Opinion
No. 17-56578
03-23-2018
In re: FRANCKY C. CARUSO, Debtor. DANIEL G. LOPEZ, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. FRANCKY C. CARUSO, Defendant-Appellee.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
D.C. No. 2:16-cv-04230-JVS MEMORANDUM Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of California
James V. Selna, District Judge, Presiding Before: LEAVY, M. SMITH, and CHRISTEN, Circuit Judges.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
Daniel G. Lopez appeals pro se from the district court's judgment affirming the bankruptcy court's order holding Lopez and his attorney in civil contempt and imposing sanctions. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 158(d). We review de novo the district court's decision on appeal from the bankruptcy court and apply the same standards of review applied by the district court. Motor Vehicle Cas. Co. v. Thorpe Insulation Co. (In re Thorpe Insulation Co.), 677 F.3d 869, 879 (9th Cir. 2012). We affirm.
The bankruptcy court did not abuse its discretion by holding Lopez and his attorney in civil contempt and imposing compensatory sanctions because Lopez and his attorney had notice of the discharge and intentionally filed the state court action in violation of the discharge injunction. See ZiLOG, Inc. v. Corning (In re ZiLOG, Inc.), 450 F.3d 996, 1007 (9th Cir. 2006) (a party who knowingly violates a discharge injunction can be held in contempt under 11 U.S.C. § 105(a)); Knupfer v. Lindblade (In re Dyer), 322 F.3d 1178, 1191 (9th Cir. 2003) (setting forth standard of review).
Lopez's request for judicial notice (Docket Entry No. 9) is denied as unnecessary.
AFFIRMED.