Opinion
No. 09-17190.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a)(2).
Filed November 17, 2010.
Kurt W. Melchior, Nossaman, LLP, San Francisco, CA, James Carhart Powers, Nossaman LLP, Los Angeles, CA, for Plaintiffs-Appellants.
Andre Joseph Cronthall, Esquire, Whitney Jones Roy, Alison Nicole Kleaver, Sheppard Mullin Richter Hampton LLP, Los Angeles, CA, for Defendant-Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Claudia A. Wilken, District Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. 4:09-cv-02706-CW.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
The district court correctly concluded that claim preclusion bars the claims brought by Cumbre, Inc. and Coachella Valley Ins. Co. (collectively, "Cumbre"). Claim preclusion "bars any subsequent suit on claims that were raised or could have been raised in a prior action." Cell Therapeutics, Inc. v. Lash Group, Inc., 586 F.3d 1204, 1212 (9th Cir. 2009).
Cumbre's present suit alleges the same primary right violation that Cumbre alleged in state court. The final decision by the California Court of Appeals conclusively rejecting that claim is res judicata as to the identical federal claim asserted in this case under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Brodheim v. Cry, 584 F.3d 1262, 1268 (9th Cir. 2009) ("Under 28 U.S.C. § 1738, federal courts are required to give state court judgments the preclusive effects they would be given by another court of that state.").
Cumbre argues for application of Furey v. City of Sacramento, 780 F.2d 1448 (9th Cir. 1986), abrogated on other grounds as recognized by Schnuck v. City of Santa Monica, 935 F.2d 171, 173 (9th Cir. 1991), but that reliance is misplaced. Under California law, the issuance of a remittitur by the court of appeal indicates that the state appellate process has been concluded. Kay v. City of Rancho Palos Verdes, 504 F.3d 803, 808 (9th Cir. 2007).