Filed: Aug. 18, 2020
Latest Update: Aug. 18, 2020
Summary: FILED NOT FOR PUBLICATION AUG 18 2020 UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT In re: USA COMMERCIAL No. 18-17435 MORTGAGE COMPANY, D.C. No. Debtor, 2:07-cv-00892-RCJ-GWF _ INDIVIDUAL DIRECT LENDERS; LLC MEMORANDUM* PLAINTIFFS, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. DAVID BLATT, Defendant-Appellant, and COMPASS PARTNERS, LLC; COMPASS USA SPE, LLC, Defendants. Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Nevada Robert Clive Jones, Dist
Summary: FILED NOT FOR PUBLICATION AUG 18 2020 UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT In re: USA COMMERCIAL No. 18-17435 MORTGAGE COMPANY, D.C. No. Debtor, 2:07-cv-00892-RCJ-GWF _ INDIVIDUAL DIRECT LENDERS; LLC MEMORANDUM* PLAINTIFFS, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. DAVID BLATT, Defendant-Appellant, and COMPASS PARTNERS, LLC; COMPASS USA SPE, LLC, Defendants. Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Nevada Robert Clive Jones, Distr..
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FILED
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
AUG 18 2020
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
In re: USA COMMERCIAL No. 18-17435
MORTGAGE COMPANY,
D.C. No.
Debtor, 2:07-cv-00892-RCJ-GWF
______________________________
INDIVIDUAL DIRECT LENDERS; LLC MEMORANDUM*
PLAINTIFFS,
Plaintiffs-Appellees,
v.
DAVID BLATT,
Defendant-Appellant,
and
COMPASS PARTNERS, LLC;
COMPASS USA SPE, LLC,
Defendants.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of Nevada
Robert Clive Jones, District Judge, Presiding
*
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
Submitted May 5, 2020**
Seattle, Washington
Before: TASHIMA, W. FLETCHER, and RAWLINSON, Circuit Judges.
David Blatt (Blatt) appeals an order from the district court denying a motion
to vacate a judgment. Because the district court did not evaluate factors relevant to
a decision on vacatur, we consider de novo whether the undisputed facts support
the district court’s ruling. See Andrews v. King,
398 F.3d 1113, 1118 n.6 (9th Cir.
2005), as amended. Reviewing de novo, we affirm.
To evaluate the appropriateness of vacatur, courts may consider: (1) “the
consequences and attendant hardships of dismissal or refusal to dismiss;” (2) “the
competing values of the finality of judgment, and right to relitigation of
unreviewed disputes;” (3) “the motives of the party whose voluntary action mooted
the case;” and (4) the public interest against allowing a losing party to “buy and
bury” an unfavorable decision. American Games, Inc. v. Trade Prods., Inc.,
142
F.3d 1164, 1168, 1170 (9th Cir. 1998) (citation omitted).
The equities in this case weigh against vacatur. There was no impediment to
dismissal of the case, as no party would be harmed by dismissal. The motive
**
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
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of the person seeking to vacate the judgment was well-known: the movant did not
want this judgment against him to remain part of the public record. There were no
unresolved issues, and the public policy interest in disallowing parties to “buy and
bury” a jury verdict weighed in favor of denying vacatur. On balance, therefore,
we are not inclined to conclude that the district court erred in denying the motion
for vacatur. See U.S. Bancorp Mortg. Co. v. Bonner Mall P’ship,
513 U.S. 18, 27
(1994) (“To allow a party . . . to employ the secondary remedy of vacatur as a
refined form of collateral attack on the judgment would-quite apart from any
considerations of fairness to the parties-disturb the orderly operation of the federal
judicial system.”).
AFFIRMED.
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