finding this factor satisfied because the district court 18 accurately “conclude[d] that the large number of complaints filed by [the litigant] contain[ed] false 19 or exaggerated allegations of injury”
How later courts described this case
- finding this factor satisfied because the district court 18 accurately “conclude[d] that the large number of complaints filed by [the litigant] contain[ed] false 19 or exaggerated allegations of injury”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
1
2
3
4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
6
7 CORONAVIRUS REPORTER Case No. 24-cv-08660-EMC
CORPORATION, et al.,
8
Plaintiffs, ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION
9 FOR SANCTIONS AND PLAINTIFFS’
v. MOTIONS
10
APPLE INC, Docket Nos. 70, 74, 83-87, and 99
11
Defendant.
12
13
I. INTRODUCTION
14
Before the Court are Defendant Apple Inc.’s motion for sanctions against Plaintiffs
15
Coronavirus Reporter Corporation, Calid Inc., and Greenflight Venture Corporation (collectively
16
“Plaintiffs”) and Plaintiffs’ motions filed thereafter. Dkts. 70 (Defendant’s Motion for Sanctions),
17
74, 83-87, 89, 99. Under Civil Local Rule 7-1(b), the Court finds the matters suitable for
18
disposition on the pleadings. For the reasons below, the Court grants-in-part Defendant’s motion
19
for sanctions and denies Plaintiffs’ motions.
20
II. BACKGROUND
21
On November 30, 2021, this Court dismissed claims brought by plaintiffs Coronavirus
22
Reporter, Calid Inc., Dr. Jeffrey D. Isaacs, and Primary Productions LLC against Apple Inc.
23
Coronavirus Reporter v. Apple Inc., 2021 WL 5936910 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 30, 2021) (case is
24
hereafter “Coronavirus I”). There, the plaintiffs challenged Apple’s alleged “monopolist
25
operation of its App Store through curation and censorship of smartphone apps.” Id. at *1
26
(internal citation omitted) (“Plaintiffs bring this action for antitrust and RICO violations, and
27
breach of contract and fraud against Apple, Inc…”). This Court held that the plaintiffs’ antitrust
1 claims failed because the plaintiffs had failed to define a relevant market or allege an antitrust
2 injury. Id. at *6. This Court dismissed the plaintiffs’ complaint with prejudice because “between
3 the various iterations of this case being filed across jurisdictions and by different configurations of
4 Plaintiffs – all challenging the same conduct by Apple and all by the same counsel – this is
5 Plaintiff’s seventh amended complaint on these claims” and the plaintiffs had still failed to state
6 any claims. Id. at *18 (emphasis in original).
7 On November 3, 2023, the Ninth Circuit affirmed this Court’s decision. Coronavirus Rep.
8 v. Apple, Inc., 85 F.4th 948, 958 (9th Cir. 2023), cert. denied, 144 S. Ct. 2526, 219 L. Ed. 2d 1204
9 (2024) (holding that “the district court properly dismissed with prejudice all of the claims against
10 Apple”). The Ninth Circuit held that “the district court did not abuse its discretion in concluding
11 that further amendment was not warranted” because “Plaintiffs-Appellants were given a total of
12 seven opportunities to amend similar complaints across jurisdictions and between various
13 permutations of plaintiffs, but still failed to state their claims here adequately.” Id.
14 On March 3, 2024, the instant Plaintiffs – Coronavirus Reporter Corporation, Calid Inc.,
15 and Greenflight Venture Corporation (“Plaintiffs”) – filed suit against Defendant Apple Inc. in the
16 District of Wyoming. Dkt. 1.
17 On July 26, 2024, Plaintiffs filed their First Amended Complaint (“FAC 2”). Plaintiffs
18 allege that Apple monopolizes the app distribution market on its devices through its curation and
19 app approval process for its App Store and suppresses or excludes apps that compete with Apple
20 or its partners. Dkt. 30. Plaintiffs assert nine claims based on this alleged conduct.
21 On November 21, 2024, the case was transferred to the Northern District of California.
22 Dkt. 44.
23 On January 9, 2025, this Court related this case to Coronavirus I. Dkt. 53.
24 Defendant filed a motion to dismiss. Dkt. 62. It also filed a motion for sanctions against
25 Plaintiffs under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11, the Court’s inherent authority, and under 28
26 U.S.C. § 1927. Dkt. 70.
27 On June 25, 2025, the Court granted Apple’s motion to dismiss (Dkt. 62) because
1 between Coronavirus I and II and that there was a final judgment on the merits affirmed on
2 appeal. The Court held that, as in Coronavirus I, Plaintiffs alleged that Defendant “monopolizes
3 the app distribution market on its devices through its curation and app approval process for its App
4 Store” and “that Apple suppresses or excludes apps that compete with Apple or its partners.” Dkt.
5 82 at 3. The Court also found that the parties in both cases were in privity. In its order dismissing
6 Plaintiffs’ claims, the Court held that privity was satisfied for the following reasons:
7
First, Plaintiff Calid Inc. and Defendant Apple “are identical in both
8 actions.” Mpoyo v. Litton Electro-Optical Sys., 430 F.3d 985, 988
(9th Cir. 2005).
9
Second, Plaintiff Coronavirus Reporter Corporation, a Wyoming C
10 corporation according to the complaint, was also a party in
Coronavirus I. See Dkt. 30 at ¶ 47. That the entity includes
11 “Corporation” in its name in this suit does not render it a new party,
particularly where the State of Wyoming has a record of only one
12 entity including “Coronavirus Reporter” in its name. See Mot. Exs.
1-5.
13
Finally, the last remaining Plaintiff Greenflight Venture
14 Corporation is in privity with the plaintiff in the prior case. “Even
when the parties are not identical, privity may exist if ‘there is
15 substantial identity between parties, that is, when there is sufficient
commonality of interest.’” Tahoe-Sierra Pres. Council, Inc. v.
16 Tahoe Reg’l Plan. Agency, 322 F.3d 1064, 1081 (9th Cir. 2003)
(citing In re Gottheiner, 703 F.2d 1136, 1140 (9th Cir. 1983)).
17 “Greenflight Venture Corporation” is “Mr. [Jeffrey D.] Isaacs’
solely owned entity.” Greenflight Venture Corp. v. Google LLC,
18 765 F. Supp. 3d 1267, 1273 (S.D. Fla. 2025); see Mot. Ex. 6
(Florida Secretary of State Corporate Record listing Dr. Jeffrey D.
19 Isaacs as the Chief Executive Officer of Greenflight Venture
Corporation).
20
21 Id. at 5 (emphasis and spacing added).1 Thus, Plaintiffs’ claims were barred by res judicata as
22 there were identical issues in Coronavirus I and II, there was a final judgment on the merits in
23 Coronavirus I, and the parties in both cases are in privity.
24 After the Court dismissed Plaintiffs’ claims with prejudice, Plaintiffs filed several motions:
25 an emergency motion for a temporary stay and status conference (Dkt. 83); a motion for “pre-
26 emptive amicus invitation and limited public-input procedure” (Dkt. 84); an amended version of
27
1 its motion at Dkt. 84 (Dkt. 85); a motion for sanctions against Defendant and Defendant’s counsel
2 (Dkt. 86); an amended motion to stay “briefing and hearings on Apple’s sanctions motion” and
3 request to shorten time on Plaintiffs’ motion for a stay (Dkt. 87). It also filed a motion to relate
4 cases and for an expedited stay filed before Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, which Judge
5 Gonzalez Rogers denied. Dkts. 89, 93.
6 On July 8, 2025, this Court ordered that “Plaintiffs must obtain leave of Court before filing
7 any additional motions” and that, under Civil Local Rule 7-1(b), the Court would adjudicate
8 Plaintiffs’ motions without oral argument. Dkt. 92.
9 On July 10, 2025, under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(c)(3), this Court ordered
10 Plaintiffs to show cause why their filing of motions (Dkts. 74, 83-87, and 89) did not violate Rule
11 11(b). Dkt. 95. The Court permitted Defendants to file a response to Plaintiffs’ brief. The parties
12 filed their respective briefs on this issue on July 14, 2025 and July 17, 2025. Dkts. 97, 98.
13 On July 22, 2025, Plaintiffs filed a motion for leave to file a motion for reconsideration of
14 the Court’s order dismissing Plaintiffs’ claims. Dkt. 99.
15 Before the Court are Defendant’s motion for sanctions, responses to the Court’s order to
16 show cause regarding potential violations of Rule 11 by the Plaintiff, and Plaintiffs’ motions at
17 Docket Nos. 74, 83-87, and 99.
18 III. DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SANCTIONS AND RESPONSES TO THE
19 COURT’S ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE
20 Defendant requests that the Court sanction Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs’ counsel under Federal
21 Rule of Civil Procedure 11, the Court’s inherent authority, or 28 U.S.C. § 1927. Dkt. 70 at 3.
22 Further, under Rule 11(c)(3), the Court ordered Plaintiffs to show cause why its filing of
23 one motion after Defendant filed its motion for sanctions (Dkt. 74) and six motions after the Court
24 dismissed Plaintiffs’ complaint (Dkts. 83-87, 89) did not violate Rule 11. Dkt. 95; see Fed. R.
25 Civ. P 11(c)(3) (“On its own, the court may order an attorney, law firm, or party to show cause
26 why conduct specifically described in the order has not violated Rule 11(b).”).
27 For the following reasons, sanctions are warranted.
1 A. Rule 11
2 Sanctions under Rule 11 are warranted because Plaintiffs’ complaint and ensuing motions
3 are frivolous and lack support in violation of Rules 11(b)(2) and (3).
4 1. Legal Standard
5 Rule 11 provides:
6
By presenting to the court a pleading, written motion, or other
7 paper—whether by signing, filing, submitting, or later advocating
it—an attorney or unrepresented party certifies that to the best of the
8 person’s knowledge, information, and belief, formed after an inquiry
reasonable under the circumstances:
9
(1) it is not being presented for any improper purpose, such as to
10 harass, cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of
litigation;
11 (2) the claims, defenses, and other legal contentions are warranted
by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument for extending,
12 modifying, or reversing existing law or for establishing new law;
(3) the factual contentions have evidentiary support or, if
13 specifically so identified, will likely have evidentiary support after a
reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery; and
14 (4) the denials of factual contentions are warranted on the evidence
or, if specifically so identified, are reasonably based on belief or a
15 lack of information.
16
Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(b). A submission “that does not comply with any one of these requirements
17
gives grounds for monetary sanctions.” Lake v. Gates, 130 F.4th 1064, 1068 (9th Cir. 2025)
18
(affirming district court’s grant of motion for sanctions under Rule 11(b)(3)); see Fed. R. Civ. P.
19
11(c)(1) and (4). A court may, on its own, “order an attorney, law firm, or party to show cause
20
why conduct specifically described in the order has not violated Rule 11.” Fed. R. Civ. P.
21
11(c)(3). A party may also independently move for sanctions against another party for violating
22
Rule 11 following the procedure outlined in subsection (c)(2).
23
If “the court determines that [Rule 11] has been violated” after the party or attorney facing
24
sanctions has had a reasonable opportunity to respond, “the court may impose an appropriate
25
sanction on any attorney, law firm, or party that violated the rule or is responsible for the
26
violation.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(c)(1). “Courts must apply an objective test in assessing whether the
27
rule has been violated. A violation of the rule does not require subjective bad faith.” Yagman v.
1 Republic Ins., 987 F.2d 622, 628 (9th Cir. 1993) (citations omitted).
2 2. Rule 11(b)(2): Frivolous Claims Barred by Res Judicata
3 Under Rule 11(b)(2), a court may “impos[e] sanctions against [a plaintiff] for [filing] a
4 frivolous complaint.” Gaskell v. Weir, 10 F.3d 626, 628 (9th Cir. 1993). One such example is a
5 complaint that asserts claims clearly barred by res judicata. Est. of Blue v. Cnty. of Los Angeles,
6 120 F.3d 982, 985 (9th Cir. 1997) (“When a reasonable investigation would reveal that a claim is
7 barred by res judicata or collateral estoppel,” “Rule 11 sanctions may be imposed within the
8 district court’s discretion.”). Thus, when a party brings the same “theory to court time after time
9 and has been told that he is wrong” and asserts the same claims in a new complaint, “the
10 complaint [is] patently frivolous.” Roundtree v. United States, 40 F.3d 1036, 1040 (9th Cir. 1994)
11 (affirming sanctions where an attorney brought the same legal theory to court at least six times and
12 each court had rejected his theory).
13 Here, Plaintiffs’ complaint is “patently frivolous.” Id. As discussed, Plaintiffs’ claims
14 were barred by res judicata, and any reasonable investigation would have so revealed.
15 Bringing the instant frivolous case caused needless expenditures by Defendants. Like the
16 attorney sanctioned in Roundtree, Dr. Jeffrey Isaacs (through various corporate entities) and his
17 counsel Mr. Keith Mathews herein have “forced [Apple] to go through essentially the same
18 expensive exercise; each time [they have] forced courts to adjudicate essentially the same issues.”
19 Roundtree, 40 F.3d at 1040; see Coronavirus Reporter v. Apple Inc., No. 1:21-cv-00047 (D.N.H.);
20 Primary Productions LLC v. Apple Inc., No. 2:21-cv-00137 (D. Me.); Coronavirus Reporter v.
21 Apple Inc., No. 1:21-cv-05567 (N.D. Cal.) (Coronavirus I); Coring Co. v. Apple Inc., No. 9:21-cv-
22 82235 (S.D. Fla.) (collecting Dr. Isaacs’ and Mathews’ other antitrust cases against Apple).
23 Where parties “attempt[] to have us revisit the claims and theories [repeatedly] rejected,” it
24 “cannot [be] sa[id] that the district court abuse[s] its discretion when it impose[s] sanctions upon
25 [such parties].” Roundtree, 40 F.3d at 1040. Thus, Plaintiffs and their counsel’s filing of the
26 frivolous complaint in this case warrants sanctions.
27
1 3. Rule 11(b)(2) and (3) Violation: Papers Lacking in Legal and Evidentiary
2 Support
3 Further, Plaintiffs’ admission that they used ChatGPT to generate a document submitted
4 three times to the Court coupled with their submission of motions containing hallucinated citations
5 violate Rules 11(b)(2) and (3)’s requirement to certify that the “legal contentions are warranted”
6 and that the “factual contentions have evidentiary support.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 11.
7 Specifically, Plaintiffs’ counsel filed a ChatGPT-drafted exhibit, which he submitted to the
8 Court three times. Dkt. 97-1 at 9, see Dkts. 84-2 (in support of (“ISO”) motion for “pre-emptive
9 amicus invitation and limited public-input procedure”), 85-1 (ISO amended version of Dkt. 84),
10 89-3 (ISO motion to relate cases and for expedited stay before Judge Gonzalez Rogers). Further,
11 Plaintiffs filed an anti-SLAPP motion and a response to the Court’s order to show cause that
12 included hallucinated citations and quotations. Dkts. 74, 96.
13 Rule 11 provides, in part, that:
14
By presenting to the court a pleading, written motion, or other
15 paper—whether by signing, filing, submitting, or later advocating
it—an attorney or unrepresented party certifies that to the best of the
16 person’s knowledge, information, and belief, formed after an
inquiry reasonable under the circumstances:…
17
(2) the claims, defenses, and other legal contentions are warranted
18 by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument for extending,
modifying, or reversing existing law or for establishing new law;
19
(3) the factual contentions have evidentiary support or, if
20 specifically so identified, will likely have evidentiary support after a
reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery
21
Fed. R. Civ. P. 11 (emphasis added). Thus, “Rule 11 imposes a duty on attorneys to certify that
22
they have conducted a reasonable inquiry and have determined that any papers filed with the court
23
are well grounded in fact, legally tenable, and not interposed for any improper purpose.” Cooter
24
& Gell v. Hartmarx Corp., 496 U.S. 384, 393 (1990). “The Rule admits of no exceptions to the
25
requirement that all reasonable attorneys will read a document before filing it in court.” Zaldivar
26
v. City of Los Angeles, 780 F.2d 823, 830 (9th Cir. 1986), abrogated on other grounds by Cooter,
27
496 U.S. 384 (1990).
1 Here, the Court provided Plaintiffs with an opportunity to show cause why their filing of
2 motions (Dkts. 74, 83-87, and 89) did not violate Rule 11(b). Dkt. 95. In his declaration
3 supporting Plaintiffs’ response to the order to show cause, Plaintiffs’ counsel admitted that he used
4 ChatGPT to generate in its entirety an exhibit of a petition seeking “to end Apple’s suppression of
5 free speech and demand [Apple CEO] Tim Cook’s resignation,” which he submitted to the Court
6 three times. Dkt. 97-1 at 9; see Dkts. 84-2, 85-1, 89-3. Mr. Mathews declares that “the Court
7 should be aware that no human ever authored the Petition for Tim Cook’s resignation, nor did any
8 human spend more than about fifteen minutes on it.” Id. “[N]o human ever authored the Petition”
9 because “ChatGPT…created” the Petition in “[t]en minutes.” Id. at 9-10. Specifically, as a “legal
10 experiment,” Mr. Mathews submitted the following prompt to ChatGPT: “Did Judge Gonzales
11 Rogers’ rebuke of Tim Cook’s Epic conduct create a legally grounded impetus for his termination
12 as CEO, and if so, write a petition explaining such basis, providing contextual background on
13 critics’ views of Apple’s demise since Steve Jobs’ death.” Id. Mr. Mathews made “minor
14 corrections” to the Petition, “approved it for distribution,” and requests that the motions it supports
15 “be granted.” Id. at 10. While he attests that he was “surprised at the quality of the work,” Mr.
16 Mathews does not demonstrate that he “determined that [the] paper[] filed with the court [was]
17 well grounded in fact, legally tenable, and not interposed for any improper purpose.” Cooter, 496
18 U.S. at 393. Instead, his declaration shows otherwise. Mr. Mathews describes the 20-page exhibit
19 that he created and submitted to the Court as a “test” – one that was reviewed in under “fifteen
20 minutes.” Dkt. 97-1 at 9. Thus, Mr. Mathews does not certify that he conducted a “inquiry
21 reasonable under the circumstances” to determine whether the “factual contentions have
22 evidentiary support.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(b)(3).
23 Moreover, the hallucinated citations and quotations in Mr. Mathews’ motions reveal that
24 he has likely failed to conduct a “inquiry reasonable under the circumstances” to determine
25 whether the “legal contentions are warranted by existing law.” Id. 11(b)(2). For example,
26 Plaintiffs’ anti-SLAPP motion contained citations to cases that do not exist (i.e. Klein v. Cheung,
27 20 Cal. App. 5th 1045 (2018) or direct to different cases or relate to different issues than those
1 (2018); Atari Interactive, Inc. v. Redbubble, Inc., 2019 WL 6723422 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 10, 2019);
2 Makaeff v. Trump Univ., LLC, 715 F.3d 254 (9th Cir. 2013)). See Dkt. 74. Ironically, Plaintiffs’
3 response to the Court’s order to show cause on why they should not be sanctioned includes
4 hallucinated quotations. See Dkt. 97 at 6 (citing to Hall v. City of Los Angeles, 697 F.3d 1059,
5 1067 (9th Cir. 2012) for the quote “issues not decided previously do not become the law of the
6 case,” when Hall does not include such a quote). Such “[a]n attempt to persuade a court or oppose
7 an adversary by relying on fake opinions is an abuse of the adversary system.” Mata v. Avianca,
8 Inc., 678 F. Supp. 3d 443, 461 (S.D.N.Y. 2023) (awarding $5000 in sanctions). Thus, Plaintiffs’
9 counsel violated Rule 11 by drafting court documents with ChatGPT without adequate review and
10 including in his briefs hallucinated cases and quotes. Mr. Mathews’ violations warrant sanctions
11 under Rule 11.
12 B. Sanctions
13 Defendant seeks the following sanctions against Plaintiffs and their counsel: 1) $400,000
14 in joint and several compensatory sanctions; 2) revocation of Mr. Mathews’ pro hac vice
15 admission; and 3) a pre-filing injunction. Dkt. 70.
16 1. Legal Standard
17 a. Procedural Requirements
18 Motions for sanctions and orders to show cause why sanctions should not be awarded must
19 comply with certain procedural requirements. Motions for sanctions “must not be filed or be
20 presented to the court if the challenged paper, claim, defense, contention, or denial is withdrawn or
21 appropriately corrected within 21 days after service or within another time the court sets.” Fed. R.
22 Civ. P. 11(c)(2). Sanctions awarded on the Court’s own initiative must first provide the party
23 being sanctioned with “notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond.” Id. 11(c)(1).
24 b. Authority to Award Sanctions for Violations
25 Rule 11(c)(1) provides:
26
If, after notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond, the court
27 determines that Rule 11(b) has been violated, the court may impose
exceptional circumstances, a law firm must be held jointly
1 responsible for a violation committed by its partner, associate, or
employee.
2
3 Fed. R. Civ. P. 11.
4 2. Discussion
5 a. Procedural Requirements
6 First, the procedural requirements are satisfied. Defendant complied with the 21-day safe
7 harbor provision by providing Plaintiffs with the requisite documents and providing Plaintiffs with
8 21 days to withdraw their filings or cure the conduct at issue in its motion for sanctions.
9 Kleinbrodt Decl. ¶ 12 (Dkt. 70-1 at 5). Further, in its order requiring that Plaintiffs show cause
10 why sanctions should be not issued, the Court provided Plaintiffs with notice and an opportunity
11 to respond to the Court’s order. See Dkt. 95.
12 b. Appropriate Sanctions
13 Under Rule 11(c)(4):
14
A sanction imposed under this rule must be limited to what
15 suffices to deter repetition of the conduct or comparable conduct
by others similarly situated. The sanction may include
16 nonmonetary directives; an order to pay a penalty into court; or, if
imposed on motion and warranted for effective deterrence, an order
17 directing payment to the movant of part or all of the reasonable
attorney’s fees and other expenses directly resulting from the
18 violation.
19 Fed. R. Civ. P. 11 (emphasis added).
20 Here, but for Plaintiffs’ filing of a complaint clearly barred by res judicata and its filing of
21 numerous unmeritorious motions herein (which the Court summarily denies below), Defendant
22 would not have had to defend itself in this litigation. The fees incurred by Defendant in
23 connection with this litigation are a direct result of the sanctionable conduct found above. Thus,
24 Defendant is entitled to the fees and costs reasonably incurred in connection with this litigation.
25 Defendant shall submit declarations from its attorneys detailing the fee request, and
26 corresponding time sheets and a brief defining the number of hours of attorney work and
27 associated costs that Defendant has incurred as a result of Plaintiffs’ sanctionable misconduct.
1 Defendant effectively asks the Court to find Plaintiffs, Dr. Isaacs (through various
2 corporate entities), and Mr. Mathews vexatious litigants by requesting a revocation of Mr.
3 Mathews’ pro hac vice admission and a pre-filing injunction enjoining “Plaintiffs, Mathews, and
4 Isaacs from suing Apple in any federal court.” Dkt. 70 at 34. The Court DENIES this request as
5 Plaintiffs must be afforded adequate notice and an opportunity to oppose such an order.
6 A court may declare an individual a vexatious litigant if “(1) the plaintiff is given adequate
7 notice and an opportunity to oppose the order; (2) the Court compiles an adequate record for
8 review; (3) the Court makes substantive findings as to the frivolous or harassing nature of the
9 litigant’s actions; and (4) the order is narrowly tailored ‘to closely fit the specific vice
10 encountered.’” Missud v. Nevada, 861 F. Supp. 2d 1044, 1055 (N.D. Cal. 2012), aff'd, 520 F.
11 App’x 534 (9th Cir. 2013) (quoting Molski v. Evergreen Dynasty Corp., 500 F.3d 1047, 1057 (9th
12 Cir.2007)).
13 The third factor requires that the Court “look at ‘both the number and content of the filings
14 as indicia’ of the frivolousness of the litigant’s claims.” Molski, 500 F.3d at 1059 (citing De Long,
15 912 F.2d at 1148). This factor is satisfied by a finding that a “plaintiff’s claims [are] not
16 only…numerous, but also…patently without merit.” Moy v. United States, 906 F.2d 467, 470 (9th
17 Cir. 1990); see Molski, 500 F.3d at 1059 (finding this factor satisfied because the district court
18 accurately “conclude[d] that the large number of complaints filed by [the litigant] contain[ed] false
19 or exaggerated allegations of injury”).
20 Should Defendant seek an order declaring Plaintiffs and Dr. Isaacs vexatious litigants,
21 Defendant shall file a motion to declare them vexatious litigants which addresses all the necessary
22 elements, provide them with notice, and they shall have an opportunity to be heard by filing their
23 oppositions to said motion and through a hearing. See Molski, 500 F.3d at 1057 (“Molski had fair
24 notice of the possibility that he might be declared a vexatious litigant ... because the district court’s
25 order was prompted by a motion filed by the defendants and served on Molski’s counsel. Also,
26 Molski had the opportunity to oppose the motion, both in writing and at a hearing.”).
27 Further, the Court notes that “an attorney appearing on behalf of a client cannot be
1 litigant.” Weissman v. Quail Lodge, Inc., 179 F.3d 1194, 1197 (9th Cir. 1999).
2 Thus, Defendant’s request in its motion for sanctions that the Court find the Plaintiffs, Dr.
3 Isaacs, and Mr. Mathews vexatious litigants is DENIED. Defendant shall properly initiate the
4 vexatious litigant process.
5 IV. PLAINTIFFS’ MOTIONS AT DOCKET NOS. 74, 83-87, AND 99
6 For the reasons below, Plaintiff’s motions at Docket Nos. 74, 83-87, and 99 are DENIED.
7 A. Anti-SLAPP Motion (Dkt. 74)
8 Plaintiffs’ motion to strike Defendant’s motion for sanctions under California’s anti-
9 strategic lawsuit against public participation (“anti-SLAPP) statute (Civil Code of Procedure §
10 425.16) is denied “[b]ecause a federal court can only entertain anti-SLAPP special motions to
11 strike in connection with state law claims” and Defendant’s bases to seek sanctions lie in federal
12 law (Rule 11, a federal court’s inherent authority, and 28 U.S.C. § 1927). Hilton v. Hallmark
13 Cards, 599 F.3d 894, 901 (9th Cir. 2010). Thus, Plaintiffs’ anti-SLAPP motion is DENIED.
14 B. Motion for Sanctions (Dkt. 86)
15 Plaintiffs’ motion for sanctions is denied because Plaintiffs failed to comply with Rule 11’s
16 mandatory 21-day safe-harbor provision. Under Rule 11(c)(1)(A), a party seeking sanctions is
17 “required to serve its Rule 11 motion on the [non-moving party] with a demand for retraction of
18 the allegedly offending allegations, and then to allow the [non-moving party] at least twenty-one
19 days to retract the pleading before filing the motion with the court.” Radcliffe v. Rainbow Const.
20 Co., 254 F.3d 772, 788–89 (9th Cir. 2001). Where the moving party “d[oes] not comply with the
21 twenty-one day advance service provision,” that party is “not entitled to obtain an award from the
22 [non-moving party].” Id. at 789. Plaintiffs concede that they have failed to comply with this
23 requirement. Dkt. 86 at 9 (“We candidly note that…a party must serve a [Rule 11] motion and
24 wait 21 days – but in this case…any such advance notice would only invite further abusive
25 tactics.”). Thus, Plaintiffs are “not entitled to obtain an award from” Defendant. Radcliffe, 254
26 F.3d at 789. Plaintiffs’ motion for sanctions is DENIED and, in any event, any such motion
27 would be frivolous in view of the Court’s findings above.
1 C. Stay Motions (Dkts. 83, 84, 85, and 87)
2 In their motions at Docket Nos. 83, 84, 85, and 87, Plaintiffs request that the Court stay the
3 case following dismissal of their claims.2 Plaintiffs provide no caselaw demonstrating that a party
4 can seek a stay when there are no pending claims. In Smith v. Spizzirri, 601 U.S. 472 (2024), the
5 Supreme Court distinguished between a stay and a dismissal: while a stay is a “‘temporary
6 suspension” of legal proceedings,” a dismissal is “the conclusive termination of such proceedings”
7 that forecloses the parties’ ability to “return to federal court…to resolve the dispute.” 601 U.S.
8 472, 477 (2024). “That return ticket is not available if the court dismisses the suit.” Id. Here, the
9 Court granted Defendant’s motion to dismiss “all of Plaintiffs’ claims.” Dkt. 82. Thus, Plaintiffs’
10 requested “return ticket is not available” because “the [C]ourt dismisse[d] the suit.” Spizzirri, 601
11 U.S. at 477. The only pending issue is Defendant’s motion for sanctions. Given the Court’s
12 findings above, there is no basis to stay Defendant’s motion for sanctions.
13 Further, Plaintiffs argue that a stay is warranted because Defendant seeks a nationwide-
14 injunction in its sanctions motion and Trump v. CASA, Inc., 2025 WL 1773631 (U.S. June 27,
15 2025), limits nationwide-injunctions. However, a stay is not warranted on this basis because the
16 Court does not grant Defendant’s request for a nationwide injunction.
17 Accordingly, Plaintiffs’ stay-related motions are DENIED.
18 D. Motion for Leave to File a Motion for Reconsideration (Dkt. 99)
19 Plaintiffs’ motion for leave to file a motion for reconsideration of the Court’s order
20 dismissing Plaintiffs’ claims is DENIED because Plaintiffs fail to provide a valid basis for
21 reconsideration. See N.D. Cal. Civ. L.R. 7-9(c) (on valid bases such as a material difference in
22 fact or law, an emergence of new material facts or a change of law, or a manifest failure by the
23 Court to consider material facts or dispositive legal arguments). Plaintiffs offer three district court
24 orders, two complaints, and one memorandum disposition from the Ninth Circuit to seek
25
26
2 Plaintiffs’ motions include: an emergency motion for a temporary stay and status conference
(Dkt. 83); a motion for “pre-emptive amicus invitation and limited public-input procedure” (Dkt.
27
84); an amended version of its motion at Dkt. 84 (Dkt. 85); and an amended motion to stay
1 reconsideration of the Court’s dismissal of Plaintiffs’ claims which was based on res judicata. See
2 Mot. at 3 (Dkt. 99) (citing United States v. Apple Inc., 2025 WL 1829127 (D.N.J. June 30, 2025)
3 (order denying motion to dismiss); Gamboa v. Apple Inc., 2025 WL 1684890 (N.D. Cal. June 16,
4 2025) (order denying motion to dismiss); Epic Games, Inc. v. Apple Inc., 2025 WL 1260190 (N.D.
5 Cal. Apr. 30, 2025) (contempt order); Proton AG vy. Apple Inc., No. 4:25-cv-05450-YGR, Dkt. 1
6 (N.D. Cal.) (complaint); Pure Sweat Basketball vy. Apple Inc., No. 4:25-cv-03858-YGR, Dkt. |
7 (N.D. Cal.) (complaint); and Shields v. World Aquatics, 2024 WL 4211477 (9th Cir. Sept. 17,
8 2024) (memorandum disposition)). None of the documents concern the application of res judicata
9 — the basis for the Court’s dismissal. Thus, Plaintiffs do not offer a valid basis to seek
10 || reconsideration. Accordingly, Plaintiffs’ motion for leave to file a motion for reconsideration 1s
11 DENIED.
12 V. CONCLUSION
13 For the reasons above, the Coutt:
14 1) Finds sanctions against Plaintiffs and their counsel WARRANTED under Rule 11,
3 15 2) DENIES Defendant’s request to find Plaintiffs, their counsel, and Dr. Isaacs vexatious
a 16 litigants, and
3 17 3) DENIES Plaintiffs’ motions at Docket Nos. 74, 83-87, and 99.
18 The hearing on Defendant’s motion is VACATED.
19 IT IS SO ORDERED.
20
21 Dated: July 30, 2025
22
23
EDWARD M. CHEN
24 United States District Judge
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