noting “a district court’s erroneous reading 13 of the law” may constitute a mistake under 28 U.S.C. § 60(b)(1)
How later courts described this case
- noting “a district court’s erroneous reading 13 of the law” may constitute a mistake under 28 U.S.C. § 60(b)(1)
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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11 SARA ELIZABETH SIEGLER, et al. Case No. 3:18-cv-01681-GPC-MSB
12 Plaintiffs, ORDER DENYING MOTIONS FOR
13 vs. RECONSIDERATION AND
RECUSAL
14 SORRENTO THERAPEUTICS, INC., et
al.,
[ECF No. 134, 142.]
15
Defendants.
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17 On August 2, 2019, the Court dismissed with prejudice all the claims in Plaintiff
18 Sara Elizabeth Siegler’s (“Plaintiff”) second amended complaint (“SAC”) against
19 Defendants Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.; TNK Therapeutics, Inc.; BDL Products, Inc.;
20 Cargenix Holdings LLC; Prospect Chartercare Roger Williams Medical Center LLC;
21 Henry Ji; Richard Paul Junghans; Steven C. Katz; and Tufts Medical Center (collectively,
22 “Defendants”). (ECF No. 126.) The Clerk entered judgment. (ECF No. 127.)
23 On August 30, 2019, Plaintiff filed a motion for reconsideration of the Court’s
24 decision to dismiss the SAC. (ECF Nos. 134, 136.) On September 10, 2019, Plaintiff filed
25 a second motion seeking that Judge Gonzalo Curiel, the assigned judge handling this
26 matter, recuse himself or be disqualified. (ECF No. 142.) On October 18, 2019,
27 Defendants filed a response to Plaintiff’s motions for reconsideration and recusal. (ECF
1 No. 144.) On December 6, 2019, Plaintiff filed a reply and corresponding supplement.
2 (ECF Nos. 147, 148.) On December 17, 2019, Plaintiff failed an additional exhibit. (ECF
3 No. 150.)
4 The Court now must determine if Plaintiff, proceeding pro se, has provided
5 sufficient reason to support recusal or reverse the dismissal of the SAC. In considering
6 these motions, the Court is mindful that this litigation is of great importance to Plaintiff.
7 Throughout these proceedings, the Court has endeavored to respectfully identify the
8 applicable rules and any deficiencies in the operative pleadings to allow Plaintiff to
9 comply with the rules and to cure any defects. However, upon review of the filed papers
10 and applying the applicable law, the Court concludes that there is no basis for the Court’s
11 recusal or to reconsider the Court’s order dismissing the SAC.
12 I. Motion for Recusal
13 As a threshold matter, the Court will consider the recusal motion first. Plaintiff’s
14 motion for recusal focuses on the Court’s decisions on Plaintiff’s prior motions.
15 Consequently, the Court will identify those orders, and then address whether they warrant
16 recusal or disqualification.
17 A. Legal Standard
18 A judge “shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might
19 reasonably be questioned” or where “he has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a
20 party.” 28 U.S.C. § 455(a)–(b)(1); Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540 (1994)
21 (discussing 28 U.S.C. § 144). Under the “two recusal statutes, 28 U.S.C. §§ 144 and 455,
22 the substantive question is whether a reasonable person with knowledge of all the facts
23 would conclude that the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” Guerra v.
24 Paramo, 251 F. App’x 424, 425 (9th Cir. 2007) (citation omitted); see also Pesnell v.
25 Arsenault, 543 F.3d 1038, 1043 (9th Cir. 2008), abrogated on other grounds by Simmons
26 v. Himmelreich, 136 S. Ct. 1843, 1846 (2016). In determining whether to recuse, a judge
27 must assess “all the circumstances,” Sao Paulo State of Federative Republic of Brazil v.
1 American Tobacco Co., Inc., 535 U.S. 229, 232 (2002) (emphasis in original removed),
2 and need not have been aware of the “disqualifying circumstance” in order to find that
3 “‘his impartiality might reasonably be questioned’ by other persons.” Liljeberg v. Health
4 Servs. Acquisition Corp., 486 U.S. 847, 859, 862 (1988) (quoting 18 U.S.C. § 445(a)).
5 For the “alleged bias and prejudice to be disqualifying,” the judge’s conduct or
6 attitude “must stem from an extrajudicial source and result in an opinion on the merits on
7 some basis other than what the judge learned from his participation in the case.” United
8 States v. Grinnell Corp., 384 U.S. 563, 583 (1966); see also Rygg v. Hulbert, 603 F.
9 App’x 645, 646 (9th Cir. 2015) (finding that the judge’s orders “do not demonstrate bias
10 stemming from an extrajudicial source”). The mere issuance of “[a]dverse decisions
11 do[es] not establish bias or even hint at bias.” Khor Chin Lim v. Courtcall Inc., 683 F.3d
12 378, 380 (7th Cir. 2012) (Easterbrook, J.) (citations omitted). Likewise, that a jurist does
13 not change his “clear understanding” of how an issue should be decided despite
14 subsequent proceedings on that issue is no basis for a finding of bias. In re Smith, 317
15 F.3d 918, 933 (9th Cir. 2002), abrogated on other grounds by Lamie v. United States Tr.,
16 540 U.S. 526, 531–39 (2004). In recusal motions involving pro se litigants, courts have
17 held, moreover, that a judge’s remarks do not amount to bias unless they evince a “deep-
18 seated and unequivocal antagonism that rendered a fair judgment impossible.” Mitchell v.
19 Kirk, 20 F.3d 936, 938 (8th Cir. 1994) (citing Liteky, 510 U.S. at 555–56).
20 B. Allegations of Bias & Relevant Background
21 i. Plaintiff’s Requests for Extensions
22 Plaintiff contends that the Court’s denials of her requests for additional pages or
23 filing extensions, despite “being a learning disabled1 pro se litigant,” evince bias. (ECF
24
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1 Having reviewed all of Plaintiff’s motions, the Court notes Plaintiff fails to mention this disability in a
26 clear majority of her motions. (See, e.g., ECF Nos. 76, 96, 109, 124, 128.) When mentioned, Plaintiff’s
reference to any disability is always fleeting. (See, e.g., ECF Nos. 80 at 13 n.7, 140-1 at 6). Plaintiff has
27
1 No. 142 at 3–4.) Plaintiff refers to the five following motions. (Id. (citing ECF Nos. 51,
2 79, 106, 112, 132)).
3 First, on October 16, 2018, the Court found Plaintiff’s request for a filing extension
4 on her response briefs to Defendants’ motions to dismiss the first amended complaint
5 (“FAC”), (ECF Nos. 18, 19), was moot because she submitted a response “in conformity
6 with the Court’s original scheduling order.” (ECF No. 51 at 3.) The Court nonetheless
7 granted Plaintiff leave to exceed page limitations. (Id. at 4.)
8 Second, on March 1, 2019, the Court issued an order in response to Plaintiff’s
9 request for additional pages on Plaintiff’s motion to reconsider and clarify the Court’s
10 order dismissing the FAC, (ECF Nos. 75, 76, 80), and an extension to file the SAC. (ECF
11 No. 79.) The Court granted both requests, hereby permitting ten (10) extra pages for
12 Plaintiff’s motion and granting an extra five (5) weeks to file the SAC. (Id. at 2.)
13 Third, on June 20, 2019, the Court permitted Plaintiff to withdraw and re-file
14 response briefs to Defendants’ two motions to dismiss the SAC, (ECF Nos. 90, 91, 113,
15 114), so as to accommodate Plaintiff’s concern that the initial responses were “rushed and
16 incomplete . . . because there had not been any ruling on her” request for an extension by
17 the time she filed. (ECF No. 106 at 6.) The Court then partially granted Plaintiff’s request
18 for extra pages by approving up to thirty pages on each response and extended the
19 deadline to file from June 10, 2019 to July 1, 2019. (Id. at 7.)
20 Fourth, on June 28, 2019, the Court granted another fifteen-day extension expiring
21 on July 15, 2019 to accommodate Plaintiff’s further request for time to file responses to
22 Defendants’ motions to dismiss the SAC. (ECF No. 112 at 2.) The Court then denied
23 Plaintiff’s request for even more pages because the Court had already granted her request
24 to exceed page limitations for this response once before. (Id. (citing ECF No. 106)).
25 Fifth, on August 27, 2019, the Court denied Plaintiff’s request for extra time to file
26 her instant motion for reconsideration under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (“FRCP”)
27 59 and 60 because the FRCP expressly forbids such extensions. (ECF No. 132 at 2 (citing
1 Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(b)(2)). Next, the Court granted Plaintiff’s request for more pages, in
2 part, by permitting ten additional pages for her motion. (Id.)
3 In addition to the five orders cited by Plaintiff’s motion, the Court also granted
4 requests by Plaintiff to change hearing dates, permit more time for briefing, withdraw
5 erroneous filings, and file extra pages on other occasions. (See, e.g., ECF Nos. 63 at 7, 85
6 at 5, 132 at 2, 143 at 3.)
7 ii. Plaintiff’s Allegations of Other Procedural Bias
8 Plaintiff raises several other arguments establishing bias. For example, Plaintiff
9 contends that the Court unfairly denied her motion for reconsideration of a denial to
10 change venue because it relied on Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the Local Rules.
11 (ECF No. 142-1 at 2–3.) But, the Court’s order denied Plaintiff’s motion on two bases.
12 (ECF No. 141.) First, Plaintiff failed to seek a hearing date for her motion per Local Rule
13 7.1(b). (Id. at 2.) Second, Plaintiff did not remedy the faults of her original motion,
14 thereby failing to meet the legal standard for reconsideration. (Id. at 3.)
15 Plaintiff further alleges that the court only permitted Plaintiff the opportunity to
16 amend her complaint once, and that she was not permitted to file a “third amended
17 complaint” because of a “mere technicality.” (ECF No. 142-1 at 4–5.) Plaintiff, in fact,
18 amended her complaint twice. (ECF Nos. 1, 3, 86.) Addressing Plaintiff’s motion for
19 leave to file a third amended complaint, (ECF No. 96), the Court denied the motion on
20 two bases: (1) that Plaintiff did not explain why an amended pleading was justified under
21 FRCP 15(a) and (2) that Plaintiff failed to attach a draft pleading as required by Local
22 Rule 15.1(b) to show her proposed amendments. (ECF No. 106 at 6–9.)
23 In addition, Plaintiff accuses the Court of unfairly permitting the Board of
24 Directors of Sorrento Therapeutics to retroactively join the motions to dismiss the FAC.
25 (ECF No. 142-1 at 5.) When the Board retroactively joined the motion to dismiss, it was
26 not yet fully briefed and the Court had yet to rule on it. (ECF No. 57.)
27 Plaintiff also claims she was unfairly denied a default judgment against the Board
1 of Directors of Sorrento Therapeutics on another “mere technicality.” (ECF No. 142-1 at
2 5–6.) The Court denied Plaintiff’s motion for default because Plaintiff did not seek an
3 entry of default from the clerk as required by the Ninth Circuit. (ECF Nos. 63, 67.)
4 Lastly, Plaintiff contends that the Court’s “lack of fair treatment” can be gleaned
5 from a series of issues related to Plaintiff’s docketing or calls to chambers. (ECF No.
6 142-1 at 6.) Plaintiff opines that, of the twenty-seven (27) orders issued in this matter, a
7 couple were not timely docketed. (Id. at 6–9.) Plaintiff also notes having some difficulty
8 reaching Chambers by phone on a handful of occasions and complains that her hearings
9 were vacated when the Court ruled on the papers in her motions. (Id.)
10 iii. Plaintiff’s Petition for Judicial Misconduct.
11 As a final matter, Plaintiff asserts that the Court should recuse itself because
12 Plaintiff has “taken steps to initiate the filing of a complaint of judicial
13 misconduct/disability against Judge Curiel.” (ECF No. 142-1 at 6.)
14 C. Analysis
15 Considering the factual record before the Court, and the applicable law on recusal,
16 no reasonable person would conclude that the Court’s “impartiality might reasonably be
17 questioned.” 28 U.S.C. § 455(a). Consequently, the Court DENIES Plaintiff’s motion for
18 recusal for the following three reasons. (ECF No. 142.)
19 First, Plaintiff’s motion centers on the Court’s prior decisions and orders. Plaintiff
20 does not allege or cite to evidence of an “extrajudicial source” that has motivated the
21 Court to act in a biased manner. United States v. Bator, 421 F. App’x 710 (9th Cir. 2011).
22 Hence, even though evidence of an “extrajudicial source” is neither “necessary nor
23 sufficient,” its absence places a “thumb on scale” against disqualification. Bell v.
24 Johnson, 404 F.3d 997, 1004 (6th Cir. 2005).
25 Second, the gravamen of Plaintiff’s accusation is the perceived, repeated denial of
26 her requests for procedural accommodations as a pro se litigant. (ECF No. 142 at 2–6.)
27 However, even if Plaintiff’s claims were true, that would not provide a basis to establish
1 bias or prejudice on the part of the Court. Khor Chin Lim, 683 F.3d at 380; Litkey, 510
2 U.S. at 554–56 (“Judicial rulings alone almost never constitute valid basis for a bias or
3 partiality motion.”).
4 More importantly, as the facts here readily establish, Plaintiff mischaracterizes the
5 record. Mindful that Plaintiff lacked the benefit of counsel, this Court repeatedly tried to
6 accommodate her requests for filing extensions, extra pages, and other accommodations
7 by granting most of her motions – even if the relief granted differed from Plaintiff’s
8 request as a matter of degree. (ECF Nos. 51, 63, 79, 85, 106, 112, 132, 143.) These
9 accommodations included a grant of thirty-five (35) extra pages on Plaintiff’s responses
10 to Defendants’ motions to dismiss the SAC, (ECF Nos. 106, 112), and a five-week
11 extension to file her SAC. (ECF No. 79.)
12 Similarly, Plaintiff’s other complaints of bias are without basis. Local Rules have
13 the force of law and may not be ignored. See United States v. Hvass, 355 U.S. 570, 574–
14 75 (1958). Likewise, denying a motion for failing to meet the appropriate legal standard
15 applies the rule of law and does not evince bias. (See ECF Nos. 63, 67, 106, 142.)
16 Plaintiff’s allegations of bias demonstrate no more than her dissatisfaction with the
17 Court’s rulings. In re Int’l Bus. Machines Corp., 618 F.2d 923, 929 (2d Cir. 1980) (“A
18 trial judge must be free to make rulings on the merits without the apprehension that if he
19 makes a disproportionate number in favor of one litigant, he may have created the
20 impression of bias. Judicial independence cannot be subservient to a statistical study of
21 the calls he has made during the contest.”)
22 Lastly, to the extent that Plaintiff’s motion relies on her alleged “complaint of
23 judicial misconduct,” Plaintiff’s motion fails. (ECF No. 142-1.) The “Ninth Circuit has
24 held that a litigant’s filing of a complaint of judicial misconduct is not itself a valid
25 ground for recusal of the same judge, ‘lest we open the door to misuse of the judicial
26 misconduct complaint process as a means of removing a disfavored judge from a case.’”
27 Cowan v. Brown, No. 14-CV-01886-GPC, 2018 WL 3752330, at *4 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 7,
1 2018) (quoting In re Focus Media, Inc., 378 F.3d 916, 930 (9th Cir. 2004)).
2 Given the voluminous motions and orders in this matter, and the Court’s repeated
3 accommodations of Plaintiff’s requests, no reasonable observer could find the Court
4 shortchanged Plaintiff’s lawsuit or treated her in a biased manner.
5 II. Motion for Reconsideration
6 Finding that there are no proper grounds for recusal or disqualification, the Court
7 now addresses Plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration. (ECF No. 134.)
8 A. Legal Standards for FRCP 59(e) and 60(b)
9 FRCP 59(e) “offers an extraordinary remedy, to be used sparingly in the interests
10 of finality and conservation of judicial resources.” Kona Enterprises, Inc. v. Estate of
11 Bishop, 229 F.3d 877, 890 (9th Cir. 2000) (citation omitted). “A motion for
12 reconsideration under Rule 59(e) ‘should not be granted, absent highly unusual
13 circumstances, unless the district court is presented with newly discovered evidence,
14 committed clear error, or if there is an intervening change in the controlling law.’”
15 McDowell v. Calderon, 197 F.3d 1253, 1255 (9th Cir. 1999). A motion for
16 reconsideration “may not be used to relitigate old matters, or to raise arguments or
17 present evidence that could have been raised prior to the entry of judgment.” Exxon
18 Shipping Co. v. Baker, 554 U.S. 471, 485 n.5 (2008).
19 Under FRCP 60(b), a motion for reconsideration may only be granted “upon a
20 showing of (1) mistake, surprise, or excusable neglect; (2) newly discovered evidence;
21 (3) fraud; (4) a void judgment; (5) a satisfied or discharged judgment; or (6)
22 ‘extraordinary circumstances’ which would justify relief.” Fuller v. M.G. Jewelry, 950
23 F.2d 1437, 1442 (9th Cir. 1991). Fraud under FRCP 60(b) involves “an unconscionable
24 plan or scheme which is designed to improperly influence the court in its decision.”
25 Latshaw v. Trainer Wortham & Co., 452 F.3d 1097, 1104 (9th Cir. 2006) (citation
26 omitted). Also, under the catchall category, FRCP 60(b)(6), courts have “broad authority”
27 to grant relief from judgment but should only do so in “extraordinary circumstances.”
1 Liljeberg v. Health Servs. Acquisition Corp., 486 U.S. 847, 863–64 (1988).
2 As a practical matter, a claim seeking that the judgment be set aside may be
3 brought under either FRCP 59(e) or 60(b). United States v. Westlands Water Dist., 134 F.
4 Supp. 2d 1111, 1130 (E.D. Cal. 2001). The only difference is that motions filed pursuant
5 to FRCP 59(e) “must be filed no later than 28 days after the entry of the judgment,” Fed.
6 R. Civ. P. 59, whereas motions filed under FRCP 60(b) must be filed “within a
7 reasonable time—and . . . no more than a year after the entry of the judgment or order or
8 the date of the proceeding.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(c).
9 Consequently, just as with FRCP 59(e), “errors of law are cognizable under Rule
10 60(b).” See United States ex rel. Mei Ling v. City of Los Angeles, No. CV-11-974-PSG,
11 2018 WL 6177255, at *2 (C.D. Cal. Nov. 9, 2018) (quotation omitted); Yniques v.
12 Cabral, 985 F.2d 1031, 1034 (9th Cir. 1993) (noting “a district court’s erroneous reading
13 of the law” may constitute a mistake under 28 U.S.C. § 60(b)(1)). A court, however, does
14 not abuse its discretion in denying a motion for reconsideration merely because the
15 underlying motion could have been erroneous; rather, the underlying order must be
16 “clearly erroneous.” See McDowell v. Calderon, 197 F.3d 1253, 1255 n.4 (9th Cir. 1999).
17 “Clear error occurs when ‘the reviewing court on the entire record is left with the definite
18 and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.’” Smith v. Clark Cty. School
19 Dist., 727 F.3d 950, 955 (9th Cir. 2013) (quoting United States v. U.S. Gypsum Co., 333
20 U.S. 364, 365 (1948)). “As the Sixth Circuit has put it, a decision should not be disturbed
21 under the clear error standard unless it ‘strikes the court as wrong with the force of a five-
22 week old, unrefrigerated dead fish.’” Mei Ling, 2018 WL 6177255, at *2 (quoting
23 Taglieri v. Monasky, 907 F.3d 404, 409 (6th Cir. 2018), cert. granted, 139 S. Ct. 2691,
24 204 L. Ed. 2d 1089 (2019); Teamsters Local 617 Pension & Welfare Funds v. Apollo
25 Grp., Inc., 282 F.R.D. 216, 231 (D. Ariz. 2012)).
26
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1 B. Factual and Procedural Background2
2 Broadly speaking, Plaintiff Sara Elizabeth Siegler alleges that Dr. Junghans, with
3 whom she hoped to collaborate on a new chimeric antigen receptor (“CAR”) T cell drug,
4 took her intellectual property and used it to begin developing competitor products under
5 the employment of, or in collaboration with, Tufts, Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., his
6 company BDL Products, and the other Defendants. (ECF No. 126 at 2–4). To halt
7 Defendants’ alleged theft of her intellectual property, Plaintiff filed her initial complaint
8 on July 24, 2018, and has since twice amended it. (ECF Nos. 1, 3, 86.)
9 Plaintiff’s SAC contains a number of claims, including, copyright infringement in
10 violation of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. (Claims for Relief I, III, IV, V);
11 misappropriation of trade secrets under California’s Uniform Trade Secrets Act
12 (“CUTSA”), CAL. CODE CIV. PROC. §§ 3425 et seq., and the Defend Trade Secrets
13 Act (“DTSA”), 18 U.S.C. § 1836 (Claims for Relief II and VI); antitrust violations
14 Sunder the Sherman and Clayton Acts, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1–7, 12–27 (Claim for Relief VII
15 through XIII); violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law, CAL. BUS. CODE §
16 17200 (Claim for Relief XIV); “Unjust, Uncompensated Takings” in violation of the
17 Fourteenth Amendment (Claim for Relief VII); and a claim for unjust enrichment (Claim
18 for Relief XVII). (See generally ECF No. 86.)
19 After considering the parties’ briefings, the Court dismissed all claims in the SAC
20 with prejudice. (ECF No. 126.) Plaintiff now asks that the Court reconsider that order
21 pursuant to FRCP 59(e) and 60(b). (ECF No. 134-1.) For the reasons detailed below, the
22 Court DENIES Plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration.
23 C. Analysis
24 i. Whether the Court Applied the 12(b)(6) Standard Erroneously.
25
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2 As the factual and procedural history of this matter is both lengthy and familiar to the parties, it is not
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1 Plaintiff contends that the Court must reconsider its final order granting
2 Defendants’ motions to dismiss the SAC because it erred in applying the Iqbal/Twombly
3 standard. Plaintiffs asserts that the Court (1) did not assume the truth of Plaintiff’s
4 allegations in the SAC, (ECF No. 134-1 at 8); (2) did not take judicial notice of certain
5 exhibits, (ECF No. 134-1 at 8–9 (citing ECF No. 65-1, Ex. 28; ECF No. 68-1, Exs. 31–
6 33)); and (3) improperly reviewed the complaint under FRCP 12(b)(6), (ECF No 134-1 at
7 12–13). Relatedly, Plaintiff contends that the Court earlier abused its discretion by failing
8 to clarify how Plaintiff could cure the FAC’s deficiencies. (ECF No 134-1 at 10.)
9 Plaintiff’s arguments lack merit. First, Plaintiff does not point to any specific
10 allegation that the Court failed to take as true. (See ECF No. 134-1 at 8). Second,
11 Plaintiff’s argument based on judicial notice addresses exhibits submitted in response to
12 Defendants’ motions to dismiss the FAC and not the SAC. (See ECF No. 134-1 at 8 n.4)
13 But, the Court already dismissed the FAC and ruled on Plaintiff’s subsequent motion for
14 reconsideration. (ECF Nos. 75, 85 at 4–5). Plaintiff’s instant motion cannot be used “to
15 relitigate old matters.” Exxon Shipping Co., 554 U.S. at 485 n.5.
16 Third, Plaintiff misapprehends the standard on a motion to dismiss. Plaintiff claims
17 that “test[ing] the sufficiency of the (amended) complaint under FRCP 12(b)(6) . . . was
18 totally inappropriate given the lessened standard applied to the complaints prepared . . .
19 by pro se litigants.” (ECF No. 134-1 at 12).3 This argument is simply wrong. While
20 complaints drafted by pro se litigants are to be liberally construed, they must still plead
21 facts that “plausibly give rise to an entitlement to relief,” Capp v. Cty. of San Diego, 940
22 F.3d 1046, 1052 (9th Cir. 2019), and, even on “a liberal interpretation,” the Court “may
23 not supply essential elements of the claim that were not initially pled.” Ivey v. Bd. of
24 Regents of Univ. of Alaska, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). Thus, the Court properly
25
26
3 Plaintiff also claims that the Court erroneously applied FRCP 9. (ECF No. 134-1 at 13.) But, Plaintiff
27
1 dismissed the SAC for “failure to cure the deficiencies previously identified” under
2 FRCP 12(b)(6). (ECF No. 126 at 14.)
3 Lastly, Plaintiff’s argument that the Court did not adequately identify the
4 complaint’s deficiencies for Plaintiff fails because it presents no new argument for
5 reconsideration. (Compare ECF No 134-1 at 10 with ECF No. 80-1 at 10–16.) Plaintiff’s
6 request, moreover, would compel the Court to act as counsel counter to Ninth Circuit
7 law. (See ECF 85 at 2–3 (citing Bias v. Moynihan, 508 F.3d 1212, 1219 (9th Cir. 2007)).
8 Consequently, the Court DENIES reconsideration finding it correctly applied
9 FRCP 12(b)(6) in its final order. (ECF No. 126.)
10 ii. Whether the Court Erred in Dismissing the SAC with Prejudice.
11 Plaintiff also contends that the Court must reconsider its decision to dismiss the
12 SAC with prejudice. Specifically, Plaintiff asserts that the Court failed to recognize “the
13 so-called deficiencies in the amended complaint could be cured by amendment,” (ECF
14 No 134-1 at 10) and that Plaintiff was unfairly “granted one opportunity to amend the
15 first amended complaint.” (ECF No 134-1 at 114–15) (emphasis in original).
16 Again, Plaintiff’s arguments are not persuasive. A court may deny leave to amend
17 where plaintiff fails to cure the deficiencies in a complaint, or an amendment would be
18 futile. Moore v. Kayport Package Exp., Inc., 885 F.2d 531, 538 (9th Cir. 1989). The
19 Court has “broad” discretion to permit or deny leave, particularly “where a plaintiff has
20 previously amended the complaint.” Ascon Props., Inc. v. Mobil Oil Co., 866 F.2d 1149,
21 1160 (9th Cir. 1989). Here, the Court addressed each of plaintiff’s claims and found that
22 any further amendment would be futile, or was not merited, given Plaintiff’s failure to
23 cure the already-identified deficiencies in her claims. (ECF No. 126 at 24–26, 34, 40, 49–
24 50.) Now, Plaintiff neither explains how the SAC could be amended, nor why the SAC
25 pleads sufficient, plausible facts for her claims to survive. Plaintiff’s claims are futile.
26 Thus, the Court DENIES reconsideration on the ground that Plaintiff did not then
27 – and does not now – adequately explain how the complaint could be amended to survive.
1 iii. Whether the Court Erred in Dismissing the Infringement Claims.
2 Plaintiff also asserts that the Court is “erroneously fixated on the notion that
3 Plaintiffs are attempting to assert patent rights over an ‘idea,’ wheres (sic) Plaintiffs have
4 alleged copyright . . . infringement amongst other claims in the SAC.” (ECF No. 134 at
5 11.) Plaintiff asks the Court to infer Defendants Roger Williams Medical Center LLC and
6 Tufts concede infringement by not updating their provisional patent applications. (ECF
7 No. 134-1 at 27–28.)4
8 Plaintiff’s arguments here miss the mark. Defendants do not “infringe” by utilizing
9 the ideas in Plaintiff’s copyrighted articles since a copyright does not preclude others
10 from using scientific methods or discoveries described in an article. (ECF No. 126 at 16–
11 23; ECF No. 75 at 14–19). And, Plaintiff neither alleges what, if anything, constitutes
12 copyrightable subject matter in her articles, nor that Defendants copied her articles
13 verbatim – the only two ways to establish this claim. See CCC Information Services, Inc.
14 v. Maclean Hunter Market Reports, Inc., 44 F.3d 61, 73 (2d Cir. 1994). Consequently, as
15 Plaintiff again fails to explain how the facts she alleges make out a claim, the Court
16 DENIES reconsideration as to her copyright infringement claims.
17 iv. Whether the Court Erred in Dismissing the Trade Secret Claims.
18 Plaintiff also asks for reconsideration of the dismissal of her trade secret claims.
19 Specifically, Plaintiff asserts that the submission of the copyright articles with the
20 Copyright Office occurred after Defendants’ infringement. (ECF No. 134-1 at 19.) So,
21 according to Plaintiff, her “trade secrets” were not made public by Plaintiff’s submission.
22 (ECF No. 134-1 at 19.) Also, Plaintiff asserts that work submitted to the Copyright office,
23 unlike work submitted to the US Patent Office, does not automatically lose trade secret
24 protection, contrary to the Court’s reasoning in the final order. (ECF No. 134-1 at 19–20.)
25
26
4 Plaintiff’s last argument here is pure speculation and is contradicted by Defendant’s assertion that any
27
1 Here, Plaintiff’s arguments are not convincing. Plaintiff’s arguments in the instant
2 motion do not cure the deficiencies in the SAC, namely, that (1) Plaintiff does not
3 identify a specific trade secret; (2) Plaintiff shared her articles with Dr. Junghans; and (3)
4 Plaintiff shared her articles with the United States Copyright Office without alleging
5 redaction. (ECF No. 136 at 25–26.) Consequently, Plaintiff does not state facts giving
6 rise to a trade secrets claim, Ruckelshaus v. Monsanto Co., 467 U.S. 986, 1002 (1984)
7 (requiring that an individual identify and not disclose the specific trade secret), and thus
8 the Court DENIES reconsideration of these claims.
9 v. Whether the Court Erred in Dismissing the Takings Claim.
10 With respect to the takings claim, Plaintiff reiterates the idea that “Defendants
11 Richard Paul Junghans and Steven C. Katz received monies that should have been paid”
12 to Plaintiff, and thus they are liable to Plaintiff for an unconstitutional taking. (ECF No.
13 134-1 at 15.) The Court has twice dismissed this claim with prejudice on the same
14 grounds: that, absent some exceptions inapplicable here, a takings claim only arises in the
15 wake of government action. (ECF No. 126 at 41; ECF No. 75 at 32–33); see Single
16 Moms, Inc. v. Montana Power Co., 331 F.3d 743, 746–47. Thus, the Court again
17 DENIES reconsideration on the takings claim as Defendants are private entities.
18 vi. Whether Plaintiff’s New “Evidence” Merits Reconsideration.
19 Plaintiff asks that the Court reconsider its judgment based on nine documents cited
20 as “newly discovered evidence.” (ECF No. 134-1 at 21–22.) Plaintiff, however, merely
21 lists these documents in a table and makes no effort to explain how they “likely would
22 have changed the outcome of the” motions to dismiss. Jones v. United States, 81 F.
23 App’x 209, 210 (9th Cir. 2003). A reason for reconsideration, moreover, is not self-
24 evident from the documents. Consequently, the Court DENIES reconsideration under
25 FRCP 60(b)(2).
26 vii. Whether Defendants Committed a Fraud Meriting Reconsideration.
27 Plaintiff contends that the Court must reconsider dismissing the SAC because
1 Defendants have allegedly engaged in “fraud.” Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 60(b)(2); (ECF No. 134-
2 1 at 22–26.) Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. failed to
3 disclose its decision to assign various patents and patent applications to Chase Bank.
4 (ECF No. 134-1 at 22–24.) Also, Plaintiffs allege that Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. failed
5 to disclose its intent to engage in an initial public offering of its “TNK subsidiary, or its
6 CAR T cell immmunooncology subsidiary.” (ECF No. 134-1 at 25.)
7 “Under Rule 60(b)(3), the moving party must establish by clear and convincing
8 evidence that a judgment was obtained by fraud, misrepresentation, or misconduct, and
9 that the conduct complained of prevented the moving party from fully and fairly
10 presenting the case.” Lafarge Conseils Et Etudes, S.A. v. Kaiser Cement & Gypsum
11 Corp., 791 F.2d 1334, 1338 (9th Cir. 1986). Plaintiff must also show that the Rule 60(d)
12 action is necessary “to prevent a grave miscarriage of justice.” United States v. Beggerly,
13 524 U.S. 38, 47 (1998).
14 Here, Plaintiff has not established fraud under these standards. First, it is not clear
15 that Defendants’ actions constitute fraud. Defendants assert that they had no duty to
16 disclose this information, and Plaintiff cites no authority to the contrary. (ECF No. 134-1
17 at 17–21; ECF No. 144 at 5; 147 ECF No. 1–7.) Second, Plaintiff assumes the materiality
18 of these alleged non-disclosures. However, Plaintiff does not explain how having pled
19 this information in the SAC would have permitted any of its now-defunct claims to
20 survive. Consequently, the Court DENIES reconsideration under FRCP 60(b)(3).
21 viii. Whether There Exists “any other reason that justifies relief.”
22 Lastly, Plaintiff takes umbrage with the perceived slight that she was “ridiculed”
23 by the Court for including the phrase “copyrightable expression” in the SAC. (ECF No
24 134-1 at 10–11 (citing ECF No. 126 at 17.) The Court did not “ridicule” Plaintiff in its
25 final order and was merely summarizing her complaints and motions. Also, Plaintiff’s
26 assertions of a due process violation ring hollow given the ample process afforded to
27 Plaintiff vis-à-vis her many requests for accommodations, substantive motions, and
1 || subsequent motions for reconsideration. (ECF No. 147 at 8.) Consequently, the Court
2 ||DENIES reconsideration under FRCP 60(b)(6).
3 Conclusion
4 In sum, the Court finds that no reasonable person would conclude that the Court’s
5 || “impartiality might reasonably be questioned,” 28 U.S.C. § 455(a), and that Plaintiff has
6 provided sufficient reasons to reconsider the Court’s dismissal of the SAC.
7 || Consequently, Plaintiff’s motions for reconsideration and recusal are DENIED.
8 The Court VACATES the hearing set in this matter for December 20, 2019.
9 IT IS SO ORDERED.
10 Dated: December 17, 2019 <=
12 United States District Judge
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