Hayes v. Kanouff (In Re Hayes)

MEMORANDUM

Robert Lee Hayes appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment affirming the bankruptcy court’s summary judgment determining that sanctions previously imposed by the Washington state court were nondischargeable. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 158 (d). We review decisions of the bankruptcy court independently without deference to the district court’s determinations. Leichty v. Neary, (In re Strand), 375 F.3d 854, 857 (9th Cir.2004). We affirm.

The bankruptcy court properly concluded that the sanctions imposed by the Washington state court constituted nondis-chargeable debt under 11 U.S.C. § 523 (a)(6), given the state court findings that Hayes’s actions were willful and malicious. See Papadakis v. Zelis (In re Zelis), 66 F.3d 205, 209 (9th Cir.1995) (giving preclusive effect to state court findings to satisfy the elements of nondischargeability).

The bankruptcy court did not abuse its discretion in taking judicial notice of the sanctions orders. See Fed.R.Evid. 201(b)(2); see also United States v. Daychild, 357 F.3d 1082 , 1099 n. 26 (9th Cir.2004). Further, the bankruptcy court did not abuse its discretion by staying discovery pending the outcome of the…