Charles Rose v. Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

MEMORANDUM

Charles Rose appeals from the district court’s grant of JPMorgan Chase Bank’s motion to dismiss. The district court ruled that Rose’s claims were barred by res judicata. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we affirm.

Rose concedes on appeal that his adversary proceeding in bankruptcy court “reached a final judgment on the merits, and ... involved identical parties” as those currently before us. Mpoyo v. Litton Electro-Optical Sys., 430 F.3d 985, 987 (9th Cir.2005). The parties dispute only whether the adversary proceeding “involved the same ‘claim.’ ” Id. We conclude that it did.

Rose’s present claims arise out of the same transactional nucleus of facts as those in his adversary proceeding. Id. (holding that the first res judicata criterion is “whether the two suits arise out of the same transactional nucleus of facts”). The factual allegations underlying his claims are based on whether and how Chase took possession of the relevant promissory note and deed of trust. That Chase foreclosed on the property after the adversary proceeding was initiated does not change this fact. Moreover, this case seeks to reliti-gate whether Chase has the right to…