Opinion
No. CV 12-8150-PCT-JAT
11-06-2012
Sheila Bilyeu, Plaintiff, v. C.B.S., et al., Defendants.
ORDER
Pending before the Court is Defendants' Motion to Dismiss. (Doc. 7). The Court now rules on the motion.
I. Background
On April 4, 2012, Plaintiff Sheila Bilyeu filed suit in Arizona, CV 12-08069-PCT-NVW ("Bilyeu I"), against The David Letterman Show and CBS asserting claims for libel, harassment, and intimidation. (Doc. 7 at 21). Plaintiff alleged that, each year, "David Letterman has had a pumpkin blow apart that weighed an amount that started with the digits 13." (Doc. 7 at 22). Plaintiff alleged that this pumpkin symbolizes her because her birthday is on the thirteenth and her dad used to call her pumpkin. (Doc. 7 at 22). Plaintiff claimed that these actions by David Letterman constitute harassment and intimidation, which have made her an object of ridicule and damaged her reputation. (Doc. 7 at 22). After failing to comply with the Court's Order to state a plausible claim for relief, the Court dismissed Plaintiff's action with prejudice under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) and 41(b). (Doc. 7 at 25-26).
On July 30, 2012, Plaintiff filed a new complaint against CBS and David Letterman alleging violations of 18 U.S.C. § 241 (Conspiracy against rights) arising from the same events described in Bilyeu I. (Doc. 1 at 2). On October 4, 2012, Defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss for failure to state a claim, lack of personal jurisdiction, and lack of subject-matter jurisdiction based on res judicata. (Doc. 7 at 1; Doc. 10 at 3). Plaintiff's Response to the Motion to Dismiss does not rebut Defendants' claims. (Doc. 8). Additionally, Plaintiff filed a Motion to Amend Complaint alleging harassment, libel, and "conspiracy to oppress and harass and other victimizations." (Doc. 8 at 1).
Although Plaintiff names "C.B.S." and the "David Letterman Show" as Defendants, Defendants' true names are "CBS Broadcasting Inc."and "Worldwide Pants Incorporated," respectively. (Doc. 10 at 1).
II. Discussion
The Court finds that Plaintiff's claim is barred by res judicata. Defendants' arguments for failure to state a claim and lack of personal jurisdiction are therefore denied as moot. Plaintiff's Motion to Amend is denied as futile.
A. Res Judicata
The doctrine of res judicata protects "litigants from the burden of relitigating an identical issue" and promotes "judicial economy by preventing needless litigation." Parklane Hosiery Co. v. Shore, 439 U.S. 322, 326 (1979). The court bars a claim where there is an identity of claims, a final judgment on the merits, and privity between parties. See Mpoyo v. Litton Electro-Optical Sys., 430 F.3d 985, 987 (9th Cir. 2005). An identity of claims exists if the two actions arise out of the same transactional nucleus of facts. Burlington N. Santa Fe R.R. v. Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes, 323 F.3d 767, 770 (9th Cir.2003). Res judicata "bar[s] all grounds for recovery which could have been asserted, whether they were or not, in a prior suit between the same parties . . . on the same cause of action." Constantini v. Trans World Airlines, 681 F.2d 1199, 1201 (9th Cir. 1982) (quoting Ross v. IBEW, 634 F.2d 453, 457 (9th Cir. 1980)).
Res judicata is generally jurisdictional; therefore the motion to dismiss is properly made under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1). See Lande v. Billings Hospitality, Inc., 2008 WL 4180002, *1 (D. Mont. 2008). The Court may take evidence on a Rule 12(b)(1) motion without converting the motion to a Rule 56 motion. See U.S. v. Oregon, 2011 WL 2531208, *2, *5 (D. Or. 2011). Therefore, the Court has not converted the motion.
Defendants argue that Plaintiff's previous lawsuit in this Court raised the same issues she is now attempting to raise again, and her claims are therefore barred under res judicata. Plaintiff does not dispute that this lawsuit raises the same issues as in Bilyeu I. She argues solely that "a different statute is being used." (Doc. 1 at 2). Because her claim could have been asserted in the prior suit, notwithstanding that Plaintiff is attempting to use a criminal statute, the claim is barred by res judicata if there was a final judgment on the merits. The Court in Bilyeu I dismissed Plaintiff's complaint with prejudice and ruled that "[t]his Order dismissing Plaintiff's case constitutes an adjudication on the merits." (Doc. 7 at 26). Thus, the dismissal in Bilyeu I constituted a final judgment on the merits, and Plaintiff's claim is barred by res judicata.
B. Motion to Amend
The United States Supreme Court has established that motions to amend should be granted unless the district court determines that there has been a showing of: (1) undue delay; (2) bad faith or dilatory motives on the part of the movant; (3) repeated failure to cure deficiencies by previous amendments; (4) undue prejudice to the opposing party; or (5) futility of the proposed amendment. Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182 (1962); see also United States v. SmithKline Beecham, 245 F.3d 1048, 1052 (9th Cir. 2001); Texaco, Inc. v. Ponsoldt, 939 F.2d 794, 798 (9th Cir. 1991); W. Shoshone Nat'l Council v. Molini, 951 F.2d 200, 204 (9th Cir. 1991); Cal. Architectural Bldg. Prods. v. Franciscan Ceramics, Inc., 818 F.2d. 1466, 1472 (9th Cir. 1987); Poling v. Morgan, 829 F.2d 882, 886 (9th Cir. 1987). A proposed amendment is futile when no set of facts can be proven under the amendment that would establish a valid and sufficient claim or defense. Miller v. Rykoff-Sexton, Inc., 845 F.2d 209, 214 (9th Cir. 1988); see also DCD Programs, LTD v. Leighton, 833 F.2d 183, 186 (9th Cir. 1987) (stating that an amendment should be liberally granted where from the underlying facts or circumstances, the moving party may be able to state a claim).
Plaintiff argues in her Motion to Amend Complaint that, in addition to 18 U.S.C. § 241, Defendants are also guilty of harassment, libel, and "conspiracy to oppress and harass and other victimizations." (Doc. 8 at 1). Plaintiff alleged harassment and libel in Bilyeu I, and those claims were dismissed. Thus, those claims, if realleged here, would be barred by res judicata. Similarly, because Plaintiff's claim for "conspiracy to oppress and harass and other victimizations" could have been brought in the prior suit, it would be barred by res judicata. Because Plaintiff's proposed amendments would not prevent her claims from being dismissed, her Motion to Amend is futile and is therefore denied.
III. Conclusion
Based on the foregoing,
IT IS ORDERED that Defendants' Motion to Dismiss is granted based on res judicata and denied in all other respects as moot. (Doc. 7).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED denying Plaintiff's Motion to Amend Complaint. (Doc. 9).
IT IS FINALLY ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall enter judgment of dismissal with prejudice.
__________________
James A. Teilborg
United States District Judge