Michael R. Wood, Individually and D/B/A National Photo Services v. Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

This case, a consolidation of 36 suits filed by Wood throughout the country, is the latest in a series of suits brought by Wood and arising out of the same or similar alleged incidents. The complaint charges almost 300 defendants with copyright infringement, common-law unfair competition, violation of the Sherman Act, and conspiracy to commit trade libel. Wood appeals the district court’s dismissal of the complaint. For the reasons cited below, we affirm.

We will not overturn a district court’s dismissal of a complaint unless the district court has abused its discretion. Nevijel v. North Coast Life Insurance Co., 651 F.2d 671, 674 (9th Cir.1981); Schmidt v. Herrmann, 614 F.2d 1221, 1223-24 (9th Cir.1980). Under the circumstances of this case, the district court committed no such abuse of discretion. Wood’s first complaint involved so many defendants and alleged, in vague and conclusory language, so many wrongs, that it was impossible to comprehend the allegations against any particular defendant.

The district court, recognizing that Wood was acting pro se, gave him an opportunity to state his complaint orally. The court then instructed Wood as to how to amend his complaint in…