf) and the Local Rules of Practice for the District of Nevada (available on this court’s website at http://www.nvd.uscourts.gov/).
2. Although this list is in no way exhaustive, I highlight some of the rules that apply to the form of a complaint:
a.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 10(b) requires a party to “state its claims or defenses in numbered paragraphs.”157
b. Lasko’s complaint must also comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8, which requires it to contain:
(1) a short and plain statement of the grounds for the court’s jurisdiction, unless the court already has jurisdiction and the claim needs no new jurisdictional support;
(2) a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief; and
(3) a demand for the relief sought, which may include relief in the alternative or different types of relief.158
c. To survive dismissal, a complaint must give each defendant “fair notice of what the claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.”159 While this requires Lasko to state the legal and factual bases for each claim, long and narrative-style pleadings like the ones Lasko has already filed fail to provide defendants with fair notice of the claims against them. Thus, Lasko’s amended complaint must specifically allege what law, statute, or constitutional provision he claims was violated by the conduct he alleges, so that defendants will be on notice of the factual and legal bases for his claims. Each claim should be in a separate cause of action that contains all facts supporting its essential elements and states the specific relief requested. And for each separately identified claim for relief, Lasko must also identify which defendant is the target of*1147 each claim. For example: “Count One — Antitrust Violations by ABIM.”
d. An amended complaint must be “complete in itself without reference to the” previous version of the complaint.160 Lasko must carry into the new proposed complaint any information he wants to continue pleading. The court cannot refer to a prior pleading for information because an amended complaint supersedes all pri- or versions; it is as if the prior versions never existed. All allegations and claims not carried forward are deemed waived.161 Claims that Lasko wishes to maintain must appear in the new complaint. Exhibits that Lasko wants attached to his complaint must also be attached.
e. Given this specific guidance on pleading requirements, the court is not inclined to grant Lasko leave to file a third amended complaint if his second amended complaint is deficient. If Lasko fails to prosecute his action, or if he fails to comply with the rules or any court order, the court may dismiss the action with prejudice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b).162
While I construe all of Lasko’s pro-se motions with great liberality, I remind him that he is not relieved of his obligation to comply with the rules and procedures of this court simply because he has not retained, or cannot afford to retain, an attorney to represent him.
Lasko is further cautioned that I will not consider a complaint that contains claims dismissed with prejudice in this order; the sections above, which discuss claim-by-claim what amendments he may and may not bring, provide very specific directions. The court has already warned Lasko three times against submitting new motions that merely restate issues he has already fully briefed.
Accordingly, and with good cause appearing,
It is hereby ORDERED that Keith Alan Lasko’s motion for default [Doc. 18] is DENIED.
It is further ORDERED that Mitchell S. Goldberg’s motion to dismiss [Doc. 21] is GRANTED.
It is further ORDERED that Keith Alan Lasko’s motion to release Mitchell S. Goldberg [Doc. 29] is DENIED as moot.
It is further ORDERED that the American Board of Internal Medicine’s motion to dismiss [Doc. 36] is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part as stated herein.
It is further ORDERED that the American Board of Surgery, Inc., Joseph B. Cofer, David M. Mahvi, Frank R. Lewis Jr., Jo Buyske, Mark Malangoni, and Gabriel Bevilacqua’s motion to dismiss [Doc. 43] is GRANTED.
It is further ORDERED that the American Board of Surgery, Inc., Joseph B. Cofer, David M. Mahvi, Frank R. Lewis Jr., Jo Buyske, Mark Malangoni, and Gabriel Bevilacqua’s special motion to dismiss [Doc. 44] is DENIED as moot.
It is further ORDERED that Saul Ewing LLC and Gabriel Bevilacqua’s motion to dismiss [Doc. 43] is GRANTED with respect to Saul Ewing and DENIED as moot with respect to Bevilacqua.
It is further ORDERED that Keith Alan Lasko’s motion for pendant jurisdiction [Doc. 63] is DENIED.
It is further ORDERED that Keith Alan Lasko’s motion for reconsideration [Doc. 79] is DENIED.
It is further ORDERED that Keith Alan Lasko’s motion for mistrial and recusal [Doc. 125] is DENIED.
It is further ORDERED that the American Board of Surgery, Inc., Joseph B. Cofer, David M. Mahvi, Frank R. Lewis Jr., Jo Buyske, Mark Malangoni, and Gabriel Bevilacqua’s motion for sanctions [Doc. 130] is DENIED as moot.
It is further ORDERED that the American Board of Surgery, Inc., Joseph B. Cofer, David M. Mahvi, Frank R. Lewis Jr., Jo Buyske, Mark Malangoni, and Gabriel Bevilacqua’s motion for sanctions [Doc. 136] is DENIED as moot.
It is further ORDERED that Keith Alan Lasko’s motion for sanctions [Doc. 140] is DENIED.
It is further ORDERED that Keith Alan Lasko’s motion for default judgment [Doc. 156] is DENIED.
It is further ordered that ..Keith Alan Lasko shall have until October 3, 2014, to file a second amended complaint consistent with the limitations and instructions in this order.
. See generally Doc. 19. I liberally construe Lasko’s claims and arguments. See Bernhardt v. L.A. Cnty., 339 F.3d 920, 925 (9th Cir. 2003) (acknowledging that courts must construe pro-se motions and pleadings liberally).
. See Docs. 18, 21, 29, 36, 43-45, 63, 79, 97, 125, 130, 136, 140, 156. I find these motions appropriate for resolution without oral argument. LR 78-2.
. See Doc. 43-1 (Pennsylvania complaint); • see also Doc. 43-7 at 9 (order signed by Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg). Federal Rule of Evidence 201 permits courts to take judicial notice of any fact "not subject to reasonable dispute in that it is either: (1) generally known within the territorial jurisdiction of the trial court or (2) capable of accurate and ready determination by resort to sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned.” Judicial notice is properly taken of public-record proceedings in other courts, both within and without the federal judicial system, if those proceedings directly relate to matters at issue. Biggs v. Terhune, 334 F.3d 910, 916 n. 3 (9th Cir. 2003), oveiruled on other grounds by Hayward v. Marshall, 603 F.3d 546 (9th Cir. 2010). I therefore take judicial notice of the complaint and motions filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Third Circuit that are cited in this order.
. Doc. 43-5 (motion filed by Lasko in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania); Doc. 43-11 (same); Doc. 43-17 (same); Doc. 43-6 (order by Judge Goldberg denying motion by Lasko); Doc. 43-7 (same); Doc. 43-12 (district-court order finding Lasko in contempt); Doc. 43-14 (notice of Lasko's appeal to the Third Circuit).
. Doc. 43-14 (summary affirmation of district-court judgment); Doc. 43-15 (Third Circuit entry of judgment).
. Doc. 43-16 (Lasko appeal).
. Doc. 1-1 (complaint filed October 16, 2013).
. Doc. 19 at 7-8, 15.
. Id. at 16-17, 19.
. Id. at 22.
. Id.
. Id. at 22-23; Doc. 48 at 28.
. Id. at 22-26.
. Doc. 19 at 22.
. Docs. 21, 36, 43-45.
. Docs. 130, 136 (motions for sanctions); see also Docs. 60, 72, 107, 109 (orders granting’ defendants' motions to strike and denying plaintiff's motion for discovery).
. Docs. 18, 156 (motions for default); Doc. 29 (motion to release Judgé Goldberg with certain provisions); Doc. 63 (motion for relief); Doc. 79 (motion objecting to magistrate judge order); Doc. 97 (emergency motion to remove Magistrate Judge Koppe); Doc. 125 (motion to remove Magistrate Judge Koppe and Judge Dorsey); Doc. 140 (motion for sanctions).
. See Docs. 97 (motion to recuse magistrate judge), 118 (motion to recuse magistrate judge), 125 (motion to recuse district and magistrate judges), 126 (motion to recuse magistrate judge); see also Doc. 127 (Magistrate Judge Koppe denying two motions for recusal).
. Doc. 125 at 5. Lasko styles this a motion for mistrial and recusal, but no trial has occurred, so there cannot have been a mistrial. See id. at 1.
. Doc. 125 at 5.
. 28 U.S.C. § 144; see also 28 U.S.C. § 455.
. Yagman v. Republic Ins., 987 F.2d 622, 626 (9th Cir. 1993) (citing In re Yagman, 796 F.2d 1165, 1179 (9th Cir. 1986), opinion amended oh denial of reh’g sub nom., In re Yagman, 803 F.2d 1085 (9th Cir. 1986)); United States v. Conforte, 624 F.2d 869, 880-81 (9th Cir. 1980).
. Id. (citing United States v. Monaco, 852 F.2d 1143, 1147 (9th Cir. 1988)).
. Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 555, 114 S.Ct. 1147, 127 L.Ed.2d 474 (1994) (citing United States v. Grinnell Corp., 384 U.S. 563, 583, 86 S.Ct. 1698, 16 L.Ed.2d 778 (1966)) (discussing the rule that, under Section 144, disqualifying bias and prejudice stem from extrajudicial sources).
. Id.
. See 389 Orange Street Partners v. Arnold, 179 F.3d 656, 665 (9th Cir. 1999).
. Id. (citing All Haw. Tours, Corp. v. Polynesian Cultural Ctr., 116 F.R.D. 645, 648 (D.Haw. 1987)).
. Carroll v. Nakatani, 342 F.3d 934, 945 (9th Cir. 2003) (quoting 12 James Wm. Moore et al., Moore’s Federal Practice § 59.30[4] (3d ed. 2000)).
. See Doc. 125 at 5.
. See Docs. 1, 13, 14, 18, 28, 29, 47-48, 55, 61-69, 73-74, 77, 79, 97, 99, 100, 100-03, 108, 111, 117-18, 124-26, 132, 137, 140-41, 151, 153, 156, 161, 162.
. See Docs. 60, 72, 107 (orders by district and magistrate judges granting motions to strike); see also Docs. 55, 61-69, 73-74.
. Docs. 72 at 3 (warning Lasko that he must comply with court orders); Doc. 107 at 4 (warning Lasko that he could be sanctioned for continuing to violate court orders by reraising matters that are already fully briefed); see also Docs. 108, 111, 117-18, 124-26, 132, 137, 140-41, 151, 153, 156, 161, 162 (post-warning motions by Lasko).
. See generally Doc. 19 (amended complaint).
. Lasko's motion for recusal also seeks Magistrate Judge Koppe’s removal. See id. at 2-6. I agree with her earlier decision to deny two of Lasko’s motions for her recusal, as her order explains well at Doc. 127.
. See Doc. 21 at 2 (incorporating by reference all arguments made in Doc. 6); Doc. 6 at 2.
. Id.
. Doc. 29 at 14.
. Id.
. Partington v. Gedan, 961 F.2d 852, 866 (9th Cir. 1992) (quoting Ashelman v. Pope, 793 F.2d 1072, 1075 (9th Cir. 1986) (en banc)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
. Id. (quoting Stump v. Sparkman, 435 U.S. 349, 362, 98 S.Ct. 1099, 55 L.Ed.2d 331 (1978)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
. Stump v. Sparkman, 435 U.S. 349, 356, 98 S.Ct. 1099, 55 L.Ed.2d 331 (1978) (quoting Bradley v. Fisher, 80 U.S. 335, 351, 13 Wall. 335, 20 L.Ed. 646 (1871)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
. Id. at 367, 98 S.Ct. 1099 (Stewart, J„ dissenting) (footnote omitted).
. Stump, 435 U.S. at 356, 98 S.Ct. 1099 (quoting Bradley v. Fisher, 80 U.S. 335, 351, 13 Wall. 335, 20 L.Ed. 646 (1871)) (internal quotation marks omitted); Mullis v. U.S. Bankr. Ct. for the Dist. of Nev., 828 F.2d 1385, 1389 (9th Cir. 1987) (citations omitted) (discussing the total absence of subject-matter or personal jurisdiction). As the District of Idaho observes in a decision affirmed by the Ninth Circuit, "There is a notable difference in exceeding proper jurisdiction and acting in a clear absence of subject matter jurisdiction." Samuel v. Michaud, 980 F.Supp. 1381, 1400-01 (D.Idaho 1996).
. Ashelman v. Pope, 793 F.2d 1072, 1078 (9th Cir. 1986) (citations omitted).
. See generally Doc. 19; see also discussion of Lasko's claims in the Background section above.
. Doc. 43 at 11.
. Doc. 47 at 29; see also Doc. 48.
. Wood v. Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce, Inc., 705 F.2d 1515, 1523 (9th Cir. 1983).
. Johnson v. Payless Drug Stores Nw., Inc., 950 F.2d 586, 588 (9th Cir. 1991) (citing Wood v. Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce, 705 F.2d 1515, 1523 (9th Cir. 1983)).
. King v. Russell, 963 F.2d 1301, 1304 (9th Cir. 1992) (quoting district-court decision).
. See Doc. 19 at 7-28.
. Doc. 43-16 (Third Circuit appeal on October 1, 2013); Doc. 1-1 (District of Nevada complaint filed October 16, 2013). At the time of filing their motion to dismiss, the seven defendants represented that Lasko's third appeal was pending before the Third Circuit' — and that Judge Goldberg had ruled against Lasko's efforts to transfer the Eastern District of Pennsylvania litigation to the District of Nevada. Doc. 43 at 12.
. See Wood, 705 F.2d at 1523.
. See King, 963 F.2d at 1304.
. Doc. 36 at 1. ABIM’s motion seeks dismissal under both Rule 41(b) and Rule 41(d). Id. at 1-3. Rule 41(b) governs involuntary dismissal and Rule 41(d) addresses the costs of a previously dismissed action. Because the body of ABIM’s motion analyzes its argument under 41(b), I adopt the same approach.
. See King, 963 F.2d at 1304.
. See generally Doc. 36.
. Fed'.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(2); Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007); Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678-79, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009); see also Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(d) ("Each allegation must be simple, concise, and direct.”)
. Id. at 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955.
. Id. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937.
. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 562, 127 S.Ct. 1955 (quoting Car Carriers, Inc. v. Ford Motor Co., 745 F.2d 1101, 1106 (7th Cir. 1984)) (emphasis in original).
. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678-79, 129 S.Ct. 1937.
. Id.
. Id. at 679, 129 S.Ct. 1937.
. Id.
. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955.
. Doc. 36 at 2-3.
. Doc. 48 at 2, 21, 23, 27-28.
. Id. at 2.
. Id. Lasko seeks discovery to prove this allegation and argues that Ken Sullivan, an attorney in Chicago, was a witness to defendants' threatening and anti-competitive conduct. Id.
. See Doc. 19 at 4-5.
. Id. at 12.
. Doc. 19 at 7. Lasko also alleges fraudulent use of a false-trademark claim eight pages into his first claim, but this section mentions other defendants without mentioning ABIM. See id. at 14-15. Ultimately, this section still appears to be about the alleged antitrust violations. See id.
. See generally Doc. 19. Section 1 discusses conspiracy; Section 2 discusses monopoly. 15 U.S.C. §§ 1-2.
. Jack Russell Terrier Network of N. Cal. v. Am. Kennel Club, Inc., 407 F.3d 1027, 1033 (9th Cir. 2005) (citing Am. Ad Mgmt., Inc. v. GTE Corp., 92 F.3d 781, 784, 788 (9th Cir. 1996)).
. Rebel Oil Co. v. Atl. Richfield Co., 51 F.3d 1421, 1432-33 (9th Cir. 1995) (citing McGlinchy v. Shell Chem. Co., 845 F.2d 802, 811 (9th Cir. 1988)).
. United States v. Grinnell Corp., 384 U.S. 563, 570-71, 86 S.Ct. 1698, 16 L.Ed.2d 778 (1966).
. See generally Doc. 19.
. See id.
. See id.
. Id. at 4.
. 15 U.S.C. § 13(a).
. 15 U.S.C. §14.
. 15 U.S.C. § 18.
. See, e.g., United States v. S. Cal. Wholesale Grocers’ Ass’n, 7 F.2d 944, 947 (S.D.Cal. 1925) (" 'The four cases and the one here, considered together, clearly illustrate the vital difference, under the Sherman Act, between a direct, substantial, and intentional interference with interstate commerce and an interference which is incidental, indirect, remote, and outside the purposes of those causing it.’ ”).
. See Doc. 19 at 16-22.
. Id. at 17.
. See 18 U.S.C. §§ 241-42, 247, 249.
. 42 U.S.C. § 1983; Chudacoff v. Univ. Med. Ctr. of S. Nev., 649 F.3d 1143, 1149 (9th Cir. 2011) (quoting Lugar v. Edmondson Oil Co., 457 U.S. 922, 928, 102 S.Ct. 2744, 73 L.Ed.2d 482 (1982)).
. Lugar v. Edmondson Oil Co., 457 U.S. 922, 929, 102 S.Ct. 2744, 73 L.Ed.2d 482 (1982) (quoting Ex parte Virginia, 100 U.S. 339, 346-347, 25 L.Ed. 676 (1880)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
. Doc. 19 at 22.
. Id.
. Doc. 19 at 22.
. NAACP v. Alabama, 357 U.S. 449, 460-61, 78 S.Ct. 1163, 2 L.Ed.2d 1488 (1958); see also Doc. 19 at 22 (quoting, without citing, the Supreme Court’s decision in NAACP).
. See 29 U.S.C. §§ 151-69.
. Doc. 19 at 22.
. Id. at 22.
. Clark Cnty. Sch. Dist. v. Virtual Educ. Software, Inc., 125 Nev. 374, 213 P.3d 496, 503 (2009) (quoting Pope v. Motel 6, 121 Nev. 307, 114 P.3d 277, 282 (2005)) (citing Lubin v.
. Id. (quoting K-Mart Corp. v. Washington, 109 Nev. 1180, 866 P.2d 274, 282 (1993)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
. Wynn v. Smith, 117 Nev. 6, 16 P.3d 424, 431 (2001) (quoting K-Mart Corp. v. Washington, 109 Nev. 1180, 866 P.2d 274, 281 (1993)).
. Id. (citation omitted).
. Id. (citation omitted).
. Id.
. People for Ethical Treatment of Animals v. Bobby Berosini, Ltd., 111 Nev. 615, 895 P.2d 1269, 1278 (1995), holding modified on other grounds by City of Las Vegas Downtown Redevelopment Agency v. Hecht, 113 Nev. 632, 940 P.2d 127 (1997) and holding modified on other grounds by City of Las Vegas Downtown Redevelopment Agency v. Hecht, 113 Nev. 644, 940 P.2d 134 (1997) (citing Restatement (Second) of Torts § 652A, appendix at 376).
. Restatement (Second) of Torts § 652A. Nevada case law cites to this Restatement section without listing the elements. See Berosini, 895 P.2d at 1278 (citing Restatement (Second) of Torts § 652A, appendix at 376).
. See Doc. 19 at 22.
. See id. at 22-26.
. Id. at 23.
. Id.
. Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a)(2); see also Sonoma Cnty. Ass'n of Retired Emps. v. Sonoma Cnty., 708 F.3d 1109, 1117 (9th Cir. 2013) (citing Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a); Owens v. Kaiser Found. Health Plan, Inc., 244 F.3d 708, 712 (9th Cir. 2001)) (writing that ''[i]n general, a court should liberally allow a party to amend its pleading.”).
. C.F. ex rel. Farnan v. Capistrano Unified Sch. Dist., 654 F.3d 975, 985 (9th Cir. 2011) (quoting Eminence Capital, LLC v. Aspeon, Inc., 316 F.3d 1048, 1051 (9th Cir. 2003)) (internal quotation marks omitted). This circuit is particularly liberal toward pro-se plaintiffs who seek leave to amend. Crowley v. Bannister, 734 F.3d 967, 977-78 (9th Cir. 2013).
. Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182, 83 S.Ct. 227, 9 L.Ed.2d 222 (1962).
. See id.
. Sonoma, 708 F.3d at 1117 (quoting Eminence Capital, LLC v. Aspeon, Inc., 316 F.3d 1048, 1052 (9th Cir. 2003)).
. Telesaurus VPC, LLC v. Power, 623 F.3d 998, 1003 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182-83, 83 S.Ct. 227, 9 L.Ed.2d 222 (1962)); DeSoto v. Yellow Freight Sys., Inc., 957 F.2d 655, 658 (9th Cir. 1992) (quoting Schreiber Distrib. Co. v. Serv-Well Furniture Co., 806 F.3d 1393, 1401 (9th Cir. 1986)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
. See supra Part III.
. See Doc. 43 (seven defendants’ motion to dismiss); see generally Doc. 45 (Saul Ewing’s motion to dismiss).
. See King, 963 F.2d at 1304.
. Doc. 19 at 5 (alleging violations of the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Tenth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Amendments).
. Doc. 45 at 3.
. Id. at 3, 22-25.
. Doc. 48 at 1-9.
. Id. at 4, 6. Lasko names four additional treaties that he believes apply under the federal Constitution's supremacy clause. Id. at 4.
. White v. Lee, 227 F.3d 1214, 1231 (9th Cir. 2000) (quoting United Mine Workers of America, Dist. 12 v. Ill. State Bar Ass'n, 389 U.S. 217, 222, 88 S.Ct. 353, 19 L.Ed.2d 426 (1967); McDonald v. Smith, 472 U.S. 479, 482, 105 S.Ct. 2787, 86 L.Ed.2d 384 (1985)) ("The right to petition is cut from the same cloth as the other guarantees of that Amendment, and is an assurance of a particular freedom of expression.").
. Empress LLC v. City & Cnty. of S.F., 419 F.3d 1052, 1056 (9th Cir. 2005) (citing Manistee Town Ctr. v. City of Glendale, 227 F.3d 1090, 1092 (9th Cir. 2000)); Sosa v. DIRECTV, Inc., 437 F.3d 923, 931 (9th Cir. 2006) (citing White v. Lee, 227 F.3d 1214, 1231 (9th Cir. 2000)) (Noerr-Pennington "stands for a generic rule of statutory construction, applicable to any statutory interpretation that could implicate the rights protected by the Petition Clause.”).
. Id. at 938 (quoting Cal. Motor Transp. Co. v. Trucking Unlimited, 404 U.S. 508, 514, 92 S.Ct. 609, 30 L.Ed.2d 642 (1972); E.R.R. Presidents Conference v. Noerr Motor Freight, Inc., 365 U.S. 127, 144, 81 S.Ct. 523, 5 L.Ed.2d 464 (1961)).
. See Docs. 19, 45, 48, 51. Even when I expand my review beyond these motions to other documents in this case, I cannot see any other conduct by Saul Ewing.
. Empress LLC v. City & Cnty. of S.F., 419 F.3d 1052, 1056 (9th Cir. 2005) (citing Manistee Town Ctr. v. City of Glendale, 227 F.3d 1090, 1092 (9th Cir. 2000)); Sosa v. DIRECTV, Inc., 437 F.3d 923, 931 (9th Cir. 2006) (citing White v. Lee, 227 F.3d 1214, 1231 (9th Cir. 2000)) (Noerr-Pennington "stands for a generic rule of statutory construction, applicable to any statutory interpretation that could implicate the rights protected by the Petition Clause.”).
. Before moving to the donations question, I address Lasko's contention that jurisdictions abroad do not recognize Noetr-Pennington. I liberally construe this as an argument either that the treaties themselves prohibit applying Noerr-Pennington or that, because the United States entered treaties with nations that do not recognize the doctrine, this nation also cannot apply it.
"[TJreaties do not generally create rights that are privately enforceable in the federal courts.” Igartua-De La Rosa v. United States,
The fact that the United States has signed human-rights treaties — even with nations that fail to recognize Noerr-Pennington, if that is the case — also has no bearing on whether federal courts are obligated to apply the doctrine in domestic cases. Noerr-Pennington is interpreted and applied as a matter of federal constitutional law, grounded in the Petition Clause, and it is independent of international treaties. Accordingly, Lasko's international-law argument fails.
. Doc. 19 at 22-23.
. Doc. 19 at 23.
. See Doc. 45 at 20-25 ("Although it is unclear from the face of the Amended Complaint, it appears Plaintiff seeks to assert an obstruction of justice claim against the Saul Ewing Defendants under the federal civil RICO statute, 18 U.S.C. § 1962.”).
. Id. (analyzing plaintiff’s fifth claim under U.S.C. § 1962); 18 U.S.C. § 1962 (discussing illegal conduct arising out of "a pattern of racketeering activity”).
. Doc. 19 at 23.
. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678-79, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (citation omitted).
. Code of Conduct for United States Judges, Canon 5(A).
. See Doc. 18 at 1; see also Doc. 156 at 2.
. See Doc. 42 at 4 (quashing service on ABMS).
. Doc. 63.
.Id. at 4-7.
. Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a)(2); Leadsinger, Inc. v. BMG Music Publ’g, 512 F.3d 522, 532 (9th Cir. 2008).
. Under Local Rule 15-1(2), the proposed amended complaint must be “complete in itself without reference to the superseding pleading.”
. Doc. 79 (objecting to Doc. 72).
. Doc. 107.
. Doc. 97.
. See id.
. See Doc. 127.
. Doc. 72.
. Doc. 152.
. Id.
. Doc. 104 (challenging Doc. 133, which responds to Doc. 72).
. See id. at 1-3.
. See generally Doc. 132.
. See LR 7-2 (outlining motions that may be filed without specific court leave).
. See Doc. 42 at 4.
. Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(m).
. Fed. R. Civ. Pr. 10(b) (emphasis added).
. Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a).
. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955 (citation omitted).
. See LR 15 — 1(a).
. See Valadez-Lopez v. Chertoff, 656 F.3d 851, 857 (9th Cir. 2011).
. See Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260 (9th Cir. 1992); Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 54 (9th Cir. 1995).
. King v. Atiyeh, 814 F.2d 565, 567 (9th Cir. 1987) ("Pro se litigants must follow the same rules of procedure that govern other litigants.”); see also Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 54 (9th Cir. 1995) ("Although we construe pleadings liberally in their favor, pro se litigants are bound by the rules of procedure.”).
. Jacobsen v. Filler, 790 F.2d 1362, 1364 (9th Cir. 1986).
. Doc. 47 at 3.
. Doc. 60 at'2 ("Plaintiff did not request leave to file a surreply nor are there new matters raised in the reply to which Plaintiff would otherwise be unable to [respond].”); Doc. 72 at 3 ("Plaintiff did not request leave to file a surreply, nor are there new matters raised in the reply to which Plaintiff would otherwise be unable to respond.”); Doc. 107 at 4 (“This is now the third order explaining to Plaintiff that he may not continue to file documents rehashing the matters that are already fully briefed in conjunction with the Motion to Dismiss.”).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Keith Alan LASKO v. AMERICAN BOARD OF SURGERY
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- 1 case
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