Craig Harrison v. The Capital Group Companies

MEMORANDUM

Craig E. Harrison appeals pro se from the district court’s dismissal of his diversity action alleging tort claims arising from the termination of his consulting contract with the Capital Group Companies, Inc., and related state court litigation. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We review de novo the district court’s dismissal for failure to state a claim. Knievel v. ESPN, 393 F.3d 1068, 1072 (9th Cir.2005). We affirm.

The district court properly dismissed Harrison’s defamation claim as barred by claim preclusion based on the state court judgment dismissing the same claim on the merits. See San Diego Police Officers’ Ass’n v. San Diego City Emps.’ Ret. Sys., 568 F.3d 725, 734 (9th Cir.2009) (listing elements of claim preclusion under California law); Kougasian v. TMSL, Inc., 359 F.3d 1136, 1143 (9th Cir.2004) (a federal court relies on “the preclusion law of the state court that rendered the earlier judgment or judgments to determine whether subsequent federal litigation is precluded”); United States ex rel. Robinson Rancheria Citizens Council v. Borneo, Inc., 971 F.2d 244, 249-51 (9th Cir.1992) (in California, jurisdictional determinations have res…