Nextdoor.com, Inc. v. Abhyanker

Filing 561

PUBLIC/REDACTED ORDER Granting 524 Plaintiff's Motion for Immediate Interim Relief, and Deferring Ruling on Plaintiff's Motion to Enforce Settlement. Signed by Judge Edward M. Chen on 4/6/2021. (emcsec, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/6/2021)

Case 3:12-cv-05667-EMC Document 561 Filed 04/06/21 Page 1 of 14

1
2
3
4

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

5

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

6
7

NEXTDOOR, INC.,
Plaintiff,

8

PUBLIC/REDACTED VERSION

v.

9
10

RAJ ABHYANKER,
Defendant.

11
United States District Court
Northern District of California

Case No. 12-cv-05667-EMC

12

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S
MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE INTERIM
RELIEF, AND DEFERRING RULING
ON PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO
ENFORCE SETTLEMENT
Docket No. 524

13
14

In 2012, Plaintiff Nextdoor.com, Inc. initiated this lawsuit against Defendant Raj

15
16

Abhyanker to resolve a dispute as to who had the right to use the Nextdoor mark. See Docket No.

17

1 (complaint). After Nextdoor filed its claims for, inter alia, trademark infringement and

18

declaratory relief, Mr. Abhyanker counterclaimed, asserting causes of action for, inter alia, trade

19

secret misappropriation and trademark infringement.1 See Docket No. 132 (second amended

20

counterclaims).
In December 2014, the parties settled the case. See Docket No. 420-19 (settlement

21
22

agreement). By that time, the parties had already stipulated to a dismissal of Mr. Abhyanker’s

23

counterclaims. See Docket Nos. 224, 226 (stipulation and order). The Court had also granted

24

Nextdoor’s motion for summary judgment on its claim of trademark infringement. See Docket

25

No. 361 (minutes). The stipulation and order for final judgment, as well as the final judgment

26

itself, included the following provision: “This Court shall retain jurisdiction to enforce its

27
28

1

The counterclaims were asserted against persons and entities in addition to Nextdoor. For
purposes of this order, however, the Court focuses on Nextdoor as the relevant counterdefendant.

Case 3:12-cv-05667-EMC Document 561 Filed 04/06/21 Page 2 of 14

1

judgments in this action and any agreements of the parties with respect thereto.” Docket Nos.

2

416-17 (stipulation, order, and final judgment).
Approximately six years after the final judgment, Mr. Abhyanker filed a motion for relief

3
4

from his obligations under the Settlement Agreement. The Court denied the motion. Shortly

5

thereafter, Mr. Abhyanker filed a notice in which he asserted that Nextdoor had breached the

6

terms of the Settlement Agreement which thereby freed him of his obligations under the

7

Settlement Agreement. In the notice, however, Mr. Abhyanker did not ask the Court to make a

8

finding that Nextdoor had materially breached the Settlement Agreement. Instead, Mr. Abhyanker

9

or an entity affiliated with him took unilateral action and initiated:
(1) a lawsuit seeking to invalidate six Nextdoor patents, see Abhyanker v. Nextdoor,

10

Inc., No. C-21-1534 (N.D. Cal.);

United States District Court
Northern District of California

11

(2) a lawsuit asserting infringement of six of Mr. Abhyanker’s patents, see Abhyanker

12

v. Nextdoor, Inc., No. C-21-1586 EMC (N.D. Cal.)2;

13
14

(3) six ex parte petitions for reexamination of Nextdoor patents;

15

(4) a lawsuit seeking a declaration that Nextdoor’s logo has been abandoned and is

16

invalid, see Hiago, Inc. v. Nextdoor, Inc., No. C-21-1853 EMC (N.D. Cal.); and
(5) a TTAB proceeding challenging Nextdoor’s logo.

17
18

Now pending before the Court is Nextdoor’s motion for immediate interim relief and to enforce

19

the Settlement Agreement.
Having considered the parties’ briefs and accompanying submissions, as well as the oral

20
21

argument of counsel,3 the Court hereby GRANTS Nextdoor’s motion.

22
23
24
25
26
27
28

2

A week after filing this lawsuit, Mr. Abhyanker, for the first time, asked this Court for relief,
asserting that Nextdoor had violated the stipulated protective order in the case and therefore
seeking sanctions. See Docket No. 507 (Mr. Abhyanker’s motion for sanctions, filed on March
12, 2021).
3

Although Mr. Abhyanker is formally proceeding pro se, he is a California-bar certified lawyer.
Mr. Abhyanker is also named as co-counsel of record in the three Northern District lawsuits
identified above.
2

Case 3:12-cv-05667-EMC Document 561 Filed 04/06/21 Page 3 of 14

I.

1
2
3

A.

DISCUSSION

Jurisdiction
As an initial matter, the Court acknowledges Mr. Abhyanker’s appeal of its February 22,

4

2021, order which denied Mr. Abhyanker relief from his obligations under the Settlement

5

Agreement. See Docket No. 474 (sealed order); Docket No. 494 (redacted order). Although this

6

appeal is currently before the Ninth Circuit, neither party claims that this Court has been divested

7

of jurisdiction to consider Nextdoor’s motion for relief now pending before the Court. The Court

8

agrees that it has jurisdiction to entertain Nextdoor’s motion for relief. See Mayweathers v.

9

Newland, 258 F.3d 930, 935 (9th Cir. 2001) (stating that a “‘district court retains jurisdiction
during the pendency of an appeal to act to preserve the status quo,’” although “[t]he district court’s

11
United States District Court
Northern District of California

10

exercise of jurisdiction should not ‘materially alter the status of the case on appeal’”).

12

Mr. Abhyanker has suggested that Nextdoor’s motion should have been filed in the related

13

case, Abhyanker v. Nextdoor, No. C-21-1534 EMC, rather than in the instant case. In the related

14

case, Mr. Abhyanker has asserted a claim that Nextdoor breached the Settlement Agreement. The

15

Court rejects Mr. Abhyanker’s position. Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America,

16

511 U.S. 375 (1994), makes clear that it is unnecessary for a party to file a new case for breach of

17

a settlement agreement, or enforcement thereof, so long as the court presiding over the original

18

case that settled retains jurisdiction to enforce the settlement agreement. See Limbright v.

19

Hofmeister, 566 F.3d 672, 674 (6th Cir. 2009) (“The Kokkonen Court also held that a district court

20

may, on motion by a party and without the filing of a new suit, summarily enforce a settlement

21

agreement if the court has ancillary jurisdiction over the breach claim.”); DC Soccer, LLC v.

22

CAPX Office Sols., LLC, No. 19-3163 (BAH), 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 51115, at *14 n.3 (D.D.C.

23

Mar. 18, 2021) (“Absent a court order tying the settlement agreement to the underlying case,

24

Kokkonen teaches that action to enforce the settlement constitutes a new, separate breach of

25

contract claim, and a new, separate claim requires a new complaint.”). The point is that Nextdoor

26

contends Mr. Abhyanker’s filing of No. C-21-1534 EMC violates the Settlement Agreement in

27

this case. This case is the proper vehicle to adjudicate that question.

28
3

Case 3:12-cv-05667-EMC Document 561 Filed 04/06/21 Page 4 of 14

1

B.

Motion for Immediate Interim Relief
In its motion for immediate interim relief, Nextdoor largely seeks to preserve the status

2
3

quo – i.e., to ensure that Mr. Abhyanker continues to perform under the Settlement Agreement and

4

does not take action contrary thereto (unless, of course, on appeal the Ninth Circuit grants Mr.

5

Abhyanker relief from the Settlement Agreement). The parties agree that Nextdoor is effectively

6

seeking a temporary restraining order and/or preliminary injunction and that, therefore, the legal

7

standard applicable to such relief is also applicable here. Accordingly, as the moving party,

8

Nextdoor must demonstrate the following: (1) it is likely to succeed on the merits; (2) it is likely to

9

suffer irreparable harm in the absence of relief; (3) the balance of equity tips in its favor; and (4)
the relief sought is in the public interest.4 See Beaty v. Brewer, 649 F.3d 1071, 1072 (9th Cir.

11
United States District Court
Northern District of California

10

2011) (citing Winter v. NRDC, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 20 (2008)).
Irreparable Injury5

12

1.

13

The Court finds that Nextdoor would suffer irreparable injury in the absence of immediate

14

interim relief. Without such relief, Mr. Abhyanker would continue in his campaign of harassment

15

against Nextdoor, which includes assertions that he was involved in the development of Nextdoor

16

and that Nextdoor has engaged in inequitable conduct. Such actions would be detrimental to

17

Nextdoor’s name, goodwill, and reputation
6

18

See Alfred Dunhill, Ltd. v. Dunhill Compact Classics, Inc., No. 88-5584

19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

4

These factors are subject to a sliding scale. That is, temporary relief “‘is appropriate when a
plaintiff demonstrates . . . that serious questions going to the merits were raised and the balance of
hardships tips sharply in the plaintiff’s favor.’” Alliance for the Wild Rockies v. Cottrell, 632 F.3d
1127, 1134-35 (9th Cir. 2011). Here, the Court need not rely on the sliding scale because, as
discussed below, Nextdoor’s likelihood of success on the merits is unassailable.
5

Irreparable injury generally means there is no adequate remedy at law. See Younger v. Harris,
401 U.S. 37, 43-44 (1971) (noting that, under equity jurisprudence, “courts of equity should not
act . . . when the moving party has an adequate remedy at law and will not suffer irreparable injury
if denied equitable relief”); Moore v. Consol. Edison Co. of N.Y., Inc., 409 F.3d 506, 510 (2d Cir.
2005) (stating that, “[w]here there is an adequate remedy at law, such as an award of money
damages, injunctions are unavailable except in extraordinary circumstances”). In this respect,
Nextdoor’s motion for immediate interim relief overlaps with its motion to enforce the Settlement
Agreement. The latter motion seeks specific performance of the Settlement Agreement. For
specific performance, a party must show, inter alia, the inadequacy of a legal remedy. See
Tamarind Lithography Workshop, Inc. v. Sanders, 143 Cal. App. 3d 571, 575 (1983).
6

4

Case 3:12-cv-05667-EMC Document 561 Filed 04/06/21 Page 5 of 14

1

WDK (BX), 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16711, at *5 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 28, 1988) (“Where, as here,

2

injury to goodwill and weakening of a trade name are alleged, it would be impossible to quantify

3

the monetary loss, if any, suffered by the plaintiff.”).
Furthermore, without immediate interim relief, Mr. Abhyanker would continue with his

5

multiple lawsuits and proceedings against Nextdoor, even though this Court has held that he is

6

obligated to comply with the terms of the Settlement Agreement. As Nextdoor contends, “[t]here

7

is no monetary substitute for peace.” Reply at 12; see also Cty. of Sacramento v. Henrikson, No.

8

2:17-cv-00085-MCE-EFB, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16622, at *15 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 3, 2017) (stating

9

that “[t]he requisite level of irreparable harm ‘is usually met . . . where there is a likelihood of

10

costly and judicially wasteful relitigation of claims and issues that were already adjudicated in

11
United States District Court
Northern District of California

4

federal court’”); Gaboratory, Inc. v. Gaboratory Int'l, Inc., No. CV 07-04725 MMM (Ex), 2008

12

U.S. Dist. LEXIS 131038, at *31 (C.D. Cal. June 10, 2008) (stating that, “[a]s evidenced by

13

defendants’ disregard for their obligations under the settlement agreement and their continued

14

infringement of plaintiff's Marks, an award of monetary damages appears to be inadequate”); cf.

15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
5

Case 3:12-cv-05667-EMC Document 561 Filed 04/06/21 Page 6 of 14

1

Dunhill, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16711, at *5 (noting that “[s]pecific enforcement of [a] settlement

2

agreement . . . furthers important judicial interests”; “‘[t]he authority of a trial court to enter a

3

judgment enforcing a settlement agreement has as its foundation the policy favoring the amicable

4

adjustment of disputes and the concomitant avoidance of costly and time consuming litigation’”).

5

Mr. Abhyanker’s conduct is particularly problematic as he is forcing Nextdoor to respond to a

6

multiplicity of legal actions; it is evident that Mr. Abhyanker knows no restraint. Given his

7

litigious history, there is a realistic prospect that this proliferation will not stop on its own accord.

8

Having to respond to multiple suits constitutes a further form of irreparable injury to Nextdoor.

9

Cf. Hooker v. Hopkins, No. 8:15-cv-750-T-30TGW, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42770, at *3 (M.D.
Fla. Apr. 1, 2015) (stating that “Defendants will suffer irreparable harm by having to defend

11
United States District Court
Northern District of California

10

themselves against a vexatious litigant who repeatedly asserts baseless allegations against them”).

12

2.

Likelihood of Success on the Merits

13

In asking for immediate interim relief, Nextdoor seeks to preserve the status quo – i.e., Mr.

14

Abhyanker’s compliance with the Settlement Agreement. See Dollar Rent A Car of Wash., Inc. v.

15

Travelers Indem. Co., 774 F.2d 1371, 1376 (9th Cir. 1985) (indicating that the status quo is “the

16

last peaceable uncontested status existing between the parties before the dispute developed”). In

17

response, Mr. Abhyanker contends that he no longer has to comply with the Settlement Agreement

18

because Nextdoor breached the agreement.

19
20
21
22
23

According to Nextdoor, it is likely to succeed on its position that it did not breach the

24

Settlement Agreement. Nextdoor offers two arguments in support: (1) it could not have breached

25

the Settlement Agreement because Mr. Abhyanker first breached the agreement, which relieved

26

Nextdoor of its obligations to perform under the agreement, and (2) even if Nextdoor did

27

technically breach the agreement, the breach was not material and therefore Mr. Abhyanker is not

28

entitled to, in effect, rescind the agreement. See Integrated, Inc. v. Alec Fergusson Elec.
6

Case 3:12-cv-05667-EMC Document 561 Filed 04/06/21 Page 7 of 14

1

Contractor, 250 Cal. App. 2d 287, 295 (1967) (“Ordinarily a party may unilaterally rescind a

2

contract only where there has been a total or material breach by the other party.”).

3

For purposes of this order, the Court need only address the second argument. Both parties

4

agree that Nextdoor’s breach must have been material in order for Mr. Abhyanker to be relieved of

5

his obligations under the Settlement Agreement. In addition, both parties agree that the following

6

factors are considered in assessing whether there has been a material breach:

7
8
9
10

United States District Court
Northern District of California

11
12
13
14
15
16
17

(1) The extent to which the injured party will obtain the substantial
benefit which he could have reasonably anticipated; (2) the extent to
which the injured party may be adequately compensated in damages
for lack of complete performance; (3) the extent to which the party
failing to perform has already partly performed or made preparations
for performance; (4) the greater or less hardship on the party failing
to perform in terminating the contract; (5) the wilful [sic], negligent,
or innocent behavior of the party failing to perform; and (6) the
greater or less uncertainty that the party failing to perform will
perform the remainder of the contract.
Sackett v. Spindler, 248 Cal. App. 2d 220, 229 (1967).
The six Sackett factors above clearly weigh in Nextdoor’s favor.
a.

First Factor

As to the first Sackett factor, Mr. Abhyanker has already obtained the substantial benefits
of the Settlement Agreement.

18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
7

Case 3:12-cv-05667-EMC Document 561 Filed 04/06/21 Page 8 of 14

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

United States District Court
Northern District of California

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
As to the second Sackett factor, there is no indication that Mr. Abhyanker has suffered any

19
20

actual harm

21
22
23
24
25
26
27

7

28
8

Case 3:12-cv-05667-EMC Document 561 Filed 04/06/21 Page 9 of 14

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

United States District Court
Northern District of California

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22

8

23
24
25
26
27
28
9

Case 3:12-cv-05667-EMC Document 561 Filed 04/06/21 Page 10 of 14

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

United States District Court
Northern District of California

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22

Accordingly, the first two Sackett factors weigh strongly in Nextdoor’s favor. For the

23

remaining Sackett factors, the analysis is largely duplicative of the analysis above. For example,

24

the third factor concerns the extent to which the party failing to perform has already partly

25

performed. As indicated above, in conjunction with the first factor, Nextdoor has already

26

performed the bulk of its obligations under the Settlement Agreement such that Mr. Abhyanker

27

has obtained substantial benefits under the agreement. The fourth Sackett factor relates to the

28

greater or less hardship on the party failing to perform in terminating the contract. As discussed
10

Case 3:12-cv-05667-EMC Document 561 Filed 04/06/21 Page 11 of 14

1

above, in conjunction with irreparable harm, without immediate interim relief, Nextdoor would

2

suffer significant hardship, including but not limited to injury to its name, goodwill, and

3

reputation, and in having to respond to Mr. Abhyanker’s proliferation of legal actions.

4
5
6
7
8
Finally, on the sixth

9

factor, the greater or less uncertainty that the party failing to perform will perform the remainder

11
United States District Court
Northern District of California

10

of the contract, there is nothing to indicate that Nextdoor will not continue to perform under the

12

Settlement Agreement as it already substantially has for more than six years.

13
14

Accordingly, based on the evidence of record, it is clear that Nextdoor did not materially
breach. Nextdoor’s likelihood of success on the merits is all but guaranteed.

15

3.

Balance of Hardships

16

As discussed above, Nextdoor would suffer irreparable injury in the absence of immediate

17

interim relief. In contrast, there is no hardship to Mr. Abhyanker in continuing with the status quo

18

(i.e., before the parties’ dispute) in which he is obligated to comply with the terms of the

19

Settlement Agreement. The Court is simply enforcing a contract that he – an attorney – agreed to

20

after significant litigation and that gave him substantial benefits as discussed above. Notably,

21

rather than seeking a declaration from this Court that the public filing of the order constituted a

22

material breach freeing Mr. Abhyanker from his obligation under the Settlement Agreement, he

23

took matters into his own hands by unilaterally filing multiple actions. The balance of hardships

24

weighs heavily in Nextdoor’s favor.

25

4.

Public Interest

26

Finally, the public interest weighs in favor of relief to Nextdoor. As indicated above,

27

“[s]pecific enforcement of [a] settlement agreement . . . furthers important judicial interests”;

28

“‘[t]he authority of a trial court to enter a judgment enforcing a settlement agreement has as its
11

Case 3:12-cv-05667-EMC Document 561 Filed 04/06/21 Page 12 of 14

1

foundation the policy favoring the amicable adjustment of disputes and the concomitant avoidance

2

of costly and time consuming litigation.’” Dunhill, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16711, at *5.

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

United States District Court
Northern District of California

11
12
13
14
15
16
17

5.

Relief

18

Because Nextdoor would suffer irreparable injury without immediate interim relief,

19

Nextdoor’s likelihood of success on the merits is largely guaranteed, the balance of hardships

20

weighs heavily in Nextdoor’s favor, and the public interest weighs in favor of relief to Nextdoor,

21

the Court grants Nextdoor’s motion. The Court orders as follows.

22
23
24

Mr. Abhyanker, his agents, servants, employees, and attorneys and any others who are in
active concert or participation with him or with notice of this Order, shall:
(1) Abide by all terms of and perform under the Settlement Agreement
unless specifically relieved by this

25
26
27
28

Court or the Ninth Circuit.
(2) Not initiate any additional legal proceedings against Nextdoor or its founders,
officers, employees, agents, or attorneys without prior approval of the Court.
12

Case 3:12-cv-05667-EMC Document 561 Filed 04/06/21 Page 13 of 14

(3) Not file any additional motions or pleadings in the actions he has pending before

1

this Court without prior approval of the Court.

2

(4) Deliver a copy of this order to USPTO and any other adjudicative body before

3

which he has a proceeding against Nextdoor.9

4
5

In addition to the above, the Court stays all proceedings in the instant case as well as Nos.

6

C-21-1534 EMC, C-21-1586 EMC, and C-21-1853 EMC (N.D. Cal.) pending further order of the

7

Court.

8

C.

Motion to Enforce the Settlement Agreement
As a formal matter, Nextdoor has not simply moved for immediate interim relief; it has

10

also moved outright for enforcement of the Settlement Agreement. The Court’s analysis above

11
United States District Court
Northern District of California

9

establishes why the motion should be granted: the evidence of record clearly reflects that Nextdoor

12

did not materially breach the Settlement Agreement.
The Court acknowledges Mr. Abhyanker’s arguments that he has not had sufficient time to

13
14

defend against the motion, that it is premature to decide the motion as he needs discovery before

15

the Court can rule, and that he is entitled to a jury trial on whether Nextdoor materially breached.

16

But none of these arguments is availing.
First, Mr. Abhyanker had five calendar days to file an opposition. This was sufficient time

17
18

to defend given the narrow issue raised in the motion, i.e., was Nextdoor’s breach material?

19

Second, Mr. Abhyanker has not identified what further factual development is needed.

20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

9

Although the Court is sealing portions of this order from public view, the parties have not
addressed whether the USPTO should be given a sealed or unsealed copy. Because neither party
has placed any significance on this issue, and because the USPTO is a formal adjudicative body,
the Court orders that an unsealed version be given to the agency. The unsealed version, however,
shall reflect that the order has been filed in this Court under seal and shall reflect which portions
specifically have been sealed.
13

Case 3:12-cv-05667-EMC Document 561 Filed 04/06/21 Page 14 of 14

1
2
3
4
Finally, although the materiality of

5
6

a breach is typically a question of fact, the issue of materiality can be resolved as a matter of law

7

where, as here, the evidence of record is clear and reasonable minds could not disagree. See

8

Brown v. Grimes, 192 Cal. App. 4th 265, 277-78 (2011) (noting that, “[n]ormally the question of

9

whether a breach of an obligation is a material breach, so as to excuse performance by the other
party, is a question of fact”; “‘[h]owever, if reasonable minds cannot differ on the issue of

11
United States District Court
Northern District of California

10

materiality, the issue may be resolved as a matter of law”).

12

At this juncture, however, the Court does not grant outright Nextdoor’s motion to enforce

13

the Settlement Agreement because Mr. Abhyanker still has his appeal with the Ninth Circuit. If

14

the Ninth Circuit were to find in Mr. Abhyanker’s favor on the appeal, then Nextdoor would not

15

be entitled to enforcement of the Settlement Agreement. In light of this circumstance, and that

16

Nextdoor has sufficient protection during the pendency of the appeal based on the relief ordered

17

above, the Court defers ruling on Nextdoor’s substantive motion.
II.

18
19

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the Court grants Nextdoor immediate interim relief as described

20

above. The Court defers ruling on Nextdoor’s motion for enforcement of the Settlement

21

Agreement until after the Ninth Circuit appeal is resolved.

22
23

IT IS SO ORDERED.

24
25

Dated: April 6, 2021

26
27
28

______________________________________
EDWARD M. CHEN
United States District Judge
14