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Rogers v. Robert Half International, Inc., 17-cv-03777-PJH. (2019)

Court: District Court, N.D. California Number: infdco20190719882 Visitors: 2
Filed: Jul. 18, 2019
Latest Update: Jul. 18, 2019
Summary: ORDER DISMISSING ACTION Re: Dkt. No. 30. PHYLLIS J. HAMILTON , District Judge . On July 2, 2019, defendant Robert Half International, Inc. ("RHI") filed a Notice of Finality of Appeal and Request for Dismissal of this Action. Dkt. 30. The notice states that plaintiff's state court appeal is final, and it requests that this court dismiss this action. The Notice and Request is supported by a declaration from William S. Lisa. Plaintiff has not filed a response. On May 6, 2016, plaintiff Bria
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ORDER DISMISSING ACTION

Re: Dkt. No. 30.

On July 2, 2019, defendant Robert Half International, Inc. ("RHI") filed a Notice of Finality of Appeal and Request for Dismissal of this Action. Dkt. 30. The notice states that plaintiff's state court appeal is final, and it requests that this court dismiss this action. The Notice and Request is supported by a declaration from William S. Lisa. Plaintiff has not filed a response.

On May 6, 2016, plaintiff Brian Rogers initiated an action against RHI in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, alleging unlawful employment discrimination. The Superior Court granted RHI's motion for summary judgment in that case on April 21, 2017, and plaintiff appealed to the California Court of Appeal, First District, Appeal No. A151655.

On June 30, 2017 plaintiff brought this action based on identical factual allegations as his state court complaint, and RHI moved to dismiss or stay this action pending resolution of the state court appeal. Dkt. 14. The complaint in this action repeated "almost verbatim the factual allegations in the state court [complaint]." Order Denying Motion to Dismiss, and Granting Motion to Stay, Dkt. 29 at 3.

On October 27, 2017 this court issued an order denying the motion to dismiss and granting the motion to stay, reasoning that "[w]ere it not for the fact that there is no judgment in the state court case, the court would grant the motion to dismiss based on collateral estoppel, as RHI has established all the elements with the exception of a `final judgment on the merits.'" Id. at 9. The court further stated that "were it not for the fact of the pending appeal, which may or may not be dismissed because of the lack of a judgment, the court would also find that the present case is barred by res judicata." Id. The court required defendant to "notify the court as soon as the state-court appeal is final, assuming the Court of Appeal finds that the order granting summary was appealable despite the lack of a separate judgment." Id. at 13.

On May 29, 2019 the California Court of Appeal, First District affirmed the Superior Court's April 21, 2017 decision granting RHI summary judgment and denying plaintiff the opportunity to amend his complaint. The Court of Appeal order provides that "The judgment is affirmed." Dkt. 30-1 at 8.

Pursuant to California Rule of Court 8.500(e)(1), for an appellant's case to be heard by the Supreme Court of California, he or she must file and serve a petition for review with the California Supreme Court within ten days after the Court of Appeal Decision is final in that court. The California Court of Appeal, First District's decision was final as of May 29, 2019, and RHI's attorney attests that it has not been served with a petition for review.

Pursuant to California Rule of Court 8.500(e)(2) and 8.512(c)(1), the California Supreme Court may order review on its own motion and relieve an appellant of his or her failure to file the proper petition within 30 days after the decision is final. The 30-day time period for the California Supreme Court to have ordered review of the California Court of Appeal's decision affirming summary judgment has lapsed, and RHI's counsel attests that there has been no such order.

This court's October 27, 2017 order stated that if the Court of Appeal took up the appeal and affirmed judgment, this action would be dismissed with prejudice. Those events have come to pass. Given the Court of Appeal's decision and the expiration of time to appeal that opinion, this case is hereby DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Source:  Leagle

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