Smith v. California Deparment of Corrections & Rehabilitation

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Smith v. California Deparment of Corrections & Rehabilitation, 502 F. App'x 707 (9th Cir. 2013)
Goodwin, Wallace, Fisher

Smith v. California Deparment of Corrections & Rehabilitation

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Robert P. Smith, III, a California state prisoner, appeals pro se from the district court’s order denying his motion for sanctions and costs based on the allegedly defective removal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review for an abuse of discretion. Gibson v. Chrysler Corp., 261 F.3d 927, 949-50 (9th Cir. 2001). We affirm.

The district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Smith’s motion for sanctions under Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure because it properly concluded that the California Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (“CDCR”) did not remove the ease or oppose remand for an improper purpose, and the CDCR’s filings were not clearly frivolous. See Holgate v. Baldwin, 425 F.3d 671, 675-77 (9th Cir. 2005) (identifying bases for awarding Rule 11 sanctions and explaining that a frivolous filing is both baseless and made without a reasonable and competent inquiry).

The district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Smith’s motion for costs under 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c) because the CDCR had “an objectively reasonable basis for removal.” Gardner v. UICI, 508 F.3d 559, 560-61 (9th Cir. 2007) (discussing the circumstances under which an award of attorney’s fees and costs may be awarded under 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c)).

The district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Smith’s motion for reconsideration because Smith failed to establish a basis warranting reconsideration. See Sch. Dist. No. 1J, Multnomah Cnty., Or. v. ACandS, Inc., 5 F.3d 1255, 1262-63 (9th Cir. 1993) (standard of review and grounds for reconsideration). Nor did the district court abuse its discretion by denying Smith’s motion to supplement his motion for reconsideration with newly discovered evidence. See Preminger v. Peake, 552 F.3d 757, 769 n. 11 (9th Cir. 2008) (a district court’s decision concerning its management of litigation is reviewed for an abuse of discretion).

Smith’s request for costs, set forth in his opening and reply briefs, is denied.

The CDCR’s motion for judicial notice, filed on October 31, 2011, is denied.

Smith’s request for an order directing prison officials to comply with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2), filed on October 19, 2012, is denied.

AFFIRMED.

**

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

Reference

Full Case Name
Robert P. SMITH, III, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION; Et Al., Defendants-Appellees
Status
Unpublished