Goes International, AB v. Dodur Ltd. et al
Filing
128
ORDER by Judge Laurel Beeler granting 121 Motion to Strike Answer and Impose Sanctions. The court directs the clerk of court to enter the defendant's default. (lblc3S, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/8/2017)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
San Francisco Division
United States District Court
Northern District of California
11
GOES INTERNATIONAL, AB, a
corporation,
12
Case No. 3:14-cv-05666-LB
Plaintiff,
ORDER STRIKING ANSWER AND
IMPOSING SANCTIONS
13
v.
14
17
DODUR LTD.
(天津市多徳科技有限公司), a business
entity;
ZHOU MING (周明), an individual;
LI ZHE (喆李), an individual;
JOHN DOES 1-10,
18
Defendants.
15
16
19
[Re: ECF No. 121]
INTRODUCTION
20
Plaintiff Goes International moves to strike Defendant Dodur‟s answer, enter terminating
21
sanctions, and impose monetary sanctions of $7,245 for discovery violations. (Motion – ECF No.
22
121.1) The court grants the motion.
23
STATEMENT
24
Goes International is a Swedish company that sells a bubble-shooting video game called
25
Bubble Bust! (First Amended Complaint – ECF No. 27 at 2, 5–8, 29.) It sued Dodur Ltd. and its
26
27
Record citations refer to material in the Electronic Case File (“ECF”); pinpoint citations are to the
ECF-generated page numbers at the top of documents.
1
28
ORDER — No. 14-cv-05666-LB
1
shareholders/game developers for copyright infringement, claiming that they copied Bubble Bust!
2
and marketed infringing games called Puzzle Bubble Free! and Puzzle Bubble Sea! (Id. ¶¶ 1, 3,
3
12–15.) The defendants moved to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction; the court granted the
4
motion in part, dismissing the individual defendants but finding personal jurisdiction against
5
Dodur based on its distribution of games in the U.S., resulting in revenues generated from U.S.
6
players, including from ads targeted to that U.S. audience. (Order – ECF No. 51 at 19.)
7
Thereafter, and following the court‟s order granting Goes‟ motion to compel Dodur to produce
8
discovery about damages, Dodur‟s attorney withdrew from the case. (Orders – ECF Nos. 84, 89.)
9
On January 12, 2017, following Goes‟ motion, the court again ordered Dodur to produce
discovery and name a Rule 30(b)(6) deponent; it also directed Dodur to name new counsel by
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
February 6, 2017. (Motion – ECF No. 104; Order – ECF No. 109.) The court ordered Dodur to
12
appear at a hearing on February 16, 2017, to show cause why it had not yet substituted in a new
13
attorney to represent it. (Id.; Clerk‟s Notice – ECF No. 110.) Goes thereafter filed proof of service
14
in English and Chinese. (Proof of Service and Update – ECF No. 113.)
15
Dodur did not appear at the hearing on February 16, 2017. (See Minute Entry – ECF No. 114.)
16
Given the lack of appearance, the court allowed Goes to cancel its deposition of Dodur, apparently
17
set in New York. (Id.) Dodur has a parent company in New York called Qihoo 360. (Supplemental
18
Statement – ECF No. 105.)
19
The court then set a further hearing for March 9, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. and directed Dodur to
20
show cause at the hearing why it had not named new counsel or produced the discovery that the
21
court ordered. (Order – ECF No. 116.) The court warned that if it did not do so, it risked Goes‟
22
moving to strike its answer and then moving for default judgment against it. (Id.) Dodur did not
23
appear at the hearing. (Minute Order – ECF No. 119.) Goes then filed its motion to strike the
24
answer and for terminating sanctions. (Motion – ECF No. 121.)
25
26
27
28
ORDER — No. 14-cv-05666-LB
2
ANALYSIS
1
2
3
1. Legal Standard
When a district court decides to impose sanctions or discipline, it must clearly delineate under
4
which authority it acts to ensure that the attendant requirements are met. Weissman v. Quail
5
Lodge, Inc., 179 F.3d 1194, 1200 (9th Cir. 1999) (citing Keegan Mgmt. Co. Secs. Litig., 78 F.3d
6
431, 435 (9th Cir. 1996) (“For a sanction to be validly imposed, the conduct must be sanctionable
7
under the authority relied on.”) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)). “The imposition
8
of sanctions requires a statement of reasons for the district court‟s action, including the need for
9
the particular sanctions imposed.” Couveau v. Am. Airlines, Inc., 218 F.3d 1078, 1081 (9th Cir.
2000) (“The imposition of sanctions requires a statement of reasons for the district court‟s action,
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
including the need for the particular sanctions imposed.”) (citing G.J.B. & Assocs., Inc. v.
12
Singleton, 913 F.2d 824, 830 (10th Cir. 1990) (“If the district court ultimately imposes sanctions,
13
detailed findings are necessary to identify the objectionable conduct and provide for meaningful
14
appellate review.”)).
15
16
17
18
1.1 Terminating Sanctions
1.1.1
Dismissal Under Rule 37(b) and (d)
“Under our precedents, in order for a court to dismiss a case as a sanction [under Rule 37(b)],
19
the district court must consider five factors: „(1) the public‟s interest in expeditious resolution of
20
litigation; (2) the court‟s need to manage its docket; (3) the risk of prejudice to the defendants; (4)
21
the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits; and (5) the availability of less
22
drastic alternatives.‟” Yourish v. California Amplifier, 191 F.3d 983, 990 (9th Cir. 1999) (applying
23
Rule 37(b) standard in a Rule 41(b) case) (citing Hernandez v. City of El Monte, 138 F.3d 393,
24
399 (9th Cir. 1998) (quoting Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1423 (9th Cir. 1986))). “We
25
„may affirm a dismissal where at least four factors support dismissal, . . . or where at least three
26
factors „strongly‟ support dismissal.‟” Id. (quoting Hernandez, 138 F.3d at 399) (quoting in turn
27
Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1261 (9th Cir. 1992)). “Although it is preferred, it is not
28
required that the district court make explicit findings in order to show that it has considered these
ORDER — No. 14-cv-05666-LB
3
1
factors and we may review the record independently to determine if the district court has abused
2
its discretion.” Id. (internal citation omitted.)
3
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(d) provides that, on motion, a court may order sanctions if
4
a party: fails (i) to appear for that party‟s deposition after being served with proper notice; or (ii) to
5
serve its answers, objections, or written response after being properly served with interrogatories
6
or a request for inspection. By reference to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(b), the sanctions
7
available under Rule 37(d) include: (i) directing that the matters embraced in the order or other
8
designated facts be taken as established for purposes of the action, as the prevailing party claims;
9
(ii) prohibiting the disobedient party from supporting or opposing designated claims or defenses,
or from introducing designated matters in evidence; (iii) striking pleadings in whole or in part; (iv)
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
staying further proceedings until the order is obeyed; (v) dismissing the action or proceeding in
12
whole or in part; or (vi) rendering a default judgment against the disobedient party. Fed. R. Civ. P.
13
37(b)(2)(A)(i)–(vi). In addition, under Rule 37(d), a motion for sanctions for failing to answer or
14
respond must include a certification that the movant has in good faith conferred or attempted to
15
confer with the party failing to act in an effort to obtain the answer or response without court
16
action. Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(d)(1)(B).
17
The Ninth Circuit has “constructed a five-part test, with three subparts to the fifth part, to
18
determine whether a case-dispositive sanction under Rule 37(b)(2) is just: „(1) the public‟s interest
19
in expeditious resolution of litigation; (2) the court‟s need to manage its dockets; (3) the risk of
20
prejudice to the party seeking sanctions; (4) the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their
21
merits; and (5) the availability of less drastic sanctions.‟” Connecticut Gen. Life Ins. Co. v. New
22
Images of Beverly Hills, 482 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2007) (quoting Jorgensen v. Cassiday, 320
23
F.3d 906, 912 (9th Cir. 2003) (setting forth five-factor test of Malone v. U.S. Postal Serv., 833
24
F.2d 128, 130 (9th Cir. 1987))). “The sub-parts of the fifth factor are whether the court has
25
considered lesser sanctions, whether it tried them, and whether it warned the recalcitrant party
26
27
28
ORDER — No. 14-cv-05666-LB
4
1
about the possibility of case-dispositive sanctions.” Id. (citing Valley Eng’rs v. Electric Eng’g Co.,
2
158 F.3d 1051, 1057 (9th Cir. 1998)).2
3
“A terminating sanction, whether default judgment against a defendant or dismissal of a
4
plaintiff‟s action, is very severe. . . . Only „willfulness, bad faith, and fault‟ justify terminating
5
sanctions.” ” Connecticut General, 482 F.3d at 1096 (citing Jorgensen, 320 F.3d at 912).
6
A party suffers sufficient prejudice to warrant case-dispositive sanctions where the disobedient
7
party‟s actions “impair the defendant‟s ability to go to trial or threaten to interfere with the rightful
8
decision of the case.” See in re Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Prods. Liab. Litig., 460 F.3d 1217,
9
1227 (9th Cir. 2006) (quotation omitted). For example, failure to produce documents as ordered is
by itself prejudice enough to authorize terminating sanctions. See Computer Task Grp., Inc. v.
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
Brotby, 364 F.3d 1112, 1116 (9th Cir. 2004).
12
Before ordering a terminating sanction, a court must warn the plaintiff and try other sanctions
13
first. For example, a district court‟s failure to warn a party that dismissal is being considered as a
14
sanction weighs heavily against the sanction. U.S. ex rel. Wiltec Guam, Inc. v. Kahaluu Constr.
15
Co., 857 F.2d 600, 605 (9th Cir. 1988). Although “[a]n explicit warning is not always required, at
16
least in a case involving „egregious circumstances,‟” “[i]n other circumstances, the failure to warn
17
may place the district court‟s order in serious jeopardy.” Id. (citing Malone, 833 F.2d at 132–33).
18
Indeed, “„[f]ailure to warn has frequently been a contributing factor in [Ninth Circuit] decisions to
19
reverse orders of dismissal.‟” Id. (quoting Malone, 833 F.2d at 133).
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
2
“This „test,‟” the Ninth Circuit has explained, “is not mechanical.” Connecticut General, 482
F.3d at 1096. “It provides the district court with a way to think about what to do, not a set of
conditions precedent for sanctions or a script that the district court must follow:
Like most elaborate multifactor tests, our test has not been what it appears to be, a
mechanical means of determining what discovery sanction is just. The list of factors
amounts to a way for a district judge to think about what to do, not a series of conditions
precedent before the judge can do anything, and not a script for making what the district
judge does appeal-proof.
Valley Eng’rs, 158 F.3d at 1057.
ORDER — No. 14-cv-05666-LB
5
1.1.2 Courts’ inherent authority
1
2
Courts are invested with inherent powers that are “governed not by rule or statute but by the
3
control necessarily vested in courts to manage their own affairs so as to achieve the orderly and
4
expeditious disposition of cases.” Chambers v. NASCO, Inc., 501 U.S. 32, 43 (1991) (quoting Link
5
v. Wabash R.R., 370 U.S. 626, 630–31 (1962)). Although the caselaw is somewhat equivocal
6
about the state of mind required to impose sanctions under the court‟s inherent power, see United
7
Med. Supply Co. v. U.S., 77 Fed. Cl. 257, 266–67 (2007), the Ninth Circuit has concluded that
8
sanctions are available under the court‟s inherent power if “preceded by a finding of bad faith, or
9
conduct tantamount to bad faith,” such as recklessness “combined with an additional factor such
as frivolousness, harassment, or an improper purpose.” Fink v. Gomez, 239 F.3d 989, 994 (9th Cir.
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
10
2001); see Gomez v. Vernon, 255 F.3d 1118, 1134 (9th Cir. 2001).
12
13
1.2 Monetary Sanctions: Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 37(d)(3) and (b)(2)(C)
14
Rules 37(d)(3) and (b)(2)(C) provide that courts must require the party failing to act, the
15
attorney advising that party, or both to pay to award the reasonable expenses, including attorney‟s
16
fees, caused by the failure, unless the failure was substantially justified or other circumstances
17
make an award of expenses unjust. “Under Rule 37(b)(2), which has the same language as Rule
18
37(d), the burden of showing substantial justification and special circumstances is on the party
19
being sanctioned.” Hyde & Drath v. Baker, 24 F.3d 1162, 1171 (9th Cir. 1994), as amended (July
20
25, 1994) (citing Falstaff Brewing Corp. v. Miller Brewing Co., 702 F.2d 770, 784 (9th Cir.
21
1983)).
22
Federal courts use the lodestar method to determine a reasonable attorney‟s fee award. Hensley
23
v. Eckerhart, 461 U.S. 424, 433 (1983); Jordan v. Multnomah Cnty., 815 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th
24
Cir. 1987). The court calculates a “lodestar amount” by multiplying the number of hours counsel
25
reasonably spent on the litigation by a reasonable hourly rate. See Morales v. City of San Rafael,
26
96 F.3d 359, 363 (9th Cir. 1996). The burden of proving that claimed rates and number of hours
27
worked are reasonable is on the party seeking the fee award. Blum v. Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 897
28
(1984). The court may adjust the award from the lodestar figure upon consideration of additional
ORDER — No. 14-cv-05666-LB
6
1
factors that may bear upon reasonableness. Kerr v. Screen Guild Extras, Inc., 526 F.2d 67, 70 (9th
2
Cir. 1975).
3
4
5
2. Discussion
As the Statement describes, and as the docket reflects, Dodur has not participated in the
6
litigation. The court warned it repeatedly about sanctions, including terminating sanctions. Goes‟
7
submissions support the lodestar amount that it seeks as sanctions. The court awards $7,245 in
8
fees for discovery abuses.
The court also finds that Goes meets its heavy burden to establish the appropriateness of
10
terminating sanctions. The undersigned warned Dodur repeatedly about the consequences of not
11
United States District Court
Northern District of California
9
participating in the litigation, set forth the chronology of its behavior and refusal to participate in
12
the litigation, and gave it repeated opportunities to become active in this lawsuit.
13
Where a defendant is held in contempt of court or engages in “abusive litigation practices,” a
14
district court has the power to strike the answer and enter a default judgment against the
15
defendant. See TeleVideo Sys., Inc. v. Heidenthal, 826 F.2d 915, 916–17 (9th Cir. 1987). The court
16
strikes the answer based on Dodur‟s failure to participate in its litigation.
17
The court also grants Goes‟ motion for entry of default. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a).
18
CONCLUSION
19
20
21
The court grants Goes‟ motion, awards $7,245 against Dodur for discovery abuses, grants
Goes‟ motion for entry of default, and directs the Clerk to enter default against Dodur.
22
IT IS SO ORDERED.
23
Dated: June 8, 2017
______________________________________
LAUREL BEELER
United States Magistrate Judge
24
25
26
27
28
ORDER — No. 14-cv-05666-LB
7
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?